Anne Patrick's Blog, page 14
October 28, 2011
Amy Corwin's Writing Process & Giveaway!
My writing process is tortuous and convoluted at best. I wish I could say I just sit down at the computer and write. But alas, it ain't so. One day, I may be so efficient and pulled together that I can write a book in three months like so many others.
In the meantime, here is my process, and God help me, I don't see it changing anytime soon.
I get basic ideas at odd times. Generally, a scene will play through my mind of a woman and a man, in conflict. She's psychic and has seen a murder. He doesn't believe it. That sort of thing. I write this down at the first possible moment, along with any pertinent facts that I can think of, such as names, hair color, or any other details that come to me in this first vision.
Of course, as luck would have it, these ideas usually occur while I'm right in the middle of writing something else. So I simply document the notion and get on with whatever I'm working on at the time.
When I'm ready to begin the manuscript, I create a folder structure on my computer with a blank template file and work out the broad-brush plot outline. This translates into writing three short phrases or notes per chapter so that I have at least a vague idea of what I want to happen. At this point, I find it difficult to actually start writing until I've done two things: 1) thought of something funny, either a comical character or funny situation involving the hero/heroine; and 2) one or more twists. Without something funny or several plot twists, I just can't generate the excitement to start writing.
Then…I write. It usually takes me about three months to write the first draft. This draft is bad. Very bad. So I put it away and work on something else. I often edit a previous manuscript at this point. This allows time for ideas about the first manuscript to vegetate and morph. I think of plot twists and bizarre things that never occurred to me in the first draft. This is also why I generally have several projects in various stages of creation. I edit one manuscript while vegetating on a second.
After a few months, I've often thought of some really, really cool twist or change that I want to make on my new manuscript, so I write those down. In the meantime, I try to finish the edits to manuscript two and get that off to my editor.
When I go back to manuscript one, I'm ready to do serious deconstruction/reconstruction of the plot and characters. More often than not, I delete the first three chapters. Sometimes, I write an entirely new first chapter. You see, as you write a story, something strange happens. Your characters take on lives of their own. So the latter chapters are true to your characters, but the first few…not so much. So you have to redo the.
Once this is done, I work on adding descriptions and characterization since my first draft tends to be mostly dialog. In fact, I've often toyed with the idea of writing a book that is 90% dialog. I may still do that at some point when I feel bolder.
Anyway, for the final draft (which is usually about the 5th or 6th time I've gone through the manuscript) I check all the details for accuracy. This is essential for my 19th century mysteries. Things like dialog, speech patterns, historical facts, and other facts must all be verified for accuracy.
All in all, it takes me about two years to produce a manuscript that is ready to send to my editor. The one thing that I find absolutely critical is creating gaps in the process. Without gaps, I don't have the "fresh eyes" essential to adequately editing a manuscript. Even with that, I've been known to see what should be there instead of what is there.
Thankfully, I've found editors to save me from myself. They are invaluable and always make me stretch further than I ever thought possible.
It is not possible, at least for me, to write a book without the input from critique partners and editors. Maybe one day.
And maybe one day I'll be able to write a book in less than two years.
We'll see.
Leave a comment to be included in Amy's drawing for winners choice of either The Vital Principle or The Necklace, ebook or print. Please note if the chosen winner lives outside the U.S. they will receive an ebook.
In the meantime, here is my process, and God help me, I don't see it changing anytime soon.
I get basic ideas at odd times. Generally, a scene will play through my mind of a woman and a man, in conflict. She's psychic and has seen a murder. He doesn't believe it. That sort of thing. I write this down at the first possible moment, along with any pertinent facts that I can think of, such as names, hair color, or any other details that come to me in this first vision.
Of course, as luck would have it, these ideas usually occur while I'm right in the middle of writing something else. So I simply document the notion and get on with whatever I'm working on at the time.
When I'm ready to begin the manuscript, I create a folder structure on my computer with a blank template file and work out the broad-brush plot outline. This translates into writing three short phrases or notes per chapter so that I have at least a vague idea of what I want to happen. At this point, I find it difficult to actually start writing until I've done two things: 1) thought of something funny, either a comical character or funny situation involving the hero/heroine; and 2) one or more twists. Without something funny or several plot twists, I just can't generate the excitement to start writing.
Then…I write. It usually takes me about three months to write the first draft. This draft is bad. Very bad. So I put it away and work on something else. I often edit a previous manuscript at this point. This allows time for ideas about the first manuscript to vegetate and morph. I think of plot twists and bizarre things that never occurred to me in the first draft. This is also why I generally have several projects in various stages of creation. I edit one manuscript while vegetating on a second.
After a few months, I've often thought of some really, really cool twist or change that I want to make on my new manuscript, so I write those down. In the meantime, I try to finish the edits to manuscript two and get that off to my editor.
When I go back to manuscript one, I'm ready to do serious deconstruction/reconstruction of the plot and characters. More often than not, I delete the first three chapters. Sometimes, I write an entirely new first chapter. You see, as you write a story, something strange happens. Your characters take on lives of their own. So the latter chapters are true to your characters, but the first few…not so much. So you have to redo the.
Once this is done, I work on adding descriptions and characterization since my first draft tends to be mostly dialog. In fact, I've often toyed with the idea of writing a book that is 90% dialog. I may still do that at some point when I feel bolder.
Anyway, for the final draft (which is usually about the 5th or 6th time I've gone through the manuscript) I check all the details for accuracy. This is essential for my 19th century mysteries. Things like dialog, speech patterns, historical facts, and other facts must all be verified for accuracy.
All in all, it takes me about two years to produce a manuscript that is ready to send to my editor. The one thing that I find absolutely critical is creating gaps in the process. Without gaps, I don't have the "fresh eyes" essential to adequately editing a manuscript. Even with that, I've been known to see what should be there instead of what is there.
Thankfully, I've found editors to save me from myself. They are invaluable and always make me stretch further than I ever thought possible.
It is not possible, at least for me, to write a book without the input from critique partners and editors. Maybe one day.
And maybe one day I'll be able to write a book in less than two years.
We'll see.
Leave a comment to be included in Amy's drawing for winners choice of either The Vital Principle or The Necklace, ebook or print. Please note if the chosen winner lives outside the U.S. they will receive an ebook.
October 26, 2011
Michelle Sutton's In Sheep's Clothing
About In Sheep's Clothing...When entrepreneur Stephanie Miller meets successful accountant Jacob Wells, sparks fly, but at least they're the good kind. Their initial attraction to each other is evident, and their business skills compliment each other. Unfortunately they've both had bad luck with love in the past, but this time God is part of their relationship. So what could go wrong with a match made in heaven? For one, Stephanie launches a business with a new friend without telling Jacob about it. Oh, and that friend just happens to be someone Jacob used to date; someone who wants to break them up for her own nefarious reasons. Will Stephanie listen to her new best friend, or will she listen to her heart?
EXCERPT
Jacob hopped out of the car, intending to open her door. Before he could get around to opening her door, she stood and shut it.
Jacob chuckled and held up a finger. "Rule number one. You wait for me when we're together. I don't want you getting out by yourself when I can be chivalrous about it."
She blinked like it had never occurred to her that someone would get her door. What kind of lame pups had she dated before?
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize men still did that. Because I drove here I didn't think to wait."
"That's just because you've never met the right man before." He winced as he realized how presumptuous that sounded, not to mention cocky. He tried again. "I want you to feel special when you're with me, because you are. Special, I mean."
"Is that right?" Smirking, she held out her arm and allowed him to loop his arm through hers and lead her to the restaurant.
She started to reach for the door handle and he nudged her out of the way. "Chivalrous, remember? I need to do this for you. Keeps me in line."
Her brows lifted in surprise. "Is there something I need to be worried about?"
He chuckled. "That was just a saying. I'm really a pretty good guy. Very harmless."
