Tracy Sumner's Blog, page 3

Character Interview with Author Trisha Wilson!

Author: Trisha Wilson

Character being interviewed:  Julia Turner from Daring To Trust

Book: Daring To Trust (Book 1 of Indigo Girls Series)

Please answer the following questions from your character's point of view.

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

When Mark walked back into my life, I wish my writer had made him do a little more groveling before I just started spending time with him again like old times. But, then again, I've always loved Mark, regardless of how much he hurt me when he walked out.

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

A baby. I would love it if Mark and I could have a baby. With all of the previous miscarriages though, I don't know if that's a possibility without going through adoption. I'm open to that idea, but he seems to change the subject each time I bring it up.

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

My favorite part about myself is my ability to love and forgive easily. Nothing keeps me down for long.

The flip side of that though is that sometimes I forgive too soon, only to be hurt again by that same person. So, I guess you could say it's my most and least favorite part about myself.

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

The hospital scene was the toughest for us both. On my side since I was unconscious, it was very difficult for me to understand what was happening to me. On my writer's side, she struggled with the medical jargon. (She's not a nurse, you know? *G* She muttered a lot and I overheard her thanking God for Google A LOT!)

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  If not, do you wish you could continue your story Yes, my story is only book 1 of a series my writer is working on. The Indigo Girls Series follows my three best friends and me as we go through ups, downs and everything in between. I won't be a main character in the other three books, but I will be a secondary character, so I can't wait to find out what happens with us all. Will I get that baby? Ellen's story is next and my writer has titled it "Daring To Love". Jae will come third in "Daring To Hope" and last but certainly not least, Abby will have her own story in book 4 titled "Daring To Dream".

Does your character have anything else they would like to talk about? If so, please add that here.

I would like to say that there are going to be secrets revealed. Even though we are all best friends, that doesn't mean we have shared every little detail with each other. Some of these secrets are not inconsequential, and they will have great impact on our lives, as well as our friendships. But, don't give up on us. We might not work things out like some people would, so some readers might get frustrated at how we deal with it. We are fighters, though. We won't stand back and let someone hurt our friends without doing our best to make sure our friend comes out of the journey happy and healthy. On behalf of all four of us, I'd like to invite you to go along for the ride with us, even though I can't promise it will be smooth going.

Trisha Wilson was born in Livingston, Tennessee. When she's not writing, she enjoys going to church, cooking/baking, cross-stitching, spending time with family & friends, and playing computer games. The genre she writes is mostly romance, with a little suspense thrown in at times. "I love to read, and my favorite author is Karen Kingsbury. She inspires me every time I pick up one of her books. I have so many ideas about future novels, and I hope people will give my books a chance, since I'm an 'unknown'." Trisha currently resides in Hilham, Tennessee with her mother Pauline and her Chihuahua Snickers. If you enjoyed this book, she would love to hear from you. She can be found on the web at trishawilson.weebly.com .

Please provide links to the following so readers can find you!Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MJVRWY

Your blog: http://trishawilson.weebly.com/my-blog.html

Your twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Trish73179

Your Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTrishaWilson

Your website: http://trishawilson.weebly.com

Your Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/281153.Trisha_Wilson

Your Google + : https://plus.google.com/104081660815078676764/about?hl=en

New review for TIDES OF LOVE on The Romance Reviews.In ...

New review for TIDES OF LOVE on The Romance Reviews.

In part: "If you love books full of sexual tension and yearning, then TIDES OF LOVE is just what you're looking for. I've long maintained that having a little sadistic streak must be what separates good romance writers from the rest, and Tracy Sumner definitely has it, torturing the reader for chapters and chapters in which the hero and heroine come so very close to making love and are thwarted at the last possible, heart-pounding moment. The scene in which they finally do come together, though, is well worth the wait. It has all the heat you might want wrapped up in tenderness and emotion."

Check out The Romance Reviews for great information about romance novels, authors, contests — and more!

New Year Blog Hop Today!

Welcome to The New Year Blog Hop!

Over 60 authors are going to talk about their favorite New Year's Memory! What does that mean for you? Well, we are giving away gift cards, books, and other swag goodies throughout the day! Each author will chose their own winner – so that means over 50 winners! And you can win on multiple pages!

Be sure to comment everywhere.

Comment here to be registered for ebook copies of the award-winning TIDES series (Tides of Love and Tides of Passion) and the Grand prizes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Fire!

