Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 51

IWSG: RX for the Weary Writer

Anyone who thinks self-publishing is a simple matter of writing it, putting a title and your name on it, slapping it up on Amazon then sitting back to watch the cash roll in is self-deluding.

Even with 25 years of publishing experience and a phenomenal crew behind me it was a right down to a thin wire for my supposed to be August but now it's October book. Formating woes, setting up blog tours, writing endless posts, social media blitzs, computer troubles right up to the release date for UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS (10-26-15), and then relentless issues, tweaking, visiting posts, checking numbers, checking numbers again (even after looking at them just five minutes ago!). Can you say OCD overload?! After four weeks of up at 4:00 a.m. to write four hours, putting in an 8-hour day at my job, back to the computer in home office, eating crap food, too much coffee (if there is such a thing), can’t sleep (I guess there is!), I’m in a Groundhog’s Day hell of rapid cycling, but I have to stay on top of things.

Riding to a weekend writing retreat in a rambling rural farm house wasn’t what I wanted to do. It was what I NEEDED to do. No internet, poor cell service, eleven authors escaping life to sit at the keyboard. Paradise? I needed convincing. Eleven women under one roof with NO talking, just writing? Yeah right. Friday we talked, we cooked, we ate, we drank (but not too much), we wrote down goals and then we found our individual niches in the maze of rooms and sat down to produce. I can’t stop fretting over how the new book is doing . . . without me. Immediately another writer sits nearby, bursting at the seams to talk. Oh . . . hell. I ask the first question and her dam of frustration breaks. And in listening and giving advice, I can feel my own internal tension slipping away in a kindred osmosis. She started writing. I started writing . . . on a new project. And the words flowed as the world outside my new weekend window of creativity faded away.

Up earlier than the roosters to make paint-stripping coffee, I was back at my spot, now empty of all but ideas, almost unaware of the room slowly filling around me, falling into a relaxed pattern of sparse conversation and energized productivity. I snap up the offer of getting a shiatsu massage and knots the size of every one of my fears and frustrations are kneaded away (oh, look my neck is longer!). A gathering for serve yourself lunch, then supper, animated discussion and lots of laughs, telling ghost stories about the creaking boards around us then off to work again. Sleep, repeat, only on our last day, most writers retreat to their rooms with doors left invitingly open while they work out newly revealed plot points. By noon, an amazing amount of progress is shared. I’m well into Chapter Three. Then back to the real world . . .

I didn’t turn on my computer until that evening. And I didn’t check my numbers until the next morning. Shoulders relaxed . . .

Make time to take time for yourself, author friends! There’s no better RX than R&R!

Here’s a look at my difficult to birth new baby . . .

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He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . .

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn?

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

“Every delicious word Nancy Gideon puts on the page exhilarates with a sensuous ferocity. Hopelessly addicted.” —Darynda Jones, NY Times Bestselling Author



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.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

IWSG awesome co-hosts for the November 4th posting will be Stephen Tremp, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Tyrean Martinson!

RELEASE DAY, AT LAST, with my Haunted Open House Blog Hop!

I’m SO excited to introduce (or re-introduce) my favorite book boyfriend, Cale Terriot. I fell hard for this dark-souled, strutty, tattooed, rowdy rock-and-roll prince-turned-king in the House of Terriot way back when he was just a sinister whisper in HUNTER OF SHADOWS . I just had to learn more about him. After digging for his secrets and exposing his vulnerability with the help of his childhood love-now queen-Kendra in PRINCE OF SHADOWS , I thought I’d gotten over him until he roared back into REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT to settle a debt, and almost took over the pages (it’s that Terriot arrogance!). I had to promise him another book of his own so I could finish the edits in peace.


UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS explores the darkness that provokes terrible deeds, the regrets that keep happiness at bay, and strength that can only be discovered through heartbreak. Enjoy this sample and then on to the treats . . .


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“Complex characters, vivid writing and intriguing plot twists keep readers coming back to Gideon’s magical NOLA.” –Publishers Weekly

He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . .

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn?

