Naomi Dawn Musch's Blog: NEW Discussion Guide, page 8
August 6, 2018
Winner of Linda Yezak's Circle Bar Ranch Prize Giveaway!
Thank you to everyone who participated with your comments and follows during Linda Yezak's Ride to the Altar (Circle Bar Ranch Book Three) blog tour!
We have a winner for the prize package giveaway!
and the winner is:Linda Orr
Congratulations, Linda!
We have a winner for the prize package giveaway!
and the winner is:Linda Orr
Congratulations, Linda!
July 23, 2018
Giveaway Tour for RIDE TO THE ALTAR by Linda W. Yezak
I'm thrilled to have Linda Yezak on my blog today. Linda and I have never met in person, and yet we go way back to the pre-Facebook days when we met on an online Christian Writers forum. It has been an honor to both grow a friendship and to follow her writing career ever since. Today she's going to talk about her summer, writing process, and characters in her new release
RIDE TO THE ALTAR.
She's also offering a chance to win a terrific cowgirl giveaway package at the end of the post.
About the Book:
Cattle are dying on the Circle Bar, putting the Texas ranch in financial jeopardy. Newly engaged Patricia Talbert and Talon Carlson must root out the cause before they can concentrate on wedding plans.
But that mystery isn't their only obstacle. To placate her father, Patricia must return to her hometown of Manhattan to make amends with her mother, the interfering, dominating woman she has hardly spoken to in a year. Her father decides it is time for them to declare a truce, but considering the depth of anger she holds against her mother, how can she?
While she is away, Talon discovers that the attacks on the ranch are connected to the murder of his first fiancée over eight years ago. Memories plague him and emotions confound him as he scrambles to discover who is trying to destroy him and the ranch. By the time Patricia returns from New York, the strikes against the Circle Bar have become more aggressive, to the point of injury for one of the ranch hands.
Before they can move forward together, each have to resolve the past. Their Ride to the Altar has twists and turns neither ever considered. Will they be able to start their new life with a clean slate?
Interview with Linda
* This has been a terrific series, especially for fun summer reading. How about your summer? With everything you're up to, are you finding ways to enjoy your summer or are you focused on writing projects throughout?
We're more likely to vacation in spring or fall, but summertime is reserved for festivals and book events, some of which we attend every June. Each year, I pay for vendor space in two festivals—the Blueberry Festival here in east Texas and the Polish Festival in central Texas. We've worked these two for so long, I have repeat customers. It's great to have a following, no matter how small. This year, we had the added benefit of a library event—held indoors, thank You, Jesus! Aside from these, I have one more event—a speech to the ACFW chapter in The Woodlands, near Houston, then things will quieten down until fall.
Even while I'm working the release of Ride to the Altar, I'm trying to find time to finish a historical romance novella. This one is called Loving a Harvey Girl, for The Cowboy Collection to be released next year by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina's Smitten imprint. Time is moving much faster than I am. The story is due next month, and if my life doesn't slow down a bit, I may not make the deadline!
That sounds intensely busy! Writing is certainly a multi-tasking process. Speaking of that, readers have gotten to know Talon and Patricia like good friends. Can you tell us a little about your personal process for creating your characters?
I'm a bit of a pantser and rarely do anything formally before I have a few chapters written. Of course, I have a general idea of what I want to do before I start, so I'm aware of the type of characters I'll need, but rarely do I have a clue as to their personalities. As I write, my characters introduce themselves to me, and as they do, I discover which will be used to make certain events occur in the story.
Sometimes, a character will want more of the limelight than their assigned role demands. With the first of my Circle Bar Ranch series, Give the Lady a Ride, secondary character Marie Lambeau was much more flamboyant than the heroine, Patricia Talbert. I had to tone her down considerably, but she's still a hoot. She matures over the course of the series and is Patricia's rock when it comes to matters of faith.
In my stand-alone The Cat Lady's Secret, one of the minor characters turned out to be the culprit who was burning down the town's historic homes. When it dawned on me that he would be the perfect one to be guilty of the crime, I had to actually do a character sketch and some free-writing to figure out why. Since he was such a minor character, I didn't have much of a clue about his background and what would drive him to commit such a crime. This was around mid-book, so I had to work within the perimeters of what I'd already written, but I also had to go back and weave in a bit more about him—a typical hazard of being a pantser. But spending time with the character enhanced the story.
For the Circle Bar Ranch series, I knew I was going to do a “fish out of water” story—city girl meets bull-riding ranch foreman. I also knew I had to avoid stereotypes, so Patricia Talbert has some knowledge about ranching, and Talon Carlson has a college degree. And, frankly, those tidbits of information were the only things I knew about the characters before I started writing. It was fun watching them develop, and now they're as real to me as my next-door neighbors.
Do you have a favorite character or character “type” you like to write about?
Hard to pick one. Over the course of the series, the characters I love most are Frank Simmons and Consuela Garcia. Both are secondary characters, but both add so much to the story. The oldest cowhand on the ranch, Frank tends to play Talon's conscience and Patricia's surrogate father while she's so far from her real dad.
But Consuela, the cook/maid/laundress/honorary-mama, is my favorite. She is high-tempered and outspoken. She loves fiercely and is highly loyal and also serves as a source of wisdom for Patricia. One of my favorite scenes featuring Consuela is in The Final Ride when Patricia's aunt Adele joins the cast. Adele is the quintessential New York snob who is accustomed to servants, and Consuela has never been treated like a servant her entire life. The scene in which Consuela confronts Patricia about her aunt still makes me giggle.
