Erin R. Howard's Blog, page 8
February 5, 2019
Blog Tour: Stop #6 & #7
You know that scene in the movie, Hitch where Will Smith has an allergic reaction and downs liquid Benedryl? Well, that was me in the middle of the night, except we don’t know what caused it. I woke up with itchy hands and quickly realized I was covered in a rash. My tongue swelled, and it was hard to breathe. It took three sticks to get my IV in, but they gave me three medicines and a prescription. Whatever it was, I never want to do that again!
So add in our regular visit to St. Jude for my son’s cancer treatment, it’s been long and busy few days. And it also means that a couple of Blog Stops has happened!
The first one is on author Patti Shene’s blog, and guess what? There’s a GIVEAWAY happening! Comment on the post before February 12th to be entered in a drawing for a free Kindle copy of The Soul Searcher: Enter the giveaway here!
The second stop is on author Amy Anguish’s blog. Amy asked the most fantastic questions about The Soul Searcher, and I can’t wait for you to check it out: Amy’s Interview
See you at the next stop!
[image error]
January 30, 2019
Blog Tour: Stop #5
Have you ever thought about how a writer comes up with the names for their characters? Today, I’m featured on Catherine Castle’s blog and going behind the scenes on how I came up with the names for my characters in The Seer and The Soul Searcher!
Hop on over to Wednesday Writers and check it out! Next stop on the blog tour will be on Patti Shene’s blog on February 2nd.
[image error]
Wisdom Wednesday: Sally Chambers
It’s a cold day here in Western KY. The weather app says 11 degrees and feels like 4, which makes me want to go back to bed, pull the covers up, and finish reading a book that I’ve waited for a long time. But there are homeschool lessons that need to happen and word counts that need to be met. So grab a cup of hot chocolate and let’s see what our Wisdom Wednesday author has for us today.
Thanks for joining us, Sally!
Name: Sally Chambers
Genre: Inspirational Suspense with a touch of Romance
Debut Release: Out of the Shadows
Writing Tip for Authors:
Write. Simply, write. Every single day whether a sentence or a chapter, write. If something you experience captures your imagination and speaks to your heart, write it down, date it (you’ll be glad you did). Make notes on things that inspire you or make you laugh. They can become plot ideas. Flashes of unusual scenes might inspire a new slant on something old. Use whatever resource is at hand to help you remember your impressions. Screen shots, your snipping tool, your phone camera, or recorder . . . a scrap of paper. File them, review them, utilize them. Filtered through your eyes your writing finds its unique voice as you walk through life.
For example, I recall the warm July day my husband and I drove from our small cabin in Loafers Glory, NC, into Spruce Pine to shop. I sky-gazed at a stormy cloud bank, musing as he drove, and the words came. “A sky, black and blue, bruised with the pummeling of a thousand bolts of lightning.” Because I grabbed a scrap of paper and a pencil, part of that sentence made its way into the first page of my first novel, The Stonekeepers. “Outside Lexi Christensen’s bedroom window, the world shook. The fast-moving storm hurled shards of silver lightning, and thunder bruised the heavens above rain-swept Nantucket Island.”
Why is this my favorite writing tip? Well, at times this busy writer’s mind resembles a sieve. And if I don’t write down those nuggets of thought, ideas, or inspiration, whether it’s midnight or midday, they tend to vanish—those fleeting God-gifted treasures are definitely at risk!
Great sentence! I don’t know how many times I tell myself that I will remember something, but I rarely do. You gave us great ideas on how to jot those nuggets down, so we have no excuse now. LOL!
Writing Tip for New Writers:
Journal daily or as often as you can. Record your prayers, thoughts, events, anything that you itch to preserve. Journal it. My journals hold the stuff from which novels are built. Yours will too. Real stuff you can bend and stretch into fiction. The bones and flesh of new characters, the bricks and mortar of scenes and settings, the sound and passion of dialogue, and so much more. Journaling keeps you writing. And I can’t help but add: read, read, read, and never, ever give up! Blessings on your new year of writing and journaling.
I dream of journaling. I even have multiple leather books sitting on my desk staring back at me right now. I always want to keep detailed entries about my day, but then I don’t want to mess them up. I’ve started keeping notes in them about the book that I’m currently writing at the time, and that is helping me to get more into this habit. Great advice!
