Alissa Baxter's Blog, page 4
July 21, 2018
The Governess by Mary Kingswood (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries Book 1)
I am delighted to welcome Mary Kingswood to my blog today. Mary writes traditional drawing-room style Regency romances in the style of Georgette Heyer. She has just released the first book in her The Sisters of Woodside Mysteries series, where Mr Edmund Winterton of Woodside dies, leaving his unmarried daughters destitute, and needing to find genteel employment to survive.
A 5-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with The Governess.
The Governess (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries Book 1)
When Mr Edmund Winterton of Woodside dies, his daughters find themselves penniless and homeless. What can they do? Unless they wish to live on charity, they will have to find genteel employment for themselves.
Annabelle becomes governess to the daughters of the recently bereaved Earl of Brackenwood. She has no idea how to teach, but her pupils can learn all they need from books, so how difficult can it be? She’ll need all her ingenuity to cope with the rebelliousness of her charges, and the unwanted attentions of their father. But when her past returns to haunt her, she has to make a difficult decision.
Allan is slowly getting used to life as a widower, but his mother is determined that he must marry again and produce an heir. He is determined that he won’t, although the new governess is just the sort of woman he could fall in love with. But when a face from long ago reappears and stirs up suspicion, he has to consider the possibility that his wife’s death was not natural. What is worse, he himself is the obvious suspect. If he can’t prove his innocence, he may lose everything - his home, his new love and even his life.
Book 1 of the 5-book Sisters of Woodside Mysteries series, each a complete story with a HEA, but read all of them to find out all the family secrets!
Mary has written two other Regency series. The first is Sons of the Marquess, where Lord Carrbridge discovers his finances are in a perilous state. His five brothers must find ways to support themselves. Will they choose careers, or look for rich heiresses to support their wealthy lifestyle?
A 5-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with Lord Reginald.
Her second series is titled The Daughters of Allamont Hall. In this series, Mr William Allamont dies unexpectedly. His will includes generous dowries for his six daughters, but only on condition that they marry in the proper order, the eldest first.
A six-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with Amy. For even better value, you can pick up the box set of books 1-3.
You can find out more about Mary's books, sign up for her mailing list to receive a FREE novella and read sample chapters at her website: http://marykingswood.co.uk/.
Biography
Mary lives in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with her husband. She likes chocolate, whisky, her Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in her campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. She dislikes driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, and hospitals.
The lovely lady in her avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.
Buy The Governess on Amazon.
February 17, 2018
The Big Misunderstanding in Romance Novels
It is often said that there are two sides to every story, and it could similarly be said that there are two sides to every romantic relationship. That’s what makes writing romance novels so interesting. Look at any piece of romantic fiction and you will find situations where a female character sees something in a certain way while her male love interest has a completely different point of view. It is all about how individuals uniquely interpret the facts of a situation.
Often in romance novels authors will engineer a deliberate misunderstanding (aka The Big Misunderstanding) to give their story a twist, but an author doesn't need to rely on a contrived and trumped-up misunderstanding as a plot device – rather there are numerous natural misunderstandings that happen between members of the opposite sex all the time which could be utilised to drive the story forward, and these are often a result of characters interpreting situations purely from their own perspectives.
As an author, you are constantly trying to understand your characters. This might sound silly as it could be argued that once you’ve created a character you should understand your own creation. But this isn’t necessarily the case… When I was writing my latest novel, A Marchioness Below Stairs , I created a male character that I didn't understand all that well at first. He started off in my mind in one way, but when I tried to develop him further, I began to have doubts as to what motivated him, and I had to go back to the drawing board (or in this instance the writing pad), and reassess my portrayal of him.
Authors are forced by their art to learn the skill of putting themselves into the shoes of others. That’s why writing creatively can be so draining – you’re creating a separate reality for each character in your book and in order for your story to pull at a reader’s heart-strings and come across as authentic, each character’s reality has to be convincing.