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

“Every delicious word Nancy Gideon puts on the page exhilarates with a sensuous ferocity. Hopelessly addicted.” —Darynda Jones, NY Times Bestselling Author

It may have been momentary insanity that had me thinking releasing a book during my 5th Annual Haunted Open House would be a good idea (cut to frantic pulling at hair and turning on the computer at 4:00 a.m.) but UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS is here (!) debuting as I open the doors to my haunted house extravaganza of ghoulish guests, goodies, giveaways and other unearthly delights. Get up close and personal with Cale (But not too close. I get jealous easily!) with excerpts, phenomenal book trailer, rockin’ playlist, deleted scenes, insight into the “By Moonlight” shape-shifter and “Touched by Midnight” vampire series and much, much more! (Make sure you check out UbS’s precursor REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT and my Indie horror movie novelization IN THE WOODS for only $0.99! in my HOH!)



But before you leave my doorstep, join in my Haunted Open House Blog Hop!


The lights are on so follow the path above to other generous souls offering giveaway goodies on their blog porches. But first, enter below for a chance to win autographed copies of the first six books in my “By Moonlight” series! What a way to pave the way for UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS . Sorry US Only!




a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now . . . on to more spooktacular fun! HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

WeWriWa: Looking Back and then Ahead

Sometimes looking back reminds us of where we’re going. In the middle of all the hustle bustle of preparing for my new release to hit readers’ hands in all formats tomorrow (I could go on about that frenzy if you had a day or twelve!), I took a breath and remembered being in this same position last year. I survived that and will survive this, and will look back upon these manic, panicked weeks with fondness (well, maybe not FONDNESS!).
To celebrate that year past, here’s a snippet from REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT , the precursor to UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS :

Had she expected it to be easy having him here so close and yet so agonizingly far away? Bad enough watching him in that antiseptic clinic cell, a prisoner of his own panicked madness, raving, raging, out of control. Worse was having him here in the lush, sexy surroundings he’d built for them to share, temptingly near yet impossible to reach. 

A bargain made in heartbreak hell. 

Though she might be tortured by cherished memories, he was not. She was nothing to him but a protective port in his emotional storm. Knowledge driven home like a stake through the heart every time they were together, every time he stared at her through those cool green eyes without the slightest flicker of response, every time he took that distancing step back to evade the casual graze of her hand. Every time he lay next to her in the night and silence created a force field of discomfort.

Tripping over him every minute of the damned day only emphasized how much she wanted, needed him back.

And underlined how far away he was.

While looking ahead to hopefully making some green off my new release, I’m planning to thank readers for sticking with me by saving them some. During my week-long 5th Annual Haunted Open House, I’m reducing the price of both REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT and my Indie horror movie novelization IN THE WOODS to just $0.99! It’s an experiment. I’m new at this self-pubbed stuff. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

In the meantime, Happy Writing and Happy Halloween! Help me celebrate by visiting my house for some ghoulish fun, lots of steals and deals, more excerpts, author guests, giveaways and a peek at why I think I have a few more grey hairs (not that you’d EVER see them!).

And here’s a look at the treats . . .

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | All Romance Books

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | All Romance Books

Amazon
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.

Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Blog Hop

Halloween is just around the corner and it's time for the 4th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway from Laughing Vixen Lounge. 7 wickedly fun shops have come together to create one spooktalcular Prize Pack ($225+) full of Jewelry, Perfume, Clothing, Accessories and more! All shops are offering Gift Cards or your choice of item(s) so there will be something for everyone. Many of the shops have items perfect for any book lover along with lots of other unique, handcrafted and custom designs. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below or visit the Main Giveaway Page on the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog HERE.

Join us daily on the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog during the giveaway for our Halloween Movie Marathon featuring the Guess the Movie Game and our Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt. Each event will get you daily entries in the giveaway plus a special giveaway for the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt. Find full details for these events HERE.
    
October is the perfect time for watching spooky movies. Along with the Halloween Movie Marathon each of our participating shops, and many of our blog sponsors, will be sharing some of their favorite movie choices with you.

I LOVE scary movies! Monsters, ghosties, zombies, chillers, anything that gets the heart pumping and the imagination jumping. My list could go on forever but, because we’re talking favorite movie or book, how about favorite movie AND book! My go-to for woo-woo is Dean Koontz, and his ODD THOMAS is my pick for both a great read and frightfully good viewing (it even has a love story and a few tears for the tenderhearted along with chills and thrills).

