Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 78

Excerpt Monday - From Victorian Scoundrel

The Set up: Alice & Grayson kiss!
*********


Grayson escorted her to a door on the right, threw it open, and put his hand on her waist, guiding her inside. A gas lamp burned on a nearby table, throwing stark, deep shadows into the room.

Her determined man shut the door and pinned her against it. He plucked her glasses from her face and threw them onto the table with the gas lamp. Then he pinned her against the door, placing his hands on the door next to her arms. His breathing was erratic. The light from the lamp cast dark shadows over his chiseled features.

"Gray--"

He stepped closer and lowered his hands, placing one on her waist. Heat spiked within her and settled low in her abdomen. His hazel eyes burned with desire. He drew in a deep breath and raised his forefinger, tracing her lips. Alice closed her eyes, but only briefly, savoring the gentle touch of his finger.

"You do wild things to my heart, sweet Alice," he finally whispered. His finger traced her cheeks, then her jaw.

She grew hot, yearning for more. Her senses spun from his sensual touch. She could hardly breathe. "Me?"

"Yes, you."
"What do I do to your heart?"

"You make it beat hard -- fast." He ran his finger down the side of her neck and traced the 'v' in her throat.

Alice met the raging inferno in his eyes and nipped at her lower lip with her teeth. "Is that all I do?"

He issued a low, deep groan from his throat and leaned forward. Their lips searched for each other, teasing, until finally they meshed into a heat-searing kiss.

Alice completely lost her head. His lips were hard, firm, staking his claim. His hands went to her waist as his long, lean body pressed against her. She placed her hands on his shoulders and glided her fingertips around the nape of his neck. She wanted this man. Etiquette and propriety be damned. Victorian values wafted to the floor. She wanted to feel every inch of him that she could. His lips trailed over her jaw, kissing the side of her neck.

"Oh, Gray..." she moaned, her flesh now highly sensitized to his touch.

She had never been kissed like this.

He lifted his head; his mouth overtook hers once again. Her stomach fluttered. If it wasn't for him leaning into her, giving her support, her knees would have buckled. Need. Want. Desire. They pulsed through her.

His tongue teased her lips, coaxing her to receive him. She gave in.

Their tongues mingled, exploring, tempting, teasing. Raging flames consumed her body. There was only Grayson and her. Here. Now.

Grayson broke free, gasping for breath, as did Alice. His hands cupped her face. "I have to stop."

"All... all right."

His thumbs stroked her jaw. "You fascinate me, Alice."

A deep smile graced her lips. "Completely?"

"Totally."

"You kiss like a demon possessed, Grayson."

***********

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2...

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries...

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-w...

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

Book Review Friday - Blitz by Sue Perkins

Book Review for: "Blitz"
Written by: Sue Perkins
Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61252-034-6
Avail as ebook only
4.5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

Perkins pens a suspenseful love story set against the backdrop of World War II with "Blitz." Velma Field comes of age just before the dawn of World War II. When she meets Jack Stanley, her courage and resolve is tested like never before.

The novel starts in 1938. The Fields live in Plymouth, England a town on the coast. Velma goes to visit her sister, Florence, and discovers Jack, Florence's brother-in-law in the kitchen. For Velma, the attraction to Jack is heartfelt and immediate. Jack also finds himself attracted to Velma. After a whirlwind courtship, the couple declare their love and plan their wedding for September, 1939.

Fate, however, has other plans. World War II erupts. Jack and Velma have a registry marriage before he is shipped out. Velma tries to maintain her inner strength and moves in with Florence, whose husband also goes off to war. Florence and Velma strengthen their sisterly bond. Florence takes a job working at the post office and Velma joins the Wrens – the Navy's women corps. The war tests everyone's courage, hope, stamina, and endurance. The Germans bomb England continually, blitzing Plymouth. Will Velma's resolve break before she sees Jack again? Will Jack overcome a severe case of Malaria? Can Velma and Jack look the adversities of war in the face to find happiness after it ends? Only time will tell.

Perkins' writing is sharp, engaging the reader right away with Velma and Jack's first meeting. The writing style is easy to read. The story has a nice flow to it. The descriptions are rich and vivid, allowing the reader to picture the setting in their mind as they read. The dialogue captures a rich authenticity of the times.

