Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 112
June 19, 2014
Poltergiests, Ghosts, & Slamming Doors – Oh My!
Hello everyone! I’m Heather McCollum and I write light paranormal romance, both historical and YA contemporary. I love the idea of magic in the world, especially magic that exists right under our noses where everyday people either ignore it or are too wrapped up in their idea of reality that they miss it. Why do I love magic? Because I have experienced it myself.
No, I’m not some hippie woman smoking natural “medicine”, and even though I do hear voices in my head (which are only my characters...
June 18, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Connie Taxdal!
Connie was born in Missouri and raised in Oklahoma, which, she says, “makes me a stubborn mulewho wants things sooner than later.” These days, though, Connie spends her days on 120 acres in the countryside of west coast Florida writing novels about lust, love, and life. When her eyes grow weary of staring...
June 17, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Denny S. Bryce!
Ask Denny for a bio, and she’ll tell you, “I want to break it into acts. I’ve had three careers (and working on number four—writing romance:), and each has had its own beginning, middle and end (except the romance author who is just getting started:).” After college, she danced professionally in New York, New York, working with modern dance c...
June 16, 2014
Ruby Tuesday: Darynda Jones
Welcome to another edition of Ruby Tuesday, the day when we sit down with one of our Rubies and get to know her a little better. Today on the hot seat we have the author of the NYT Bestselling and RITA winning Charley Davidson series, Darynda Jones! Take it away, Darynda!
Name: Darynda Jones
2009 GH Category & Title: Paranormal, First Grave on the Right
What Happened to That Book: Published in 2011.
Website: http://www.daryndajones.com/
What subgenre(s) do you write? I am published in paranormal m...
June 15, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Marni Folsom!
Marni was born in Colorado and bopped all over the Southwest growing up. She spent her undergrad years in Arizona and her graduate school years in Washington State. She’s since lived in California and Scotland, but always returned to the Seattle area where she thrives on easy access to cultural events, water, mountains, good...
June 12, 2014
Hooks vs. Cliffhangers: Don’t Break Your Promises
I’ve been reading a lot of New Adult romance lately. I’ve read some great books and some terrible books. I’ve also encountered something I’ve never seen before—books with what I’m going to call a cliffhanger ending. These books seem to stop half way through the story, like the author took their completed manuscript, chopped it into two or three pieces, and called each one a novel.
Now, if a book is part of a series, the author had better end book one with a good enough hook to make me preorder...
June 11, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Amy DeLuca
Amy lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She’s been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as workingfora Boston TV station as a station host.
Here’s the blurb for her 2014 Gol...
June 10, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Nan Dixon!!
In POETIC JUSTICE, a panicked architect kidnaps a nurturing writer. He must keep her safe, rescue her son and survive long enough to bring his business partner to justice.
Nan Dixon lives in Minnesota with her hubby and one crazy cat, keeping track of her five children’s lives. She’s ecst...
June 9, 2014
Something Old, Something New: Jaguar’s Kiss Release Day
Writing genre fiction can sometimes be described as trying to write books that are the same, but different. The books need to be “same” enough for us to establish a brand as an author, same enough for readers to know what they will be getting when they pick up a Vivi Andrews (or Amanda Brice or Laurie Kellogg or Darynda Jones) book, but simultaneously different enough that they don’t feel repetitive or stagnant – even if we are telling the oldest story in the world over and over again. It’s q...
The Seven Paragraph Synopsis – Redux
Way back in November, 2011, I posted a blog here on writing a synopsis. The post turned into a session at the 2013 RWA Nationals and to this day I continue to get people emailing me looking for more details on synopsis writing. So, below you’ll find the original post in its entirety.
In addition, I have posted some plotting and characterization worksheets that plotters (and pantsers) may find useful in creating an outline or synopsis for a book you’re just starting. The worksheets are availabl...
