Anne Patrick's Blog, page 23
December 19, 2010
The Sweetest Romance Authors Holiday Party
SHARE your holiday memories and WIN free books to read. Come by Monday, Dec 20th and visit us, The Sweetest Romance Authors...All visitors will be entered for giveaways. With titles such as Sabotage, Love Turns the Tide, Taking Advantage, and Turtle Soup, you will not want to miss out on your holiday free read! Plus, we want to hear from you! http://thesweetestromanceauthors.blogspot.com/
December 16, 2010
Paranormal Suspense Author – Pauline Holyoak
http://www.paulineholyoak.com/Merryweathger Lodge – Ancient Revenge.. The first of a trilogy.. "A supernatural thriller that keeps you on the edge." A perfect Christmas gift for those with a sense of adventure!
About me…
I grew in Southeast England, in a coal mining village my husband calls, "The place that time forgot." It is nested between the notorious city of Canterbury and the medieval town of Dover. I came to Canada as a nanny, when I was 21. This vast and majestic country has served me well, but England will always be home. I live in Alberta (western Canada) with my sports crazy husband, adorable Sheltie dog and cantankerous ginger cat. We have two grown children. They are the gems in my treasure chest. I love this part of the world, except for the winters. It can be a chilly minus -30 for days on end. Burr…..
As far back as I can remember the pen and paper have been my faithful companions and story telling my forte. As a child I would sneak away from the mundane adult world, find a private retreat (usually behind the garden shed) and imagine. There in my own little sanctuary I'd conjure up all kinds of intriguing tales and colorful characters. In my teen years my journal became my confident, revealing all my hidden secrets, private fantasies and wild notions within its pages. Later I started to write poems, articles and short stories, and pondered the thought of becoming a writer.
When I immigrated to Canada I buried my dreams under layers of real life clutter. I chose a safe and practical career in child care, married and raised a family. But my creative spirit kept trying to dig its way out. I was asked to write articles and editorials for our local church. I taught a story time class at the school, which lead me to writing a children's book. I wrote an article about my husbands' prestigious grandfather and sent it to our local newspaper. They printed it. I kept sending them articles, they kept printing them. I was surprised at the compliments I received from the editor and readers. It was evident to me then that I had excavated my creative spirit.
I decided to take a comprehensive writing course to improve my technique. With help from a proficient and supportive tutor, who told me I had a gift, I began to cultivate my skill. My articles started to sell and I received an assignment from a major Canadian magazine. I have spent the past few years working on my novel Merryweather Lodge – Ancient Revenge (a trilogy) and two children's books. I have a diploma in creative writing, along with a certificate complementing my creative skills. What has helped me the most in my writing career is my boundless imagination and the wealth of experiences I have to draw from.
I write to explore my inner world. I write because some mystical magnet draws me to my desk. I write to escape the mundane world of people and things. I write because I need to write. To me it's a sort of innate longing, to get my thoughts, wild fantasies, opinions and stories on paper. The words come to me from some magical realm, into my head, down my hand, onto the paper, and by some unfathomable miracle become a legible piece of work.
This is where I got the inspiration for my book…
Every summer, when I was a child, we would visit my aunt and uncle at their quaint little cottage on Salisbury Plain. It was called Scotland Lodge and was situated not far from the historical Stonehenge. My uncle worked as a farm hand for the local squire. My aunt tended the manor house. It was there as I roamed free, deep within the English countryside, that I experienced joy, enchantment and some very strange and frightening occurrences. It was like a fairytale kingdom with a sinister twist. The memories of my summers at Scotland Lodge have stayed with me as a sort of nagging unsolved mystery all my life. A few years ago I revisited my childhood wonderland (the old place still emanates a strange and eerie essence) and was lead by some mysterious force into concocting this story and writing this book. It is from my mystifying experiences at Scotland Lodge that this book has emerged.
Book blurb…..
When Emily Fletcher meets the gorgeous Jonathan McArthur she is infatuated and consumed with lust. Will he go with her to the dreaded wood-lot, to remove the bloody ancient curse, before it's too late? In the first half of my story Emily is fourteen years old. In the second half she is forced to return to the cottage, at the age of twenty. My novel contains elements of horror, humor, fantasy, romance and sex. I have created a world into which my readers can escape and an atmosphere that will evoke their imagination, stir their emotions and engage their senses. This book was inspired by my own experiences in a remote little cottage near Stonehenge.
Excerpt.…"Let's go somewhere privet." She said, grabbing my arm. She guided me to the passage and plunked me down on the bottom step of the attic stairs. My back straightened. Panic rose within me as an icy shiver ran down my spine. It was as if I had been lead to an old cemetery, sat on a grave and left among the tomb stones.
"That was her room you know." She said as she pointed up the stairs.
"Who's?"
"Mary Eliss."
I turned my head ever so slowly and drew eyes up to the portal at the top of the stairs. I shivered and quickly looked way. "I know it was."
In a low voice she whispered. "Do you suppose she's still up there?" Then she grinned mischievously.
I looked into her strange glassy eyes. "She was, the last time I was here and I have a feeling she hasn't left."
I am now working on the second book of my trilogy… Merryweather Lodge – The Malevolent Spirit.
Merryweather Lodge – A quaint little cottage, steeped in history, shrouded in secrets, its aura a paradoxical essence of heaven and hell. Go into this book if you dare and experience my protagonist's strange and eerie journey there…. . Available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com
December 12, 2010
Joselyn Vaughn Interview
[Anne] Joining us today is Joselyn Vaughn. Welcome, Joselyn. Why don't you tell us about your latest book?
[Joselyn] Dusting off the ashes of a failed relationship, Daphne Morrow decides she is ready to date again. But when her scorched prom photos are discovered to be the ignition point for a small forest blaze, marking her as the prime suspect for the arson, she finds they're not the only part of her past sparking interest. After a friend's wedding provides a romantic interlude with her longtime friend Noah Banks, Daphne tries to explain away her attraction to him: the atmosphere of the wedding, his resemblance to her ex, his heroic efforts as a volunteer firefighter. Still, their desire just won't sputter out.