The characterization is wonderful. Jack and Velma will tug on your heartstrings as the strong supporting cast. Florence's fate had me choking up and I realized then just how subtly, yet deeply, Perkins' story had touched me.

Jack is a noble guy and takes his commitment to the Army seriously. Still, when the Army separates him from Velma, his resolve is tested in way he didn't expect.

Velma wants to prove she's a strong, capable young woman, not just to her family, but to herself. Her worries are something many can identify with today.

The story is sensual for romance readers with tender kisses and sizzling caresses. From page one, Blitz will leave the reader wondering if Jack and Velma will find happy ever after. Blitz will put you in the thick of World War II and leave you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

CA Lighthouse Series - Alcatraz Island Lighthouse, San Francisco

Alcatraz Island sits in the heart of San Francisco Bay. When the Gold Rush brought an influx of people and miners to California, the US Congress in 1850 authorized 9 lighthouses to be built on the West Coast. The Alcatraz light was one of them.

The lighthouse's name is derived from the Spanish word, "alcatraces" which, in my understanding, means pelican. The building was finished in 1853 and lit in 1854 using a 3rd order Fresnel lens. (A Fresnel lens is much thinner, larger, and flatter, and captures more oblique light from a light source, thus allowing lighthouses to be visible over much greater distances.)

The Alcatraz light has the distinction of being the first one in operation on the Pacific Coast. The facility included a cottage for the keeper, a 2-story building, and the tower which was in the middle. The original tower was 50 feet. San Francisco Bay, however, had dense fog and a fog bell was added in 1856. Initially, a person attended to the fog bell. Eventually, it became automated, but I couldn't identify when.


When the lighthouse was constructed it ran on oil, then kerosene, and in 1909 it was converted to electricity. In 1902, the 3rd order Fresnel lens was replaced with a 4th order lens. In 1906, the great Earthquake of San Francisco damaged the original lighthouse. In 1909, the present day lighthouse was constructed (hence the electricity.) The new tower was now 84 feet tall and made of concrete. The lighthouse keepers continued to live in a cottage at the base.

Prior to 1934, Alcatraz was the home of a military prison. That year, it was upgraded to a maximum security federal prison. The lighthouse was outside the prison grounds. In 1963, the lighthouse became automated and the prison was closed. The 4th order Fresnel lens was replaced with a reflecting light.

Today, you can find the 4th order Fresnel lens on display at the Alcatraz museum. The tower is all that remains of the lighthouse. The cottage was destroyed in a fire in 1970. The light continues to work and is monitored by the US Coast Guard.

The island is now open to tourists.

A Game of Thrones, Part 1 in a series

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark


Thoughts and reflections on George R.R. Martin's novel and the HBO series.

My husband and I are two very different book readers. He prefers high fantasy and science fiction, I'm a romance, history, and biography nut. And I'm not adverse to high fantasy or science fiction, but it's got to be something special to catch my attention.

About two years ago my husband listened to "A Game of Thrones" on Audible and said I would like it. I grunted. Then he said HBO was making a series out of it and Sean Bean was cast in the leading role. That caught my attention.

I loved HBO's "Sopranos" and "Rome." Both series had a high production quality, great characters, and pitch perfect storytelling. I knew Game of Thrones would be no different so I looked forward to watching the series.

I was not disappointed.

The production quality is fantastic. Game of Thrones is a high fantasy story set in another world, and as the series opening credits unfold, the "casual" viewer sees a map of the world to help them understand the lay of the land.

HOW TO DO FANTASY RIGHT

Several aspects of the series pulled me in immediately. To the north is The White Wall covered in ice and snow. "The Others" are past the wall and have recently been awakened. The Night's Watch, the guardians of the snow and ice infested land know something threatens them – but what? They have to figure it out. Theirs is not an easy job. It's a hard life and a man must not have a wife or start a family.

Jon Snow, Eddard's bastard



The Stark family of Winterfell is south of the wall. Eddard Stark is a good, honest, and noble man – a true hero who embodies courage and nobility naturally. His family is interesting as well. My favorites: Jon Snow and Arya. Why? Because these are characters struggling to fit into their world.

Another character that just captured my attention was Daenerys Targaryen. She is the daughter of the mad king, Aerys Targargen, who was overthrown by Robert Baratheon. Daenerys goes to live with the Dothraki and marries Khal Drago, their ruler. As Daenerys' story unfolds, I witnessed a naïve young girl gain courage, inner strength and find love. For me, her story was the most compelling because it's such a strong character-driven plot. And the dragon lore was cool, too.


