Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 26
March 7, 2020
WeWriWa: I Second that Emotion . . . RISE BY MOONLIGHT
One of the best things about the tedious task of editing (aside from seeking and destroying errors!) is revisiting your characters and the build up of emotions. The overwhelming thing about doing it in Book 15, is having a cast of thousands (okay, hundreds!). But those secondary folk are far from secondary citizens as many have gone on to anchor their own stories. So, while I’m inching closer to a finished project, I’m going to showcase those best bros and gal pals as they first appear and their final evolution in RISE BY MOONLIGHT .
Jacques LaRoche, owner of the Shifter bar, Cheveux du Chien (Hair of the Dog!) and leader of New Orleans dockside clan, is the first of his kind Max meets in the anchor book of the series, MASKED BY MOONLIGHT .
“So,” LaRoche began conversationally, “Legere passed his business to you. Vantour wanted us at his back, but he would never allow us any power, his only interest in our kind is what we could do for him. What about you, what would you do for your kind Savoie?”
“Tell me why I should care about people I don’t know, who never reached out to me until I held something they wanted.”
“We were afraid of you, walking on the outside of us, standing in the shadows of those who would use us and hurt us. Why would we trust you?”
“Because I can protect you if you work with me.”
LaRoche’s eyes narrowed, watching Savoie’s attention drift to the human women he’d brought in with him, before he challenged, “You don’t have that kind of power.”
“But I could, if I can control the docks.”
“We would follow someone who would set us free to walk as men do, and though you say that be you, I’m not so sure.”
Though their first conversation isn’t exactly cordial, the strength of their growing friendship helps establish Max as the pure blood “Promised One” who is believed to be the savior of their people. That bond continues to grow throughout the series, but is challenged when Jacques, who was dumped in New Orleans without a past, is confronted with it in SEEKER OF SHADOWS . More on that next week!
So, it’s back to the scene-by-scene word battle! Hope all y’all who are affected by it remembered to turn ahead those time pieces as Daylight Saving Time rears its ugly head.
Before I start napping to make up for that lost time, I’ll be by to see what you’ve been up to.
Happy Weekend, fellow Warriors and Happy Writing!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
March 3, 2020
IWSG: Tradition!
The March topic for our Insecure Writers Support Group is: Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
I’ve been writing a paranormal shapeshifter series for over a decade (currently finishing up the last, #15, of my “By Moonlight” books!). Its populace and the setting of New Orleans are a world away from mine here in Michigan, so I’ve been going out of my way to establish traditions/customs that are polar opposites of my own. Other than the very human partner of my heroine having a backyard BBQ, there haven’t been many chances for our worlds to connect. Half the fun of writing is living outside the safe and predicable boundaries of your own yard in ways that are new and exciting . . . and sometimes, dangerous!
One annoying custom that I do suffer from is Daylight Saving Time, which steals an hour of sleep and/or writing from me this Sunday. The only ones who benefit from this unnatural change are my cats, who get fed an hour earlier.
A tradition I AM going to investigate is St. Patrick’s Day. Time to immerse myself in all things Shamrocky before a three-week writing trek to Ireland later this spring with two of my critique partners. I think I’m already fairly fluent in Guinness.
Looking forward to visiting your posts this month.
Happy Writing and Happy Spring (my favorite season!)!!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the March 4th posting of the IWSG will be Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
I’ve been writing a paranormal shapeshifter series for over a decade (currently finishing up the last, #15, of my “By Moonlight” books!). Its populace and the setting of New Orleans are a world away from mine here in Michigan, so I’ve been going out of my way to establish traditions/customs that are polar opposites of my own. Other than the very human partner of my heroine having a backyard BBQ, there haven’t been many chances for our worlds to connect. Half the fun of writing is living outside the safe and predicable boundaries of your own yard in ways that are new and exciting . . . and sometimes, dangerous!
One annoying custom that I do suffer from is Daylight Saving Time, which steals an hour of sleep and/or writing from me this Sunday. The only ones who benefit from this unnatural change are my cats, who get fed an hour earlier.
A tradition I AM going to investigate is St. Patrick’s Day. Time to immerse myself in all things Shamrocky before a three-week writing trek to Ireland later this spring with two of my critique partners. I think I’m already fairly fluent in Guinness.
