Sharon Wray's Blog, page 97

Daring Debuts ’18: Debra Sennefelder’s New Release The Uninvited Corpse

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Today I’d like to welcome Debra Sennefelder and her debut novel THE UNINVITED CORPSE to Daring Debuts!

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Leaving behind a failed career as a magazine editor and an embarrassing stint on a reality baking show, newly divorced lifestyle entrepreneur Hope Early thought things were finally on the upswing–until she comes face-to-face with a murderer . . .

Hope’s schedule is already jam packed with recipe testing and shameless plugs for her food blog as she rushes off to attend a spring garden tour in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Unfortunately, it isn’t the perfectly arranged potted plants that grab her attention– it’s the bloody body of reviled real estate agent Peaches McCoy . . .

One of the tour guests committed murder, and all eyes are on Hope’s younger sister, Claire Dixon–who, at best, saw Peaches as a professional rival. And suspicions really heat up when another murder occurs the following night. Now, with two messy murders shaking Jefferson and all evidence pointing to Claire, Hope must set aside her burgeoning brand to prove her sister’s innocence. But the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer intent on making sure her life goes permanently out of style . . .

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Sharon: Thanks for spending the day with us, Debra. Can you tell us what your book is about? 

Debra: Former reality TV star Hope Early thought her biggest problem was driving traffic to her food blog, but discovering two dead bodies and clearing her sister of their murders have Hope trading her Google analytics for amateur sleuthing. When there’s an attempt on her own life, Hope has no choice but to uncover the murderer before she becomes the next corpse du jour.

Former reality TV star Hope Early thought her biggest problem was driving traffic to her food blog, but discovering two dead bodies and clearing her sister of their murders have Hope trading her Google analytics for amateur sleuthing.…
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 Sharon: I love cozy mysteries! Where did you get the idea?

Debra: I was between manuscripts, at the time I was writing a romantic suspense series and I thought about trying to write a cozy again (I’d written one years ago) and thought it would be fun to make the amateur sleuth a food blogger, since I’d been one previously and culinary mysteries were hot. Then the story started to come together over a few weeks and I wrote the first three chapters and sent them off to my critique partner and she loved the pages so I continued.

Sharon: What a great story. Are your character based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?

Debra: My characters are not based on real people, but I would say that some of the characters have personality traits or quirks from real people I’ve met.

My characters are not based on real people, but I would say that some of the characters have personality traits or quirks from real people I’ve met. ~ Debra Sennefelder
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Sharon: Can you share your writing routine?

Debra: Writing is the top priority of any working day and once that’s done I’ll focus on other tasks such as writing blog posts, promotion or anything else that pops up such as copy edits for another book or page proofs to read for a manuscript just months from being published. Writing full-time sometimes means that I’m working on weekends and holidays. And when I’m writing a first draft I often work beyond the regular work week. I’m finding that each stage of the writing process is handled differently. First drafts are fast and furious and intense while second and third drafts are slower and take longer. I also have to schedule time to develop and test recipes for the books so it’s not unusual to find me baking in the afternoon and me saying “I’m working”.

Sharon: Can you share a little bit about yourself?

Debra: I am a full-time writer now because I was laid off in early 2017. I live with my family in a quaint Cape Cod house in a beautiful Connecticut town. We have two adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy. I joke that my new co-workers sleep on the job a lot.

Sharon: I have a co-worker like that too, but mine’s a one-eyed blue heeler.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Shrimp & Zucchini Noodles

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Photo courtesy of Sharon Wray

Today’s recipe, Shrimp & Zucchini Noodles, is inspired by my DH’s hometown, Charleston, SC. The Wando Shrimp Co (pictured above) is on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, nor far from the Charleston peninsula. It’s the kind of place you pull up to and they dump shrimp fresh off the trawler into your cooler. And since today is a Friday in Lent, I thought this would a perfect recipe to start off the weekend.

This dish is adapted from a dinner I had in the historic district of Savannah, GA, not far from where Rafe and Juliet (my hero and heroine in Every Deep Desire) live.

