Zara West's Blog, page 26

Awesome Romance Author LG O’Connor

Zara West Suspense

Today I am interviewing awesome romance author LG O’Connor. LG writes spicy contemporary, new adult, urban fantasy,  and paranormal romance. The first book in her Trinity series also has a young adult version. Let’s find out what makes this prolific writer tick.

Take it away LG…

What do you do when you are not writing?

Writing is my second full-time job! I’m actually a marketing executive at a Fortune 500 company. I love both jobs, and couldn’t imagine doing one without the other.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I didn’t start writing my first book until I was in my mid-40s. If I eliminate the gap between when I put the manuscript down to focus on a new job, moving, and a renovation, it only took about 5 months to write. *chuckles* It’s the editing that took a year! My first book was published in April, 2014.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

It chose me. At the time, I was binging on paranormal romance, so my first series is urban fantasy / paranormal romance. Contemporary found me in 2013, with Caught Up in RAINE.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

My all-time favorite book is The Little Prince, but the authors who opened up being a writer for me were Charlaine Harris, J.R. Ward, even Stephanie Meyer and the whole Twilight saga (don’t judge). I devoured both young adult and adult books. They formed the basis of my inspiration. Now, I love Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas, Penny Reid, Elizabeth Hunter, to name some.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

The entire first chapter of Caught Up in RAINE is based on something that happened to me, and the reason I wrote the book. It’s about a widowed, 40-something romance writer who spots a hot, 20-something landscaper who looks like the male lead in the novel she writing. She stops her car and asks him to be her cover model. That’s the scenario that happened to me, except I didn’t stop the car. That left me wondering, “What if…?”

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My next novel is the second book in the Caught Up in Love trilogy, and it’s called Shelter My Heart. The series centers around three New Jersey women: romance writer Jillian Grant, her sister Katherine “Kitty” McNally Lynch, and Kitty’s daughter Jenny Lynch. All part of a family that is plagued by loss, each woman harbors her own guilty secret and has to journey through her own personal pain to find redemption and ultimately surrender her heart for a second chance to get ‘caught up’ in love. Shelter My Heart is Jenny’s story. Here’s the teaser:

Devon, an ailing, young CEO-in-training due to inherit his dead father’s conglomerate saves the day for Jenny, an engaged young woman on her way home to see her family. To repay his kindness, she agrees to be his date for his family’s annual society gala and convince the board that he’s healthy and going to marry. Two weeks are all Devon needs, and two weeks are all Jenny can give—until the stakes rise, forcing Jenny to answer the question: How far is she willing to go to save Devon’s life?

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I think the toughest criticism came as a brand new author from my first editor who wanted me to change the characters to the point that it wasn’t even the same story…or the story I wanted to tell.

When a New York Times bestselling author with a thirty-year career in publishing, and over 65 books published, told his wife (who told me) that he thought I was going to break out.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

I have three pieces of advice!

1) Do this because you love it, never because you think you will get famous or make money

2) Learn how to accept feedback graciously, and develop a tough skin

3) Network, network, network.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you for all your support. I appreciate you, everyday! Without you, this wouldn’t be nearly as rewarding.

[image error]Caught Up in Raine
Don’t judge a book by its cover model.

by LG O’Connor

Forty-two and widowed, romance writer Jillian Grant believes hospitals equal death. Plagued by loss and convinced more is imminent when her aunt ends up in critical condition after heart surgery; she has come to equate the absence of pain with happiness. When she spots a hot, young landscaper working on the hospital grounds with an eerie resemblance to the male lead in her next novel, she convinces him to pose as her cover model.

Working multiple jobs to put himself through college, twenty-four-year-old Raine MacDonald is no stranger to loss. Behind his handsome face and rockin’ body lies family tragedy and agonizing secrets. When circumstances put him back in the path of his abusive father, fate delivers Jillian as his unwitting savior. Thing is, when he thinks of her, his thoughts are far from platonic.

