Jennifer Wilck's Blog, page 26
January 28, 2019
Mondays
Mondays are my favorite day of the week. It’s probably due to the fact that I work from home. I distinctly remember hating Mondays (and Sundays from about 4 pm on) when I was a student and then when I worked in an office. But ever since I started working from home, I love Mondays. The house settles down, it’s quiet and I can get back into my routine.
It’s not that I don’t love my family. I do. And I love spending time with them doing things on the weekend I don’t normally do on during the week. But I crave my routine and my me-time, and Mondays give those things back to me. So my Sunday evenings are spent mentally planning my productivity for the next day.
In fact, yesterday, I took an exceptionally slow day and didn’t worry about getting anything done. I wanted to relax, everyone else was busy, and I figured that a day of relaxation was good for me. I could just be extra productive on Monday.
And then life happened. My youngest has been lactose intolerant, but without symptoms, for years now. And last night, she decided to try a meal she hadn’t had in a really long time. She asked me if I thought it would be okay, and I stupidly said yes. She’d had all the components before without incident. And she did great for about two hours. And then she most certainly did not do great.
I won’t go into details, but we were both up most of the night. This morning, bleach and coffee are my friends (ginger ale and crackers are hers). And that productivity I was looking forward to? Well, that’s going to have to happen tomorrow.
Hey, maybe Tuesday will become my favorite day? I’ll sure get a lot less weird looks when I talk about it!
It’s not that I don’t love my family. I do. And I love spending time with them doing things on the weekend I don’t normally do on during the week. But I crave my routine and my me-time, and Mondays give those things back to me. So my Sunday evenings are spent mentally planning my productivity for the next day.
In fact, yesterday, I took an exceptionally slow day and didn’t worry about getting anything done. I wanted to relax, everyone else was busy, and I figured that a day of relaxation was good for me. I could just be extra productive on Monday.
And then life happened. My youngest has been lactose intolerant, but without symptoms, for years now. And last night, she decided to try a meal she hadn’t had in a really long time. She asked me if I thought it would be okay, and I stupidly said yes. She’d had all the components before without incident. And she did great for about two hours. And then she most certainly did not do great.
I won’t go into details, but we were both up most of the night. This morning, bleach and coffee are my friends (ginger ale and crackers are hers). And that productivity I was looking forward to? Well, that’s going to have to happen tomorrow.
Hey, maybe Tuesday will become my favorite day? I’ll sure get a lot less weird looks when I talk about it!
January 14, 2019
Self-Sabotage
I just realized I self-sabotage myself. Those of you who know me well may have already figured this out about me. You’re probably also thinking that I’m pretty slow if I just figured it out myself. Well, that’s just the way it goes. But for the rest of you, let me explain.
Writing is my job. According to the IRS, it might only be a hobby, but I treat it like a job. I have times dedicated to writing, marketing, editing, etc. I invest in classes to improve my craft. I even feel guilty when I don’t accomplish enough in one day.
I whine when people don’t take what I do seriously. Yet, at the same time, I am the first one to push my writing commitments aside in favor of someone else’s time. And when those people apologize for interrupting me, I say, “Don’t worry about it.”
Ugh!
I’ll admit, my writing is not going to save anyone’s life or solve world hunger. It’s not more important than my family’s health. It does have to sometimes be set aside so I can do other things that also need to get done in a more timely fashion. But that doesn’t make it unimportant. And there’s absolutely no way I can expect other people to take me seriously if not only do I not take myself seriously, but I also give them an out. I did that for many years, placing myself last on the priority list. Even when my husband, who is my most supportive person ever, bar none, suggested I take more time write, I found other things to take precedence. And my writing suffered.
Two years ago, I changed all that. I dropped everything that wasn’t giving me joy and was taking me away from my writing. And I published several books. But I haven’t changed my mindset. And that’s my priority now. This year is going to be a rebuilding year for me. I have lots of writing plans, but I’m not sure where or how they will be published. So, while I write, edit, polish and query, I’m also going to work on my attitude.
There are plenty of people who take what I do seriously. It’s time for me to start believing it too.
Writing is my job. According to the IRS, it might only be a hobby, but I treat it like a job. I have times dedicated to writing, marketing, editing, etc. I invest in classes to improve my craft. I even feel guilty when I don’t accomplish enough in one day.
I whine when people don’t take what I do seriously. Yet, at the same time, I am the first one to push my writing commitments aside in favor of someone else’s time. And when those people apologize for interrupting me, I say, “Don’t worry about it.”
Ugh!
I’ll admit, my writing is not going to save anyone’s life or solve world hunger. It’s not more important than my family’s health. It does have to sometimes be set aside so I can do other things that also need to get done in a more timely fashion. But that doesn’t make it unimportant. And there’s absolutely no way I can expect other people to take me seriously if not only do I not take myself seriously, but I also give them an out. I did that for many years, placing myself last on the priority list. Even when my husband, who is my most supportive person ever, bar none, suggested I take more time write, I found other things to take precedence. And my writing suffered.
Two years ago, I changed all that. I dropped everything that wasn’t giving me joy and was taking me away from my writing. And I published several books. But I haven’t changed my mindset. And that’s my priority now. This year is going to be a rebuilding year for me. I have lots of writing plans, but I’m not sure where or how they will be published. So, while I write, edit, polish and query, I’m also going to work on my attitude.
There are plenty of people who take what I do seriously. It’s time for me to start believing it too.
January 7, 2019
The Making of an Audio Book
The audio version of Addicted to Love came out over the holidays. I thought I’d tell you a little about the process of creating an audio book, since it’s my first one.
Once I signed a contract that let my publisher know I wanted Addicted to Love out on audio, they submitted it to the voice company they work with and we waited for audio narrators to express interest. I was sent a number of narrator auditions, and I listened to them trying to envision them telling the story. For a writer, this is tough, because we have a voice in our head telling the story and there is no possible way a real person is ever going to sound like our imaginary voice. But finally, I received an audition from Meaghan Parent. While she didn’t sound like the voice in my head, she infused the characters with emotions and was pleasant to listen to—you’d be surprised at how many narrators sounded like they were reading a grocery list.
