Ronda J. Del Boccio's Blog: Writing is pure Bliss, page 27
June 9, 2015
5 Photography Tips from a Mostly Blind Award-Winning Photographer.
At my recent Lions Club meeting, one of our members gave me a TShirt from Leader Dogs for the Blind, where I am going to get my next guide dog hopefully sometimes this summer or fall. All 3 of the photos sent to me for posting on our club's Facebook page were blurry.
Perhaps you've noticed that most people can't take a decent picture. I'm really not sure why. I mean...if you're fully sighted, you can see what's in your frame and you can see whether the resulting digital photo is blurry, right? So what's the issue?
As an author, it can be handy to take good photos. You might be able to sell pictures with a story and earn more money. Or you might be able to sell the images outright.
As with so many things, you probably haven't thought through or been taught a few basic tips that will make you a good photographer. So let the blind girl help you see more clearly and take excellent photos!
This is the photo from the WriteOnPurpose.com header. The butterfly was kind enough to strike a post for me!
I'm mostly blind. Blind enough to travel with a white cane or a guide dog. Yet I managed to take pretty decent pictures. I usually manage to get a clear shot without a junky background, and have even won two award for my photos and had another selected for a book cover.
While I am by no means a big-time photographer, perhaps I can help you be a better photographer, so please allow me to share a few tips that work great for me.
1. Don't be afraid to take a lot of pictures
The vast majority of people have either a phone, tablet or digital camera, so who cares if you take 20 or more photos to find a couple of great shots? Just delete the rest. If you only have 3 shots and they're all blurry, there's nothing you can do once the moment has passed.
The winner will be the one with smiling faces, good lighting, and an uncluttered background.
2. Watch Your Lighting.
Who hasn't seen photos that are so dark you can't make things out? A little common sense helps you get a good result.
If a window is behind the person you're shooting (photography, folks, not guns!), then they'll appear in silhouette. If that's the effect you want, great. But if you want to see the facial expression, then be sure to put light in front of and preferably to the side of the subject.
Watch for shadows. If the lighting isn't working, either add more light or switch to a different location.
Natural lighting makes it easiest. If you need to open the curtains to let the sunshine in, then do it.
3. Watch Your Angle
Pets: If you've ever seen pet pics that aren't great, often it's because the human towers above the pet and takes the photo from that angle.
The best pet pictures for taken at the PET'S eye level rather than from the human's. Squat or sit down to get at or near the animal's point of view before taking the photo.
Remember to use red eye reduction to avoid what I call the "demon eye" effect. Your dog probably isn't possessed, even if s/he acts that way sometimes.
See Tips #1 and be patient. It's not easy getting a great bright-eyed, perky-eared pet photo. It takes a lot of photos and...
Patience!
Humans: It's just as important to be aware of your angle when photographing human people. Most people don't like being photographed. I'm one of those, so please follow these tips so they won't be disappointed more than usual.
Never take a photo of someone eating. You'll just irritate people. NOBODY likes that and nobody looks good hewing. Who wants chewing immortalized until the end of time?
Never photograph upward so that you're looking up the subject's nose. That's never flattering.
Don't take a nos-to-nose photo. Have the subject at a 45 degree angle. This helps people look slimmer and feel better.
Frame the shot and then raise the camera a little above your head and angle it down toward the subject. This is the most flattering angle for anyone.
Use red-eye reduction so it doesn't look as if your subject went on a bender or took a redeye flight.
Instruct your subject to think of something that brings them joy to get a true, bright smile and happy eyes.
Shoot from the angle that is most flattering or that brings out the essence of the plant, animal, person or whatever.
For good crowd shots, get up above the crowd. Stand on a chair or shoot from the balcony. This gives the view of the group, not just the people in front.
4. Pay Attention to Background and Foreground
How often have you seen or taken) photos where there is all sorts of clutter in the background. It may not be bad housekeeping, but often the image includes stuff that doesn't belong there. It's like someone telling a story and including a bunch of trivia and extraneous material that doesn't help move the story.
I've seen photos where someone has a bunch of beer bottles or wine glasses in front of them. Chances are, it was a small table, but nobody wants to look like a lush! Likewise, nobody wants the platter of ribs or the dessert tray right in front of them in that image frozen forever in time.n
When taking photos of my mom's roses, right behind them is a fence with a raised plant bed behind it. Getting that fence in te background ruins the beauty.
Here's what you can do to get the right background.
The subject of the photo is the star of the show. Make THAT look good and eliminate or minimize the rest.
Zoom in on the subject. Any digital camera or phone allows this. Your phone r tablet lets you use the "pinch and zoom" feature to adjust the zoom. Give it a moment to focus once you have the desired zoom level.
Move anything that's in the way out of the way whenever possible. I can't move the fence, but if you're inside, you can move plates, glasses, toys, etc. out of the view.
Put the focal point just off from center, not dead center.
5. Ninja insider Tip; It's about Breath!
This is a tip I figured out myself. I've never seen it mentioned, though I'm sure someone else does somewhere. Do this one thing and you'll get rid of ost if not all your blurry photo issues.
Breathe normally while setting up the shot, but just before you click the shutter, hold your breath.
Holding the breath improves aim for shooting, whether you have a gun like my grandfather, who shot skeet, or a camera. It's breathing that causes most of the blurry shots in the world.
I hope these tips help you take better pictures.
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 Amazon best selling author, speaker and mentor
If you're an author and would love a weekly success tip like this delivered to your inbox, please go to WriteOnPurpose.com/free and provide your email. You'll also receive some special reports, including "7 Steps to an Irresistible Book."
