Snippet Sunday for May 19, 2013

May 19, 2013 by 1 Comment

oneknightonly_msr

I know… I was doing “Six Sentence Sunday” but let’s face it. I’m just too verbose for that!

Here’s a little snippet from ONE KNIGHT ONLY, Book 1 in the Realm of Honor series:

Now that the adrenaline rush was over, Maggie thought she would collapse at any moment. Every muscle in her body felt as though it had turned to mush. Her hands still shook and her heart still stuttered in her chest. Once they were out of the lists, Geoffrey helped her down from the horse.

Elyne grasped her arm, holding her steady as she limped away from the lists. Her victory was short-lived, though.

“Sir Finian,” Lord Litonshire shouted in his nasal voice.

Maggie’s heart nearly stopped. Hadn’t she enough fear for one day? She turned to face him as he can running from the lists. “Crap.”

“Just what we need,” Elyne muttered.

“Can’t you use a Jedi mind trick on him?” Maggie asked.

“A what?”

“I suppose not.”

“Just don’t talk to him. I still have your glamour up.”

Before Maggie could ask how she was supposed to do that, Litonshire stopped in front of them. He looked her up and down, as though he didn’t believe the sight before his eyes.

“How did you do it?” he demanded.

Elyne placed her hand on Maggie’s arm as she shrugged.

“Sir Finian is feeling much better,” Elyne said.

The earl’s beady eyes swung from Maggie to Elyne and back again. “I thought you were too ill to ride.”

“He persevered, my lord,” Elyne answered.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Six Sentence Sunday Tagged With: , ,

I have a series!

May 17, 2013 by 2 Comments

I’m so excited to finally announce my big news! I’ve been waiting until I had the contracts in hand. And I do. They are now signed and delivered.

I have been offered and accepted a 3-book contract for my “knights” books with Ellora’s Cave for their Blush line. It’s officially a series! And the series title is… *drum roll please*

REALM OF HONOR

Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? I LOVE the series title. When searching for one, I brainstormed a bunch but my husband came up with this one. The others were too long but this one was just right. These are epic fantasy romance stories full of adventure, romance, elves, faeries, dragons and villains who want to destroy the Otherworld. This series is very special to me because I’ve always wanted to write fantasy romance and I’ve always wanted to sell on proposal. I managed to do both.

I love writing for EC and my editor. When I was a young, fledgling author I looked at the EC guidelines and knew that someday I would write for them. It took me nearly ten years to get here but I finally did it.

Here’s the official series blurb:

Chivalry, honor and bravery still thrive on the other side of the veil in the Otherworld, a mythical realm hidden from humans. Peace has reigned for thousands of years, but when a meddling Faery princess alters time, it sets into motion events that turn the Otherworld upside down. With the threat of war from long-dead and long-forgotten enemies, Elves, Fae and dragons are forced to take up arms together. And when the lives of the knights’ ladies are threatened, they will do whatever it takes to protect them.

Books 1 and 2 are currently available (One Knight Only and Only for a Knight, respectively). Books 3, 4 and 5 are coming soon!

Book 3, A Knight to Remember, is the story of Henry (Maggie’s father) and Queen Maeve. It was so much fun to write! How does a Fae queen who detests humans put aside those feelings to fall in love with a human masquerading as a Fae knight?

Book 4, A Knight Like No Other, is the story of Sir Drake and the Elven Princess, Sobriel. Sir Drake has lost his heart to the Elven girl but their match is forbidden by the Elven king. When Sobriel is kidnapped and her murder planned by an evil lord-regent who hates the Fae, Drake will put his life on the line to save her. Will her rescue be enough for the Elven king to grant his request to court his daughter?

Book 5, Her Fierce Knight, follows the story of Prince Ainthas. With his father ailing, he takes over the realm to fight the band of Fomorians who have been released from their watery banishment. Fire Elf and princess, Laerwen, comes to Ainthas to ask for help when her people are massacred by the Fomorians.