My publisher sent her the book and Meaghan began recording. My book was challenging because the characters are Jewish and there are many Hebrew and Yiddish words sprinkled throughout. So to make things easier, I created a list of all the words and phrases with their English phonetic pronunciation. She sent a few sample chapters for me to listen to and I sent back a few corrections. Then I left the book to her.
When she was finished, she sent it to me and I listened to the entire thing, looking for mistakes or things that needed to be re-recorded. It’s really strange listening to someone else read your words, but I knew it was good when I was able to disappear into the story. There were a few places that needed fixing—the trick isn’t whether or not she says every word on the page; it’s whether or not there’s a glaring error that pulls the listener out of the story. I didn’t follow along with the manuscript. I listened as a reader. Totally new experience for me, but fun!
Once the corrections were made, it was another two weeks until the audio book was complete and available for purchase. If you’re an audiobook listener, I’d love you to try it and let me know what you think, because I need to decide if I want her to narrate my other books in the series. So let me know!
December 24, 2018
Reflecting On The Past Year
2018 is winding down and in some ways, that’s a really good thing. The news cycle is horrific. Whenever I think things can’t get worse, they do. But then again, there were moments of bravery and humanity that brought me to tears and filled me with hope.
There were adjustments and moments that gave me pause. There was looking for a new normal. There were illnesses and arguments and there was the “if you give a mouse a cookie” repair of my basement that led to a new driveway that didn’t quite go as we anticipated.
I lost old friends and made new ones and realized whom my true ones are. There’s college stress and “holy cow, you made it!” There was a lot of laughter and snark and circuitous logic and eye rolls.
And there was a new book, and an audio version of another book. There was writer’s burnout and learning how to get through it.
Through it all, there was faith and hope that we’d make it through. And we did—sometimes barely, sometimes miraculously, but always together. So, as we approach 2019, I’m going to remember what worked, what went well and what and whom I loved. I’m going to try to learn from my mistakes, but will probably repeat many of them. I’m going to treasure the “mom, you were right” moments and remember that worrying makes you suffer twice.
And for my friends and family, I wish you all joy and hope and faith and love and lots and lots of laughter.
There were adjustments and moments that gave me pause. There was looking for a new normal. There were illnesses and arguments and there was the “if you give a mouse a cookie” repair of my basement that led to a new driveway that didn’t quite go as we anticipated.
I lost old friends and made new ones and realized whom my true ones are. There’s college stress and “holy cow, you made it!” There was a lot of laughter and snark and circuitous logic and eye rolls.
And there was a new book, and an audio version of another book. There was writer’s burnout and learning how to get through it.
Through it all, there was faith and hope that we’d make it through. And we did—sometimes barely, sometimes miraculously, but always together. So, as we approach 2019, I’m going to remember what worked, what went well and what and whom I loved. I’m going to try to learn from my mistakes, but will probably repeat many of them. I’m going to treasure the “mom, you were right” moments and remember that worrying makes you suffer twice.
And for my friends and family, I wish you all joy and hope and faith and love and lots and lots of laughter.
December 19, 2018
Welcome Jessica Lauryn
I'm delighted to welcome fellow NJRW writer, Jessica Lauryn, to my blog today. We're doing a swap, so she's featured here and I'm featured on hers.
So tell me, what is your writing style or schedule? Do you have one?
I’m a plotter, so my preference is to plot out everything I’m going to write before I actually write it. I clam up at the idea of creating a rough draft from scratch, but if I tell myself I’m doing an “outline,” the words just come. I think the story out before I put my hands on the keyboard, but a lot of ideas will come to me as I’m physically plotting. (Ideas = More Ideas!) My aim these days is to get as close to 100% of the story down on the first shot, with the idea that I’ll do several edits later, as many as it takes until there’s nothing more I can do to make the story better in my opinion, just different. I’ll include actual dialogue in my outline and as much description as I have the patience for at the time and can ponder up without becoming too distracted from the actual story. As a general rule, narrative (internal thought inside a character’s mind) comes pretty easy to me, and creating it also helps me to build a story in a linear succession. As far as an actual writing schedule goes, I’ve had to change mine up about a million times, as life surely has a way of taking precedence over writing. Most recently, I’ve taking to writing in small increments spread throughout the workday. I’ve been self-employed for a few years now, and I decided I may as well work that angle to my advantage and do my writing during a time of day that works for me, namely while there’s still daylight!
Where do you actually write?
This is something that has changed many times over the course of my writing career. Truth be told, I’ve typically not had the luxury to write where I want to, or when I want to. So, I’ve had to get creative and learn to tune out distractions. I’ve written at everyplace from Starbucks to my car while parked at lunch hour. One type of writer I have great respect for is the one who is so in love with her story and her characters that she writes her book at work. I’ve been there myself, so on a roll with my story that I couldn’t stop and raced through my assignment just so I could salvage whatever extra time I had left over, for writing. Nowadays I work for myself, and ironically I’m busier than ever! But I am learning all over again how to make my writing a priority and I am fortunate enough to be doing it from behind a desk where no one is going to sneak up behind me and tell me to get “back to work.”
So tell me, what is your writing style or schedule? Do you have one?
