Nicki Elson's Blog, page 42

First Impressions

Your gaze randomly wanders over the crowded room until he catches your eye.  You've never seen him before, but something about his look appeals to you.  Then he smiles---not at you, but the parting of his lips and the way his head tilts nevertheless incites a small smile of your own. You're intrigued.  Enough so that you wander closer, and soon the two of you are talking. You like him; he's interesting and he makes you laugh. So you decide to deliberately spend more time together...and if that goes well, you'll do it some more.

There you have my typical library/bookstore experience.  What?  No!  I'm not picking up guys!  Sheesh.  I'm talking about selecting a book. The cover is what "catches your eye," right?  And then you read the title---that's the smile.  And if it intrigues you, you "wander closer," pick it up, and read the back cover.  If it's "interesting," maybe "makes you laugh," then perhaps you "decide to deliberately spend more time together," i.e. read the first chapter.  "And if that goes well"...you've found your next read.
 
The purpose behind my little analogy here is that I achieved my Writing Resolution 2011, which was to complete the first draft of my untitled manuscript (yay!) and the carrot I dangled was that upon finishing draft #1, I could begin to think about the title, a/k/a the smile.  With Three Daves, the title was always just kind of there, so I never had to give it much thought, but this time...well, it's not so clear. So I'd love to get your input.

Without knowing anything else about the story, which of these three titles has the most potential to get you to "wander closer" and check out the back cover summary?

There's Something Wrong in Prairie Oaks
The Angel's Sin
Extraordinary Interventions
Any commentary you'd like to give regarding any expectations the title conjures would also be much appreciated.  Thanks!

 Join or follow along on the Bounce! [image error]

Insecure Writer's Group

A couple insecurities ago, group therapy at my place focused on finding time for writing.  We all seemed to  agree that you just gotta do it.  Which is awesome, but once you give yourself over to writing the problem becomes...how do you find the time to do everything else?  Fret not, my darling blog friends, for I have the answer:

You don't.  
There's no way you can do everything your heart desires and your life demands, so set your priorities, ax what needs to go and be okay with that.  For example, last night I realized I had an IWSG post this morning, but I just didn't have time to write something brilliant and insightful.  So what did I do?

I didn't.

(But thanks for stopping by anyway. ;)  And thanks for hosting, Alex)

80s Sighting: The Muppet Movie

Happy New Year!  I'm starting right off w/ one of my resolutions---and that's to live up to the 80s portion of my Blogger byline.   All last year I noted 80s references popping up everywhere, and this year, whenever I find one of note, I'm gonna tell you about it.  Lucky you, eh?
Last week I went to see The Muppets---which was so awesome. If you were ever a Muppets fan you must see it---and I was tickled to see brand new character, 80s Robot.  I was even more happy to find this short clip of the "modem" scene to share with you (note the Top 40 song from 1980 playing in the background---can you name the song & artist?):

Bring on the Romance!

Today is the launch of Cheri Colyer's debut Young Adult Paranormal Romance, Embrace. To celebrate, she's throwing and Embracing Change launch party and has written a fabulous guest post for my place.  Take it away, Cherie...

