Patricia Green's Blog, page 11

A Day in the Life of a Writer

Some people call me an “author.” To me, that sounds a little like I’m having tea and sugar cookies while signing book jackets. While it’s true that I “author” books, down at the core, I simply write stuff. Sometimes the stuff is long enough to be a book and sometimes it’s a short story. Occasionally, it’s an article like the one you’re reading now. Before I wrote fiction, I wrote business materials and literary analysis. It’s all stringing words together to create something new and, hopefully, interesting for readers.

I can only speak for myself; and since I do this full-time, I don’t represent all writers, but my typical workweek is made up of five workdays and two days off. On my workdays, I work about seven hours, and take a half hour lunch break. The hours I work are intense because, in many ways, they entail mandatory creativity. Usually, there’s a movie in my head and all I need to do is transcribe it. But some days—oh those days!—there are interruptions, crises, irritations, and the movie just isn’t there. I’ve had days when I felt like a clay brick, dense and heavy and anything but creative, but I wrote. And, you know what? The feeling of dull helplessness went away and, at the end of the day, I’d done a good day’s work.

When I wrote Rescued by the Spy, I had trouble with the ending. I spent an entire day on about 1,000 words. I knew what I wanted to say; it was getting it just right that was tricky. That’s a huge outlay of time for very little progress, but ultimately it was the ending that the story needed, and although I wasn’t having a particularly creative day, I managed to come up with the important segment in a workmanlike way. Sometimes, a little mental muscle is what it takes.

My last book, My Vacation in Rio: Romantek (not yet released), flowed like wine from a carafe. It was full of panoramic landscapes just waiting to be described. Those are the days that a writer lives for. They’re the drug of choice, by far.

Research is also part of a writer’s day. You can’t write about what you don’t understand. When I wrote my historical romance, The Blackmith’s Bride , I had to do extensive research on the historical period, the geography, and the cultures involved. Fortunately, I enjoy history and scholarly pursuits, so the research was a pleasure. Then I had to pick and choose which tidbits to use. I think we’ve all read books where the writer sort of dumps all that research on the reader. One of the fiction writer’s chores is to sort through and use what needs to be used, rather than every “fascinating” detail.

Even contemporary pieces require research. For Striker, I had to investigate police procedure, for example. And for Liv’s Journey, I had to study Texas geography, even though I lived there for five years. Research can also lead to creative moments.

Marketing is a big factor in writing. Writers of all levels have lots of marketing to do. I spend an hour or two each day at marketing chores. Would I rather be writing fiction? You bet! But I’d be writing only for my own consumption if I neglected my website, blog, lists, and social media.

There is a business aspect to writing as well. Becoming a professional writer is opening a small business. One has to track royalties, sales and taxes, as well as preparing manuscripts for sale, synopses for proposals and cover letters that entice publishers.

Writers also have to be readers, and for the majority of us, that’s where the writing bug bit us. We’re inspired by what we read, so much so that we are compelled to do it better, explore new aspects of characterization and plot, and build new worlds. So, a chunk of any writer’s day has to be spent reading. That sounds like fun, but remember, this is critical reading and analysis, and entertainment is only one factor.

When I’ve finished for the day, I close my various documents (character profiles, setting profiles, plot notes, and manuscript) and walk away from the computer. I don’t stop thinking about the story, and often I dream about upcoming segments, but I don’t write anything more than a scrawled note to myself. Mandatory creativity is tiring.

So that’s a day in a writer’s life—my life. Creativity, research, analysis, marketing and business are all part of the process. Does it sound like fun or work? For me, it’s fun most of the time, and work part of the time. I can’t imagine having a better job.

Six of the Best — Angelica’s Proposition

A quick note: Today is the last day to download my free novella from Amazon. Here’s where you pick up Psyched Out. It’s short, funny, and romantic, with a slight BDSM twist.

Never before seen on this blog! This passage has only been available to book buyers in the past. Now, today for Six of the Best, I’m revealing a little more of my erotic, mystery, spanking romance, Striker.

I’m limited to six paragraphs, so if you want more, read to the bottom of the post to get store links. And please pardon the mild coarse language.

In this segment, Angelica, Striker’s rookie partner, gives him a proposition he ought to resist. She suggests they get their attraction out and deal with it by sleeping together, scratching that itch, and then moving on. It’s an awful idea…but one he takes seriously.