When the arsonist strikes much closer to home, Daphne fears she must risk Noah's friendship to find the culprit and clear her name. She'll know their love is real if his interest isn't put out by her need to uncover the truth.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Joselyn] One of my friends has been in a lot of weddings and I thought writing a story with several wedding would be fun. It snowballed from there. I could incorporate all the funny wedding stories I had heard.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Joselyn] Mostly listening to friends and relatives talk about their weddings. One of my good friends was a volunteer firefighter, so I could bug him about any fire-related questions. My husband also had to answer a lot of "If you filled a garbage can with hairspray and dropped a match in it, would it explode and catch the rest of the house on fire?"(not really) and "If he tried to burn his shoes, would the fire spread?" (No, the shoes wouldn't burn.) He was probably glad when that one was done, but then I started asking him car questions for the next book.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Joselyn] I just finished rough drafts for two more books relating to my first book, CEOs Don't Cry. They are continuations of the story involving different characters. Another idea is tumbling around in my head, but I haven't put anything on paper yet. My local writers group is doing a winter NaNo project where we set a goal to write 32,000 words between the February and March meetings. I may let this idea simmer until then.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Joselyn] Definitely a pantser for the first draft. I handwrite in a cute notebook and the story tends to wander all over the place. I get a little more organized for the second draft. The story gets typed, then I print out the whole draft and start documenting things. I make a character lists, a calendar and maybe a chapter summary. Each book has been a little different. For one completed manuscript I re-did my calendar three or four times. At one point I realized the character had poison ivy for a whole month. Poor guy.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Joselyn] Minnie Schultz. She says and does whatever she wants and doesn't care a lick what anyone thinks. It'd be fun to be that bold and brassy and confident. She also collects modern art and porcelain cats. I would love to collect more original artwork, but probably not the cats.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Joselyn] All of my books so far take place in a fictional West Michigan. If I were to travel, it would be to Italy. I'm sure I could come up with a story involving a trip to Rome or something. Recently, I did a search online for Italian villas after watching Under the Tuscan Sun again. Not really anything in my price range, though. Maybe George Clooney would let me stay at his.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Joselyn] As I finished writing Courting Sparks, I had Hugh Jackman in my head for Noah. Although after watching the Country Music Awards, I realized that Noah looked a lot more like Josh Turner. Hmm, how to pick between those two? I think we would need extensive auditions and it would probably come down to their Chicken Dances. Jennifer Garner would be good as Daphne. She has the girl next door feel that's willing to do anything for her friends. Aaron and Noah are supposed to look alike, but in my head Aaron looks like Hugh Grant, especially in Bridget Jones' Diary.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Joselyn] Romance, of course. Mostly Regencies or contemporaries. They are my special treat. Before kids, I read a couple of books a week, but now I'm lucky to get one in. I also gravitate toward literary fiction and historical fiction, but that takes more of a mental concentration and my kids aren't willing to allow me that very often.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Joselyn] My iPod Touch – it has my calendar, my email, my music, my running program, my ebooks, my flashlight, etc. I'd be lost without it. My husband even brings it to me if I set it down somewhere. I may have to wrestle my kids for it though. He just showed them that they could watch Bob the Builder movies on YouTube.
Pen and Paper – My iPod has a lot of features, but I'm not very adept at typing on it, so I'd need a pen and paper to keep writing.
My running shoes – I'm only going a couple days a week, but the chance to block everything else out and just be alone with my thoughts is a great time. Having that time to exercise and be alone is a big rejuvenator.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Joselyn] If you want to write but haven't started, get your bum in the chair and start typing. If you are writing and that first novel is going slowly and getting hard, keep your bum in the chair and keep going. You need to work through it. Find a good critique partner. They can give you ideas when you get stuck and help you find the problems with the story that are holding you back. Most of all, keep writing.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Joselyn] I'm on Facebook, but also have a webpage (http://joselynvaughn.com) and a blog (http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com).
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Joselyn] They are available on Amazon.com and BN.com, but they are quite often available at your local library, too.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Joselyn] I'd like to thank you, Anne, for hosting this interview. It's been a really fun. I'm also posting some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes on my blog (http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com), so stop by and check them out. Hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season.
[Joselyn] Dusting off the ashes of a failed relationship, Daphne Morrow decides she is ready to date again. But when her scorched prom photos are discovered to be the ignition point for a small forest blaze, marking her as the prime suspect for the arson, she finds they're not the only part of her past sparking interest. After a friend's wedding provides a romantic interlude with her longtime friend Noah Banks, Daphne tries to explain away her attraction to him: the atmosphere of the wedding, his resemblance to her ex, his heroic efforts as a volunteer firefighter. Still, their desire just won't sputter out.
When the arsonist strikes much closer to home, Daphne fears she must risk Noah's friendship to find the culprit and clear her name. She'll know their love is real if his interest isn't put out by her need to uncover the truth.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Joselyn] One of my friends has been in a lot of weddings and I thought writing a story with several wedding would be fun. It snowballed from there. I could incorporate all the funny wedding stories I had heard.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Joselyn] Mostly listening to friends and relatives talk about their weddings. One of my good friends was a volunteer firefighter, so I could bug him about any fire-related questions. My husband also had to answer a lot of "If you filled a garbage can with hairspray and dropped a match in it, would it explode and catch the rest of the house on fire?"(not really) and "If he tried to burn his shoes, would the fire spread?" (No, the shoes wouldn't burn.) He was probably glad when that one was done, but then I started asking him car questions for the next book.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Joselyn] I just finished rough drafts for two more books relating to my first book, CEOs Don't Cry. They are continuations of the story involving different characters. Another idea is tumbling around in my head, but I haven't put anything on paper yet. My local writers group is doing a winter NaNo project where we set a goal to write 32,000 words between the February and March meetings. I may let this idea simmer until then.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Joselyn] Definitely a pantser for the first draft. I handwrite in a cute notebook and the story tends to wander all over the place. I get a little more organized for the second draft. The story gets typed, then I print out the whole draft and start documenting things. I make a character lists, a calendar and maybe a chapter summary. Each book has been a little different. For one completed manuscript I re-did my calendar three or four times. At one point I realized the character had poison ivy for a whole month. Poor guy.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Joselyn] Minnie Schultz. She says and does whatever she wants and doesn't care a lick what anyone thinks. It'd be fun to be that bold and brassy and confident. She also collects modern art and porcelain cats. I would love to collect more original artwork, but probably not the cats.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Joselyn] All of my books so far take place in a fictional West Michigan. If I were to travel, it would be to Italy. I'm sure I could come up with a story involving a trip to Rome or something. Recently, I did a search online for Italian villas after watching Under the Tuscan Sun again. Not really anything in my price range, though. Maybe George Clooney would let me stay at his.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Joselyn] As I finished writing Courting Sparks, I had Hugh Jackman in my head for Noah. Although after watching the Country Music Awards, I realized that Noah looked a lot more like Josh Turner. Hmm, how to pick between those two? I think we would need extensive auditions and it would probably come down to their Chicken Dances. Jennifer Garner would be good as Daphne. She has the girl next door feel that's willing to do anything for her friends. Aaron and Noah are supposed to look alike, but in my head Aaron looks like Hugh Grant, especially in Bridget Jones' Diary.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Joselyn] Romance, of course. Mostly Regencies or contemporaries. They are my special treat. Before kids, I read a couple of books a week, but now I'm lucky to get one in. I also gravitate toward literary fiction and historical fiction, but that takes more of a mental concentration and my kids aren't willing to allow me that very often.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Joselyn] My iPod Touch – it has my calendar, my email, my music, my running program, my ebooks, my flashlight, etc. I'd be lost without it. My husband even brings it to me if I set it down somewhere. I may have to wrestle my kids for it though. He just showed them that they could watch Bob the Builder movies on YouTube.
Pen and Paper – My iPod has a lot of features, but I'm not very adept at typing on it, so I'd need a pen and paper to keep writing.
My running shoes – I'm only going a couple days a week, but the chance to block everything else out and just be alone with my thoughts is a great time. Having that time to exercise and be alone is a big rejuvenator.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Joselyn] If you want to write but haven't started, get your bum in the chair and start typing. If you are writing and that first novel is going slowly and getting hard, keep your bum in the chair and keep going. You need to work through it. Find a good critique partner. They can give you ideas when you get stuck and help you find the problems with the story that are holding you back. Most of all, keep writing.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Joselyn] I'm on Facebook, but also have a webpage (http://joselynvaughn.com) and a blog (http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com).
