Gabi Stevens's Blog, page 25

Twenty Days

Time slips by when you're not paying attention. I've been getting so much ready for the release of THE WISH LIST, that I haven't posted anything here in weeks. Sorry about that.
So today's blog is about what I've been up to to prepare for THE WISH LIST's release.

Actually the process started several months back. As soon as I received the cover (It was November), I posted it on my blog and web site. In December I placed my first ad (in Romance Sells). In January, I started lining up guest blogs ...

Blog Award

I was awarded this blog award much too long ago (Feb 28) and I've finally had the chance to pass it forward. First thank you to Jessica Rabbit for giving me the award in the first place. She has been so much fun to talk with.

Now here are the people I'm sending you to:

Lydia Parks

Molly Evans

Belle Sloan

Darynda Jones

Cat Lovington

These ladies have offered me friendship and support whenever I've needed it. THey make writing less lonely and are wise women.

Here are the rules in accepting this blog aw...

Readers at Home online Conference

Courtesy of Lucy Monroe, a bunch of authors have gotten together to provide a an online conference for those readers who can't make it to the RT confernce in Ohio. So without further ado, here's Lucy:

Okay, so you all know I'm going to RT, but *I* know a bunch of you
aren't and I got to thinking what I could do to make the week of RT
fun for you all and any other readers who might be feeling a little
left out. Then I hit on it - I would host a Readers at
Home Conference here on my blog. We'd have...

The Golden Heart is stupid...

My dear friend Sheley Wimmer, wrote a brilliant reaction to next week's announcement of the RITA and Golden Heart finalists. In it she expresses the ridiculous, angry, hopeful, illogical, and plaintive emotions many of us feel as writers. We want validation. Publication does that, but the euphoria doesn't last. We want to know that we are loved, that we are good, that we have mattered. So, in her words, here is Sheley Wimmer:

The Golden Heart is stupid…
So says someone who was once addicted to ...

How to Write a Romance Novel--Dialog

Dialog is a crucial element in romance novels. At least I think it is. I love writing and reading dialog. It moves the story forward (plot), lets us get to know the characters without telling (characterization), tells us what's important (theme), defines the mood and tone (setting), gives us insight to the author (voice), gets us into the characters' heads (POV), and exposes problems (conflict). Great dialog can lift a book to another level of enjoyment.

Personally I'm a dialog slut. I write b...

True Confessions

I have reached that age when I'm supposed to be dignified and refined. Yeah, that's not going to work for me. This is my true confessions blog. I'm going to confess and admit in public some embarrassing facts. Actually I'm not embarrassed; in fact I'd like to meet the people who think I should be embarrassed by my tastes.

I'm going to start with candy. You heard me. Candy. I don't like dark chocolate. I don't care if it has antioxidants, I don't like it. I like milk chocolate, and it had bette...

Valentine's Day

I don't do Valentine's Day.

I know, I know. I'm a romance writer, but I still don't do Valentine's Day. I have nothing against it. Go out and celebrate. Get candy, cards, gifts, etc. Enjoy it. Think warm thoughts about your lover, husband, significant other. That's all good. But I don't do Valentine's Day.

My husband and I are both too contrary. I admit it. It is a major character flaw. If someone (whoever may hold that power) tells us we must celebrate or do something, we don't. (OK, I'm not ...

Inspiration

I've been waiting for inspiration to strike me for my next blog.

OK, let me say that's a major error on my part. Inspiration doesn't need to strike a writer. A writer has to write anyway. It doesn't matter if you don't feel like it, you have to do it. If you are a writer. If you are a dabbler, then by all means write when the mood or muse hits you. But if you are a writer, then write. No excuses.

If you want to pursue this as a career, if you want to be a professional, you sit your butt in the ...

How to Write a Romance--Research

So, research. The word alone makes lesser mortals tremble. I'm kidding. Research is the stuff you do that isn't actual writing but you need to make your writing better. Besides, you shouldn't be afraid to learn new things or learn things more in depth.
I can't think of a writing project I have undertaken that didn't require research.

For THE WISH LIST, I didn't have much research to do. It was my world, my rules. But…the story is set in San Diego. I went to college in San Diego. My husband grew...

Rebuilding

I know I said I would write about research this time, but sometimes life has other plans for us.

I just built a new web site. Building something new is an interesting idea right now. Two night ago, my mother's condo was destroyed in a fire (read: she left the building with nothing but what she was wearing. No shoes). Don't worry; she has insurance, and everything will be replaced. My mother doesn't care a lot about "stuff".This is the third time in her life my mother has lost everything: first...