Rebecca Norinne's Blog, page 8
April 6, 2015
Short Story / Serial
Hey everyone,
I wanted to let you know that I'm working on a short story that will be part of an ongoing serial when it's published.
It's a take on falling in love with your best friend that I hope to release in installments starting in May and continuing throughout the summer and fall, pending interest in the story.
For those of you who found me through my paranormal romance, A TIME APART, I know this will be a bit of a departure for you in terms of my writing style, but I hope you'll give it a chance. I'm having a ton of fun working on it, and it's allowing me the opportunity to recharge my writing batteries while I also work on book two of the Macauley Series which I hope to have ready for you all in the Fall or Winter.
I'll stop in again soon and let you know when I have a firm release date for the serial which will be titled Her Confession.
I wanted to let you know that I'm working on a short story that will be part of an ongoing serial when it's published.
It's a take on falling in love with your best friend that I hope to release in installments starting in May and continuing throughout the summer and fall, pending interest in the story.
For those of you who found me through my paranormal romance, A TIME APART, I know this will be a bit of a departure for you in terms of my writing style, but I hope you'll give it a chance. I'm having a ton of fun working on it, and it's allowing me the opportunity to recharge my writing batteries while I also work on book two of the Macauley Series which I hope to have ready for you all in the Fall or Winter.
I'll stop in again soon and let you know when I have a firm release date for the serial which will be titled Her Confession.
April 3, 2015
New Cover!
Hey everyone,
Wanted to let you know that A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series has a new cover.
I know, I know ... not the route I wanted to take either, but two things happened.
First, a reviewer mentioned to me that they hadn't thought my book was a paranormal romance because nothing about the cover matched the genre. I groaned aloud because I had typically avoided what I thought of as genre cliches in the hopes that people would appreciate it. I guess they didn't. Then, a friend asked me what genre my book was and when I told her, she said, "oh, I hadn't got that from the cover."
Le sigh.
THEN ... almost because the universe knew that I was starting to doubt myself, *other* friends and readers started sending me pictures of book covers using the same model I had used and one of the covers looks a lot like mine. Startling so. I am in no way crying plagiarism or copyright infringement because it's not so outlandish to merge the elements that I did in a romance novel about vampires. Instead I'll just say that great minds think alike.
So ...
I decided to change the cover. And here I am a couple of weeks later, having stayed up all night about a week ago working on it, with what I am calling the new and improved cover for A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series. This one includes William on the cover as well, so it's a more well rounded representation of the couple's relationship. The road represents the drive the two take from Dublin to his castle in the Irish countryside (oops, did I just give you a spoiler?!), and the print version includes a picture of the castle's exterior on the back jacket.
All this said ... I hope you like it!
Wanted to let you know that A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series has a new cover.
I know, I know ... not the route I wanted to take either, but two things happened.
First, a reviewer mentioned to me that they hadn't thought my book was a paranormal romance because nothing about the cover matched the genre. I groaned aloud because I had typically avoided what I thought of as genre cliches in the hopes that people would appreciate it. I guess they didn't. Then, a friend asked me what genre my book was and when I told her, she said, "oh, I hadn't got that from the cover."
Le sigh.
THEN ... almost because the universe knew that I was starting to doubt myself, *other* friends and readers started sending me pictures of book covers using the same model I had used and one of the covers looks a lot like mine. Startling so. I am in no way crying plagiarism or copyright infringement because it's not so outlandish to merge the elements that I did in a romance novel about vampires. Instead I'll just say that great minds think alike.
So ...
I decided to change the cover. And here I am a couple of weeks later, having stayed up all night about a week ago working on it, with what I am calling the new and improved cover for A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series. This one includes William on the cover as well, so it's a more well rounded representation of the couple's relationship. The road represents the drive the two take from Dublin to his castle in the Irish countryside (oops, did I just give you a spoiler?!), and the print version includes a picture of the castle's exterior on the back jacket.
All this said ... I hope you like it!
March 24, 2015
How do you like to keep in touch with authors?
Right now my main mode of communication with my readers is my blog, Twitter, FB, and here on Goodreads. I was talking with a couple of other authors however and they called out the fact that I don't have a website. I looked around and saw a few that I like, but most of them are just static pages with links to all the places I have mentioned here. So what are your thoughts - is a webpage essential in this day and age?
March 18, 2015
Addressing the pace at which Olivia and William's relationship escalated
I'm currently participating in a virtual blog tour where some bloggers have posted excerpts from A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series. I thought it only fair to also share those excerpts with those who have been following me for quite some time, so I posted the scene where William and Olivia first begin interacting with one another on my blog earlier today.
The reason I am writing this post and referencing that scene is because I have received some feedback, both directly and via reviews here on Goodreads, that Olivia and William's relationship seems rushed, and I want to acknowledge that feedback ... and validate it.
Their relationship seems rushed because it is rushed.
And that's because of William, who he is, and how he sees the world. I wanted readers to feel the acceleration of timeline the way that Olivia would have during the course of what I can only describe as a whirlwind courtship. Again, you can blame William because he refuses to follow the correct order of things.