Because there seems to be fewer rules for writing secondary characters, I find them far more fun to play with. As long as they don't outshine the main character, as Marie once did Patricia, the sky's the limit with them.
I have to admit, I'm going to miss the cast and crew of the Circle Bar Ranch. I've already had one request to write a fourth book. It's tempting.
About the Author
Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in a forest in deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee—with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.
Website: http://lindawyezak.com Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda Facebook: Author PagePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/ Twitter: @LindaYezakAmazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage Goodreads: Linda W Yezak
Enter to win the fabulous cowgirl prize package! Included in the prize basket are a signed print version of the series, a 16-ounce Christian cowboy mug, a horseshoe picture frame, a Ph. 4:13 stretch bracelet, a cute set of magnetic page markers, and, just for fun, a Texas Rubiks cube. To enter to win, just leave a comment on something you've read here. Linda is visiting a series of blogs, and you can enter on every one. Her next stop to win is at Linda Glaz's blog.
About the Book:
Cattle are dying on the Circle Bar, putting the Texas ranch in financial jeopardy. Newly engaged Patricia Talbert and Talon Carlson must root out the cause before they can concentrate on wedding plans.
But that mystery isn't their only obstacle. To placate her father, Patricia must return to her hometown of Manhattan to make amends with her mother, the interfering, dominating woman she has hardly spoken to in a year. Her father decides it is time for them to declare a truce, but considering the depth of anger she holds against her mother, how can she?
While she is away, Talon discovers that the attacks on the ranch are connected to the murder of his first fiancée over eight years ago. Memories plague him and emotions confound him as he scrambles to discover who is trying to destroy him and the ranch. By the time Patricia returns from New York, the strikes against the Circle Bar have become more aggressive, to the point of injury for one of the ranch hands.
Before they can move forward together, each have to resolve the past. Their Ride to the Altar has twists and turns neither ever considered. Will they be able to start their new life with a clean slate?
Interview with Linda
* This has been a terrific series, especially for fun summer reading. How about your summer? With everything you're up to, are you finding ways to enjoy your summer or are you focused on writing projects throughout?
We're more likely to vacation in spring or fall, but summertime is reserved for festivals and book events, some of which we attend every June. Each year, I pay for vendor space in two festivals—the Blueberry Festival here in east Texas and the Polish Festival in central Texas. We've worked these two for so long, I have repeat customers. It's great to have a following, no matter how small. This year, we had the added benefit of a library event—held indoors, thank You, Jesus! Aside from these, I have one more event—a speech to the ACFW chapter in The Woodlands, near Houston, then things will quieten down until fall.
Even while I'm working the release of Ride to the Altar, I'm trying to find time to finish a historical romance novella. This one is called Loving a Harvey Girl, for The Cowboy Collection to be released next year by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina's Smitten imprint. Time is moving much faster than I am. The story is due next month, and if my life doesn't slow down a bit, I may not make the deadline!
That sounds intensely busy! Writing is certainly a multi-tasking process. Speaking of that, readers have gotten to know Talon and Patricia like good friends. Can you tell us a little about your personal process for creating your characters?
I'm a bit of a pantser and rarely do anything formally before I have a few chapters written. Of course, I have a general idea of what I want to do before I start, so I'm aware of the type of characters I'll need, but rarely do I have a clue as to their personalities. As I write, my characters introduce themselves to me, and as they do, I discover which will be used to make certain events occur in the story.
Sometimes, a character will want more of the limelight than their assigned role demands. With the first of my Circle Bar Ranch series, Give the Lady a Ride, secondary character Marie Lambeau was much more flamboyant than the heroine, Patricia Talbert. I had to tone her down considerably, but she's still a hoot. She matures over the course of the series and is Patricia's rock when it comes to matters of faith.
In my stand-alone The Cat Lady's Secret, one of the minor characters turned out to be the culprit who was burning down the town's historic homes. When it dawned on me that he would be the perfect one to be guilty of the crime, I had to actually do a character sketch and some free-writing to figure out why. Since he was such a minor character, I didn't have much of a clue about his background and what would drive him to commit such a crime. This was around mid-book, so I had to work within the perimeters of what I'd already written, but I also had to go back and weave in a bit more about him—a typical hazard of being a pantser. But spending time with the character enhanced the story.
For the Circle Bar Ranch series, I knew I was going to do a “fish out of water” story—city girl meets bull-riding ranch foreman. I also knew I had to avoid stereotypes, so Patricia Talbert has some knowledge about ranching, and Talon Carlson has a college degree. And, frankly, those tidbits of information were the only things I knew about the characters before I started writing. It was fun watching them develop, and now they're as real to me as my next-door neighbors.
Do you have a favorite character or character “type” you like to write about?
Hard to pick one. Over the course of the series, the characters I love most are Frank Simmons and Consuela Garcia. Both are secondary characters, but both add so much to the story. The oldest cowhand on the ranch, Frank tends to play Talon's conscience and Patricia's surrogate father while she's so far from her real dad.
But Consuela, the cook/maid/laundress/honorary-mama, is my favorite. She is high-tempered and outspoken. She loves fiercely and is highly loyal and also serves as a source of wisdom for Patricia. One of my favorite scenes featuring Consuela is in The Final Ride when Patricia's aunt Adele joins the cast. Adele is the quintessential New York snob who is accustomed to servants, and Consuela has never been treated like a servant her entire life. The scene in which Consuela confronts Patricia about her aunt still makes me giggle.
Because there seems to be fewer rules for writing secondary characters, I find them far more fun to play with. As long as they don't outshine the main character, as Marie once did Patricia, the sky's the limit with them.
