Toni Anderson's Blog: Toni Anderson, page 73

Writing--how I stay relatively organized

Whenever I work on a story I collect all my notes and pictures for that story (copious and eclectic) and store them in an IKEA box. These boxes sit on top of my desk/cupboard and I pull them down and put them up as I switch from one story to another. I have a tiny workspace (yes, that's it below!) and this is the only way I can manage to keep the information together and yet for it still to be instantly accessible.
[image error] See--there's a box missing. That's my WIP and it is down on the ground beside me.

Sometimes I have more than one story per box. HER SANCTUARY also contains all my notes for the unpublished sequel BLADE HUNTER (I guess I should sub that baby, huh?). STORM WARNING shares a box with SEA OF SUSPICION full of Scottish research booklets, pictures and memorabilia. I have a box for Harlequin Intrigue (still waiting to sell one of those babies so keep your fingers crossed for me please). I have another PRESENTS box. I tried and failed to write a Harlequin Presents. Actually I really like the premise of that story too.

The box for EDGE OF SURVIVAL is full of stuff I collected on that long ago field assignment and copies of emails from my various 'sources'. I swear I did more research for that, even though I'd did the fish study, than I've done for anything.

So, there's a fascinating look into how I keep all my junk pieces of paper in order. Don't say I never give you the inside scoop.

Guest Author: Hunter Raines

Thanks so much, Toni, for having me here as part of the blog tour for my upcoming Carina Press release, PARADISE FOUND! 
I married a geek. He'll be the first to admit it, too. My husband is a very handsome man, but he's not a 6'4, muscular, football-player type. He's quiet, shy, and unassuming. No one would mistake him for James Bond, or for an underwear model. Yet he's the inspiration for every one of my heroes.
Sure, the men in my stories are fairly typical of the romance genre. They're tall, well built, and gorgeous. But underneath those physical elements lies the soul of a real man. And that's where hubby comes in.
I ask his help constantly when it comes to getting a solid grasp on the way men think about things. I don't take it for granted that men would approach anything the same way a woman might, whether it's shopping for new clothes or taking a new partner to bed for the first time. My husband has been instrumental in helping me develop characters who act, talk and think like real men.
I hope. 
Because you see, as much as I'd love to run my books past my husband and get his official stamp of approval on manly behavior, he won't read gay erotic romance (M/M). I can't entirely blame him, either. As supportive as he is of me and my writing, the subject matter makes him just a slight bit uncomfortable. And yet he won't hesitate to describe in vivid detail the men's locker room at his gym, for example, or what wet dreams feel like.
I write M/F erotic romance under my other pen name, and I thought getting into one man's point of view was tough. It got a whole lot tougher when I decided to try my hand at the M/M genre. And since my upcoming release from Carina Press is M/M/M, my job was three times as hard.
Luckily, my husband came to the rescue. We talked at length about how each character in my novel might feel about certain things, from hiding a major secret to dealing with feelings of betrayal. What I've learned about the way a man's mind works has been fascinating. As a bonus, it's helped me understand my husband better, too. ---
[image error] BLURB Paradise is just an illusion…

Or so Philip thinks as he vacations on exotic Anguilla. He should be celebrating the end of law school and the start of his successful career, but he's tired of living a lie for his family's sake. For just one night, he lets down his guard with two men he thinks he'll never see again.  He isn't the only one with secrets. For years, Cameron Drake has suppressed his need for dominance, afraid of hurting his lover, Mark Wilder. But when Cameron's hand meets Philip's ass, there's no more pretending. Mark can't face his conflicting feelings about the ménage; does Cameron want more than Mark can give?
The three of them may have been perfect together but consequences follow them back to their real lives. Will their desire for another encounter shatter the illusions they've built to protect themselves or clear the obstacles to paradise? 
PARADISE FOUND is available at Carina Press, Amazon, and other online retailers.
---About the AuthorHunter Raines holds an Honors B.A. in English Literature, and is the author of numerous short stories and novellas. When she's not working or writing, she can be found curled up in her library of more than four thousand books, or playing video games with her husband. Find her on her website, Twitter, and Facebook, or join her Yahoo Group.