Emilia Clarke as Daenerys




Side Note: George RR Martin won the 1997 Hugo Award for best novella for "Blood of the Dragon" which consisted of chapters only from Daenerys POV taken from the original book, Game of Thrones.

The casting is excellent. Peter Dinklage as "Tyrion Lannister" is dynamic as the clever, rude, and infuriating dwarf. Emilia Clarke portrays Daenerys with a subtle yet commanding performance that will have you cheering for every episode.

The series is deliciously close to the novel which I was inspired to read after watching the series. I'm only 150 pages into the novel and have only gleaned two tidbits of info from it that I didn't get from the series – one having to do with dragons and Tyrion and the other having to do with Jon Snow's mother.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister


The writing is top notch – engaging the readers with a great blend of dialogue and narration. It's easy to see how Martin was nominated for and won several of fantasy's top awards.

Did you know? David J. Peterson from the Language Creation Society was hired to develop the Dothraki language.

What makes Games of Thrones compelling for me are the characters. Even the heroes have flaws and the villains are capable of compassion, evoking sympathy for them.

Next Week:
My top 3 favorite characters:
Daenerys Targeryen
Tyrion Lannister
Jon Snow

A look at Romance through the years

If you look to the oral tradition about the power of love and it's ability to conquer all, then romance has been around for a long time.

What do classic fairytales like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs have in common? HEA. Happily Ever After – a must in any romance novel.

The romance novel, as we know it, however, didn't appear until the 19th century. Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters wrote a class of novels known as "domestic fiction," which typically featured an impoverished, yet gutsy heroine. On the gothic side of the house, Ann Radcliffe was writing romance with castles, mad relatives locked in the attic, and ghosts. This came to be known as "gothic romance."

Jane Austen's novel, "Pride and Prejudice" has had several adaptations created for the movie and the TV screen, which speaks to her ability to create compelling romantic characters that have resonated throughout time.

In the 1950's, Mary Bonnycastle and her husband, Richard, started a fledging publishing company – Harlequin. What made Harlequin a ground breaker in romantic fiction was their distribution. They made their books available where women shopped – including supermarkets and the drug store.

However, romance wouldn't be where it is without Barbara Cartland. She had a larger than life personality with her pink clothes, large hats, and her treasured Pekingese. Her stories tended to be short and also non-sexually explicit. A titled nobleman meets a young, inexperienced woman and they fall in love surrounded by historical intrigue. In 1991, she was named a Dame of the British Empire for her body of work. She died in 2000 at the age of 98.

In the late 1970's romance up'd it a notch with more sexually explicit scenes. Many writers soon discovered "sex sells." Kathleen Woodiwiss' "The Flame and The Flower" comes to mind.

Covers evolved, too. Handsome men and beautiful ladies found themselves replaced by Fabio in the mid-80's. Currently, the pendulum has swung back in favor of covers that are now focused on the story inside.

Today's romances cover a variety of topics speaking to the sophistication that modern readers now possess. Today you have "beta" males and "alpha" females tackling modern problems, yet the emotions are the same now as they were in Jane Austen's time. You can still find greed, betrayal, happiness love, and loss – just in a different setting which is reflective of the time period and values the romance was written in.

So fess up – who is your favorite romance writer and why?

Excerpt Monday - From Victorian Scoundrel

Mena Suvari, inspiration for Alice Windsor



"Victorian Scoundrel" is a steampunk romance. Set in London, 1851, Alice "cons" Grayson out of his scent. *wink*
Enjoy!
Steph



He leaned forward. "I would like to see you again, Miss Windsor."

Alice nipped at her lower lip. He smelled of soap with a hint of spice. She wanted to see him again as well, especially since she would need his help getting her necklace back, but what was she going to tell him? That she was a royal from the future and she really didn't have a place to stay right now? That was too unbelievable. Besides, she shouldn't be leaving her fingerprints, either. "Ah, I'm uncertain what my cousin has planned for us."

"Let me remind you that you need your necklace back."

"Indeed I do. Perhaps you can give me your scent, and I'll contact you tomorrow with a whuzzie."

