Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 70

Friday Freebits with Shanna Hatfield #frifreebits

This week, I've loaned my space to Shanna Hatfield, so I hope you will welcome her six paragraphs and enjoy her work.




She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to call Tate and Kenzie Morgan and give them each a tongue-lashing.


Tate called the previous afternoon and said he knew someone experienced willing to work for what she could pay. Unable to believe her good fortune, she expected a grizzled old ranch hand in his retirement years, not a good-looking giant of a man in his prime.

Tall and brawny, Cort McGraw happened to be one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen. From his silvery-gray eyes rimmed with black eyelashes to the dimple in his all-too-attractive chin, she wished Kenzie had given her some warning. If she’d known what he looked like, that he was so young, rugged, and hunky, she would have told Tate not to bother sending Cort to her place.

Mercy, he smelled good, too. Even now, his manly, musky fragrance filled her senses. Annoyed with herself for savoring his heady scent, she brushed at her nose, hoping to chase away the lingering aroma of his aftershave.

Reluctantly, she admitted he seemed good with children. When he hunkered down on her son’s level to speak with the boy, that simple act showed her more about his character than even he might be willing to reveal.

She hadn’t given any man the time of day since Dean died, but she found herself inexplicably drawn to Tate’s friend. Bothered by the folly of her thoughts, she quickly dismissed them. She had no business, none at all, getting involved with another man, especially not one who looked and smelled as fine as Cort McGraw.

Buy Link:  Fall into the magic of the holidays...


A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Amazon| Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords| Apple
Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow her online:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads| You Tube| Twitter

WRITE A SUCCESSFUL THRILLER BY RITA KARNOPP #genredifference

Is there a difference between a mystery and a thriller?  Yes, although they most certainly overlap in some areas. A mystery follows an astute protagonist who collects clues to solve a crime after it’s been committed.A thriller details the prevention of a crime before it has been committed.
Bestselling thriller writer Gary Braver (Skin Deep) said, “…dread drives thrillers.”  I can’t think of a better way to describe it.  You know up-front who the good and bad guys are. Don’t create ‘calms’ in a thriller or your reader will put the book down (I think this is true for any genre’ – but oh so true with a thriller).Face it, thrillers need to thrill.  Your audience knows your hero or heroine will fall victim to a scheming, deceitful, sneaky, clever, and unsuspecting killer.  I learned early on that a thriller is most effective if you write from the viewpoint of the person who has the most to lose.  Make your reader care by giving the protagonist tragedy, complications, struggles, adversities, hurdles, and emotional complexity.Action is your friend so start your thriller at the scene of the crime.  Introduce the victim, the hero, and as soon as possible the villain.  What immediate complications or obstructions does the protagonist face?Key is action – action – action.Immediately make the reader aware what the protagonist must do and what he fears.  (He must stop the serial killer but the murders emulate his daughter’s death.) I was told to make my characters miserable.  That’s such good advice.  When was the last book you read where you were totally upset with what happened to the hero or heroine?  I get downright ticked!  That’s the sign of a good story.  It keeps me miserable, gives me false-hope, sorrows, distresses, anxiety and near-death experiences.  Why?  Because you don’t want your protagonist to succeed until the very end.Always remember your characters must have emotional growth by the end of the story.  They must change and find victory over past baggage.  In Copycat Sigourney Weaver fears leaving the house and in the end she is forced to the roof. Conquering her fear saves her life.When it comes to writing the thriller – keep the pacing fast, dialog propelled.  Each scene must reveal something new, whether profound or trifle.  There’s no time for retrospect or flashbacks.  Why?  Isn’t there a killer on the loose?  A simple reminder that short sentences and paragraphs . . . speeds things up.  End each chapter with a cliffhanger, admission, or shocking revelation.
The simple writing rule – ‘show – don’t tell’ is never more important than in the thriller.  Action verbs and forget the adverbs.  Don’t start sentences with –ing words.  Subject and verb should be at the beginning of the sentence.  One last bit of advice – something I heard an author say at a RWA Writer’s Convention; teach us something.  It doesn’t matter if you share information about blood splatter patterns or that Border Collies are ranked the smartest dogs – let the reader walk away with some knowledge.
  