[image error] THIS WAS A DEADLY GAME AND SHE DIDN’T WANT TO PLAY
Three months ago, Ali Lamarque’s mother died in an accident Ali is convinced she could have prevented, and what little faith she had is fading. Grief-stricken, her father, a renowned scientist, has sold their California ranch and buried himself in his work. He will soon leave for Brazil’s Amazon rain forest on business. Ali’s relationship with her childhood best friend, Kane, is changing, and suddenly she’s being followed. Insidious and relentless, it’s harassment with no proof it ever happened.
With her life in turmoil, and against her father’s wishes, Ali takes a break from college to go with him, hoping the trip will help heal their grief and her guilt. It will give her time to sort out her feelings for Kane—and leaving would stop the stalking.
But Ali didn’t anticipate the dangers that would confront her or know that her choices would make the difference between living and dying for not only herself, but countless others.
[image error] Sally Chambers writes inspirational young adult fiction though new adults and women of all ages also enjoy her contemporary YA blend of suspense with a touch of romance. A finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s First Impressions contest with her first novel, The Stonekeepers, she has also won awards for her short stories and poetry. Sally and her husband live on Florida’s Space Coast. She braces for hurricanes every year but loves leaving her footprints across damp beach sand and reveling in sea breezes, warmth, and sunshine.
Alright, my friends, Sally gave us lots of ways to accomplish our writing goals. Whether we utilize a notebook, scrap paper, or use our phone to record or film, there are not any more excuses. What about you? Have you ever had an idea pop into your head but nothing handy to write it down? What’s the most creative tool you’ve used to jot it down? Tell us in the comment section. And don’t forget to connect with Sally on social media and her current release, Out of the Shadows.
Contact Info/Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.chambers2
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sallychambers22/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sallychambers2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SallyChambers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallychambers2/
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2F3QV69
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2GYLgM1
Website: https://sallychambers.com/
Blog: https://sallypchambers.wordpress.com/
[image error]
January 28, 2019
Blog Tour: Stop #4
Today was another stop on the Blog Tour for The Soul Searcher! I had a lot of fun being a guest on Erica Hogan’s blog and answering her interview questions.
If you missed it, you can check out the blog here: Other Worlds Fantasy Writers. Leave me a comment and join in the discussion.
See you at the next stop!
[image error]
January 24, 2019
Blog Tour: Stop #3
I’m a guest on Karin Berry’s blog today talking about fantasy writing. This is the third stop on my Blog Tour for The Soul Searcher. You can check out the post and join in the conversation by clicking here.
Don’t forget that you can also check back to my original blog post to find where I will be next, and the links to the previous stops. I am updating the post as soon as I receive the links.
[image error]
January 23, 2019
Wisdom Wednesday: Pam Watts Harris
How well do you know your characters? For me, I create my characters by a motive or trait and then work out the rest of the details after. With my character, Matthias, I knew I wanted a strong, powerful angel. But I wanted one that was a fierce protector and everything he does stems from that protectiveness. Why is that? Well, I don’t want to ruin it for you if you haven’t read The Seer, but there’s a specific reason.
Today, we have author Pam Watts Harris with us, and I can’t wait for you to delve into her writing tip for the week.
Welcome, Pam!
Name: Pam Harris for my juvenile books and Pam Watts Harris for my teen/adult books.
Genre: Juvenile mysteries, historical fiction, contemporary romance, contemporary romantic suspense, all with a Christian world view.
Debut Release: Aimee was released last summer, and last fall Smoky Mountain Brides was released, a book containing two novellas, one by Katt Anderson (“Keeper of the Stars”) and the other by me (“Can’t Help Falling in Love”)
Writing Tip for Authors: I don’t know if this is actually a writing tip, but author Patricia Bradley, during a brainstorming session, asked me “What is the lie (character) believes about herself?” I love this question, because it causes me to think about who my characters truly are and understanding their motivations. It is a challenging question but worth considering.
I love this and love Patricia Bradley! It’s crucial that we know what motivates our characters, but asking it in this way makes it more human. We all struggle with some sort of a lie that we believe about ourselves, and if someone reads a book about a character that is going through the same thing, then the reader will connect to the character on a much deeper level.
Writing Tip for New Writers:
Learn the craft. Read books about writing, be a member of a critique group or local writers group, read books in the same genre with a critical eye. Develop thick skin, because you’ll need it if you want to grow as a writer. Embrace the criticism and learn from it. And if it is what you want to do, never give up.