A whuzzie was a small mechanical ball with wings like a bird. It had a small opening on the top to hold handwritten correspondence. On the bottom was a voice recorder and space for the scent of the person you wanted to send the whuzzie to. The whuzzie matched the scent to the person's name and each scent was unique. An ounce of coal powered the whuzzie, which was good for a trip and a return trip. It was the acceptable way to deliver messages in this time period.

He furrowed his brow. "You are an odd one, aren't you?"

"Me? Why do you say that?"


"A gentleman is supposed to be the one to make arrangements to see a lady."

Alice wrinkled her nose, felt her glasses slide down the bridge of her nose, and pushed them back into place. What could she tell him? Oh, in my time it's no big deal for a guy to give a girl his scent?

Grayson cocked his head. Uncertainty pooled in those expressive hazel eyes of his. Alice decided the best approach should be sincerity.

"My Lord--"

"Grayson, please."

"I do know how to properly address you."

"I didn't doubt it for a minute, I would prefer you call me Grayson."

A warm gentle wave washed over Alice. Why did the man have to be so charming? And why did that dimple in his right cheek pop out when his smile was especially deep and wide, confounding her pulse even more? She returned his smile despite her better judgment. "Grayson, quite honestly, this day has been one surprise after another for me. When I woke up, I had no idea I'd be visiting Buckingham Palace."

"I believe you."

"So believe me when I say I have no idea how this day is going to end. I'll know more when I meet with my cousin, Edmund."
He slowly nodded his head, giving his reluctant acquiescence.

"Grayson, I promise if you give me your scent, I'll be in touch with you tomorrow."

He reached into his frock jacket, pulled out a small vial and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome."


BUY LINK PAGE:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....

The Bionic Woman

Lindsay Wagner as "The Bionic Woman," 1976



The first in a series of shows from the 70's, 80's, & 90's Retro Series.

The other day while I was at the gym on the treadmill, I had a chance to watch the pilot episode of the 2007 launch of the Bionic Woman. I wanted to see it for a while because I remember watching the original as a little girl and loving it. I have to admit, I liked the 2007 episode. I downloaded an episode of the original Bionic Woman with Lindsay Wagner, "Welcome Home, Lindsay, part one," to refresh my memory and several things struck me, so much so, I was inspired to write down some of my thoughts after doing a little bit of research about the series.

When I was a girl in the 1970's growing up, I remembered that I loved the show because I loved the science of the bionics and I thought Jaime Sommers was really cool. Now, 35 years later, I know why she was really cool. Lindsay Wagner's "Bionic Woman," was a totally character-driven series. The 2007 series with Michelle Ryan in the title role was a plot-driven series.

The original Bionic Woman ran from 1976-78, spending the first 2 years on ABC and then the last year on NBC. In fact, Lindsay Wagner won an Emmy for the role. Aside from capturing the look and feel of the 1970's, the show was very character-driven. "Welcome Home, Jamie, Part one," reflected a lot Jaime's feelings and was centered around her establishing a new life for herself. We see her getting a job, cleaning house, and searching for memories. Quite honestly, it's got the making of good storytelling by weaving in action naturally, not gratuitously.

I got a kick out of where Jaime decided to live – Ojai, CA. It's right in my backyard, down CA route 126. It's still a very rural area. It's also in Hollywood's backyard.

The 2007 series was produced by David Eick, who, at the time, was doing the remake to Battlestar Galactica, which I enjoyed a lot. Now, 30 years later, the Galactica series had a whole new look and feel to it, as did the new Bionic Woman.

I found Michelle Ryan to be "likeable" enough as Jaime Sommers and I liked the more modern up to date plot as well as the feel of the show, and I'm a sucker for good science fiction. I thought the bionics had caught up to the times, however the 2007 show was definitely plot driven and not character driven. Jaime did little reflection on her feelings and was constantly in motion. If anything, that's where the show failed.

Michelle Ryan as "The Bionic Woman" 2007



After 7 episodes, the writer's strike hit and the show fell victim to that. It was not produced after that, but those 7 episodes were plot driven. If you can't hook your audience on the characters, all the action in the world won't save it.

A plot driven story moves at a faster pace and the action is more gratuitous and in your face, but if all you have to care about is the plot, and not the characters, then you aren't going to make much of an impression.

A character driven story moves at a slower pace and the action develops naturally. The audience gets a sense of character – how good (or bad) they are. They see layers – what makes them tick. The highlight of the story is to place the character in a situation outside of their comfort zone to see how they react.

