Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 107

Celebrate!

Time. It’s rarely a friend, often in short supply, and likes to change things—not always for the better.

Adages about it abound: Time heals all wounds (or wounds all heels, depending on the circumstance). Things will work out in good time. Time waits for no man (or woman). A stitch in time saves nine. Time lost is never found.

Yes, I could go on, but you get the idea. Time is relentless, unfeeling, and inflexible. It has no care for your ambitions or desires. It will turn fruit juice to wine, t...

Stalked by a Real Life Villain

I’m a writer. I write romantic adventures fraught with disasters, at least one hero, and a villain or two. My stories are usually set in the past and don’t resemble my normal world at all with its kiddie soccer games, birthday cakes, and trips to the pediatrician. Once my kids are at school and the dog is napping and my three guinea pigs are settled in for the day, I usually dive into whatever journey I’m currently writing, losing myself in my characters’ adventures. So I was completely shock...

Who’s Up for the One Hour a Day Challenge?

I’ve learned this lesson sooooo many times: if I want to be seriously productive with my writing, I’ve got to do it regularly. Like daily.

If I write daily—even just a little bit daily—the story constantly percolates in my head. I can jump right in to the latest section and add anything from a few lines to several pages at a gallop. Bits of dialogue pop into my head as I’m doing dishes. Plot holes resolve themselves in those groggy moments when I’m first waking up in the morning. I dash for th...

Happy Labor Day!

The Rubies are taking the day off for some R & R, barbecue, and maybe a little discount car-shopping.
Have a great day, everybody! We’ll see you back here tomorrow!

Of Wimpy Heroines and Raping Heroes – So You Think You Know Historical Romance

I recently re-watched Phantom of the Opera and I’ve decided Christine is one of the wimpiest heroines in historical romance. Gaston Leroux probably didn’t know he was writing a romance novel back in 1909 and 1910 (He first published it as a serial.), but he was. It’s okay, Gaston. Lots of romance novels are written by accident. Nicholas Sparks does it all the time. Of course these days Sparks makes certain to kill either the hero or the heroine to prove he isn’t writing romance, but lets face...

Thoughts On Writing From Authors.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes. Enjoy.

Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way. ~ Eileen Caddy

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. ~ Nora Roberts

Keep a diary and one day it’ll keep you....

My Not Very Girly TV Obsession

My Not Very Girly TV Obsession

By Shea Berkley

When I was younger, I didn’t fall into the stereotypical squealing girl mode. I still don’t, but I come pretty close when a very unladylike (by many people’s standards)TV series hits the airwaves. Can you guess what it is? It’s not difficult. Apparently I’m not the only one obsessed with who will survive the zombie apocalypse.

The Walking Dead is a phenomenon. It attracts a diverse viewership that even makes me scratch my head.I can’t speak for anyo...

Release Day Party: A SCANDAL TO REMEMBER

Huzzah! Today is my release day celebration of my 9th book, A SCANDAL TO REMEMBER, the 5th book in my Reckless Brides series.

I am both excited and happy to final bring this book to you. Why ‘finally’? Because writing this book nearly killed me. Actually, it was appendicitis that nearly killed me, but it was because I was deep in the process of writing this book, and hard up against a deadline, that I ignored my body’s rather strenuous objections and warning signs until it was nearly too late....

Writers on Film

Last Friday night, my roommate and I were trolling Netflix for something reasonably mindless to watch (it had been one of those days that leaves you three-quarters braindead) and we happened upon a movie entitled Stuck in Love. Great cast (we’re both suckers for Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly), so we decided to give it a shot. I don’t know if you guys have seen this film, but it’s about the love lives of a family and it seems like every single character in it is a writer.

Some television a...

How Do I Love Thee

Let’s play, How Do Your Characters Feel About Each Other.
Our heroes and heroines love one another. As romance authors, no matter the sub-genre, we build the love between our characters. Sometimes slowly, other times quite rapidly. I’ve learned asking my H&H to describe how they feel about their relationship makes writing their romance much easier.
In my WIP I have a couple I wanted to build another book around. Each time I posed the question to them, I got blank looks. Not a single romantic wo...