Daring Debuts ’18: Renee Ann Miller’s New Release Never Dare a Wicked Earl

[image error]Today I’d like to welcome Renee Ann Miller and her new novel NEVER DARE A WICKED EARL to Daring Debuts. Renee Ann is a 2015 Golden Heart finalist and one of my 2015 GH Dragonfly sisters. Her novel, NEVER DARE A WICKED EARL, is a Victorian historical romance about overcoming guilt, betrayal, and finding love.

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Hayden Milton, Earl of Westfield, is almost done in by a vengeful mistress who aims a gun at a rather essential part of his anatomy—but ends up wounding his thigh instead. Recuperating in his London town house, Hayden is confronted by his new medical attendant, Sophia Camden.

Unshaken by his arrogance, not to mention impropriety, Sophia offers Hayden a dare: allow her ten days to prove her competency. If she resigns in exasperation like her two predecessors, she will be beholden to this wicked seducer.

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Sharon: Welcome, Renee Ann, to Daring Debuts today! Can you tell us about your favorite character?

Renee Ann: That’s a tough one. I’d say Hayden, Lord Westfield, because he’s the most complex.

Sharon: I’m a huge fan of complex heroes. If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Renee Ann: Sophia. We’d go out for Italian ices at Gunter’s Tea Shop and talk about politics, but mostly gossip about the Lord Westfield.

Renee Ann Miller's debut novel, NEVER DARE A WICKED EARL, is a Victorian historical romance about overcoming guilt, betrayal, and finding love. ~ Renee Ann Miller
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Sharon: And I’d love to join you. Since your book is a Victorian historical romance, what kind of research did you do?

Renee Ann: The book takes place in 1875, so I had to research everything from the carriages used during this time to the undergarments (unmentionables) people wore. And there are parts of this story where the unmentionable will not only be mentioned, but removed.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Waffles

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Yesterday was a waffle emergency day! You know those days when you wake up and, once you have your coffee, you realize you can’t make it until noon without a waffle! (I’m sure I’m not the only one that happens too!)

So here’s the easiest waffle recipe in the world. The only possible setback is if you don’t have a waffle iron. If not, go get one. It will change your life forever. (I have three!)

And you know who else loves waffles? Calum Prioleau. A character in EVERY DEEP DESIRE who’s both the richest man in Savannah and a waffle connoisseur.

Serves 2 waffles

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Waffles

This is the easiest waffle recipe ever and the mix can be stored in an airtight container for up to six months. Perfect for brunch, snow days, and anytime you have a waffle emergency.

10 minPrep Time

10 minCook Time

20 minTotal Time

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

Waffle Mix*7 cups whole wheat flour4 teaspoons baking soda4 teaspoons baking powderWaffles1 cup mix1 egg1 cup buttermilk**3 Tablespoons oilToppingsMaple syrup2 bananas, sliced***

Instructions

Preheat waffle maker.Waffle MixCombine all three ingredients and store in an airtight container for up to six months.WafflesCombine all four ingredients and let sit for one minute.Cook in the waffle maker according to manufacturer directions.Serve with maple syrup and bananas.Recipe Type: Breakfast

Notes

*The mix lasts for up to six months in an airtight container.
**If you don't have buttermilk, add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Stir and let sit for two minutes. It's not perfect but works in a pinch.
***Can be served with any fruit that you like and/or is in season. But it does taste great with bananas!

7.6.741https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/hungry-romance-writer-whole-wheat-waffles/

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo.

And adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Waffles appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Daring Debuts ’18: Cass Morris’s New Release From Unseen Fire

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I’d like to welcome Cats Morris and her new novel FROM UNSEEN FIRE (with the beautiful cover) to Daring Debut’s today!

In the nation of Aven, Elemental magic has shaped the way of life as much as politics and war. Latona of the Vitelliae, a mage of Spirit and Fire, has suppressed her phenomenal talents for fear they would draw unwanted attention from unscrupulous men. When the Dictator who threatened her family dies, she may have an opportunity to seize a greater destiny as a protector of the people — if only she can find the courage to try.

Latona’s path intersects with that of Sempronius Tarren, an ambitious senator harboring a dangerous secret. Sacred law dictates that no mage may hold high office, but Sempronius, a Shadow mage who has kept his abilities a life-long secret, intends to do just that. As rebellion brews in the provinces, Sempronius must outwit the ruthless leader of the opposing Senate faction to claim the political and military power he needs to secure a glorious future for Aven and his own place in history.