In today's instant gratification world, plot driven series rule, but it's character driven stories that resonates. It's why Lindsay Wagner will always be the only Bionic Woman in the hearts of many.

Welcome Guest Author - AR Norris

I'd like to welcome fellow DB author, AR Norris to the blog. Her latest release, Duty & Devotion, is a sci-fi/futuristic romance and I'm a sucker for a good sci-fi. And now, here's Amber to talk about love at first sight. Enjoy!
Smiles
Steph

*****

I swear to this day that my husband and I were love at first sight. Of course...that's not really true. It was passion at first sight, which bloomed into love. But man! At the time I swore it was true love, immediately. Knocked me straight off my feet!

I think a lot about love. It's hard not to when the idea of true love is everywhere you turn. Books, TV, magazines, movies...the stories really know how to pump up the fantasy. They mix up intense moments and immediate attraction with love. They take opposites and smash them together. (And I'm not talking about individual characteristics...I'm talking compatibility points.)

What they don't show is the reality. The moments after "THE END".

There are a few things I have figured out with me and my husband's relationship.

1. You have to be able to be friends or you're never gonna make it. (We're talking decades together, people. You have to be able to laugh, cry, get angry, and reconnect with each other again.)
2. There has to be foundational morals and values that synch up.
3. The hardest for many, you have to learn to compromise. (Hello, there are two separate lives merging into one. It takes merger skills of gargantuan ability.)

It is easy to fall into the mystery and allure of passion and attraction. I mean, come on, who doesn't want to be wooed? But, I think one of the most empowering things is to realize when a relationship is not love and step away and have the strength to move on. It defines you and opens you to real love.

Poor older sister Nettie in Duty and Devotion has to try and try again, searching for love. And in a time of war no less. Of course, she didn't make it easy on herself. She went for the guy that was socially acceptable to her position and then to the man that intrigued her passion. Below is an excerpt when Nettie realized her first relationship wasn't right, and she walked away.


EXCERPT
Nettie closed down her console. "It was nice returning to engineering. I'm going to miss it." She looked up when he didn't say anything. He stood, staring at her with those deep grey eyes through the floating image. "Sir?"

"Is that the only thing you'll miss?" His voice was low, barely audible.

Without responding, she stood and gathered her training materials. He cursed and walked around the table to her.

"Damn it, Matterville. You know what's happening. I've tried to hide it, but it's pretty obvious."

She refused to meet his gaze. "What does it matter? There is nothing we can do about it."

He grabbed her by the shoulders. In shock, she looked up and he kissed her. It wasn't soft and seemed more from frustration than anything else, but the heat behind it ignited her. She leaned into him and let herself fall. Her abdomen knotted and her head spun. She slid her hands up to his shoulders and grasped his face.

She caressed his neck, ran a hand over his cropped hair, tickling her fingers. One of his big, rough hands slid down her lower back, braced her against him, and propped her against the table. Her head fell back. He nibbled her exposed neck. She started to say his name... no, she started to call out Captain.

A nagging doubt wheedled passed her passion. This isn't right. She tried to ignore it, but the feeling grew. Nettie managed to pull away.

"No." It was a simple statement, though breathless. She wasn't sure what regret there
would be, but she knew with that answer there wouldn't be guilt. "No." She stated again for good measure.

She nudged him away, moved away herself, and put some distance between them. "We're attracted to the idea of each other. You'd be the safe choice for me and that's not fair to you or to me. I have to focus on survival and being a soldier."

Conflict sparkled in his eyes, the muscles in his face and neck so tense they could snap. "Matterville, you aren't meant for war. You're not soldier material. I can help you with a safe position after training."

It was a blow to her ego and she felt it physically as the breath left her. Shaken, she fought off the urge to tremble. "With all due respect, Captain. I think I am good enough... No, I know I'm good enough."

She picked up her course material and lifted her chin. "If we are finished here, I would like to be excused, sir."

"I apologize, Nettie. That was... inexcusable."

She struggled to find her equilibrium. "It's Officer Matterville, Captain Branz. And no harm done. If anything, you've given me a reminder I sorely needed. Have a good day, sir."

Nettie walked out without looking back. She'd closed the door to her old world and focused on the one she was heading to.