However, no matter how draining it is, I infinitely appreciate how writing has trained me to see real-life situations in a more objective way. Of course it’s possible to attempt to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and still horribly misunderstand their perspective, but at least tryingto understand someone else’s viewpoint (even if you don’t succeed every time) is an incredibly important skill to learn if you’re intent on building happy relationships with people.
It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that your desires are naturally the desires of other people. It is a trap that everyone falls into at some point or other, I imagine. In a Regency Romance, the ambitions of a young debutante presented in London for the first time don't naturally coincide with the wishes of the fashionable bucks on the town - and therein lies the delicious tension we are all so familiar with and enjoy in these wonderful historical tales.
Often in romance novels authors will engineer a deliberate misunderstanding (aka The Big Misunderstanding) to give their story a twist, but an author doesn't need to rely on a contrived and trumped-up misunderstanding as a plot device – rather there are numerous natural misunderstandings that happen between members of the opposite sex all the time which could be utilised to drive the story forward, and these are often a result of characters interpreting situations purely from their own perspectives.
As an author, you are constantly trying to understand your characters. This might sound silly as it could be argued that once you’ve created a character you should understand your own creation. But this isn’t necessarily the case… When I was writing my latest novel, A Marchioness Below Stairs , I created a male character that I didn't understand all that well at first. He started off in my mind in one way, but when I tried to develop him further, I began to have doubts as to what motivated him, and I had to go back to the drawing board (or in this instance the writing pad), and reassess my portrayal of him.
Authors are forced by their art to learn the skill of putting themselves into the shoes of others. That’s why writing creatively can be so draining – you’re creating a separate reality for each character in your book and in order for your story to pull at a reader’s heart-strings and come across as authentic, each character’s reality has to be convincing.
However, no matter how draining it is, I infinitely appreciate how writing has trained me to see real-life situations in a more objective way. Of course it’s possible to attempt to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and still horribly misunderstand their perspective, but at least tryingto understand someone else’s viewpoint (even if you don’t succeed every time) is an incredibly important skill to learn if you’re intent on building happy relationships with people.
It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that your desires are naturally the desires of other people. It is a trap that everyone falls into at some point or other, I imagine. In a Regency Romance, the ambitions of a young debutante presented in London for the first time don't naturally coincide with the wishes of the fashionable bucks on the town - and therein lies the delicious tension we are all so familiar with and enjoy in these wonderful historical tales.
February 7, 2018
Lessons For Romance Writers From Mr Darcy
In a number of romance novels, the hero seems to have two opposing sides to his character. When one first encounters him in the initial chapters, he appears to be the total opposite of what he becomes later in the book. Does this suggest an inconsistency in characterisation on the part of authors in order to create conflict and drama in a story? Is it possible for a man to stop exhibiting bad behaviour simply because he falls in love?
The prime example of such a man is Mr Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. When the reader first encounters him, he seems proud and rude, and Elizabethdoesn’t warm to him at all. This is what he says about Elizabeth when he first sees her:
“She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.” (Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley about Elizabeth Bennet; Chapter 3).
Frock Flicks Of course later on in the book we discover that Mr Darcy has many good qualities, and the reader is won over by his declarations of love for Elizabethand his acts of service and devotion on her behalf. However this doesn’t change the fact that Mr Darcy exhibited behaviour that was very questionable in the beginning of the book.
Authors often show a character’s “bad” side and highlight it in order to create conflict in a story (and indeed how dull books would be if the hero and heroine were always nice!), but when an author comes to reveal such a hero’s good characteristics, it’s very important to make it apparent to the reader why he behaved in the difficult/nasty/unherolike manner in which she initially portrayed him. Jane Austen does exactly this later in Pride and Prejudice when Mr Darcy says the following:
“I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.” (Mr Darcy speaking; Chapter 60).
Jane Austen did a brilliant job of being consistent in her characterisation of Mr Darcy. Indeed, he is rude and proud when we first encounter him in the pages of Pride and Prejudice, but later on we come to understand his behaviour and we truly believe by the end of the book that Mr Darcy has changed for the better.