I have a lot of writing to do! Plus I intend to finish out my Guardians of Atlantis series as well as re-release the third book of my Coffee House Chronicles. I am one busy gal but it’s really in your best interest, beautiful readers.

One of the most powerful promotional tools an author has is word of mouth from fans. If you’ve read and liked my books, would you consider posting a review on Goodreads, Amazon and B&N? And tell your friends? If you HAVE posted a review, please send me the link and your mailing address and I’ll send you some swag!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

Snippet Sunday and a Nod to Mother’s Day

May 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In lieu of 6 Sentence Sunday today, I’m paying tribute to mothers everywhere with Snippet Sunday. Here’s a little bit from my fantasy romance, Only for a Knight, available now from Ellora’s Cave!

onlyforaknight_msr

“You exhibited bravery and a sense of selflessness I have never seen in you. There is hope for you yet as a ruler.” She paused, as though searching for the right words. “As I stood on the Stone of Destiny, I knew I was going to die. I was certain Kieran would kill me, absorb my magic and proclaim himself High King.” Her gaze glittered with tears. “I knew if I died, he would come after you and even Lord Derron wouldn’t be able to stop him. That is why I transferred all my magic to you, Elyne. I knew if you had it, you and Lord Derron could defeat him. And you did.”

Elyne stared at her in disbelief, her mother’s words repeating over and over in her head. All her magic? Elyne received all the queen’s magic? Thinking back on it now, she remembered the tingling sensation she had when the magic returned. The way the aches and pains suddenly disappeared. The voice she’d heard in her head, telling her she had the power.

“I have never been more proud of you than I am now,” Maeve said.

A lump formed in Elyne’s throat. She swallowed hard around it, trying to stave off the tears that wanted to erupt. Next to her, Derron slipped his hand in hers and squeezed. She’d forgotten he was there and now she glanced his way. The glow of his smiled warmed her, reassured her. For the first time in her life, her mother approved of her, told her she was proud of her.

“Thank you, Mother,” she whispered.

Where to Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Ellora’s Cave

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Morticia Knight and Sleepy Hollow Goes Erotic

May 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Hi, gang! Today I have erotic author, Morticia Knight!

thelegendofsleepyhollow_800The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gone Erotic!

Thank you Michelle for letting me commandeer your blog today! And don’t worry – no one is going to do the nasty with the Headless Horseman *wink*. I guess I should explain what this erotic classic stuff is all about. Well, my publisher, Total-E-Bound, has a line of books under the Clandestine Classic banner, which are all erotic retellings of classics. So far, we have had Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice,  Tarzan, A Christmas Carol – which actually won the 2012 LR Café MM Romance award for author Em Woods – and many others.

As you all know, there have been many classic stories retold already, whether in books or films. Typically, the original words have been discarded, and just the characters and some of the story have been retained more or less. What is different about Clandestine Classics – other than the erotic elements that have been added – is that as authors we can only add to the story – we cannot take away. So when you purchase a Clandestine Classic, you get every word the original author wrote, and you only pay for what the new author wrote.

It was a challenge – trust me on this. Not only did my story have to follow along with Washington Irving’s original tale, but it was also crucial that I write it in his voice so that the reader wouldn’t be taken out of the story. Each section needed to flow seamlessly from his words, to mine, and then back again. What made this particular classic a lot of fun, is what also made it the most difficult.

Irving had a very flippant and ironic style. When you pair that style with sex, it can come off wrong if you try to over-romanticize the sex scenes, and make them too serious. So there was a bit of a tongue in cheek (ahem!) tone that I maintained. It kept the sizzle, but never took itself too seriously. The genre ended up being an MMF ménage/Rubenesque story with some BDSM. The following excerpt includes both mine and Irving’s prose:

From The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving & Morticia Knight

In this by-place of nature there abided—in a remote period of American history, that is to say some ten to thirty years since, who can say for sure—a worthy wight of the name of Ichabod Crane, who sojourned or, as he expressed it, “tarried” in Sleepy Hollow for the purpose of instructing the children of the vicinity. He was a native of Connecticut, a State which supplies the Union with pioneers for the mind as well as for the forest, and sends forth yearly its legions of frontier woodmen and country schoolmasters. Ichabod was anxious to discover a haven where he might enjoy the freedom to express all of the enjoyments this life has to offer, for nothing can be said to be as wondrous as those activities that delight the senses, as well as the mind.