As politics draw them together and romance blossoms between them, Latona and Sempronius use wit, charm, and magic to shape Aven’s fate — but will that be enough, when their foes resort to brutal violence and foul sorcery?

FROM UNSEEN FIRE takes place in Aven, an alternate version of ancient Rome where elemental magic has shaped society as much as law and war. In the wake of a brutal dictatorship, two factions compete to rebuild the Republic in the shape they desire. One side is protectionist and isolationist, seeking to preserve conventional morals and keep their nation small enough to easily control; the other side is expansionist and more permissive, looking to embrace the opportunities that allies and immigrants can provide. By law, the use of magic to influence politics is forbidden, but both sides skirt the rules where they can — and some are willing to step dangerously far over the line.

And here’s a teaser: 

Shadow and Water both moved in him, a blend that lent itself to a strange intuition, an ability to hear words unsaid and see things not-yet-done. Drawing energy from the dark corners of the garden, from the dimming sky above, from the water that flowed into the peristyle, Sempronius concentrated on what it was he needed to know, willing the answers to come to him, etched on the surface of the obsidian mirror. His heartbeat slowed; his muscles relaxed as he eased into that place where body and mind flowed synchronously with his Elements. Thus settled, Sempronius passed a hand over the dark glass and waited, all patience, for something to surface.

Sharon: What an amazing premise, Cass. Where did you get the idea?

Cass: I knew I wanted to write a historical fantasy with a different setting than the somewhat typical pseudo-medieval-western-Europe. I’ve had one foot in the classical world since starting Latin at the age of twelve, and so working with Rome seemed a natural fit. The Roman pantheon blended nicely with some ideas about elemental magic I’d been developing for ages, and from that, the world of Aven was born.

I’ve had one foot in the classical world since starting Latin at the age of twelve, and so working with Rome seemed a natural fit. - Cass Morris
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Sharon: How did you come up with the title?

Cass: I am the worst at titles. If I can’t steal it from Shakespeare or a song lyric, I’m totally useless. This was just called “Aven” for the longest time. Eventually my first editor had me try to come up with something more compelling. I liked the idea of something like Scintilla, which means “spark” in Latin, with subsequent books using words for increasingly large fires, but my publisher was worried the Latin might scare people off. So I started plundering Roman poetry for elegant phrases. FROM UNSEEN FIRE was among those, but my then-editor didn’t go for it, and for a while the book was titled A Flame Arises instead. When I got switched to a different editor, however, she much preferred FROM UNSEEN FIRE, so we went back to that.

Sharon: I’m a huge Latin nerd and love anything having to do with Shakespeare! Can you share something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Cass: There are nine magical Elements, and the power to use them is seen as a blessing from the gods. About one in every thousand Aventans manifests some magical talent, but far fewer have strong powers.

Sharon: I also love Chosen One stories! Who is your favorite character?

Cass: Vitellia Latona is the character closest to my heart. She’s a powerful mage of Spirit and Fire, but she’s never made the most of it, partly for lack of training and partly due to discouragement from various sources out of spite, jealousy, or just plain misogyny. In FROM UNSEEN FIRE, she’s in the process of breaking free of all those restrictions and repressions, learning to own herself and take up the space in the world that she deserves.

In FROM UNSEEN FIRE, {Vitellia Latona} is in the process of breaking free of all those restrictions and repressions, learning to own herself and take up the space in the world that she deserves. - Cass Morris
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Sharon: Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?

Cass: They’re mostly from my imagination, though they have some historical inspiration. Julius Caesar, Tiberius Gracchus, Germanicus and his wife Agrippina, Mark Antony, Fulvia, and many other Romans have not direct analogs, but correlations in my characters.

Sharon: Julius Caesar is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. How long did you take to write this book?