Her wry smile told him that he had spread it on a bit too thick. He needed to chill before he scared her off, or they'd never have a chance to get better acquainted. They stepped inside the restaurant and he waved at the owner.
Jacob shot up two fingers. His friend approached and knuckle punched him. "Hey, Jake. How's it going these days?"
"Going good." He tipped his hand toward Stephanie and then moved it toward Brent. "Brent, Stephanie. Stephanie, Brent."
"Nice to meet you, Stephanie." Brent took her hand and shook it.
Jacob couldn't help noticing that his friend held her hand a bit too long. Was Brent also making eyes at her? Good grief. If he bent forward and kissed her knuckles, Jacob would have to walk out before Brent stole another woman from him. Brent had always had a way with the ladies in high school. His muscular build and roguish smile had stolen a number of hearts, making him more popular than Jacob. Nothing seemed to have changed for Brent in that respect. He was still single and a real player. The fact that he was practically mooning over Stephanie right now was unsettling, to say the least.
He had always genuinely liked Brent, but at the moment his nice guy persona had gone underground and he started feeling prickly toward him. Maybe they had more negative history than he remembered, because right now he felt threatened by his friend flirting with his date.
Jacob cleared his throat and put a protective arm around Stephanie and hoped Brent took the hint. "Don't you already have a girlfriend?"
Brent shrugged as if he hadn't heard what Jacob had said. Brent asked Stephanie, "So where'd you meet my goofy friend here?"
"At church. We met about a month ago, right, Jacob?" She pulled her hand from Brent's and offered him a strained smile. Jacob wasn't the brightest bulb, but even he knew when someone was uncomfortable. He needed to get her away from Brent.
Available at Desert Breeze Publishing and most online bookstores!
October 25, 2011
Interview with B.J. Robinson
As you all know I'm a suspense junkie. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to a new author to Desert Breeze Publishing, BJ Robinson. Her new mystery sounds like it's right up my alley. So pull up a chair and let's learn more about BJ and her book Last Resort.
[Anne] Thanks for joining me today, BJ. According to your bio (which I'll include at the end of the post) you've been published in numerous magazines and devotionals but Last Resort is your first book. How has the experience been so far? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
[BJ] Last Resort has been a different experience. I spent three years honing my skills and working on the novel and loved every minute of it. I think we always wish we'd done something differently, but all in all, I'm happy with the romantic suspense and pleased with comments from readers. Of course, a part of me wishes it would've been available in paperback, and I've lost some sales as a result. However, I've also sold LAST RESORT to some who are experiencing their first eBook with it. So, it's been an experience for me as well as for some of my readers.
[Anne] Please share a little bit about Last Resort with us.
[BJ] Last Resort is a 79,000 word woman-in-jeopardy romantic suspense novel that tells the story of Faith Grace Roussell, who escapes an abusive fiancé and endeavors to start a new life filled with peace and contentment. She returns to her family home to farm strawberries only to discover it's not the safe haven she hoped it'd be, when the backdrop of the berry farm suddenly turns dangerous, but she vows to stand firm. It's set in fictional Bridal Wreath and Key West, Florida.
Faith is stalked and forced to search her conflicted heart when she collides with Matt Allen and finds herself drawn to the pull of his magnet-brown eyes. In a battle of love, loss, and raging jealousy, she strives to build a new life with peace and contentment, but she could get as lost in Matt's searching brown eyes as she could in unknown woods. Will he prove to be a helpmate? A series of incidents take place to try to force her to leave. When she doesn't budge, arson, attempted murder, and murder keep the reader turning pages. Will she be forced to use The Pink Lady? Where will she be when the smoke clears? Will Faith and Matt's love survive? Pursued by an ex-fiancé, shattered dreams, an awesome God, and a cowboy farmer, there's only one place she can turn . . . .There's only one last resort
What early Readers Had to Say...
"B. J. Robinson's Last Resort is an inspirational romantic suspense story that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat -- both to see if the villain is overcome and to see if Matt and Faith end up together. You don't want to miss this one with its twists; it's a great read!" ~ Deb Haggerty, Author and Speaker
"The warm, sweet romance, yet insightful story, will touch your heart with its simplicity and charm." ~ Janet Perez Eckles, Author and Speaker
[Anne] How did you come up with the idea for it?
[BJ] I overhead a woman say that she'd hide her heart so deeply in Christ that to find her, a man would have to find Him first. Pieces came to me at different points and times. I started to title it Hidden Treasures, then True Hidden Treasures because of the gems found in the Bible, but finally settled on Last Resort. A reader said she enjoyed the play on words with Last Resort. It started off as a sweet romance and turned into a book with several themes. There was a lot of controversy about guns in the news and gun control. At the same time, there were many incidents of private citizens who owned guns coming to the rescue. I thought about how I could show growth and change for my main character and thought I'd have her not wanting to own a gun and show her become stronger as she changed her attitude and learned to use one for all the right reasons, of course. Many women are stalked by former spouses and/or boyfriends, so I thought it'd make a good story. I was inspired to include Sunflower, my golden cocker spaniel, because I'm a dog lover and thought it'd appeal to pet lovers. I love reading books with pets included
[Anne] Was there much research involved?
[BJ] My research involved visiting and touring Key West a couple of times and visiting and touring two different hydroponic strawberry farms. The research was fun.
[Anne] Why mysteries?
[BJ] It's not exactly a mystery. It's a romantic suspense novel, but I grew up on Nancy Drew mysteries and read every one I could get my hands on. So, I have red herrings to keep the reader guessing throughout the novel. I challenge readers to put the puzzle pieces together and see if they can make them fit before the end of the book. I've always loved a good mystery, especially on a rainy day. I find writing romantic suspense allows me to combine the romance and mystery. For the same, reason I enjoy reading romantic suspense, and it's my favorite genre.
[Anne] You've received rave reviews for Last Resort. Is there one in particular you were thrilled with that you would like to share?
[BJ] This is one of my favorite five-star reviews:
Just when you think it's another church supper, the hero makes his entrance...and what an entrance it is. He crashes in and winds up with strawberry shortcake all over him. Then there's the guy with the gun. Creepy. He turns out to be a stalker who relishes the hunt. Scary. Faith Roussell is determined not to fall in love again, not after her ex-fiancé cheated on her. But Matt Allen has eyes that ...
[Anne] Are all of your stories contemporaries?
[BJ] Southern Superstitions releases January 11 and begins in the early eighties, and I like to write about the fifties and sixties, too, though I haven't published any material in that time frame at this time.
[Anne] What's on the horizon for you? Any new releases coming up?
[BJ] Southern Superstitions is a romantic suspense novel that will release January 11 by Desert Breeze, and Whispering Cypress, another romantic suspense will release August 11 by them.
[Anne] I see you're an animal lover. Tell us about your pets.
[BJ] I have a shelter cat named Frankie, a golden retriever named Honi, and a cocker spaniel named Sunflower, who is a character in Last Resort. I had a beloved German shepherd we had to put down due to hip problems. Her name was Dakota, and she's featured in Whispering Cypress, another romantic suspense to release August 11, 2012.
[image error]
[Anne] Aw, they're precious! If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
[BJ] Ireland. My dad had some Irish in him, and I have the green eyes. I've read books about how beautiful it is. I've been to Hawaii, so my next choice would be Ireland. I may never get there in person, but I can always travel through the pages of a great novel.
[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom made office or kitchen?
[BJ] I have a kitchen I was able to choose, and I love it, so even though I love to cook, I'll say a custom-made office. Custom made would mean I get to pick the setting, too. It'd have to have a bay window or sliding glass doors overlooking a lake or river. I love the water, and it brings out my creativity. I'd relish plenty of bookshelves and a huge L-shaped desk with plenty of working area. Ah, to dream. Meanwhile, I do have an L-shaped oak desk by a large picture window overlooking a yard with flowers and a small oak right by the window. I can hear the birds sing without cracking the window. I have a golden cocker spaniel and a golden retriever who are beside my feet on the floor by my desk. I love gazing at water while I write, and I enjoy writing the traditional way, outdoors at times with a pen and notebook, while I listen to birds and nature.