Despite their age difference, Jillian and Raine discover they’re more alike than they could ever imagine. But torn between facing her own fears and grasping a chance at happiness, Jillian makes a soul-shattering decision that threatens to blow their world apart.

BOOK #1 in the Caught Up In Love series (Romantic Women’s Fiction / New Adult)

For any woman who has ever loved a younger man. Learn more:  www.CaughtUpInRaine.com [image error]

Now available! Get caught Up…Buy a copy now on Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo 

Check out reviews: Goodreads 

Contact me: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | SheWrites 

Have a question or comment for LG O’Connor?
Please post it below.

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Awesome Romance Author Michelle Libby

Zara West Suspense

Today contemporary romance author Michelle Libby visits my blog and shares her interests, her books, and gives some good advice to young writers. Take it away Michelle…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?  

Being from Maine, I’m mostly friendly, am very loyal (Go Pats!) and I like to be in the outdoors, especially if I’m in one of the many lakes and rivers. I started writing on New Year’s Eve 1999. I wrote my first 300 word chapter and was so proud of myself. (That was a little over a page, not enough for a chapter.)

I knew I wanted to write romance novels because they made me happy when I read them in college. I was one of those college kids who subscribed to a reader service and when the four books would come, I would spend the weekend reading. I didn’t leave my dorm room. Well, those days are past, but I still love to stay up late reading an engrossing book.

I am married and have two children who are nearing adulthood.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I’m a serial volunteer. I can’t say “no” although I have tried. I have spent the last 11 years volunteering for Boy Scouts as a leader, committee chair and more. This year I joined the executive board for the council as the marketing guru. Before that I spent 12 years as a Girl Scout leader for my daughter.

I am involved in my local writing chapter, am involved in civic organizations to help keep kids off drugs. I am on the Board of Directors for the local chamber of commerce.

What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?

I have had a multitude of jobs from working at McDonalds and Sears to working in elder care and teaching. Each job I’ve had had helped my writing grow. Working as an editor for the local weekly paper has been the only thing that hindered my fiction writing, because I was writing so much for the paper, I didn’t have the energy to sit back at the computer in the evening. Having a flexible schedule has been crucial for my family. I did daycare for five years when my son was young. All of these experiences provide fodder for my writing. I’m working on a story now with a wise-assed grandfather who is loosely based on one of the men I worked with.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

I just signed a book with Soul Mate Publishing about a police officer who is accused of murdering a criminal in the town he patrols. There is no title yet or release date, but you can find more information on my website at www.michellelibby.com as more info gets release.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

The book I am working on now is about a competitive shooter. I love a strong female character who surprises the reader with her saucy attitude and unique skills.

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

I am also in the process of releasing my backlist now that I have the rights back. Watch for those in the coming months, starting with “Kidnapped,” about a billionaire playboy who wants to win back the heart of his high school love by any means possible.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

I have found myself speaking to groups of kids and individuals who want to go to school for creative writing to become the great American novelist. I try to be realistic with them. They are unlikely to make a million dollars out of the gate. Write a good book, but have a job to fall back on in case you need rent money or food.

However, there is nothing quite like the thrill you get every time you open your email and find the cover of a new book. Or when you see your book in print, knowing that you did that. My absolute favorite thing is when readers say “You kept me up all night reading your book.” I think, “You want me to say sorry? I’m not…I think that’s awesome.”

“Breaking the Story”
in the anthology Welcome to Serenity Harbor.
By Michelle Libby

Everyone wants something from the editor of The Serenity Harbor Gazette Erin Ridge. Lucky for her this time it’s the hot firefighters in town. However, they are incredibly busy with a large number of fires on the island. Despite that she finds time to meet with hunky firefighter Seth Greenway for all of the details of the fires and the firefighters.

Seth knows he’s being set up with the darling of Serenity Harbor when he’s asked to be the subject of a story on the fire department. He can’t help but want to get to know Erin as long as they can keep things professional. Hurting her would mean being blackballed from the department, but saving her life becomes a daily habit and he finds himself being drawn to her magnetic personality.

