Carol Davis Luce's Blog, page 9
June 25, 2013
Tahoe Trekker: Gangster Paddling
Travel article by my goo...
Travel article by my good friend, Alonna Shaw
http://www.mydestination.com/travel-articles/722038/tahoe-trekker-gangster-paddling
Her latest travel article for MyDestination.com is live! What do the mob and water sports have in common? Clue: Lake Tahoe is on the California/Nevada border.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Alonna Shaw, kayaking, Lake Tahoe, the mob, travel
June 14, 2013
BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-and-giveaway-night-game-by-carol.html
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Carol Davis Luce, giveaway, Night Trilogy, night writer, review
June 10, 2013
Two-week June Giveaway by Author and friend Karin Cox at ...
https://www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author
Check it out!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: angel items, Cruxim, giveaway, June, Karin Cox, swag
May 28, 2013
New Blog Theme… Testing…
Interview: Mystery Scene Magazine Interview. . . a long time ago:
Q: What made you choose to write in the mystery/suspense genre?
A: The three Dees. Every plot that came to mind had to do with something Diabolical, something Dark, something Dead.
Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: From real life. Of course, I must tone it down to suspend the reader’s disbelief. Who would swallow a story about a famous football player icon who dons a wetsuit, commits a grisly double murder, flees to his home nearby where he takes a quick dip in the swimming pool (still wearing the wetsuit) before changing clothes and catching a plane? Ridiculous and far too melodramatic, don’t you think?
Q: Are you affected by what you write?
A: I visualize menace in every corner. I’m not the person someone would want for company if they were alone and frightened. I scare myself.
Q: Can you give an example:
A: True story. A few years back someone gave me a bunch of helium balloons. The balloons roamed the house, upstairs and down, seeming to follow me–to seek me out. If I passed too close, they drifted out and gave me a static shock. I got rid of them the night I awoke at 2 a.m. to find them in my bedroom, over my bed, eerily bobbing above my head, the metallic skin of their sinister faces rubbing together…whispering…plotting…
These balloons became the villains in my short story Carnival Balloons, in the anthology BROKEN JUSTICE
Q: How much research do you do for your novels?
A: Whatever is needed. About five years ago I had to know what effect acid had on living tissue. First I dropped acid on the skin of a piece of raw chicken. When nothing happened, I warmed the chicken to body temperature. When that failed to produce the desired results, I put the acid on the back of my own hand. What? Oh that…well, yes, but it’s hardly noticeable anymore.
Q: Have any of your novels been made into movies?
A: Optioned, yes, but not produced. Not yet, anyway. The closest a novel of mine came to being embraced by greatness was when my nephew Greg, a cameraman on a shoot for Steven Spielberg, thrust his own personally autographed copy of my novel, NIGHT STALKER, at Mr. Spielberg as he was leaving the studio and asked him to please consider it for production. Greg, fearing the worst, discreetly followed Spielberg and his entourage down to the lobby to the awaiting limo, checking each and every trash receptacle as he went.
Q: Is there a conclusion to that story?
A: I’m happy to say the novel was read, then returned. I had the distinct honor of being rejected by one of the best.
Nonfiction publications include two articles for Writer’s Digest. One article, “Writing Suspense That’ll Kill Your Readers,” was recently reprinted (second edition): The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing 2010 (Writer’s Digest Books).
All novels can be purchased in e-book/electronic format at: Amazon.com - See Novel Descriptions
You can also find several of my books at Barnes & Noble
Filed under: Uncategorized
May 18, 2013
New Release: Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano
Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.
Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn’t rip them apart.
Amazon: Reclaim My Heart
Author Bio:
Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.
What others are saying about Donna’s books:
“…complex, funny, and realistic…” ~Wilmington News Journal
“Excellent!” ~Bookreview.com
“Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author.” ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon
“…a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!” ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com
Why I Write Romance Novels
By Donna Fasano
I can’t tell you how many times over the course of my 20-plus year career as a published romance author I have been asked, “When are you going to write a real book? You know, a [insert genre of choice: mystery, historical, thriller, etc].” So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell readers why I write romance novels.