Many modern day romance authors draw inspiration from the character of Mr Darcy. What I hope to point out in this post, though, is that a character needs to make sense and be fully rounded in order to appeal to a reader, and what is truly satisfying is when a character grows and changes, but in an understandable manner.
The worst thing to do as a romance author is to allow your hero to behave in a Darcy-like manner in the beginning of a book, and then later on, magically transform him into Mr Nice Guy without explaining or showing why he has changed for the better. If an author fails to illustrate this, a reader will be left scratching her head, wondering how this man could possibly have transformed himself, as he simply won’t ring true.
November 30, 2017
A Christmas Regency
If you're in the mood for a holiday read, my Regency romance, A Marchioness Below Stairs, features a Christmas scene with lots of delicious food, great conversation and a kiss under the kissing bough! It is available at Amazon and other ebook stores, and will be released as a paperback shortly.
November 17, 2017
A Marchioness Below Stairs is now available
Buy my latest Regency Romance on Amazon: Reviews of A Marchioness Below Stairs
"What an enchanting and unusual love story this is, and made all the more enjoyable because it is atypical! Here we have a marchioness who is willing to contravene the expected social mores of the haut monde, and indeed she takes control at a crisis moment in which fellow females would never soil their hands to see others replenished in a time of need. But Isabel is not altogether as one would imagine, and whilst good fortune has come her way in one instance, in another it has caused her great pain. All too well aware memories of former affairs of the heart can be as painful as when first experienced, hers are far from fully vanquished. And despite another man teases her mercilessly, his interest in her evident, life soon becomes somewhat heated below stairs as Isabel and the hero rally to provide sustenance for her uncle’s guests.
Aside from the romance, which in itself develops in the strangest of circumstances, there are elements of the period many Regency fans are familiar with in general, but few authors will venture to. Thus Ms Baxter touches on the subject of slavery, and Isabel’s discovery of a unique business premises in London brings to light a delicacy that is today a familiar sight in almost every town in the Western world, hence she has created – as far as I am aware – an original Regency plotline. Well done Ms Baxter." - Francine Howarth - Romance Reviews Magazine UK
“A well-researched story that weaves the issues of slavery and feminism into the plot. The start of Indian takeaways in England and the Frost Fair of 1814 are historical trivia included in the story that make this book an interesting reading experience.” - 4 stars, RTBookReviews.com
“Although this was predominantly a romance, I felt it was more than that. The story spoke about a strong woman who stood up for her truth and freedom, and fought for justice and human rights. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich history in this book and how the heroine was a woman beyond her time. The book was infused with some tension and suspense too.” – Kathy Bosman
“In the best Regency romance style, Alissa Baxter has created a wonderful story. You are thrust into the life of the title character literally from page one.” – Goodreads reviewer
“If you love Regency romances this book has it all - gorgeous refined women, a sprinkling of rakes and cads, and handsome heroes. The author has introduced different threads of interest through commenting on the politics of the time (in particular the anti-slavery bill), and through delving with detail into mouthwatering below-the-stairs food preparation. With an interesting array of characters and a good handful of subplots, this is definitely a book to read if you wish to take yourself off to a historical time where men thought they ruled but women secretly knew better.” – Cherie Mitchell
“A widow determined not to marry again - a man determined to change her mind. Add in a snowed-in house party, stolen papers, and a scoundrel, and you have a very entertaining story. Enjoyed the tale.” - Goodreads reviewer
"What an enchanting and unusual love story this is, and made all the more enjoyable because it is atypical! Here we have a marchioness who is willing to contravene the expected social mores of the haut monde, and indeed she takes control at a crisis moment in which fellow females would never soil their hands to see others replenished in a time of need. But Isabel is not altogether as one would imagine, and whilst good fortune has come her way in one instance, in another it has caused her great pain. All too well aware memories of former affairs of the heart can be as painful as when first experienced, hers are far from fully vanquished. And despite another man teases her mercilessly, his interest in her evident, life soon becomes somewhat heated below stairs as Isabel and the hero rally to provide sustenance for her uncle’s guests.