When Erin accuses someone Seth knows of setting all of the fires in town trouble brews between the couple. She is determined to break the story without Seth’s support causing a rift between them. Erin wants to do what’s right and Seth has to determine what is more important, the firefighter brotherhood or love?

Buy Links
AMAZON  |  BARNES & NOBLE  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO

Learn more about Michelle Libby

WEBSITE www.michellelibby.com

BLOG http://www.michellelibby.com/saucy-women-packing-heat-blog

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/authorMichelleLibby

TWITTER @mclibby

If you have any questions or comments for Michelle Libby, please post them below, and she will get back to you. 

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Awesome Romance Author Cheri Allan

Zara West Suspense

Be ready for something different. This week’s author interview has a new feel thanks to bestselling romantic comedy writer Cheri Allan. It will leave a smile on your face, I am sure.

Take it away Cheri…

WILL CHERI ALLAN BE THE NEXT BACHELORETTE?

Hi, everyone! *waves* I’m Cheri Allan, and I write hopeful, humorous contemporary romances. If you’ve heard of me (bless you!) you may already know I have a not-so-secret obsession with reality dating shows. I know what you’re thinking, and, no, I have no plans to watch UnReal, but if it’s a reality show where contestants/cast members vie for the affections of one or more other contestants/cast members whether with the help of matchmakers, in a South American rain forest, or in exotic cities around the globe, I’m in! Bring on the popcorn! This is why today’s spotlight book is ALL OR NOTHING, a story about what happens after the cameras stop rolling and our hero returns to his small town, still single, hoping he can drift back into obscurity. (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work out that way.)

Awesome Romance Author M. L. Stoughton

Zara West Suspense

My guest author today is M. L. Stoughton. M. L. writes young adult novels with historical and paranormal elements. She is also a member of my local RWA chapter Southern Tier Author of Romance and a good friend. Today M. L. shares a little bit about herself, her many pets, and her approach to writing.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I can be indecisive. Ask my favorite anything, and I have a really hard time answering. It’s like I’m afraid of choosing wrong.

I’ve been married twenty-six years and have two daughters. We also took in a teen boy, who’s been with us for three years.

I love animals, and rescue whatever/whenever I can: cats, dogs, squirrels, birds, bunnies, and even a cooper’s hawk. I’ve worked with a greyhound rescue, from which I adopted two. I’ve also worked with a rat rescue, fostering. And I practically got myself arrested rescuing a baby turtle from imminent death in a classroom.

What interesting jobs have you had?

I’ve been an ice-cream scooper, a wedding DJ, a balloon-toting clown, a travel agent and a dental assistant.

When did you first start writing, and when did you finish your first book?

I first started writing as a teenager, mostly poems. Then after having two children, I tried my hand at picture books, illustrating them as well. (Only a handful of people have ever seen them.) It wasn’t until I turned forty and started reading young adult books (yes, I said forty) that I found my niche. I started writing what would be my first book, Pleasantwick, in the fall of 2008. It went through many transformations: including plot and switching from first to third person. I thought I finished in May of 2010. But Pleasantwick wasn’t truly ready for publication until the end of 2014. It released in February 2015.

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Yes! Pleasantwick Falling, the sequel to Pleasantwick, will be releasing in February 2017. I don’t have the exact date, but you can follow me on Facebook or Twitter for more information. I’ll be revealing the blurb and cover very soon and giving away prizes. Don’t miss it.

Here’s a teaser:

Two months ago, Melinda wouldn’t have believed witches were real.

Two days ago, she was preparing to start her senior year.

Two minutes ago her entire life changed.

What project are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a young adult contemporary paranormal with romantic elements, think Mean Girls with a paranormal twist.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Don’t try to do it alone. Find a critique partner and/or join a writers group. If you can’t find anyone local, there are many online groups and writers looking for partners. It may take a while to find the right fit, but once you do, it will be more than worth it.