The cognomen of Crane was not inapplicable to his person. He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield.

Yet his form was not entirely displeasing, especially when one so intimate as a lover might gaze upon Ichabod in his unclothed state. For there he presented a most stupendous appendage, not readily spied beneath his loose attire. He learnt whilst still a young lad that both ladies and gentleman appreciated this generous attribute, and he became quite adept at satisfying both genders, thus providing him with unusual advantages when it came to both love and hospitality.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is available now at all of the usual outlets, including:

Total-E-Bound Publishing | All Romance ebooks

TempMK PhotoMorticia Knight Author Bio

Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale, whether it is contemporary, paranormal, historical, ménage, M/M or BDSM – she loves it all! One of her passions is bringing people’s fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.

When not indulging in her passion for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern coast of Oregon, where the constant rain and fog remind her of visits to her family in England and Scotland when she was a child.

Morticia has a three-book series called Uniform Encounters set in the Southwest that features those yummy men in uniform coming out in 2013, and is currently working on both a Steampunk horror ménage, and a Sci-fi ménage.

Find her here:

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Total E-Bound Author Page

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Six Sentence Sunday for Apr 28, 2013

April 28, 2013 by

6sentence

Hot sun pressed against Eden’s eyelids. She listened to the soothing waves of the surf. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep with Sabre. Was it a dream? Because she didn’t feel him next to her. In fact she felt alone.

–Tempting Eden, Available now!

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Daleen Berry on Why Do You Write

April 25, 2013 by

Today I have author, Daleen Berry! Please welcome her to the Inkwell.

V2013_latest - Version 2It’s nice to say a few words on someone else’s blog, and Michelle is very kind for letting me do that. Thank you, Michelle!

Today’s topic is “Why Do You Write?” Your answer will give you a clue about your future as a published author. Not about whether you will be published, but about whether you should be. Or even need to be.

Now wait a minute. Of course I want to be published. Isn’t that the only reason to write?

That’s exactly what I thought you would say. And as a matter of fact, no, publication isn’t the only reason. In fact, I’d say the most important reason to write is because you love to do it—and cannot imagine any other way to spend your free time.

There are two more reasons to write. Write because you believe—with every ounce of ozone in our atmosphere—that you have: a story worth telling, or something to say that can make a difference. In the sense it will enlighten, educate or inspire your readers to act differently.

I write because of the first reason. I seek publication for the second reason: to inspire, educate and enlighten. But when I write, I also try to tell a good story. One worth telling, and hopefully one that will leave people happy they read it.

Asking yourself the question “Why do I write?” can help you understand if writing is more important to you—or if becoming published is. Because the latter isn’t necessary for the former. And the former won’t necessarily lead you in a linear path to the latter.

So unless you’re a college professor looking for tenure, publication should be the last thing on your mind.

Whoa, are you kidding me? I want to make a living at this. I want the freedom and independence that comes with writing.

Yes, I hear the dismay in your voices. But no, I’m not kidding. Because the truth is, very few published writers make a good enough living to sustain themselves and their families. (That’s why many of them have a day job, and write on the side.) Fewer still get rich from a writing career or publishing contract.

I truly believe the goal of writing should come first—while the goal of publication must come second. And no, that isn’t an overly obvious statement. I know you can’t get published without first writing something to be published.