Cass: FROM UNSEEN FIRE began life as a 2011 NaNoWriMo project. I was trying to kick myself back into fiction writing after having done little of it during graduate school and my first years working for a non-profit organization. By early 2013, I was ready to query agents, and I signed with Connor Goldsmith in October of that year. We spent about a year polishing the manuscript through several revisions and went out on sub in late 2014, then signed with DAW Books in October 2015. The book was initially supposed to debut in September 2017, but delays related to my editor switch-up pushed it into 2018. I am the poster child for the publishing world’s occasionally glacial pace.

Sharon: A NaNoWriMo book? What a great story. What kind of research did you do for this book?

Cass: A lot of my research was reviving things I had studied in high school and college and then delving deeper. I had to get a lot more into the social history of ancient Rome than just the political overview and the “great men” narrative. Alberto Angela’s Day in the Life of Ancient Rome was supremely helpful, as were the works of Philip Matyczak. I’ve a full list of recommended resources on my website. The most fun research, though, was taking a trip to Rome and spending a few days wandering around the Seven Hills!

The most fun research, though, was taking a trip to Rome and spending a few days wandering around the Seven Hills! - Cass Morris
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Sharon: I loved the Seven Hills and can’t wait to go back to Rome. What did you remove from this book during the editing process?

Cass: This book has been reworked and restructured so much that I suspect I’ve forgotten most of the changes. The one that stands out is an enormous set piece that, during my revisions with Connor, I removed in a single 20,000 word slaughter. It’s a sequence I love, set during games at a festival, but it just no longer had a place in this book. I’m intending to rework it for Book 2, though!

Sharon: I know that kind of revision pain well.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Kells Torridan’s Slow Cooker Corned Beef

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Photo by Jonathan Bowers on Unsplash

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and although I’ve already posted one recipe for Corned Beef, I wanted to add this one as well. This Corned Beef, aka Kells Torridan’s Corned Beef, is cooked in a slow cooker and allows you to celebrate while dinner prepares itself!

I rarely buy corned beef because it’s so expensive, but on March 18th my grocery store drops the price and I buy as many flat-tip cuts (I prefer it to the point-tip cut) as will fit in my freezer. This is one of the those recipes that works better with frozen meat. That way, closer to deadlines and during launches (like my launch for EVERY DEEP DESIRE), I can throw one in the crock pot and have a dinner and lots of leftovers! And this recipe makes great sandwiches.

A number of my ex-soldier characters in the Deadly Force Series are of Irish descent from South Boston. (The commanding officer’s name is Kells Torridan hence the nickname!)  My guess is that since they’re ex-Green Berets living above a cheesy, pirate-themed gym with a galley kitchen that includes a slow cooker and a hot pot, they’d made this recipe.