*****

If you want to learn more about me, stop by my blog: Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer

Duty and Devotion is available at Desert Breeze, All Romance Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, and the Apple iBookstore

California Thursday -The Lighthouse at Long Beach

Long Beach Skeleton Tower

First off, forgive my hiatus during the month of May. I was a busy little bee promoting my latest release, "The Wolf's Torment," and writing furiously to meet my deadline for "Danube In Candlelight." I've got a busy summer planned – more writing, and a vacation that's not really a vacation with the boys, but my lighthouse series is back. It's going to be a fun and busy summer!

I thought I'd take a peek at a lighthouse a little closer to my house – The Long Beach Lighthouse. Heck, I thought since the boat to Catalina Island leaves out of this harbor, I pass the lighthouse all the time. Shame on me! When I started doing my research and saw a picture of the actual lighthouse, my mouth dropped to the floor. That ugly thing was the lighthouse?




Indeed, the Long Beach lighthouse has the distinction of being the ugliest lighthouse in California.

Previous to 1949, there was a skeleton tower. In 1949, a 3 story, monolithic structure was made out of concrete and sits on 6 columns. Practically, it was built to withstand tidal waves and earthquakes, but it's not very pretty.




The lighthouse is known as a "robot light" because it's completely automated and remotely controlled. It's cool, modern, but aesthetically not "hip."

The good news – there are two fake, yet attractive lighthouses in the harbor. Heck, I was fooled!

Writing tip Tuesday - Writing Romantic Dialogue

Here's some of my own tips for Writing Romantic Dialogue. I'd love to hear your tips and thoughts on how you write romantic dialogue.

1 - Dialogue should sound authentic, but not reflect real life too closely.

In real life people greet each other with:

"Hello, Bob."
"Hi, Sue. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. You?"
"I have a little headache."

Dull and boring, huh? Try to strip as much of these exchanges that you can from your dialogue. Get to the heart of the matter by passing over pleasantries. Rule of thumb: Stay away from pointless chit chat.

#2 - Dialogue should move the plot forward, but not be an info dump.

When you use dialogue, reveal a little about your character, but don't go into a monologue that reads like an info dump.

"Lord Varga does not like garlic," said Lazlo.
Amelia arched an eyebrow. "I didn't know. Why?"
"It makes him sick."
"How interesting. Garlic is known for it's healing properties."
Lazlo pursed his lips.

#3 - Should I cuss?

Try not to, but remember there are times when it is necessary. If your characters gets their finger caught in a door, and the pain is immediate, they're going to cuss. Don't, however, liter your character's dialogue with cuss words. It makes your character unromantic and unsympathetic. It's more acceptable to write "he swore" than a cuss word.

"David took the money."
"What did he do with it?"
"I think he blew it on cigarettes."
Sam swore. That was all the money he had.

#4 - Dialogue shows passion

Ah, pillow talk. Flirting banter. Promises of seduction. All these types of dialogue "show" romance. And don't forget to use dialogue during your love scenes. Let your characters be playful. Show them flirting. Depending on the hero, if he's talkative, then being intimate with the heroine might be a time where he's quiet and more reflective.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you last night so I'll tell you now - I love you."
"Madly?"
"Passionately."
"Wholeheartedly?"
"Most assuredly."

#5 - Avoid dialect in dialogue.

Why? Quite honestly, most authors can't do it well and readers who don't "get it" might find it a bit stilted.

#6 - You are what you speak.

The words characters say reveal who they are so make them shine. Are they educated? Young? Friendly? What do they value?

"Old lady Jenning's pig ran away again."
"Did you find him?"
"Sure did - down by the river."
"Did you return the pig?"
"I sure did. She said she appreciated my honesty."

#7 - Dialogue shows suspense

The lack of dialogue or reluctance to talk may heighten the suspense.

"Do you know what she wanted?"
"Yeah."
"What?"
"What was what?"

CONTEST:

Write a vignette, no more than 500 words using one of the following sentences as a prompt.

Prompt #1 - "Josie, don't do that!"

Prompt #2 - "Aiden, you are such a rock."

Send it to me as an attachment to either: sgcardin1@yahoo.com or botrina_buchanan@yahoo.com ATTN: Romance Dialogue Contest and I'll pick one which I will feature in my official JULY 2011 newsletter. Winner gets a $5.00 GC to Amazon.

Smiles
Steph