Bring on the Romanceby Cheri Colyer
I love falling in love. That weak in the knees feeling you get when you meet that special someone. The wondering if he likes you too. Discovering everything there is to know about each other.  Romance novels let us do this over and over again.
I'm not a big believer in love at first site. I think it's more accurate to say that two people were instantly attracted to each other. It might be the way his lips tugged upward into a half smile when he was trying not to laugh or the hint of something untold when he glanced your way. Maybe it's the way he is with other people or simply his Irish accent. Sometimes you aren't even sure why you're drawn to this person.
In Embrace, Madison Riley feels a strong pull toward the new guy, but if this pull is good or bad is yet to be discovered. Being able to learn just what it is that attracts two people is part of what makes a good romance novel hard to put down. Not knowing if this attraction is a good thing or a bad thing is part of what keeps me glued to the pages.
Another part of great romance (in books and in life) is the kiss. There's the kiss that builds slowly: his lips brush yours softly – a taste – your breath catches, but before you can tell yourself to breathe his mouth covers yours and you're lost in the moment. And the passionate kiss, the one neither party can wait for. Desire takes over and you just can't get close enough. Sometimes the anticipation of a kiss is all it takes to get your heart fluttering and your mind whirling. And then there's the kiss that ends too quickly, but gives you just enough to know you want to stick around and find out what that long passionate kiss will be like. Madison knows this feeling all too well...
He leaned in closer to me. His eyes were a shimmering, deep brown, but there was a speck of ocean blue at the edge of his right iris. I couldn't remember what I was about to say. My heart did a pirouette in my chest, and my breath caught in my throat. I closed the distance between us. His lips were firm and warm, and I wanted to kiss him forever. Until my stomach interrupted with a loud rumble, protesting that I hadn't fed it anything that day. I cursed its timing.
Only time will tell if his kisses are worth the wait.
So, I'm dying to know what gets your heart pumping?
************************** Embrace  Launch Party Guest Posts!Jennifer DeLucy Blog: Writing Embrace - From Idea to ReleaseKym's Quips: The Research Behind to Story  Once Upon A *Spark*: Mythology Behind Madison's WorldNicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts: Bring on the Romance Jennifer Lane Books Blog: Facing Change     
Embrace  Launch Party Posts!Susan Kaye Quinn, Conjuring Tales for Young Minds           Kim Winters, Kat's Eye Journal          Carole, the life of fiction Mina Burrows, books for paranormal & mystic mindsJoseph Rinaldo, Read RinaldoAngela Brown, in a Pursuit of PublishnessDebra Anastasia, Tell me a StoryColleen Wagner, London Relocation               ************************** Embracea novel by Cherie Colyer
Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It's responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. 
Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he's a guy harboring a secret, but she's willing to risk the unknown to be with him. 
Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren't there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can't find the answers, Madison seeks her own. 
Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover. 
AUTHOR INFOWebsite | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
**************************Prizes: To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Cherie is giving away an eCopy of EMBRACE and 5-Embrace Hemp Bracelets today. There are three ways to win:
1) Leave a comment here or at any of the Party Posts.2) Tweet about the Virtual Party or any of the Party Posts with tag #EMBRACEnovelsExample: Nothing could have prepared her for what she's about to discover. #EMBRACEnovels @CherieColyer #YA avail NOW www.cheriecolyer.blogspot.comExample: Celebrate the launch of EMBRACE by @CherieColyer #EMBRACEnovels #paranormal #YA avail NOW www.cheriecolyer.blogspot.com3) Facebook (tag Cherie Colyer, author) about the Virtual Party.Example: Celebrate the launch of teen paranormal thriller/romance novel EMBRACE by Cherie Colyer, author and enter for a chance to win Embrace prizes! http://www.cheriecolyer.blogspot.com
Do all three and you will have three times the chances to win! Leave a comment at each stop of the tour for a chance to win the Grand Prize.
If you haven't already, remember to stop back by Cherie's blog or click here to fill out the form to ensure your entry is counted.

DeJa Vu: Should I Have Faded to Black?

Yahoo, it's time for the much anticipated DeJa Vu blogfest!  Hosted by D.L. Hammons, Katie Mills, Lydia Kang, and Nicole Ducleroir.  I look forward to reading lots of great posts today. :)
For the fest, I decided to dust off the very first blog post I ever wrote.  I still stand by everything I said in it, and I've noticed that the topic of sex in writing comes up a lot in the blogosphere---particularly during Insecure Writer's Group.

So here you have my musings on the matter:

 Should I Have Faded to Black?Originally posted March 6, 2010

My mother read the sexy chapters in my book.  She is less than happy.

I s'pose I could end this particular blog right there; I mean, it's no big shock that a mother would have trouble with her daughter writing such a thing, right?  But what really bothers me about it is that those few chapters seem to have skewed her overall view of the story.  The message that I hoped to convey has been lost amidst her shock and horror at the admittedly graphic depictions.

But it isn't only my mother's reactions that have me bothered. Most readers don't seem to mind those particular chapters one little bit, far from it, and yet I've become concerned that what they'll remember most when it's all said and done is the sex rather than the themes from the book that were my driving force to write it in the first place.