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry If I Want Too - Ginger Simpson

Seems like yesterday I was 20, aching to be twenty-one.  Don't have any idea why except that twenty-one makes you "legal."  I don't drink, never was much of a smoker, but the idea of being a true adult was something I craved.  I guess because I never expected to live long enough to flash my ID at someone who asked for verification of my age.  Always had a terrible fear of death, and no matter which age I turned, I convinced myself I was living my last year.  You know, won't live to graduate, but when I did, wouldn't live to get married, but I did.  Then I worried I wouldn't live long enough to have children, but I did...even though they tried hard to kill me.  *lol*

My father and his entire family passed away young.  Dad was only sixty-one, so that was my new number of fear.  But here I am...bypassing that age by several years, shocked that God has granted me the good fortune of enjoying a grandson despite predictions that I looked exactly liked my Aunt Miriam who passed away much too early.  I guess there are some strong "Poole" genes that have overrode the weak "Pomerantz" ones since my Mom just turned 90 on November 1 and I'm still alive and kicking, albeit not very high.  Funny how no one asked to see my ID when I was younger, but here in TN, if you buy beer, you have to show an ID.  Even the age spots on my hands won't do...they want to see my license.  Strange.

My sisters and I were all enjoying a good laugh the other night (but crying inside) at what shocks lay in store for senior citizens.  Growing old is one surprise after another.  From your eyelashes falling out, to whatever held up the skin on your neck disappearing overnight, to growing that "old lady" belly most likely meant to support your elongating boobs to the possibility of spending money on lifting something or plumping up something that's disappeared.  I've never had much lip line, so imagine if I turned up with one all of a sudden!!!!  I guarantee you, I'm no Angelina Jolie.

  We are all three years apart, and my youngest sister will turn 60 in a few weeks.  For one year, my sisters, our brother and I will all share the same decade.  While some people love the "back in the sixties" craze...for us it will have a whole new meaning:  sixty, sixty-three, sixty-six, and sixty-nine.

So...today I give thanks to God for letting me be part of this wacky family that produced the first punk rocker in a redneck town, a child determined to piss off every policeman in his path, a wonderful grandson who hasn't let autism defeat him, along with a mother, sisters and brother who add love and laughter to my life.  Two daughters-in-law have made my sons the men they are today...I couldn't have done it without them.  Yes, I'm spoiled. I'm especially thankful for a husband who takes care of me, loves me, wrinkles, fat and all, and is proud of everything I've accomplished in my 69 years.  Kelly is my biggest fan.

So, Happy Birthday to Me.  My sister, Glynda got me "delivered" water so I can begin drinking the 96 ounces a day the nutritionist advised.  I do good to drink a plastic bottle of Aquafina in a day, so perhaps my end will come from drowning.  That's always been another fear of mine.  *lol*

Veterans Day in United States #vetsday

Veterans Day in the USA is a holiday to honor all who have served in the United States Military Services.Veterans Day 2014 - Tuesday, November 11, 2014In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day.Observance ~ Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half-mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes may be held at 11am. Some schools are closed on Veterans Day, while others do not close, but choose to mark the occasion with special assemblies or other activities.Veterans Day is officially observed on November 11. However, if it falls on a week day, many communities hold their celebrations on the weekend closest to this date. This is to enable more people to attend and participate in the events. Federal Government offices are closed on November 11. If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, they are closed on Friday November 10. If Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, they are closed on Monday November 12. State and local governments, schools and non-governmental businesses are not required to close and may decide to remain open or closed. Public transit systems may follow a regular or holiday schedule.History ~ On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be "filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory". There were plans for parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at 11am.In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should "issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples." An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13, 1938, which made November 11 in each year a legal holiday, known as Armistice Day. This day was originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. A few years later, World War II required the largest mobilization of service men in the history of the United States and the American forces fought in Korea. In 1954, the veterans service organizations urged Congress to change the word "Armistice" to "Veterans". Congress approved this change and on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans, where ever and whenever they had served.
In 1968 the Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) made an attempt to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. The bill took effect in 1971. However, this caused a lot of confusion as many states disagreed with this decision and continued to hold Veterans Day activities on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which stated that Veterans Day would again be observed on November 11 from 1978 onwards. Veterans Day is still observed on November 11.