When I say worry about writing first, publishing second—if at all—I’m suggesting you’d be better served to focus on your skills as a writer. On grammar and syntax and making your language lyrical for readers. On putting one cohesive sentence after another, so your thoughts flow well. Then repeat those steps for paragraphs and chapters and so on. Until your writing shines. So people will actually want to read what you’ve written. So your words, your story, or even your message will propel them to keep turning the pages. Until they’ve turned the very last one.

People who think all published authors lead exciting lives, and thus aspire to this profession for that reason, are wrong. Even what looks like excitement—flying to exotic locales, attending writing conferences at the beach—is not exciting. It’s fun and it’s interesting, but even more than that, it’s a lot of work. Packing your bags once a month to leave your home and family behind for a trip that’s sure to test your mettle with cramped legroom, long lines through airport security, and even more work (if you’re a public speaker like I am or even if you just plan to sign books) is not exciting.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love what I do—but it’s hard work. I’m sure most published authors who do this will say the same thing.

However, publishing your written words—no matter the form or how you do it in today’s smorgasbord of publishing choices—and seeing your name in print, is exciting. When I saw my byline on my first newspaper article, I was so excited I still remember how it felt. And that was 25 years ago.

But if you’re looking to publish so you can experience adrenalin-rushing excitement, I’d recommend you become a NASCAR driver, instead. Because that’s exciting!

DaleenBerryIt is true that some—a small sliver of us—published authors experience the level of excitement many people equate with the writing profession. But my guess is that many people aren’t after excitement. Instead, it’s fame they crave—the kind that can come with being a published author. People like Maya Angelou, Frank McCourt, Stephen King, Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling, and a few others (in comparison to the total number) have experienced that fame.

Most of us haven’t—and won’t. Instead, we will continue to write because life would be far less enjoyable if we didn’t. Downright boring, even. If we find out what we’ve written is a great story, or contains a powerful life lesson, we might decide to go for broke—look for a literary agent, be picked up by a publishing house, or simply publish what we’ve written all on our own.

In the meantime, we continue writing. Because for many of us, the act of writing is its own reward.

Where to find Daleen:
Website |  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | LinkedIn

Purchase links: http://www.sisterofsilence.com/Home/About

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: ,

Six Sentence Sunday for Apr 21, 2013

April 21, 2013 by

6sentence

“Is this not what you wished for?”

“I didn’t wish for you.” Her quiet words shook.

“You did.” His blue eyes twinkled with moonlight, challenged her.

How did he know that?

–Tempting Eden, Available now!

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Special Feature: Misty Evans and Kali Sweet

April 15, 2013 by

SweetSoldierHello, beautiful readers!

Today I want to pimp one of my favorite authors (and friend and critique partner!), Misty Evans. She’s released Sweet Soldier, the third book in her urban fantasy series. I’ve read it and it’s awesome and very kick-ass. So if you like urban fantasy, get ready to sink your teeth in THIS! I love this series. It’s action-packed with a dash of romance. Kali is a great heroine!

Where to buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Blurb:

Armageddon is coming and it’s up to me to stop the Four Horsemen and their heavenly army of angels. Unfortunately, one of the Horsemen happens to be my rock star boyfriend, Radison Beaumont. At least that’s what his ex-fiancée, Parker Burkett, claims.

Parker wants revenge on me for stealing Rad and she’s working with my archenemy, Queen Maria, a succubus who wants me back in her court of supernaturals. The only way I can stop them and the coming biblical apocalypse is to recruit an army – an army led by the king of hell.

Lucifer’s not about to help without getting something in return, and following anyone’s orders – even his – is not my style. I’m turning my inner demon loose on Parker, Maria, and the Horsemen – and saving the humans I love at the same time.

Did you miss the other two in the series? Check them out!

Revenge is Sweet (Book 1): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Sweet Chaos (Book 2): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

About Misty:

Misty Evans was bitten by the writing bug when she won a contest in 4th grade with an essay about her dad. Today, she writes the best-selling and award-winning Super Agent Series and Witches Anonymous series.