PLEASANTWICK A Young Adult Paranormal Romance) by M. L. Stoughton

When her father begins restoring an ancient run-down house, deep in the California woods, Melinda Richards is instantly captivated. Steeped in mystery, the grand old structure, dubbed Sotheby House, boasts a history, and power, that Melinda would never guess. She’s lured back time and again, especially after meeting a handsome stranger in the nearby woods.

Luke Sotheby is in trouble — in more ways than one. Not only is his magical world, Pleasantwick, under attack by dark witches, but his ancestral home, the very portal to that world, has been bought by a commoner. And worse … he’s falling for the commoner’s daughter.

As the magical battle spills over into the common world, the young couple begins to face dangers the likes of which neither has ever known. Lives will be lost, secrets revealed, and if Pleasantwick falls, Melinda and Luke could be separated — forever.

BUY LINKS
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble | KOBO | Smashwords

Learn more about M. L. Stoughton
WEBSITE  | Facebook  | Twitter 

If you have any questions or comments for M. L. Stoughton, please post them below, and she will get back to you. 

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Awesome Romance Author G. B. Nescott

Zara West Suspense

Time to pick up a new book. This week my Awesome Romance Author is G. B. Nescott. All you have to is look at her book cover to know what she writes. With her books, you can be sure you will be laughing. Ginny is here to tell us about herself, share about her writing, and to let you know about her new book.

Here’s G. B…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m married to my tall Texan, research scientist husband and live in the northeast USA. We share our home with our actor/artist son along with Buckley, an unruly, lovable rescue dog who inspired much of this novel. With a Cornell degree and years in public, corporate and volunteer work arenas, I wrote constantly. After developing training class materials, writing legal cases, newsletter, grants and even journal articles it was a pleasant and rewarding to finally have the opportunity to write full length works of fiction. I love hearing from readers and can be reached through email at: gbnescott@hotmail.com or Twitter: @GinnyBeGoodToMe

What do you do when you are not writing?

I love to laugh and relish our friends and family. That means besides community involvement, we play lots of party games and host dinners. It also means that I pretend to maintain a household. (I dim the lights, ignore the dust and put out an extra appetizer.) In fact, much of my time goes to feeding a husband with a voracious appetite and somehow keeping us all in clean laundry.

I swim in the summer and binge on movies and chocolate in the winter. I have a drinky pooh or two. (Drink and party suggestions are given in each book, by the way.)  Then I exercise and walk our lug of a dog because I had too many carbs and calories. In other words, like many of you, I am “doing the mom thing”.

What was the most interesting place you ever visited?

Heck, sometimes visiting the grocery store is exciting enough to me. Okay, okay. I’ll admit it though. I have had amazing experiences.

Hard to believe but this short round person has swum in underground caves in Mexico, stayed in a castle in England, jet boated by the whirlpools in Niagara Falls, petted a Buffalo in Texas, snorkeled into a school of jelly fish in the Virgin Islands, and worked on Capitol Hill in college. Most welcomed? Coming home each time from the hospital, knowing I was given yet another chance. (Thank you Dr. Chevinsky)

How did you choose the genre you write in?

Romance! Comedy!  It chose me. Yes, I love action, drama and science fiction too. But to me, I always gravitated to the comic roles in acting. To have romance wrapped up with comedy, that is such momentary perfection to me. We all love Rom/Com movies, don’t we? Laughter ties into passion. I know it may be more of a chick-lit thing to have comedy like Evanovich but give me a laugh with a happy ending anytime and I will think it is the sweet spot of romance!

Is there anything you wish to say to your readers and fans?

Yes! More’s coming! Novellas are due out set in winter for Ground Hog Day and Valentine’s Day. I am working on the one for St. Patrick’s Day.

I would encourage you each to follow your creative passions. Everyone has a license to reinvent themselves. Write. Draw. Paint. Decorate. Create something out of clay. It doesn’t matter. It might be a mess at first but the process alone of learning and creating is so freeing.

Date again if you find yourself single or single again. Laugh. And as Will Durst said, “it’s okay to laugh in the bedroom so long as you don’t point.”