I’m a plotter, so my preference is to plot out everything I’m going to write before I actually write it. I clam up at the idea of creating a rough draft from scratch, but if I tell myself I’m doing an “outline,” the words just come. I think the story out before I put my hands on the keyboard, but a lot of ideas will come to me as I’m physically plotting. (Ideas = More Ideas!) My aim these days is to get as close to 100% of the story down on the first shot, with the idea that I’ll do several edits later, as many as it takes until there’s nothing more I can do to make the story better in my opinion, just different. I’ll include actual dialogue in my outline and as much description as I have the patience for at the time and can ponder up without becoming too distracted from the actual story. As a general rule, narrative (internal thought inside a character’s mind) comes pretty easy to me, and creating it also helps me to build a story in a linear succession. As far as an actual writing schedule goes, I’ve had to change mine up about a million times, as life surely has a way of taking precedence over writing. Most recently, I’ve taking to writing in small increments spread throughout the workday. I’ve been self-employed for a few years now, and I decided I may as well work that angle to my advantage and do my writing during a time of day that works for me, namely while there’s still daylight!
Where do you actually write?
This is something that has changed many times over the course of my writing career. Truth be told, I’ve typically not had the luxury to write where I want to, or when I want to. So, I’ve had to get creative and learn to tune out distractions. I’ve written at everyplace from Starbucks to my car while parked at lunch hour. One type of writer I have great respect for is the one who is so in love with her story and her characters that she writes her book at work. I’ve been there myself, so on a roll with my story that I couldn’t stop and raced through my assignment just so I could salvage whatever extra time I had left over, for writing. Nowadays I work for myself, and ironically I’m busier than ever! But I am learning all over again how to make my writing a priority and I am fortunate enough to be doing it from behind a desk where no one is going to sneak up behind me and tell me to get “back to work.”
December 12, 2018
Welcome Peggy Jaeger!
I interviewed fellow Rose, Peggy Jaeger, for my blog today. Hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have!
What is your writing style or schedule?
I’d like to think it’s disciplined and concise but that would be a lie! Hee Hee. I try – I do try – to be disciplined and get a set word count each day. Sometimes I make it, others…well. Life, you know? I do write every single day, tho, no matter what. It may not be in my WIP or current edits, but I blog, write pieces for other blogs, etc. So every day writing schedule, just not as prolific as I’d like to be. As far as writing style, I tend to think I write like I speak, only more structured and not so dithery. A reader I didn’t know from Adam once said to me at a book signing, I feel as if you’re speaking to me when I read your books. Love that!!!
I love when readers "get" our writing. Where do you actually write?I’m blessed, so don’t hate me: I have a 4 story house that I live in the woods with my hubby. The fourth floor is a completed attic where my office sits. My window overlooks the back of our wooded property and I get to watch the seasons change and watch the woodland animals daily. If you’ve ever watched one of my crazy-ass videos on my You-Tube site (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos ), you know I video the wild turkeys and deer on my property all the time because I get such a kick watching them.
Sounds beautiful. Do you write linearly or not?Okay, I’m guessing you mean do I write the story from beginning to end, page one to whatever, and not jump around, so YES, that’s how I do it. The reason I write that way is because I was a nurse in a former life and I approach most of the things I do in my life from a scientific method background, meaning, I identify a problem and then make hypothesis to solve it, conduct experiments to do so and then have an ending. That’s how I write: I come up with an idea, hypothesize about what could happen, plot it all out in detail, and then write it without deviating. And I guess that’s a very long-winded way to say, yes, I do write linearly!
Me, too. Except when I don't. :) What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing?I love to paint and cook and most days you can find me baking something around noon-ish or when I’ve hit a decent stopping point in my writing for the morning. Even though it is just my hubby and I at home these days, I still cook a hot meal 6-7 nights a week because it’s the one time in the day we can actually sit down and reconnect.
I know! Family dinners are great. Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?I’d love to say I’ve got a team behind me pushing me and encouraging me, but again, I’d be fibbing! I don’t have critique partners – personal choice –but I do belong to my local New Hampshire chapter of RWA and I adore those writers sosososos much. They have literally made me a better writer and a calmer person.
Awesome. How long does it normally take you to write a novel?Plotting: 1-2 weeks. First draft 8 -10 weeks. First edits on that draft 1 month. I can write fast because I plot everything out before hand, so I always know where the story is going.
Who or what are your inspirations?Writing inspirations: Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Lauren Layne, Jill Shalvis, Catherine ByBeePersonal Inspirations: Jack Canfield, Eleanor Roosevelt, Laura Bush
If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?Oh, baby, is there! Marketing. First, last and always. I simply abhor having to do all the promo you need to do to sell a book these days. I really wish I could have been born and published in the days when publishing houses did everything for their authors except write the book! I would give anything to have a publicist, personal assistant, and marketing guru in my house everyday, doing what I do every day and much better than I do! This would free me up to just write, which is all I really want to do. There’s a reason I never went into sales and marketing as a career.
I think there are a lot of us who agree with you. Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?You know what? I can’t think of a better gig that I have right now. I love my house, my attic and my office. I love that I live in the woods. I love that I get to write all day without interruptions, full time. It truly can’t get any better than that for me.
Tell me about your latest book.A few years ago the Wild Rose Press had an author series titled THE CANDY HEARTS ROMANCES. All books were novellas and all centered around Valentine’s day. MY addition was 3 Wishes, a book that introduced the San Valentino family, a group of loud, loving, and cooking Italian/Americans. MY newest book CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS continues the story of the San Valentinos, this time it’s Sonny’s family, though. With my last San Van book A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, I had several readers tell me they wanted an Uncle Sonny story, so I wrote it. This is the story of Sonny’s youngest child and only daughter, Regina.
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she's got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she's better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can't find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company's reputation—in Regina's capable hands. What he doesn't plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who's awoken her heart?
Sounds great! Where did you get your inspiration for your book?I love to bake, so having a baker as a major character was a no brainer for me. My thought when I write a RomCom is that there is always something that can happen in your life, even when tragedy hits, that can be fixed with love and laughter. Regina has had a horrible personal tragedy and has been able to get past it with the love of her family. But she’s turned herself off from ever finding love again. I knew I needed to make her journey true to form, namely, sad, but that her crazy family needed to be the ones to lift her up, so, as obnoxious as they all are, they are supportive, interfering, loving and just plain crazy at times!My goal as a writer is always to make you cry on one page then bring you out of with laughter on the next. That’s what I set out to do with CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS.
Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?Regina’s mother and Sonny’s wife Ursula. She’s the kind of Italian mama where no girl will ever be good enough for her bambinos, and no man will ever be good enough for her bambina. She’s a typical old world mama who loves to cook for her family, dole out advice whether it’s needed or not, and suffers from pun-it is. This means, she continually worries about things like “Why do they call it a driveway when you park your car on it?” and “Why can’t they put the fabric softener in the detergent to save time?”
Ha! What are you working on now? I just had a new romance series start titled A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and book 1 DEARLY BELOVED came out in November, so I’m working on book 2 right now and plotting book 3
Blurb:
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she's got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she's better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can't find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company's reputation—in Regina's capable hands. What he doesn't plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who's awoken her heart?
Excerpt:
It had been a long, long time since a guy’s hands had been on me in anything resembling a carnal way. My ex had decamped to parts unknown five years ago after signing the divorce papers and I’d been so busy rebuilding my life that adding any kind of relationship to it wasn’t even a notion. Besides, with my hovering parents, one of whom worked for me while the other popped in daily to check up on their only daughter, I had enough on my plate fending off the men they wanted to introduce me to. Guys who, for the most part, had shady lifestyles, carried concealed, and owed my father innumerable favors. And by favors I mean the kind that usually get signed for in blood and paid back the same way. Welcome to mia familia.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JF1WQKT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i13
WILD ROSE PRESS : https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6235-christmas-and-cannolis.html?search_query=peggy+jaeger&results=18
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-and-cannolis-peggy-jaeger/1129784206?ean=2940161544976
Author bio:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children's book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader's Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
You-Tube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8...
BookGorilla:https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B0...
What is your writing style or schedule?
I’d like to think it’s disciplined and concise but that would be a lie! Hee Hee. I try – I do try – to be disciplined and get a set word count each day. Sometimes I make it, others…well. Life, you know? I do write every single day, tho, no matter what. It may not be in my WIP or current edits, but I blog, write pieces for other blogs, etc. So every day writing schedule, just not as prolific as I’d like to be. As far as writing style, I tend to think I write like I speak, only more structured and not so dithery. A reader I didn’t know from Adam once said to me at a book signing, I feel as if you’re speaking to me when I read your books. Love that!!!
I love when readers "get" our writing. Where do you actually write?I’m blessed, so don’t hate me: I have a 4 story house that I live in the woods with my hubby. The fourth floor is a completed attic where my office sits. My window overlooks the back of our wooded property and I get to watch the seasons change and watch the woodland animals daily. If you’ve ever watched one of my crazy-ass videos on my You-Tube site (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos ), you know I video the wild turkeys and deer on my property all the time because I get such a kick watching them.
Sounds beautiful. Do you write linearly or not?Okay, I’m guessing you mean do I write the story from beginning to end, page one to whatever, and not jump around, so YES, that’s how I do it. The reason I write that way is because I was a nurse in a former life and I approach most of the things I do in my life from a scientific method background, meaning, I identify a problem and then make hypothesis to solve it, conduct experiments to do so and then have an ending. That’s how I write: I come up with an idea, hypothesize about what could happen, plot it all out in detail, and then write it without deviating. And I guess that’s a very long-winded way to say, yes, I do write linearly!
Me, too. Except when I don't. :) What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing?I love to paint and cook and most days you can find me baking something around noon-ish or when I’ve hit a decent stopping point in my writing for the morning. Even though it is just my hubby and I at home these days, I still cook a hot meal 6-7 nights a week because it’s the one time in the day we can actually sit down and reconnect.
I know! Family dinners are great. Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?I’d love to say I’ve got a team behind me pushing me and encouraging me, but again, I’d be fibbing! I don’t have critique partners – personal choice –but I do belong to my local New Hampshire chapter of RWA and I adore those writers sosososos much. They have literally made me a better writer and a calmer person.
Awesome. How long does it normally take you to write a novel?Plotting: 1-2 weeks. First draft 8 -10 weeks. First edits on that draft 1 month. I can write fast because I plot everything out before hand, so I always know where the story is going.
Who or what are your inspirations?Writing inspirations: Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Lauren Layne, Jill Shalvis, Catherine ByBeePersonal Inspirations: Jack Canfield, Eleanor Roosevelt, Laura Bush
If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?Oh, baby, is there! Marketing. First, last and always. I simply abhor having to do all the promo you need to do to sell a book these days. I really wish I could have been born and published in the days when publishing houses did everything for their authors except write the book! I would give anything to have a publicist, personal assistant, and marketing guru in my house everyday, doing what I do every day and much better than I do! This would free me up to just write, which is all I really want to do. There’s a reason I never went into sales and marketing as a career.
I think there are a lot of us who agree with you. Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?You know what? I can’t think of a better gig that I have right now. I love my house, my attic and my office. I love that I live in the woods. I love that I get to write all day without interruptions, full time. It truly can’t get any better than that for me.
Tell me about your latest book.A few years ago the Wild Rose Press had an author series titled THE CANDY HEARTS ROMANCES. All books were novellas and all centered around Valentine’s day. MY addition was 3 Wishes, a book that introduced the San Valentino family, a group of loud, loving, and cooking Italian/Americans. MY newest book CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS continues the story of the San Valentinos, this time it’s Sonny’s family, though. With my last San Van book A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, I had several readers tell me they wanted an Uncle Sonny story, so I wrote it. This is the story of Sonny’s youngest child and only daughter, Regina.
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she's got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she's better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can't find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company's reputation—in Regina's capable hands. What he doesn't plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who's awoken her heart?