Book Review of Cozy Mystery Permed to Death: The Bad Hair Mysteries Book 1 by Nancy J.. Cohen
Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers.
I found this week's read because I bought her book on writing cozy mysteries. Being a fan of cozies, I had to give one of hers a try.
Description of Permed to Death from Amazon:
Meet Marla Shore, a Florida beauty salon owner with a knack for creating dazzling dos—and solving mysteries . . .Marla was already having a bad day, but when one of her clients dies while getting a perm in her salon, her day just can’t get any worse . . . until the smugly competent Detective Vail accuses her of poisoning the wealthy widow’s coffee creamer! Granted, Bertha Kravitz was hardly her favorite customer, but Marla could never have murdered the ornery woman. Now it is up to the savvy stylist to find out just who did. Combing the woman’s privileged world for clues, Marla soon discovers that the town is crawling with potential suspects. As the case grows more snarled, Marla becomes determined to unmask a cunning killer before she is outwitted—and dead.
As with any book, there are things you like and things you don't. Was this a top rate read?I gave Permed to Death 4 stars on Amazon. Read my review on Amazon.
What attracted me to this book? Besides it being by the author of Writing the Cozy Mystery, my mom was a hair stylist for decades. THey called her a beautician back in the day. I'm not even sure what the PC term is today.
A hair salon is the seat of gossip for sure. I have all sorts of stories growing up around one. I was also a "shampoo girl" while in high school.
What works?
It's a fun story. Marla Stone, our hero, is definitely in a pickle when a customer dies in her chair. Then her own past secrets rear their ugly head. I can only imagine what it would really be like to be a murder suspect.
Great premise and a fun read overall. Lots of what one expects in a cozy...some false trails, some clues that aren't really useful, some great clues, lot sof amateur sleuthing, and a cast of off-center people.
What doesn't work?
Keeping in mind this is Cohen's first book in that series, I'll tell you what didn't work as well for me, and what lost the book a star. The author got too bogged down with some of the details. I found myself wanting to skim in placeds to get past long descriptions.
Now, for those of you who are avid readers but NOT authors...realize we all grow in our craft, whether that's making a great dinner or writing a novel. The first isn't always superlatively phenomenally fantastic.
But it's good, and I can certainly still enjoy a book and find it worthy of 4 stars even if some things didn't work well for me.
There are 10 in the series to date, so clearly fans keep wanting more.
Get Permed to Death
More books by Nancy J. Cohen
Please share this review all over the social web!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
Read More Book Reviews by Ronda Del Boccio
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About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best 
selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
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June 7, 2015
Author Interview with Devin O’Branagan
Devin O'Branagan writes in a variety of genres, including young adult urban fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary romance, and more. Her Legend of Glory series series has recently captured the attention of Hollywood, which means we might see a TV series about Glory.
She is a prolific author who creates interesting characters and dilemmas for them to handle.
Here's the interview::
What is your most recent release?
Genesis, the third novel in The Legend of Glory trilogy.
Why do you write?
Because I must.
What was the first thing you ever wrote, and when did you write it?
I wrote a ghost story when I was five years old.
What was your first sale of your writing, and what was it?
Spirit Warriors, a horror novel published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books.
What author(s) do you most admire and why?
Terry Pratchett is my favorite author. His work is beyond brilliant on so many levels. I also love Carl Hiaasen. Both novelists write great fiction that contains powerful social commentary. Each incorporates edgy humor. They create memorable characters and tell excellent stories. Above all, their writing is utterly fearless. Pratchett and Hiaasen have been my greatest literary influences.
So many people write stories that languish in a drawer or on a computer. What caused you to seek a publisher?
I sent my first novel to a literary agent because my husband at the time said if I didn’t, he would.
What were your biggest challenges around writing Genesis?
The scientific research required and the study of fight techniques for the action scenes.
What's the most fun or interesting thing you've done to market Genesis?
The trilogy is under contract with a prominent Hollywood producer, and I’ve enjoyed sharing that journey (as much as I’m legally allowed to) with my readers. Although the TV series may not ultimately make it to the screen, the possibility is exciting to contemplate.
What is your favorite / best writing environment?
My living/dining room. I spread out all my research notes on my dining table. I write on my laptop there or while being lazy in my La-Z-Boy recliner. There’s a cozy fireplace, and the room opens to a lovely shaded patio. Great sound system for my book’s playlist. While writing, I sometimes work up to twenty hours per day, so staying comfortable is a true necessity.
What are your writing rituals?
I always say a prayer to the Muse first, and then I pump myself up by listening to music that represents the theme of my Work In Progress and its characters.
What music did you listen to while writing Genesis?
My theme song for Genesis is “Fight the Good Fight” by Triumph. The remainder of my playlist, which represented different characters or scenes in the book, include:
“Angels Would Fall” Melissa Etheridge
“My Kinda Party” by Jason Aldean
“When Johnny Comes Marching Home” from Die Hard With a Vengeance
“Season of the Witch” by Donovan
“Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull
“Ridin’ the Storm Out” by REO Speedwagon
“White Rabbit” Jefferson Airplane
“She Devil” by Natalie Merchant
“Paint it Black” by Vanessa Carlton
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
“What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” Joan Osborne
“Amazing Grace” by Alan Jackson
“Hallelujah in the City” Joan Osborne
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
“Lightning Crashes” by Live
What food did you crave or obsess over while writing your book?
Caffeine in its many blessed manifestations.
What's your favorite line of dialogue from the book?