Second grand prize: $80 Amazon GC!

My New Year's memory is my dad cooking a southern favorite, Hoppin' John. Gullah or Low Country cuisine reflects the cooking of the Carolinas, especially the Sea islands (a cluster of islands stretching along the coats of south Carolina and northern Georgia). Black-eyed peas, also called cow peas, are thought to have been introduced to America by African slaves who worked the rice plantations. Hoppin' John is a rich bean dish made of black-eyed peas simmered with spicy sausages, ham hocks, or fat pork, rice, and tomato sauce.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, many southern families toast each other with Champagne and a bowl of Hoppin' John. If it is served with collard greens you might get rich during the coming year.

The dish goes back at least as far as 1841, when, according to tradition, it was hawked in the streets of Charleston, South Carolina by a crippled man who was know as Hoppin' John.

See the recipe below:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large ham hock

1 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 pound black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed

1 quart chicken stock

Bay leaf

1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves

Salt, black pepper, and cayenne

3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion

3 cups steamed white rice

Directions

Heat oil in a large soup pot, add the ham hock and sear on all sides for 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cook for 4 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas, stock, bay leaves, thyme, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock. Adjust seasonings, and garnish with green onions. Serve over rice.

New Year Blog Hop!

The New Year Blog Hop!

Visit the New Year Blog Hop on January 4th! Over 60 authors are going to talk about their favorite New Year memory! What does that mean for you? Well we are giving away gift cards, books, and other swag goodies throughout the day! Each author will chose their own winner – so that means over 50 winners! And you can win on multiple pages!

And the best thing? We have TWO Grand prizes. 

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Fire!

Second grand prize: $80 Amazon GC!

More details to follow!  Stay tuned…

 

Interview with Author Cynthia Woolf

Welcome, Cynthia!

1.    How did you get started writing?  I wrote my first story when I was about ten.  It was a romance about me and a little boy I liked.  I also wrote some very depressing poetry.  I decided that poetry was not for me and stuck to romance.

2.    What genre(s) do you write in and why?  I have a historical western romance and a sci-fi romance out now.  The sci-fi is the first in a series.  I write in these genre's because they are the ones whose stories reached out to me.  The western was the first book I wrote and was inspired by my parents love story.  It's set on the same ranch that they met on in 1941.  My book is set in 1885, so it's not their love story.  My dad was a cowboy and trapper but to the best of my knowledge was never a bounty hunter.

The sci-fi series was done because of dreams I had when I was a teenager.  I knew I was a princess from Alpha Centauri.  There was no way I could belong to the crazy family I had.  Of course, I adore that crazy family now.

3.   What movie best describes your life?  Why?  I think Romancing the Stone best describes my life.  It's just one crazy misstep after another, but I got my happy ending.

4.    What inspired your latest book?  Centauri Twilight is the second book in the Centauri Series.  I used to dream that I was a princess from Alpha Centauri, that was the basis for Centauri Dawn, book 1 in the series.

Book 2 is much darker.  Lara is the twin sister of Audra in book 1.  Lara has been a sex slave since she was a child.  Having escaped, she's now an outlaw and working to free the rest of the slaves who are now her people.

5.    What is your favorite part of writing?  My favorite part is what I call the 'puking' phase.  Just getting it all down on paper for the first time.  You just let if flow out of you, not caring, for the moment, if it is good or bad.

6.    What is your least favorite part of writing?  Editing is my least favorite.  I'm constantly questioning myself and my work.  Changing it, correcting it, putting it back to what it was and starting it all again.  It's never good enough for me.

7.    What is your next project and when will it be released?  My next book is called CENTAURI MIDNIGHT and is the third book in the Centauri Series.  It will be released in January 2012.

8.    What is your typical day like?  I don't know that I have a typical day.  I'm lucky enough to be able to write full time.  I was laid off in June and am taking advantage of it to write while I look for another job.

9.    How much time do you spend promoting your books?  What works best for you?  I spend a lot of time promoting my books.  A minimum of two hours per day.  Usually more but it is in 15 or 20 minute increments throughout the day, not in one big chunk.  Between Facebook, Twitter, blogging, putting announcements on loops, etc, I spend a lot of time doing it.  So far, blogging seems to get me the biggest bump in  my sales.

10.  How has your experience with self-publishing been?  My experience has been wonderful.  I highly recommend it for everyone out there who doesn't want to be constrained by the "big" traditional publisher.  For everyone who wants to write from their heart and not according to the industry rules and constraints, self publishing is the only way to go.