I have to admit, I'm going to miss the cast and crew of the Circle Bar Ranch. I've already had one request to write a fourth book. It's tempting.
About the AuthorLinda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in a forest in deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee—with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.
Website: http://lindawyezak.com Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda Facebook: Author PagePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/ Twitter: @LindaYezakAmazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage Goodreads: Linda W Yezak
Enter to win the fabulous cowgirl prize package! Included in the prize basket are a signed print version of the series, a 16-ounce Christian cowboy mug, a horseshoe picture frame, a Ph. 4:13 stretch bracelet, a cute set of magnetic page markers, and, just for fun, a Texas Rubiks cube. To enter to win, just leave a comment on something you've read here. Linda is visiting a series of blogs, and you can enter on every one. Her next stop to win is at Linda Glaz's blog.
July 18, 2018
Read an Excerpt and Get the Pre-Order Price on a New Historical Romance
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERTo arrive in your mailbox in October, 2018Mist O’er the Voyageura Novel of Romance, Adventure, and the Lake Superior Fur Trade
ABOUT THE BOOK:After her aunt’s death, Métis woman Brigitte Marchal finds herself alone in Montreal. Uninterested in the convent and desperate to flee a loathsome suitor, she disguises herself as a young man to travel west by voyageurs’ brigade in search of her long-absent, fur-trader father. But her inexperience and disguise don’t hide her for long.René Dufour yields to the unwelcome position of shielding Brigitte, but he cannot hide her identity forever. Keeping her safe while meeting his North West Company obligations and honoring his family promises may prove to be more disquieting to his heart than he imagined.As Brigitte adjusts to the voyageur life on Lake Superior, she struggles to justify the faith she grew up in with the mysticism around her, but greater still is the conflict her heart must settle over who to trust in this rugged, unfamiliar country. Get the paperback for the pre-order price of only $7.95 here! READ AN EXCERPT:René’s shadow fell over her. “Marchal, if I am not mistaken. Brigitte Marchal.” His voice barely more than a whisper, pinned her to the ground. She was a fish caught on a spear with no hope of wriggling free. She looked up. His sharp eyes impaled her.She lowered the bowl. Swallowed. The food stuck somewhere in her chest as she nodded.“Imbécile!”Brigitte cringed and stared at his legs as he shifted his weight back and forth. Her gaze crawled slowly to the level of his hands on his hips, then slowly to his face. She quickly looked away.“What were you thinking? Why have you followed me? You must return to your home, to the convent.”She dashed a glance upward, but he wasn’t looking at her. His chest rose and fell. His gaze swept about them. Then he zeroed in on her again. A knot worked in his jaw. “I have no one to spare to take you back, but you willgo.”“Non.” She shook her head. “I am going on. I am hired by the company.”“You cannot.” He looked as though he wanted to shake her, but men did not shake one another. They wrestled. They slung their fists. Did he wish she was a man right now so he could beat her?“I must.” She set the bowl aside and pushed to her feet. Courage—nay, determination—burrowed deep in her soul. “I will not go back. I cannot. I will find my father, and if I do not, I will perhaps search for my mother’s people or”—she shrugged—“or go wherever the river leads me. I will not be a burden.”A sigh rushed out of him. “You are already a burden.”“How? I have paddled as long as the rest. No one knows who I am except for you.”“We have traveled one day on a journey of weeks!” He lifted his finger into the air and pointed it in her face. “One day!” His face reddened.She stepped back, but her back stiffened. “One day or a hundred. It matters not. I will work as hard as the others.”“Tomorrow we portage the Long Sault. You know what that means?”She gave the slightest nod.“You will have to carry a pack. A pack which I doubt you can even lift.”There lay the crux of her problem.“Show me. Show me how you will carry them.” He marched several yards to a stack of bundles piled beneath the trees.She stared at him, but he did not budge. He waited. She trudged toward him, stopping near a bundle of goods. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and lifted. The weight of it barely cleared the ground before it plunged back to the soil. She gasped as her face burned.“In less than a day, I have discovered you. How long before these voyageurs do as well? And then what will you do? How can I protect you?”“Protect me?”“Oui. Protect you. You are one woman among many men.” He needn’t say more. Mist O’er the Voyageur Pre-order for $7.95
ABOUT THE BOOK:After her aunt’s death, Métis woman Brigitte Marchal finds herself alone in Montreal. Uninterested in the convent and desperate to flee a loathsome suitor, she disguises herself as a young man to travel west by voyageurs’ brigade in search of her long-absent, fur-trader father. But her inexperience and disguise don’t hide her for long.René Dufour yields to the unwelcome position of shielding Brigitte, but he cannot hide her identity forever. Keeping her safe while meeting his North West Company obligations and honoring his family promises may prove to be more disquieting to his heart than he imagined.As Brigitte adjusts to the voyageur life on Lake Superior, she struggles to justify the faith she grew up in with the mysticism around her, but greater still is the conflict her heart must settle over who to trust in this rugged, unfamiliar country. Get the paperback for the pre-order price of only $7.95 here! READ AN EXCERPT:René’s shadow fell over her. “Marchal, if I am not mistaken. Brigitte Marchal.” His voice barely more than a whisper, pinned her to the ground. She was a fish caught on a spear with no hope of wriggling free. She looked up. His sharp eyes impaled her.She lowered the bowl. Swallowed. The food stuck somewhere in her chest as she nodded.“Imbécile!”Brigitte cringed and stared at his legs as he shifted his weight back and forth. Her gaze crawled slowly to the level of his hands on his hips, then slowly to his face. She quickly looked away.“What were you thinking? Why have you followed me? You must return to your home, to the convent.”She dashed a glance upward, but he wasn’t looking at her. His chest rose and fell. His gaze swept about them. Then he zeroed in on her again. A knot worked in his jaw. “I have no one to spare to take you back, but you willgo.”