When Jesse the demon declares his passion to Glory and says, “I don’t live on Earth or in Hell, I live in you.”
What do you do to stick to your writing goals or deadlines?
Work my ass off. Sleep very little—often just two to three hours a night. Consume copious amounts of caffeine.
What do you do for fun?
When I’m not writing a book of my own, I tend to read about one novel a day. Any and all genres. Various authors. As much as I’m simply trying to lose myself in the creativity of others, I do find myself studying various techniques. Every book I read teaches me something new—innovative ways of writing, what works, what doesn’t work. I love books.
Do you tend to build stories around a character, an idea, or some other inspiration? Please share how this works for you.
I build my fiction around an emotional theme. After I capture the essence of it, I see the entire thing from beginning to end as a movie. I always write the final scene first.
What has surprised you most about your author journey thus far?
How utterly amazing my fans are. Their enthusiasm and support blow me away. Also, I find my fellow authors to be beyond supportive. I’m extremely blessed.
Read Write On PUrpose Book Reviews
I have reviewed a couple of her books h
Read Devin O'Branagan Book Excerpts
Read an excerpt and my review of Glory: Legend of Glory 1
Read an excerpt from O'Branagan's latest release, Genesis: The Legend of Glory 3 .
About Best Selling Author Devin O'Branagan
Bestselling author Devin O'Branagan weaves tales of uncommon heroes. Her genres include paranormal thrillers, young adult urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and romantic comedy. Devin’s books have been published by Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books, German publisher Heyne Verlag, Turkish publisher Dogan Egmont, and indie publisher Cornucopia Creations. They are available in print, eBook, and audio formats. Her website is www.DevinWrites.com
Connect with Devin O'Branagan
Website
Amazon's Author Devin O'Branagan Page
Goodreads
Thanks to Devin O'Branagan for a great interview! Love the Genesis playlist and all the insights into the writing life.
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 Amazon best selling author, speaker and mentor
June 4, 2015
How Social Media Helps Authors Develop Your Author Platform: Author Speaker Mentor Ronda Del Boccio Featured in Vox Magazine
Social media offers huge opportunities for authors when you use the networks as a point of connection with readers rather than as bullhorn self-promotion platforms.
It's such fun to get a phone call "out of the blue," as the saying goes, with an offer to be interviewed for a regional magazine. Free publicity - YEAH!
Vox Magazine out of Columbia College featured me in their article, Here's an excerpt of the article by Cheyenne Roundtree
Ronda Del Boccio Tweets to the Top
For author Ronda Del Boccio, successful self-publishing starts with social media
by Cheyenne Roundtree
June 4, 2015 1:00 am
On the rural outskirts of Branson, author Ronda Del Boccio has two cats and more than 7,000 Twitter followers to keep her company. Although Del Boccio has written two Amazon bestsellers, her number of followers comes from years of planning, testing and refining a formula, not her eight books.
Using social media, she created a self-marketing method in 2013 to attract her readers. Del Boccio bypasses the additional cost of a publisher and delivers her pages from the presses straight to the people.
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Ronda Del Bocio
Authors: Video Tutorial: How Can Kindle Pre-Orders Help Sell More Books?
If you're an indie author publishing with Kindle, you can use a new feature of Kindle Direct Publishing to help you sell more books...Kindle Pre-Orders.
Cool, right? You can build buzz for your book and make pre-orders available to your ans.
Here's a video tutorial showing you how, and more importantly, WHY, Kindle Pre-Orders can help you sell more books and amp up your book marketing efforts..
You can see more videos like this to help you with writing, storytelling, publishing and book marketing on my YouTube channel. Subscribe NOW.
June 1, 2015
Book Review of Contemporary Medical Adventure Novel State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers.
This week, it's a contemporary medical adventure novel called State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I read this book about a year ago, and it still sticks with me. That's why I decided to do a review of it here.
http://smile.amazon.com/State-Wonder-Ann-Patchett-ebook/dp/B004G8QZSS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Thankfully, the book is much more interesting than the cover. Here is the description from Amazon:
Expect miracleswhen you read Ann Patchett’s fiction.”—New YorkTimes Book Review
Award-winning, New York Times bestsellingauthor Ann Patchett returns with a provocative andassured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazonrainforest. Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotionalurgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels Bel Canto, Taft, Run, The Magician’s Assistant, and ThePatron Saint of Liars, Patchett delivers anenthrallingly innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in State of Wonder—a gripping adventurestory and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name ofdiscovery and love.
Did this memorable book earn a 5 star review from me?No. But I gave it a 4 star review. Read the Amazon book review here.
Excellent Sense of Place
Sense of place means setting., in case that's a new phrase for you. If you read a book that seems as if the actions happen in a closet with the lights out and you can't smell, taste or feel anything, that's a bad sense of place.
Patchett pulls you right into the setting in State of Wonder. Most of it is set in the Amazon, and you'll practically sweat from the heat and swat at the multitude of bugs. She actually wet to the Amazon for ten days as part of her research for this book.
Intriguing Plot
While certainly not perfect, this plot had some interesting elements. The pacing got too slow in the middle, yet I was engaged enough to keep reading. The issues of medical testing and extension of childbearing years interested me.
Plot Pacing
The plot of any novel will have variations in pacing. That's part of what makes it interesting. Like life, sometimes things are happening at lightning speed, while at other times, things slow down enough to allow the reader to get to know the characters or explore some other aspect of the story.