11.  Where do you get the ideas for your stories?  I have ideas from everywhere.  My sci-fi series is from my dreams as a teenager.  My western was inspired by my parents own meeting and love story.  I place Tame A Wild Heart about 60 years earlier than when my parents met but the setting on a ranch is the same.  My dad was a real cowboy and my mom was what we would call a nanny now.  They were called nursemaids then.

12.  What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?  Go for it.  It's a wild ride but totally worth it.

About Cynthia

Cynthia Woolf was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden.  She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.

Their closest neighbor was one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend.  That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006.

Cynthia was and is an avid reader.  Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week.  This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug.  She wrote her first story at the age of ten.  A romance about a little boy she liked at the time.

She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after graduation and there was little time to write.  Then in 1990 she and two friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates.  She found that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories.  In 1992 she joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.  Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded the she not renew her memberships and her writing stagnated for many years.

In 2000, she saw an ad in the paper for a writers conference being put on by CRW and decided she'd attend.  One of her favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, was the keynote speaker.  Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat at Ms. Coulter's table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed to get back to her writing.  She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and hasn't looked back.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she's made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.

www.cynthiawoolf.com or cindy@cynthiawoolf.com
From Cowboys to Space Captains…true love has no boundaries
TAME A WILD HEART ,  CENTAURI DAWN,  and  CENTAURI TWILIGHT  are now available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaWoolf    Twitter: @cynthiawoolf

TAME A WILD HEART

CENTAURI DAWN

CENTAURI TWILIGHT

EXCERPT FROM CENTAURI MIDNIGHT

"Audra, please.  You're my queen but you're also my friend.  You must grant me this last request.  Let me go after him."  Tensign Kiti Dolana paced the beautiful sitting room.  Bile rose in her throat threatened to strangle her.  Finally, she collapsed into a chair it's soft cushions swallowing her as she sat across the small, highly polished and gleaming, coffee table from the Queen of Centauri, her friend.

The Queen, pregnant with triplets, her beautifully distended tummy disallowing much frivolous movement, reclined on the couch.  She sat up to pour the tea but had trouble reaching the tea pot in the middle of the coffee table.  "Kiti would you pour our tea, I'm a bit like a beached whale right now."  Audra was anything but a beached whale.  Kiti knew the colloquial term from her study of Earth.

Her queen was radiant.  Her long, chestnut hair falling in waves to her waist was gathered on one side of her head.  Her clear gray eyes shone bright  in her pale face.  She wore a beautiful royal purple empire waisted dress that highlighted her pale features.  She was beautiful.  Kiti remembered a time, on their way back to Centauri from Earth, when she'd not thought so, because she was jealous.

That was before Audra's marriage to Darius and when she'd still be betrothed to Anton.  Kiti had been in love with Anton, at least she thought she was, and was jealous of Audra.  Some of the things she said were unkind, but Audra had seen them for what they were, jealousy and forgiven her the words.  They were now the best of friends.

Kiti poured the tea and continued to beseech her queen.  "Audra, you have to let me go after him.  He killed my brother Joridan, his actions led to Anton being captured and tortured.  I need to see they get justice, they deserve it."

"And you are sure it is only justice you seek?" Audra softly asked.

"Damn it, Audra."  Kiti was up and pacing the room again.  Her long black hair was tied in a high pony tail and swung back and forth with each step she took.  The thick, plush carpet kept her boots from clicking on the floor.  "I'm begging you to let me go with Garrick Marcus.  It's not just revenge I need.  I need closure.  I'm the one who should deliver Tybold to the authorities.  Garrick Marcus is the best captain in the fleet and I know Darius is sending him after Tybold.  Joridan needs us both to avenge his death.  To bring his murderer back to Centauri for justice to be served."

"Kiti, are you combat trained?  We don't know what to expect from the Proconians.  By this time, Tybold could have convinced them we are conquerors and he's their only salvation.  We don't know.  It could be a suicide mission.  I don't want to lose my best friend."  She went on.  "I know you're grieving.  Joridan's loss and Lara's return has been very hard on you."