Tom, Dick But Not Larry by G. B. Nescott

Lydia Reed Lucas was a young widow for five years. When her son leaves for college, she is left with a stack of bills and an empty home apart from her son’s rescue dog, Riley. With a push from her PTA friends and the “help” of the dog, Liddy attempts to date again. She begins a new life stage with a choice of male characters, a bit of humor and a reignited need for erotic trysts either in real life or cyber. Will it be Tom, Dick, Larry or someone else entirely?

The book opens with Liddy on a blind date gone wrong, a dog too large and unruly to handle, and a long-suppressed need for companionship of a less furry kind. With encouragement, resilience and a bit of luck, Liddy continues her journey to find love, romance or at least a bit of release.

 

Available from  Amazon

Learn more about G. B. 

20+ years training & writing experience

Comedic actor (mainly community) for 25 +years

Writer of 2 novels and 2 novellas 2 date

Cornell graduate, RWA, NJRW, NJAN, WWW member

I give workshops on “Taking the Writing Plunge!”

 

Email:  gbnescott@hotmail.com

http://www.gbnescott.wix.com/ginnysbooks                   

Twitter:  @GinnyBeGoodToMe

If you have any questions or comments for G.B. Nescott, please post them below, and she will get back to you.

 

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Awesome Romance Author Luanna Stewart

Zara West Suspense

My awesome author this week is Luanna Stewart. Writing under the pen name Grace Hood, she has two novellas published with The Wild Rose Press. Now she is super excited to have a book published under her own name with Entangled Publishing. Luanna talks about her influences, her travels, her next book, and why she loves to cook.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I fell in love with reading romance at an early age. As a pre-teen I read and adored everything I could find by Jean Plaidy, Mary Stewart, and Barbara Tuchman. Not all strictly romance, but the stories dealt with the relationships between the lead characters. I wanted more of that – the secrets, the dreams, the emotions, so I stripped the library shelves of every Harlequin I could find. Discovering my Grammy Stewart’s collection of Harlequin Medical romances was like Christmas, LOL. (Grammy was a nurse.) When the itch to write my own stories of secrets, dreams, and emotions nagged at me, writing romance was the logical choice.

 What do you do when you are not writing?

 I love to bake. I have a monstrously enormous sweet tooth that must be satisfied. Growing up, we always had home-baked goodies in the house, so I come by it honestly. We have dessert after every supper – cookies, or cake, or pie, or homemade ice cream in the summer. For me, supper isn’t over until I’ve cleaned my dessert plate. I also like to bake bread – it’s so much better than what you get in the grocery store. And artisanal bread is really, really, really expensive! Cheaper for me to bake it.

What was the most interesting place you ever visited? 

An impossible question to give a definitive answer because every location has its own interesting bits. But, having said that, I recently returned from a trip-of-a-lifetime, cruising the Rhine River from Switzerland to Amsterdam, and I must say Amsterdam is an amazing city. The location itself is fascinating, being below sea level. All the canals, and bridges, and tall, skinny houses. And the bicycles!! Oh my goodness, you risk your life crossing the street.

Where is your favorite place to write?

During the summer I love to sit on the back deck in a comfy chair with a small folding table to serve as my desk. I need to move my seat throughout the day to stay in the shade, but I love the fresh air, the bird song, and the flowers. This time of year I’m either huddled in my office (a corner of eldest son’s bedroom – he’s moved out but it’s still his room, cuz he’s my baby), or sitting in “my chair” in the living room. Not sure how it became “my chair”, except that no one else thinks it’s very comfortable. I think it’s a lovely chair.

How much research do you do for each book you write? 

I love doing research for a new book. If it’s an historical romance, I immerse myself in the time period – study the fashion, maps, food, modes of travel. Everything I can think of to add realism to my story. I might not use it all on the page, but having those bits and pieces in my head certainly aids me in creating characters and locations. If it’s a contemporary romance I often have to research a career or a modern location. And if I’m writing a romantic suspense, I might need to do all the above as well as a new way to kill, LOL.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

 I’m currently polishing the first in a series of Victorian set historical romances. In the first book, Sybil is resigned to remaining unwed but she longs to experience the ardent embrace of a man. When her long-lost fiancé returns, she decides he’s the perfect man for the job. If only she can convince him to stop being so darned honorable!