Misty is currently at work on the next books in both her series as well as her new Lost Worlds series from Carina Press. She likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. To learn more about Misty and her books, visit www.readMistyEvans.com, www.magicalmusings.com or follow her on www.twitter.com/readmistyevans.

 

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , ,

Six Sentence Sunday for Apr 14, 2013

April 14, 2013 by

6sentence

Eden found herself alone with the sweaty, leering man. He reeked of three dollar cologne and too much beer. He wore a cheap polyester shirt in the most obnoxious print she had ever seen unbuttoned to show off what little chest hair he had.

All that was missing was a thick gold chain complete with a gold medallion around his pencil neck. He had cornered her in the kitchen, leaning his elbow on the counter and telling her grotesque jokes in the hopes of making her laugh.

I’m in hell.

– Tempting Eden, Available now!

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: ,

Tracking Words

April 8, 2013 by

At the end of March, I reviewed my 2013 goals to see where I was and how I was doing. I had put down that I wanted to write 2000 words a day or 5000 words a month. I always do a tracker for each project I start but I really didn’t now how many words per week/month I was getting down. Because I’m totally anal, I put together a progress tracker just to see how I was doing. I was excited by the results.

Here’s where I ended up for the first three months of the year:

January – 19797
February – 18829
March – 43694

Wow. March was a big month for me! I was determined to finish one of my works-in-progress.

Here’s how that breaks down:

I finished my third Knight book in February with a final word count of 83205. But I was also writing the secret project, which I finished in mid-March. I was determined to get that book done by the time I went to the Dallas conference. I completed that at 85399. But I was writing a lot during a two-week stretch. I did over 12,000 words one week and over 11,000 words the next. As soon as I wrapped up that book, I started on my second Atlantis book.

I’m exhausted just reading about it all. ;)

Here’s the most telling data of all. I start tracking progress in July 2012. My year-end total for those months was 72396. At the end of March 2013, I’m at 82320. So what this tells me is I need to keep shooting for 5000 words a week (I only write during the week; not on weekends). If I can do that, I’ll end up with 20,000 a month and a whole lot of new material. That’s what counts, right?

What the tracker illustrates to me is I have improved my output quite a bit. I’ve also managed to train myself to writer faster and more. Now if I could just train myself to write better and perfect, all would be right with the world. :)

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , ,

Release Day for Tempting Eden! #paranormal #romance + Giveaw@y

April 5, 2013 by

TemptingEdenHello, all!

Today is the official release day of Tempting Eden! It’s my sexy paranormal romance that launches a brand new series of seriously hot guys from Atlantis! It’s available in eBook from Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. But stick around. There’s a giveaway!

Blurb:

Eden doubts a trip to the Bahamas will make her forget her cheating boyfriend, empty bank account and dead-end job. But when her best friend insists the trip is what she needs to forget her troubles, Eden can’t refuse the all-expenses paid vacation. Little does she know a new kind of trouble awaits.

As an elite Guardian of Atlantis, Sabre is on a mission to bring back human females from the surface. The lost continent’s lead geneticist wants to impregnate the women, mixing Atlantean DNA with human genetic material in order to save their dying race. If Sabre refuses, his sister will be killed. Despite his revulsion to such a mission he has no choice but to obey.

When Sabre walks out of the sea and finds Eden on the beach, he can read her deepest fantasies loud and clear. At first it’s enough to simply bring them to life, touching her to ecstasies she’s never before experienced. But when his heart falls under her spell he knows he can’t take her back to the scientists and a life as a guinea pig. He intends to keep her for himself…no matter the price.

Excerpt:

Eden found herself alone with the sweaty, leering man. He reeked of three dollar cologne and too much beer. He wore a cheap polyester shirt in the most obnoxious print she had ever seen unbuttoned to show off what little chest hair he had.

All that was missing was a thick gold chain complete with a gold medallion around his pencil neck. He had cornered her in the kitchen, leaning his elbow on the counter and telling her grotesque jokes in the hopes of making her laugh.