"Stop."  Kiti jumped up and started to pace again.  "I know what my life has been like.  I mourn the loss of Joridan life and Anton's capture and torture by Slavarien.  Joridan was my little brother.  Even though he was a head taller than me he will always be my little brother.  I still smell Joridan's scent in his room.  Sometimes it's so fresh it's like he just passed by."  Her eyes filled with tears, "I miss the closeness that Anton and I once shared but I do not bemoan him finding Lara.  I'm very happy he found his lifemate.  It was something he never thought to be able to do.  After the torture that both Anton and Lara suffered at the hands of the Slavariens, it's amazing that they found each other.  I wish I had a lifemate out there somewhere.

"Audra, I'm a historian and anthropologist, but first I'm Dragonera.  Of course, I am combat trained.  All Dragonera are.  We are the Royal Guard.  We are the best."

"Yes.  You're right, but I worry anyway.  Must be my maternal instinct."  Audra patted her belly.

"You know that the people of Procon are centuries behind us technologically.  I'm the only person who can go on this mission that knows anything about their culture."

"I don't know," Audra hesitated.

"Admit it.  Garrick needs me."

"We don't interfere in the development of other planets' civilizations.  You know that."

"Tybold has already interfered.  I say we'll be evening the odds for the tribes involved.  And it's not as though Procon doesn't know we exist.  They already trade with other planets.  Just because they're not our technological equals doesn't mean they aren't advanced."

Kiti saw Audra hesitate before she answered.  "I must confer with Darius before I can give you my answer."

At that moment Darius came in accompanied by Garrick, Anton and Lara.  The three men were in their Dragonera uniforms as was Kiti.  The only differences being the color blocking.  Darius and Garrick wore amethyst uniforms with cream colored sleeves, denoting their status as starship Captains.  Darius' uniform also had a cream colored stripe from the left shoulder to the waist, denoting that he was Captain of the Royal Guard.  As a general in the Royal Army, Anton's uniform was solid amethyst.  Lara, Audra's twin sister, still had the tanned skin from someone who's spent too much time in the sun.  She wore the House of Danexx royal colors like everyone else did.  Hers were an amethyst jumpsuit and long cream colored duster.  Kiti's uniform was solid cream.  Her rank as Tensign was denoted by a patch on her left arm.

"What do you need to discuss with me?" Darius asked as he took his wife's arm and helped her to rise from the couch.  She gave him a quick kiss.  Darius rubbed her stomach then bent and said, "Hello, my children.  Are you being nice to your mommy today?"

Kiti swore he expected an answer.

"If you don't quit that people are going to think you're crazy," said Audra.

Darius laughed and kissed her belly.

"I am. Crazy in love with my wife."

Lara made gagging sounds.  'Will you two remember that you have an audience?"

"All right.  But you and Anton are just as bad as we are." Darius said to his soon to be twice over sister-in-law."

"Never," retorted Lara.  "No one is as over the moons as you two.

"I don't know, I'm pretty much over the moons about you," said Anton waggling his eyebrows at her.

The banter was not aimed at Kiti.  She didn't think the two couples even remembered they were not alone.  Kiti glanced at Garrick, who rolled his eyes at her.   "Audra, the mission."  She reminded her queen tapping her wrist to hurry her.

"Oh yes.  Darius, Kiti has requested to be assigned to go with Garrick to Procon, to apprehend Lord Tybold.  I told her I would discuss it with you."

"I don't know if she will be needed,"  Darius responded.

Garrick spoke for the first time since entering the room.  "I think an anthropologist would be very useful on this particular mission.  Tensign Dolana would be a definite asset to me in bringing in Tybold."

"Thank you, Garrick. "  Kiti was warmed by his words and agreed with him one hundred percent.  To her way of thinking, this mission would only succeed with her help.  No one could understand the Proconians better than she could.

"Very well," said Darius.  "You will receive your orders tomorrow.  In the mean time, can we eat dinner?  I'm a starving man."

Conversation With Bestselling Author Lisa Mondello!

Hello from Lisa Mondello!  I want to thank Tracy for having me here on her blog post-Christmas. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful time with family and friends.  I know I did.

<A HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_... Widgets</A>For those of you who got an e-reader for Christmas (and even those of you who didn't) I'm sure you want to find some good reads to keep you busy between now and New Year's.  I'd like to tell you a little bit about my latest series, FATE WITH A HELPING HAND.  It features ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT and THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY.  Today I'm going to give one visitor a chance to win a copy of THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY and another visitor a chance to win a copy of THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT.  All you have to do is read the excerpt to THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY and leave a comment.  So don't be shy.  You can leave a comment about anything.  Tell me what your favorite Christmas gift was or even how your Christmas meal turned out.  I always forget to toast the rolls and remember them after the everyone has finished their meal and this year was no different.  (You'd think someone would remind me!)