If Wishes Were Earls By Luanna Stewart

Edward Penhallion, the 12th Earl of Claverlock, is not in the mood to start his search for wife number four. He wants to be left alone with his books, and his dreams of revenge. But the arrival of a headstrong, sharp-tongued spinster forces him to play the charming host. Not a difficult task, given her intelligence and beauty, and soon he’s not terribly eager for her to leave.

 Miss Miranda Large made a wish. When a mysterious note directs her to a tiny village in Cornwall, there to find her heart’s desire, she has no choice but to go. A snowstorm forces her to stay in the gloomy manor house of a gloomy earl. But, oh, he is a handsome devil. And he has a title – exactly what she’s always desired.

 But as the snow falls and the winds blow, Edward discovers there’s more to Miranda than a lively wit and a lovely face. And Miranda wonders if the trappings of wealth are enough for true happiness.

 Buy Links
Amazon  |  Draft2Digital

Learn more about Luanna Stewart 

Website:  http://www.luannastewart.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Luanna_Stewart

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Luanna.Stewart.nau

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/luannastewart/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14104212.Luanna_Stewart

Amazon Author Page:  amazon.com/author/luanna_stewart

 

 

If you have any questions or comments for Luanna Stewart, please post them below, and she will get back to you.

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Awesome Romance Author Marnee Blake

Zara West Suspense

My awesome romance author this week is award-winning Marnee Blake. I will let her tell us about herself. Take it away Marnee…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi everyone! *waves* I’m Marnee Blake, and I write New Adult and Contemporary Romantic Suspense. My current series, The Altered Series, has sci-fi elements to it as well. I was a RITA ® finalist this past year, and a Golden Heart ® finalist the two years before that. I live in New Jersey with my supportive husband, our two rambunctious boys, and an ornery Maine Coon cat named Dallas.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Well, mostly I try to make sure all my moving pieces don’t fall down around me!  I have two very active little boys, so when I’m not writing, I’m trying to keep them from destroying my house. I love to cook, I crochet and knit, and I read, read, read.

Where do you get your ideas?

This is the question I get asked the most by non-writers. For me, I’m not sure what it would be like to not have ideas for new stories in my head all the time. They come from everywhere and nowhere. Movies, travel, conversations… Living life gives me plenty of fodder for my writing. The ideas are constant and easy. Forcing myself to sit in the chair and put the words in the right order is the hard part.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Yes, but I always think that “writer’s block” is a misnomer. It’s more like, I don’t feel inspired or I haven’t figured out what I want to say. I think that people see writers as having the constant urge to scribble on everything or to tap away at the keyboard. And sometimes that’s true. In fact, I love those days. Most of the time, though, it’s like any other job. There are inspired days like that where everything comes easy. But, a lot of days are hard. Sometimes there are stories that are harder to tell and characters that are harder to figure out. Those days require more effort to sort the mess in my head.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite chapter to write in ALTERED, the first book in The Altered Series, is one of the final chapters, where the main characters—Seth and Blue—escape from a military base. It’s fast-paced and full of emotion. Blue, my heroine, also is a huge badass. She’s telekinetic and that scene highlights what I think are the coolest things about that power.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

My best advice to writers is to keep going. Keep writing, and keep honing your craft. Only through writing will you find your own storytelling voice. Only through getting feedback on your work will you start to see a well-balanced picture of what you’re creating.

Someone told me once that there are really only two options in pursuing publication: either you get published, or you stop writing.  There’s no time frame on this stuff. But if you keep going, every day you’re one day closer to your goal.

Altered by Marnee Blake

Blue Michaels doesn’t know who to trust. She wakes in her sleepy little town to discover everyone is dead—well, almost everyone. U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell is alive, and a handful of her friends survived. But they’re different—each of them has powers they didn’t have when they went to bed.

