Isabel Roman's Blog, page 44

Monday Musings

I refuse to contemplate the fact that it's August 1. I refuse to believe that it's already August. I'm in deep denial and plan to go to the beach.

I refuse to acknowledge the older I get the faster time flies and the more I want to do. I refuse to believe I won't have time to do it all.

And I absolutely and utterly refuse to believe that age is important! It's just a number. So there survey takers who insist I reveal my age for their little pencil-pushing number crunchers.

And don't forget Tuesday August 8, Sonya Clark is joining me here to talk about her release, Mojo Queen .

Why networking is important

I read alot of other author's blogs. I don't often comment--sometimes because I have nothing to say but "Great post!" and others because there's no reason to comment. Such as a review. (Unless it's mine in which case I'll thank the reviewer.) But with reviews on other's works, I've read the blogger's words and either liked them (and the book) enough to put it on a To Buy list or didn't and will skip it.

But there's so much else out there! News on the publishing world, on what other authors are doing, on who signed with whom or who didn't sign with anyone to self-publish a novel.
That is the main reason I follow so many blogs and spend so much time reading posts on Twitter. Becasue it's important to keep up with the industry I work for. You might say writers work for themselves, but if the publishing industry isn't an industry, then what is it? A mish-mash of hapless people struggling to make a buck? Hardly.
It's a career just as any other. As a librarian I keep up with the latest books, movies, magazines, as well as budget news, state-wide happenings, and county-wide information. If I was a doctor I'd keep up with the latest research in my chosen field. So why not as a writer?
And that's why it's important to network. Even if all you do is 'Like' someone's Facebook post or retweet someone's Twitter posting. Gets your name out, their name out, and maybe it helps another author learn the latest bit of news.
(Picture taken on a Google Image search, from the site Rahmatan lil 'Alamin (Blessing for All Creation) Global Counter-Extremism Network because I liked it best.)

From the Grammar Divas

I subscribe to their email newsletter and in this is their latest. Thought I'd spread the good-will grammar. And I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter.

What was then

I can't believe how much I've learned writing-wise in 3 years. (In other things, too, but let's stick with writing.)

Just recently I read over In the Shadows, my Civil War novella. Coming in at 10,838 words it's one of the shorter stories I've done. It's also one of the weakest. I know what happened, it fell into the category of the write until the end and be done with it.

Since then, I've learned 2 very valuable things: Plot out your stories to the finest scene. (If that isn't your way #2 is even more important). Know your characters.

The end of In the Shadows is much stronger than the beginning. Why? I know who Jack & Marion were by the end. In the beginning, not so much and it reflects my lack of knowledge.

I'll be spending the next 2 weeks adding to this story, both in content and character development. When it's finished, I know it'll read so much better!

Things I learn from Twitter

I'm pretty up on the news from world headlines to local nonesense. But I rely on twitter for book-world stuff. Like the person using a real agent's name to contract books (so not cool) or even literary deaths.

But here's acouple things from yesterday afternoon:

douglassonders Douglas Sonders: Calling All Beards! Casting For New Facial Hair Personal Portrait Series http://t.co/GeYEHMX VAStateParks Virginia State Parks: On 08/04/2011 At Hungry Mother - Snake Rattle and Whoa! http://dlvr.it/cXXmy Dhympna Dhympna du Maurier: I tested my vocab and know 39,400 words -- how about you? #testyourvocab http://t.co/ZKpmyBJ Georg_Grey Georg Grey: A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it. CarinaPress Carina Press:Did you add your opinion? You tell us: what should a digital book be priced? http://bit.ly/oScuzU For that last one you really should!!

On taking things in stride

I am not a laid back person by any means. I enjoy relaxing and there are days when it's better to flop on the couch than to anything. But when it comes to my writing, I'm very much the push-push-push type of gal.

Writing is not an industry where push actually works. It takes a long time for things to manifest. You write the book. Finished! But THE END is only the beginning in this long trip.

By taking things in stride, by not trying to change the unchangeable, it makes for a healthier, happier, and more productive work strategy. And life. Because let's face it, somethings (and people) can't be changed.

So as you're working on your next book while you wait for word on that one you just finished, remember: Sure, it's better to have another offering to agents/publishers/readers but it's better to step back, take a deep breath, and remember you're only in control of so much.

Guest: David Brown

Today my guest is David Brown with his first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany , thoughts on writing full-time, and 6 cats. Well, maybe not the cats. They could be keeping watch from the windowsill or standing guard around his computer. They might chime in, but that's for David and his feline friends to decide. I'm open to the possibility.

Writing full-time is my ultimate dream and with the release of my debut novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, in May I am hoping I'll be making the first steps towards fulfilling that dream. I'm not a greedy person, you
understand. In fact I'd gladly earn just enough to cover the bills through writing and that would be perfect for me.