The book starts strong and finishes strong, but it suffers from a sagging middle. The plot all but stalls out. The fix for this, in case you're an author who wonders if your book's middle is too slow, is to take a good pair of (figurative) scissors and go through your story. Snip away any excess words, long descriptions, or extended passages in which the plot is not moving.
The pacing doesn't need to feel frenetic, but it should feel as if we're still moving along the path of the tale. Get some "beta readers" who see the book before it's published to tell you if there are any places they skipped or wanted to blow past quickly. Those need a major edit.
Willing Suspension of Disbelief
When reading any work of fiction, willing suspension of disbelief is what allows you to believe in the world of the story, even if there are fanciful or speculative elements. A true crime novel is intended to be true-to-life. Thrillers, adventures, and fantasies are among those that have some wiggle room in terms of plot accuracy.
Patchett throws around a lot of possible science in this book Dealing with a wonder-plant from the Amazon that has a wide variety of medical uses puts this book into the speculative realm.
While some reviewers have faulted the science of the novel, I do not. If you expect 100% accuracy, you won't even truly get that in nonfiction, but that is where you would expet to find the more accurate reality.
I willingly suspended disbelief because the writing is good enough that I felt it was plausible that a plant could have divergent uses in fertility and disease prevention. There are, after all, many wondrous plants on this beautiful earth that serve many functions.
Idea VS Character
Some books are based on the development of the main characters. Plot is secondary in this sort of story, because the emphasis is on personal growth of the point of view character. Other novels are moved by the central idea. Such is the case with State of Wonder.
Even though the storytelling flounders in the middle, it is the main premise of the book that drives both the action and the character growth that occur.
Characters and Character Development
The characters are mostly well drawn, if not complex. Some stories are more plot-focused and others more character-focused. This is the former, and that's OK. The characters are sufficiently interesting.
Dr. Marina Singh, our protagonist, is haunted by her past and the encounter with her former mentor. Lots of emotional baggage there. Marina may seem to be weak, but I would say she is emotionally wounded and conflicted so much that she is not a decisive person. I'm not sure why some people expect every female point-of-view character to be strong and decisive. Not all women are.
The character that stuck in my mind most after all these months is crusty old Dr. Annick Swenson, who makes a huge gamble in pursuit of her goals. She is missing as the story begins, and what she is attempting brings up issues of medical and personal ethics.
While Dr. Sing makes some change in the course of the novel, Swenson changes most.
Buy State of Wonder
Order from Amazon hard cover, trade paperback, Kindle, audio
Connect with Author Ann Patchett
Website
Visit Amazon's Ann Patchett Page
Please share this review all over the social web!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
Read More Book Reviews by Ronda Del Boccio
Looking for more book reviews? I share insights on books in most genres. See them all in the Book Review Category
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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May 29, 2015
Video Tutorial: Making Friends with Google Drive 2015
Have you tried Google Drive? It's a fabulous suite of tools, and it can save a whole lot of trouble with file formats.
Dealing with some technophobes recently, I decided to make a video tutorial to help them make friends with Google Drive. As an author, it can help you in so many ways, so here is that tutorial.
Why Use Google Drive?
Google Drive is a cloud platform that lets you work with all sorts of documents. It includes:
Word processor
Spreadsheets
Forms
Presentations
And you don't need MS Office or similar suites to use it. And no more issues of not having this or that program to open a document.
And its free
My Google Drive Product Review
I love it because I can access files in Drive from any device, and I can choose to share them, or not, with anyone or only with specific people.
It's a fabulous tool for collaboration. I'm on a committee, and I put all our PDFs, docs, spreadsheets and forms in Drive so we can have easy access. No more emailing files back and forth and working on an outdated version!r
Google Drive Video Tutorial
Watch the video now, and be sure to give it a thumbs up and add it to your Watch Later Playlist
Want help with things like file editing, sharing, and creating forms?
Get more Google Drive tutorials
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Follow your BLISS,
best selling author, speaker and mentor
May 26, 2015
Book Excerpt of Genesis (The Legend of Glory, Book 3) by Devin O’Branagan
Welcome to release day for Genesis, the third in the Legend of Glory Trilogy by best selling author Devin O'Branagan. I'm reading the book right now and will be posting a review soon. For now, enjoy this excerpt and be sure to pick up your copy of the book.
Summary of Genesis by Devin O'Branagan
Genesis is the thrilling conclusion to the epic urban fantasy trilogy, The Legend of Glory. Eighteen-year-old Glory Templeton has returned from a time travel event pregnant with a child named Genesis whose DNA is predicted to save the world from genocide. However, evil forces of both natural and supernatural origins want Glory’s baby.
Meanwhile, Genesis’ father, Zane, struggles to find his way back to Glory after nearly two centuries of living in darkness. Angels, witches, vampires, and demons come together to do battle, and the human race is the prize. A moving tale of love, courage, and fighting the good fight against evil. Although the third book in a trilogy, Genesis is also a satisfying standalone read.
Here's the Book Excerpt of Genesis by Devin O'Branagan
The universe tipped on its side, and then I was somewhere else, standing in Jesse’s tight embrace.
He buried his face in my neck and took a deep breath. “You always smell like vanilla, Glory. I’ve missed that.”
Dizzy, it took a moment for me to be able to think. I was in my kitchen, and now here ... wherever here was. “What have you done, Jesse?”
He released me, stepped back, and grinned. “Sometimes you just gotta take what you want in life. And I really want you.”
Jesse had expressed romantic feelings shortly before he stopped being human, which totally blindsided me.
“You were my best friend for so long. Please don’t do this,” I said.
“It’s time to ramp this friendship up to the next level, don’t you think?”