Looking forward to visiting your posts this month.
Happy Writing and Happy Spring (my favorite season!)!!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the March 4th posting of the IWSG will be Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
February 22, 2020
WeWriWa: Back in Time Pt. 2 . . . MASKED BY MOONLIGHT
After leaving the suspense hanging between my hero and heroine last week, I figured I’d better let you exhale with the continuation of that scene in this week’s Weekend Writing Warriors excerpt:
Oh boy, she’s in trouble now. And that trouble goes from better to worse to awesome over the course of the next 14 books in the series. That’s a pretty long-dang time to exhale but I think I finally have that HEA wrapped up in RISE BY MOONLIGHT thanks to encouragement like this from PW to keep me going the distance.
He tasted her slowly, firmly, riding the jerk of her chest, gentling his hold on her hands, then finally releasing them. Her palms came up to rest against his shoulders, motionless at first, then beginning to push. He lifted off her by a scant inch, his stare delving into hers. His breathing hurried.
“Max, stop.”
That hoarse whisper still didn’t convince him. The tip of his tongue lightly rimmed the fullness of her lower lip, the gesture so provokingly intimate she trembled with a helpless chill of response.
His challenge brushed silkily over the damp part of her mouth. “I will if you mean it.”
And for a moment, for one startling moment, she didn’t.
Before I move on to the other books/characters in the series, here’s another taste of MASKED BY MOONLIGHT.
Here’s to having a final draft ready for Beta readers by next weekend! (Okay, I’ve said it out loud-now to make to so!)
Happy Weekend, fellow Warriors and Write On!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
February 15, 2020
WeWRiWa: Back in Time . . . MASKED BY MOONLIGHT
As I’m trekking forward in my (hopefully) final edit before BETA reads, I’ve found myself having to go back to the beginning before completing the end of my journey with Book 15 of my “By Moonlight” series. Back to where things were starting to heat up between Detective Charlotte Caissie and the criminally ambiguous, Max Savoie after he rescues her from a vicious attack.
I adore these characters . . . and thankfully so did my Pocket editor, Micki Nuding when she purchased the first three anchoring books of the series over a decade ago (after I’d already turned down an offer from another house for just the first book). A writer’s dream to have input into titles, back copy and cover continuity (and yes, for those who watch sleeze TV, that is Jax from Vanderpump Rules!), a fabulous training ground for when I’d self-pub. Pocket went on to publish three more paperback and two e-only books, and I continued with five more, with my current W.I.P., RISE BY MOONLIGHT, #15 to conclude the series. Sigh . . . and to think it all started with a three-chapter paranormal shapeshifter proposal for an entirely different project that got turned down (Moral of story: Don’t toss out those old ideas!!)
“You killed those men.”
He didn’t admit it, not exactly with his rumbling, “I’m sorry, did you want to get to know them better?”
“You rushed in to take on armed men with your bare hands? Are you insane?”
“Should I have just kept walking?” His gaze locked into hers, eyes heating, darkening with something she’d never seen in them before.
“Step back, Savoie.”
Her gruff command must have lacked conviction because his head lowered until his breath feathered against her lips, soft, warm.
“Don’t.” Not quite so tough.
Preview Book 1
Add to Goodreads TBR→My next endeavor, working toward getting my rights back to those first six books so I can make them available and affordable.
Looking forward to seeing how you’ve been spending your keyboard time!
Happy Writing! And Happy belated Valentine’s Day!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
February 8, 2020
WeWriWa: Back to Business . . . RISE BY MOONLIGHT
I’ve been pretty much absent for the past month, either sick or off with writer pals, but now it’s time for both me and my W.I.P. to get back to business. And in this scene from RISE BY MOONLIGHT , my hero Max Savoie is all about long overdue business with his past and with his pack.
I’m almost finished with a second edit of RbM and from there, it’s off to BETA readers while I get all my PR efforts in order along with cover, back copy and plans to promote. I’ve seen a rough copy of my cover and WOW, it’s to die for. Can’t wait to show you the final product. Until then, it’s back to the keyboard to take care of the business of writing.
