Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 70
April 12, 2016
What First Dates Taught Me About Character Development
As a single writer on a quest for her own happily-ever-after, I’ve kissed my fair share of frogs. My parents were college sweethearts, my sister met her husband in chemistry class, but I didn’t find my person in school – and working from home in a predominantly female industry doesn’t exactly give me a lot of chances to get to know single men in a neutral environment. So I’ve tried my hand at e-dating (as you do) and I’ve found I’ve learned a surprising amount about character as a side effect...
April 10, 2016
The Accidental Series
When I started writing Marriage: Impossible, it wasn’t supposed to be the first book in my Voretti family series. It wasn’t supposed to be the first book in any series. It was a one-off experiment to see what would happen if I threw all my favorite romance tropes into a single novella.
It never occurred to me that it might be the first in a series, because I’d never written a series before. After writing a book I’d always been so sick of the characters and the world that I was more than happ...
April 7, 2016
Fangirl Friday
I recently received an email from a lady who told me she’d read all four of my Victorian Bookshop Mysteries in four days, and then asked when the next one would be out. Oh, that we could write as fast as readers read! But never fear, readers. There’s plenty of new Ruby stories out this week. AND SOME OF THEM ARE FREE!
From Ava Blackstone, we have Live and Learnout today.
Navy SEAL Tyler MacKinnon is that guy. The one who pitches a no-hitter in the big game even though he skipped practice. The...
April 5, 2016
Creative Minds: Dave Grohl on Voice
Dave and me, hanging out @ The Experience Music Project in Seattle
This is the fourth post in an occasional series about finding inspiration in other artists’ creative processes. Read the first, about Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the second, featuring Trent Reznor, and the third, mourning the death of Scott Weiland, at the links.
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Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a massive Dave Grohl fangirl. (Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana, and created and fronts the Foo Fighters.) So when I heard Da...
April 3, 2016
Safekeeping
I was sixteen when I was introduced to “self-defense” and began a lifelong road that has kept me safe. I took class after class through college and private organizations. Eventually I escalated into martial arts. I never got my black belt due to health reasons, but really, please don’t sneak up on me.
There was an incident that happened while I was at UCLA. A girl was on the jogging path when a car with four guys pulled up beside her, aimed a gun and told her to get in. She told them to “F***...
March 31, 2016
Fangirl Friday
First up, the Ruby Sisters have learned a new play by William Shakespeare has been found in an old manor house near Stratford on Avon. Scholars are going nuts over this new find. Already there is a bidding war to produce it as a movie as well as a stage show. The name? Rubies Rock in the Globe Theatre.
Also this week, we have a new story by Heather McCollum, Sacrifice, the fifth book in The Dragonfly Chronicles.
http://www.heathermccollum.com/
Rai...
March 29, 2016
Quick! Write a Book!
Today is a momentous day for me! SACRIFICE, the fifth and final book in my paranormal romance series, The Dragonfly Chronicles, hasreleased!
Amen! The first book in the series, PROPHECY, came out in 2009. Ugh! Really?
So I had some hang-ups in the last seven years, which delayed each book: three busy kids, taking in a crazy golden retriever rescue, spending two years fighting ovarian cancer, etc. Plus each book weighs in at about 350 pages and took mountains of research (five different time...
March 28, 2016
Consolation Day: Phone Didn’t Ring Last Friday? We’ve Got Hugs, Prizes, and Lots of Inspiration for You!!!
Several days ago–Friday, to be precise–a few dozen talented romance authors received the happy news that they are RITA or Golden Heart finalists. Hundreds more waited for a phone call that didn’t come.
If you’re one of those talented romance authors who didn’t get “The Call,” we’re so glad you’ve joined us today as we celebrate those who waited by a silent phone and then put their hands back on the keyboard.
It’s Consolation Day–and we have PRIZES!
Yes, that’s what I said. Prizes to heal the...
March 27, 2016
Welcome New Golden Heart Finalists, Class of 2016!!!
Finalist call day has so much wild, crackling energy, you’re probably still levitating three or four feet above the ground (possibly with a glass of bubbly in your hand). Making that list, for either Golden Heart or RITA, is a huge accomplishment—with so many excellent writers out there, you truly have to pass through the eye of a needle to be nominated. (See the full slate of 2016 nominees here). We have a tradition here at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood of askin...
March 24, 2016
It’s RITA and Golden Heart Announcement Day!! And We’re Throwing a Cyber-Party!!
Well, it’s the big day again!! We’re glad you’re here with us to cheer, commiserate, celebrate, hold hands with other nervous hopefuls, gnaw your fingernails in good company, or whatever it is you’re needing today. (Virtual wine…yeah, we got plenty!! Who cares if it’s the crack of dawn–pour yourself a cyber-glass!) As each of the Rubies can testify, the next few hours are going to change some lives.
But we also know that life is good NO MATTER WHAT happens today.
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