“Non.” She shook her head. “I am going on. I am hired by the company.”“You cannot.” He looked as though he wanted to shake her, but men did not shake one another. They wrestled. They slung their fists. Did he wish she was a man right now so he could beat her?“I must.” She set the bowl aside and pushed to her feet. Courage—nay, determination—burrowed deep in her soul. “I will not go back. I cannot. I will find my father, and if I do not, I will perhaps search for my mother’s people or”—she shrugged—“or go wherever the river leads me. I will not be a burden.”A sigh rushed out of him. “You are already a burden.”“How? I have paddled as long as the rest. No one knows who I am except for you.”“We have traveled one day on a journey of weeks!” He lifted his finger into the air and pointed it in her face. “One day!” His face reddened.She stepped back, but her back stiffened. “One day or a hundred. It matters not. I will work as hard as the others.”“Tomorrow we portage the Long Sault. You know what that means?”She gave the slightest nod.“You will have to carry a pack. A pack which I doubt you can even lift.”There lay the crux of her problem.“Show me. Show me how you will carry them.” He marched several yards to a stack of bundles piled beneath the trees.She stared at him, but he did not budge. He waited. She trudged toward him, stopping near a bundle of goods. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and lifted. The weight of it barely cleared the ground before it plunged back to the soil. She gasped as her face burned.“In less than a day, I have discovered you. How long before these voyageurs do as well? And then what will you do? How can I protect you?”“Protect me?”“Oui. Protect you. You are one woman among many men.” He needn’t say more. Mist O’er the Voyageur Pre-order for $7.95
June 15, 2018
A Shake-Up in Publishing and My Personal World -- But God's Got This!
What did Longfellow say,"Into each life some rain must fall"?
It's a rainy week, and I'm talking metaphorically, even though we're experiencing some powerful literal storms in Wisconsin as well. I received news yesterday -- as did the entire entourage of my fellow authors, editors, and cover artists at Desert Breeze Publishing -- that after ten years in the business, DBP is closing it's doors. There's nothing nefarious going on, no bankruptcy or anything like that. But as anyone knows, sometimes things come into our lives that force us to change direction, and my wonderful publishers Gail and Jenifer at DBP have reached a place where they feel now is the time to make this decision.
Of course, the many of us published by DBP or left with incompleted contracts are trying to wrap our minds and hearts around this news. Some of the authors had books about to come out that will be cancelled now, and some, like me, just had a new release that will be gone as quickly as it was birthed. At every end of the spectrum, there is sadness, and yet we are grateful for the opportunities we were given.
Here's the thing: God is not surprised.
When I signed with DBP almost nine years ago, I knew that small and independent presses often have brief lifespans. Good gravy, even big publishers get swept up into larger overhead organizations or sometimes bite the dust. I never expected DBP to go on forever, no matter how I dreamed it might for both the publishers and authors like me who found a welcome home there. Transition is part of the publishing world. I am thankful that Gail and Jenifer are working at making the whole dismantling as smooth and painless as possible for us. They hope to go out in grace and style.
So, what does that mean for me and for those of you who have enjoyed my books? (I love you!) It means that VERY SOON my books will come down for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, DBP, and other online retailers, probably before the end of JUNE.
However, this is not the end for my books!
I am praying hard right now for God's direction as I try to figure out the best plan for these stories I've poured my heart so deeply into. Some will most likely be independently re-released. This will give me a wonderful opportunity to do some tightening and re-editing -- maybe even adding some additional scenes (or not!). I'll have to give each book an in-depth study and see. Others may find new homes at other presses. There is not a real answer yet. I am fully at peace however, knowing that God is opening doors I don't even know about yet, and if He is choosing to close some, then that is well and good too. He's got it. I'm good. May he bless my publishers, friends, and fellow authors at DBP!
So, if you want to grab a LAST copy of any of my books or download an ebook, DON'T WAIT! I am going to have a few remaining copies on hand, but these won't last, and I will be saving them for close-to-home sales.
~My Personal Silver Lining~
Amidst the rain clouds, I do have a silver lining. I still have the dear-to-my-heart historical novel Mist O'er the Voyageur releasing from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in October. I will be able to put a lot of focus on that exciting, long-awaited release. I will also have a forthcoming novella published in an historical romance collection with several other LPC authors. Please consider signing up for my newsletter to be kept abreast of these releases as well as the future of my previous books -- and PLEASE keep me and the other DBP authors in your thoughts and prayers as we say goodbye to DBP and make the tough decisions for our works.
With much appreciation and many grateful thoughts,Naomi
It's a rainy week, and I'm talking metaphorically, even though we're experiencing some powerful literal storms in Wisconsin as well. I received news yesterday -- as did the entire entourage of my fellow authors, editors, and cover artists at Desert Breeze Publishing -- that after ten years in the business, DBP is closing it's doors. There's nothing nefarious going on, no bankruptcy or anything like that. But as anyone knows, sometimes things come into our lives that force us to change direction, and my wonderful publishers Gail and Jenifer at DBP have reached a place where they feel now is the time to make this decision.
Of course, the many of us published by DBP or left with incompleted contracts are trying to wrap our minds and hearts around this news. Some of the authors had books about to come out that will be cancelled now, and some, like me, just had a new release that will be gone as quickly as it was birthed. At every end of the spectrum, there is sadness, and yet we are grateful for the opportunities we were given.