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Joselyn] They are available on Amazon.com and BN.com, but they are quite often available at your local library, too.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Joselyn] I'd like to thank you, Anne, for hosting this interview. It's been a really fun. I'm also posting some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes on my blog (http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com), so stop by and check them out. Hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season.
December 9, 2010
Interview with Sherry Gloag
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?[Sherry] It wasn't so much a realization as being 'something' always there. I made several attempts to fulfill the need to write but until 2006 you could say 'life happened'.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
Blurb for The Brat: Gina Williams has a secret and prays it is buried with her childhood persecutor, Em Kouvaris, as discovery will ruin her reputation as a famous children's author. She soon discovers the son, Ben Kouvaris, new owner of her publishing company, has uncovered her past and is making demands. Will he ruin her career if she doesn't comply?
Ben Kouvaris is blown away by the unknown beauty at his estranged mother's funeral, and when his father demands he marry, immediately, to secure the family business, he knows just who he wants as his temporary bride. But can Ben persuade Gina to trust him?
Excerpt
From the shadow of the ancient yew tree, Benedict Kouvaris observed the two people standing at his mother's graveside. The clergyman's voice carried on the still air, as he intoned the funeral rites for the woman who'd sent him to another country on his tenth birthday, two and a half decades ago.
He thrust his anger and confusion beneath the surface of his consciousness and focused his attention on the elegant Armani-suited woman, whose blonde hair contrasted with her black suit and concealed her face from view. The wind sighed through the branches, and the man beside him shifted from one foot to the other. "Who is she?" He raised an eyebrow in query.
"Miss Williams, sir." His mother's solicitor, Mr. Cranborne, cleared his throat. "She cared for your mother for the last five years."
The clergyman bent to lift a small clutch of soil, which he threw into the open grave. His action was replicated by the woman.
And who, Ben wondered, was Miss Williams?
[Anne] Great blurb and excerpt, Sherry! What inspired you to write this story?
[Sherry] It wasn't so much inspiration as Gina's demand her story be told. Since she wouldn't leave me alone, I caved and began writing.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Sherry] With great difficulty! Although I enjoy researching stuff, I rarely managed to find what I'm looking for when I want it!!
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Sherry] Not so much 'new' as returning to WIP when Gina demanded priority.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a panster?
[Sherry] I am a panster, but by the end of each chapter I know, roughly, where the next one is headed.
[Anne] Cool. A fellow panster :-). Okay, say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Sherry] ROFL :-) There are so many places, but Italy is pulling me right now. The area around Florence.
[Anne] Oh, great choice! What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Sherry] Romance, because I enjoy HEA. Mystery and detective novels, because I enjoy trying to work out the plot before it's revealed.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Sherry] My computer and its peripherals. My tumble dryer!! Lots of surrounding space. I enjoy visiting towns, but would not like to live in one.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Sherry] Believe in yourself. If you don't, why should anyone else? Write regularly, about anything, then hone that into your own voice, then let rip and get busy with your story.
[Anne] Great advice, Sherry! Where can we find you on the web?
[Sherry] My website: http://www.sherrygloag.com/, My Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=689789287; Twitter: http://twitter.com/SherryGloag & GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4277928.Sherry_Gloag
[Anne] Where can we purchase your book?
[Sherry] http://www.thewildrosepress.com/sherry-gloag-m-862.html
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Sherry] Thank you for inviting me here today. I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 7, 2010
Danielle Thorne's Holiday Tour
Hi Anne! Thank you so much for letting me stop by your blog on my Goodie Tour! It's been a blast sharing my favorite sweet treats this holiday season to compliment my sweet romance novels . Today, I'm really excited to post a deep dish pudding treat that is very popular at my mother's house -- and with me! Easy Éclairs is absolutely decadent and so darn easy! It's very popular in the South, so if you haven't come across this one before, you are in for a treat!EASY ÉCLAIRS
2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding
9 oz. of Cool Whip
1 box of graham crackers
Frosting
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of cocoa
1/8 teaspoon of salt
¼ cup of milk
¼ cup of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Mix the pudding according to package directions. Fold in Cool Whip. Set aside. Layer the bottom of a 9X13 pan with graham crackers. Add half of the pudding mixture and spread. Add a second single layer of crackers. Spread remaining pudding mixture. Top with a third single layer of graham crackers. Frost.
Frosting Directions
Mix sugar, cocoa, salt and milk together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute while stirring. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Mix well. Cool slightly to spread. The warm frosting will set if runny. Chill frosted dessert before serving and keep refrigerated.
SWEET READS
If you fancy a sweet romance to go with your dessert, check out my romantic adventures. Just released, JOSETTE, a Jane Austen-inspired Regency, is available now.
Josette Price sees her future in Beddingfield Park, while her brother, George, needlessly pursues a naval career. But dark, brooding Captain Carter rides into their lives with news that ruins everything: George has been lost at sea. Only Captain Carter and his delightfully spinsterish relatives can stop the Price sisters from making a choice that would be the greatest tragedy of all.Amazon: JOSETTE: http://www.amazon.com/Josette-ebook/d...
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Or, if a Caribbean holiday is more along your lines, you will want to find out all about BY HEART AND COMPASS and its lost pirate ship.
When Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, she never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back to sea and into the arms of the dive bum she'd rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a screeching halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again. But will finding it cost her heart? Publisher: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/By-Heart-and-Co...
Thanks again for having me, Anne, and Happy Holidays to you and your readers!
Danielle Thorne
http://www.daniellethorne.jimdo.com/
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com/
December 5, 2010
Theresa Danley Interview
Joining us today is Theresa Danley. Theresa, please tell us a little about yourself.
[Theresa] I live along the hi-line of Montana where I enjoy writing books, riding horses and raising my family.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Theresa] I've wanted to write as far back as I can remember in grade school. As I grew up I was always dabbling with some story or another. But I didn't start seriously pursuing publication until about five or six years ago. My first book never did get picked up by a publisher. In the meantime, it took me nearly as many years to research and write Effigy, which I'm proud to say is now available for the public to read!
[Anne] Will you tell us about your latest book.
The Blurb:
A serial killer is on the loose, depositing his victims' hearts amid the Toltec ruins of central Mexico. Meanwhile, a priceless Mesoamerican artifact is stolen from the University of Utah, sweeping archaeologists Anthony Peet and Lori Dewson on a desperate recovery mission south of the border. Accompanied by a reluctant colleague, an enthusiastic young journalist and a Yaqui woman in mourning, the team must decipher clues hidden within the Aztec sunstone, mystical Toltec Pyramids and astronomical calendar rounds to find the priceless effigy of Quetzalcoatl. They suddenly find themselves in a race against the coming solar eclipse, all the while dodging a corrupt Mexican police force still on the hunt for the sadistic murderer – a killer who's chosen one of them for his next human sacrifice.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Theresa] I was working on a completely different book when my research led me to the Mesoamerican cultures of central Mexico. The more I learned about these ancient people, the more fascinated I became with their culture, mythology and especially their astronomy. That's when I first became aware of the whole 2012 phenomenon. There was just too much story opportunity to pass up! But I didn't want to write just another 2012 doomsday story. I wanted a story that stayed as true to the mythology and science as possible. I also wanted to write the story that didn't necessarily follow the more popular 2012 angles, and that meant avoiding the Mayan culture all together. Too much focus has been placed there. Instead, I turned to the Toltec culture which may have had a large amount of influence on the Mayan culture. Besides, it was the Toltecs that my earlier research had led me to in the first place.