So why this excerpt in relation to this critique? Well, I tried to establish that about him from this scene. It tells the reader that he's not going to play by the rules. In no way does it make sense for him to show up at her hotel in the middle of the night, but that's just who he is. A normal man would have called her in the morning, then they would have met for coffee, and then, once they had become comfortable with one another, they would have moved on to dinner. In a normal world, inhabited by normal people, they would have casually dated before jumping into an intense relationship.
But, as we see, this is not an option for William. He wants her, and that's that. There are no rules for him and we see Olivia respond positively to him in this regard. She grew up in a world of fabricated politeness where everyone followed the rules publicly even if privately they were the worst sort of person. To skip all of that and to just go for what you want? That's enticing. He's enticing.
And so she jumps in, lets the rushing tide carry her on, and never stops to consider any alternative.
From their comments and asides later in the book, we see that they both knew it was moving too fast - faster than they could have ever anticipated - but neither tried to stop it because to do so would have been futile. They've both accepted that their togetherness is their destiny and there's no point in delaying the inevitable.
I hope that helps clear up some of my intention with the pacing of their relationship, and why certain sections of the book moved at what could be seen as an alarming pace. If it doesn't, and you think I'm crazy and that I missed a great opportunity to further establish their connection, I can totally understand that too. But I just wanted you all to know where I was coming from.
Thanks for taking the time to hear me out.
The reason I am writing this post and referencing that scene is because I have received some feedback, both directly and via reviews here on Goodreads, that Olivia and William's relationship seems rushed, and I want to acknowledge that feedback ... and validate it.
Their relationship seems rushed because it is rushed.
And that's because of William, who he is, and how he sees the world. I wanted readers to feel the acceleration of timeline the way that Olivia would have during the course of what I can only describe as a whirlwind courtship. Again, you can blame William because he refuses to follow the correct order of things.
So why this excerpt in relation to this critique? Well, I tried to establish that about him from this scene. It tells the reader that he's not going to play by the rules. In no way does it make sense for him to show up at her hotel in the middle of the night, but that's just who he is. A normal man would have called her in the morning, then they would have met for coffee, and then, once they had become comfortable with one another, they would have moved on to dinner. In a normal world, inhabited by normal people, they would have casually dated before jumping into an intense relationship.
But, as we see, this is not an option for William. He wants her, and that's that. There are no rules for him and we see Olivia respond positively to him in this regard. She grew up in a world of fabricated politeness where everyone followed the rules publicly even if privately they were the worst sort of person. To skip all of that and to just go for what you want? That's enticing. He's enticing.
And so she jumps in, lets the rushing tide carry her on, and never stops to consider any alternative.
From their comments and asides later in the book, we see that they both knew it was moving too fast - faster than they could have ever anticipated - but neither tried to stop it because to do so would have been futile. They've both accepted that their togetherness is their destiny and there's no point in delaying the inevitable.
I hope that helps clear up some of my intention with the pacing of their relationship, and why certain sections of the book moved at what could be seen as an alarming pace. If it doesn't, and you think I'm crazy and that I missed a great opportunity to further establish their connection, I can totally understand that too. But I just wanted you all to know where I was coming from.
Thanks for taking the time to hear me out.
Bringing Heartbreaking Pain to the Life
I feel like it's premature to talk about the edits that I am making to book two of the Macauley Series when book one has been out for less than two months, but there is no rest for the weary.
I've dabbled in the edits since the first day that A Time Apart was released, but I didn't spend too much time thinking about what comes next since I was still so focused on what was happening now. It would be easy to sit back and let months pass between book releases, but I want so badly to continue William and Olivia's story, to get it in the hands of readers who loved the first book. And so yesterday I buckled down and got serious about my edits. What I realized was that what I had written was good, but it wasn't as full as it could be. What I mean by that is that all of the details and dialogue and important plot points were there, captured in print, but it was missing that sense of atmosphere, a layer of texture and depth. So that's what I've been working on adding to the manuscript; that's what I mean when I say that I'm also doing re-writes.
I just finished re-writing a scene that was already fraught with tension and drama, quite possibly the one scene in the entire series that could turn a reader off on my writing altogether. It's violent, and brutal, and in its original form, it was painful to read. Now? It's excruciating, hauntingly painful. And that's a good thing. You walk away from that chapter feeling like your heart has been ripped out of your chest. You ache for the character, and you understand just a little bit why they are the way that they are. You want to heal them. You know you can't, so you hope that the other characters can do it for you.
It's terrible, but it's amazing as well. I'm so incredibly proud of what I wrote, and it sounds weird to me to even write those words because of how abhorrent the scene in question is. Who's proud of that level of pain, humiliation, and violence? I guess you could say that as an author who for years has struggled to add a true depth of emotion to words outside of dialogue, the fact that I was able to accomplish this scene so startlingly vivid, so crushing in its weight, that's why I'm proud.
I can only hope that when the time comes for you to read it that you don't think I was going for the sensational, trying to shock you for the sake of shock. I hope you can see the emotion, feel the pain of the character, understand their heartbreak.