Having thick skin is hard, isn’t it? Writers have to be vulnerable to get the emotion to come across in writing, but at the same time, you can’t let that vulnerability hinder your progress and learning. It’s a hard thing to balance, but it’s vital to a writers life.
[image error]
Aimee Winters has made the bravest decision of her life. Left alone and homeless, she has accepted her father’s offer to stay with him in the Arizona territory and teach at the local school. The problem is she has no memory of her father, having been raised by her mother and taught that her father died when she was a baby. Hungry to know the truth of her past, she leaves Memphis behind and journeys alone to the mountainous region where she faces challenges she never could have anticipated. The rugged living conditions and the isolation of the community are almost more than she can bear, but she is determined to prove she can do things “the Arizona way.” It doesn’t help that the handsome rancher, Levi Raines, seems to take special delight in pointing out her weaknesses. It isn’t long, however, until her heart is woven into the lives of her students, their families, and especially Levi. As their relationship grows, the shadow of their very different backgrounds and goals is ever present. Can they find common ground?
[image error]
A native Tennessean and former Arizona resident, Pam Watts Harris developed an interest in writing at an early age. She writes historical and contemporary fiction for females of all ages and draws on her personal experiences and observations to create characters that reflect the Southern and Western cultures with which she is most familiar.
Pam has brought us some crucial tips that every writer needs in their toolbox. What about you? Is it hard for you to develop “thick” skin? Do you understand the lie that your characters believe about themselves? Join us in the discussion this week, and check out Pam’s book, Aimee and connect with her on social media.
Contact Info/Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/authorpamharris/
https://authorpamwattsharris.wordpress.com
Follow authorpamwattsharris on Twitter.
[image error]
Advertisements
January 17, 2019
Blog Tour
[image error]The Soul Searcher releases in about a month! (insert happy dance here)
In the meantime, I am doing something new with this release.
A blog tour!
Each post will be a little different depending on the host author’s blog. The blog tour could be a spotlight, author interview, or a behind the scenes article. Perhaps even a giveaway or two, so make plans to join me!
As I receive the links, I will come back and update this list and share it on social media.
Blog Tour Dates:
January:
16th- Peg Phifer- Book spotlight
18th- Toni Shiloh-
24th- Karen Beery
28th- Erica Hogan
30th- Catherine Hershberger
February:
2nd- Patti Shene
4th- Tabitha Bouldin
6th- Sandra Ardoin
13th- Jennifer Hallmark
15th- Laurie Lucking
16th- Gail Sattler
19th- Julie Arduini
20th- Kathy Cretsinger
22nd- Regina Rudd Merrick
25th- Laurie Wood
27th- Ada Brownell
March:
4th- Trish Perry
20th- Heather Greer
January 16, 2019
Wisdom Wednesday: Barbara Brutt
How is it possible that we are already halfway through January? I look at my endless “to-do” list, and I want to hide under my covers for a while. However, my house is quiet right now, so it’s probably a great time to check off a few of those items. But first, let’s get to know our author this week for Wisdom Wednesday.
Welcome, Barbara!
Name: Barbara Brutt
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Debut Release: Teal Paisley Tights
Writing Tip for Authors:
Oh, hm, at the moment, I’m thankful that we’ve moved away from using “she said” and “he said” for every speaking tag. I’m currently reading a book that was published a few years ago, and the “she said” and “he said” is weighing the story down. It’s also more fun to come up with action tags to denote who’s speaking.
Action tags are great! They really keep the story moving. I think “he/she said” is still good to use every now and then, but you can do so much more with action tags.
Writing Tip for New Writers:
As a new writer, the advice that has helped me the most is to seek help and training from writers who are further along than I am. Join writing groups, get connected, and listen-in on the conversations that writers are having.
Yes, find ways to get connected to other authors. If you can’t find a writing group in your area, create one. The local group I’m in meets monthly at the library. Local libraries are a great resource to utilize.
[image error]
Life post-graduation was supposed to see the launch of paisley-loving Jadyn’s art career, or at least an art gallery showing one of her watercolor paintings. Instead, this Pittsburgh native is locked into a low-paying, buttoned-up consultant position with an impossible boss. When another colleague is dismissed, Jadyn inherits extra workload, including the company’s biggest client. If she loses him, she’s fired.
Jadyn people-pleases her way through life, resulting in extra work opportunities and a community classroom of art students. But when two guys appear on her doorstep, she just might not be able to people-please her way out of this love triangle. At the end of the day, she can’t please everyone.