It had only been a little over three months since I saw him, but he looked different. He seemed bigger now. Even more attractive than before. Intense. And, if the hard glint in his eyes was any indication, mean.
His fingers gently caressed my black eye. “Who slugged you? You want me to smite them?”
I almost laughed, but his angry expression stopped me cold. “No smiting required, but thanks for the offer.”
“Who did it?” he asked again.
“No one you know.” At least I hoped he didn’t know her. Raven’s final words ricocheted around my brain: Glory, I’m sorry. Those protective wards didn’t compromise themselves. If Raven had done it, then surely she and Jesse were in cahoots.
His eyebrows quirked. “Oh, secrets? I do love a mysterious woman.”
This sarcastic jerk was not the Jesse I knew. “Who are you and what have you done with my friend?”
“Hi. My name is Jesse, and I’m a demon.”
I looked him up and down. He wore faded jeans, an untucked white dress shirt with the collar open, and in place of a traditional necktie, a long blue silk scarf tied in a loose trinity knot. The very cool three-quarter length black wool coat with the popped collar and scuffed black boots rounded out the look. Well that, plus his artfully tousled hair, gold earring, and alluring aftershave. “Looking good. Is this British rock star chic? Retired the James Dean look once and for all?”
“I’ve always had my own special style.” At least his cockiness was familiar. His arm swept our surroundings. “Welcome to Hell.”
I looked around. “Not what I would have imagined Hell to be.”
“‘Hell’ just means ‘to hide.’ Demons hide in plain sight, not in fiery splendor somewhere deep within the planet.”
It was an elegant, sprawling apartment, and from the unobstructed view of the mountains through the huge picture windows—high in the sky. I walked to a window and peered into the deep twilight. Mountains of black stood silhouetted against the final bloody orange glow of the winter sun. Below, an abundance of city lights twinkled. “We’re in Denver?”
“In a penthouse. Up here, absolutely no one will hear you scream.” He spoke the words softly, adding to their menace.
I took a deep breath and looked around. The ebony grand piano held center stage in the sprawling living room, but the impossibly huge TV was equally imposing. A stark black and white oil painting on the wall held a quote from Dante’s Inferno: “Hope not ever to see Heaven. I have come to lead you to the other shore; into eternal darkness; into fire and into ice.” Tons of books lined shelves, a marble fireplace contained glowing coals, but what captured my attention were the red sigils drawn above doorways and windows.
“Angel warding,” Jesse said, shaking his head. “Goddamn angels.” His eyes drifted down to my belly. “I see you were touched by one.”
He thought Dominic was Genesis’ father. Given the truth, I decided to let it be. “Dominic’s not an angel anymore.”
He barked a harsh laugh. “Yeah, I imagine his wings got clipped in a hurry when that happened.”
“What do you want with me, Jesse?”
“We are going to make such a hot power couple. All the demons will be envious.”
“Wow, the nerve on you.”
He strode up to me and placed his hand on my baby bump. “Don’t get too attached to this, Glory, because a baby isn’t in my plans for us. I’ve made a deal with Nyx—she helped me get you, so she gets the kid.”
Horror stole my breath. “You made a deal for my baby?”
His whisper mimicked my own. “Demons make deals. It’s our best thing.”
I shoved him away. “You son of a bitch.”
Jesse’s smile didn’t make it to his eyes. “I love your feistiness. Always did.” He took off his coat and threw it onto a chair, then walked to the bar and held up a brown bottle. “Grand Marnier. Tastes like oranges. Want some?”
“No. How old are you now—like thirty?”
He poured an inch of the amber liquid into a snifter, then sauntered to the plush couch and sprawled across it. “Demons are timeless. My body will always be eighteen, but my mind ... well, there are no limits now, Glory. It’s heady stuff.”
My knees felt weak, and I sank onto an easy chair. “I really don’t know much about demons.”
“Remember the Bible?”
I shook my head. “You know me. Not big on religion.”
“Right.” He saluted me with his drink. “Kudos to your common sense. Bible 101. When God and Lucifer had their little family squabble, God cast Lucifer from Heaven and banished him to Earth. A tug-of-war started for the first humans—call them Adam and Eve, if you like. Whose side would they choose? Since then, if a human chose Lucifer, he owned their soul. From that pool of souls, he fathered a new species—demons. The work of demons is to deliver him more souls for the war effort.”
“I don’t understand what you get out of this, Jesse.”
He laughed. “Seriously? Look around you.”
“So, it’s about having cool stuff?”
“No, it’s about power and the fact that demons don’t have a fear gene. Not to mention I’m down with the whole strong father figure thing. You know how I’ve always admired rebels? Well, Lucifer’s the ultimate rebel. My job rocks. I’ve got a mission. I’m a rebel with a cause now. I get to do something really great.”
Confusion muddled my brain. “What’s great about turning people away from God?”
“God? Let me tell you about God.” He set his glass down on the coffee table and his hands became animated. “God’s way overrated. He wants people to love Him and surrender in a sickeningly sweet goo-fest of mindless, messy emotions that cloud reason. Sentimental crap. Lucifer wants his children to use their minds, think for themselves, be powerful.” He pointed to the bookshelves. “The forbidden fruit in the Garden was knowledge. Way to dumb down the race and keep them all blindly worshipful, right? The things the mind has the power to do, Glory. When we’re turned, Lucifer unlocks parts of the brain that are normally untapped. It’s how we teleport, and”—he snapped his fingers, and a wad of money appeared in his hand—“create anything we want.” He threw down the cash, jumped to his feet, and went to the piano. “Check this out.”