I suffered a lot of tragedy while I was growing up, the worst of which was the death of my mother just as I was entering my teens. I felt as though I went from 13 to 35 overnight, and when my friends were off having fun, I was cooking and cleaning and helping my little brother with his homework. Romance novels were an escape for me. The Wolf and the Dove, The Far Pavilions, Whitney My Love, Rebecca, The Thorne Birds… if the book featured one man and one woman falling in love, I read it! Romance novels offered me hope for a happy future filled with love (hokey, maybe, but I was a naïve teen). As a young wife and mother, I discovered Silhouette Romance Novels. These books were short and sweet and uplifting. Each and every story put a smile on my face, and the happily-ever-after endings always boosted my spirits. Are romance novels real? No. Does every real-life relationship end in HEA? Of course not. But if I wanted doom and gloom, I’d watch the evening news.
As an author, I can’t think of a better way to use my talent than to bring pure enjoyment to my readers. I tell people that I write cotton candy for the mind. Think about that. When you were a kid and you put a small cloud of that wispy confection on your tongue, what did you do? You smiled. And maybe you even laughed. That’s the reaction I’m going for with my short, upbeat stories. That’s why I write romance novels. So if you’re looking to get lost for a few hours in a fun, cheery story, I hope you’ll try one of my books.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: award winning author, Donna Fasano, new release, Reclaim My Heart, romance
May 11, 2013
HBS Author’s Spotlight — It’s me!
Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Carol Davis Luce. She is the known as the NightWriter for her series of “Night” mystery novels starting with Night Stalker.
Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Literature & Fiction
Read about me, my ‘night’ novels, and the infamous psycho kitty.
Click here to read interview: HBS Author Spotlight
First time on sale. This is the last day my coming-of-age novel, AWAKENING: Secrets of a Brown Eyed Girl, will be on sale for .99¢! Looking for an instant Mother’s Day gift?
Amazon.com
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: .99 sale, bestselling thriller, Carol Davis Luce, Night Stalker, NightWriter, psycho kitty, spotlight author
May 9, 2013
Travel piece by guest author, Alonna Shaw.
I’m spreading my writer-ly wings. Here is my first travel writing piece!
Point Reyes National Seashore is one of my favorite places and has captured a piece of my heart. I’m so glad I can share a little about this area just north of San Francisco, California. Somehow a little bit of spooky seems to get into my writing. That’s what happens when kids read Edgar Allan Poe… possibly too young.
Check out my article at MyDestination.com!
Alonna Shaw, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
http://www.mydestination.com/travel-articles/721867/point-reyes-national-seashore
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Alonna Shaw, bucket list, California, Eleven Sundays novel, Pt. Reyes, seashore, travel
May 2, 2013
Guest Author for this week is Alonna Shaw
an inspirational woman with many talents.
Thank you Alonna Shaw (model, actress, artist, editor, and now author), for letting me pick a little piece of your brain.
Her debut novel is inspirational, magical, and beautifully written. It’ll make you laugh, cry, think, and get the warm fuzzies.
Amazon (Paperback)
Amazon (Kindle edition)
1. Eleven Sundays is your debut novel, what inspired you to write about this heartwarming story of love, loss, and redemption?
I was chatting with my mom about my fortune telling, albino great-grandmother when one of those prickly “chills” moments came over me. I knew something had registered, but it was sometime later that I realized the souplady character had been knocking at my writer-ly door. The other reason that got the Eleven Sundays ball rolling was my complete lack of being able to deal with loss—and I wanted to explore this.
2. How did you come up with the title?
You know that time right before you drop off to sleep?
I liked how Graham Nash of “Crosby, Stills, and Nash” described it in a HuffPost piece: “As with songwriting, that space just before you fall to sleep (what David Crosby calls ‘When the elves take over the workshop’) is most informative and often leads to the creation of a song.”
Well, I’ve trained myself to listen and make notes no matter how much I want to keep my eyes closed and tuck deeper into the covers. I don’t remember if it was a Sunday night or not, but I distinctly heard inside my head the words “Eleven Sundays.” I knew it was my title and my structure. It was a defining moment for my story and my novel.
