Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 115

Juvenilia

Today I’m taking a lighthearted approach and talking about juvenilia.

No, I’m not talking about creepers who like young kids. Get your mind out of the gutter. That’s pedophilia.

“Juvenilia” is the term used to described an author’s earliest works, usually from when he or she was still a kid. This is a topic that’s particularly fun at YA library panels when there are plenty of teenage aspiring writers in the audience. It’s inspiring for people to see that even published authors had to start some...

The Power of Three

As part of the Rubies’ continuing series on 2014 Golden Heart finalists, I’m shining the spotlight on my two dear friends and critique partners, Kimberly MacCarron and Pintip Dunn. The GH brought us together years ago. Much to our delight, all three of us are finalists again. Pintip has two nominations — one Paranormal and one YA — Kim also earned two, in YA, and I have one.

Some people have commented, “Three CPs finaling together? What are the chances? Was there something in the mojitos water...

Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Marnee Bailey!

Today we’re welcoming Marnee Bailey, 2014 Golden Heart Finalist in the Young Adult Romance category.

Marnee holds a BA in English literature from Dickinson College and used to teach high school students. These days, she stays home to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in Western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic boys. When she isn’t writing, she can be found ref...

Character Flaws

Simplistically, a Character Flaw is what keeps your character from moving on. You, theauthor,have them figure out this flaw isn’t working for them. They make the change and this becomes the character arc. I feel a character’s flaw draws me into their world.

Phew! I’m a little nervous talking about this because it’s a subject I struggle with. If I don’t get something right, I’m hoping my sisters with jump in and help.

Do characters need flaws? I say a big YES!

When I begin developing a character,...

Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Carrie Padgett!

Today we’re welcoming Carrie Padgett, 2014 Golden Heart Finalist in Inspirational Romance!
Carrie’s a multi-contest finalist and winner who lives in California’s Central Valley with her husband (a.k.a., Stud Muffin), where they enjoy the adventure of empty nesting. A true book lover, Carrie says she expects to die either under or next to a stack of books she was planning to read.
You can find her at:
https://twitter.com/CarriePadgett
https://www.facebook.com/carriepadgett
http://www.livevicarrie...

Local Flavor

One of the things I like most about reading and writing fiction is the opportunity to explorethe world vicariously. However, for my latest book, Acceptable Risk, I took my charactershome to Texas. And by home, I mean the Lone Star stateis both their home and mine.

My family moved to San Antonio when I was eight. I loved growing up in Texas. I even met my husband there, “kicker dancing” at a combination honky tonk and bull-riding arena called the Bluebonnet Palace. (No, he isn’t a cowboy, but h...

Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Jessica Ruddick!

Yay! Today marks the start of one of my favorite seasons of the writing year: when the Rubies host the latest class of Golden Heart® finalists!

The energy around Golden Heart is fabulous, with dozens of new stars shooting dramatically above the horizon. Before we know it, books by the Golden Heart Class of 2014 will start landing on our shelves, and a shockingly short time after that, their names will start popping up on the New York Times Bestsellers and roster of Rita nominees.

It’s an intens...

Check into the Inn at Last Chance

I have three brothers. They taught me much as I grew up. How to kick a soccer ball. How to climb a tree. How to bait a hook. How to score a baseball game.

They also handed down their books to me. Books like: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein, and I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. I never read a Nancy Drew story in my life but I did jump feet first into all twenty-three volumes of the Tarzan series by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

When I was eleven or twelve I would take one or two of these hand-...

POWER

Words are like a living entity, with the incredible ability to spread on their own. And partnered with today’s technology their range and speed are vast.They have the power to influence one, or many, and in doing so change the world. They have the potential to span centuries and thus persuade or motivate generations.

Think about that, because as an author that colossal sovereignty comes through you. What a huge responsibility.

As authors, we spend considerable periods of time thinking about our...

Ruby Tuesday: Anne Marie Becker

Welcome to another edition of Ruby Tuesday, when we interrogate one of our Rubies and uncover her deep dark secrets (or, you know, not-so-deep, dark, or secret personal data). Today’s subject is no stranger to written interrogation as the author of thrilling romantic suspense, Anne Marie Becker. Take it away, Anne Marie!

Name: Anne Marie Becker

2009 GH Category & Title: Romantic Suspense, Only Fear

What Happened to That Book: It was published by Carina Press in digital form in September 2011, an...