Again, I felt that tightening in my gut. Yes, it would be awful — awful professionally. It could only get in the way of the police work we were sworn to do. But, God no, it wouldn’t be awful in terms of senses. I would have loved to feel her body wrapped around mine. Was she serious? Was she just throwing out what-ifs, thinking aloud? I had to know. “I can’t say. I can see potential problems with it.” I could see her fidgeting with a button on her suit coat and knew she was anxious. “It’s not like I wouldn’t like to,” I explained. “And I’m more than flattered that you’d think of it, Angelica.”

“I hear a but in there.”

“No but. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you that way.”

“We’re over-analyzing this. Can’t we just fuck and see what happens?”

I laughed. “That’s not very cautious.”

“I’m not the cautious type.”

Get Striker here: Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Barnes and Noble

So that’s this week’s Six of the Best from me. Hop along to these other fine sites and get a taste of both favorite and new author’s entries.

Guest: Rachel de Vine Shares Her “Songbird”

Rachel de Vine is a wonderful writer, creative, romantic, full of life, and a terrific person to know. I’m very happy to have her as a guest today, presenting her latest release Songbird. I hope you’ll read through this post and get a taste of this wonderful story.

Here’s a teaser:

Harry is a successful 36-year-old Dom who has had many transient relationships with submissive women, and is not looking for a permanent relationship – until he sees and hears a beautiful young woman singing in a club in London. The woman sang with a throaty and angst-filled voice that suggested a dissolute lifestyle, but had the face of an angel and a body made for sin. Harry fell head over heels for Pascale, the beautiful songbird, and was determined that she would be his. Pascale, however, has had a difficult childhood with her mother’s brutal lover, Gaston, and escaped his clutches with the aid of Louis, her old pianist, and when Harry meets her she is traumatised by her experiences. Eventually he begins to break through the barrier that Pascale has erected around herself, but is wary about dominating her, even though she seems to him to have submissive tendencies. He is afraid of digging up disturbing and distressing images from her past.

His friend, Jake, the owner of the nightclub, is locked into a sterile and dead marriage, but cannot escape due to the financial hold of his wife and her father, who could bankrupt him if they so wished. He has a fun-filled, kinky relationship with a young woman who works at the club, but is terrified of his wife finding out about it and depriving him of access to his darling daughter, April, as well as bankrupting him.

Harry and Jake share Dom tendencies, but they also share seemingly insurmountable problems to be with the women they wish to make their own.

Time for an excerpt! This is from the first page.

The voice coming from over by the piano was sultry, throaty and reeked of cigarettes, whisky and dirty sex. I looked up from my glass of single malt and swivelled around on the bar stool to see if the reality matched the image now placed firmly in my brain. I expected to see a train wreck of a woman, whose dissolute appearance matched her voice, but the woman before me was no more than mid twenties, with long, sleek, dark brown hair and the face of an angel. I did a double take, unable to believe that the voice and the woman I saw before me belonged with each other.  Perhaps she was miming? If she was, she was damned good at lip-synching. She was singing the Billie Holiday song, Solitude, with all the angst of the original, accompanied only by a piano; played by an elderly black man.

The woman leaned casually on the piano, with one arm resting on its lid, and the other holding the microphone. She was wearing a simple red shift dress that clung to a lusciously curved body, and which ended mid-thigh to reveal long, elegant legs, and she had her eyes closed as she sang. Her hypnotic singing and with a body that every red blooded male in the club that night would love to touch, meant that, by mid song, all talking in the place had been stopped.

And now, this is your opportunity to one-click your way to romance. Songbird is available here:

Amazon | Blushing Books

A bit about Rachel in her own words:

I like to retain a little bit of mystery about myself, and let my writing speak for me, which is also the reason for the lack of pictures of me on my website and elsewhere.  However I will say that I am British and a woman, and that writing is my passion, and has been for much of my life, and I am an incurable romantic.  In recent years I have concentrated on writing erotic romances, but I am considering writing in other genres too.

I write about sensual, romantic, passionate people, because I like to think that I am a sensual, romantic and passionate person. I try to be kind, and hope that I reap kindness in return. I adore foreign travel to exotic places and I hope I always will. I like vibrant colours, the beautiful British landscape, intelligent people, good food, good music, sunsets and good friends and family. I am so lucky to be born when and where I was, with the freedoms that previous generations yearned for, and I hope I never take it for granted.