Then, because of a small spending problem, Jadyn is evicted from her apartment, and she must move in with her know-it-all sister. Jadyn needs to decide between a job transfer that would place her near her love interest, or a full-time art career with all its risks.
Stretched like canvas between responsibility and dreams, she must choose. Will practicality always win?
[image error]Barbara Brutt, a born and raised Pittsburgher, spent her growing-up years with her nose in a book. After claiming her bachelor’s degree in English, she plunked down hard into a smattering of jobs from shop girl to communications director with a healthy dose of nanny and house-cleaner. Flying to new adventures is her favorite, especially on an airplane or aerial silk. Barbara adores ice cream and only buys purses that provide room for a book or two.
Barbara talks books, aerial silks, faith, and travel on her website and blog at barbarabrutt.com.
What about you? Are you a member of a writing group and in what ways has it helped you in your writing journey? Leave us a comment and join in the discussion, but before you do, check out Barbara’s debut novel, Teal Paisley Tights and connect with her on social media.
Contact Info/Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/cordiallybarbara/
https://twitter.com/barbarabrutt
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBruttWriter/
[image error]
January 11, 2019
Cover Reveal of The Soul Searcher
It’s time!
The cover of The Soul Searcher is here, and it’s so beautiful! I’m excited to share it with you, and I can’t wait for you to read what happens next in The Kalila Chronicles with Elnora. Book 2 picks up where The Seer left off!
Are you ready?
Here it is . . .
[image error]Elnora’s parents gave her one rule:
Stay hidden away at all costs.
Elnora Scott is used to her survival depending on the decisions of others. Locked away in her safe house, it is easy to follow her parents’ dying wishes until an angel, demon, and seer show up on her doorstep. Now, waking up in a dirty cell, she wishes she would have gone with them when she had the chance, because the ones who unknowingly ushered the kidnapper to her location may be the only ones who can save her now.
When Thea learns that Elnora may be in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to find her. Thea thought stepping through the portal would be her greatest obstacle, but it only reveals a more sinister threat.
The Soul Searcher is on pre-order now! You can get your copy here.
January 9, 2019
Wisdom Wednesday: Chad Pettit
It’s our first Wisdom Wednesday of 2019! I’m excited to be back with you, and our guest authors. Today, we have fellow fantasy author, Chad Pettit with us. Thanks for joining us, Chad!
Name: Chad Pettit
Genre: Christian Fantasy and Biblical Fiction
Current Release: Fate of the Watchman
Writing Tip for Authors:
Before you write the full story, take the time to write an overview from the point of view of each of your characters. This gives you the bigger picture and helps you see any potential gaps or problems with the story.
This a great idea! No matter how much we think we know about our characters, sometimes, we learn so much more once we start writing. This will be a great exercise to use for my next book.
Writing Tip for New Writers:
You may be the most talented, natural writer ever born. You still need to study and practice the craft of writing before you can truly write at the top of your game. You also need to live through some things so that you have something worth writing about.
This is the most common advice that I have heard for new writers, and it’s because it’s true! You have to realize that writing comes with studying and practicing. There are no shortcuts.
[image error]Lester Sharp is a workaholic, obsessed with the success of his business and oblivious to the world around him. All of that changes when a peculiar stranger comes into his shop asking for food and help. Lester soon finds himself on an impossible journey around the world to bear witness to some of the greatest tragedies a person can know, all frozen in a single moment of time.
In this challenging and gripping novel, debut author Chad Pettit, delivers a supernatural, pulse-pounding adventure in which Lester Sharp is in for the longest second of his life and learns lessons to last a lifetime.
[image error]Chad Pettit grew up in Oregon with books and the mountains to help his imagination grow. After high school, he spent ten years in the Army, travelling and deploying all over the world, including two combat tours in Iraq. After the military, Chad earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M University-Central Texas, and then he started teaching English at an early college high school in central Texas. Chad currently serves in a local church as a deacon and the Sunday school superintendent.
Contact Info/Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pettit_chad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChadPettit.Writer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chad_pettit_/?hl=en
Before you go, take a moment and connect with Chad on social media, and check out his novel, Fate of the Watchman.
Do you struggle with getting to know your characters before you start writing? Have you tried writing the overview from your characters POV? Join in on the conversation today and leave us a comment.
[image error]