How Story Structure Saved the Princess, the Knight, and the Lamb

~~~~ Because I’ve had so many requests about this post recently, I’m reposting it from the archives~~~~

I love writing, but I hate plotting.

Mostly because I’m terrible at it. I’m much more comfortable having no idea what’s going to happen, writing out of order, then putting all the pieces together like a puzzle. Of course this means tons of revisions and lots of time. So, to increase my productivity, I’ve read every craft book ever written and taken every online class about plotting. And while I’d still rather wing the writing, one of my favorite devices is Anne Lamott’s story structure mnemonic.

From A to E, it’s short and easy to remember. For those of you who don’t know it, I’ll give a short re-cap.

Action (which includes the inciting incident), Background (backstory, which is now woven throughout the story), Conflict (goals, motivations, and hindrances), Development (protagonist’s journey) and End–parts 1 & 2 (crisis and resolution).

Since I’m also a strong visual learner, I’ve come up with a visual representation of Ms. Lamott’s device, with an added prologue (because I love prologues, especially in stories where the heroine is a four-year old with a vivid imagination).

And this is how Ms. Lamott’s Story Structure saved the Princess, the Knight, and the Lamb.
PROLOGUE

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Once upon a time, there was a Princess who wanted to play “Save the Lamb from the Evil Witch.” Except she didn’t have anyone to play with. So, with a smile and a cookie, she asked her twin brother, the Knight, “Will you play with me?”

He responded, his mouth filled with cookies, “Will there be fighting?”

“Yes,” she said. “With swords.”

He smiled. “I’m in!”

ACTION

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“We have to hurry,” the Princess said. “We have to save the Lamb from the Evil Witch who lives on the other side of the dark mountain. But first we must find the Unicorn.”

“Do we kill the unicorn?” asked the Knight.

“No. We have to feed the unicorn. Then she will tell us how to defeat the witch.”

“Okay.” The Knight grabbed his sword. “Let’s go.”

CONFLICT

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Once the Princess and the Knight got to the magic forest with the talking trees, the Knight said, “It’s dark and scary. Let’s feed the unicorn and get out of here.”

“Wait.” The Princess gripped his arm. “We have to find the fairies who will give us the unicorn food.”

“Okay,” he said, holding his sword out in front to protect them. “Let’s do it.”

“We can’t just ask the fairies for food,” the Princess said.

“Why not?” The Knight frowned. “And when do I get to use my sword?”

The Princess sighed. “The fairies will have three riddles for us to answer. Then we have to attend the magical fairy feast where they will try to poison us. But we can get an antidote for the poison from a talking rabbit who will betray us, but then become our mentor and guide and be redeemed.”

DEVELOPMENT

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“I don’t understand,” The Knight grumbled. “Where’s the action? When do I get to fight something?”

“Soon.” The Princess smiled. “After we get away from the fairies and the rabbit and find the unicorn, you’ll have to slay the dragon.”

“Whoa!” he said with a huge grin. “There’s a dragon?”

“Yes, But don’t touch his gold. It’s enchanted.”

“I just want to use my sword,” the Knight said. “Now let’s find those fairies, slay the dragon, feed the unicorn, and save the lamb from the evil queen!”

END/CRISIS

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“I’m done.” The Knight leaned against a talking tree and sighed. “There was no dragon, no fighting, and this backstory is giving me a headache.”

The Princess pulled on his arm. “I thought you wanted to play with me?”

“I wanted to use my sword,” he said. “Not talk for three hours.”

The Princess stomped her royal foot. “You promised!”

“Whatever,” the Knight said, leaving the forest. “I hope the Good Queen has more cookies.”

 END/RESOLUTION

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The Princess and the Knight couldn’t agree on how to proceed. Should he go play with Legos and find more cookies? Could she fight the fairies, dragon, and evil witch on her own?

Seeing no end to the conflict, the Good Queen (mommy) showed up with homemade brownies and lemonade (deus ex machina) and said, “I slayed the dragon, sent the fairies out to the garden, put the lamb down for a nap, and the evil witch is doing laundry. So all is well!”

“Long live the Good Queen!” yelled the Princess and the Knight.

And the Good Queen took a bow.

Daring Debuts ’18: Clarissa Goenawan’s New Release Rainbirds

[image error]“Luminous, sinister, and page-turning all at once. I loved it.”

—Kate Hamer, internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat and The Doll Funeral

“A beautiful mystery setup with a complex, magical love story.”

—Eka Kurniawan, award-winning author of Beauty Is a Wound and Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash

Intertwining elements of suspense and magical realism, award-winning literary debut RAINBIRDS opens with a murder and shines a spotlight on life in fictional small-town Japan.

I’d like to welcome Clarissa Goenawan and her debut novel RAINBIRDS to Daring Debuts today!

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About the book: 

RAINBIRDS is a story of a young man who is trying to come to terms with his older sister’s death by finding out the truth behind her murder, but in doing so, he ends up confronting his own dark secret.

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And a teaser: 

When the car had stopped at the traffic junction, a soft light had fallen onto her pale skin, highlighting her delicate features. My hand was on hers, but she didn’t say a word, nor did she look at me. She didn’t even flinch. Her body was there, but her mind wasn’t.