[Anne] How do you relax after a long day of writing?
[BJ] By reading a great romantic suspense novel by another author.
[Anne] Thank you so much for joining me today, BJ. It's been a blast getting to know you, and I'm looking forward to reading Last Resort. Speaking of which, let's end with an excerpt. Also, please let us know where we can purchase your books and where we can find you on the web.
Last Resort Excerpt:
Faith tore out of the jail's parking lot and prayed she wouldn't get a ticket. She turned Old Blue into the flowing traffic. Her heart pumped faster than a race car engine. Dear God, please don't let me be too late. She reached down and punched Matt's number again. Come on, Matt, where are you? Pick up. Still no answer. She snapped the phone shut and focused on the road ahead. Who could possibly have it in for him? He was such a great guy. She gassed the truck as she passed the city limits and left the jail behind. Why wasn't he answering? She'd never had a problem before. This wasn't like him.
Faith whipped into the drive. She jumped from her pickup, strode to the side door, and knocked. No answer. She pulled out her cell and tried again. It rang and rang, then went straight to the voicemail. This time, she hung up without leaving a message.
She yanked the screen door, and it flew open, unlatched. The door knob turned, and she shoved the door open and yelled, "Matt, are you there?"
No response. She briskly marched through the house and called his name. She checked each room. In Matt's office, the swivel chair faced the door. Blood spotted it. Faith's heart lurched. Oh, God, please don't let me be too late. She spotted blood droplets on the carpet and followed them back through the kitchen and to the garage. Matt's truck ran. Dear God, what will I find when I open this door? Please let me be in time. Why didn't Matt use his pistol?
Faith jerked the garage door, but it wouldn't budge. She ran to the kitchen and hit the automatic door opener. The door slowly opened. She raced inside the garage, and the gas fumes nearly knocked her out. She coughed and held her nose with one hand. Her eyes burned, but she yanked open the driver's truck door. Matt tumbled out.
She let go of her nose and turned off the truck. Faith slid her arms under Matt's and locked her hands in front of his chest. She hefted. He didn't budge. She had to get him out of there. Now. No time to waste. She hauled in a breath, grunted, and heaved. He lifted, and she pulled him toward the door. One foot. Two feet. Three more.
"Matt, we're out of the garage." Please, Lord, help me. She couldn't drop him now. The outside air hit her face and tears of relief filled her eyes. She tenderly laid him on the grass by the side of the cement drive and yanked her cell from its holster. She dialed 911.
Assured the ambulance was on its way, Faith closed her phone and felt for his heartbeat. She rubbed her knuckles against his breast bone and stroked his face. So still. She touched his neck and held her breath. No response. She tilted his head and lifted his chin, then put her ear to his mouth and listened. Nothing. She looked for chest movement. Nothing. She listened for air blowing through his mouth or nose, or on her cheek. Nothing. He wasn't going to die if she had anything to do with it.
She ran her tongue over her lip and tasted perspiration. Why did sweat always taste salty, and why would she even think to question that at a time like this? She took a quick, shallow breath and whispered, "Come on, Matt. Breathe! BREATHE!"
It'd been a long time since she'd trained for CPR. Would she remember what to do? A bluish pallor stole over Matt's complexion, and his body became a dead weight. She had no time to lose.
Faith pinched his nose and made a seal over his mouth with her own. She breathed big enough to make his chest rise, let his chest fall, and repeated the rescue breath again. She listened for an intake of breath, an exhale, but the only sound was the pounding of her own heart in her ears.
BJ's Bio:
B. J. Robinson writes Christian romantic suspense from Florida, where she lives with her husband and pets. She's published numerous devotionals, articles, and short stories. Last Resort is her debut Christian romance novel. She won first prize for a short story penned in college competition and developed it into a romantic suspense novel titled Southern Superstitions that will release January 11. Her current WIP is Whispering Cypress, which releases August 11. All three novels are romantic suspense presented by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. of California. She's blessed with children, grandchildren, pets, and faith. Jesus is her best friend. Visit her at http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com. She's completed the Apprentice and Journeyman courses with Christian Writers Guild and is a member of ACFW.
Visit me at my blog http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com and my books will be available wherever fine eBooks are sold. Below are links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, where readers may get a free sample.
A free excerpt is available at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.....
Enjoy a book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwF0d...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-...
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Resort-ebo...
[Anne] Thanks for joining me today, BJ. According to your bio (which I'll include at the end of the post) you've been published in numerous magazines and devotionals but Last Resort is your first book. How has the experience been so far? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
[BJ] Last Resort has been a different experience. I spent three years honing my skills and working on the novel and loved every minute of it. I think we always wish we'd done something differently, but all in all, I'm happy with the romantic suspense and pleased with comments from readers. Of course, a part of me wishes it would've been available in paperback, and I've lost some sales as a result. However, I've also sold LAST RESORT to some who are experiencing their first eBook with it. So, it's been an experience for me as well as for some of my readers.
[Anne] Please share a little bit about Last Resort with us.
[BJ] Last Resort is a 79,000 word woman-in-jeopardy romantic suspense novel that tells the story of Faith Grace Roussell, who escapes an abusive fiancé and endeavors to start a new life filled with peace and contentment. She returns to her family home to farm strawberries only to discover it's not the safe haven she hoped it'd be, when the backdrop of the berry farm suddenly turns dangerous, but she vows to stand firm. It's set in fictional Bridal Wreath and Key West, Florida.
Faith is stalked and forced to search her conflicted heart when she collides with Matt Allen and finds herself drawn to the pull of his magnet-brown eyes. In a battle of love, loss, and raging jealousy, she strives to build a new life with peace and contentment, but she could get as lost in Matt's searching brown eyes as she could in unknown woods. Will he prove to be a helpmate? A series of incidents take place to try to force her to leave. When she doesn't budge, arson, attempted murder, and murder keep the reader turning pages. Will she be forced to use The Pink Lady? Where will she be when the smoke clears? Will Faith and Matt's love survive? Pursued by an ex-fiancé, shattered dreams, an awesome God, and a cowboy farmer, there's only one place she can turn . . . .There's only one last resort
What early Readers Had to Say...
"B. J. Robinson's Last Resort is an inspirational romantic suspense story that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat -- both to see if the villain is overcome and to see if Matt and Faith end up together. You don't want to miss this one with its twists; it's a great read!" ~ Deb Haggerty, Author and Speaker
"The warm, sweet romance, yet insightful story, will touch your heart with its simplicity and charm." ~ Janet Perez Eckles, Author and Speaker
[Anne] How did you come up with the idea for it?
[BJ] I overhead a woman say that she'd hide her heart so deeply in Christ that to find her, a man would have to find Him first. Pieces came to me at different points and times. I started to title it Hidden Treasures, then True Hidden Treasures because of the gems found in the Bible, but finally settled on Last Resort. A reader said she enjoyed the play on words with Last Resort. It started off as a sweet romance and turned into a book with several themes. There was a lot of controversy about guns in the news and gun control. At the same time, there were many incidents of private citizens who owned guns coming to the rescue. I thought about how I could show growth and change for my main character and thought I'd have her not wanting to own a gun and show her become stronger as she changed her attitude and learned to use one for all the right reasons, of course. Many women are stalked by former spouses and/or boyfriends, so I thought it'd make a good story. I was inspired to include Sunflower, my golden cocker spaniel, because I'm a dog lover and thought it'd appeal to pet lovers. I love reading books with pets included
[Anne] Was there much research involved?
[BJ] My research involved visiting and touring Key West a couple of times and visiting and touring two different hydroponic strawberry farms. The research was fun.
[Anne] Why mysteries?