Here's the thing: God is not surprised.
When I signed with DBP almost nine years ago, I knew that small and independent presses often have brief lifespans. Good gravy, even big publishers get swept up into larger overhead organizations or sometimes bite the dust. I never expected DBP to go on forever, no matter how I dreamed it might for both the publishers and authors like me who found a welcome home there. Transition is part of the publishing world. I am thankful that Gail and Jenifer are working at making the whole dismantling as smooth and painless as possible for us. They hope to go out in grace and style.
So, what does that mean for me and for those of you who have enjoyed my books? (I love you!) It means that VERY SOON my books will come down for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, DBP, and other online retailers, probably before the end of JUNE.
However, this is not the end for my books!
I am praying hard right now for God's direction as I try to figure out the best plan for these stories I've poured my heart so deeply into. Some will most likely be independently re-released. This will give me a wonderful opportunity to do some tightening and re-editing -- maybe even adding some additional scenes (or not!). I'll have to give each book an in-depth study and see. Others may find new homes at other presses. There is not a real answer yet. I am fully at peace however, knowing that God is opening doors I don't even know about yet, and if He is choosing to close some, then that is well and good too. He's got it. I'm good. May he bless my publishers, friends, and fellow authors at DBP!
So, if you want to grab a LAST copy of any of my books or download an ebook, DON'T WAIT! I am going to have a few remaining copies on hand, but these won't last, and I will be saving them for close-to-home sales.
~My Personal Silver Lining~
Amidst the rain clouds, I do have a silver lining. I still have the dear-to-my-heart historical novel Mist O'er the Voyageur releasing from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in October. I will be able to put a lot of focus on that exciting, long-awaited release. I will also have a forthcoming novella published in an historical romance collection with several other LPC authors. Please consider signing up for my newsletter to be kept abreast of these releases as well as the future of my previous books -- and PLEASE keep me and the other DBP authors in your thoughts and prayers as we say goodbye to DBP and make the tough decisions for our works.
With much appreciation and many grateful thoughts,Naomi
May 25, 2018
Page-Turning Tension in Three Strand Cord by Tracy Krauss - a Book Review
Tracy Krauss delivers another round of convincing characters and page-turning tension in Three Strand Cord.
From the get-go, as we meet Tempest, Stella, and Cherise, the three best friend protagonists, their distinct personalities, quirks, and foibles make them individual and believable.
The story begins with them in their early years when they are fraught with typical teenage angst, though their circumstances might be different than most. However, as the story spins on, Ms. Krauss does a superb job of weaving together three tales of young women in their twenties, still striving for emancipation and individual relevance while becoming embroiled in a riveting international intrigue through which they face powerful moral, romantic, and spiritual dilemmas. Ms. Kraus does an excellent job of weaving together those threads – along with the three strands of their friendship toward the climax.
And if you like a good love triangle, there are several to go around. Ms. Krauss is an author who knows how to reel you in with some smoking hot romantic tension. If you like contemporary Christian romance with a strong thread of suspense that will keep you guessing, you’ll want to add this one to your must-read list.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I always strive to give an honest review with the perspective of which genre the book was written in, regardless of whether the genre is a favorite of mine or not.
May 19, 2018
Christian Fiction Lovers, Heroic Women Facebook Party!
Here's a party you don't want to miss, coming up this Monday, 5/21! I'm not just saying that because I'm one of the authors presenting. I can't wait to hear about some of these books. There are several BRAND NEW titles across a range of genres so there's "literally" something for everyone. Plus, here's the perfect chance to get the scoop on each story straight from the authors themselves and to ask them the questions you've been wondering about. ALSO: if you'd like to get a little preview before the party, see each novel featured over on the Word Sharpeners blog. Here's the link to the CHRISTIAN FICTION LOVERS HEROIC WOMEN FB PARTY!
May 16, 2018
The Pony Express Collection -- a review
The Pony Express Romance Collection: Historic Express Mail Route Delivers Nine Inspiring RomancesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was excited to dip into the Pony Express collection of novellas because it brought to mind one my favorite television series of the early ‘90s. Anybody remember The Young Riders? Fun stuff. This collection is chock full of that kind of historical romantic adventure. I particularly enjoyed Pegg Thomas’s Embattled Hearts. It’s gritty, and her voice is very rich and strong – true to the setting and period, which is something I particularly like in historical fiction. It gives realism to the romance. I have a few of the stories still to read, but I look forward to some pleasurable hours ahead.
View all my reviews
May 8, 2018
Cover Reveal! The Softest Breath, Echoes of the Heart, Book Two!
DRUM ROLL, FOLKS!Here's the cover!Book Two of the Echoes of the Heart series is about to be revealed:
Gwen’s desperation touches Jacob, but he knows her thoroughly modern type.Not at all an old-fashioned, wholesome girl like the one he can’t forget.
Back Cover Synopsis
Modern girls seemed always in a hurry. Now one of them has slammed into Jacob Hessman on the street near St. Paul's Union Depot and boarded his train. He knows her type: flapper-chic in her bobbed hair and stylish dress, so different from the sweet, country-bred kind of girl who once filled his heart.
Gwendolyn Smith’s narrow window of time to escape Hugh Phelps is closing fast. Performing in speakeasies and underground clubs has left her mistrustful of most men, but the big fellow she plows into on her flight to the station seems safe enough to attach herself to for short term protection.