News...and Happy Birthday, Carina Press

I can finally announce that SEA OF SUSPICION is going to print with Harlequin's 'Direct to Customer' program and will be available to order from the Harlequin website next year (right here on this link).

Yay!!! Happy dancing :) [image error] PS. Birthday party at the Carina Press blog. Prizes and stuff :)

Guest Author: Elise Warner

[image error]  SEE, HEAR, TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH
     New York is my city—that sounds possessive—I was born here, grew up here and it will always be part of my life. The city's sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch appear in many of the stories I've written. Streets, neighborhoods, architecture and parks are an important part of my debut mystery Scene Stealer published by Carina Press.     The idea for Scene Stealer and its three leading characters began when I took the subway to Lincoln Center to buy tickets for a play. A ragged, unkempt man and a well dressed boy were sitting diagonally across from me. The child appeared tense and anxious. I began to wonder if they were related and— if not—why they were together and—more important—why the child was frightened. The pair left the train at the next stop but I couldn't stop thinking about them and they became Miss Weidenmaier—a retired schoolteacher and soon to be amateur detective, Kevin Corcoran—a young actor and spokesperson for the "Cowboy Bob's Big, Bad Burger," commercial and Lawrence Dunn—an aging, underemployed would-be Shakespearean actor.     In her search for Kevin, Miss Weidenmaier explores an off-Broadway casting call, Greenwich Village with its aromas of coffee and spices, a verdant Central Park where a motion picture is being made, a legendary building that once housed song writers, cold, glass skyscrapers that hide the sun, and a church transformed into an off-off-very-off Broadway theatre.     Added was Miss Weidenmaier's distaste for fast food, the blindness of night, a fit of sneezing caused by dust, the sound of unexpected foot steps, and the roughness of a canvas drop.     Characters included—a villainess as icy as the skyscraper she reigned over, a hard-nosed detective—for Miss Weidenmaier to frustrate, suspects including Kevin's parents, school-friends, agent, an obnoxious talk show host, an eager ingénue and assorted citizens of the Big Apple.     I had a great time writing Scene Stealer and a bit of aggravation too—when my villain refused to do dastardly deeds and I had to change my plot. I admit—he was right.
Scene Stealer is available through www.amazon.com/scene-stealer-ebook/dp/B003NX7BSA


SCENE STEALER  EXCERPT  CHAPTER 16
Miss Weidenmaier believes she has found Kevin—the young kidnapped spokesperson for the Cowboy Bob's Big, Bad Burger commercial—hidden in the basement of a theatre that was once a church. She intends to rescue the boy who had asked for her help.

     I opened a door and found myself in a carpeted hallway that led to an area that must once have been the chancel. Here, the carpeting ended under an archway that led to the right wing of the stage, the carpeting replaced by a highly polished wood floor. A work-lamp barely lit the center area of the stage, casting shadows that might have unnerved someone of lesser will or discipline of mind. I was just able to see an old-fashioned light-board set against the wall. To its right stood a table cluttered with a king's crown—its brilliant glass gems shining through the gloom—surrounded by false hair, gauntlets, cuffs, a tin of powder, rouge and a box of tissues. Next to the table was a second set of stairs. It would, I was sure, lead to the room in the basement where Lawrence Dunn dressed.     Careful, I thought; you never saw him leave. He must still be in the theatre and so, if my reasoning was correct, would Kevin.     The thought of notifying Lieutenant Brown of my suspicions grazed my mind. I quickly discarded the idea; I had to be sure. The detective would demand proof. If it wasn't supplied, if I were wrong, he would dismiss me as a meddlesome, old spinster with nothing to do but get into mischief.       The basement was silent. I spied a splinter of light peeking from beneath a door decorated with an oversized star that managed to twinkle and glitter in the near dark.  Dunn, I decided, would be in that room. I needed a place to hide until he emerged and led me to Kevin. A rack of costumes occupied a corner close to Dunn's dressing room. I hugged the wall and moved, at a snail's pace, in the direction of the rack.     The costumes that had served Dunn's various characterizations would now serve as my screen. The waistcoats and doublets, pantaloons, padding, cloaks and robes were made of heavy stuff. The materials were brocade, velvet and fur decorated with jewels and chains. They appeared rich and royal in the gloomy light, but an unpleasant odor of perspiration and mildew hovered over this section of the basement. Age and improper cleaning of the costumes, bought second- or third-hand, worn by generations of nervousElise Warner blogs at www.elisewarner.blogspot.com On the web at www.elisewarner.com  and is a proud member of www.notyourusualsuspects.blogspot.com
Scene Stealer is available wherever eBooks are sold and is produced in an audio version by audible.com   ****************************************************************************
Thanks, Elise. Great excerpt, great book! And you are SO lucky living in NYC!!