I’m in hell.

Could this get any worse? He was the third guy to hit on her in less than an hour.

Her best friend, Gillian, meant well bringing her here. After Gillian’s winter-long nagging Eden had finally agreed to all expenses paid getaway to Crooked Island in the Bahamas with her, her boyfriend and several others. Eden knew her friend wanted to make her forget her broken heart and her wrecked life. To relax and cut loose Gilly had said. To get away and forget it all. Even if it was for a week. She wouldn’t take no for an answer either—she’d handed Eden the plane ticket.

Eden had a passing fancy for all things Atlantis. She looked at the trip as a way to imagine herself as someone different. An archeologist on a trip to find artifacts. A diver plunging to the depths looking for evidence. It sounded so much better than unemployed data analyst. She’d done a little island exploring pretending she was searching for the lost city looking for a stud who could take her away from it all.

It had been six months since her two-year relationship had ended in disaster. She thought her long-time boyfriend was about to pop the question. Instead she got a different surprise—finding him in their bed with his face firmly planted between another girl’s legs.

It had nearly destroyed her. Sent her spiraling into a dark depression.

She’d tried to survive by pouring herself into work. But even that had come to an abrupt end when her company downsized leaving her unemployed. With virtually no savings the late bill notices came next followed by the repossession of her car and the eviction notice. She had no family to turn to for help. Her life was a shambles.

I’m pathetic and in hell.

Eden hated the memories as much as she hated the stifling atmosphere in the small confines of the kitchen. It was the one room in the house where the music didn’t thump through her bones. Unable to bear another dirty joke she quaffed her martini and set the empty glass next to the offending man’s elbow.

“Excuse me, Tom, won’t you?”

“It’s Tim,” he corrected, unflustered. “And I wasn’t finished with my story yet. As I was saying we’d boarded the boat when the weather kicked up—”

She brushed by him to make her escape out of the kitchen.

“Where you going, babe?”

She gave a half-hearted wave in response.

“Okay, so I’ll call you.”

Pretending not to hear him splutter she threaded her way through the crowd, her eye on the prize—the exit. She caught a glimpse of a couple making out in a corner. Others chatted and laughed or danced as close as they could get without actually having sex. It turned her already-sour stomach to see them. The music was too loud, the air acrid with cigarette smoke, sweaty bodies and beer. She needed away from the house before she suffocated.

“Where are you going?” Gillian snatched her by the arm as she reached the door.

“I need some air,” Eden said.

Do you want to read more? Are you enticed? I’m giving away one copy a lucky commenter today! Contest ends at midnight CT tonight and then I’ll have my kiddo draw a name.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

Cover Reveal: Tempting Eden #paranormal #romance

March 25, 2013 by

Hi, everyone! I’m SUPER excited to do a cover reveal for my new erotic paranormal romance, Tempting Eden. It’s the first of the Guardians of Atlantis series and will be coming out April 5, so mark your calendars!

TemptingEden

Isn’t it just gorgeous? Covert art is by Erin Dameron-Hill.

Here’s a blurb!

Eden doubts a trip to the Bahamas will make her forget her cheating boyfriend, empty bank account and dead-end job. But when her best friend insists the trip is what she needs to forget her troubles, Eden can’t refuse the all-expenses paid vacation. Little does she know a new kind of trouble awaits.

As an elite Guardian of Atlantis, Sabre is on a mission to bring back human females from the surface. The lost continent’s lead geneticist wants to impregnate the women, mixing Atlantean DNA with human genetic material in order to save their dying race. If Sabre refuses, his sister will be killed. Despite his revulsion to such a mission he has no choice but to obey.