Friendship unfolds, but Gwen hides behind lies, wishing she might deserve such a God-fearing man as Jacob, and Jacob’s pursuit of a perfect wife conflicts with his mounting concern for Gwen. Meanwhile, Hugh is catching up. For Jacob and Gwen, trapped in their pasts and misconceptions, the time for truth and love is running out.
THE SOFTEST BREATH is not available for pre-order, but the book drops on May 21st, so get it on your to-be-read list now!
~Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, Desert Breeze Publishing~
Gwen’s desperation touches Jacob, but he knows her thoroughly modern type.Not at all an old-fashioned, wholesome girl like the one he can’t forget.
Back Cover Synopsis
Modern girls seemed always in a hurry. Now one of them has slammed into Jacob Hessman on the street near St. Paul's Union Depot and boarded his train. He knows her type: flapper-chic in her bobbed hair and stylish dress, so different from the sweet, country-bred kind of girl who once filled his heart.
Gwendolyn Smith’s narrow window of time to escape Hugh Phelps is closing fast. Performing in speakeasies and underground clubs has left her mistrustful of most men, but the big fellow she plows into on her flight to the station seems safe enough to attach herself to for short term protection.
Friendship unfolds, but Gwen hides behind lies, wishing she might deserve such a God-fearing man as Jacob, and Jacob’s pursuit of a perfect wife conflicts with his mounting concern for Gwen. Meanwhile, Hugh is catching up. For Jacob and Gwen, trapped in their pasts and misconceptions, the time for truth and love is running out.
THE SOFTEST BREATH is not available for pre-order, but the book drops on May 21st, so get it on your to-be-read list now!
~Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, Desert Breeze Publishing~
April 9, 2018
Getting to Know You... Digging Deep into Characterization
Who doesn't dread the flat character who is difficult to attach to? Thankfully, we writers have little tricks for developing our characters to make them multi-dimensional, some lovable, others...not so much. Some characters are just there to make our readers all angsty and edgy. I love it!
About those tricks. Some of us interview our characters. Other writers systematically fill out character worksheets to determine all the things that make them tick. Some of us just talk and talk about them to our families, until our husbands and kids begin to think we might even leave our characters a place in our will.
However, maybe you're a writer who struggles with character development. If so, here are some of my tricks, put together over the years from a multitude of sources including several other great writers out there and a lot of my own trial and error.
1.) The Free-Write
This is stream-of-conscious writing, wherein you just slip into your characters skin and start letting them explain their thoughts, their needs, their reasons for everything they're doing. Let them scream out their problems or beg in prayer for help. Let them tell you what's wrong with the other people around them and what they wish. Let them journal their faith questions, their love life, and anything else that's in their thoughts and heart, whether or not you use it all later.
This is a great way to discover back-story.
2.) The Interview
Similar to stream-of-conscious, this is where you ask your character questions and allow them to answer in their own voices. You might have to pry. Here are some examples:
What are you most afraid of?What keeps you awake at night?What do you want more than anything else in the world?What is keeping your from going after and getting what you want?Who do you wish you were closer to?What were your parents like? Your home life as a child?Have you ever been in love? Do you want to be?Is there a secret you are keeping?Have you ever let anyone down?Are you running from something?Are you organized? Really? Would you use a weapon for protection if you had to, and what kind would you use? What about if it meant protecting someone you love?Do people trust your word? Why, or why not?Do you have trouble trusting others, or is that not a problem; again, why or why not?You get the idea. You'll learn a great deal about your character when they answer these questions.
You'll begin to hear their unique voice and figure out how they'll respond to conflict.
There's another question you could ask your character, but it's so big it deserves it's own category of exploration.
3.) Discovering the Emotional Wound
What happened in your character's past (either recently or more distant) that has left such an impact on him or her, it creeps in and drives his or her decisions, their moral character, their emotions. You'll have to think about this for a while. Every emotional wound comes with a variety of possible outcomes. For some, an emotional wound -- say, the loss of a loved one -- drives them to a bigger, more noble purpose. They create funds, develop community organizations, help others suffering. For others, they turn inward, become bitter, become fearful and reclusive. There are many other reactions. I would suggest that you think about this very deeply. There will be consistent and inconsistent reactions related to emotional wounds. There will be lashing out and there will be self-blame. There will be vindictiveness or running away. It all depends. For help discovering your character's emotional wound, I recommend the Emotional Wound Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.
Your character's emotional wound will be the driving force behind the way they react to any given situation in the story until they find healing.
4.) Exploring The Lie
Your character has a misconception about his world. It's the Lie he believes that goes along with his emotional wound. So when fleshing out a character, determine what that lie is and explore it to its full potential. Here are a few common lies to be considered, but there are HUNDREDS.
The only way to have value or love is to always do for others, no matter what it costs you.You're not somebody unless you have material wealth and success.You'll be happy when the people who've wronged you "get theirs".You can only trust yourself.You/I don't deserve love or happiness.You/I don't deserve children.No one is capable of doing as good a job at ... as you/me.You/I don't deserve forgiveness.Might makes right.Finding and nurturing the Lie will also help you discover themes that are integral to your story so you can create scenes that amplify the themes -- and eventually bring dynamic change to your character.
5.) Character RecastingSometimes when I'm really stuck -- I mean hip deep in quicksand stuck -- I think about characters that I've loved - or loved to hate. I return to movies, books, my old stories, anyplace where a character lives on in my memory, for good or for bad. I don't plagiarize those characters, because that's illegal, don't ya know. But I do give then a good, close look. I think of attributes that made them stand out. I think about the lies they believed. I think about their responses to those lies and to what their desires became because of them. I think about story themes in the worlds where those characters live.