[Anne] Sounds fascinating, Theresa! How did you go about researching your book?
[Theresa] Considering I'd never been to the places I wrote about in Effigy, and the fact that resources are limited in my rural Montana library, most of my research was conducted through the internet. It's remarkable what you can find there. I did manage to contact a few people who live in Mexico who were more than willing to share information with me, and I did use books wherever plausible. I even used interlibrary loan to get my hands on a rare copy of the Florentine Codex.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Theresa] I am currently researching and writing the sequel to Effigy which I hope to have ready for publication in 2011.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Theresa] I'm definitely a plotter. I like to outline the story before I really get to writing on it. However, the outline will inevitably evolve as I move along in the story, especially when new research leads me on an unexpected path. But no matter how many detours I take, I generally wind up visiting the 'major landmarks' and ending where I'd set my destination.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Theresa] Lori. She's at the point where she's ready to take the big plunge from college to career. Her future's as bright as she is and she hasn't yet let relationships distract her from her goals. Besides, her work unintentionally leads her on an adventure to fascinating places that I can only write about!
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Theresa] Chichen Itza – A Mayan ruins in the Yucatan of Mexico. So tropical. So mysterious. So thrilling to history buffs like me!
[Anne] Great choice! Okay, say you've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Theresa] That's tough since Harrison Ford is too old to play the part!
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Theresa] I like anything with a good adventure in it, and if it is related to history, even better. So, I'm reading a lot of thrillers right now. James Rollins is a favorite. But I also like Larry McMurtry-type westerns and even some literary from Cormac McCarthy to Willa Cather.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Theresa] Horses, ice cream, and creativity
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Theresa] Never give up, keep an open mind and don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Theresa] www.theresadanley.com or http://www.authorsden.com/theresadanley and Facebook and Twitter
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Theresa] Whiskey Creek Press, Amazon and Fictionwise
[Theresa] I live along the hi-line of Montana where I enjoy writing books, riding horses and raising my family.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Theresa] I've wanted to write as far back as I can remember in grade school. As I grew up I was always dabbling with some story or another. But I didn't start seriously pursuing publication until about five or six years ago. My first book never did get picked up by a publisher. In the meantime, it took me nearly as many years to research and write Effigy, which I'm proud to say is now available for the public to read!
[Anne] Will you tell us about your latest book.
The Blurb:
A serial killer is on the loose, depositing his victims' hearts amid the Toltec ruins of central Mexico. Meanwhile, a priceless Mesoamerican artifact is stolen from the University of Utah, sweeping archaeologists Anthony Peet and Lori Dewson on a desperate recovery mission south of the border. Accompanied by a reluctant colleague, an enthusiastic young journalist and a Yaqui woman in mourning, the team must decipher clues hidden within the Aztec sunstone, mystical Toltec Pyramids and astronomical calendar rounds to find the priceless effigy of Quetzalcoatl. They suddenly find themselves in a race against the coming solar eclipse, all the while dodging a corrupt Mexican police force still on the hunt for the sadistic murderer – a killer who's chosen one of them for his next human sacrifice.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Theresa] I was working on a completely different book when my research led me to the Mesoamerican cultures of central Mexico. The more I learned about these ancient people, the more fascinated I became with their culture, mythology and especially their astronomy. That's when I first became aware of the whole 2012 phenomenon. There was just too much story opportunity to pass up! But I didn't want to write just another 2012 doomsday story. I wanted a story that stayed as true to the mythology and science as possible. I also wanted to write the story that didn't necessarily follow the more popular 2012 angles, and that meant avoiding the Mayan culture all together. Too much focus has been placed there. Instead, I turned to the Toltec culture which may have had a large amount of influence on the Mayan culture. Besides, it was the Toltecs that my earlier research had led me to in the first place.
[Anne] Sounds fascinating, Theresa! How did you go about researching your book?
[Theresa] Considering I'd never been to the places I wrote about in Effigy, and the fact that resources are limited in my rural Montana library, most of my research was conducted through the internet. It's remarkable what you can find there. I did manage to contact a few people who live in Mexico who were more than willing to share information with me, and I did use books wherever plausible. I even used interlibrary loan to get my hands on a rare copy of the Florentine Codex.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Theresa] I am currently researching and writing the sequel to Effigy which I hope to have ready for publication in 2011.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Theresa] I'm definitely a plotter. I like to outline the story before I really get to writing on it. However, the outline will inevitably evolve as I move along in the story, especially when new research leads me on an unexpected path. But no matter how many detours I take, I generally wind up visiting the 'major landmarks' and ending where I'd set my destination.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Theresa] Lori. She's at the point where she's ready to take the big plunge from college to career. Her future's as bright as she is and she hasn't yet let relationships distract her from her goals. Besides, her work unintentionally leads her on an adventure to fascinating places that I can only write about!
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Theresa] Chichen Itza – A Mayan ruins in the Yucatan of Mexico. So tropical. So mysterious. So thrilling to history buffs like me!
[Anne] Great choice! Okay, say you've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Theresa] That's tough since Harrison Ford is too old to play the part!
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Theresa] I like anything with a good adventure in it, and if it is related to history, even better. So, I'm reading a lot of thrillers right now. James Rollins is a favorite. But I also like Larry McMurtry-type westerns and even some literary from Cormac McCarthy to Willa Cather.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Theresa] Horses, ice cream, and creativity
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Theresa] Never give up, keep an open mind and don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Theresa] www.theresadanley.com or http://www.authorsden.com/theresadanley and Facebook and Twitter
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Theresa] Whiskey Creek Press, Amazon and Fictionwise
Meet the Authors of A Christmas Collection & Win Prizes!
Victory Tales Press Award-Winning Authors are visiting Diane Craver's blog, http://www.dianecraver.com/blog, starting Monday! Come and learn more about each anthology from sweet to spicy from the authors themselves. Authors are looking forward to sharing excerpts, their favorite recipes and favorite family traditions. And if that isn't enough, I have some fun questions for everyone. If you leave a comment on any day from Monday thru Friday, your name will be entered for THREE DRAWINGS! GIVEAWAYS: FIRST DRAWING will be early Wednesday morning and the winner's name will be posted in the comment section. The winner gets to choose any download of one of the VTP Christmas anthologies. SECOND and THIRD DRAWING: Friday at midnight (want to give everyone a chance to comment - know it is busy time) and this winner gets a $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Noble!!!!! A second winner will be drawn on Friday for a free download of one of the Anthology VTP books!!!! Both winners for the Friday drawing will be posted here Saturday morning.