The Daisy Killer.

So last year we were away in Europe and Vancouver Island and when we got back to Winnipeg at the end of June my garden looked like this... (actually that's after I'd weeded). [image error] A daisy disaster zone. Ironically, before last year I couldn't get a daisy to grow in my garden. I bought at least 3 that withered and died. So before I left for Europe I scatter a few old seeds and hoped for the best. ARGH. Note to self, do not scatter seeds. On top of that the year before a good friend had given my 3 Himalayan orchids. 

Whatever you do, do NOT plant Himalayan orchids. They grow to eight feet tall and are an invasive species and will wipe out your garden. I'm still weeding the suckers out two years later.

So this year I've been weeding and planting and trying to get her back under control. SO far, so good. Just call me the Daisy Killer.
 
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Suprise!

I have to tell you a little story about my week. As you might of gathered it was my birthday last Monday. So, we celebrated last Saturday because hubby was out of town from Sunday morning for the whole week at a conference in Ottawa. Monday was pretty quiet: I got 1 card (thank you, Kathy), had to remind the kids *cough* it was my birthday. Made myself a dinner for one (spicy sausage salad) and worked my butt off finishing edits. Presents and cards rolled in throughout the week (thank you, family!!) and on Thursday, after volunteering in the school for the morning, I went to lunch with 2 friends who also have birthdays soon. It was lovely and gorgeous. I figured it was the end of my birthday celebrations.
The week was hectic with soccer, Tue, Wed, Thurs night, and with single parenting I was knackered by Friday. My daughter had decided she HAD to make cupcakes for her class for Friday--I didn't understand why but she wanted to, so, okay. What with soccer and American Idol there was no choice but to get up early Friday to make the cupcakes so I was up at 6.30 a.m. to help her (neither of us are morning people). That evening I had planned a trip to get passport photos and to buy dirt for my pots and maybe treat the kids to dinner out. An exciting time to be sure.
So Friday after school I pick up my son and because it is gorgeous we stay and play for the first time this year. I chat to two of my friends and eventually drag my sweaty son off the structure and start home. He stops me every two minutes in the middle of the street to ask the time and gives me LONG hugs and tell me how much he loves me. Then another friend catches up on her bike to go home with us because she wants to borrow a recipe book. And then another friend passes us on her bike and after a brief hello whisks off to do 'errands'.
My son and his friend take off and when we get to our house all the blinds are drawn. I'm frowning and then I walk in the door and there's silence... and then I notice all these pictures taped to the wall, and homemade paperchains that my daughter had been working on (for school) all week. And then... SURPRISE! Everyone jumps out, the friend I'd just left at the school and her whole family, the friend who'd biked past, and a whole bunch of kids who'd been in on the secret.
It was so lovely. My daughter had made invitations and phoned everyone, then she'd made the decorations in class and I'd made the cupcakes which she'd hidden under her bed for the day. My son and daughter had stashed cans of pop and bags of crisp in all the places I apparently never look, and as I never found anything I suspect they were right :) Then after wine and cupcakes, hubby arrived with more friends. He was back a day early as a special surprise. It was a pretty sophisticated surprise for an eleven year old, and eight year old to pull off. She's the best kid in the world. And so's he :)

These make me happy...