Sometimes this activity will inspire a great new idea for one of my characters that is lacking a little something.
If you use character re-casting, it doesn't hurt to clip out a picture (if one exists) or pin one to your Pinterest Board just for reference when you feel like they're getting misty on you. There are other good uses for doing that as well, like remembering the shape of their face or the color of their eyes. Peek at some of my boards for my books and characters. Here's one for heroines, another for The Deepest Sigh, my May '18 novel The Softest Breath, and my Oct. '18 novel, Mist O'er the Voyageur.
6.) Resting
Once you've really started getting to know your character, let the paperwork rest. Take a walk. For me, a shower is a great tool to warm up my imagination. I'm not even kidding! Get away from the keyboard and just bake cookies or something. Invite your character to hang out with you and get to know each other. They might just clue you in to something you never even considered before. Some secret, some scene waiting to be revealed. If that happens, scurry to a notebook and write it down before it gets away. Your in-laws might think you're ready to be committed, but:
The more you build a relationship with your fictional character, the more your reader will be able to do the same.
Iisn't that the point? Getting those readers to grow attached to your character and his or her plight is what the whole story-telling thing is all about!
I hope this helps you have fun getting acquainted with your characters.
Write on!
About those tricks. Some of us interview our characters. Other writers systematically fill out character worksheets to determine all the things that make them tick. Some of us just talk and talk about them to our families, until our husbands and kids begin to think we might even leave our characters a place in our will.
However, maybe you're a writer who struggles with character development. If so, here are some of my tricks, put together over the years from a multitude of sources including several other great writers out there and a lot of my own trial and error.
1.) The Free-Write
This is stream-of-conscious writing, wherein you just slip into your characters skin and start letting them explain their thoughts, their needs, their reasons for everything they're doing. Let them scream out their problems or beg in prayer for help. Let them tell you what's wrong with the other people around them and what they wish. Let them journal their faith questions, their love life, and anything else that's in their thoughts and heart, whether or not you use it all later.
This is a great way to discover back-story.
2.) The Interview
Similar to stream-of-conscious, this is where you ask your character questions and allow them to answer in their own voices. You might have to pry. Here are some examples:
What are you most afraid of?What keeps you awake at night?What do you want more than anything else in the world?What is keeping your from going after and getting what you want?Who do you wish you were closer to?What were your parents like? Your home life as a child?Have you ever been in love? Do you want to be?Is there a secret you are keeping?Have you ever let anyone down?Are you running from something?Are you organized? Really? Would you use a weapon for protection if you had to, and what kind would you use? What about if it meant protecting someone you love?Do people trust your word? Why, or why not?Do you have trouble trusting others, or is that not a problem; again, why or why not?You get the idea. You'll learn a great deal about your character when they answer these questions.
You'll begin to hear their unique voice and figure out how they'll respond to conflict.
There's another question you could ask your character, but it's so big it deserves it's own category of exploration.
3.) Discovering the Emotional Wound
What happened in your character's past (either recently or more distant) that has left such an impact on him or her, it creeps in and drives his or her decisions, their moral character, their emotions. You'll have to think about this for a while. Every emotional wound comes with a variety of possible outcomes. For some, an emotional wound -- say, the loss of a loved one -- drives them to a bigger, more noble purpose. They create funds, develop community organizations, help others suffering. For others, they turn inward, become bitter, become fearful and reclusive. There are many other reactions. I would suggest that you think about this very deeply. There will be consistent and inconsistent reactions related to emotional wounds. There will be lashing out and there will be self-blame. There will be vindictiveness or running away. It all depends. For help discovering your character's emotional wound, I recommend the Emotional Wound Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.
Your character's emotional wound will be the driving force behind the way they react to any given situation in the story until they find healing.
4.) Exploring The Lie
Your character has a misconception about his world. It's the Lie he believes that goes along with his emotional wound. So when fleshing out a character, determine what that lie is and explore it to its full potential. Here are a few common lies to be considered, but there are HUNDREDS.
The only way to have value or love is to always do for others, no matter what it costs you.You're not somebody unless you have material wealth and success.You'll be happy when the people who've wronged you "get theirs".You can only trust yourself.You/I don't deserve love or happiness.You/I don't deserve children.No one is capable of doing as good a job at ... as you/me.You/I don't deserve forgiveness.Might makes right.Finding and nurturing the Lie will also help you discover themes that are integral to your story so you can create scenes that amplify the themes -- and eventually bring dynamic change to your character.
5.) Character RecastingSometimes when I'm really stuck -- I mean hip deep in quicksand stuck -- I think about characters that I've loved - or loved to hate. I return to movies, books, my old stories, anyplace where a character lives on in my memory, for good or for bad. I don't plagiarize those characters, because that's illegal, don't ya know. But I do give then a good, close look. I think of attributes that made them stand out. I think about the lies they believed. I think about their responses to those lies and to what their desires became because of them. I think about story themes in the worlds where those characters live.
Sometimes this activity will inspire a great new idea for one of my characters that is lacking a little something.
If you use character re-casting, it doesn't hurt to clip out a picture (if one exists) or pin one to your Pinterest Board just for reference when you feel like they're getting misty on you. There are other good uses for doing that as well, like remembering the shape of their face or the color of their eyes. Peek at some of my boards for my books and characters. Here's one for heroines, another for The Deepest Sigh, my May '18 novel The Softest Breath, and my Oct. '18 novel, Mist O'er the Voyageur.