3. Is there a message in Eleven Sundays that you want readers to grasp?
I think everyone can identify with hitting those “life speed bumps.” My characters are faced with evolving through those challenges by understanding themselves and taking risks.
4. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
My experiences with risk do inform my writing. I certainly have plenty of “life speed bumps” to draw from, but what I wanted to do was create characters separate from myself so I could allow them to react in ways I haven’t or couldn’t.
5. Are the names of the characters in your novel important?
That’s such a funny question to me. When I write I don’t even like to give characters names. I’ll refer to them as “him” or “her,” sometimes “character A, B, C, etc.” At some point in the writing the characters evolve and are no longer nameless.
If so, why? I was particularly intrigued by the cat (Brownbunnykitty),
The cat character was soft and brown like a bunny, so no name, instead a description. I wanted to slip in some subtle animal behavior since that is a subject I’m quite passionate about. The cat character is symbolic of acceptance. Sometimes animals know us better (at a core level) than we know ourselves.
and one boy’s name (Newt).
I have a family member who we refer to as “Lizard.” I wanted to find something like that for the youngest of the boys. Aliens, the movie came to mind, in it the little girl was called Newt. I have an affinity for the inception of science… so Isaac Newton was another influence.
And of course, the Souplady.
She’s one of those people in the neighborhood that get a nickname based on what they do.
6. With your acting background aside, have you ever read or seen yourself in a book or a movie?
Back in the 90s I really wanted to play the part of Rowan in Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour. Instead—as an exercise—my writing partner and I adapted that book and part of the sequel Lasher into a screenplay. Talk about dedication, we worked full-time on it. Those were two really long novels.
7. Was there anything you found particularly challenging in the writing of Eleven Sundays? What was the hardest part to write?
Once I had gathered four notebooks full of scenes, character background, and other notes the idea of writing a novel wasn’t as daunting. Sitting down at the computer became an activity of going through my to-do list. I put these notebook puzzle pieces together and had a reasonable sh**ty first draft.
Going into the next draft, when I’d come to a place that said “write a scene that…”—those were the challenging “Uff-dah” moments—as my Norwegian grandmother would say.
8. Did you learn anything about yourself from writing this book?
Yes.
· I could actually complete a story on my own.
· I could let go of my fear of structure. Structure is a friend, not the enemy.
· Method acting wasn’t a waste of my time. The exercises I practiced in the past to develop characters as an actor, now help when fleshing out characters.
9. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your debut novel?
No, not in the novel. I would’ve put more marketing stuff into place before releasing it, but life was just too busy. My husband is helping me and we are slowly rolling some out now.
10. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
I loved watching the boys as they evolved throughout the story.
Also, the last chunk of the book came to me first, hooked my heart, and was at the same time my favorite and most difficult part to work on because it stirred up too much emotion for me.
11. Are there certain characters you’d like to go back to. A sequel or spin-off?
Eleven Sundays is Annie’s story, so the sequel deals with the next chapters of her life.
12. Who designed the cover for Eleven Sundays?
I used a photo I took of some abandoned shoes out on Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. Then my husband helped me with titling since I haven’t learned Photoshop—yet.
13. You were recently featured in your hometown newspaper, how much impact does your childhood have on your writing then and now?
A lot. Thanks Mom! She taught me that dreams could come true if you work hard (be careful what you wish for). And growing up in small towns allowed my imagination to bloom.
14. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?
A jockey, then one of Jacques Cousteau’s marine biologists, then a photo-journalist, then an attorney (because they get to read lots of books).
15. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Boy, I’d be screwed since this is the career that came after the others (model, actress). I’d love to be an illustrator for children’s books if I could learn the darn programs. I’m an old-school paper and canvas artist.
Or a film director—there’s something to being in charge of the bigger picture and being social. Writers are in charge of the bigger picture but the work tends to be solitary.
16. If you could live inside the world of a book, which book would you choose?
As much as I love Edward Gorey, not his. I do kind of feel like Horton and a Who frequently.
17. Give your readers a couple of fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I had a paper route as a kid—on pony back. My version of the Pony Express.
To conquer my fear of heights I climbed to the top of the Hong Kong Conrad Hotel (61 floors) and looked over the edge—it didn’t work.