Sounds great! Where did you get your inspiration for your book?I love to bake, so having a baker as a major character was a no brainer for me. My thought when I write a RomCom is that there is always something that can happen in your life, even when tragedy hits, that can be fixed with love and laughter. Regina has had a horrible personal tragedy and has been able to get past it with the love of her family. But she’s turned herself off from ever finding love again. I knew I needed to make her journey true to form, namely, sad, but that her crazy family needed to be the ones to lift her up, so, as obnoxious as they all are, they are supportive, interfering, loving and just plain crazy at times!My goal as a writer is always to make you cry on one page then bring you out of with laughter on the next. That’s what I set out to do with CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS.
Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?Regina’s mother and Sonny’s wife Ursula. She’s the kind of Italian mama where no girl will ever be good enough for her bambinos, and no man will ever be good enough for her bambina. She’s a typical old world mama who loves to cook for her family, dole out advice whether it’s needed or not, and suffers from pun-it is. This means, she continually worries about things like “Why do they call it a driveway when you park your car on it?” and “Why can’t they put the fabric softener in the detergent to save time?”
Ha! What are you working on now? I just had a new romance series start titled A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and book 1 DEARLY BELOVED came out in November, so I’m working on book 2 right now and plotting book 3
Blurb:With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she's got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she's better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can't find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company's reputation—in Regina's capable hands. What he doesn't plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who's awoken her heart?
Excerpt:
It had been a long, long time since a guy’s hands had been on me in anything resembling a carnal way. My ex had decamped to parts unknown five years ago after signing the divorce papers and I’d been so busy rebuilding my life that adding any kind of relationship to it wasn’t even a notion. Besides, with my hovering parents, one of whom worked for me while the other popped in daily to check up on their only daughter, I had enough on my plate fending off the men they wanted to introduce me to. Guys who, for the most part, had shady lifestyles, carried concealed, and owed my father innumerable favors. And by favors I mean the kind that usually get signed for in blood and paid back the same way. Welcome to mia familia.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JF1WQKT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i13
WILD ROSE PRESS : https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6235-christmas-and-cannolis.html?search_query=peggy+jaeger&results=18
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-and-cannolis-peggy-jaeger/1129784206?ean=2940161544976
Author bio:Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children's book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader's Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
You-Tube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8...
BookGorilla:https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B0...
December 10, 2018
I Found It!
Yesterday was a great day. Not because we celebrated the last night of Chanukah with family, which we did, and it was also great, but because I found two things that have been missing forever.
The first was a sock.
Yeah, I know, if I’m getting jazzed over a missing sock, then my life is pretty sad. While I personally don’t agree with that statement, I can understand why you might think that. But missing socks drive me crazy, especially when they’re mine. My husband jokes that I shouldn’t mind, since I wear mismatched socks like the kids do, except I only wear them when walking the dog. And for any of you who have seen me when I walk the dog—or have accompanied me on those dog walks—mismatched socks are the least of my worries (hey, it’s early morning, I’m not a morning person and at least I’m upright).
But for the rest of the time? I like my socks to match. And to be the same size and fabric. So when we do the laundry and I end up with an odd number of socks, and still an even number of feet, I get frustrated. Adding to that is the borrowing of said socks by Banana Girl, who needed them for marching band. Yeah, “borrowing.” That’s funny. Because anything “lent” to one of my girls is likely never to be seen again. But when she needed black socks for marching band, and I had a drawer full of them, it was easier than going out to the store to buy them. So I gave her a few pairs, with the understanding that I’d get them back. That was freshman year. She’s a senior. I finally got a pile of socks back and wouldn’t you know it, some of the missing pairs were there!
The second was my iPad cloth.
My iPad is the original version, when Apple first came out with them. The only thing I do with it is read on my kindle app. It came with a black cloth that was the size of the screen and that cloth was great. It made cleaning the screen really easy and was the perfect size. And then I lent it to the Princess. I know. I should know better. But she needed it to borrow and I said, “Sure, just give it back to me.” Ha. It was lost somewhere in her room, which meant I was never going to see it again.
I searched the laundry. I searched piles of clothes we were giving away. I searched under her bed (and survived). She went off to college, after cleaning her room, and it was still missing. My author friend was nice enough to give me a new one, one that was imprinted with her book and was a lovely piece of author swag. I’ve been using it since then and it works great. I have no complaints.
But then we put together a massive donation of clothes from Banana Girl. I was getting them ready—and getting annoyed by all the unworn clothes that were no longer the right size—when I spotted the iPad cloth! Don’t ask me how it got in her pile of clothes (although this does provide evidence that she steals from her sister), but it was there. And now it’s mine again.
Moral of the story: never lend anything to your kids that you ever want to see again.
And sometimes it’s nice to be thrilled by the little things.
The first was a sock.
Yeah, I know, if I’m getting jazzed over a missing sock, then my life is pretty sad. While I personally don’t agree with that statement, I can understand why you might think that. But missing socks drive me crazy, especially when they’re mine. My husband jokes that I shouldn’t mind, since I wear mismatched socks like the kids do, except I only wear them when walking the dog. And for any of you who have seen me when I walk the dog—or have accompanied me on those dog walks—mismatched socks are the least of my worries (hey, it’s early morning, I’m not a morning person and at least I’m upright).
But for the rest of the time? I like my socks to match. And to be the same size and fabric. So when we do the laundry and I end up with an odd number of socks, and still an even number of feet, I get frustrated. Adding to that is the borrowing of said socks by Banana Girl, who needed them for marching band. Yeah, “borrowing.” That’s funny. Because anything “lent” to one of my girls is likely never to be seen again. But when she needed black socks for marching band, and I had a drawer full of them, it was easier than going out to the store to buy them. So I gave her a few pairs, with the understanding that I’d get them back. That was freshman year. She’s a senior. I finally got a pile of socks back and wouldn’t you know it, some of the missing pairs were there!
The second was my iPad cloth.
My iPad is the original version, when Apple first came out with them. The only thing I do with it is read on my kindle app. It came with a black cloth that was the size of the screen and that cloth was great. It made cleaning the screen really easy and was the perfect size. And then I lent it to the Princess. I know. I should know better. But she needed it to borrow and I said, “Sure, just give it back to me.” Ha. It was lost somewhere in her room, which meant I was never going to see it again.