When Sabre walks out of the sea and finds Eden on the beach, he can read her deepest fantasies loud and clear. At first it’s enough to simply bring them to life, touching her to ecstasies she’s never before experienced. But when his heart falls under her spell he knows he can’t take her back to the scientists and a life as a guinea pig. He intends to keep her for himself…no matter the price.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , ,

Revealing the Secret Project

March 21, 2013 by

I’ve been busy! Hence the no blogging thing. Sorry about that. But something has to suffer so I could write 20,000 words since the first of the month. ;)

This month I’ve completed my “secret project”. I’m super excited about this. I first conceived this idea last summer. Well, longer ago than that really but the idea really started to take shape then. I did a lot of thinking and brainstorming before I ever put a word down. I thought at first this would be a paranormal romance but the more I thought about it the more I knew it was NOT that. I finally settled on urban fantasy and once I knew that things started to really take shape.

The story evolved into something unexpected. I never thought it would be about what it’s actually about. And it scared me. But my character kept dictating to me what the story was and how I should write it. I know that sounds weird but I’m telling you characters have a mind of their own. So I went with it. And because I was writing in first person, I let her tell me what to do.

I’d never written in first person. At least not a full length novel. So this was a new experience for me. I’d read plenty in first person, though, so I thought maybe I could kinda sorta do it. But when I sat down to type, my brain shut down. I tricked myself into writing it by using a journal. I filled up an entire leather-bound journal with the first draft of the story. It took me a while to transpose it but I did it and once I got the feel for the character’s voice and the style of writing in first person, I took off and finished it 85,000 words later.

So, would you like a teaser? Of course you would! Here’s the blurb!

An ancient prophecy…ancient relics…ancient battle…and one kick-ass modern woman ready to save mankind

Zoë Cavanaugh—immortal dream walker, sleep therapist and occasional consultant in homicide investigations—that’s me. I stay under the radar and try to help others get rid of their nightmares.

Until a black-winged fallen angel insists I use my talents to find the Horn of Gabriel, one of the five Holy Relics. Even worse? His counterpart in Heaven, a messenger angel, wants to hire me for the same job.

Torn between good and evil, I’m trapped in my own nightmare uncovering a family prophecy claiming I’m the Keeper of the Holy Relics. Accepting that position means I accept my duty as the one—the only one—who can stop the coming war between two ultimate powers that can save or destroy mankind.

Can a girl get a break here? Now I must make the most important choice of my immortal life. Embrace my job as Keeper and secure the artifacts before Lucifer and his minions take them to Hell, or turn my back on Heaven’s angels and my destiny. Either way I’m pretty sure I’m screwed.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing

Secret Project Fun

March 11, 2013 by

montacuteI’ve been writing like a madwoman these last few weeks. I’m trying to put the final touches on a WIP and call it done. Last week I wrote just over 11,000 words. I felt great!

This weekend I spent a lot of time thinking and researching. This book – the entire series actually – is constantly in the forefront of my mind. I think about it lot and have a hard time letting go of the characters when I’m not writing. I know that sounds insane. But it’s true. I realized I hadn’t really nailed down some important locations. I needed to know where the family estate was, where my main character worked and lived. Ya know. Important stuff like that. Oh, I had a general idea but no detail.

For me, it’s all in the details.

So I spent hours looking at Google Maps and street view and screen capturing things I wanted to remember and notate. I figured out where my main character lives and what her apartment looks like. I found a floor plan I liked for her but it’s just not perfect. My husband is going to do a CAD drawing for me. He rocks! I also figured out what her apartment building looks like from the outside. Where her business is and the name of her business. You know, it took me a while to come up with that. I had to know if things were within walking distance or if she needed a car. I had to know where the bad guys hangout was (I chose a cemetery for ultimate creepiness).