[BJ] It's not exactly a mystery. It's a romantic suspense novel, but I grew up on Nancy Drew mysteries and read every one I could get my hands on. So, I have red herrings to keep the reader guessing throughout the novel. I challenge readers to put the puzzle pieces together and see if they can make them fit before the end of the book. I've always loved a good mystery, especially on a rainy day. I find writing romantic suspense allows me to combine the romance and mystery. For the same, reason I enjoy reading romantic suspense, and it's my favorite genre.
[Anne] You've received rave reviews for Last Resort. Is there one in particular you were thrilled with that you would like to share?
[BJ] This is one of my favorite five-star reviews:
Just when you think it's another church supper, the hero makes his entrance...and what an entrance it is. He crashes in and winds up with strawberry shortcake all over him. Then there's the guy with the gun. Creepy. He turns out to be a stalker who relishes the hunt. Scary. Faith Roussell is determined not to fall in love again, not after her ex-fiancé cheated on her. But Matt Allen has eyes that ...
[Anne] Are all of your stories contemporaries?
[BJ] Southern Superstitions releases January 11 and begins in the early eighties, and I like to write about the fifties and sixties, too, though I haven't published any material in that time frame at this time.
[Anne] What's on the horizon for you? Any new releases coming up?
[BJ] Southern Superstitions is a romantic suspense novel that will release January 11 by Desert Breeze, and Whispering Cypress, another romantic suspense will release August 11 by them.
[Anne] I see you're an animal lover. Tell us about your pets.
[BJ] I have a shelter cat named Frankie, a golden retriever named Honi, and a cocker spaniel named Sunflower, who is a character in Last Resort. I had a beloved German shepherd we had to put down due to hip problems. Her name was Dakota, and she's featured in Whispering Cypress, another romantic suspense to release August 11, 2012.
[image error]
[Anne] Aw, they're precious! If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
[BJ] Ireland. My dad had some Irish in him, and I have the green eyes. I've read books about how beautiful it is. I've been to Hawaii, so my next choice would be Ireland. I may never get there in person, but I can always travel through the pages of a great novel.
[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom made office or kitchen?
[BJ] I have a kitchen I was able to choose, and I love it, so even though I love to cook, I'll say a custom-made office. Custom made would mean I get to pick the setting, too. It'd have to have a bay window or sliding glass doors overlooking a lake or river. I love the water, and it brings out my creativity. I'd relish plenty of bookshelves and a huge L-shaped desk with plenty of working area. Ah, to dream. Meanwhile, I do have an L-shaped oak desk by a large picture window overlooking a yard with flowers and a small oak right by the window. I can hear the birds sing without cracking the window. I have a golden cocker spaniel and a golden retriever who are beside my feet on the floor by my desk. I love gazing at water while I write, and I enjoy writing the traditional way, outdoors at times with a pen and notebook, while I listen to birds and nature.
[Anne] How do you relax after a long day of writing?
[BJ] By reading a great romantic suspense novel by another author.
[Anne] Thank you so much for joining me today, BJ. It's been a blast getting to know you, and I'm looking forward to reading Last Resort. Speaking of which, let's end with an excerpt. Also, please let us know where we can purchase your books and where we can find you on the web.
Last Resort Excerpt:
Faith tore out of the jail's parking lot and prayed she wouldn't get a ticket. She turned Old Blue into the flowing traffic. Her heart pumped faster than a race car engine. Dear God, please don't let me be too late. She reached down and punched Matt's number again. Come on, Matt, where are you? Pick up. Still no answer. She snapped the phone shut and focused on the road ahead. Who could possibly have it in for him? He was such a great guy. She gassed the truck as she passed the city limits and left the jail behind. Why wasn't he answering? She'd never had a problem before. This wasn't like him.
Faith whipped into the drive. She jumped from her pickup, strode to the side door, and knocked. No answer. She pulled out her cell and tried again. It rang and rang, then went straight to the voicemail. This time, she hung up without leaving a message.
She yanked the screen door, and it flew open, unlatched. The door knob turned, and she shoved the door open and yelled, "Matt, are you there?"
No response. She briskly marched through the house and called his name. She checked each room. In Matt's office, the swivel chair faced the door. Blood spotted it. Faith's heart lurched. Oh, God, please don't let me be too late. She spotted blood droplets on the carpet and followed them back through the kitchen and to the garage. Matt's truck ran. Dear God, what will I find when I open this door? Please let me be in time. Why didn't Matt use his pistol?
Faith jerked the garage door, but it wouldn't budge. She ran to the kitchen and hit the automatic door opener. The door slowly opened. She raced inside the garage, and the gas fumes nearly knocked her out. She coughed and held her nose with one hand. Her eyes burned, but she yanked open the driver's truck door. Matt tumbled out.
She let go of her nose and turned off the truck. Faith slid her arms under Matt's and locked her hands in front of his chest. She hefted. He didn't budge. She had to get him out of there. Now. No time to waste. She hauled in a breath, grunted, and heaved. He lifted, and she pulled him toward the door. One foot. Two feet. Three more.
"Matt, we're out of the garage." Please, Lord, help me. She couldn't drop him now. The outside air hit her face and tears of relief filled her eyes. She tenderly laid him on the grass by the side of the cement drive and yanked her cell from its holster. She dialed 911.
Assured the ambulance was on its way, Faith closed her phone and felt for his heartbeat. She rubbed her knuckles against his breast bone and stroked his face. So still. She touched his neck and held her breath. No response. She tilted his head and lifted his chin, then put her ear to his mouth and listened. Nothing. She looked for chest movement. Nothing. She listened for air blowing through his mouth or nose, or on her cheek. Nothing. He wasn't going to die if she had anything to do with it.
She ran her tongue over her lip and tasted perspiration. Why did sweat always taste salty, and why would she even think to question that at a time like this? She took a quick, shallow breath and whispered, "Come on, Matt. Breathe! BREATHE!"
It'd been a long time since she'd trained for CPR. Would she remember what to do? A bluish pallor stole over Matt's complexion, and his body became a dead weight. She had no time to lose.
Faith pinched his nose and made a seal over his mouth with her own. She breathed big enough to make his chest rise, let his chest fall, and repeated the rescue breath again. She listened for an intake of breath, an exhale, but the only sound was the pounding of her own heart in her ears.
BJ's Bio:
B. J. Robinson writes Christian romantic suspense from Florida, where she lives with her husband and pets. She's published numerous devotionals, articles, and short stories. Last Resort is her debut Christian romance novel. She won first prize for a short story penned in college competition and developed it into a romantic suspense novel titled Southern Superstitions that will release January 11. Her current WIP is Whispering Cypress, which releases August 11. All three novels are romantic suspense presented by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. of California. She's blessed with children, grandchildren, pets, and faith. Jesus is her best friend. Visit her at http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com. She's completed the Apprentice and Journeyman courses with Christian Writers Guild and is a member of ACFW.
Visit me at my blog http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com and my books will be available wherever fine eBooks are sold. Below are links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, where readers may get a free sample.
A free excerpt is available at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.....
Enjoy a book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwF0d...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-...
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Resort-ebo...
K. Dawn Byrd's This Time for Keep's
[image error]
India McGuire's peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.
Chase's plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it's impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.
India longs to follow her heart, but she's been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?
EXCERPT:
An uncomfortable silence enshrouded the room like a damp cloak. At last, India broke the stillness. "When are you leaving town?"
"As soon as I wrap up things with Mom's attorney." Chase returned to the couch and turned to face her. "Look, I didn't mean to cause trouble. My plans were to put the house and land up for sale, settle the estate, and then sneak out of town."
"What stopped you?"
He dragged his fingers through his hair. "You. I had to see you one last time."
"Why?"
"I wanted to find out if I still loved you."
She wasn't ready to address his feelings. Part of India begged for the truth, but another other part was afraid that knowing would complicate her life in ways she was in no means equipped to handle. "Your feelings for me didn't stop you from joining the Army and leaving town twelve years ago. What's changed now?"
"I was a just a boy then. I'm not the same person."