WRITE WITH ATTITUDE BY RITA KARNOPP #writingtips

Life passes on . . . day-by-day, month-by-month, and year-by-year.  We settle into a rhythm and seem content.  How totally boring is that?
Wake up!  Look around you . . . then ask, “Is this what I want out of life?  Is this where I want to be at this point of my life?  Isn’t there more?”  We need a jolt of awareness before we’re dead and buried.
Okay, that’s a bit dramatic – even totally dramatic - but – hey – am I all that far off?  Look around you and make a mental note of people you admire and even envy just a bit.  What makes them intriguing?  Why or how have they grabbed your attention?
These people are ‘character material.’  Yep.  Don’t choose the cowboy who rides his horse across the ranch - checking fences day after day.  Find the cowboy who rides the rodeo circuit and finds himself unconscious in the dirt, a knife in his hand, and a dead body at his side.
“Put drama on the page and don’t let up until the end . . . and maybe not even then.”  Leave the ho-hum behind you and charge those pages with passion, extreme situations, bizarre conditions, mysterious places, pragmatic positions, and even mystical circumstances. 
Consider telling your story with the zeal and eagerness of an inquisitive child.  Create characters that instil in us - the reader - the desire to discover, disclose, divulge, and expose.  Build the intrigue and inject enough evidence to challenge the reader.  Remember to use perceptions, impressions, and even sensations.
If you’re writing in the mode of ‘oh hum’ . . . it’ll surface on the pages.  You’re tired and beaten down and you’re writing because you have a deadline.  Don’t!  It’s as simple as that. 

Write with attitude, energy, and excitement or don’t write at all.  

Friday Freebits with Ginger #frifreebits

Welcome to Friday at Dishin' It Out.  Today is the start of another novel from my backlist...this one, Betrayed .  Writing this book was one of the easiest books I've written because, although fiction, the story is based on real life--my sister's misfortune with Internet dating. My purpose in writing the story was to issue a warning about the hazards of finding faceless love, and although many have, there are more than a few who found themselves in a real pickle.  Hope you enjoy:

*****

Cassie walked into the den, pulled out the chair in front of her computer, and sat. She'd spent a long, depressing day at work dealing with her asshole of a boss and feeling like a financial prisoner. Economics forced her to stay in a job she abhorred. Loneliness consumed her and she hung her head. What she wouldn’t give for someone who understood her plight—someone to wine and dine her to help forget the day’s stress. The thought of coming home to no one except her eighty-year-old mother pushed Cass into a darker hole of self-pity. Even the antidepressants the doctor prescribed didn’t seem to help anymore.
Why was it so hard to find a decent man? So many worked in her office, but there was no mutual attraction with even one of them. There she was, a lone female lost in a sea of self-centered men who despised her for achieving a level of status with them, and a new boss who made her feel like crap. They didn’t express their feelings with words, but it didn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to see they resented her. If only she knew why.  Because she was smart, successful, and deserving?
Cassie released a pent-up breath and turned on her computer. Why was finding a man so important to her? She’d always been an independent woman who made her own decisions and answered to no one. Why now, after so many years, did she feel so hollow inside? Spending the rest of her life alone and unhappy wasn’t what she wanted.
She leaned in and traced her face with her finger, watching her reflection in the empty screen.  At forty-nine she still looked good. Her wardrobe was based on current fashion trends complete with matching accessories. She colored her hair regularly to hide the beginning wisps of gray, and if she did say so herself, it looked natural.
Moving her hand down, she followed the curve of her body, making note of her slight waist and firm hip. She glanced at the gym equipment across the room, wondering if perhaps her time would be better spent working out instead of indulging in a last-ditch effort to find her “Mister Right”. Maintaining a size ten figure wasn’t easy, and, of late, she’d fallen by the wayside on her exercise. She swallowed hard to ease the lump forming in her throat.
Why did she feel like crying? Dark thoughts pulled her deeper into depression. There were ways to end this vicious cycle. An image of an empty pill bottle laying just a few feet from a limp body crossed through her mind - she shivered and shook her head.
****
This sets the tone for why Cassie Fremont turns to her computer for comfort.  See you next week!
Buy Link:  Amazon Author's Page