I searched the laundry. I searched piles of clothes we were giving away. I searched under her bed (and survived). She went off to college, after cleaning her room, and it was still missing. My author friend was nice enough to give me a new one, one that was imprinted with her book and was a lovely piece of author swag. I’ve been using it since then and it works great. I have no complaints.
But then we put together a massive donation of clothes from Banana Girl. I was getting them ready—and getting annoyed by all the unworn clothes that were no longer the right size—when I spotted the iPad cloth! Don’t ask me how it got in her pile of clothes (although this does provide evidence that she steals from her sister), but it was there. And now it’s mine again.
Moral of the story: never lend anything to your kids that you ever want to see again.
And sometimes it’s nice to be thrilled by the little things.
December 3, 2018
Rolling With The Punches
I woke up this morning to my power being out. It was unexpected—there was no storm or wind, no construction, no reason for the power to be out. It simply was.
We’ve prepared for this by purchasing a generator. Although my house is usually in the neighborhood “sweet spot” where everyone but us loses power, after a couple of times where that sweet spot failed us, we decided the time had come to purchase a generator. We bought it at the beginning of hurricane season and have been testing it every month to make sure it’s working. In fact, our last test was on Saturday.
So I’m using the generator and I can do what needs to get done, and I have access to coffee. I can’t do laundry and I can’t leave the house with the generator on, so I have to adapt a little. Despite the best-laid plans, stuff happens.
It’s the same thing with launching a book. I’ve written and edited and sent it out into the world. I arranged for people to review it. I’ve nagged the world to buy it. And as prepared as I am, I can’t control ultimately what happens. Sure, I’ve gotten some great reviews, but inevitably, someone’s going to dislike it. There’s no pleasing everyone.
I happened to wake up to a great review, so that put a smile on my face. But I went to bed after reading about how someone else didn’t finish my book because they didn’t like it enough. Again, despite the best-laid plans, stuff happens.
At some point today, my power will be back on. My neighbor’s yard will be patched—apparently, in order to fix MY power, they have to dig up THEIR yard—and life will go back to normal. My book sales will hopefully reflect the effort I’ve put into launching this book. And I’ll get back to writing the next one.
I’m rolling with the punches.
And maybe I should offer my neighbor some homemade cookies and a copy of my new book. J
We’ve prepared for this by purchasing a generator. Although my house is usually in the neighborhood “sweet spot” where everyone but us loses power, after a couple of times where that sweet spot failed us, we decided the time had come to purchase a generator. We bought it at the beginning of hurricane season and have been testing it every month to make sure it’s working. In fact, our last test was on Saturday.
So I’m using the generator and I can do what needs to get done, and I have access to coffee. I can’t do laundry and I can’t leave the house with the generator on, so I have to adapt a little. Despite the best-laid plans, stuff happens.
It’s the same thing with launching a book. I’ve written and edited and sent it out into the world. I arranged for people to review it. I’ve nagged the world to buy it. And as prepared as I am, I can’t control ultimately what happens. Sure, I’ve gotten some great reviews, but inevitably, someone’s going to dislike it. There’s no pleasing everyone.
I happened to wake up to a great review, so that put a smile on my face. But I went to bed after reading about how someone else didn’t finish my book because they didn’t like it enough. Again, despite the best-laid plans, stuff happens.
At some point today, my power will be back on. My neighbor’s yard will be patched—apparently, in order to fix MY power, they have to dig up THEIR yard—and life will go back to normal. My book sales will hopefully reflect the effort I’ve put into launching this book. And I’ll get back to writing the next one.
I’m rolling with the punches.
And maybe I should offer my neighbor some homemade cookies and a copy of my new book. J
November 27, 2018
New Book Release
Hey everybody, my book comes out TOMORROW!
Learning to Love is the third book in my Serendipity Series, but each book stands alone, meaning they can be read and followed in any order (in fact, book 2 was actually supposed to be book 1, originally, but that’s another story).
If you or anyone you know likes romance, or if you like really smart, quirky females, males who learn they have a soul, witty banter and a happily-ever-after ending, then this book is for you.
To celebrate the release, I’m hosting a Facebook party on my author page tomorrow. Simply pop on by to https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/?eid=ARC2XAN3EEW9f_EX-KEieB7UxOOpV5SSAn3mC-wCKaZ1RBNrit_M2x0Mh4eJYZS3RHei4sNJRMnv-FXt and scroll through the page. I’ll be posting information about my book and other authors will also be there posting about their books. Who know, you might discover your next favorite author. We’ll all be offering giveaways and there is a grand prize drawing of eight or nine e-books that you could win.
It will be fun. At least pop over and say hi.
That’s all for now. I have a lot left to do to get ready for the book launch tomorrow. Thanks for your interest!
Learning to Love is the third book in my Serendipity Series, but each book stands alone, meaning they can be read and followed in any order (in fact, book 2 was actually supposed to be book 1, originally, but that’s another story).
If you or anyone you know likes romance, or if you like really smart, quirky females, males who learn they have a soul, witty banter and a happily-ever-after ending, then this book is for you.
To celebrate the release, I’m hosting a Facebook party on my author page tomorrow. Simply pop on by to https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/?eid=ARC2XAN3EEW9f_EX-KEieB7UxOOpV5SSAn3mC-wCKaZ1RBNrit_M2x0Mh4eJYZS3RHei4sNJRMnv-FXt and scroll through the page. I’ll be posting information about my book and other authors will also be there posting about their books. Who know, you might discover your next favorite author. We’ll all be offering giveaways and there is a grand prize drawing of eight or nine e-books that you could win.
It will be fun. At least pop over and say hi.
That’s all for now. I have a lot left to do to get ready for the book launch tomorrow. Thanks for your interest!
November 21, 2018
Welcome Rhonda Gilmour
Welcome to Rhonda, a fellow Wild Rose Press author, who writes as Sadira Stone.