Oh, and someone wants them dead.

It’s going to take all of their gifts if they are going to survive until they can figure out what to do. Blue wants to believe Seth has their best interests at heart. That he really does want to take care of them and get them to safety. God knows she can’t stop thinking about him.

But, can she trust him with their lives…and her heart?

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

 

Learn more about Marnee Blake

Stay connected with Marnee by signing up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/b4i2av

Find Marnee on the web at www.marneeblake.com, on Twitter and on  Facebook

 

If you have any questions or comments for Marnee Blake, please post them below, and she will get back to you.

 

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Awesome Romance Author Joy Nash

Zara West Suspense

My awesome romance author this week is USA Today bestselling author Joy Nash! Joy is the author of paranormal romances that feature tormented angels, an absolutely hilarious cupid and his demonic friend, and plenty of villainous Druids. Today, Joy shares some of things that inspired her work, gives beginning writers an important tip or two, and introduces her new series The Nephilim.

Here’s Joy…

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

Me? Let’s see… Reader of books, walker of dog, chiller of Netflix. Lover of romance, eater of chocolate, ignorer of laundry. Mother of dragons. I might be kidding about that last one.

What project are you working on now?

Demons and Angels, the second book in my Nephilim series. The Nephilim are a hybrid race mentioned briefly in the Bible—the demonic descendants of fallen angels and their human lovers. In my series, which takes place in modern day, the struggle for dominance among Nephil clans threatens to destroy the Earth. The series began in October with The Night Everything Fell Apart. Think Game of Thrones, except with angels, demons, magic, and possibly the end of the world. Oh, and sex. Lots of it. Can’t face an apocalypse without sex!

Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?

I’d probably say it’s the event that caused me to become a writer in the first place. In the fall of 2000, I came down with a week-long flu that morphed into more than a year of debilitating chronic fatigue. The doctors called it “Post-Viral Syndrome,” which is medical-speak for “We have no idea wtf is going on with you.” I couldn’t do much physically that year, so I stayed sane by reading. I read until the pages of print hurt my eyes. That’s when I decided to write instead. I got hooked. The result was Celtic Fire, a Golden Heart Finalist which was published in 2004.

How much research do you do for your books?

Ah, research. How I love thee. I disappear happily down your rabbit hole and discover all kinds of odd tidbits with which to fascinate and bore my family. Whether I’m searching for historical accuracy, reading myths and legend, or looking up what happens when you get stabbed in the chest, the Internet is my best friend.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you either growing up or as an adult?

I was in fourth grade when I read Jane Eyre for the first of many times. I credit Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece for establishing my obsession with gothic drama. Mysterious houses, torrid romance, midnight disturbances, tortured heroes, shocking plot twists—I love it all. My second biggest influence is Douglas Adams, master of wit and interesting sentence structure. Adams is best known for the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe series, but my favorite DA book is The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, which features holistic detective Dirk Gently, the Norse god Thor, and a very odd refrigerator. I am beyond thrilled that BBC America’s brought Dirk Gently to TV! Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is my absolute favorite show right now.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Write your first draft with all the feels—then banish those feels when you’re editing. Here’s why. A reader can’t access an author’s emotions: she only has the author’s words. When you edit, become that reader as much as you can. Feel only the emotion you’ve created on the page. I know it’s hard, but I promise your story will be stronger for it.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Um, don’t tell anyone, but it’s Pokémon Go! I’ve been playing with my husband and daughter since the app came out in July. According to my stats, I’ve walked almost 700 kilometers and caught more than 3000 Pokémon. How nerdy is that? But I’ve also lost six pounds. So there’s that, too.

Word Trackers – A Good Thing or Not?

Zara West Suspense

50,000 Words and Counting!

I did it! For the third year in a row I managed to get down 50,000 words on my next novel, despite the holidays, a long-awaited visit from my sister who lives in Scotland, a book signing in Long Island, and all the daily things I do – like work.