Aside from the romance, which in itself develops in the strangest of circumstances, there are elements of the period many Regency fans are familiar with in general, but few authors will venture to. Thus Ms Baxter touches on the subject of slavery, and Isabel’s discovery of a unique business premises in London brings to light a delicacy that is today a familiar sight in almost every town in the Western world, hence she has created – as far as I am aware – an original Regency plotline. Well done Ms Baxter." - Francine Howarth - Romance Reviews Magazine UK
“A well-researched story that weaves the issues of slavery and feminism into the plot. The start of Indian takeaways in England and the Frost Fair of 1814 are historical trivia included in the story that make this book an interesting reading experience.” - 4 stars, RTBookReviews.com
“Although this was predominantly a romance, I felt it was more than that. The story spoke about a strong woman who stood up for her truth and freedom, and fought for justice and human rights. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich history in this book and how the heroine was a woman beyond her time. The book was infused with some tension and suspense too.” – Kathy Bosman
“In the best Regency romance style, Alissa Baxter has created a wonderful story. You are thrust into the life of the title character literally from page one.” – Goodreads reviewer
“If you love Regency romances this book has it all - gorgeous refined women, a sprinkling of rakes and cads, and handsome heroes. The author has introduced different threads of interest through commenting on the politics of the time (in particular the anti-slavery bill), and through delving with detail into mouthwatering below-the-stairs food preparation. With an interesting array of characters and a good handful of subplots, this is definitely a book to read if you wish to take yourself off to a historical time where men thought they ruled but women secretly knew better.” – Cherie Mitchell
“A widow determined not to marry again - a man determined to change her mind. Add in a snowed-in house party, stolen papers, and a scoundrel, and you have a very entertaining story. Enjoyed the tale.” - Goodreads reviewer
November 10, 2017
Pre-Order A Marchioness Below Stairs
I am excited to announce that my Regency romance, A Marchioness Below Stairs, is available for pre-order.
If you would like to pre-order it before its release on 15 November, you can buy it from Amazon.
If you would like to pre-order it before its release on 15 November, you can buy it from Amazon.
September 12, 2017
Cover Reveal: A Marchioness Below Stairs
About the Book
Escaping from Bath and the news that her former love is about to marry another, Isabel, the young widowed Marchioness of Axbridge, accepts an invitation to her cousin’s house party. Yet, instead of finding respite, she stumbles into a domestic crisis of majestic proportions: The kitchen staff has succumbed to the influenza.
If that weren’t bad enough, her former sweetheart arrives with his fiancée, seeking shelter from the increasingly hazardous snow storm. Trapped inside Chernock Hall with a volatile mix of house guests, including abolitionists and slave owners, Isabel wishes she could hide below stairs for the duration. But, alas, she cannot. While helping in the kitchen, Isabel is cornered by her cousin’s disreputable friend, Marcus Bateman, who challenges and provokes her at every turn.
At last, the storm subsides. However, the avalanche of repercussions cannot be undone. Caught in the grip of the terrible winter of 1813, will Isabel’s greatest threat come from the weather, her abolitionist views, or from falling in love again?
If you love traditional Regency romances, you'll adore A Marchioness Below Stairs.
Release Date: 15 November 2017
February 17, 2016
Congratulations to author Kathy Bosman who has recen...
Congratulations to author Kathy Bosman who has recently released her second book , Love Finds a Way - Pauline’s Story, in The Album Book series. Kathy is giving away three copies of her first book in The Album Book series, Looking For Love. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ef5201fc7/
Love Finds a Way - Pauline’s Story:
Blurb:
When Ella hands over The Album to Pauline, the young food blogger is about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime—she’s been chosen as a contestant in The Culinary Dream, a TV cooking competition. Pauline takes The Album with her to Italy where the filming is to take place and meets food photographer, Xaden, the brother of the man who ripped out her heart and put her off relationships for a long time.
To her dismay, she gets eliminated from the competition on the first round. Humiliated and determined not to be pitied by her friends and family, she decides to stay behind in Italy for a holiday as well as blog about her restaurant experiences in the exotic European country.
Xaden won't leave her alone and proves to be a friend in a time of need but when he kisses her, she pushes him away, afraid he’ll hurt her like his brother did. The TV series offers her a job as the editor of the food magazine and she is to work alongside the very man she wishes to avoid. Forced to be with the man she can't resist but whom her instincts tell her she can't trust, Pauline is in for an emotional roller-coaster ride with The Album as her companion and guide.
Excerpt:
Pauline nodded and zipped her bag closed, then lifted her chin. Why had she become a quivering mess? No more time for fear. Time to go get that prize. If she wanted it. Did she really want to live in Italy for a year? Oh, crumbs, what was she thinking when she pressed send on the online application?
Her mother tapped Pauline’s watch.
“Time to go.” She gave her daughter a light kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to miss you, but this is going to be the best year of your life. You’ll see, girl.”
Her mother gave her such an assured nod, some of Pauline’s doubt faded. Not all, though. On jelly legs, she made her way through customs and to hand in her luggage. As she picked up her suitcase, a tingle ran up her arm. The Album lay in the centre, padded with all her clothing. She’d signed her name on it the night before. A sense of strength trickled into her bones. Could The Album actually speak to her? She almost felt it tell her it would be with her and help her. It assured her she’d walk the right way and have success.
Okay, I think I can handle this flight now.
I’m ready. Italy, here I come.
Author Bio:
Kathy lives in South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool and bugs thrive. She writes romance in many forms, most of the time with women who feel deeply, men who care strongly and characters who learn lessons along the way. Every so often, she sprinkles a little magic in her stories. When she’s not writing, she makes sure her kids work hard as they do school at home, tries not to get too distracted by dust bunnies and cooks up a storm to keep the tummies full. When she’s not hectically busy, she loves reading romance and fantasy novels, watching movies, and dabbling in different crafty things, depending on her mood.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Finds-Way-Paulines-Story-ebook/dp/B01BNMW1B4
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/614697
Kobo Books: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/love-finds-a-way-2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-finds-a-way-kathy-bosman/1123406511?ean=2940152623901
Online Links for Kathy:
Website and blog: http://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/NokET
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KathleenLBosman
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ef5201fc7/
Love Finds a Way - Pauline’s Story:
Blurb:
When Ella hands over The Album to Pauline, the young food blogger is about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime—she’s been chosen as a contestant in The Culinary Dream, a TV cooking competition. Pauline takes The Album with her to Italy where the filming is to take place and meets food photographer, Xaden, the brother of the man who ripped out her heart and put her off relationships for a long time.
To her dismay, she gets eliminated from the competition on the first round. Humiliated and determined not to be pitied by her friends and family, she decides to stay behind in Italy for a holiday as well as blog about her restaurant experiences in the exotic European country.
Xaden won't leave her alone and proves to be a friend in a time of need but when he kisses her, she pushes him away, afraid he’ll hurt her like his brother did. The TV series offers her a job as the editor of the food magazine and she is to work alongside the very man she wishes to avoid. Forced to be with the man she can't resist but whom her instincts tell her she can't trust, Pauline is in for an emotional roller-coaster ride with The Album as her companion and guide.
Excerpt:
Pauline nodded and zipped her bag closed, then lifted her chin. Why had she become a quivering mess? No more time for fear. Time to go get that prize. If she wanted it. Did she really want to live in Italy for a year? Oh, crumbs, what was she thinking when she pressed send on the online application?
Her mother tapped Pauline’s watch.
“Time to go.” She gave her daughter a light kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to miss you, but this is going to be the best year of your life. You’ll see, girl.”
Her mother gave her such an assured nod, some of Pauline’s doubt faded. Not all, though. On jelly legs, she made her way through customs and to hand in her luggage. As she picked up her suitcase, a tingle ran up her arm. The Album lay in the centre, padded with all her clothing. She’d signed her name on it the night before. A sense of strength trickled into her bones. Could The Album actually speak to her? She almost felt it tell her it would be with her and help her. It assured her she’d walk the right way and have success.