India needed answers, and no matter how much it hurt, she'd get them. "Why'd you run away?"
"Joining the Army seemed as good as any way to see the world."
She stared him down, refusing to look away. "That's a lie and you know it."
"Okay. I couldn't stay here after what happened."
"It wasn't your fault. Jimmy was drunk. You didn't force him to drive."
Chase sighed. "I should have taken the keys."
"I'm telling you, it wasn't your fault."
"I didn't try to stop him."
"Even if you'd tried, he'd still have driven. You know how he was."
Chase gazed into the fire. "He was my best friend. I should have at least tried. I heard all the rumors. They blamed me. Some people even thought I gave him the moonshine. I guess I left because I just wanted to forget about everything."
"And everyone?"
His eye met hers with an intensity that left her breathless.
Chase untied the bandana around his neck and shoved it in his pocket. "I didn't say that."
"You could have taken me with you."
"And take you away from your grandparents to live on a military base? You'd have given up college, your horses, and your family. You'd have been miserable."
A glimmer of gold on his left hand caught her eye and stole her breath. "You're married?" Maybe if he had a wife, it would be easier to let him go, even if it did break her heart into a million tiny pieces all over again. Maybe David was right. Maybe Chase was trouble.
Links:
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg6fao...
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Website: www.kdawnbyrd.com
Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com
Young adult blog: www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com
I'm also on Twitter (kdawnbyrd) and facebook (K Dawn Byrd.) I am the moderator of the Christian Fiction Gathering facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?...)
India McGuire's peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.
Chase's plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it's impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.
India longs to follow her heart, but she's been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?
EXCERPT:
An uncomfortable silence enshrouded the room like a damp cloak. At last, India broke the stillness. "When are you leaving town?"
"As soon as I wrap up things with Mom's attorney." Chase returned to the couch and turned to face her. "Look, I didn't mean to cause trouble. My plans were to put the house and land up for sale, settle the estate, and then sneak out of town."
"What stopped you?"
He dragged his fingers through his hair. "You. I had to see you one last time."
"Why?"
"I wanted to find out if I still loved you."
She wasn't ready to address his feelings. Part of India begged for the truth, but another other part was afraid that knowing would complicate her life in ways she was in no means equipped to handle. "Your feelings for me didn't stop you from joining the Army and leaving town twelve years ago. What's changed now?"
"I was a just a boy then. I'm not the same person."
India needed answers, and no matter how much it hurt, she'd get them. "Why'd you run away?"
"Joining the Army seemed as good as any way to see the world."
She stared him down, refusing to look away. "That's a lie and you know it."
"Okay. I couldn't stay here after what happened."
"It wasn't your fault. Jimmy was drunk. You didn't force him to drive."
Chase sighed. "I should have taken the keys."
"I'm telling you, it wasn't your fault."
"I didn't try to stop him."
"Even if you'd tried, he'd still have driven. You know how he was."
Chase gazed into the fire. "He was my best friend. I should have at least tried. I heard all the rumors. They blamed me. Some people even thought I gave him the moonshine. I guess I left because I just wanted to forget about everything."
"And everyone?"
His eye met hers with an intensity that left her breathless.
Chase untied the bandana around his neck and shoved it in his pocket. "I didn't say that."
"You could have taken me with you."
"And take you away from your grandparents to live on a military base? You'd have given up college, your horses, and your family. You'd have been miserable."
A glimmer of gold on his left hand caught her eye and stole her breath. "You're married?" Maybe if he had a wife, it would be easier to let him go, even if it did break her heart into a million tiny pieces all over again. Maybe David was right. Maybe Chase was trouble.
Links:
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg6fao...
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Website: www.kdawnbyrd.com
Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com
Young adult blog: www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com
I'm also on Twitter (kdawnbyrd) and facebook (K Dawn Byrd.) I am the moderator of the Christian Fiction Gathering facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?...)
October 21, 2011
Amy's Journey to Publication
When folks ask me about how I got published and my journey, I cringe and wonder if there is anything I can add to the hundreds of stories written by all the other authors. Our stories are all the same: years of struggle, followed by a few crumbs of success. However, the aspects that may be of most help and interest to others are what the process taught the author. For me, that's easy: I learned "to thine own self be true."
That's an odd thing for a writer to learn, because most writers have the opposite problem. They write what they want to write and discover (to their horror) that their finished tome doesn't fit into any genre that a potential publisher feels comfortable publishing. So they can't find their book a home. For many authors, it's a question of marketability. Can the agent and publisher identify a hook for the books, a genre (so it can be shelved appropriately in the bookstore), or a market plan?
So many new authors write the book of their heart and then seek to publish it, forgetting that unless it can be marketed, it is difficult to find either a publisher or an audience.
I didn't have that issue in my quest to be published, but I did have the problem of matching my "vision" with reality. You see, I thought I wanted to be a romance writer. I joined Romance Writers of America as a charter member and got some encouraging rejections from romance publishers during the '80's, but I always sort of "missed the mark."
Later, I discovered a wonderful group of friends also working on being authors and one by one, they signed with agents and got contracts. But somehow, I didn't fit in. They tried to tell me that I wasn't really writing romances, but darn it, I had it in my head that that's what I wanted to be: a romance writer.
Now, a normal writer would have looked at what she actually read and considered that. But I was trying to be strictly business, and I knew that romance sold well. My friends were all writing romances. I didn't know writers in any other genres. I'd even read one or two romances when I was a teen. I thought it was the way to go.
But it was not where my heart lay. I confused the light, romantic subplots of Agatha Christie books like "The Man in the Brown Suit" or Mary Stewart's "My Brother Michael" for romances, ignoring that the main plot was the mystery while the romance was only a tenuous subplot. Even my friends noted that one of my favorite authors, Barbara Michaels, claimed "I'm not a romance writer." I was stunned by that, since Michaels' books were exactly the kind of book I most enjoyed. I considered them to be paranormal romances.
A brighter writer would have understood the facts sooner, but I'm nothing if not stubborn. I wrote several books that were mostly mystery with a slight romantic subplot and tried to market them to romance publishers and agents. It's rather surprising that I got as much interest as I did. In fact, I signed with two agents.
In 2008, I sold my first book, a romance. But hard as I tried, I couldn't for the life of me sell any additional manuscripts. "Strengthen the romance" was the most common remark. Eventually, it occurred to me that I read mostly mysteries, suspense, and science fiction. Sure, I read Georgette Heyer, but I didn't like her straight romances. I preferred her mysteries. In fact, I was shocked when other folks said they liked those Heyer stories that I considered rather poor specimens. They were straight romances, as opposed to her mysteries or romantic adventures. Eventually, though, even I had to realize what was going on.
A-ha! I was a mystery writer!
As soon as I realized that and had the courage to step forward and write a mystery (with a romantic subplot, because how can you have a happy ending without a romance?) I found success. It's almost like one of those addiction programs where you have to admit that "Yes, I'm a mystery writer" before you can be cured.
And this brings us back to my original point: "to thine own self be true."
You can blithely ignore the markets and write what you want to write and not sell because your manuscript doesn't fit into a marketable niche. Or you can try to squeeze yourself into a niche that doesn't quite fit you and be miserable. And you might sell, depending upon how well you fit that genre. Ultimately though, you need to find the marketable niche that you can fit into and still be true to yourself.
You need to be happy writing, otherwise, what's the point? So now I write mysteries, but there is always a romance involved. Somehow, it doesn't seem like a happy ending unless a mystery is solved and love is discovered.
It sounds so easy, but the path is arduous and twisted at best. But for me, it's all been worth it, because I still believe: Every good mystery has a touch of romance.
That's an odd thing for a writer to learn, because most writers have the opposite problem. They write what they want to write and discover (to their horror) that their finished tome doesn't fit into any genre that a potential publisher feels comfortable publishing. So they can't find their book a home. For many authors, it's a question of marketability. Can the agent and publisher identify a hook for the books, a genre (so it can be shelved appropriately in the bookstore), or a market plan?