You can reach her here:

E-mail   racheldevineuk@gmail.com

Twitter:  @racheldevineuk

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/RacheldeVineauthor

Website:   http://racheldevineuk.wix.com/rachel-de-vine

Google +:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/101344194923014514743/post  

The Book Gourmet – Sit at the Big Readers’ Table

First Course — The Amuse Bouche

Only Scandal Will Do (by Jenna Jaxon): “He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart? ”

The Alpha’s Hunger (by Renee Rose): “Though Ben knows a human girl is no match for the fearsome lusts of an alpha wolf, she ignites in him a hunger he can barely contain. Can he resist the urge to mark her as his own and take her harder than she can imagine?”

Second Course — The Appetizer

Author Natasha Blackthorne writes some of the most compelling historical romance you can find online. For a brief time, she’s bundled four of her awesome books into one box set and has it listed on Amazon as just 99 cents for pre-order. It’s described as,  “Erotic Romance set in Regency Era America with heroines who are Wild, Wicked and Wanton.” Included in the bundle are her books, Grey’s Lady, White Lace and Promises, Alex’s Angel, and Emily’s Seduction. This is a fabulous opportunity to get some wild, wicked and wanton historical romance for a pittance. Here’s where you get Wild, Wicked and Wanton: A Hot Historical Romance Bundle.

Third Course — The Entrée

I don’t know how many of you realize that I have a novelette available at Amazon. This little extended short story is fun and sexy. Psyched Out is available for free, from today through Sunday only. It’s rated 5 stars. If you’d like a quick break while waiting at the doctor’s office, or in line to carpool your kids, this is the kind of snack that’ll satisfy. Here’s a little teaser:

When Lu Shenandoah and Philip Pines meet at a professional conference, there is an instant attraction. Unfortunately, Lu is sure that a famous guy like Philip wouldn’t be interested in a woman as awkward as she. And there’s her embarrassing interest in BDSM to deal with. She’s sure she could never admit that she’d secretly like to submit.

Philip, a very prominent author of a bestselling self-help book, is sure his BDSM dominance would overwhelm sweet and innocent Lu and it keeps him from pursuing her even though he’s drawn to her kittenish charm.

There are some really awkward moments when they run into each other at an all-inclusive island paradise, but how can they resist serendipity?

Fourth Course — The Dessert

I’m excited to say that I’ve now received enough answers to my interview questions to make going forward with Fallen Queen (working title), my mystery, erotic, romance set in a drag club in Los Angeles. It took me a while to connect with drag queens because I had to network my way in. But answers from queens like Marilyn Merlot (pictured — isn’t she pretty?) really made a difference. I’m starting the writing today. This is a story I’ll be taking my time on, folks, and will be shopping to agents. I think its themes and plot will lend itself to a bigger publisher and a wider audience. If you know of any agents looking for a good property, please let me know. I have a short list to work from, but any foot in the door would be welcome. I haven’t had an agent since my second book (he wasn’t doing anything much for me, so we parted ways), because I’ve been able to sell to small press steadily. However, some things are just bigger and need to reach a market that’s less of a niche. Fallen Queen is one of those books.

Thank you for joining me here today!

Six of the Best – The Princess Peeks

Welcome back to Six of the Best on Sundays! In this hop, authors are sharing six of their best paragraphs from a published work or a work in progress. Today, I’m sharing six of the best from my fractured fairy tale The Princess and the Huntsman. You can find out more about this book on my website here, including an extended excerpt.

But for today, I’ll just preface this segment by saying that Princess Brandywyn is a bit spoiled but bright and curious. Her maids have found something pretty fascinating, and she should resist temptation but…

“We looked through the hole she spoke of, Majesty,” Lir explained. “And we saw the prince disrobing. We came to find you immediately. This secret hole is too good not to share.”

“Hmm,” Brandywyn said, debating whether to be angry or join them in their conspiracy. She opted to do something in the middle. “You two go off and pray to goddess Fatua. Spying is a sin, I am sure.”

They looked at each other, crestfallen, but finally both nodded at her. “Aye, Your Highness, we shall do as you say, of course.”

“Hurry off,” Brandywyn admonished, shooing them away with a gesture.

They curtsied low and backed out of the room.