HERE IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:
Monday - A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION ANTHOLOGY: Sweet
Authors: Anne Patrick, Markee Anderson, Laurean Brooks, Evie Alexis and Cheryl Pierson
Tuesday - A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION ANTHOLOGY: Sensual
Authors: Cheryl Pierson, Diane Craver, Charlotte Raby, and Diane Craver
Wednesday - A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION ANTHOLOGY: Stimulating
Authors: Stephanie Burkhart, Gerald Costlow, Rita Hestand and Karen Michelle Nutt
Thursday - A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION ANTHOLOGY: Spicy
Authors: Kit Prate, C.A. Paris, Cheryl Pierson and Laura Shinn
Friday - Free day for the anthology authors from each collection to visit with readers!
For more information about the authors and books, visit here: http://victorytalespress.yolasite.com/online-store.php
December 3, 2010
TODAY'S WRITING LIFE- F.V. Edwards©2010
Authors who earn a living from writing are estimated to range from one in a thousand to one in millions. That doesn't stop the larger segment, although rejection piles may be discouraging. Even when published, they soon know it takes a lot of sales to create a significant royalty check.
We live in the era of an expanded and contracted publishing world. The E aspect is making a rapid move to be the dominant format. The purpose of this article is to provide a guidance tool for improving your chances of success.
The idea phase is always fun. Stories begin with an idea. A draft clarifies and changes the structure. Follow-up may often seem like a laborious task. The tasks of transition from a draft into a quality manuscript can become fun if you consider them as games or puzzles. Ie; you can make choosing a publisher into finding the jigsaw puzzle where your story is a piece that fits perfectly.
The steps needed once the draft is in place, begin with broad and detail questions for you and your support group. Armed with answers, you're ready to search for the right jigsaw puzzle at potential publishers. The rewrite/revision process could be compared to solving the Sunday crossword or finding answers to trivia questions. The last phase will be submissions to see if you played the game well.
Broad Questions:
Identify the target audience. Vonnegut's Rule 7 for writers; If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. (many rule lists are worthy of your consideration; search the internet.)
Knowing the targeted audience leads you to selection of the appropriate vocabulary.
Evaluate your plot for plausibility and cohesiveness.
Create definitions of your primary characters; strengths, weaknesses, lessons, and etc.
Describe the story in a single sentence; what is the root point of the plot?
Write a synopsis which includes beginning, middle, and ending.
Detail Questions:
Is the point of view appropriate to the story and consistent?
Consistent tense appropriate to story?
Facts, figures and people consistent with the time period?
If a created world, are the aspects realistic and believable?
Understand the genre or combinations?
Choosing a Publisher/Agent:
Self Publishing. Be careful; understand all the details before considering this avenue. The Predators and Editors website is a useful tool in this area. Agents are mentioned because major publishers require you have one in order to submit.
Search based on the genre and sub-genres. Check out the reputation and history. Study the submission requirements.
Select 3 or 4 and list their requirements; format, query aspects, synopsis, blurbs, marketing plans, & etc.
Re-write/Revision Process:
Get the manuscript into Standard Format- gain absolute control of your software; no curly quotes or apostrophes, no special effects like automatic indent for next paragraph when hitting Enter. The SFWA website has excellent instructions on this subject.
Get help. Read the draft aloud and have someone read it to you. Keep track of the changes. Redlining with software or mark a printed version.
Keep the answers to above questions in mind as you review the story.
Evaluate each chapter. Ask if it advances the action and/or builds character. Verify the need for each scene. Analyze sentences for contribution to action and/or character. Make sure dialogue is realistic. Not many people speak in complete sentences.
Incorporate changes. Repeat reading aloud process.
Have manuscript proofed by someone who fully understands grammar and punctuation.
Make corrections.
Submission Process:
Make a digital copy of the standard format manuscript file. Revise formatting of the copy to match selected publisher guidelines. They vary in font, line spacing, indent, chapter layout, and etc.
Prepare query and support information per instructions. The portion of manuscript they want initially is another variable. Be prepared to submit the full manuscript if requested. Some accept MS Word doc format, others want RTF or PDF.
Do not make submissions to more than one at a time unless they state it is OK.
Many now accept email submissions and queries. Follow their instructions.
Pay attention to the submittal periods.
Wrap:
Be prepared for rejections. If your work is good but doesn't fit their needs they often request you submit something else. Don't ask them about your submission until the response time in the guidelines has lapsed.
Have lots of fun. Write, rewrite, submit, repeat the cycle having fun until you succeed. Then you can have even more fun solving the writing puzzles.
About the author:
F.V. Edwards' short stories and two novels have been published. The novels by Whiskey Creek Press titled "Glass Angel With Skillet" and "The God Business". Both received excellent reviews from Readers Favorites and are available in E Book and Print. He has short stories in two Hadley Rille anthologies. Edwards is presently teaching courses at the local college, one is "Writing For Publication in Today's World"
His web page is http://fvedwards.wcpauthor.com
We live in the era of an expanded and contracted publishing world. The E aspect is making a rapid move to be the dominant format. The purpose of this article is to provide a guidance tool for improving your chances of success.
The idea phase is always fun. Stories begin with an idea. A draft clarifies and changes the structure. Follow-up may often seem like a laborious task. The tasks of transition from a draft into a quality manuscript can become fun if you consider them as games or puzzles. Ie; you can make choosing a publisher into finding the jigsaw puzzle where your story is a piece that fits perfectly.
The steps needed once the draft is in place, begin with broad and detail questions for you and your support group. Armed with answers, you're ready to search for the right jigsaw puzzle at potential publishers. The rewrite/revision process could be compared to solving the Sunday crossword or finding answers to trivia questions. The last phase will be submissions to see if you played the game well.
Broad Questions:
Identify the target audience. Vonnegut's Rule 7 for writers; If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. (many rule lists are worthy of your consideration; search the internet.)
Knowing the targeted audience leads you to selection of the appropriate vocabulary.
Evaluate your plot for plausibility and cohesiveness.
Create definitions of your primary characters; strengths, weaknesses, lessons, and etc.
Describe the story in a single sentence; what is the root point of the plot?
Write a synopsis which includes beginning, middle, and ending.
Detail Questions:
Is the point of view appropriate to the story and consistent?
Consistent tense appropriate to story?
Facts, figures and people consistent with the time period?
If a created world, are the aspects realistic and believable?
Understand the genre or combinations?
Choosing a Publisher/Agent:
Self Publishing. Be careful; understand all the details before considering this avenue. The Predators and Editors website is a useful tool in this area. Agents are mentioned because major publishers require you have one in order to submit.
Search based on the genre and sub-genres. Check out the reputation and history. Study the submission requirements.
Select 3 or 4 and list their requirements; format, query aspects, synopsis, blurbs, marketing plans, & etc.
Re-write/Revision Process:
Get the manuscript into Standard Format- gain absolute control of your software; no curly quotes or apostrophes, no special effects like automatic indent for next paragraph when hitting Enter. The SFWA website has excellent instructions on this subject.
Get help. Read the draft aloud and have someone read it to you. Keep track of the changes. Redlining with software or mark a printed version.
Keep the answers to above questions in mind as you review the story.
Evaluate each chapter. Ask if it advances the action and/or builds character. Verify the need for each scene. Analyze sentences for contribution to action and/or character. Make sure dialogue is realistic. Not many people speak in complete sentences.