Max Savoie was hardly a stranger on the docks. As Jimmy Legere’s enigmatic enforcer, he’d often stood at his boss’s back, a silent grim reaper shadow warning of dark deeds to come. Since he’d discovered his kinship to those who toiled at the dank Mississippi’s edge, his presence sparked different reactions, welcome in some, suspicion in others depending upon whether they viewed him as savior or destroyer of their kind, but none were neutral.
Though he could move like a ghost, unfelt and practically unseen, Max chose to let those of his kind sense his presence immediately. Instead of his usual Armani, he wore casual chinos and a plain tee shirt beneath the long sweep of his black raincoat to signal this was no business visit. Work stopped as his red hightops traveled the water-pooled concrete, no greeting hailing him from the suddenly still and silent group, making him feel about as welcomed as a cargo of spoiled shrimp.
Philo Tibideaux exited the foreman’s trailer Jacques LaRoche once made his home. The tall redhead purposefully didn’t welcome him with a nod, nor was there any sign of one in his inscrutable expression as he waited on the top step for Max to come to him. He let Max wait a long, rather uncomfortable minute at the foot of the stairs before finally offering a cool greeting.
“What brings you out in the light of day, Savoie?”
February is one of my favorite months because it’s the shortest one of winter leading into spring. Hope those of you in chilly states like mine here in Michigan are staying warm. Until next week, Happy Writing, fellow Warriors!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
February 4, 2020
IWSG: Every Picture Tells a Story
Our Insecure Writers Support Group question for February is: Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
Yes! In my case, I blame it on the debut of MTV. As a stay-at-home mom with a new baby, the music and videos carried me back to my rather wild rock-n-roll college roots, encouraging me to join a record club (vinyl, remember them?) to pad my long-neglected collection. On the back of one of the LPs, I don’t remember which, there was a picture of the group’s drummer. I couldn’t look away. What a perfect pirate he would make! (In fact, one of their later music vids had a rather swashbuckling feel to it!). While trying to nap between feedings for the new kid on the block, I daydreamed about that swarthy fellow. Piece by piece, a story came together, first in my mind then on notebook paper, becoming my second completed manuscript (the first is still in a box somewhere). And in August of 1987, THE PIRATE’S CAPTIVE debuted under my pen name Dana Ransom alongside SWEET TEMPEST , a historical Regency also written for Zebra Books as Lauren Giddings, my first two published books. And I owe it all to Rock’n’Roll.
I’m very visual when I write. For each book, I put together a folder (either physical, digital or both. Now, I even use Pintrest!) filled with images that support or inspire my current WIP. Faces of characters, clothing they’d wear, places they’d live or travel to. I hang my daydreams on those images as the story emerges and finally expands into text (I’ve come a long way since notebook paper and a manual typewriter). So, in my case, every picture helps me tell my story.
But when I think of a picture that inspires me to finish those stories, it’s this one on my desk of my critique group of over 25 years strong! Their steady stares all say the same thing: “You should be writing!”.
Have a happy shortest month year and Happy Writing! Looking forward to reading about your inspirations!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the February 5th posting of the IWSG will be Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Yes! In my case, I blame it on the debut of MTV. As a stay-at-home mom with a new baby, the music and videos carried me back to my rather wild rock-n-roll college roots, encouraging me to join a record club (vinyl, remember them?) to pad my long-neglected collection. On the back of one of the LPs, I don’t remember which, there was a picture of the group’s drummer. I couldn’t look away. What a perfect pirate he would make! (In fact, one of their later music vids had a rather swashbuckling feel to it!). While trying to nap between feedings for the new kid on the block, I daydreamed about that swarthy fellow. Piece by piece, a story came together, first in my mind then on notebook paper, becoming my second completed manuscript (the first is still in a box somewhere). And in August of 1987, THE PIRATE’S CAPTIVE debuted under my pen name Dana Ransom alongside SWEET TEMPEST , a historical Regency also written for Zebra Books as Lauren Giddings, my first two published books. And I owe it all to Rock’n’Roll.
I’m very visual when I write. For each book, I put together a folder (either physical, digital or both. Now, I even use Pintrest!) filled with images that support or inspire my current WIP. Faces of characters, clothing they’d wear, places they’d live or travel to. I hang my daydreams on those images as the story emerges and finally expands into text (I’ve come a long way since notebook paper and a manual typewriter). So, in my case, every picture helps me tell my story.
But when I think of a picture that inspires me to finish those stories, it’s this one on my desk of my critique group of over 25 years strong! Their steady stares all say the same thing: “You should be writing!”.
Have a happy shortest month year and Happy Writing! Looking forward to reading about your inspirations!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the February 5th posting of the IWSG will be Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
January 11, 2020
WeWriWa: This Kiss, This Kiss . . . MIDNIGHT KISS on SALE!
One question started it all . . . “Have you ever considered writing a vampire romance?” This was back in very, very early 1990 when Anne Rice hit big with her dark antihero and the market was wide open in romance. I was meeting with my Zebra editor (Love you, John S!) at a conference where we were discussing my ongoing historical contract and were looking for other avenues to absorb my prolific output. Vampires? I promised I’d consider it and went up to my room to put my feet up. Vampire . . . romance. My horror movie dark side sunk its teeth in and within the hour, I gave him a call back to let him know I had an outline for a three-book series. Silence. Then a stunned request that I send it to him. It was in the mail before he got on the plane. MIDNIGHT KISS was the first in that trio (finally expanding to 8), historically set in Regency London, MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION in post-revolution France and MIDNIGHT SURRENDER in Turn of the Century New York, following Louis Radman and his undead family as they try to evade sworn enemies and find a way to exist in a changing world. Here’s an excerpt from MIDNIGHT KISS . . .
It was dangerous folly for him to hold her, yet he couldn’t resist. So warm and sweet, so filled with pulsing life, she nestled into him like a trusting kitten, shivering weakly, clinging with surprising strength.
He lowered his face into the untidy spill of her dark hair, nuzzling those glossy tresses, nudging without real purpose until he found himself at her vulnerably bared throat. He pressed his mouth against it, feeling the beat of life beckoning seductively until his eyes rolled and drifted shut and his hunger rose, cleverly disguised as passion.
A week, a long, torturous week since he’d last drawn nourishment. His insides burned with a glassy fire, that searing heat, gnawing for want of satisfaction. And the cure was here, offered so sweetly.
The need was too strong, too immediate. The monster within roared to life, an exquisite pain shooting through his gums, lancing all the way up to his cheekbones as the changes began that would allow him to sate a hunger so fierce it was like madness. There was no hope of halting it until Arabella sighed, blissfully unaware of her precarious situation, her hand touching shyly to the back of his head, stroking gently through his hair and remarkably, inexplicably, the beast in him was tamed in an instant.
I still love this book, though it may seem dated by today’s PNR market (I’m unapologetically dated, too, tho still pretty hip for an old gal!! That hasn’t been replaced – yet.). It opened a new otherworld of options for me writing under my own name, leading to my current shapeshifter series that I’m elbow deep in second round edits bringing it to a conclusion.
Preview Book 1
Add to Goodreads TBR→MIDNIGHT KISS is currently on sale for just $0.99. Hope you’ll be tempted to take a look, and that it will entice you enough to continue through the series into modern day. And it all started with a kiss.
I’m at a four-day Writing Weekend with two of my critique partners. Four days of writing . . . sigh. And an ulterior purpose – discussing a potential vacay to Ireland. Hmmm, I wonder if those kind of books are popular?
Happy Weekend, fellow Warriors. I’ll be on the road but promise to visit all of you. I’ve been remiss lately due to the holidays. And, as always, Happy Writing!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
January 7, 2020
IWSG: The Start of my Writing Journey
Happy New Year, fellow Insecure Writers! We’ve got a great question to start 2020: “What started you on your writing journey?”
In my case, it was several things, starting with my mom who read to me at bedtime until I was old enough to read to her. Those fanciful Dr. Seuss books (which she loathed!), fairytales, and her favorite – Carl Sandburg’s Rutabaga Stories , had my mind swirling with possibilities the second the light turned out. Instead of lulling me to sleep, those words began a domino-ing “What if?” effect that had me stretching out those stories into my own HEA endings, turning me into a storyteller. But the writing bug (sparked by my first publication in the school newspaper when I was in 6th grade) blossomed in this painfully shy middle-schooler when we had to read our own made up epitaphs to the class. Mine, purposefully, made everyone laugh. What a wonderful feeling to encourage a positive response in that tough 8th grade audience. I started thinking, I want to do this!
That writer bloomed in middle and high school when sharing continuing stories with several of my friends. They couldn’t WAIT to get that next installment. I wrote and wrote, filling spirals and notebooks – but never finished anything. Then came college along with a part time job, and fictional pursuits lay mostly dormant. Until a chance encounter at a craft fair after I’d gotten married and was supplementing my income making stuffed animal toys, when a dapper woman stopped at my booth and recognized me as one of her former English students. She sized me up and pronounced disdainfully, “So, this is what you’re doing with your college education.” It was the kick in the ego I’d been waiting for. I went home and related the story to my now ex and announced I was going to finish a book and sell it. I ended up writing FOUR full manuscripts, and finally submitted the best one to New York. It sold and was followed over the years by 67 more. Now that I’m newly retired, writing IS my full-time job.
That daydreamer, storyteller finally broke loose. And yes, this is what I do with my college education. I write because I can’t NOT write. And it all started with bedtime stories . . .
Oh, and one of those books is on SALE! MIDNIGHT KISS , the first installment in my “Touched by Midnight” vampire series is just $0.99 until January 15! Sink your teeth in and enjoy!!
Preview Book 1
Add to Goodreads TBR→
How about you, fellow IWSGers? I can’t wait to find out what unlocked that creative door for you. May that passion flame long and strong in 2020! Write on!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the January 8th posting of the IWSG will be T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
In my case, it was several things, starting with my mom who read to me at bedtime until I was old enough to read to her. Those fanciful Dr. Seuss books (which she loathed!), fairytales, and her favorite – Carl Sandburg’s Rutabaga Stories , had my mind swirling with possibilities the second the light turned out. Instead of lulling me to sleep, those words began a domino-ing “What if?” effect that had me stretching out those stories into my own HEA endings, turning me into a storyteller. But the writing bug (sparked by my first publication in the school newspaper when I was in 6th grade) blossomed in this painfully shy middle-schooler when we had to read our own made up epitaphs to the class. Mine, purposefully, made everyone laugh. What a wonderful feeling to encourage a positive response in that tough 8th grade audience. I started thinking, I want to do this!
That writer bloomed in middle and high school when sharing continuing stories with several of my friends. They couldn’t WAIT to get that next installment. I wrote and wrote, filling spirals and notebooks – but never finished anything. Then came college along with a part time job, and fictional pursuits lay mostly dormant. Until a chance encounter at a craft fair after I’d gotten married and was supplementing my income making stuffed animal toys, when a dapper woman stopped at my booth and recognized me as one of her former English students. She sized me up and pronounced disdainfully, “So, this is what you’re doing with your college education.” It was the kick in the ego I’d been waiting for. I went home and related the story to my now ex and announced I was going to finish a book and sell it. I ended up writing FOUR full manuscripts, and finally submitted the best one to New York. It sold and was followed over the years by 67 more. Now that I’m newly retired, writing IS my full-time job.
That daydreamer, storyteller finally broke loose. And yes, this is what I do with my college education. I write because I can’t NOT write. And it all started with bedtime stories . . .
Oh, and one of those books is on SALE! MIDNIGHT KISS , the first installment in my “Touched by Midnight” vampire series is just $0.99 until January 15! Sink your teeth in and enjoy!!
Preview Book 1
Add to Goodreads TBR→How about you, fellow IWSGers? I can’t wait to find out what unlocked that creative door for you. May that passion flame long and strong in 2020! Write on!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.The awesome co-hosts for the January 8th posting of the IWSG will be T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
January 4, 2020
WeWriWa: Something to Remind Me . . . REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT and a S*A*L*E!
In 2014, after I was freed from my contract with Pocket Books, my writing career took a unexpected turn in my first self-publishing attempt with REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT , the 9th book in my “By Moonlight” series. It was a new beginning for both me as an author and for my main character, Max Savoie as we both began a journey into the unknown. As I was learning how to control the creative reins, Max was rediscovering who he was after capture by his clan’s enemies left him with no memory of his past. Enjoy this flashback.
REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT began the second half of my series, upping the stakes, bringing in the spin-off arc of my “House of Terriot” books that concludes with Book 15, RISE BY MOONLIGHT , currently in its second revision. REMEMBERED , like RISE , summarizes what’s come before so readers can pick them up and not be lost . . . at least that’s what I’m working toward while knitting together those loose ends. So, if you don’t have time to begin at the beginning, REMEMBERED takes you on a journey through past to present. Then you’ll be ready to RISE !
From the patio of his penthouse apartment, Max Savoie surveyed a kingdom stretching from the gleaming spires of the business district that dazzled against the breaking dawn to the slow, lazy curve of the Mississippi far below, yet he felt none of the pleasures of rank or rule. He didn’t know what he felt about the city, about the posh high rise he owned, about the woman inside . . . because he didn’t remember them.
Even before the sound of her approach, her mysterious scent reached him, one he recognized on a visceral level as Voodoo Love, a special blend from a perfumery in the Quarter. It teased about the edges of his awareness, inciting a prickle of response. His breathing quickened, skin heated and anticipation spurred his pulse to a gallop, but when he turned, those eager reactions died, because all he saw was a stranger.
A detective with the New Orleans Police Department, Charlotte Caissie carried her shield and gun the way most women did lipstick and a designer clutch, effortlessly, as a defining part of who she was. Tall, curvy, her stride confident even in those four-inch heels, she was fiercely striking from flashing dark eyes to her short leather skirt and zebra-striped blouse—gorgeous, lethal, and in love with him.
There was nothing aggressive about her gaze when it touched upon his with broken heart in her eyes, but only for a moment. Then she smiled and played the game they had settled into every time they were together, that of polite, carefully neutral guests forced out of necessity to share the same space.
Only he wasn’t pretending.
Preview Book 9
Add to Goodreads TBR→SALE Time! MIDNIGHT KISS , the first book in my “Touched by Midnight” vampire romance series is kicking off the New Year with a $0.99 celebration from January 1 through 15. This was another ground-breaking series for me, beginning as one of the first in the paranormal romance wave back in the early ‘90s. After the first three books went out of print, small press frontrunner, ImaJinn Books brought them back to life and continued the series, now available through Bellebooks. I’ll be sharing an excerpt from MIDNIGHT KISS next week.
Preview Book 1
Add to Goodreads TBR→Wishing you all the best as this exciting new decade kicks off! One of my resolutions is to get my backlist back in print. What are yours??
Happy Writing and Happy 2020!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
December 21, 2019
WeWriWa: Back to the Beginning . . . “By Moonlight” series
After completing my first edit of the final book in my “By Moonlight” dark shapeshifter series, I had to do some serious fact checking (looking for how many children a minor character in one of fifteen books had, a pet name used for an old boyfriend, whether a particular action was undertaken or simply discussed, the year and model of that orange Camero . . . those kinds of details!). With my sleuth hat on (because I didn’t do character sketches in the earlier books the way I do now because . . . who knew there’d be ten or so more of them!), I’ve been immersed in those early days and it’s like falling in love all over again (or going on a second honeymoon). So, I’m sharing excepts from the first book, MASKED BY MOONLIGHT as a reminder of why my main couple were worth all the time and carpal tunnel. Meet Max and Charlotte.
Trying to keep the temperature level at the same degree since my first draft in 2008 has been quite the challenge. All those days . . . and nights. Whew! That’s a lot of cardio. Here’s a quick overview.
His stare locked into hers, gaze heating, darkening with something she’d never seen in them before.
“Step back, Savoie.”
Her gruff command must have lacked conviction because his head lowered until his breath feathered soft and warm against her lips.
“Don’t,” not quite so tough.
He tasted her slowly, firmly, riding the jerk of her chest, gentling his hold on her hands, finally releasing them. Her palms came up to rest against his shoulders, motionless at first, then beginning to push until he lifted off her by a scant inch, his stare delving into hers, his breathing hurried.
“Max, stop.”
That hoarse whisper still didn’t convince as the tip of his tongue lightly rimmed the fullness of her lower lip, the gesture so provokingly intimate she trembled with a helpless chill of response.
His challenge brushed silkily over the damp part of her mouth, “I will if you mean it.”
And for a moment, for one startling moment, she didn’t.
I’ll be concluding 2019 with another look back before greeting 2020 with my WIP, RISE BY MOONLIGHT.
Wishing all a HAPPY HOLIDAYS with those you love, be they family or characters or an assortment of both.
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