That night, the two of us were lonely, isolated under Tokyo’s dazzling lights.

Sharon: Welcome, Clarissa! I just love the premise for your book. Where did you get the idea?

Clarissa: One afternoon, I was just wondering, “What if someone I cared about suddenly passed away, and then, I realized too late that I never actually got to know them?” At first, I wanted to write a short story about a young man who had just lost his older brother, which later on, morphed to an older sister. And then, I realized there were so many things I wanted to explore in their relationship, and that this story has to be a novel.

Sharon: I love the title. Is there a story behind it?

Clarissa: I came up with it! There was actually a really funny story behind it, which you can read at the end of my guest post for Bath Novel Award, “Five Ways to Find The Perfect Title for Your Novel.”

Sharon: Thank you for the link. I’m terrible at titles. Can you share something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Clarissa: RAINBIRDS is part of a series of interrelated novels. So do keep a lookout at the side characters, because they might be the main characters for the next book.

RAINBIRDS is part of a series of interrelated novels. So do keep a lookout at the side characters, because they might be the main characters for the next book. - Clarissa Goenawan
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Sharon: I always appreciate interrelated novels. Do you have a favorite character?

Clarissa: Rio Nakajima, also known as ‘Seven Stars.’ She’s a seventeen-year-old girl who is bright and bold, unafraid to voice her opinion and relentlessly goes after what she wants. She doesn’t care about conforming to public’s expectation, and I really admire her for that.

Sharon: I’m looking forward to reading about her. Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imagination?

Clarissa: Most of them came from my imagination, but a few were very loosely based on people I knew in real life. For example, Honda, Ren’s colleague, was inspired by my ex-colleague and lunch buddy who used to drive—yes, you guessed it—a black Honda sedan. All the characters’ personal stories are, of course, fictional.

Sharon: How long did you take to write this book?

Clarissa: Almost five years, which at a point of time, does feel ‘forever’ to me. But, in term of traditional publishing, it’s still relatively fast.

Sharon: That is fast in traditional publishing. What kind of research did you do for this book?

Clarissa: I grew up reading copious amounts of manga (Japanese comic books), and I learnt Japanese language since high school, so that gave me a good starting point. I also consulted a huge number of books, essays, and articles, and asked some friends who’re familiar with Japan to be my beta readers.

Sharon: My kids love manga. What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Clarissa: The first draft! I’m always pleasantly surprised by the unexpected places my characters lead me to.

What is your favorite part of your writing process? The first draft! I’m always pleasantly surprised by the unexpected places my characters lead me to. - Clarissa Goenawan
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Sharon: OMG! I hate first drafts! What is the most challenging part of your writing process?

Clarissa: The last few edits are the hardest for me. By then, I have grown too familiar with my work. It’s hard to discern the trees from the forest.

Sharon: Can you share your writing routine?

Clarissa: I do my writing after I drop my kids at school, and until it’s time to pick them up. That gives me about a five hour solid time block. Most of my writing is done on random benches around my kids’ school.

Sharon: I did a lot of writing on benches and sidelines of games too. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Clarissa: Be patient. Be very, very patient, because publishing moves in a different time from the rest of the world. It’s so sloooowwwww. There is a lot of waiting, and I’m not good with waiting—but I’m learning!

Be very, very patient, because publishing moves in a different time from the rest of the world. It’s so sloooowwwww. - Clarissa Goenawan
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Sharon: Can you share a bit about yourself?

Clarissa: I was born and raised in Surabaya, a city in East Java and also the second most populated city in Indonesia. In my mid-teens, I migrated to Singapore, which I now call home. I live with my husband, three beautiful daughters, and a broken-coated Jack Russell named ‘Hunter.’

Sharon: How did you get into writing?

Clarissa: It was my childhood dream J I’d loved reading ever since I was a kid and dreamt that one day, I would publish my own book. But I only started to seriously pursuing the profession after I quit my banking job at age twenty-four (probably not the most conventional thing to do, but I never regretted it.)

Sharon: Apart from novel writing, do you do any other kinds of writing?

Clarissa: Yes, I write short stories, though not as often as I used to do when I’d just started out writing. I realized I prefer to work on novels, though short stories are great for variety.

Sharon: Can you share something about yourself that most people probably don’t know?

Clarissa: I used to be a bookseller. I was in charge of marketing children’s books for a regional book distribution company, which include everything from baby boardbooks to YA novels. I spontaneously talked about countless books—most of them I’d only read the short synopsis because there were so many— to the media every month, but when it comes to pitching my own book, I’m always struggling. Always.

Sharon: I’m a librarian and still talk about books! Which book influenced you the most?

Clarissa: Stephen King’s On Writing, which I highly recommend to all aspiring writers. It’s full of gold—awesome writing advice, great editing tips, and a realistic portrayal of a writer’s life. Worth re-reading every year.