The giveaway runs October 18th - November 1st and is open worldwide. 1 winner will win the Prize Pack and 1 winner will win the Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack. Laughing Vixen Lounge is responsible for all giveaway details. Please visit the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog HERE to see the full prize list, participating shops and daily giveaway events. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And for more spooktacular fun, I hope you grrrls and ghouls will join me for my Haunted Open House Book Party from October 26 to 30. I’ll be celebrating the release of my shape-shifter paranormal UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS with extra giveaways, treats, great reads and eye candy! There’s still time to sign up for my Haunted Open House Blog Hop and open up your blog’s front porch to more visitors.

WeWriWa: Finally Unleashed!

Just when you begin to think it will never happen. . . UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS is finally available for pre-order after endless rounds of tweaking. I never appreciated the term “Hurry up and wait” more painfully than when pacing in anticipation of CreateSpace proofs. Here’s a new glimpse of UNLEASHED to tide you over until its October 26 release . . .

She’d spend her entire life cloistered behind protective walls both physical and psychological in the care of her protective cousins. She’d been an object of pity, of well-meaning devotion that smothered more than it sheltered, of terrorizing manipulation being dangled as a prize in a battle for a crown. She’d never known emotion stronger than her fear until a fierce, claiming kiss on a moonlit night woke her to passion. She’d never known independence until she clasped a dangerous prince between her knees on her first wild motorcycle ride down a mountainside. She’d never realized her own strength until a hoarsely whispered, “Don’t let me fall” demanded it of her. 

The timid girl clinging to the protection of others had evolved into a woman eager to embrace all the world offered, beginning with an impulsive trip to a dangerous city to support her prince now king.

If Brigit MacCreedy could see her now. Since bonding, she’d felt driven by an almost ferocious need to provide whatever her mate needed be it comfort, support, or the one thing he desperately desired that she’d yet to supply. A child to cement their relationship and his legacy.

Many thanks for your comments and encouragement on this loooooong ride to print and e-format!

Amazon | Kobo Books
He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . .

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn?

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

“Every delicious word Nancy Gideon puts on the page exhilarates with a sensuous ferocity. Hopelessly addicted.” —Darynda Jones, NY Times Bestselling Author

Just for fun, I’m helping to launch UNLEASHED during my 5th Annual Haunted Open House. Doors are open October 26th through 30th for a Book Party filled with excerpts, giveaways, teasers, guest grrrrls and ghouls and more. You’re invited to join me in my Haunted Open House Blog Hop to bring new visitors to you blog doorstep.


Happy Reading 8-10 lines at a time!!

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.

IWSG: And So It Begins . . . (with Cover Reveal!)

That last page. That final edit. That closed file. One job ends and another begins.

I just finished UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS, the latest in my dark paranormal “By Moonlight” shape-shifter series, and now the work REALLY begins (because I’ve never considered writing work even though it is my job!). Time to put together that promotional plan. Love it, hate it, you gotta do it.

I confess part of me, that OCD part, LOVES doing promotion. Oh, not the actual participating in it, which sucks the energy out of you like a Hoover, but the preparation. I’m in my zone with list making, calendars, piecing together book trailers (which I have to get back to as soon as I finish typing this post), setting up blog visits, researching the best bang for your buck ad ops. Part of me thinks, "Oh, I could so do this for a living!"  But in reality, self-promo is like babies – I really LOVED mine, but everyone else’s – not so much.

UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS comes out on October 26, 2015. Back in August, that sounded like plenty of time to get those duck in a row, but in actuality, the clock doesn’t start ticking until the 11th hour. And then it’s not that boat of bad guys closing in on Chuck Norris in slow motion for fifteen minutes. It’s a short wick on a big bomb.

Putting together a promo package is almost like writing. It’s all swirling creative energy and excitement. The sky and your imagination is the limit. And then the postpartum blues. The rush and anticipation is over. Now it’s on to the hard work. The rolling up of sleeves to face those 20 posts for the release day blog tour, the mechanics of a Facebook event, hosting my 5th Annual Haunted Open House (which is a Book Party and Blog Hop this year so put it on your calendar for 10-26 to 10-30!), the angst and anxiety of waiting for numbers to translate into $s (one hopes!).

Rolling up sleeves . . .

Here’s a first glimpse of UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS to help heat up your morning coffee.


He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . .

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn?