So many new authors write the book of their heart and then seek to publish it, forgetting that unless it can be marketed, it is difficult to find either a publisher or an audience.
I didn't have that issue in my quest to be published, but I did have the problem of matching my "vision" with reality. You see, I thought I wanted to be a romance writer. I joined Romance Writers of America as a charter member and got some encouraging rejections from romance publishers during the '80's, but I always sort of "missed the mark."
Later, I discovered a wonderful group of friends also working on being authors and one by one, they signed with agents and got contracts. But somehow, I didn't fit in. They tried to tell me that I wasn't really writing romances, but darn it, I had it in my head that that's what I wanted to be: a romance writer.
Now, a normal writer would have looked at what she actually read and considered that. But I was trying to be strictly business, and I knew that romance sold well. My friends were all writing romances. I didn't know writers in any other genres. I'd even read one or two romances when I was a teen. I thought it was the way to go.
But it was not where my heart lay. I confused the light, romantic subplots of Agatha Christie books like "The Man in the Brown Suit" or Mary Stewart's "My Brother Michael" for romances, ignoring that the main plot was the mystery while the romance was only a tenuous subplot. Even my friends noted that one of my favorite authors, Barbara Michaels, claimed "I'm not a romance writer." I was stunned by that, since Michaels' books were exactly the kind of book I most enjoyed. I considered them to be paranormal romances.
A brighter writer would have understood the facts sooner, but I'm nothing if not stubborn. I wrote several books that were mostly mystery with a slight romantic subplot and tried to market them to romance publishers and agents. It's rather surprising that I got as much interest as I did. In fact, I signed with two agents.
In 2008, I sold my first book, a romance. But hard as I tried, I couldn't for the life of me sell any additional manuscripts. "Strengthen the romance" was the most common remark. Eventually, it occurred to me that I read mostly mysteries, suspense, and science fiction. Sure, I read Georgette Heyer, but I didn't like her straight romances. I preferred her mysteries. In fact, I was shocked when other folks said they liked those Heyer stories that I considered rather poor specimens. They were straight romances, as opposed to her mysteries or romantic adventures. Eventually, though, even I had to realize what was going on.
A-ha! I was a mystery writer!
As soon as I realized that and had the courage to step forward and write a mystery (with a romantic subplot, because how can you have a happy ending without a romance?) I found success. It's almost like one of those addiction programs where you have to admit that "Yes, I'm a mystery writer" before you can be cured.
And this brings us back to my original point: "to thine own self be true."
You can blithely ignore the markets and write what you want to write and not sell because your manuscript doesn't fit into a marketable niche. Or you can try to squeeze yourself into a niche that doesn't quite fit you and be miserable. And you might sell, depending upon how well you fit that genre. Ultimately though, you need to find the marketable niche that you can fit into and still be true to yourself.
You need to be happy writing, otherwise, what's the point? So now I write mysteries, but there is always a romance involved. Somehow, it doesn't seem like a happy ending unless a mystery is solved and love is discovered.
It sounds so easy, but the path is arduous and twisted at best. But for me, it's all been worth it, because I still believe: Every good mystery has a touch of romance.
October 17, 2011
COTT Kicks Off Tournament of Champions
Guest post by Jennifer Slattery
Last week, Clash of the Titles launched their first annual
Those finalists were Marianne Evans and Gail Pallotta.
Exciting stuff, and yet, the games weren't done. In the next round, COTT staff cast their votes, and once again, one writer rose to the top and will advance to the next round.
That author is…
Marianne Evans!
And here's a glimpse of what a COTT champion excerpt looks like:
"Collin Edwards stood before the funeral assembly. Heat crawled up his body. He clutched the edges of the podium where he stood and cleared his throat. The gesture was in vain. His throat constricted so much it hurt. Before the altar, just to the right, rested a flag-draped casket.
He looked down, at a piece of paper upon which he had crafted the words to a eulogy…" (
About the novel,
Hearts Crossing:Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.
Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God, and the community of Woodland . Lately though, she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.
A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists, but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better. Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.
Can Daveny trust in Collin's fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?
We'd also like to congratulate our prize-winning readers :
Jessica R Patch! She won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Elaine Cooper .
LoRee Peery ! She won a free bookmark design from Delia Latham .
Larry Hammersley ! He won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Author Anne Patrick .
Join us this week for more fun and prizes as four more authors jump into the ring hoping not only to advance to the next round, but ultimately reign as the Clash of the Titles' champion of champions! Remember, every vote counts! Each vote gets your name thrown into the hat for our fab-tabulous grand prize give-away comprised of fourteen novels!
Visit our ***
Jennifer Slattery is the marketing manager for Clash of the Titles. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse, and Samie Sisters and has written for numerous other publications. She also works for Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach, as a professional manuscript evaluator and publicist. You can find out more about her and her writing at her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud. You can find out more about her critique and publicity services at Words That Keep.
October 14, 2011
Why Amy Writes Historical Mysteries
Why did you choose to write mysteries, particularly historical mysteries?
When I'm asked why I write mysteries, sometimes I think the easiest answer is: I was born to write them. It's programmed in my DNA. Part of me actually believes that, too. I'm fascinated by the nature versus nurture debate. In my experience, a lot more seems to be nature than is comfortable to admit.
For example, I got my first field guide for birds when I was six. That year, I also wrote my first story about a germ's adventures as it passed through a little girl's belly, presaging my interest in both writing and biology. After I got married and built my first chicken coop, I discovered one of my ancestors in the 17th century was an "egg man" and raised chickens. Was an interest in birds and biology in my blood? Certainly, as your standard suburban child, raising chickens and bird watching were not your standard pursuits or things my parents taught us to do (nurture).
Many of us discover our preferences at an amazingly early age. I was also in the first grade when I read my first mysteries: "The Ghost Rock Mystery" and "The Ghost of Dibble Hollow". Then, I went on to Tom Swift books and other mysteries. Lucky for me, I grew up during the height of the gothic mystery. I still can't resist a book that has a spooky castle and a woman in a diaphanous white dress on the cover. My favorites included the likes of Victoria Holt, Virginia Coffman, Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels.
When I picked up the pen again ten years ago, I couldn't conceive of a story that did not include a mystery of some kind. Sometimes it's not a murder, but a secret or something lost, hidden. A missing jewel, an old secret, something half-forgotten. It is the mystery and process of discovering that answer that creates a story for me.
Why did the crime happen? How will the hero or heroine follow the clues to reveal the truth? What is the truth? One of the things that fascinates me is the idea of "The Truth." Is there really a single truth or is it a composite of many truths—what an individual knows and experiences of reality? In "The Vital Principle" the hero, Knighton Gaunt believes there is one, discoverable truth. Prudence Barnard, however, believes it may be more nuanced with shades of gray. She is more sympathetic to the weaknesses and foibles of those around her, but despite their different approaches, they do discover the truth and reveal a murderer in their midst.
While resolving the core puzzle is interesting, I also write mysteries to explore how different characters respond to stress and make decisions. How do they react when confronted with a mystery? Do they attempt to collect facts and analyze them, or do they rely on a more intuitive process? Or do they simply ignore the entire thing and hope it will go away?
In "A Rose Before Dying" the hero is driven to collect the facts—in this case, roses—to try to save his uncle from the hangman's noose. And while Ariadne just wants to be left alone to grow roses, she can't bury her head in the sand. She helps him even though her actions place her in the murderer's path.
In the end, there is nothing like a good mystery to reveal what a person—or character--is made of, and it's the character this makes the story.
Amy's Bio
Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years. She writes historical and cozy mysteries. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.
Amy's books include the three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER'S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; Regency mysteries, THE VITAL PRINCIPLE, and A ROSE BEFORE DYING; and her first cozy mystery, WHACKED!, will come in in 2012 from Five Star.
Join her and discover that every good romance has a touch of mystery.