And so I have to ask: was I wrong to include such descriptive scenes?  Should I have faded to black?  Did I sabotage my own message by distracting readers with sex?

To be fair, the overriding theme of  "Three Daves" is sex.  But not necessarily the carnal act of it, more like when to have it, when not to have it, who to have it with, who not to have it with, and what are the emotional repercussion of having it?  Those are the kinds of things I hope readers will think about.  But I guess if I'm being honest with myself, I didn't need to inform the readers of whether or not Jen swallowed to tell those parts of the story. So why did I do it? 

Because another goal of mine was to keep "Three Daves" feeling real.  And in reality, sexual intimacy doesn't fade to black.  Neither does eating a meal, you may argue, nor attending an economics class, and I certainly didn't bore my readers with those details. But the story isn't about fine cuisine or university studies.  It's about sex, and so I need the reader to feel it, to understand the emotions and thoughts that pass through the characters when they are having it.  I need them to see it as more than just a kiss or a caress.  I want the experience engraved on their consciousness so they realize that it isn't something easily forgotten when the lights flick back on.  It's real.

This story is also about relationships.  And sexual intimacy leaves marks on a relationship, sometimes good, sometimes bad.  I want readers to know what the characters said to each other just before, during, and right after. I want them to see which guy kisses her forehead and which one pulls on his boxers and promptly falls asleep.  I couldn't depict the whole relationships without depicting those intimate moments that show the very different dynamic between Jen and each of the three Daves.     
 
So that's why I did it, and now you can feel good about yourselves for enjoying those particular scenes so much. ;) 

Christmas Cards

I've got the stack o' pain-in-the-arse Christmas cards (almost) ready to go, so I'm rewarding myself and sharing with you a Christmas card of sorts that I actually enjoyed putting together. My college roomie recorded this song in the 80s and it's still the one I most look forward to hearing again when the season rolls around.


As of post time either stupid Blogger or stupid You Tube isn't working (I blame Blogger) so if you want to hear the song but it doesn't play above, here's the link:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
So tell me the truth---what's your position on Christmas cards? If you send them, do you do it because you want to or because you feel like you have to? And if you don't---rock on, and for how many years have you been card-free?

Please Fill in My Blanks

I'm just going to be up front:  I want to take advantage of you.

Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Group brings so many talented writers to my place, and since the purpose of the group is to help each other out, I'm asking you to give it to me.  Help, that is. 

I'm writing a short story for a friend, and I'm stuck on a line---that's where you come in.  Please read and consider the following and let me know in the comments how you'd fill in these blanks:

"For the last ever-since-I've-been-here years, the holiday parties have sucked harder than (a) __________ on a teet full of __________."

The more innocent and less political the connotation, the funnier I'll find it.  Also, I want it to be fabulous.  No pressure... 

Thank you for your participation. :)

Talking to Tara Tyler

Hey, grab a mug o' whatever and please join me at Tara Tyler Talks where I fess up to which parts of Three Daves are based on my reality.  I'm dieing to see what you think of my alternate title. ;)

Sex and Psalms...Pseriously?

Hey, I'm over at Fabulosity Reads today 'splaining myself and my unexpected use of scripture in my Chick Lit/Romance novel Three Daves.  Wendy posted her review on Monday. :)

Congratulations to Wendy on opening the brand new on-line bookstore, Fabulosity Galore!  Lots of great books and honest, insightful reviews.
  

Thanks

I'm about to dive into preparing my meager contributions to tomorrow's Thanksgiving feast (cranberry jello and artichoke dip) but before I do, I'd like to say Thank You to all of you for making this year of blogging a pleasurable endeavor. :)

I imagine most of us will be slowing down in Blogville between now and the new year, but if you're looking for a couple of fun and easy prompts for December, allow me to suggest these two supercool blog parties:


December 16
Deja Vu Blogfest

Resurrect an old post that either didn't get the attention it deserved or simply bears repeating.  


  December 20
Embrace Change Launch Party  

Tell your tale of embracing change and why you're glad you did.   



Next week I'm excited to answer the two most frequently asked questions about Three Daves:
What up with the Bible verses? (November 30 at Fabulosity Reads)Which parts of this story are true? (December 2 at Tara Tyler Talks)