In all the time I had known him, I had never seen him this hyper. He radiated excitement.
Sitting on the bench, he began to play. Starting with a slow, bluesy number, he stroked the keys sensually and expertly. Then the tempo increased, and the rhythm started to really rock. He closed his eyes and seemed to lose himself.
Before I realized what was happening, I stood at the piano absorbing the magic of his talent. The air sizzled with electricity. I felt breathless, and the sound had me utterly spellbound. It stirred things I couldn’t define. Passionate things. What was he doing to me? Was this part of his new supernatural skill set?
Suddenly, he stopped playing, opened his eyes, and looked at me. “Remember what we did in Mrs. Wells’ art class our junior year?”
I stood silently for a moment, lost in the music still haunting the air. I shook my head to try to snap out of my hypnotic stupor.
He looked stunned. “No? How could you forget one of our best times together?”
I remembered. Everyone was showing a substitute teacher their independent art projects and when Jesse’s turn came, he pulled me up on top of her desk and announced that our project was a Polynesian fertility dance from the tribe Mongawunga. Then the students spontaneously broke out into tribal handbeats on the tables and without even a heartbeat of hesitation, I got into the groove and we gyrated and ground against each other until the assistant principal stepped in and sent us to the office.
Despite everything going on, the memory reminded me of better times and I burst out laughing. “Yeah, but was that dance really so bad that we deserved a three-day suspension?”
“Well, the sub did run out of the room screaming. I guess they had to punish us somehow.”
The delighted smolder in Jesse’s eyes as he relived our infamous mating dance surprised me. How could I have missed the signs of his attraction to me?
He smiled a real smile. “You’re so beautiful when you laugh.”
I could see the man he might have become if he hadn’t embraced this madness, and my heart broke for him again. “Oh, Jesse.”
“I’m one hell of a guy, you know. Give me a chance.”
I held out my hands in supplication. “Seriously?”
“You fell in love with a vampire and an angel. So, you end up with a demon. Being all conventional was never your thing, right?”
“What’s Nyx going to do with my baby?”
He shrugged. “Eat it. Demonize it. Whatever she wants.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around his callousness. Well, he had killed his own sister; what did I expect from him? “Did you have to kill Belle Starr?”
“Yes. Yes, I did.” He said it without a hint of remorse or guilt. “She’s better off dead. Parents? Batshit crazy.”
Jesse was the insane one. I thought it wise to change the subject.
“When did you learn to play piano like that?”
“Now I can do whatever I decide to do.”
“Why didn’t you learn to play music when you were human?”
“Sure, in between cleaning up my mom’s puke from her boozing, and doing work on the farm that my dad was too stoned to take care of. Not to mention raising Belle and trying to keep her safe from them. Yeah, I had loads of free time to follow my dreams. Oh, and let’s not forget the dodging of fists.”
“It was your mom who beat you, wasn’t it? I always thought it was your dad until I saw how your mom behaved the night ... well, the last time I saw you.” The night Jesse killed Belle Star their mother was drunk and vicious to them both. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Share the misery? A dad slugging a son is one thing. Whole different animal when it’s a mom. What kind of friend would I have been if I laid that burden on you?” He stood. “Hungry? I can snap”—he snapped his fingers—“you up a steak dinner?”
I shook my head.
“Well, if you change your mind, I stocked the kitchen. Chocolate, fresh fruit, and a lot of stuff you probably haven’t been able to get hold of in a long time.” He grabbed his coat off the chair where he had thrown it, removed a set of keys from the pocket, and slipped them into his jeans. Then he threw the coat back.
I registered the fact that he had secured the keys. Would those keys get me out of here? A plan born of desperation popped into my mind. “Please, Jesse? Please let me go.” Deliberately releasing the tears I had been fighting back, I threw my arms around him. He embraced me while I gave vent to those tears, but when my hand strayed down toward his pocket, he grabbed my wrist.
“Glory, Glory, Glory,” he whispered in my ear. “I taught you how to pick pockets, remember?”
I sagged with defeat.
He held me tighter. “What am I going to do with you, babe?” His voice sounded amused. And aroused. “Well, actually, I have a few ideas.”
“I’m in love with someone else.”
“My ideas have nothing to do with love.”
“Please don’t do this, Jesse.”
“Your disappearance is really going to break Dominic’s heart.”
“Yes, it will.”
“Good.”
He released me, picked up his drink, snapped his fingers, and the liquor erupted in blue fire. Then he drank the flaming spirits without flinching. “I’ve got mad skills. Don’t try to one-up me again. It won’t end well.”
I glanced at the front door, saw there was a double-keyed deadbolt, and tried to figure out what I could use to pick the lock.
“Yeah, I taught you how to do that too. Not gonna work here.”
I thought about how dire my situation. Jesse was an insane demon with true mad skills, Nyx had a claim on my baby, this little corner of Hell had wards against angels, and no one knew where to find me. I didn’t have a snowball’s chance. “Good times,” I muttered.
“We will have them. Trust me.”
I had the urge to slap that smug look right off his face.
“I’m calling it a day.” He gestured to a closed door. “My bed’s in there if you want to join me.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I could just take you.” He stepped in my direction.
“Yes, but you won’t. You want me to want to be with you.”
“You always were a smart girl.” He moved closer. “There is a guest room, but you could have a lot more fun in mine.”
I tried to back away from his slow, deliberate approach, but ended up against the bar.
He leaned in, grasped my head with both hands, and looked deep into my eyes. “Relax. We’re just getting to the sexy part.”
