E.A. Copen's Blog, page 2

Why I Write

Someone once told me I’d come to a crossroads with my writing. A time and place where I’d have to answer what I considered at the time to be a silly question: Why am I doing this?I easily spend 500 hours (probably more) on each novel, writing and preparing it for publication. Imagine how else I might use that time. In 500 hours, I could travel the world. I could spend that time with my husband and kids. I could go back to school. Heck, I could even get a minimum wage job. At least there I’d m...

Friday Feature: Eternal Embrace

Werewolves, shifters, and romance! Oh my! Check out Madison Granger's newest release in the Kindred series.As they settle into their new home, the Kindred discover their fresh start is not without challenges. Alliances are forged, and adversaries are found. The storm between the sides could do more damage to the Clan than the one they fled Louisiana to escape.Paige Landrum is plunged into a supernatural world she never believed existed. She learns first hand that there are real monsters, and...

Author Spotlight: Kyleen Valleaux

Today's author spotlight is a good friend of mine and amazing author, Kyleen Valleaux. Her newest release, Revolt: Dragons of the Thaumturgic Realm, was featured last Friday so be sure to check it out.Q) Hi there and thanks for joining me today! First off, tell us about yourself. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?A) Thank you for having me! I work a lot. But that’s not necessarily something I LIKE to do, although I don’t hate it. I have three German Shepherds (two really, but my...

Friday Feature: Revolt: Dragons of the Thaumaturgic Realm

Here there be dragons!Today's feature is a brand spankin' new release and one I've been anticipating for a long time! Kyleen Valleaux's Revolt, book 1 of the Dragons of the Thaumaturgic Realm series.They broke the ultimate taboo.Bobby never imagined she would fall in love with a dragon. Maug hadn’t considered seeking a mate outside his race. They found each other by chance and stayed together by choice.Now Bobby and Maug have to contend with the enmity of two kingdoms, fairy and dragon. Worse...

Writing Character Entrances

A white 1959 Cadillac Coupe Deville slowly pulls up to a crowded Chicago sidewalk on a stormy, autumn day. The figure behind the wheel is gaunt, shrouded in shadow. When he steps out, it’s with a firm and decisive movement of his feet, as if every step was planned eons ago. His thin-skinned hands grip the head of a cane, displaying a flat-topped ring of priceless value. On his way down the busy sidewalk, the crowd parts, giving him a wide berth on instinct, all but for one man who is too busy...

Author Spotlight: Madison Granger

Today's author spotlight is Ms. Madison Granger, author of The Kindred series. If you like shifter romances, you'll definitely want to pick up this series!I had the pleasure of getting an interview with Granger. She has an upcoming release that you can find out more about below.Q) Hi there and thanks for joining me today! First off, tell us about yourself. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?A)Hi there, back at you! Thanks for having me. Nothing like starting with the hard question...

Feature Friday: Marked for the Hunt

Feature Friday is back! Let's kick it off with this lovely urban fantasy by Leah Chiasson,Marked for the Hunt. After witnessing her father’s murder, Diana Warren chose the life of a lone female Faoladh, werewolf, and promised herself that she would never go back to Wolf’s Head. Nearly eight years later she finds herself on a plane back home to attend her grandfather’s funeral. Diana doesn't realize that she is heading into the middle of a werewolf civil war, each side led by the very people w...

Writing a Grabby, Stabby Hook

Hooks are barbed bits of metal used to catch fish!Wait, what do you mean that’s not what you’re here for fishing 101?Of course you’re not. You’re here because I promised we’d talk about writing that all-important first sentence. Bear with me a second though as we talk about the importance of a good hook and why they’re arguably the most important part of the inside of your book when it comes to sales.People are busy. From a sales standpoint, your product (a novel) isn’t what you’re selling th...

The Inciting Incident: Where and How to Start Your Novel

Getting started is the hardest thing. How do you decide where the book starts? What’s the difference between story and plot and why does it matter?DISCLAIMER: None of the suggestions herein are hard, fast rules and, indeed, every one of them has been broken at one time or another. But rarely can new authors jump in and start breaking rules with an early book and see it work in their favor, so keep that in mind if you find yourself disagreeing with the points below. In this series of posts, I...

Get to the Point! Or How to Write Interesting Prose

Get to the point. Don’t dance around the truth. Say what you mean and mean what you say. These words are something of a writing motto for me. You see, I believe in straightforward prose, honesty in fiction, especially when it’s brutal. In that straightforward, blunt approach to fiction, I find a sort of beauty. You can appreciate the ugliness of life and celebrate its simplicity.The far opposite of this is what you might call purple prose. Purple prose occurs when a writer goes out of their w...