Website: http://www.amycorwin.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amycorwin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyCorwinAuthor
Blog: http://amycorwin.blogspot.com
Book Links
The Vital Principe: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1GQ2/
A Rose Before Dying: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00557U2QU/
The Bricklayer's Helper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YCPLP0/
I Bid One American: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ASJTLC/
The Necklace: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6D2PC/
When I'm asked why I write mysteries, sometimes I think the easiest answer is: I was born to write them. It's programmed in my DNA. Part of me actually believes that, too. I'm fascinated by the nature versus nurture debate. In my experience, a lot more seems to be nature than is comfortable to admit.
For example, I got my first field guide for birds when I was six. That year, I also wrote my first story about a germ's adventures as it passed through a little girl's belly, presaging my interest in both writing and biology. After I got married and built my first chicken coop, I discovered one of my ancestors in the 17th century was an "egg man" and raised chickens. Was an interest in birds and biology in my blood? Certainly, as your standard suburban child, raising chickens and bird watching were not your standard pursuits or things my parents taught us to do (nurture).
Many of us discover our preferences at an amazingly early age. I was also in the first grade when I read my first mysteries: "The Ghost Rock Mystery" and "The Ghost of Dibble Hollow". Then, I went on to Tom Swift books and other mysteries. Lucky for me, I grew up during the height of the gothic mystery. I still can't resist a book that has a spooky castle and a woman in a diaphanous white dress on the cover. My favorites included the likes of Victoria Holt, Virginia Coffman, Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels.
When I picked up the pen again ten years ago, I couldn't conceive of a story that did not include a mystery of some kind. Sometimes it's not a murder, but a secret or something lost, hidden. A missing jewel, an old secret, something half-forgotten. It is the mystery and process of discovering that answer that creates a story for me.
Why did the crime happen? How will the hero or heroine follow the clues to reveal the truth? What is the truth? One of the things that fascinates me is the idea of "The Truth." Is there really a single truth or is it a composite of many truths—what an individual knows and experiences of reality? In "The Vital Principle" the hero, Knighton Gaunt believes there is one, discoverable truth. Prudence Barnard, however, believes it may be more nuanced with shades of gray. She is more sympathetic to the weaknesses and foibles of those around her, but despite their different approaches, they do discover the truth and reveal a murderer in their midst.
While resolving the core puzzle is interesting, I also write mysteries to explore how different characters respond to stress and make decisions. How do they react when confronted with a mystery? Do they attempt to collect facts and analyze them, or do they rely on a more intuitive process? Or do they simply ignore the entire thing and hope it will go away?
In "A Rose Before Dying" the hero is driven to collect the facts—in this case, roses—to try to save his uncle from the hangman's noose. And while Ariadne just wants to be left alone to grow roses, she can't bury her head in the sand. She helps him even though her actions place her in the murderer's path.
In the end, there is nothing like a good mystery to reveal what a person—or character--is made of, and it's the character this makes the story.
Amy's Bio
Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years. She writes historical and cozy mysteries. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.
Amy's books include the three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER'S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; Regency mysteries, THE VITAL PRINCIPLE, and A ROSE BEFORE DYING; and her first cozy mystery, WHACKED!, will come in in 2012 from Five Star.
Join her and discover that every good romance has a touch of mystery.
Website: http://www.amycorwin.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amycorwin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyCorwinAuthor
Blog: http://amycorwin.blogspot.com
Book Links
The Vital Principe: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1GQ2/
A Rose Before Dying: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00557U2QU/
The Bricklayer's Helper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YCPLP0/
I Bid One American: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ASJTLC/
The Necklace: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6D2PC/
October 11, 2011
IT HAS BEGUN!!
Over the last year, there have been OVER FIFTY clashing authors in twenty-four CLASHES, but only ONE can win the LAUREL AWARD. YOU decide which!
In the process, we invite you to repeatedly enter to win
THREE GIFTS A WEEK,
including the GRAND PRIZE--
15 NOVELS
http://www.clashofthetitles.com/
PROMO VIDEO CREATED BY COTT ASSISTANT EDITOR, MICHELLE MASSARO
In the process, we invite you to repeatedly enter to win
THREE GIFTS A WEEK,
including the GRAND PRIZE--
15 NOVELS
http://www.clashofthetitles.com/
PROMO VIDEO CREATED BY COTT ASSISTANT EDITOR, MICHELLE MASSARO
October 9, 2011
Congrats to COTT Clash Winner Tanya Stowe!
* Guest post by Delia Latham
Divine gifts have been a topic of much dissension down through the ages. Some folks believe God bestows certain gifts on his children others firmly believe He does not—or at least that He might have long ago but He certainly doesn't today.
We're not here to argue the point (although for the record I do believe in divine gifts!).
That said it has been proven time and time again that certain people have specific abilities that others do not. Not learned skills which is the ability to do something because one has deliberately set out to master that particular challenge. I'm talking about inherent abilities that one naturally possesses usually from birth.
That's the kind of mind-boggling gift Tanya Stowe tackles in Tender Touch, the excerpt from which won the most recent COTT Clash. Lacy Butler is graced with the gift of healing…but she refuses to use itbecause it didn't save her mother. Pretty commonisn't it? We never seem to want the gifts God tries to bestow on usor we'll take the gift (Thank you very muchFather!)but we want to use it in our own wayfor our own purposes. Tanya does a fantastic job of bringing Lacy around from total abandonment of her gift of healing to an acceptance of God's will and God's way to use…GOD'S gift.
Here's a snippet from Tanya's Tender Touch excerpt:
The sudden comfort overwhelmed him. He wanted to close his eyes and slip away. But his blurry gaze focused on his rescuer as he unwrapped the muffler. He wanted…needed to see this man's facethe man who had saved his life. He forced himself to watch as he pulled off the floppy gray hat.
Royce blinked. His foggy mind was playing tricks on him. A longgolden braid fell from beneath the hat and lay across the man's shoulder. He slipped off the coat and beneath was the slender shape of a woman.
His man...his midnight visitor was a woman! Shock filled Royce's mindand his head flopped senselessly sideways.
We asked Tanya if she learned anything about God's character through Tender Touch. Here's what she said: "Instead of learning something about God through this bookit is a reflection of something I learned about God from life. I've had some personal experience with faith healing and I wanted to write a story that reflected those truths. Of courseLacy's gift is highly dramatizedbut the basics about how God heals are true." (Read Tanya's interview)
Of her experience on COTTTanya says: "This was the most fun I had in an interview in a longlong time. COTT does such a good job. I really appreciate this opportunity."
Readers loved the Tender Touch excerptas well—and we loved their comments:
"I feel like I'm already hooked on reading the book."
"… made me want to find out more about the mysterious midnight visitor man who turned out to be a woman. Both of these were great and it was hard to choose one. Can they both win?? !!!"
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run allbut one receiveth the prize?"
Currently we're in the middle of the exciting Tournament of Champions which will be in high gear from Oct. 10 through Nov. 4. Don't miss it! Past Clash champs duke it out for the final prize with each of them offering an excerpt that will hopefully have you panting for more. Head on over and see what it's all about.
* Delia Latham is a Christian wife mother grandmother sister and friend as well as an author of inspirational romance and women's fiction. She wears each hat with pride but treasures most of all her role as a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Congrats to Tanya and a huge thank you also to her very worthy opponent Shawn Grady.
Divine gifts have been a topic of much dissension down through the ages. Some folks believe God bestows certain gifts on his children others firmly believe He does not—or at least that He might have long ago but He certainly doesn't today.
We're not here to argue the point (although for the record I do believe in divine gifts!).
That said it has been proven time and time again that certain people have specific abilities that others do not. Not learned skills which is the ability to do something because one has deliberately set out to master that particular challenge. I'm talking about inherent abilities that one naturally possesses usually from birth.