Hi, Jennifer. Thanks so much for hosting me today and giving me the chance to meet your readers.
1. What is your writing style or schedule?Remember that old Dolly Parton song that starts “Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition…”? That’s me, minus the office clothes and commute. I pull on yoga pants and stand at my desk until midday-ish, when my vision starts to blur. Then I take a walk around the neighborhood, perhaps hit the gym with Hubs, maybe even clean the house a bit. If it’s a good day, I hit it again for two or three hours in the afternoon.
2. Where do you actually write? I’m blessed with a little office of my own, painted celery green and stuffed with books, plus a comfy reading chair. Recently, I bought a standing desk thingy that sits atop my regular desk, so I work standing as much as possible, practicing shimmies, hip circles, and undulations while searching for the right word. (I’m a belly dancer.)
3. Do you write linearly or not?Pretty much, yeah. Theoretically, I have more than one story cooking at a time, but I tend to stick with one manuscript until I’m satisfied it’s ready to launch.
4. What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing?Well, my daughter’s grown, but if I want to hang onto my husband—and I do—I have to actually talk to him from time to time. Isn’t it astonishing how a “brief trip” to run a “few errands” can turn into a whole afternoon? And it turns out you do have to exercise now and then—imagine that! So yeah, ordinary life stuff. My step-son’s getting married this month, so there’ll be lots of family time, for which I’m grateful, gobbling my writing time. I’ll try to contain my grumbling.
5. Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?My husband’s support helps tremendously. I belong to a fabulous weekly critique group whose insight really helps polish my work. Through the RWA, I’ve connected to so many helpful writers, including my dear beta readers. (Waving at my Olympia, Washington chapter) Ours is truly a supportive community, especially among the Wild Rose Press authors.
6. How long does it normally take you to write a novel? About a year, start to finish. I’m hoping to speed up over time.
7. Who or what are your inspirations?I’m inspired by the fabulous, fascinating women I’ve met. I want to tell their stories, giving them the happy ending they deserve.
8. If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?My own tendency to write fat is frustrating. My current project, Book Two in the Book Nirvana Series, weighed in at 107K words as a first draft. It’s down to about 88K now. Sharpening/tightening a manuscript takes a lot of work—and coffee.
9. Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?I’d love to have a bigger office with a view. All I see is the side of my neighbors’ house. They’re lovely people, but still…
10. Tell me about your latest book.Through the Red Door is the story of a widow who’s trying to keep her indie bookstore afloat when faced with corporate competition. Her best chance to draw customers is the extensive erotica collection, curated by her late husband and kept behind a locked red door at the back of the shop. Since Jared’s death, she hasn’t had the heart to enter that room, leaving its care to her trusted shop assistant. One day, a handsome visiting professor arrives, looking for historical erotica. On the same day, her shop assistant introduces her to his younger cousin, a charming local guy with whom she has a lot in common. Clara faces a dilemma: start dating again? In dreams and signs, her late husband encourages her to open her heart and rejoin the living. But to Clara, that feels like a betrayal. And which guy should she choose?
11. Where did you get your inspiration for your book?Ever since I first read the lyrical erotic stories of Anaïs Nin, I’ve been fascinated by historical erotica. People who lived long ago were just as amorous as we, and just as creative in expressing their desires. And who doesn’t love an indie bookshop?
12. Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?I’m very fond of Harry, Clara’s 75-year-old shop assistant and wise father figure. I hope to write his story one day.
13. What are you working on now?I’m doing final edits on the second book in the series. I can’t say much about those characters without spoiling the first book, but I can tell you the hero and heroine are both runners, and their romance goes viral on social media at the perfectly wrong moment. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the heroine’s feisty, artistic, ninety-year-old great-aunt.
Blurb:
Clara Martelli clings to Book Nirvana, the Oregon bookshop she and her late husband Jared built together. When rising rents and corporate competition threaten its survival, her best hope is their extensive erotica collection, locked behind a red door. In dreams and signs, her dead husband tells her it's time to open that door and move on. When a dark and handsome stranger's powerful magnetism jolts her back to life and he wants a look at the treasures of that secret room, she can't help but want to show him more.Professor Nick Papadopoulos is looking for historical erotica. Book Nirvana's collection surpasses his wildest dreams, and so does its lovely owner. A widower, he understands Clara's battle with guilt, but their searing chemistry is too strong to resist. Besides, he will only be in town for two weeks, not long enough for her to see beyond the scandal that haunts his past.
Excerpt:
The amber flecks in his eyes danced in the candlelight. Their glow drew the truth out of her like a magnet tugging metal. Deep breath. Just ask. He won’t bite.“Nick, how did you know when it was time?”“Time?”“To move on. To let someone in.”He shifted away, but the saggy sofa cushion slid him back against her thigh. “Can’t fight gravity.” He chuckled and draped his arm across her shoulders. “Honestly, my body was ready before my heart was. Even if the heart is withered, nearly dead, the body goes on—eating, breathing, feeling, wanting.” He fingered a strand of her hair, his gaze far away. “A friend saw how closed off I’d become, and she…helped me.”“How?”“By seducing me. There was wine involved, and music. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” He cupped her shoulder. “And I’m so glad she didn’t.”Avoiding his penetrating gaze, Clara focused on the flickering candles. “Did you love her?”“Not really. And yet—yes, very much.”“Huh?”“You see, I’ll never love anyone the way I loved Diana. She was unique in all the world. But she wouldn’t want me to spend the rest of my life pining for her, miserable, alone. My friend helped me see it’s okay to enjoy my life. She helped me realize that one day I might even love again. She told me it’s not something you can rush, but it will come in time if you relax and open your heart.”
Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Red-Door-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B07J5BCTSG/ https://wildcatalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-erotic/6283-through-the-red-door.html https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-red-door-sadira-stone/1129705434?ean=2940161713808 About the Author:Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. But it wasn’t until her 50s that she tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone
Hi, Jennifer. Thanks so much for hosting me today and giving me the chance to meet your readers.