After the door closed, Brandywyn reached for the concealing picture, thinking to put it back, but hesitated. Unable to help herself, she looked into the adjoining room.

If you enjoyed this tidbit, please check into the book at the following distributors. Get a sample if you’re not sure; I’m confident you’ll be delighted.

Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Barnes & Noble. This is a Stormy Night Publications release.

Hop along for more of Six of the Best on Sunday:

Fall Giveaway – Win a Keurig and $100

If you like prizes, this one’s a doozy. For the Girl and Her EBooks Fall Giveaway, you could win a Keurig 2.0 coffee brewer and a $100 gift card. All you have to do is enter through the Rafflecopter. Couldn’t be easier. Even if you don’t win, you’ll get the chance to find new authors and new books. Tell your friends. This is too good to keep secret — you may get to split the prize if your pal agrees!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Book Gourmet – Tidbits and News

First Course – The Amuse Bouche

The Sons of Johnny Hastings Box Set (Various Authors): “Five full-length historical romance novels by five of Blushing Books most popular authors!”

Rescued by the Spy (by Patricia Green): “Can an undercover spy save the women he loves without blowing his cover?”

Second Course — The Appetizer

Ava Sinclair, author of four great kinky romance books, is offering up her latest, Her Highland Guardian. When a modern woman of the future is transported to the Scottish Highlands in the distant past, she gets more than she bargained for. Unable to go back home, she has to make some significant adjustments in manner and tolerance. But can she get used to Clan Chieftan Alastair McDonald and his high-handed ways?

Third Course — The Entrée

The Blacksmith’s Bride, my historical spanking romance set in Texas, has garnered sixteen five-star reviews. Here’s an example:

“The plot is great well written keeps you turning the pages wondering what the heroine will do next. The Hero is a strong Alpha Male and knows what our heroine needs. He has no trouble lending her a helping hand even if it is applied to her bottom. There is a lot of action romance and everything you could want as these two take you on a journey that you will be sure to love.” ~noangel on Amazon.com

See this review and others on Amazon.

Fourth Course — The Dessert

It’s currently a work in progress, but my Author Assistant, Maranda, and I have been working on setting up goodies and incentives for a Patricia Green street team. We hope to have all the swag ordered and delivered for distribution by October 1, and will start taking sign-ups then. If you like my books, I hope you’ll think about joining. More details will follow in the coming weeks. The sign-up announcement will go to blog subscribers first, so if you haven’t signed up for newsletters, I hope you’ll do it today. (Sign up in the form at upper right.)

Thank you for dropping in this week. Come back again next Thursday for more book tips and news.

Questions About Science Fiction Romance, and a Little Poll

Hello! I hope you had a good Labor Day weekend. Mine was quiet, with a little work and a lot of knitting and reading. Did you get to read any good books over the three-day holiday?

As many of you know, I like science fiction. I like to write it and read it. Some of my science fiction books are:

The Winner: Romantek

Charlotte & the Pirate: Romantek

Eddie, My Love: Romantek

Rescued by the Spy

and soon,

My Vacation in Rio: Romantek

Sonata’s Moon, Book One: Surface

Sonata’s Moon, Book Two: Sanctuary.

If science-fiction romance did better in the market, I would be tempted to go hard-over into writing it and only it, but I also like detective fiction, especially the hard-boiled private eye, noir books of the 50s and 60s. Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane are two of my favorite authors of all time.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to write an article for one of the biggest Science Fiction Romance blogs around, and I took it. My article will be on the difference between science fiction and futuristic fiction. I asked myself, is the difference only semantics? Is it the difference between a story set fifty years in the future versus three hundred years? Are there specific science fiction elements that do not happen in futuristic fiction or vice versa?

That leads me to this little poll, to get your opinion on what you prefer to read, or to find out if you think they’re the same thing. Please answer the simple question, and if you want to leave more info or have a question in turn, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll respond. Your answers in the “other” category will be added to the poll, so other respondents can vote on them as well. This poll will close with the next post that goes live, Thursday morning just before six o’clock.

Thanks, and have fun thinking about one of the finer points of fiction.

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Do you perceive a difference between books labeled "Science Fiction Romance" and those labeled "Futuristic Romance"?




No difference.






Yes, it's about how far into the future the story takes place.






Yes, it's about how technologically advanced the story elements are.






Some sci-fi can be current.