Okay, I think I can handle this flight now.
I’m ready. Italy, here I come.
Author Bio:
Kathy lives in South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool and bugs thrive. She writes romance in many forms, most of the time with women who feel deeply, men who care strongly and characters who learn lessons along the way. Every so often, she sprinkles a little magic in her stories. When she’s not writing, she makes sure her kids work hard as they do school at home, tries not to get too distracted by dust bunnies and cooks up a storm to keep the tummies full. When she’s not hectically busy, she loves reading romance and fantasy novels, watching movies, and dabbling in different crafty things, depending on her mood.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Finds-Way-Paulines-Story-ebook/dp/B01BNMW1B4
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/614697
Kobo Books: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/love-finds-a-way-2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-finds-a-way-kathy-bosman/1123406511?ean=2940152623901
Online Links for Kathy:
Website and blog: http://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/NokET
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KathleenLBosman
July 28, 2015
Bad Medicine by Caroline Fardig
Congratulations to Caroline Fardig, who has released her next novel in the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. BAD MEDICINE is the third book in THE LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series.
Tagline: What do a smokin’ hot detective, an evil chiropractor, and a couple of blind dates from hell have in common? Lizzie has to wrangle them all in the third book of THE LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series!
Book Description: Lizzie Hart is overjoyed that six whole months have passed without a single murder in the sleepy town of Liberty. It’s also been six months since Blake Morgan heartlessly dumped her, but she’s determined to get over him. She’s slimmed down, ready to party, and injury-free, except for a little nagging pain in her ankle. She’s also very single, but her friends are doing everything in their power to fix that—including setting her up on one disastrous blind date after another. Lizzie’s reprieve is short-lived when an old friend of hers is found dead from an apparent drug overdose. She wants to write it off as bad behavior after having seen the guy cheating on his wife with the new chiropractor in town. However, when she sees that same chiropractor playing doctor with another man who ends up dead, she worries there could be murder afoot. Doing her best to stay on the right side of the law this time, Lizzie decides to go straight to the police with her suspicions. Unfortunately, the only cop available to speak with her is the stern yet hot new detective who has already given her a traffic ticket and a reprimand for public intoxication. Not surprisingly, he brushes her off, leaving her no choice but to begin snooping on her own. Lizzie soon learns she’s going to need help to get to the bottom of this mystery, but her best partner in crime solving, Blake, has turned into her worst enemy. Can Lizzie and Blake find a way to work together to catch the killer…or will they kill each other first?
Rafflecopter link/embed code: Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...? Embed code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author: CAROLINE FARDIG is the author of the LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series and the forthcoming DEATH BEFORE DECAF, available November 2015 through Random House. Her eclectic working career included occupations of schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.
Social Media: Website: www.carolinefardig.com Blog: http://www.carolinefardig.com/blog/ Mailing List: http://www.carolinefardig.com/mailing... Twitter: @carolinefardig Facebook: https://www.facebook.com
Caroline tells us a little about her writing process:
Plotting vs. Pantsing
Plotting—systematically planning out one’s entire novel before writing a single word. Pantsing—flying by the seat of one’s pants with no planning involved, allowing the book to take on a life of its own and write itself.
I walk a fine line between plotting and pantsing. I do plan. I have a notebook specifically reserved for each book I write. In there, I make lists of characters (with physical and personality traits), potential red herrings, all of the backstory I need for developing a good motive for murder, and most importantly a day-by-day timeline of events. I honestly could not live without my timeline. Sounds like I’m more of a planner that a pantser, doesn’t it?
On the flip side, I feel like every time I write a scene, it never goes as I’ve envisioned it in my head. I spend a great deal of time daydreaming about scenes I’m going to write but don’t actually go and jot down my thoughts until I’m ready to write the entire scene.