1. What is your writing style or schedule?Remember that old Dolly Parton song that starts “Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition…”? That’s me, minus the office clothes and commute. I pull on yoga pants and stand at my desk until midday-ish, when my vision starts to blur. Then I take a walk around the neighborhood, perhaps hit the gym with Hubs, maybe even clean the house a bit. If it’s a good day, I hit it again for two or three hours in the afternoon.
2. Where do you actually write? I’m blessed with a little office of my own, painted celery green and stuffed with books, plus a comfy reading chair. Recently, I bought a standing desk thingy that sits atop my regular desk, so I work standing as much as possible, practicing shimmies, hip circles, and undulations while searching for the right word. (I’m a belly dancer.)
3. Do you write linearly or not?Pretty much, yeah. Theoretically, I have more than one story cooking at a time, but I tend to stick with one manuscript until I’m satisfied it’s ready to launch.
4. What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing?Well, my daughter’s grown, but if I want to hang onto my husband—and I do—I have to actually talk to him from time to time. Isn’t it astonishing how a “brief trip” to run a “few errands” can turn into a whole afternoon? And it turns out you do have to exercise now and then—imagine that! So yeah, ordinary life stuff. My step-son’s getting married this month, so there’ll be lots of family time, for which I’m grateful, gobbling my writing time. I’ll try to contain my grumbling.
5. Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?My husband’s support helps tremendously. I belong to a fabulous weekly critique group whose insight really helps polish my work. Through the RWA, I’ve connected to so many helpful writers, including my dear beta readers. (Waving at my Olympia, Washington chapter) Ours is truly a supportive community, especially among the Wild Rose Press authors.
6. How long does it normally take you to write a novel? About a year, start to finish. I’m hoping to speed up over time.
7. Who or what are your inspirations?I’m inspired by the fabulous, fascinating women I’ve met. I want to tell their stories, giving them the happy ending they deserve.
8. If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?My own tendency to write fat is frustrating. My current project, Book Two in the Book Nirvana Series, weighed in at 107K words as a first draft. It’s down to about 88K now. Sharpening/tightening a manuscript takes a lot of work—and coffee.
9. Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?I’d love to have a bigger office with a view. All I see is the side of my neighbors’ house. They’re lovely people, but still…
10. Tell me about your latest book.Through the Red Door is the story of a widow who’s trying to keep her indie bookstore afloat when faced with corporate competition. Her best chance to draw customers is the extensive erotica collection, curated by her late husband and kept behind a locked red door at the back of the shop. Since Jared’s death, she hasn’t had the heart to enter that room, leaving its care to her trusted shop assistant. One day, a handsome visiting professor arrives, looking for historical erotica. On the same day, her shop assistant introduces her to his younger cousin, a charming local guy with whom she has a lot in common. Clara faces a dilemma: start dating again? In dreams and signs, her late husband encourages her to open her heart and rejoin the living. But to Clara, that feels like a betrayal. And which guy should she choose?
11. Where did you get your inspiration for your book?Ever since I first read the lyrical erotic stories of Anaïs Nin, I’ve been fascinated by historical erotica. People who lived long ago were just as amorous as we, and just as creative in expressing their desires. And who doesn’t love an indie bookshop?
12. Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?I’m very fond of Harry, Clara’s 75-year-old shop assistant and wise father figure. I hope to write his story one day.
13. What are you working on now?I’m doing final edits on the second book in the series. I can’t say much about those characters without spoiling the first book, but I can tell you the hero and heroine are both runners, and their romance goes viral on social media at the perfectly wrong moment. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the heroine’s feisty, artistic, ninety-year-old great-aunt.
Blurb:Clara Martelli clings to Book Nirvana, the Oregon bookshop she and her late husband Jared built together. When rising rents and corporate competition threaten its survival, her best hope is their extensive erotica collection, locked behind a red door. In dreams and signs, her dead husband tells her it's time to open that door and move on. When a dark and handsome stranger's powerful magnetism jolts her back to life and he wants a look at the treasures of that secret room, she can't help but want to show him more.Professor Nick Papadopoulos is looking for historical erotica. Book Nirvana's collection surpasses his wildest dreams, and so does its lovely owner. A widower, he understands Clara's battle with guilt, but their searing chemistry is too strong to resist. Besides, he will only be in town for two weeks, not long enough for her to see beyond the scandal that haunts his past.
Excerpt:
The amber flecks in his eyes danced in the candlelight. Their glow drew the truth out of her like a magnet tugging metal. Deep breath. Just ask. He won’t bite.“Nick, how did you know when it was time?”“Time?”“To move on. To let someone in.”He shifted away, but the saggy sofa cushion slid him back against her thigh. “Can’t fight gravity.” He chuckled and draped his arm across her shoulders. “Honestly, my body was ready before my heart was. Even if the heart is withered, nearly dead, the body goes on—eating, breathing, feeling, wanting.” He fingered a strand of her hair, his gaze far away. “A friend saw how closed off I’d become, and she…helped me.”“How?”“By seducing me. There was wine involved, and music. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” He cupped her shoulder. “And I’m so glad she didn’t.”Avoiding his penetrating gaze, Clara focused on the flickering candles. “Did you love her?”“Not really. And yet—yes, very much.”“Huh?”“You see, I’ll never love anyone the way I loved Diana. She was unique in all the world. But she wouldn’t want me to spend the rest of my life pining for her, miserable, alone. My friend helped me see it’s okay to enjoy my life. She helped me realize that one day I might even love again. She told me it’s not something you can rush, but it will come in time if you relax and open your heart.”
Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Red-Door-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B07J5BCTSG/ https://wildcatalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-erotic/6283-through-the-red-door.html https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-red-door-sadira-stone/1129705434?ean=2940161713808 About the Author:Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. But it wasn’t until her 50s that she tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone