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

“Every delicious word Nancy Gideon puts on the page exhilarates with a sensuous ferocity. Hopelessly addicted.” —Darynda Jones, NY Times Bestselling Author

Available October 26, 2015!

Now, on to prep for my favorite holiday. Hope you’ll consider joining me for the HOH Blog Hop!

Happy Fall! Happy Halloween! Happy Reading!


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.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

IWSG awesome co-hosts for the October 7th posting will be TB Markinson, Tamara Narayan, Shannon Lawrence, Stephanie Faris, and Eva E. Solar!

Weekend Writing Warriors: Whew!

After what seems like forever, I’ve finally completed my final edit for UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS , the latest in my dark paranormal “By Moonlight” series (which is why I’ve been gone the last three weekends) and I’m starting to pull promo excerpts. You know, it is hard work finding 8-10 sentences that sum up character, plot, emotion, etc.! Here’s my first short. Let me know what you think!

A huge gold-footed black tub stood at an angle so all he could see above its curled lip was the top of a tousled blonde head. As he stared, too dazed to even breathe, one slender leg rose, trailing water and bubbles. 

His bag hit the floor. Boots kicked free, followed in quick succession by pants and shirt. 

Soft scents of vanilla and warm female enveloped Cale as he opened the glass door. He could see her profile, skin flushed from the heat, eyes gently closed, tendrils of damp hair sticking to neck and brow. Even knowing her taste, the intimate feel and fit of her in his arms, the reality of her belonging to him nearly dropped him to his knees. 

What had he ever done in his short, necessarily violent life to deserve just looking at her, let alone possessing her? He dragged in a ragged breath. 

“Room for one more?”

Now that the fun part – the writing – is done, it’s on to the less enjoyable task of promoting. Any secrets there you’d care to share? Sitting down to that promo calendar to start a different kind of plotting . . .

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.
MIDNIGHT KISS , the first book in my "Touched by Midnight" vampire romance series is on sale today for just .99!! Sink your teeth in and enjoy!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | All Romance

Take Five . . . with author Victoria Craven!

I’m always especially excited when one of my critique group cadre has a new book out (This is me: SQUEEEE!). So I had to bring Victoria Craven back to “Take Five” with some questions and a look at her wonderful historical paranormal, POWERS OF THE HEART.

First, get a load of this cover! Wowza!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Tell-Tale Publishing
Kiera is a strong-willed woman with a warrior's heart. She is as good a fighter as any man. Fighting isn't her only skill. Her healing power keeps her and her companions on the run from her uncle, Murdock. With her power, he believes he can gain immortality, and he will do anything to get his hands on her power.

Her healing gift was a secret until she found a man fighting for his life. How could she let him die if she had the power to heal him?

Erik let few people into his personal life. He preferred to communicate with animals and could understand their thoughts and feelings as well as his own. The walls of his isolation were strong until he met the woman warrior who saved his life. But loving someone was dangerous and he feared she would eventually betray him. Betrayal was something he was familiar with, and he had no intention of letting her get too close.

Here’s my take on POWERS OF THE HEART:

“I LOVE Kiera, the kick @ss warrior in POWERS OF THE HEART! On the run from the dangerous secret her uncle wants to control, she equates emotion with weakness when it comes to would-be protector Erik, even if he’s the one man who understands what it’s like to be different. From medieval setting and unique paranormal elements to crisp fight scenes and tender romance, POWERS OF THE HEART is an awesome addition to Victoria Craven’s “Love Conquers All” series!” - Nancy Gideon

And now, a little Q&A with Victoria . . .

Q: Where did your interest in the paranormal come from?

A: Writing paranormal has always fascinated me. I love super heroes. I've always wanted to be one. Not the kind that has laser beams coming out of my eyes, although climbing a wall like Spiderman would be handy. You’d never have to wait for an elevator. I am empowered to give my heroes supernatural gifts that I believe add dimension to the story and in the end, it's those powers save the day.

Q: What do you find is the biggest obstacle to getting words on the page?

A: Making it believable. Even though my heroes have extraordinary talents, I have to remember not to bring it over the top.

Q: What’s your go-to for inspiration?

A: Reading other authors’ paranormal to see how their characters evolve. It helps me with developing insight into my characters. Then my imagination runs away with me like a freight train. Not always going in the right direction, but I can take that train back and get on the right track. ​

Q: What’s harder, first draft or revisions?

A: The first draft. Many times I have to ask myself "Where the hell is this story going?" Once I get that down, the revisions are easy. It's like adding paint and spackle to make a good product.

Q: What type of book would you like to write that you haven’t tried yet?

A: Writing a children's story. I want to get into my inner child, which isn't too difficult. It would be fun to get out of my comfort zone and write something completely different.

For more on Victoria, and her debut book IMMORTAL LOVE, click here! Happy Reading!!


About Victoria CravenWebsite | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Victoria Craven discovered her love for story-telling in her sophomore year of high school. Those teenage adventures always had a romantic happy ending, and they still do today, whether she’s writing thrilling contemporary suspense or paranormal historical romance.

Having lived most of her life in Western Michigan, Victoria relocated to the suburbs of Chicago where she lives with her husband, who is the love of her life. She has three beautiful daughters, and two toddler grandsons who keep her busy.

Supported by her friends and family, she left a career as a media account executive to pursue a career doing what she’s passionate about, writing happy endings that she can share with others. Her first paranormal historical romance was recently purchased by Tell-Tale Publishing and will be released in 2012.

When Victoria isn’t writing or revising, she is playing with her grandsons or curled up with a good book and a vat of hot chocolate.

IWSG: Things I Found Helpful While Editing . . .

The worst thing ever is to pick up a book you’ve published (or a proposal you’ve already sent out) only to find a mistake in the text. A spelling error, a typo, the wrong word usage, a grammar glitch. You think “Oh, if I only had the chance to go back and fix it before it was seen by another set of eyes.” Clicking heels of ruby slippers. Be careful what you wish for!

I was thrilled to “go back in time” with the reissues of my “Touched by Midnight” vampire romance series currently being re-repackaged and re-released by ImaJinn Books with a book each month through the end of the year. The original run of the first three books was back in the mid-‘90s and I don’t think the pages ever saw the touch of a copy editor. I jumped at the chance to repair the glaring errors and update the prose. Little did I know that would mean going through each book with three complete passes from initial scan to copy edit to final proof – a full read through due almost every week with the books overlapping – while trying to move forward on my WIP. AND working full time. Needless to say by the time the first book was ready for readers in July, the thrill was SO gone. And I still had the rest of the nine books to go . . .

Rather than bemoaning my good fortune, being ADD/OCD I made a list of positive things to keep me focused on my goal. Here are a few of those things that kept me sane (and no, alcohol and self-medication weren’t on the list!):

1. The end product. When the books are released, they’ll be clean and corrected. (Until I read one and immediately find an error),

2. Death to Passive Voice! I’ve never seen so many “was”s as in that first chapter of the first book. Now, the prose is more active and engaging,

3. Commas. As the opening graphic illustrates, proper placement makes all the difference!

4. Dangling Participles. (Don’t you hate it when that happens!) I didn’t know what those were back in the ‘90s . . . and apparently neither did my first copy editors.

5. Sleep. The first weeks, I dreamed about sentence structure and forced myself to stay up to hours only my characters would keep. Perhaps this explains the original poor edits. Clear mind=clear eyes. That 7 hours of quality snooze made all the difference.

6. Realistic goals. As much as I tried to stay ahead of the deadlines, when they pinched, I let my editor know and she found me the extra wiggle room. Brenda Chin, bless your heart!!

7. Exercise. Yikes, the E-word. But after being hunched over the keyboard from 9-to-5 five days a week then putting in another 25-40 in my home office made for very grumpy arthritic joints. Taking a break to stretch and move kept me from popping Motrin like TicTacs.

8. Keurig coffee. The elixir of gods.

9. Humor. Why so serious? Taking an hour to watch one of the funny episodes of “Supernatural” sometimes made the hours of eyestrain more palatable. And so did my new guide to copy edit symbols:

10. The End. That dangling carrot never tasted so sweet!

What keeps you going through those pesky edits? What errors drive you nuts when you find them in published works?

Enough ruminating. My WIP is out getting its final read through and Vamp Book 6 should be popping up in my e-mail any minute looking for that one last proof read. Fire up the coffee maker!

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.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

IWSG awesome co-hosts for the September 2nd posting will be Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!

Weekend Writing Warriors: IN THE MOOD

One of the most fun . . . and most difficult things about setting a scene is getting the right tone. It’s the mélange of sentence and paragraph length, verb choice and dialogue flow that puts the reader in the mood as much as the actual words themselves. Short, punchy sentences, terse conversation, crisp action verbs set the stage for conflict. Languid adjectives, lyrical sentences, sensual verbs and sometimes verbiage lead to more passionate activity. Character word choice can indicate age, sex, social status, and frame of mind. All these add up to whether or not your writing conveys what it’s meant to in the most concise and unique way possible. So choose wisely.

If a scene’s not working the way I want it to, I’ll tinker with the tone. I’ll make the word choice either more aggressive or softer. I’ll pick multisyllabic instead of simple. I’ll toy with alliteration (my favorite bad habit!) or make the complex sentences more concise. In this clip from my new re-release MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION , I’m going for a dangerous feel with words like “gliding,” “eerie,” “unnaturally beautiful,” and comparisons of “serene and sinister” in the introduction of my suave antagonist. The language is more formal for a historical feel, the sentences longer, more descriptive and visceral to lure the unwary into a deadly situation. The original was written 15 years ago. Would I do it differently now?

Original 1994 –

And then her gaze settled far back in the shadows, upon the figure of a man in stark silhouette. She saw him jerk as if with some shock of recognition, then he took one gliding step forward to the edge of lamplight. 

Reflection played an eerie game upon his face, highlighting skin so fair it seemed translucent and hollows so sharp and deep they were like caverns; a face so startling, so unnaturally beautiful she came close to stumbling in her study. Beneath an arch of black brows, eyes of an icy, luminous blue entranced her. And even as she turned her head away, she caught the impression of his smile; serene and sinister all at once. 

Nicole had never seen the Devil, but on this night, she was sure he walked abroad. And she was just as certain that he followed safely back amongst the shadows. She could feel him, an essence so powerful, it frightened her. But the moment they crossed the bridge, the sensations faded and she knew he was gone. But the fear lingered, lending a quickness to her heartbeats and an anxious panic to her mind. 

Update 2015 – 

There, in the darkness, a man stood in stark silhouette. Jerking as if with recognition, he took one gliding step toward the edge of lamplight where luminous eyes of icy blue entranced from beneath an arch of black brows. Reflection played an eerie game upon his features, highlighting skin so fair it seemed translucent and hollows as sharp and deep as caverns. A face so startling, so unnaturally beautiful she stumbled. Surprised by her reaction, she turned away, heartbeats hurrying as she caught the impression of a smile both serene and sinister. 

Nicole had never seen the Devil. Tonight she knew he walked abroad, following her from within the safety of the shadows. His powerful essence frightened her into a quicker pace. 

The moment they crossed the bridge, those strange sensations faded and finally disappeared. But her uneasiness lingered, leaving a residue of panic upon her mind.

Which do you prefer? Is one better than the other or are they just different?
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Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A Wicked Legacy . . .

Terrified by her unusual strength and frightening urges, Nicole Radouix’s sheltered country life is shattered when she discovers her family’s secret— she’s the daughter of a mortal mother and vampire father. Stricken, she flees to the seductive lure of the city to discover the truth about who and what she is. But the turmoil of post-revolution Paris is no place for an innocent.

A Wild Desire . . .

Finding herself under the protection of noble ex-patriot Marchand La Valois, Nicole is pulled into deadly underworld struggles, both political and vampiric. As their passions ignite, Marchand soon realizes the lovely Nicole is more predator than prey and may be more of a threat than the unruly streets outside.

An Unthinkable Dilemma . . .

Desperate to control her dark desires, Nicole accepts an offer of guidance from a hypnotic enemy, ensnaring both her and Marchand in a dangerous web of centuries’ old revenge. To escape their deadly nighttime games, Nicole must embrace her immortality. But will it cost her Marchand’s eternal love?

“A treasure trove of unearthly delights! Readers will want to induct Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller’s Hall of Fame!”—Romantic Times
“An extraordinary, moving and sensual tale of supernatural love powerful enough to defy death. Nancy Gideon is a bright artistic star of epic proportion in the supernatural galaxy. Five Star!”—Affaire de Coeur

A fast-paced, surprisingly believable look into a dark and mysterious world where only the greatest of loves can flourish!”—The Literary Times

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