Toni Anderson's Blog: Toni Anderson, page 51

Writing Update

I've been absent from blogging. I always think it looks like I've had my feet up doing nothing when I haven't posted anything for a few days, but the opposite is true. I've been BUSY :) Honest.

I've been working on synopses for some future story ideas (please send fairy dust to my editor so she falls in love with them :)). I was weeping at one of them, so that's a good sign, right? And then I had the interior proofs of DANGEROUS WATERS arrive on Monday and got those turned around last night. Last week, I sent the full of my WIP (DARK WATERS) to my critique partner and she returned the favor with her latest story, a super Superromance, which I critiqued in return.

What else? Oh, yeah. I pulled out some of my unpublished manuscripts and had a quick glance at them. I have four-FOUR-stories that I wrote with hopes of selling them to Harlequin Intrigue. I'm mulling over what to do with these shorter format stories. I obviously struggle to write category type stories, but I like these. I might get them edited and self publish. It's an idea. Would people be interested in a shorter type RS from me do you think? 

I have other stuff that I'm contemplating self publishing and I have another contract to consider. It's all about timing and time.

What else? Oh, yeah. I've been writing blog posts for my upcoming blog tour to celebrate the release of DANGEROUS WATERS and sorting out some promo. I'll post details of the tour tomorrow. And I'm thinking about writing my newsletter for the upcoming release--trying to figure out a giveaway and an excerpt.  

So I really have been busy and waiting for those early reviews of DANGEROUS WATERS come out. Always nerve wracking. 

And now I have my critique partner's notes I can dive back into DARK WATERS. Sounds like fun, huh?

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

My friend Loreth recommended this one and it was just perfect! A wonderful mix of fisheries people, salmon, Brits, Scots, romance, with a British Special Forces soldier thrown in, and, yes, salmon fishing in the Yemen. Lovely movie.

Goodreads Giveaway Ends on Friday.

.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway Dangerous Waters by Toni Anderson Giveaway ends October 12, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Because I'm pretending it isn't snowing...

I took these shots two years ago on Brady's Beach with my little point and shoot. Such a cool guy :)
 

A Fellow Montlaker Romance Author's Book

arrived and then it started snowing. Coincidence? I don't think so! CHILLED by Kendra Elliot. I'm looking forward to reading this--in front of the fire :)

Last Day to Win Books!!

 
It doesn't get better than this!!! (Do we need more exclamation points?)

Diabetes

Anyone who's followed me for any length of time might recall I'm a big supporter of diabetes research. I'm donating 15% of my royalties for EDGE OF SURVIVAL to diabetes research and this month (OCTOBER 2012) I'm canvassing our street for donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association (yes, I waited for the summer to finish before I started LOL).
And just to bring home how this can affect anyone, this summer my dad was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. I'm pretty sure he can manage it with diet, but the need to find a cure (especially for type 1) and prevention (for type 2) has never been more important. 

Sun-flower

According to the forecast this is probably the last day of summer here. 

Giving away a signed Advance Readers Copy

of DANGEROUS WATERS on Goodreads. I only have a couple of ARCs left :) Or you could just pre-order it here.

.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway Dangerous Waters by Toni Anderson Giveaway ends October 12, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Second Draft--Second Chances

I'm working on the second draft of what is tentatively titled DARK WATERS, the sequel to DANGEROUS WATERS. It features an ex-con hero and a school teacher heroine. I never planned to write an ex-con, especially a murderer. Especially a "yes, I did it, lock me up and throw away the key" type of character. It's a taboo.

I was thinking about how in many of the books we read (I read), taking a human life is treated lightly even by the good guys. Killing guards to get into a compound, shooting a criminal in some bad act and it seems acceptable--we want the good guys to win, right? The key is always in the motivation and set up of a character. It's like figuring out when you yourself would take another human being's life. If you were being attacked? If your children/significant other were in danger? If someone kicked a kitten? If a suicide bomber was headed your way with his hand on the cell phone trigger?

It's interesting going on this particular journey with this particular felon. He might be one of my favorite heroes to date and yet I'm sure I've failed to do him justice. I guess that's what second drafts are for, a second chance at getting things right. Here's hoping everyone believes this guy deserves his HEA.