Science Fiction Romance can take place in the past, as well.






Futuristics seem less science/concept heavy






Sci-Fi should deal with technology. Futuristic does not necessarily have to be so. Maybe it's the year 3013 and after the apocolypse and there is no technology anymore.






I wanted to select multiples:, some SF can be current; SFR can be in the past; futuristic can also be about no tech any more.








Other difference(s)


















Vote

Six of the Best – Nina Rebels

Hello and welcome to Six of the Best on Patricia Green Books. The Six of the Best hop allows authors to share six paragraphs from a published work or work in progress with you every Sunday. I have a lot of books to share, but I’d like to offer one more look at Rescued by the Spy.

In this segment, Nina–captured by evil-doers and set up for auction–doesn’t yet know the power of her task masters, as her bravado shows.

Laricon was smiling, his yellow, crooked teeth making the expression malevolent. “Well said, Michael, my boy. You know this young lady from where?”

“Back when I was in Command Security, sir. During the Martian Conflict. She was a reservist. Had the hots for me, and so I fucked her one night. Left the next morning. That was it.”

“I see.” Laricon nodded. He turned to Nina. “Are you still in Command Security, girl? Don’t lie because I will find out, and the consequences will be…well, draconian.”

“No,” she answered succinctly. And when Laricon raised an eyebrow, she glared, but said, “No, sir.”

“Very well. Turn around.”

“Suck rocks…sir,” she replied.

Michael is going to have a tough time taming “Nitro Nina” while keeping his spying mission secret. In the meantime, Laricon, grinning his evil grin, is going to make sure they both squirm just for the pure fun of it.

If you’d like to read more Rescued by the Spy you can find an extended excerpt here, or pick up a sample of the book from Amazon.

Hop along to the other participating authors’ sites:

The Book Gourmet – Book News and Highlights

First Course — The Amuse Bouche

The Trail Master’s Bride (by Maddie Taylor): “The west is no place for a young, newly single woman, and the job of keeping Mina safe—and keeping her in line—falls to Weston Carr, the rugged trail master.”

Return (by Alexis Alvarez):  “A romance author bases her book’s hero on a sexy dom, and he requests a very specific payback…”

Second Course — The Appetizer

Rachel De Vine (author of four popular books) has a new book out on market as of tomorrow, September 4. It’s called Songbird, and tells the story of a dom with a hurdle to leap when he finds the woman of his dreams, but learns that she’s got some hangups that would prevent them ever getting together. In the meantime, all he can do is listen to her lovely voice and admire her. The action often takes place in a nightclub, owned by another man who has some problems of his own. He’s got a wife and a lover and it jeopardizes his relationship with his daughter. Snag a copy of Rachel’s book tomorrow and hear the sweet tones of her songbird as you imagine the music in the book. It will be available at Amazon and Blushing Books.

Third Course — The Entrée

Not an official cover picture.

I’m pleased to announce my new affiliation with Decadent Publishing. You might recall that I was going to drop publication of the Sonata’s Moon serial set (two books). The project was daunting, and I’m both not good at self-publishing and not convinced it’s worth it for me. As it turned out, the person who edited the books for me when I was looking to self-publish, Kate Richards of Wizards in Publishing, happened to be affiliated with Decadent Publishing as their Executive Editor. She loved Sonata’s Moon and wanted me to submit it to Decadent. She was certain it would be snapped up. It was! So this week, I signed two contracts with Decadent, agreeing to publish Sonata’s Moon, Book One: Surface and Sonata’s Moon, Book Two: Sanctuary with them. They are being processed now, and I have no firm release date yet. I’ll keep you posted.

Fourth Course — The Dessert

Did you follow my recent blog tour? It was an unmitigated disaster, I’m unhappy to report. Forty percent of the bloggers who agreed to feature Striker simply didn’t post. I was so dismayed; why would people agree and then not follow through? Sizzling PR was not responsible; they can’t make people do what they agree to. But I found it disappointing and upsetting. If you tried to follow in order to participate in The Name Game contest, you would have been hard-pressed to do it. I gave out a $5 gift certificate to the winner instead, and will be offering The Name Game again in the near future for my blog/newsletter subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please consider it now. (Subscription form, upper right.)

Thanks for reading The Book Gourmet this week! I wish you a pleasant weekend ahead. Happy Labor Day.