I tried to turn away, but he held tight and kissed me. His soft, seductive lips tasted sweet, like oranges.
Finally, he released me. “I love it when girls play hard to get. Makes the winning so much more fun.” He winked and headed toward his bedroom, but turned back to face me. “Oh, and you really might want to rethink your sleeping arrangements before Nyx gets here. She’s planning on using this as a base of operations for a while, until your baby comes. Wants to be here for the blessed event, and all. You might feel safer in my arms. The devil you know, and all that.” He went into his bedroom, and the door slammed shut behind him.
“Well, hell,” I said to the walls of Hell.
Want to read more? Get Genesis from Amazon or your favorite book seller
About Best Selling Author Devin O'Branagan
Bestselling author Devin O'Branagan weaves tales of uncommon heroes. Her genres include paranormal thrillers, young adult urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and romantic comedy. Devin’s books have been published by Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books, German publisher Heyne Verlag, Turkish publisher Dogan Egmont, and indie publisher Cornucopia Creations. They are available in print, eBook, and audio formats. Her website is www.DevinWrites.com
Connect with Devin O'Branagan
Website
Amazon's Author Devin O'Branagan Page
May 21, 2015
Author Interview with Teacher/Musician/ Author Lisa Litberg
I'm excited to bring you an interview with a teacher who inspires her students through words and stories. Lisa Litberg is a woman of many, many talents! Discover the woman behind the work in this author interview. This is one stop on Lisa's virtual tour, so visit her site to see the other stops on her blog tour.
Why do you write?
I have written for as long as I remember. I don't think of it as a choice. The words are there and seek release, so I release them.
What was the first thing you ever wrote, and when did you write it?
The first thing I remember writing was a poem when I was four or five. I still have it memorized. "The sun the sun, oh my oh my, it makes flowers grow as high as the sky. The rain the rain, oh my oh my, it helps the sun as it goes by."
What was your first sale of your writing, and what was it (article, story, poem, etc.)?
Aside from the articles I wrote for my college newspaper, which paid ten dollars for front page and five for everything else, my novel is my first paid gig!
What author do you most admire and why?
I have several, for different reasons.
Harper Lee, for writing such an amazing piece of literature that had social impact.
S.E. Hinton, for creating characters far different than anyone would expect from her.
Stephen King, for his characterization and for being so prolific. I could go on and on.
So many people write stories that languish in a drawer or on a computer. What caused you to seek a publisher?
This is where I give a shout-out to my friend Kevin Sheehy. He found out I had written a book and convinced me to look for a publisher. If it wasn't for him, it would probably still be under my bed, and I'd still probably pull it out and edit it from time to time!
What were your biggest challenges around writing this book?
Finding the time to write is always hard. I'm a single mother, a high school teacher, a fitness instructor, and I have lots of hobbies and interests. It's impossible to find the time for all of this, so I have to pick and choose. While I wrote Free, I was also getting my Master's Degree. This is why it took me four years to write!
What's the most fun or interesting thing you've done to market your book?
I did a book expo at a local library recently. I was able to meet lots of other authors and hear a few seminars. It was a good time.
What is your favorite/ best writing environment?
On rare occasions when I have the house to myself and I can put on some quiet music and really get into it. Sometimes I do the same in my classroom after everyone has left.
What are your writing rituals?
Music. I almost always have music on when I write. Before I write I always scan and edit what I last wrote. This is my little OCD thing, and I can't stop, even though this is probably another reason it takes me so long to write a book!
What music did you listen to while writing Free?
Well I would be remiss if I didn't say The Grateful Dead, but I'm sure I listened to plenty of other stuff as well. Sometimes I'd create playlists of relaxing music, things that I could just groove to. That really helped the flow of writing.
What food did you crave or obsess over while writing Free?
Chocolate. All the time. Writing or not. My latest obsession is spicy chocolate--dark chocolate with a hint of chili peppers. Mmmmmm.
What's your favorite line of dialogue from the book?
It's not dialogue, but one of my favorite lines is "Still, to me it doesn't make sense to snatch up a jerk just because he isn't an axe murderer."
What do you do to stick to your writing goals or deadlines?
Itry to schedule as much as possible. When I don't feel like doing it, I reward myself with something once I reach my goal for the night. And I snatch up any opportunity I can to write!
What do you do for fun?
I have tons of interests! I dance, I play guitar and write songs, I garden, I read, I play with my cats.
Do you tend to build stories around a character, an idea, or some other inspiration? Please share how this works for you.
A lot of my stories are character-driven, and Free certainly was. But sometimes I write around an idea or thought and just see where it goes. This is especially true of poetry. I'll have a central issue or concern, and I'll weave words around it.
What has surprised you most about your author journey thus far?
I started out with a publisher, but then they unfortunately closed, citing personal reasons. I then republished my book under my own imprint, Scribomusings Press. Even though I loved working with the publishing company and never thought I would want to self-publish, but I am loving the control I have over monitoring sales, and even some of the marketing. And I definitely love the royalties. In the future I will continue to self-publish.
About Free , a Coming-of-Age Novel
Since leaving home at the age of 18, Free has traveled the country trying to find a place to call home. Her travels afford her a variety of experiences, from traveling with the Grateful Dead to waitressing in Chicago to selling jewelry in New Orleans' French Market, but nothing seems to quell her sense of unrest. All the while, her estranged brother Alfie is in her thoughts.
Once she finds him, perhaps she'll feel at home. But her world is filled with bad choices and temptations, and Free must rise above these in order to find her place.
The reader will feel as if they're traveling right alongside Free in this moving coming-of-age story.