I've dabbled in the edits since the first day that A Time Apart was released, but I didn't spend too much time thinking about what comes next since I was still so focused on what was happening now. It would be easy to sit back and let months pass between book releases, but I want so badly to continue William and Olivia's story, to get it in the hands of readers who loved the first book. And so yesterday I buckled down and got serious about my edits. What I realized was that what I had written was good, but it wasn't as full as it could be. What I mean by that is that all of the details and dialogue and important plot points were there, captured in print, but it was missing that sense of atmosphere, a layer of texture and depth. So that's what I've been working on adding to the manuscript; that's what I mean when I say that I'm also doing re-writes.
I just finished re-writing a scene that was already fraught with tension and drama, quite possibly the one scene in the entire series that could turn a reader off on my writing altogether. It's violent, and brutal, and in its original form, it was painful to read. Now? It's excruciating, hauntingly painful. And that's a good thing. You walk away from that chapter feeling like your heart has been ripped out of your chest. You ache for the character, and you understand just a little bit why they are the way that they are. You want to heal them. You know you can't, so you hope that the other characters can do it for you.
It's terrible, but it's amazing as well. I'm so incredibly proud of what I wrote, and it sounds weird to me to even write those words because of how abhorrent the scene in question is. Who's proud of that level of pain, humiliation, and violence? I guess you could say that as an author who for years has struggled to add a true depth of emotion to words outside of dialogue, the fact that I was able to accomplish this scene so startlingly vivid, so crushing in its weight, that's why I'm proud.
I can only hope that when the time comes for you to read it that you don't think I was going for the sensational, trying to shock you for the sake of shock. I hope you can see the emotion, feel the pain of the character, understand their heartbreak.
March 16, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway
I wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone who signed up for a chance to win A Time Apart via my recent Goodreads giveaway. I really appreciate your interest in the book.
I also want to congratulate the two winners, Lisa and Margo. As soon as I receive the updated paperback version so that I can sign it, I'll be sure to get your copies into the mail!
I also want to congratulate the two winners, Lisa and Margo. As soon as I receive the updated paperback version so that I can sign it, I'll be sure to get your copies into the mail!
March 9, 2015
The Best View for Writing
I'm longing to be back in Hawaii where I woke up before dawn each morning, made a pot of Kona coffee, and then dragged my laptop out to the lanai to watch the sun rise and work on edits for my next book.
Here at home, I'm either sitting on the couch or at the dining room table, and neither location can even come close to being as great as that condo.
Here at home, I'm either sitting on the couch or at the dining room table, and neither location can even come close to being as great as that condo.
March 5, 2015
A Time Apart now $0.99
In case you missed last week's free promotion, don't be sad. You can still get A Time Apart for a steal at $0.99 via Amazon.com.
Also, if you love having hard copies of books, don't forget to enter my Goodreads giveaway going on now for two autographed paperback copies!
Also, if you love having hard copies of books, don't forget to enter my Goodreads giveaway going on now for two autographed paperback copies!
February 22, 2015
A Time Apart is Free starting on 2/23!
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that A Time Apart: Book One of the Macauley Series will be FREE beginning on Monday, February 23, through Friday, February 27.
If you've been on the fence about paying for a book from a debut author, now's your chance to read it risk free.
If you've been on the fence about paying for a book from a debut author, now's your chance to read it risk free.
February 11, 2015
Potentially Controversial Conversation in Chapter Two
I was asked recently about Olivia's conversation with the cabbie, Paul, in chapter two. Undoubtedly, it could be viewed as problematic in its racist undertones.
I don't want to say that all male cabbies in Ireland over a certain age are a bit racist, but parts of the conversation that is portrayed in this section of the book is taken directly from a real-life conversation we had while in Dublin in 2009. On that same trip, another cabbie told us why he had wanted Hilary Clinton to beat Barack Obama for the democratic nomination for the presidency. Suffice it to say, it wasn't because he had necessarily *liked* her better.
Could I have left that section out entirely? Sure, and I even thought about it. In speaking with some early readers I even asked if I should. Unanimously the feedback was that it needed to stay because it gave a gritty realness to the situation. Cabbies can say some strange stuff - don't get me started on my last cabbie in New Orleans! - and in my experience with both public cabs, and hired drivers, the conversations are always a bit wacky.
So yes, I chose to keep it. I hope you, my dear readers, weren't too offended by it.
I don't want to say that all male cabbies in Ireland over a certain age are a bit racist, but parts of the conversation that is portrayed in this section of the book is taken directly from a real-life conversation we had while in Dublin in 2009. On that same trip, another cabbie told us why he had wanted Hilary Clinton to beat Barack Obama for the democratic nomination for the presidency. Suffice it to say, it wasn't because he had necessarily *liked* her better.
Could I have left that section out entirely? Sure, and I even thought about it. In speaking with some early readers I even asked if I should. Unanimously the feedback was that it needed to stay because it gave a gritty realness to the situation. Cabbies can say some strange stuff - don't get me started on my last cabbie in New Orleans! - and in my experience with both public cabs, and hired drivers, the conversations are always a bit wacky.
So yes, I chose to keep it. I hope you, my dear readers, weren't too offended by it.