Incorporate changes. Repeat reading aloud process.
Have manuscript proofed by someone who fully understands grammar and punctuation.
Make corrections.
Submission Process:
Make a digital copy of the standard format manuscript file. Revise formatting of the copy to match selected publisher guidelines. They vary in font, line spacing, indent, chapter layout, and etc.
Prepare query and support information per instructions. The portion of manuscript they want initially is another variable. Be prepared to submit the full manuscript if requested. Some accept MS Word doc format, others want RTF or PDF.
Do not make submissions to more than one at a time unless they state it is OK.
Many now accept email submissions and queries. Follow their instructions.
Pay attention to the submittal periods.
Wrap:
Be prepared for rejections. If your work is good but doesn't fit their needs they often request you submit something else. Don't ask them about your submission until the response time in the guidelines has lapsed.
Have lots of fun. Write, rewrite, submit, repeat the cycle having fun until you succeed. Then you can have even more fun solving the writing puzzles.
About the author:
F.V. Edwards' short stories and two novels have been published. The novels by Whiskey Creek Press titled "Glass Angel With Skillet" and "The God Business". Both received excellent reviews from Readers Favorites and are available in E Book and Print. He has short stories in two Hadley Rille anthologies. Edwards is presently teaching courses at the local college, one is "Writing For Publication in Today's World"
His web page is http://fvedwards.wcpauthor.com
November 29, 2010
Fran Shaff Interview
Joining us today is Fran Shaff. Fran is the author of contemporary and historical classic romance, young peoples' novels and short stories. She has won numerous awards for her fiction and non-fiction work. She began writing in 1999, and she continues to produce romance and children's novels. Her short stories have appeared in such places as Woman's World magazine and at major Internet outlets. Her books are available in hardcover, paperback and e-formats. They can be found in libraries and bookstores throughout the country and on the Internet.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Fran] I did my first creative writing in third grade. I wrote a poem purely for the pleasure of writing, not as a school assignment. The next creative writing I did on my own was a few years later. From then on my interest in writing continued to grow.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest books.
[Fran] I had two new books released in 2010 in e-formats, and I had two books previously available only in e-format become available in both e-format and paperback in 2010. "Montana Magic" (Wings ePress, March, 2010) and "Kelly and the Candidate" (Wings ePress, May, 2010) are both contemporary romances available currently in e-formats at Wings ePress ( www.wingsepress.com) and at Fictionwise and other on-line bookstores.
"Stolen Son" and "For Love of Maggie" are prize-winning contemporary romance stories originally released in e-formats by Champagne Books and Awe-Struck E-books, respectively. Recently updated and re-released in e-book formats through Smashwords and released for the first time in paperback by Create Space, these books can be purchased at many places on the Internet such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble (bn.com) Books a Million (bamm.com), Sony Bookstore, I-Books for I-Pad, etc. These books are also available at libraries and bookstores.
[Anne] What inspired these stories?
[Fran] Anne, you'd be surprised how often story ideas just pop into my head.
My first book "Montana Match" (Avalon Books, hardcover) was the result of an idea I had upon waking one morning. Hmm, I thought, what if a Chicago matchmaker traveled to Montana to work with a cowboy client and fell in love with him herself? Very amusing….
I wrote "Montana Magic" years later because I was in love with the Montana setting I'd used in "Montana Match."
"Kelly and the Candidate" was the result of another "out of the blue" idea which just popped into my head--what would happen if a hard-nosed reporter who hated politicians was stuck covering the campaign of a boring third-party candidate in a governor's race? And she fell in love with him? And then she uncovered the biggest scandal she'd ever seen, a scandal so bad reporting it would win her a major award--and destroy the politician she'd grown to love?
"Stolen Son" came to me as a "wow" kind of idea I knew I had to develop into a story--suppose a man discovered his late wife had kidnapped his five-year-old adopted son and arranged for an illegal adoption? Being a man of integrity, could he in good conscience keep his mouth shut so he could keep his son? Or would he report his discovery and return the boy to his grieving birth mother? What if he developed an idea to covertly get to know the birth mother to determine if he could trust her with his son before he revealed the truth and, while he was getting to know her, he fell in love with her?
Whoa! Could life get more complicated for this poor soul?
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Fran] How I research my books depends on the book. My "Heart Junction Series" is set in the early 20th century in northeastern South Dakota. I set the series there because I grew up in the area. Moreover, I knew people who had lived during that period of history (much older relatives). I had seen the era through the eyes of people who had lived it. That was the inspiring part of my research. Beyond the first-hand research I studied lots of books about the local history so I could make the series as authentic as possible.
Recently I appeared at the Romance Junkies blog. In doing this guest spot I wrote about writing the "Heart Junction Series." If anyone would like more information on writing "Early 20th Century Stories" I recommend they read my blog at Romance Junkies: http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/... Not only will they learn about writing for this time period, they'll get a good introduction to each of the three books in this series, "Laura's Lost Love," "Stephanie's Surprise," and "Mari's Miracle."
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Fran] Like most writers, I've always got new books brewing. :-)
"Male Fraud" is a romantic comedy about a woman who pretends to be a man in order to get a job as a trainer for a pro football team and falls in love with the coach. A wacky and very fun read.
I've also got a rather long short story, formerly in the Amazon Shorts program, awaiting re-release in an updated form titled "Married While Intoxicated." This romantic comedy is about a woman who--you guessed it--gets married while intoxicated and then must straighten out the mess she's made of her life.
A brand spanking new historical romance I'm working on is in the very early stages of development. As of today, I don't even have a title for it. All I have are a few characters and a premise.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Fran] Without a roadmap a journey would be ineffective and unclear. I always develop characters and plot before I begin to write a book. I believe this is the most efficient way to proceed with any fictional project.
[Anne] If you could be any one of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Fran] Yikes! I wish now I had a terribly wealthy character in one of my stories so I could choose to be that one. Oh, wait, Mari Mahoney of "Mari's Miracle" is rich, but she's such a little snot in the beginning of the story, I'm not sure I'd want to be her. Sorry, I don't have a good answer for you here, Anne.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Fran] Tahiti. It's getting pretty cold outside about now, and I can't think of a lovelier place to warm up. Just imagine lying on a pristine beach next to beautiful, clear blue water, soaking in delightfully warm rays of sunshine. Ahhhhhh.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Fran] Hmm. Anne, my most recent releases feature very young heroes and heroine (mostly 20s and very early 30s), and most of my favorite actors would be too old to play the characters. I guess I'd have to say I'd like to see some new young faces paired with young hearts aching to make a wonderful story into a beautiful movie.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Fran] I love reading sweet romantic stories with engaging plots. The characters should be strong and real. I enjoy mystery and suspense too. The old classics are favorites which I enjoy too. Is it possible to read Steinbeck, the Brontes and Austen too often? I don't think so. :-) Most of all, I read non-fiction simply because I enjoy learning new things.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Fran] Indoor plumbing, electricity and food.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Fran] If you love to write, write. If you want to be published, make it happen. Set a goal, and never give up on your efforts to achieve it.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Fran] My web page is at: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff, I'm on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/franshaff, I'm on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Fran-S..., I'm on MySpace at: www.myspace.com/franshaff and my blog is at: http://cavewriter.blogspot.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&r...