Get the Book
Lisa Litberg Bio
For as long as she can remember, Lisa Litberg has loved to write. Over the years she has amassed quite a collection of short stories and poetry, but Free is her first novel. A high school teacher for over 15 years, she tries to empower her urban students with the written word. When she isn't writing or teaching, Lisa might be dancing, singing with a cover band or performing her own songs with a guitar, but it's more likely she's hanging out in her Chicago apartment with her son Trevor watching The Walking Dead.
Connect with Lisa Litberg on the Web
Amazon's Author Lisa Litberg Page
Website
Facebook page
Thanks, Lisa, and the best of luck with your book!
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
best selling author, speaker and mentor
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May 19, 2015
Book Review of Historical Fiction Novel The Red Kimono by Jan Morrill
Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers.
Author Jan Morrill's first novel weaves great storytelling, thorough research, and her mother's experiences in a Japanese internment camp during World War II into this novel about the power of hatred and perception.
Read more about the book.
The Red Kimono by Jan Morrill
From the Inside Flap
In 1941, racial tensions are rising in the California community where nineyear-old Sachiko Kimura and her seventeen-year-old brother, Nobu, live. Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor, people are angry, and one night, Sachiko and Nobu witness three teenage boys taunting and beating their father in the park. Sachiko especially remembers Terrence Harris, the boy with dark skin and hazel eyes, and Nobu cannot believe the boys capable of such violence toward his father are actually his friends. What Sachiko and Nobu do not know is that Terrence's family had received a telegram that morning with news that Terrence's father was killed at Pearl Harbor. Desperate to escape his pain, Terrence rushes from his home and runs into two high-school friends who convince him to find a Japanese man and get revenge. They do not know the man they attacked is Sachiko and Nobu's father. In the months that follow, Terrence is convicted of his crime and Sachiko and Nobu are sent to an internment camp in Arkansas, a fictionalized version of the two camps that actually existed in Arkansas during the war. While behind bars and barbed wire, each of the three young people will go through dramatic changes. One will learn acceptance. One will remain imprisoned by resentment, and one will seek a path to forgiveness.From the Back Cover
"The story of a Japanese family uprooted and forced to live in a bleak World War II internment camp gives human faces to one of the shabbiest chapters in U.S. history. Told from the viewpoint of an engaging Japanese girl, The Red Kimono tells it all--the bitterness and pain as well as the joy and pride and patriotism of a people too resilient to be beaten by racism. The Red Kimono touches my heart."--Sandra Dallas, New York Times best-selling author of Tallgrass and True Sisters
"A slice of American history beautifully told by three young Americans coming of age in a turbulent time." -- Jodi Thomas, New York Times best-selling author of the Harmony Series.
"The attack on Pearl Harbor sets in motion this incredible story of a race of people betrayed by their country. Only a writer with Morrill's talent could tell it with so much compassion and honesty. You won't soon forget The Red Kimono." -- Velda Brotherton, Author of The Boston Mountains: Lost in the Ozarks
Why was this book so good I gave it a 5 star review on Amazon?
Interesting, Well Drawn Characters
Morrill is a master o character development. She has a knack for getting inside someone's head so the reader feels the world through their perceptions. She is one of the best authors for this, so if you are an author and feel your characters are flat, be sure to read this book and study it.
Some authors are good at adults but not children when it comes from a point of view character. Not so here. young Sachi reads as true as her older brother Nobu and Terrence, the other characters who take turns sharing the storytelling role.
The Power of Hatred
Morrill combines her mother's experiences living in an internment camp in Word War II with thorough research and fictional elements to create a captivating book about the power of hatred in a way that does not stoop into being preachy..
I can't speak for anyone else with regard to what you learned in history classes, but I can tell you I gained far more insight by reading this book than I did from the scant nod to this part of history learned in class.
School children need to read this book. I believe a book like this would bring history to life for students. I wish it were part of the curriculum.
We are in a world in which groups of people are being labeled the enemy simply because they are different from mainstream culture. Do people not see that we're going down a dark path once again?
Truthful Yet Hopeful
While taking the reader into the lives of people whose loyalties, families, and personal strength were tested daily, this book ends on a hopeful note. Like most people, I happen to like that in a novel.
University Press Published
It says a lot about he quality of a book when a University press publishes it. University of Arkansas brought this book into the world.
Why they saw fit to charge an astronomical $21.08 for the Kindle version, which involves NO hard printing costs, is beyond me. I bet they have sold a total of ZERO copies at that engorged price. They need to consider that most novels are going for $.99, $3.99 and $2.99.
Buy the Red Kimono
Order on Amazon - and since the Kindle version is so pricey, you ay prefer to buy the hard cover, but DO get this book!.
About Jan Morrill
Jan Morrill's debut novel, THE RED KIMONO, was released by the University of Arkansas Press in February, 2013.
Jan was born and (mostly) raised in California. Her mother, a Buddhist Japanese American, was an internee during World War II. Her father, a Southern Baptist redhead of Irish descent, retired from the Air Force. The Red Kimono, as well as many of her short stories, reflects memories of growing up in a multicultural, multi-religious, multi-political environment.
Her award-winning short stories and memoir essays have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and several anthologies. An artist as well as a writer, she is currently working on the sequel to The Red Kimono.
For more information, visit her website at .janmorrill.com or her blogs www.TheRedKimono.com or HaikubyHaiku.wordpress.com.
Connect with Jan Morrill
The Red Kimono Blog
Amazon author page
Website
blog
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Ronda Del Boccio
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