CHARACTERS DRIVEN BY FRUSTRATION- CON’T BY RITA KARNOPP #writingtips

Reactions to frustration are also known as defense mechanisms because they try to defend individuals from the psychological effects of a blocked goal. When people get frustrated, they become edgy and cross. They experience uneasiness and also show various reactions of frustration.
Plotting from frustration reflects what motivates your character and how he responds, counters, and even changes as the results of his actions.  Get excited when your character instinctively reacts when he doesn’t get what he wants. Can his reaction provide you with plot ideas?
Absolutely!  I’m convinced showing internal and external frustration is the difference between believable and unbelievable characters.  Never assume your reader knows what your character is feeling.  Dig deep and portray what you want your reader to know and how you want them to react through your character’s actions and emotional frustration.It’s important to note that frustration is not a pure emotion.  It’s that hair-pulling, beyond comprehension, foot-stomping, annoyed beyond reason emotion that drives our characters into nail-biting situations that we love in a novel.
Frustration fuels our plot, makes our characters agitated and unsatisfied, and grips the reader page after page.  Always remember when you keep your characters from getting what they want - it creates frustration.  I call frustration the heartbeat of my story.

You and I want to avoid or handle frustrations – but it’s imperative our characters don’t.   We truly get to know our characters by how they react to frustration.  It’s the fuel that propels your story forward.  I’d like to suggest frustration is emotional gold.
Make sure your characters handle frustration in their own way.  People don’t react the same way to frustration, and neither should your characters.  Understanding this emotion will help you create believable emotion – which creates believable characters.
Some examples?  Crying, depression, accusations, revenge, self-deprivation, addiction, ignoring the issue, arguing, verbal and physical attacks, and even running from the problem.  It’s endless for sure.
Make sure you stay true to the core of your character’s values and they will react internally and externally in-character.  Keep in mind reactions to frustration must progress as the risks even dangers escalate, but stay within reason.
The next time you feel frustrated – take a moment and analyze what emotions you’re feeling and write them down.  Be honest – if it’s anger or hurt or even heartbreak.  Don’t miss the opportunity to evaluate the range of emotions your frustrations take you.  Give those same internal and external emotions to your characters, and your reader will believe every word.  

Remember When I Asked You To Vote? Well....Here I am Again. Ginger Simpson is my name!

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!  I made the cut and am in the final vote for fifty great writers 2014-15.  I'm so honored that so many people choose to vote for me, and now I have another opportunity to actually make it into the 5th edition of "50 Great Authors You Should Be Reading."  How great would that be?  So, if you follow the link below, you'll be taken to the voting page where you'll see names listed.  Click on the voting link and you'll be able to cast a vote for the author you wish to succeed.  I won't mind at all if it's me.  :)
Winners will appear in the print and electronic versions of '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading', which will be available to the public through online book outlets. Finalists and winners will appear on a dedicated website: 50GreatWritersYouShouldBeReading.com, with headshots, book covers and links to the author's website.
From: "The Authors Show" <danielle@theauthorsshow.com>Subject: THE AUTHORS SHOW - 50 Great Writers 2014-15 Contest Update - FINALISTS SELECTED!Date: November 4, 2014 at 4:03:30 PM CSTTo: "Ginger Simpson" <mizging@gmail.com>
Hi GingerThe first voting phase of our 2014-2015 contest "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" ended November 1st and the finalists have been selected.All participants in this initial phase were given exposure to traditional and online media via our MultiMedia Releases (MMR) on October 6  (click on the date to view the MMR).  Within the next few days we will email all finalists a digital seal to post on their website, blog, or any social media platform they see fit.The final phase of our contest is now open for voting through December 1, 2014.   The top fifty authors with the most votes will be included in the 5th edition of  "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" to be published in January 2015.  A special prize will also be awarded to the top winner.  To view the names of all the finalists and to vote for your favorite author in our final phase,  click here .Congratulations to all the finalists!Danielle Hampson - Executive ProducerThe Authors Show