Wings ePress: http://www.wingsepress.com/Author%20P...
Barnes and Noble: http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.c...
Sony Books: http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/fra...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/sear...
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Fran] There certainly is. I'd like to thank you, Anne, for your gracious hospitality. And I'd like to thank the readers for their interest in my books. I truly appreciate the many thousands of you who have enjoyed my stories. God bless you.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Fran] I did my first creative writing in third grade. I wrote a poem purely for the pleasure of writing, not as a school assignment. The next creative writing I did on my own was a few years later. From then on my interest in writing continued to grow.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest books.
[Fran] I had two new books released in 2010 in e-formats, and I had two books previously available only in e-format become available in both e-format and paperback in 2010. "Montana Magic" (Wings ePress, March, 2010) and "Kelly and the Candidate" (Wings ePress, May, 2010) are both contemporary romances available currently in e-formats at Wings ePress ( www.wingsepress.com) and at Fictionwise and other on-line bookstores.
"Stolen Son" and "For Love of Maggie" are prize-winning contemporary romance stories originally released in e-formats by Champagne Books and Awe-Struck E-books, respectively. Recently updated and re-released in e-book formats through Smashwords and released for the first time in paperback by Create Space, these books can be purchased at many places on the Internet such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble (bn.com) Books a Million (bamm.com), Sony Bookstore, I-Books for I-Pad, etc. These books are also available at libraries and bookstores.
[Anne] What inspired these stories?
[Fran] Anne, you'd be surprised how often story ideas just pop into my head.
My first book "Montana Match" (Avalon Books, hardcover) was the result of an idea I had upon waking one morning. Hmm, I thought, what if a Chicago matchmaker traveled to Montana to work with a cowboy client and fell in love with him herself? Very amusing….
I wrote "Montana Magic" years later because I was in love with the Montana setting I'd used in "Montana Match."
"Kelly and the Candidate" was the result of another "out of the blue" idea which just popped into my head--what would happen if a hard-nosed reporter who hated politicians was stuck covering the campaign of a boring third-party candidate in a governor's race? And she fell in love with him? And then she uncovered the biggest scandal she'd ever seen, a scandal so bad reporting it would win her a major award--and destroy the politician she'd grown to love?
"Stolen Son" came to me as a "wow" kind of idea I knew I had to develop into a story--suppose a man discovered his late wife had kidnapped his five-year-old adopted son and arranged for an illegal adoption? Being a man of integrity, could he in good conscience keep his mouth shut so he could keep his son? Or would he report his discovery and return the boy to his grieving birth mother? What if he developed an idea to covertly get to know the birth mother to determine if he could trust her with his son before he revealed the truth and, while he was getting to know her, he fell in love with her?
Whoa! Could life get more complicated for this poor soul?
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Fran] How I research my books depends on the book. My "Heart Junction Series" is set in the early 20th century in northeastern South Dakota. I set the series there because I grew up in the area. Moreover, I knew people who had lived during that period of history (much older relatives). I had seen the era through the eyes of people who had lived it. That was the inspiring part of my research. Beyond the first-hand research I studied lots of books about the local history so I could make the series as authentic as possible.
Recently I appeared at the Romance Junkies blog. In doing this guest spot I wrote about writing the "Heart Junction Series." If anyone would like more information on writing "Early 20th Century Stories" I recommend they read my blog at Romance Junkies: http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/... Not only will they learn about writing for this time period, they'll get a good introduction to each of the three books in this series, "Laura's Lost Love," "Stephanie's Surprise," and "Mari's Miracle."
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Fran] Like most writers, I've always got new books brewing. :-)
"Male Fraud" is a romantic comedy about a woman who pretends to be a man in order to get a job as a trainer for a pro football team and falls in love with the coach. A wacky and very fun read.
I've also got a rather long short story, formerly in the Amazon Shorts program, awaiting re-release in an updated form titled "Married While Intoxicated." This romantic comedy is about a woman who--you guessed it--gets married while intoxicated and then must straighten out the mess she's made of her life.
A brand spanking new historical romance I'm working on is in the very early stages of development. As of today, I don't even have a title for it. All I have are a few characters and a premise.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Fran] Without a roadmap a journey would be ineffective and unclear. I always develop characters and plot before I begin to write a book. I believe this is the most efficient way to proceed with any fictional project.
[Anne] If you could be any one of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Fran] Yikes! I wish now I had a terribly wealthy character in one of my stories so I could choose to be that one. Oh, wait, Mari Mahoney of "Mari's Miracle" is rich, but she's such a little snot in the beginning of the story, I'm not sure I'd want to be her. Sorry, I don't have a good answer for you here, Anne.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Fran] Tahiti. It's getting pretty cold outside about now, and I can't think of a lovelier place to warm up. Just imagine lying on a pristine beach next to beautiful, clear blue water, soaking in delightfully warm rays of sunshine. Ahhhhhh.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Fran] Hmm. Anne, my most recent releases feature very young heroes and heroine (mostly 20s and very early 30s), and most of my favorite actors would be too old to play the characters. I guess I'd have to say I'd like to see some new young faces paired with young hearts aching to make a wonderful story into a beautiful movie.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Fran] I love reading sweet romantic stories with engaging plots. The characters should be strong and real. I enjoy mystery and suspense too. The old classics are favorites which I enjoy too. Is it possible to read Steinbeck, the Brontes and Austen too often? I don't think so. :-) Most of all, I read non-fiction simply because I enjoy learning new things.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Fran] Indoor plumbing, electricity and food.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Fran] If you love to write, write. If you want to be published, make it happen. Set a goal, and never give up on your efforts to achieve it.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Fran] My web page is at: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff, I'm on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/franshaff, I'm on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Fran-S..., I'm on MySpace at: www.myspace.com/franshaff and my blog is at: http://cavewriter.blogspot.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&r...
Wings ePress: http://www.wingsepress.com/Author%20P...
Barnes and Noble: http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.c...
Sony Books: http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/fra...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/sear...
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Fran] There certainly is. I'd like to thank you, Anne, for your gracious hospitality. And I'd like to thank the readers for their interest in my books. I truly appreciate the many thousands of you who have enjoyed my stories. God bless you.