In those moments when I get ahead of myself with daydreams I imagine being a full-time writer and having a small house in the country but one with plenty of land. My wife, Donna, and I have six cats and only one likes to go out at the moment but it would be nice to leave the door open for all of them and not have to worry about busy main roads.

I think my daily routine would comprise of waking up mid-morning and after a hearty breakfast taking a walk in the local area, maybe to some nearby woodland, to clear my head and exercise the dogs which I hope we would have at that point. After a long walk it would be back to the house for lunch and then the afternoon would be devoted to writing, whether it was short stories, the latest novel or a handful of blogs.

In the evening I'd take things a little easier. A glass of whisky and coke would suffice, the television would be on (probably repeats of Only Fools and Horses which always amuse) and I'd be on the laptop
doing a spot of Internet browsing for the latest news, using Twitter and Facebook and if it's a Saturday cursing because Barnsley FC have just lost again.

That's my dream at present and as things stand it's a long way away at the moment. That won't stop me from continuing to pursue my writing dream and whether I make it to that country house or not we'll have to see. I'd gladly sacrifice that rural retreat for the guarantee of being able to write full-time. There's nothing I'd rather do than write for a living and, believe me, I've tried many other jobs to convince me of that!
Book Blurb: [image error] "The White Oak, Clarendon's oldest brothel, lured and destroyed men by the thousands. Fezariu was different. He had never been drawn by the White Oak's vices but the brothel had still ruined him when he was just a boy. 

Salvation came in the form of the Merelax Mercenaries – Elenchera's most prestigious hired hands. They gave Fezariu the chance to escape from his past. Immersed in the world of dangerous assignments in the colonies Fezariu longed to forget everything about his childhood but only in facing the past would he ever be free of it."Book trailerPodcasts Purchase links: Kindle...Paperback...KindleAuthor bio: David Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and first conceived the idea of the Elencheran Chronicles at college in 1999. He spent ten years compiling the history of Elenchera, resulting in 47,000+ years of events, 500+ maps, 2000+ pages, several short stories and many much-needed acquaintances with Jack Daniels.
David also has a blog, The World According to Dave, which features reviews, stories and dramatic tales of the horrors of owning cats.
David now lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with his wife, Donna, and their six cats. Fezariu's Epiphany is his first novel.David's Twitter profile
GoodreadsBook trailerWebsite

4 Things Never to Think About Your Book

This was originally going to be FIVE things, but then I realized I could combine so it ended up being FOUR. Less of a round number but alas.


Over the last few weeks, I've re-read 2 of my short stories. Shorter stories I guess you'd call them. Shadow State and In the Shadows, the stories I recently received the rights back to. I've learned several things in those read-thrus

1. Editing is super important. That 3rd reading you really don't want to do? Do it. I can't believe I missed a couple mistakes! Misspelled words, missing quotations, weird spacing.

2. Give yourself time between readings. I once finished a story and started the read thru that evening. Wow, what a mistake! Not only was my brain fried, but it was stuck on the ending when I needed to read the beginning.

3. No word you've written is that great. No matter how cool it is, how literary, how well it fits with the theme or style of the book, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. If people are stumbling over just to pronounce it, if you can't spell it on your own, it does not belong!

4. Going off, no word you've written is that great, edit yourself. Just because you wrote it doesn't mean it's the best thing since Shakespeare. I'm all for choosing every word that fits, carefully crafting the sentence/paragraph/scene/chapter...but if it needs cutting do it.

Guest Author: Lorelie Brown

My guest today is Lorelie Brown talking about her new release, Catch Me . I haven't read this story yet, I read tons of westerns over the years then just stopped. However, I've recently got back into them and find this premise great.
Before getting to Lorelie's post, I want to share a quote I found from Louis L'Amour, king of westerns:''If you write a book about a bygone period that lies east of the Mississippi River, then it's a historical novel,'' he said in 1975. ''If it's west of the Mississippi, it's a western, a different category. There's no sense to it.''