Some Tips Directly From Sonia Marsh #GutsystoryAnthology

Remember when I requested you to visit Sonia Marsh's site about my having written a "Gutsy" story?I won that small competition, but I guess I was in a fog because I never realized until I received an email about book number three coming soon, that my winning story appears in the 2nd anthology.  I just ordered my copy, and I pirated Sonia's suggestions as to how to launch your book with success.  Thought I'd share.  Sonia also has information on her site about how to appear in her next venture, plus she has tips for authors in additional to how to launch your books.  Check her out and view the pictures of her launch for the second anthology.
You can find Sonia Marsh and her "Gutsy" page at:   http://soniamarsh.com.
Tips to a Successful book launchStart 3-4 months beforeOffer a panel of speakers to entertain your audience based on your book’s themeHave a moderator (locally famous if you can)Hire a local publicist to help you get local media attentionThink outside the box of what organization might be relevant to your book’s topic and invite them to joinPick a nice venueOffer food and wineCharge people for the food and wine, and offer a “free” book to everyoneSign up with Eventbrite on FBUse the Eventbrite countdown widget on your blog (Contact me if you need help with this or any marketing suggestions)Offer great door prizesMake each person on your panel speak for 5 minutes or soEngage the audience and get the moderator to have Q & AInvite everyone to review your book on Amazon Be kind, helpful and chat with everyone

CHARACTERS DRIVEN BY FRUSTRATION- CON’T BY RITA KARNOPP #writingtips

A more direct, and common response, is a propensity toward aggression.
Causes – External factors usually contributes to an individual experiencing anger. This emotion is beyond his or her control.
A character might experience mild frustration due to internal emotions.  It’s more often than not perceived as an uncontrollable problem, but then prods more severe and perhaps pathological anger.An individual suffering from pathological anger will often feel powerless to change the situation they’re in, leading to and, if left uncontrolled, further anger.
This can result in blocking motivated behavior. An individual may react in several different ways. He may react with sensible problem-solving means to overcome the difficulty.  Failing, he’ll become aggravated, disturbed, annoyed, discouraged, and behave illogically and even deceptively.  
An example of blockage of motivational energy would be the case of a worker who wants to go skiing but is denied time off by his boss. How about the construction worker who’s denied a job promotion?  She’s a woman in a man’s world and doesn’t see her qualifications are absent required trainings. If the injustice isn’t resolved reasonably, the frustrated individual may resort to unsavory methods to reach his/her goal. He might call in sick and go skiing anyway.  She might falsify her qualifications to show them!
Symptoms - Frustration can be deemeda problem–response behavior, and can have a number of outcomes or consequences, depending on the mental health of the individual.
In optimistic cases, frustration will build until it’s too great for the individual to deal with, and will consequently strive to resolve the inherent conundrum.  In pessimistic cases, however, his perception of the source of frustration is out of his control.  Therefore, his frustration will continue to build, evolving eventually to further difficult, challenging, and even violent behavior.
Persistent and adamant refusal to comply to new expectations affecting their goals or responsibilities, such as time sheets or training certifications, sometimes occur. Severe punishment may trigger individuals to be confrontational and result in non-accommodating behavior, giving you entirely the opposite results you desire.
Now, understanding all the above, you need to keep in mind that frustration becomes an important tool for plotting.  Frustrations means there’s conflict, rising emotions, and someone is not happy because they aren’t getting what they want.
Let’s tie this up tomorrow when we discuss how all this frustration will mean believable characters that drive your plot.