That's the kind of mind-boggling gift Tanya Stowe tackles in Tender Touch, the excerpt from which won the most recent COTT Clash. Lacy Butler is graced with the gift of healing…but she refuses to use itbecause it didn't save her mother. Pretty commonisn't it? We never seem to want the gifts God tries to bestow on usor we'll take the gift (Thank you very muchFather!)but we want to use it in our own wayfor our own purposes. Tanya does a fantastic job of bringing Lacy around from total abandonment of her gift of healing to an acceptance of God's will and God's way to use…GOD'S gift. Here's a snippet from Tanya's Tender Touch excerpt:
The sudden comfort overwhelmed him. He wanted to close his eyes and slip away. But his blurry gaze focused on his rescuer as he unwrapped the muffler. He wanted…needed to see this man's facethe man who had saved his life. He forced himself to watch as he pulled off the floppy gray hat.
Royce blinked. His foggy mind was playing tricks on him. A longgolden braid fell from beneath the hat and lay across the man's shoulder. He slipped off the coat and beneath was the slender shape of a woman.
His man...his midnight visitor was a woman! Shock filled Royce's mindand his head flopped senselessly sideways.
We asked Tanya if she learned anything about God's character through Tender Touch. Here's what she said: "Instead of learning something about God through this bookit is a reflection of something I learned about God from life. I've had some personal experience with faith healing and I wanted to write a story that reflected those truths. Of courseLacy's gift is highly dramatizedbut the basics about how God heals are true." (Read Tanya's interview)Of her experience on COTTTanya says: "This was the most fun I had in an interview in a longlong time. COTT does such a good job. I really appreciate this opportunity."
Readers loved the Tender Touch excerptas well—and we loved their comments:
"I feel like I'm already hooked on reading the book."
"… made me want to find out more about the mysterious midnight visitor man who turned out to be a woman. Both of these were great and it was hard to choose one. Can they both win?? !!!"
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run allbut one receiveth the prize?"
Currently we're in the middle of the exciting Tournament of Champions which will be in high gear from Oct. 10 through Nov. 4. Don't miss it! Past Clash champs duke it out for the final prize with each of them offering an excerpt that will hopefully have you panting for more. Head on over and see what it's all about.
* Delia Latham is a Christian wife mother grandmother sister and friend as well as an author of inspirational romance and women's fiction. She wears each hat with pride but treasures most of all her role as a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Congrats to Tanya and a huge thank you also to her very worthy opponent Shawn Grady.
October 7, 2011
The Vital Principle by Amy Corwin
The Vital Principle , a historical mystery featuring The Second Sons Inquiry Agency, is now available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a special price of $.99.Buy Links:
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Vita...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1GQ2/
The Vital Principle - Backcover
In 1815, an inquiry agent, Mr. Knighton Gaunt, is asked by Lord Crowley to attend a séance with the express purpose of revealing the spiritualist as a fraud. When the séance ends abruptly, Lord Crowley is poisoned during the turmoil by an unseen killer.
Gaunt is now left to investigate not only fraud, but murder. Suspicion turns first to the spiritualist, Miss Prudence Barnard, but as Gaunt digs deeper into the twisted history of the guests at Rosecrest, he discovers more deadly secrets. Inevitably, long-time friends turn against one another as the tension mounts, and Gaunt is challenged to separate fact from fiction before another death at Rosecrest.
The Vital Principle is the first mystery in the Second Sons Inquiry Agency series and features coolly intellectual Mr. Knighton Gaunt, the agency's founder. This witty, historical whodunit in the tradition of Bruce Alexander's Blind Justice, will keep you guessing until the unexpected end.
"Murder, mystery, and a dash of romance combined with witty dialogue and unforgettable characters make The Vital Principle a book that will definitely go on my keeper shelf!" —Lilly Gayle, author of Into the Darkness and Slightly Tarnished.
Excerpt
As if aware of her scrutiny, Mr. Gaunt edged closer. He spoke in low tones no one else could hear. "You're very composed, Miss Barnard."
"For a murderess? Would tears avail me? Or convince anyone of my innocence?"
"They might. A woman's tears are often most efficacious."
"Except when the decision has already been made. A trial seems almost superfluous, doesn't it?" Her voice was low and biting with anger. A deep feeling of ill-use made it difficult for her to remain calm.
"No one has accused you," Mr. Gaunt replied. "And if you had a hand in this, you'll get a fair hearing."
"Then you do think I murdered Lord Crowley? What possible motive could I have had?"
"For one thing, you didn't seem pleased when he requested my attendance tonight."
"I didn't arrange this entertainment, the dowager did. And it appears to me, the mystery should be why I murdered Lord Crowley instead of simply doing away with you. If you believe I was so upset by your presence." Frustration and fear compressed her stomach into a cold lump.
"You knew why he asked me here," he stated flatly.
"Really? Why? Pray enlighten me. I'm all agog to hear."
"To prove you're a fraud taking advantage of an elderly widow."
"Taking advantage? By reassuring the poor dear that whatever silly misdemeanor she believes she committed before her husband died is unimportant? How is that taking advantage of her?"
"You're better qualified to answer that particular question than I. But I'm sure it's profitable."
"Profitable?" She laughed bitterly. When the other men glanced at her, she put her hand over her mouth and turned her inappropriate laughter into a cough. "If you call a frusty little room and a few meals profitable. I'm a guest here, nothing more." Then she added with a coldly sweet smile, "Guests aren't paid. Or weren't you aware of that?"
"So kindness was your only motivation?" His black eyes bored into hers. "How can we trust what you say when you conduct these ridiculous entertainments and pretend to speak to the dead?"
She arched a mocking eyebrow. "What makes you think I can't?"
"Come now. You can't expect me to believe you're capable of communicating with the spirit world. Or that you even believe such a thing is possible."
"I believe there are many things we don't understand. I refuse to close my mind to the possibility simply because it's difficult to prove," she temporized, knowing only too well the dangers of trying to argue about spirit communications.
If there wasn't a spirit world, then she'd be forced to acknowledge that she was a complete fraud. And even though she hadn't, yet, reached that unseen world and had used a number of tricks to suggest that she had, she always hoped that one day some apparition might answer her call. There was always the possibility.
Mr. Gaunt smiled and his expression grew even more sardonic. "Then let's be more specific and examine what we can prove. Did you speak to the dowager's previous husband?"
"Perhaps not this evening. However, I'm sure the words I wrote were what he would have relayed, if he could have done so."
"So you lied—"
"No, I merely—"
"It was not the truth!" His lips thinned and anger ignited a slow burning fire in his eyes. "Her husband did not speak through you. Admit it."
She tilted her head to one side, examining him. "Do you believe her husband did not love her?"
"I have no idea. That's not the point."
"Then you don't know if it was the truth or not." She offered, instinctively knowing the men would tear her apart like a pack of hungry dogs if she reacted emotionally. Her mind raced ahead, abnormally clear, encased in the fragile ice of logic that could shatter at any moment and leave her raging at their accusations. "And it eased the dowager's mind. So I fail to see I did anything wrong."
Mr. Gaunt said, "You mislead—"
"No. I told a desperately lonely woman what she needed to hear. That's the sum of it. There are many truths. You have yours. I have mine."
"There is only one truth."
"Nonsense." She folded her hands at her waist and turned partially away, unable to bear the intense scrutiny of his hard eyes. Her fingers felt stiff and icy with fear. "I refuse to discuss this any further. It's futile. You'll believe what you wish. If you chose not to trust me, then so be it. But regardless of what you think, I did not kill Lord Crowley."
* * * * *
Thank you--
Amy Corwin
http://www.amycorwin.com/
http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/
![[image error]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctfyQ729UNo/Tqd0t0EWjvI/AAAAAAAABHk/WUBmHXQugd8/s1600/Dog.jpg){kind=link}
![[image error]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RcDkEenTRTQ/Tqb161D9WFI/AAAAAAAABHM/6N8k3t9p7Xk/s1600/ThisTimeForKeepsCoverArt72dpi%255B1%255D.jpg){kind=link}