Many times, a particular song I hear on the radio will transport me into my scene, and my brain will play it out like I’m watching a movie. But then, when I go to type the words into my computer, something completely different comes out. Sometimes better than I imagined, and sometimes worse. It’s amazing to me how my characters “decide” how something is going to play out rather than sticking to my precious timeline. In that way, I feel like I’m a pantser, because I often go back and have to change my timeline to match what I’ve written.
Every writer is different. Pantsers write with abandon and passion, following their muse wherever she leads. Plotters keep everything in line and write fluid, easy to understand stories. However, I think you need a little bit of both to write the perfect book. Write with fire and zeal, but make sure to keep yourself on the right track.
February 3, 2015
Caroline Fardig's new release: That Old Black Magic
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC is the second book in THE LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series. It is the sequel to Caroline Fardig’s bestselling debut novel, IT’S JUST A LITTLE CRUSH. Lizzie Hart is back—snooping, lying, and chick-fighting to uncover the truth, hoping not to break any hearts along the way… especially her own. That Old Black Magic… will it put Lizzie under its spell?
Book Description: Lizzie Hart hoped her first day back at work after nearly being killed would be uneventful. No such luck. Before she can finish her morning coffee, Lizzie and her co-workers find a dead body on the rooftop of their office. Media vultures that they are, the Liberty Chronicle employees are psyched to have first-hand news to report. Lizzie, however, is devastated when she realizes that the victim is her ex-boyfriend’s brother. When evidence begins piling up against one of Lizzie’s friends, she reluctantly dons her detective hat once again, determined to find the real killer. She’s not thrilled about chasing another psychopath around, but she’ll do anything for a friend. Lizzie’s love life is rapidly becoming a hot mess, too. Her latest attempt at sleuthing isn’t leaving much time for her budding romance with town hunk Blake Morgan. Add that to the fact she’s hiding a secret so big it could rock the very core of their relationship, it’s no wonder that Lizzie’s in a tizzy. Poor Lizzie ends up juggling a murder investigation, a wacky Wiccan coven, and two men vying for her attention—all while nursing injuries left over from the last time she decided to play Nancy Drew. It’s a good thing she always has a few tricks up her sleeve. Rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway About the Author: CAROLINE FARDIG was born and raised in a small town in Indiana. Her working career has been rather eclectic thus far, with occupations including schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom. Finally realizing that she wants to be a writer when she grows up, Caroline is currently hard at work churning out more novels in the LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series. She still lives in that same small town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat. Social Media: Website:www.carolinefardig.com Blog:http://www.carolinefardig.com/blog/ Twitter: @carolinefardig Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caroli...
Book Description: Lizzie Hart hoped her first day back at work after nearly being killed would be uneventful. No such luck. Before she can finish her morning coffee, Lizzie and her co-workers find a dead body on the rooftop of their office. Media vultures that they are, the Liberty Chronicle employees are psyched to have first-hand news to report. Lizzie, however, is devastated when she realizes that the victim is her ex-boyfriend’s brother. When evidence begins piling up against one of Lizzie’s friends, she reluctantly dons her detective hat once again, determined to find the real killer. She’s not thrilled about chasing another psychopath around, but she’ll do anything for a friend. Lizzie’s love life is rapidly becoming a hot mess, too. Her latest attempt at sleuthing isn’t leaving much time for her budding romance with town hunk Blake Morgan. Add that to the fact she’s hiding a secret so big it could rock the very core of their relationship, it’s no wonder that Lizzie’s in a tizzy. Poor Lizzie ends up juggling a murder investigation, a wacky Wiccan coven, and two men vying for her attention—all while nursing injuries left over from the last time she decided to play Nancy Drew. It’s a good thing she always has a few tricks up her sleeve. Rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway About the Author: CAROLINE FARDIG was born and raised in a small town in Indiana. Her working career has been rather eclectic thus far, with occupations including schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom. Finally realizing that she wants to be a writer when she grows up, Caroline is currently hard at work churning out more novels in the LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series. She still lives in that same small town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat. Social Media: Website:www.carolinefardig.com Blog:http://www.carolinefardig.com/blog/ Twitter: @carolinefardig Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caroli...