18. What makes you laugh and/or cry?
Beauty, kindness—in the good way.
Animal cruelty hurts my heart.
19. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?
I appreciate any support to spread the word about Eleven Sundays and let me know what the reader thinks. Connecting with readers helps to balance the isolated life of a writer. I’m also branching out to travel writing with MyDestination.com. Their interview about me is here MyDestination
My first piece on The Point Reyes National Seashore goes live on May 8th. http://www.mydestination.com/travel-articles/721860/spotlight-on-alonna-shaw Point Reyes National Seashore
I’m a member of Indie Writers For Hurricane Sandy Recovery. We get books to schools and libraries damaged by the hurricane or other disasters such as fire. If you know of a school in need contact: Authors for Hurricane Sandy Libraries
Oh, you have one more question? Okay—which is my favorite of your books? Well, you are putting me on the spot… I love them all, but IF I have to chose: Night Passage and Awakenings: Secrets of a Brown Eyed Girl.
Thanks so much for having me on your NightWriter blog.
Blog: http://www.alonnashaw.com/ Alonna Shaw
Buy Eleven Sundays at:
Amazon (Paperback)
Amazon (Kindle edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook book)
Apple iBookstore
Sony Reader Store
Kobo Store
Smashwords (other formats)
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: actress turned writer, Alonna Shaw, debut novel, Eleven Sundays, magical realism, mother's day gift, souplady, speed bumps
April 27, 2013
Super Sale! 2 Days Only!
NIGHT TRILOGY–Three Night Novels
2 Days only — April 27 & 28
Amazon.com $7.99 value
Click here to go to Amazon http://www.amazon.com/NIGHT-TRILOGY-Three-Novels-ebook/dp/B00CDTEISQ/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1367008900&sr=8-11&keywords=Carol+Davis+Luce
Read Alonna Shaw’s interview with Carol Davis Luce
Filed under: Uncategorized
April 20, 2013
NEWLY RELEASED BOXED SET: NIGHT TRILOGY — Three Night Novels by Carol Davis Luce
Over 48 Five-Star Reviews. This volume contains two Amazon bestselling novels, and the newest release.
Link to Amazon:
NIGHT STALKER:
Things were looking up for Alexandra Carlson. With her divorce behind her and the mysterious death of her father fading in her memory, she was moving on. Then things began to happen. Anonymous phone calls full of heavy breathing. A broken tree branch outside her bedroom window. Her cat gone without a trace. A moving shadow above the skylight. Surely it was all her imagination…
Then one day she picked up the phone. In the background she could hear a scratchy record—an old song that brought dark memories out of the shadows. That night something woke Alexandra out of a sound sleep. This time, the heavy breathing wasn’t coming from the telephone. Someone was in house with her. And she was at his mercy.
NIGHT GAME:
4 weeks in the Top 100 Best Sellers in Kindle Store.
The exclusive King’s Club resort casino is a glittering playground for gamblers with everything to gain…and the hunting ground for a shadowy killer with nothing to lose. So far, the odds are in his favor. Until casino owner Jay King places his bets on a beautiful private investigator. . .
Kasey Atwood is an expert at undercover surveillance, and no stranger to this dazzling world of high stakes and low morals. Her attraction to the sensual, enigmatic King is immediate—and incendiary. As their love affair heats up, she becomes a pawn in a dangerously seductive game of passion and revenge. Then more innocent blood is shed, and Kasey knows she can’t afford to make one false move. At risk is nothing less than her heart—and her life. . .
NIGHT WIDOW:
Murder. Mayhem. Madness. . .
“NIGHT WIDOW has all the ingredients of a first-class thriller: a reclusive former movie star, a strong and capable heroine, and a story that twists and turns like Mulholland Drive. Nothing is as it seems in this present day story of Old Hollywood, obsession, and murder. As Luce delves deeper into the life of fading film star Sybil Squire, the stakes escalate to a stunning climax.”
–J. Carson Black, author of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
“A Twisty Mystery. Enthralling…well written…the twists keep coming.”
–The Book Keeper
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: bestselling thriller, boxed set, Carol Davis Luce, new release, night game, night novels, night passage, Night Stalker, NightWriter, thriller