My next order of business was to tackle figure out where her family estate would be. It took me some time to figure that out but I loved doing the research on that. (It’s in England, by the way.) I spent a lot of time on the National Trust website looking at all the fabulous estates and dreaming of what it would be like to live there. Heck, I’d take a visit there. I found floor plans of the house I liked as the fictional estate. I saved off photos of all that. The picture I’ve posted here is what my imaginary estate looks like. ;)

I really wanted to have them all in one place I could access easily. I’m on Pinterest so I create a new board to put all my ideas and pictures. I love it! I only have a couple of people pictures. I haven’t found representations of my other characters yet. It’s hard to find that ONE image that depicts the characters and I’m picky. :D

Anyway it was great fun. I loved doing the research and finding places. I also went out and bought some maps for the next book–Istanbul. I can’t hardly wait to “walk” those streets (all in my head, of course).

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: ,

My Writing Process

March 7, 2013 by

inkwellI know there are tons of blogs on writing and process. I also know people are probably sick to death of blogs about writing. You can guess that today’s post is about writing process, can’t you? *grin* It helps me focus and analyze what I’m doing. I try to learn something from every new experience as I go along this writing journey.

I started thinking about my process and how I construct things. Every book is different. Some are easier to write than others. Some write themselves. Some are born and then nag you until you have to write the story. Some are so difficult it takes shear perseverance to get to the end.

I’ve tried plotting. I used storyboards. I used character sheets. I used outlines. I answered lengthy questionnaires. Did that work for me? No. Every single time I force myself to plot anything I get stuck. It’s like all the creative juices shut down and the muse takes off on vacation. She’s a fickle thing. Especially when I want her to do something she doesn’t want to do.

I have resigned myself to being a Pantser with a side of Plot. I usually start with a character. This is not always the case but it is 99% of the time (ONE KNIGHT ONLY started with a jousting tournament). If I know who my character(s) is then that will usually dictate the story to me. Once I know that, in order for me to write and finish a novel, I next have to know the high points of the book. Not necessarily the climax or the black moment or any of that. But maybe just a scene or two that I want to include. Maybe a conflict. Maybe just an idea.

For example, in ONE KNIGHT ONLY, I wanted to write about a jousting tournament. I wanted my heroine to be put into a position that she would have to joust. This just didn’t make sense as an historical, which is how it started. I had too many critiquers shred that idea right off the bat. So I went back to the drawing board and fiddled with the character who turned out to be a woman from present day who befriends a Fae princess. The story went from historical to paranormal. There is a lot of history in the book but for the most part it is a paranormal. It has magic and time travel. A jousting heroine. A sexy hero who has a gambling problem.

The second book in the series, ONLY FOR A KNIGHT, was easier. I knew I wanted to write Elyne and Derron’s story which I set up in the first book. I knew a lot about what I wanted the story to be as I wrote it which made it so much easier. So that book started with character. Once I had a good foundation for the story and where I was going, I stopped and wrote up character sheets and a quick two-page synopsis. Did I follow it? Not exactly. But for the most part the entire story as I imagined is there.

Book three, A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER, also started with character. It is a continuation of book two but features the queen as the main character. I didn’t always know where the story was going and there were days I wanted to toss the book in the trash. But I kept going. I put placeholders for the things I didn’t know and moved past to the part I did know. I allowed the story to unfold organically. I trusted my characters to tell the story the way they wanted. And then I got stuck. I have found that when I get stuck like that, stopping to write a 1-2 page synopsis helps me push past that barrier and get back to the meat of the story. I figured out the ending. Did I stick to the synopsis? Not exactly. :)

Stephen King says, “Fiction is the truth inside the lie.” I believe this. I didn’t really understand it until I’d read On Writing. Nor did I understand it until I started putting it to practice. There is a story truth to your books as much as there is real truth in your life. You have to allow the characters to tell the story as truthfully as possible. If feels wrong, it probably is. Go back and dump however many words you need to make it right. It may kill you to cut those pages and words. You can always save them to a separate document in case you want them later.

When I realized this was how I constructed a story, it was very freeing to me. It allowed me to write the story as I needed. Not as someone told me I should be doing it. Don’t let anyone say your process is wrong. It’s not wrong. It’s just yours. Trust your writing. Trust your characters. And trust the unexpected. That’s what makes this the best job in the world.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , ,
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