November 21, 2010
Gail Pallotta Interview & Book Giveaway
Author Bio: After writing articles for years Gail recently published her first Christian romance, Love Turns the Tide. This fall an excerpt from that book won the internet Clash of the Titles contest. In 2004, the American Christian Writers Association named Gail a regional writer of the year. Her husband, Rick, says she's the only person he knows who can go in the grocery for a loaf of bread and come out with the cashier's life story. That's probably because she inherited her mother's love of people and enjoys talking to them. In her spare time she likes to bargain shop with her daughter. Sometimes they try on garments so wrong for them, they laugh for fifteen minutes. When they finally find a treasure, they're so pleased. Gail wants to write books of faith that show God's love. She and Rick live in Georgia.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Gail] As a youngster I made up stories. In grammar school I worked with a friend to put out a newspaper about our classmates. I recently went to a high school re-union and read articles I'd written in old copies of the newspaper there. I first seriously considered writing when I took a creative writing course in college. Even though I'd never heard of "the spin" then, when we analyzed works, I realized writing could be used for good or bad. I wanted to use it for good.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Gail] Shattered by a failed romance and challenged by a new job, feature writer Cammie O'Shea dreads meeting Bill Collins, editor of The Sun Dial, a new newspaper in Destin, Florida. Still in pain from her heartbreaking split-up, she wants no new relationships. That's why real estate developer Vic Deleona turns out to be her real source of angst. When she interviews him to help get the paper off its feet, he thwarts her efforts to complete his article, arranges extra meetings and attempts to court her. She resists his advances. But mysterious break-ins occur at Cammie and her friend's condos. When Cammie and Vic launch their own investigation into the vandalism, Cammie grows fond of him. Then, she gets an opportunity to return home to her old job. She has important decisions to make in the midst of danger.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Gail] Over the years I've talked to many women and men about dating relationships. I realize some people meet, fall in love and walk down the aisle. But others are hurt again and again before they find the right person. Cammie is one of those people, but God had a plan for her just as He does for each of us. I wanted to write a story of hope and faith that entertained the reader in a romantic place.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Gail] It's contemporary, so one might think I didn't need to do any research for it. But, I did. I've visited Destin many times, so I'm very familiar with the town. But I went through a number of magazines and brochures to learn about the history of the area and the fishing industry. The sand had fascinated me for a long time, so I dug through articles to find the origin of it. I interviewed my husband about the real estate business, because he's been in residential construction and land development. As for the crimes, I was fortunate to meet a woman undercover cop. She and I had lunch quite a few times, and she answered a lot of my questions. I also had an interview with a police detective.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Gail] Yes, I'm working on a teen novel and another Christian romance set in Destin.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Gail] I start with a plot, but as I write it changes, so I suppose that makes me both. I also do character sketches, but the characters grow as I write about them.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Gail] I'd probably ask to start in Los Angeles, where a famous actress is robbed, and follow the criminal all the way to Hawaii. Of course, I'd recover the actress's jewels and stay in Hawaii to vacation for a while.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Gail] For as long as I can remember I've loved to read. I rarely find a book I don't like. Other than the Bible, my favorite books are those with rich characters and twists and turns that draw me in. Two memorable classics are An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser and Of Human Bondage by Someset Maugham. Both writers were so good they made me see the world through the eyes of their characters. After reading the books I realized we all start at different places in life, and for some the feelings of inferiority or inadequacy that this creates causes great pain. I thought it was so sad that Philip in Of Human Bondage couldn't cling to his faith, because I knew when one believes he or she is a worthwhile person with a purpose that God is working out, it lifts up him or her. I wanted the characters in those books to find beliefs that would lead to fulfilled lives.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Gail] Spiritual nourishment, swimming and something good to eat. Since I love to eat it's difficult to narrow it down to one food, but some mainstays might be fried fish, pot roast, pecan pie and anything chocolate.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Gail] My Web site is http://www.gailpallotta.com and my blog is http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Gail] From the publisher's Web site at www.awe-struck.net. Also E-certificates with codes that download to a laptop, computer or reading device are available at Eagles' Wings in Destin, Florida, and Sweet Spirit Bookstores in East and West Cobb County in Georgia.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add? I always enjoy visiting your blog.
[Gail] Thank you so much for having me.
You're welcome, Gail. Visit anytime. Folks, Gail is giving away a free download to one lucky visitor this week so be sure to leave a comment with some contact info. Good luck!!!
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Gail] As a youngster I made up stories. In grammar school I worked with a friend to put out a newspaper about our classmates. I recently went to a high school re-union and read articles I'd written in old copies of the newspaper there. I first seriously considered writing when I took a creative writing course in college. Even though I'd never heard of "the spin" then, when we analyzed works, I realized writing could be used for good or bad. I wanted to use it for good.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Gail] Shattered by a failed romance and challenged by a new job, feature writer Cammie O'Shea dreads meeting Bill Collins, editor of The Sun Dial, a new newspaper in Destin, Florida. Still in pain from her heartbreaking split-up, she wants no new relationships. That's why real estate developer Vic Deleona turns out to be her real source of angst. When she interviews him to help get the paper off its feet, he thwarts her efforts to complete his article, arranges extra meetings and attempts to court her. She resists his advances. But mysterious break-ins occur at Cammie and her friend's condos. When Cammie and Vic launch their own investigation into the vandalism, Cammie grows fond of him. Then, she gets an opportunity to return home to her old job. She has important decisions to make in the midst of danger.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Gail] Over the years I've talked to many women and men about dating relationships. I realize some people meet, fall in love and walk down the aisle. But others are hurt again and again before they find the right person. Cammie is one of those people, but God had a plan for her just as He does for each of us. I wanted to write a story of hope and faith that entertained the reader in a romantic place.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Gail] It's contemporary, so one might think I didn't need to do any research for it. But, I did. I've visited Destin many times, so I'm very familiar with the town. But I went through a number of magazines and brochures to learn about the history of the area and the fishing industry. The sand had fascinated me for a long time, so I dug through articles to find the origin of it. I interviewed my husband about the real estate business, because he's been in residential construction and land development. As for the crimes, I was fortunate to meet a woman undercover cop. She and I had lunch quite a few times, and she answered a lot of my questions. I also had an interview with a police detective.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Gail] Yes, I'm working on a teen novel and another Christian romance set in Destin.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Gail] I start with a plot, but as I write it changes, so I suppose that makes me both. I also do character sketches, but the characters grow as I write about them.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Gail] I'd probably ask to start in Los Angeles, where a famous actress is robbed, and follow the criminal all the way to Hawaii. Of course, I'd recover the actress's jewels and stay in Hawaii to vacation for a while.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Gail] For as long as I can remember I've loved to read. I rarely find a book I don't like. Other than the Bible, my favorite books are those with rich characters and twists and turns that draw me in. Two memorable classics are An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser and Of Human Bondage by Someset Maugham. Both writers were so good they made me see the world through the eyes of their characters. After reading the books I realized we all start at different places in life, and for some the feelings of inferiority or inadequacy that this creates causes great pain. I thought it was so sad that Philip in Of Human Bondage couldn't cling to his faith, because I knew when one believes he or she is a worthwhile person with a purpose that God is working out, it lifts up him or her. I wanted the characters in those books to find beliefs that would lead to fulfilled lives.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Gail] Spiritual nourishment, swimming and something good to eat. Since I love to eat it's difficult to narrow it down to one food, but some mainstays might be fried fish, pot roast, pecan pie and anything chocolate.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Gail] My Web site is http://www.gailpallotta.com and my blog is http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Gail] From the publisher's Web site at www.awe-struck.net. Also E-certificates with codes that download to a laptop, computer or reading device are available at Eagles' Wings in Destin, Florida, and Sweet Spirit Bookstores in East and West Cobb County in Georgia.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add? I always enjoy visiting your blog.
[Gail] Thank you so much for having me.
You're welcome, Gail. Visit anytime. Folks, Gail is giving away a free download to one lucky visitor this week so be sure to leave a comment with some contact info. Good luck!!!
