Kimberly Dean's Blog, page 42

When character development goes bad

I've been looking forward to the return of Fairly Legal on the USA Network.  It premiered last night, and I was a bit late turning it on because I was on a writing roll.  (As a side note, I can't believe it's on in the same time slot as Grimm and A Gifted Man.  Why are these three shows relegated to Friday night TV?  But I digress…)

I tuned in right about the time Kate was tangling with a smarmy lawyer.  Apparently this guy is a new full-time character.  Honestly, I was dismayed.  I don't understand what the writers were thinking.  They had a good mesh of character types, all with their quirky flaws.  I tried to ignore this guy, hoping he would eventually fit in but he never did.  He didn't fit into the cast of characters, and he didn't fit in with the setting.  He didn't even fit in with the story line, because I didn't once believe this guy was a high-priced, savvy lawyer.  An ambulance chaser?  Maybe…  But I still wouldn't want to watch him.

Characters need to be fully fleshed out, and even villains and bad guys need to have some redeeming features.   Kate's adversary, Lauren, has these in spades.  You understand the predicament she's in, trying to save her dead husband's law firm and why she's wrapped up so tightly.  This new guy — honestly, I didn't even bother to remember the character's name — was just obnoxious.  Nobody likes a smart mouth, and that seems to be his reason for being.

Maybe the show developers thought he could be eye candy, that they could develop a love triangle between Kate, Justin, and Mr. Unctuous.   I don't know, maybe I missed a "cute meet".  It wouldn't have mattered.  I'm sorry, I'm sure the actor is a fine guy, but putting him up against Anders from Battlestar Galactica?  Forget about it.

One character (just like any bad apple) can spoil the show, the book, the play, or whatever else you're developing.  Perhaps the writers thought viewers would watch to see this guy get his comeuppance.  Sorry, I turned it off before the first episode was even over.  What can I say?  It's like when a book series you love goes sour.  I'm sorely disappointed, but I guess it will make my Friday night viewing choices easier.  Sigh.

Contest

 

 

I have a contest going on over at Fresh Fiction.   To celebrate the upcoming release of BLADE OF MOONLIGHT, one lucky winner will receive  a solar powered wind chime lantern.  Yes, it's a wind chime that glows different colors after dark.  It's so cool, I don't want to part with it.  But if I must…

Follow the link over to Fresh Fiction and enter to win.

 

 

Library Journal review of Blade of Moonlight

Library Journal likes Blade of Moonlight, too!

"Part of the Midnight Justice anthology, Dean's (Everlasting) novella manages to balance a strong plot with sex scenes hot enough to melt an ereader. While the joining of heroine and villain story line is not entirely original, the pacing here is quick yet unhurried, and erotica fans will enjoy the resulting fun read. Recommended."—Natasha Grant, New York

For the entire review, click here.

Library Journal review of Blade of Moonlight

Library Journal likes Blade of Moonlight, too!

“Part of the Midnight Justice anthology, Dean’s (Everlasting) novella manages to balance a strong plot with sex scenes hot enough to melt an ereader. While the joining of heroine and villain story line is not entirely original, the pacing here is quick yet unhurried, and erotica fans will enjoy the resulting fun read. Recommended.”—Natasha Grant, New York

 

Reviews for Blade of Moonlight

Reviews are starting to come in for Blade of Moonlight.  It's so exciting, especially since I didn't even know the book had been sent out for review yet.  Here's what Night Owl Reviews had to say:

Score: 5.00 / 5 – Reviewer Top Pick

Reviewed by: Angibabi4

"This has an edgy sexuality that I couldn't put down.  If you like action, adventure, and some down and dirty sexual encounters this is the book for you."

2011 — By the Numbers

I'm pretty meticulous about record keeping, especially when it comes to writing.  For many reasons, I keep track of the time I spend in front of the computer.  My records don't capture all the time I spend plotting or thinking about scenes.  That's happening most of the time, usually in the back of my head.  Yet the time that I do spend at a keyboard are logged.  I thought you might be interested in the breakdown for 2011.  It was a strange year for writing, but then again, aren't they all?

Number of projects worked on:  11

Number of projects published or contracted:  4

Number of projects with offers:  2

Average time to write a full-length novel:  244 hrs (In Her Wildest Dreams took the longest ever at 352 hr.)

Average time to write a novella:  104 hrs (Blade of Moonlight took the shortest at 57 hr.   The words were flying fast and furious.)

Average time to write a short story:  57 hrs

I'm not a fast writer, but I don't consider myself the slowest.  Things can move at a rapid clip if I've got a clear picture in my mind of where the story needs to go.  Without pictures, though, there are no words.  I don't know how pantsers do it.  I need a plot before anything will go onto paper.  I refuse to sit frozen in front of a keyboard.

So what's upcoming for 2012?  Hopefully those two offers will turn into contracts pretty soon, and I'll be able to tell you about them.  I have a proposal that I'm mulling over in my head, and am working on a few surprises.  Hopefully all those plots will clear up in my head soon and those average times will go down!

 

A Holiday Present

I've got a little holiday present for you.  I've written a short story with a New Year's theme.  It should be releasing tomorrow as an ebook for only $0.99 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance eBooks.

New Year's Bang

In high school, Troy and Lita had lusted after one another from afar.  As members of two different cliques, their paths were forbidden to cross until a freak accident had thrust them together.  Troy had saved Lita that day, and their feelings had spiraled out of control.  They'd made hot, fast love until their so-called friends had crushed their fledgling relationship.  Lita had handled the situation poorly, yet when she meets up again with Troy years later, she hopes the damage isn't irreparable.  The chemistry between them still sizzles, and she knows she has to take a risk.  She makes a New Year's resolution to get Troy back and, this time, she vows not to let anything get in their way.

Click here for an excerpt from New Year's Bang.

Buy at All Romance eBooks │ Kindle │ Nook

A Holiday Present

I've got a little holiday present for you.  I've written a short story with a New Year's theme.  It should be releasing tomorrow as an ebook for only $0.99 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance eBooks.

New Year's Bang

In high school, Troy and Lita had lusted after one another from afar.  As members of two different cliques, their paths were forbidden to cross until a freak accident had thrust them together.  Troy had saved Lita that day, and their feelings had spiraled out of control.  They'd made hot, fast love until their so-called friends had crushed their fledgling relationship.  Lita had handled the situation poorly, yet when she meets up again with Troy years later, she hopes the damage isn't irreparable.  The chemistry between them still sizzles, and she knows she has to take a risk.  She makes a New Year's resolution to get Troy back and, this time, she vows not to let anything get in their way.

Click here for an excerpt from New Year's Bang.

Buy at All Romance eBooks

Blade of Moonlight cover

Coming in May 2012

No words needed.  How freaking awesome is that cover?

Writing Season

Wow, it's been over a month since I posted.  Sorry about that, but it's getting into that busy time of the year.  Life gets crazy over the holidays.  Everyone is dashing to and fro.  For me, though, it's also the time of the year when I'm most productive with my writing.  When the weather gets cold and nasty, it's easier to stay inside and huddle in front of a computer.

As a result, I'm juggling several projects.  The finishing touches have been placed on Blade of Moonlight, which is currently set for a May release with Samhain.  I can't wait to show you the cover that's in development.  Can. Not. Wait.  It's a super dark and super sexy story, which is only appropriate for superheroes, and the cover is super hot.  Naturally.

I'm working on some proposals and finishing up a New Year's story, which I plan to self-publish in the next few weeks.  That one's a short story I wrote just as a holiday treat for readers, because I know this is also the time of year people like to curl up on their sofas with hot cocoa and a book.  "Tis the season!