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. – Stephen King.
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Sharon: I love On Writing and agree it needs to be re-read every year.  What are you working on right now?

Clarissa: I’m currently editing my second and third novels, both of them literary mysteries. And just like RAINBIRDS, they’re set in Japan.

Sharon: I can’t wait! What’s your favorite writing advice?

Clarissa: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” – Stephen King.

Sharon: Thanks so much for being here today and sharing your story. Good luck with your debut!

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[image error]Clarissa Goenawan is an Indonesian-born Singaporean writer. Her debut novel, RAINBIRDS, is the winner of the 2015 Bath Novel Award. Her short stories have won several awards and been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. She loves rainy days, pretty books, and hot green tea.

You can find RAINBIRDS at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BookDepository, and Indiebound.

You can find Clarissa at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo.

And adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

The post Daring Debuts ’18: Clarissa Goenawan’s New Release Rainbirds appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Every Deep Desire was Born . . . and Now It’s Time to Let Go

Today I’m on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog talking about my new release . . . a week later.

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It’s been a week since EVERY DEEP DESIRE entered the world, and I’m back at work revising book 2 in the Deadly Force series, ONE DARK WISH and writing book 3.  And I’m exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that  comes after having a baby or moving to another country (both of which I’ve done). It’s not just a lack of sleep kind of tired, but an emotional withdrawal. After so many wonderful notes, emails, tweets, etc., I feel this intense need to crawl into bed and hide under the covers.

I wrote for a long time (14 years) before seeing my book on a bookshelf in a store, and I thought I understood all that would mean. But I’ve realized in the last week that the writing and getting published–while hard–isn’t the hardest part. The hardest part is letting go.

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This book is no longer mine. This book now belongs to the world. This book now belongs to the reader. And how the reader interprets the characters, and brings the world of this series into their mind and heart, is an intensely personal experience. An experience that allows no room for the author.

And somehow my heart missed the message. Yet, as a long-time reader and librarian, it makes perfect sense. The story was only mine while I was crafting it, and now it’s yours to interpret as you wish.

That’s the incredible thing about the imagination: I write something and someone else feels something. Yet, while I can control (somewhat) what I write, I can’t control how anyone else feels. And, as an author, that’s hard. I want everyone to feel sad during the “sad scenes” and happy at the end, but that’s not my job. Nor should it be. My job as the author is to present the story with all of its beauty and warts (because there are always warts) and let you, the reader, do with it what you will.

Which means it’s time for me to take a deep breath, take a long walk, and hope that you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it.

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So now I’d like to introduce the Deadly Force series: Where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines redeem Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

The series is about a team of ex-Special Forces soldiers, accused of vicious war crimes, who are desperate to prove their innocence and find their enemies before they attack again. As these men struggle to rebuild their lives and redeem their honor, it’s the women they love who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

EVERY DEEP DESIRE , the first book in the series, is a contemporary retelling of Romeo and Juliet that takes place in Savannah, GA. The story answers the question of what kind of marriage the lovers would’ve had if they’d won their happy ending.

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To read more on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog, please click here:

[image error]Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | IndieBound

Adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

You can find Sharon on:   Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads |  Bookbub | Amazon 

The post Every Deep Desire was Born . . . and Now It’s Time to Let Go appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Irish Soda Bread

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Photo by Edan Cohen on Unsplash

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Since St. Patrick is a favorite in our household (my husband’s name is Patrick) we always celebrate with Guinness and homemade Irish Soda bread. And this year, since my DH has a gig on St. Patrick’s Day (he’s an accomplished singer and musician), I want to have everything prepared ahead of time. I received this recipe from my dad, whose Irish grandparents settled in NYC and South Boston (an Irish neighborhood), and make it every year in his honor.

It’s no coincidence that some of the men–all ex-soldiers–in my Deadly Forces Series are from South Boston. And I suspect that on St. Patrick’s Day they’ll be celebrating with my dad’s Irish Soda bread, pints of Guinness, and watching Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade from the roof of Iron Rack’s, the run-down, pirate-themed gym that they use as a cover for their covert activities.