6.) Resting
Once you've really started getting to know your character, let the paperwork rest. Take a walk. For me, a shower is a great tool to warm up my imagination. I'm not even kidding! Get away from the keyboard and just bake cookies or something. Invite your character to hang out with you and get to know each other. They might just clue you in to something you never even considered before. Some secret, some scene waiting to be revealed. If that happens, scurry to a notebook and write it down before it gets away. Your in-laws might think you're ready to be committed, but:
The more you build a relationship with your fictional character, the more your reader will be able to do the same.
Iisn't that the point? Getting those readers to grow attached to your character and his or her plight is what the whole story-telling thing is all about!
I hope this helps you have fun getting acquainted with your characters.
Write on!
April 8, 2018
Paying It Forward on the Writing Journey
A few days ago, I had the great, good fortune to attend a writers' workshop featuring two excellent and well-known Christian fiction authors, Julie Klassen and Michelle Griep. I've enjoyed reading both of these ladies' books for a long time now, and I eagerly look forward to settling in with a couple more titles I purchased at the workshop.
During the workshop Writing Christian Historical Fiction the authors did a fabulous job of tag-teaming a presentation that was packed with information and provided a lot of what I happened to be there for -- inspiration and motivation. They began with a basic definition of Christian Fiction, both what it is and what it isn't. From there they spoke on topics of historical research (how much to use and when to stop so you don't get sucked into the "research hole"), character-building, point-of-view, faith themes, tips to help the "stuck" writer finish their novel, self-editing and revision, and they even addressed various types of publishing how-to's. The workshop concluded with a list of resources to keep us all busy exploring for a while to come.
I appreciate these authors driving way up into the northern wilds of the north to share their expertise, experience, and encouragement to writers of all levels. Sure, like most authors, hosting a workshop helps them to build their platforms, but for a large percentage of us who were already familiar and faithful readers, it also allowed them to pay their blessing forward. Publishing isn't easy, and writing itself is hard. We need to help one another, encourage one another, and keep pointing the way for one another.
Paying forward the lessons we learn in our writing craft is a small and vital way to be effective stewards of the blessings we have received, big or small, with few publishing credentials or many. We each have inspiration and tools at our disposal that we can share with others who are somewhere else in their writing development.
For myself, I love having the opportunity to encourage other writers around me in my writers' groups and organizations, as well as students who feel drawn to the craft. Later this month I will have the opportunity to speak before a group of middle-grade writing students in northern Wisconsin from a wide area of schools. I hope I can find the right words to get them excited about writing and to help them gain some insights about what it means to become a writer with both honesty and enthusiasm.
Where are you in your writing process? How can I encourage you today? How can you take what you've learned and pay it forward?
Here's a reminder if you need a little "writer's food" in your diet. This summer there's a 2nd year conference taking place in St. Paul MN that is really going to be exciting. I went last year, and it was fabulous. After 2017's success, dozens of agents and publishers have clamored to be there this year. If, like me, you live in the upper Midwest and would like to attend a first-class conference close to home that won't cost a fortune, check out the Northwestern Christian Writers' Conference to be held at Northwestern Christian University in St. Paul, MN July 13th & 14th. If Julie or Michelle are teaching a class, be sure you attend, and if you see me when you get there, please say hello!
Write On!
During the workshop Writing Christian Historical Fiction the authors did a fabulous job of tag-teaming a presentation that was packed with information and provided a lot of what I happened to be there for -- inspiration and motivation. They began with a basic definition of Christian Fiction, both what it is and what it isn't. From there they spoke on topics of historical research (how much to use and when to stop so you don't get sucked into the "research hole"), character-building, point-of-view, faith themes, tips to help the "stuck" writer finish their novel, self-editing and revision, and they even addressed various types of publishing how-to's. The workshop concluded with a list of resources to keep us all busy exploring for a while to come.
I appreciate these authors driving way up into the northern wilds of the north to share their expertise, experience, and encouragement to writers of all levels. Sure, like most authors, hosting a workshop helps them to build their platforms, but for a large percentage of us who were already familiar and faithful readers, it also allowed them to pay their blessing forward. Publishing isn't easy, and writing itself is hard. We need to help one another, encourage one another, and keep pointing the way for one another.
Paying forward the lessons we learn in our writing craft is a small and vital way to be effective stewards of the blessings we have received, big or small, with few publishing credentials or many. We each have inspiration and tools at our disposal that we can share with others who are somewhere else in their writing development.
For myself, I love having the opportunity to encourage other writers around me in my writers' groups and organizations, as well as students who feel drawn to the craft. Later this month I will have the opportunity to speak before a group of middle-grade writing students in northern Wisconsin from a wide area of schools. I hope I can find the right words to get them excited about writing and to help them gain some insights about what it means to become a writer with both honesty and enthusiasm.
Where are you in your writing process? How can I encourage you today? How can you take what you've learned and pay it forward?
Here's a reminder if you need a little "writer's food" in your diet. This summer there's a 2nd year conference taking place in St. Paul MN that is really going to be exciting. I went last year, and it was fabulous. After 2017's success, dozens of agents and publishers have clamored to be there this year. If, like me, you live in the upper Midwest and would like to attend a first-class conference close to home that won't cost a fortune, check out the Northwestern Christian Writers' Conference to be held at Northwestern Christian University in St. Paul, MN July 13th & 14th. If Julie or Michelle are teaching a class, be sure you attend, and if you see me when you get there, please say hello!
Write On!
NEW Discussion Guide
There's a brand new DISCUSSION GUIDE up for THE GREEN VEIL, Empire in Pine Book One. If you love big historicals, this is a great time to take a peek and consider introducing THE GREEN VEIL to your bo
...more
- Naomi Dawn Musch's profile
- 456 followers