However, 50,000 words is not a complete novel, at least not for me. My romantic suspenses run about 75,000 to 85,000 words. So that means I have 25,000 to 35, 000 still left to write. But already I am starting to feel less pressure to get those words down.  So what to do?

Word Trackers and Word Counters

One of the things I like about NaNoWri is their great word count tracker. It gives a very visual picture of your progress and also adjust automatically to keep you on track.  Now I know that you can make your own tracker using Excel. Been there. Done that. [Here is a tutorial if you want to try it yourself].

It works, but is it really necessary to create a counter from scratch? With that in mind, I set out to explore what was available on the web. Here’s what I found.

Excel Spreadsheets

If you have a basic understanding of Excel, [like don’t mess with the formulas in the cells] then you will enjoy Svenja Goslen’s beautiful Excel spreadsheets that track daily progress either for a month nanowrimo-word-tracker-spreadsheets or for a year  yearly-word-tracker-spreadsheets/  These are so beautiful – truly works of art – that I didn’t look any further. I have used them for several novels in the past and can vouch that they definitely do work. Do consider making a donation if you do use one of these.

Progress Meters

These are simple bar or line charts [technically picometers] that show your progress toward the number of words you set. Most are in the form of a widget to embed in a blog or website. Some require more customization than others.

You can check these out here.

Writertopia

Honorless

Language is a Virus

Critique Circle

ProgPress [exclusively for wordpress]

Word Tracker Apps

What if you want to use your phone or tablet? Well there are several free word trackers to try.

1. Wordly is an App for the iPhone that is both a timer and a word tracker. I don’t have an iPhone so if you do, please feel free to comment of how this one works.

2. Writometer is a highly-rated App for Android that is fairly simple to use. It includes a timer, treats (time on Facebook, a cookie, etc. for completing your daily goal), and a progress meter widget to add to your home screen. You can set an alarm to remind you to record your words each day. It includes a dictionary and a thesaurus.

3. Wrimo lets you keep track of your counts in a more social setting that mimics NaNoWriMo‘s public persona. You can compete with a friend or all writers using the App.

Word Tracker Online Tools

But what if you want something a little more like the NaNoWri graphic page?

1. Write Track is a free online word tracker that lets you pre-plan your daily word count. You have to sign up for this before you actually see the tracker which I did not do. So I will leave that for you to explore and send in feedback.

2. Pacemaker is the tracker I think most resembles the NaNoWri one, and the one I am currently using. It gives you the choice of a calendar layout, a bar chart, or a graph.

NOTE: A trick I use to be sure to record my totals is to paste the link to my chart in the header of my WIP. That makes it easy to click at the end of the writing session and quickly record my daily total.

Should I Use A Word Tracker?

One note of caution. Tracking your words is not for everyone. It is particularly useful if you are fast drafting where you need to have a fire lit under you to keep writing and not go back and reread or edit until you reach the end.

But if you work at a more leisurely pace, or if having a word deadline hanging over you stifles your thinking or creativity, then consider using a simple timer. After all it is the act of sitting down and putting your fingers on the keyboard that will eventually produce your novel, not how many words a day you produce.

I welcome your comments.
Please feel free to suggest other word trackers I may have missed.

Related Posts All Fired Up for NaNoWri: How I’m getting ready I love to read, but not during National Writing Month Awesome Romance Author Starr Gardinier Awesome Romance Author Sarah Andre Awesome Romance Author Hywela Lyn

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Awesome Romance Writer Dorothy Callahan

Zara West Suspense

My awesome romance author this week is Dorothy Callahan! Dorothy is the author of happily-ever-after romances that span a range of romance genres. The one thing they all have in common is adopted pets.  Today Dorothy shares some of things that inspire work and are dear to her.

Thank you for being here Dorothy…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 Hi, and thanks for having me here! My name is Dorothy Callahan, and I live in Upstate New York with my husband and a house full of pets. My cats take turns blocking my computer monitor/chasing the cursor, and my two Goldens like to flop between my desk and the wall, effectively trapping me at my desk. Perhaps I should pay them for keeping me here?