Welcome Lorelie!
Hi everyone! Thanks for having me here and being willing to listen to my chatter. I promise I won't take too long. And if you stick around through the end, there might just be something in it for you.
I like to pretend sometimes that I'm an intellectual. I write historicals because I like the juxtaposition of reality versus what can be imagined. The fine line between being true to life and yet maintaining the fantasy of the romance industry. It's harder than it seems, as I'm sure we all know.
But then I keep talking. And eventually I show my hand.
I'm a shallow, shallow girl.
I like the clothes. More specifically? I like the mystique of a hard-edged, mean and rough man dressed up in layers and layers of "proper" dress. [image error] Let me show you some examples:
He's not wearing much, is he?
Wait, did someone just accuse me of pandering with hot pictures? Why yes, I am. (I want people to pay attention to me and buy my book. Why wouldn't I pander? Bring on the hotness!)
So anyway, he's not wearing much, right? Doesn't in any way inhibit his hotness. That stomach alone...Wow. Bad (good?) things could happen to that flat tummy. But there's not much mystery to this guy, now is there? He's hot and a little broody.
[image error] Wait. More pandering. Those are accessories, Lorelie. Not clothes. Moving on.
[image error]
This guy's been up to something. He's a little muddy and hopefully a little worn out. We're starting to get some story to work with. He's been working. Working hard even, it looks like. But he's still not wearing much. Nothing's really hidden. That tasty tank-top with the (artful) smears of mud don't conceal those arms. In a way, that's good. But it also is a bit of a metaphor. There's not much to peel back on him, is there? [image error]
Doc Holiday, as portrayed by the once-hot Val Kilmer. Now there is an outfit we can work with. The vest and the long coat and the suspenders underneath. The white button-up shirt. Something intriguing about a man you have to undress, right?

My hero in CATCH ME wears a very similar outfit. Dean's a bounty hunter and he's tasked with bringing Maggie back to the tiny town she's lived in all her life--and where she robbed a bank. Running around shirtless isn't really a possibility (except that one time where Maggie watches Dean chop down a tree.) but that's a good thing. Because Maggie is a girl who loves a puzzle. And she'll figure Dean out if it's the last thing she does.
Now, you could go buy a copy of CATCH ME. In all reality, I hope you do. Please, support my hot cowboy habit! But because I am such an awesome, nice, wonderful author (LOL. If you read that with a straight face, you're more credible than I am) I'm going to give away one e-pub version copy today. In the comments, just tell me who would be your favorite man to undress. One lucky, random winner will win! (Because winners win. That's what they do.)

Guest Author:Stacey Thompson-Geer and Stevi Trinity

How To make Co writing work!
So there seems to be a lot of amazement over the fact that Stacey and I wrote a book together and are still friends.
So, we thought maybe we would talk about it so that if there is interest out there for other people that they can work around it.
Stacey and I talked about this book for a while before it came into fruition. We talked so much about it, that I could actually see it play in my mind! :)
So it took about a week to get the first section back to her, but I finally did.
That was when we set a goal of about a year, and we passed it back and forth.
Sometimes it was hard and frustrating. I won't lie about that, learning how to be honest completely, was a challenge that truly turned into a blessing! There were a couple of times when we both had to pass it back, and say I can't work with this can you find another avenue to take the story.
Every time we passed the story back and forth, it was a surprise, because of the way we decided to write the story, neither of us knew what the other was going to write. Lol, the truth is half the time I didn't know what I was going to write! HAHAHAHA
Sometimes we would be on a brake of writing, if we something going on in our life, and we would talk about the things we would like to bring into the story, like Stacey wanted to have an interaction with Acacia and Lynn, and so we talked about how that would go. I took her character of Raiden, who appeared by surprise later in the book, and made a whole new situation with him, that shocked Stacey, but she liked it, so I got to keep it! HeeHee ( I actually told her I would not delete it, to save my life.)
So that is how we did our book! :) We had Honesty and trust, and if we took offense, then we had to get over it. I think helps that I am so laid back! LOL
[image error] Book Description:The world has changed, we have changed. The world we once knew has fallen away and left us in a wasteland of Magick. Powerful witches and underworld gods control our lives. The past comes back in ways we are not prepared for. The Gatekeepers are our only hope. The question is if we can get to them first.http://thegatekeeperseries.infohttp://wickednightspublishing.info/?p=158Trailer for the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR3FpEoDFHMAuthor Bios:
Stevie Trinity Stevie lives in Wyoming with her family. She loves the wide open space There is nothing better than sitting out on the prairie looking out at the stars, or driving less than an hour to the Mountains and climbing trees, and yes she still climbs trees! :)
Stevie started to write short stories when she was 12. She loves poetry and started to write poems when she was 13. She then stopped writing in her early 20s, due to raising a family and focusing her attention elsewhere. When she was 30 she started to write again.
A couple of years later the Gatekeeper series emerged. She and her co author spent many hours talking about and discussing the world they created. Stacey really encouraged Stevie to write again.
Currently Stevie is working on a historical romance about the old west in a time of amazing change! She is also working on the second book to the Gatekeeper Series.
Stacey Thompson-Geer

Stacey is a wife and mother of three. She started writing in High School with horror short stories. One of her first is now published through the kindle - Silver Bullet. When she's not dreaming up her next story or novel, she can be found hanging out with her kids or reading one of her favorite authors. She is also an avid Facebooker and Twitter user. Stop by her website to see what she's working on and any of her backlist work.