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Birthday flowers from my mom and dad :). This time last year I was having a party in their beautiful back garden. Now they might have sold the house we grew up in and I might never set foot in the place again. That makes me sad :(

Author Interview: Maureen Miller

[image error] I'm doing a series of author interviews over the summer and I'm starting off with a dear friend of mine who has a release TODAY! Guess what I'm treating myself to for my birthday?

Who are you and what do you write?

I am the one and only, Maureen Ann Miller.  Perhaps there are others, but I am older than dirt so surely I am the first. I was a programmer in the glass and window manufacturing industry, which means that I used to travel the country and install software in manufacturing plants donning a hard hat, safety glasses, ear plugs, kevlar sleeves and pretty much any item that could potentially make me look less attractive. Nothing says 'bad hair day' like a hard hat.
Naturally this sounds like the formula to breed a romantic suspense author, right? And yet, my first attempt to write a novel actually produced a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. I thought maybe there was something to this hobby of mine, so I stuck with it. Now I am proud to announce that Carina Press is releasing my romantic thriller, ENDLESS NIGHT this week.
What's your favourite place in the world to visit?
London. London is like a Mecca for authors. Inspiration surrounds you everywhere−Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Picadilly−all locations that have hosted so many famous novels. But you can't narrow it down to simply London. Oxford makes you feel more intelligent simply by walking about the campus and the white cliffs of Dover simply humble you. My great uncle was stationed there on D-Day as a medic, waiting for the boats to come back. That image through his eyes will forever be stamped in my head.
Where do you write?
Physically, I write at my desk, yet while I'm writing, I transport into the setting of the book. I am like the director standing there with a cue card in my hand. If you were to pan out on a scene with the hero and heroine engaging in a little tete-a-tete, you could see my desk tucked away in the corner.
How long have you been published or is this your first sale?
This is my first traditionally published novel.
What comes first—characters or the plot?
Ah, the old chicken before the egg debate.  I'm afraid I have to honestly defer with the pathetic answer that it varies per book. Although, that said, I would consider the majority of my stories having been based on the characters initially. ENDLESS NIGHT is about the characters and the plot is woven around them.
Do you write to music? Do you make soundtracks for you stories? If so, what was on the soundtrack for your latest release?
I wish I was talented enough to write music. If my stories were to have soundtracks they would definitely be seascapes. That is what I hear in my head as I am writing them.
If you were a millionaire would you still write?
If I were a millionaire, then life would have come full circle. You begin by writing because it is your hobby and it is your passion. If you are lucky you might even make some money from it. If you are exceptionally lucky you might make enough to actually support yourself. And in one of those rare, miraculous circumstances you may even become a millionaire (or you just married well!). Then you return to what you started with...writing as a hobby and a passion.
Cat or dog person?
Dog person. I always wanted to live on a ranch large enough that I would have to take my horse out to pick up the mail, and when I got back there would be no less than six dogs of various sizes jumping up to greet me until I fall to the ground giggling.

(Me again, Toni :)) Loved the interview! Thanks so much for joining me today. If you want to find out more about Maureen, here are her links...
Website: www.maureenamiller.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaureenMillerBooksTwitter: http://twitter.com/MaureenAMiller

I want one!

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Early Mother's Day present...

because over here it is on Sunday, not March like in the UK.
I was given this...
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And what does it have in common with my book SEA OF SUSPICION?
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I used Sean Bean as my inspiration for my hero, Nick Archer. And they were both (composter & Sean) Made In Sheffield. :) Bought in Winnipeg. Made in England. The irony.