Anyway, introduce yourself, leave a comment for a chance to win and let me know what you think about the excerpt from THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY.

Lisa

BLURB:

Sometimes fate needs a little help…

Jonah Wallace knows what it's like to grow up without love. Despite having more money than the Queen of England, his childhood was cold and stale as he grew up in boarding schools. He's dedicated his life to helping homeless and displaced children find the love and support they need by creating the Haven House Foundation, work that resulted in him being Knighted by the Queen.

Now that he's living in America, his work is going along just fine…until his grandfather gives fate a little nudge by insisting he take a wife before he can inherit.

Coffee shop owner, Maggie Bonelli, is pregnant and the baby's dad has gone AWOL. She knows too well the pain of growing up without a daddy. So when Jonah Wallace comes into her shop proposing marriage for a year, she takes him up on his offer, even if it's only for a year. Live in a mansion and give her baby a name and a daddy to call his/her own. But can they keep their perfect arraignment strictly business…or will fate's helping hand bring them love at last?

*******************************EXCERPT***************************

"Don't you think you're rushing things just a tad?" She lifted her hand and pinched

her index finger and thumb together for emphasis.

"I'll admit my proposal is a bit abrupt," he stammered.

"A bit?"

"We've only known each other–"

"Forty-five minutes tops," she blurted out. "Are you out of your mind?"

Her tone was incredulous. And he really didn't blame Maggie if she thought he was

nuts. He felt nuts. Desperate, too. But he found himself defending his proposal.

"Quite possibly. But you see, that's exactly my point. I'm have a bit of a time crunch here, and it seems as though–"

Maggie folded her arms across her chest. "How silly of me. Here I thought you

were sweeping me off my feet."

He shook his head with a chuckle. "I do sound mad, don't I?"

"Recognition is the first step toward recovery."

Something rumbled up from deep inside him. Jonah laughed at himself, this

disastrous day, and the absurd situation he'd been forced into by his grandfather. It felt good to laugh. That in itself was incredibly surprising, considering he hadn't managed to do much laughing at all since he'd learned of the impending plans for Wiltshire.

He peered at Maggie through moisture filled eyes. She wasn't laughing. But she was

incredibly beautiful. Her sapphire eyes sparkled when she teased him. There were small freckles sprinkled across her nose that looked adorable with the sun shining on her creamy skin.

When she looked at him the way she was right now, it didn't seem like such a crazy

idea to marry her. At least not for the reasons he was proposing. He hadn't given it a second thought. And yet, now he realized just how ridiculous he looked from her eyes.

"I'm not making a pass at you. Truly, I'm not."

"You just asked me to marry you."

"I'm asking for your help."

"Again?"

His lips tilted up to one side. "Again."

Maggie took two steps down the stairs until they were both standing at eye level.

"Forget the phone call, the nice air conditioned ride in the limo, the coffee, the pie—"

"Which by the way was truly inspiring," he interjected. "If I didn't already tell you that."

"You did. You don't even know me. You're asking a total stranger to marry you."

He shrugged. "I know that. But I know you make me laugh."

"So that's all it takes for a happy marriage? Bet we could make a killing with that

book."

"I sound delusional," he said. "Even to my own ears, which is pretty scary."

He was delusional. He'd just asked a woman he didn't even know to marry him!

And the fact that he was truly considering it was entirely grandfather's doing.

Lisa Mondello

The Knight and Maggie's Baby Book 3 (Fate with a Helping Hand) 9/11 

The Marriage Contract Book 2 (Fate with a Helping Hand) 9/11 

All I Want for Christmas is You Book 1 (Fate with a Helping Hand) 9/11 99 Cent Download! http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com

 

Lisa Mondello is the best selling author of 13 published books. Her first published book, the award winning ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, was recently reissued as an ebook and has had over 226,000 downloads worldwide. In addition to publishing her Fate with a Helping Hand series, which includes THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT and THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY, she is releasing her popular Texas Hearts Romance series as ebooks in early 2012. She currently writes for Harlequin Love Inspired Romance and is collaborating with a film producer/screenwriter on a screenplay. She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at LisaMondello@aol.com, find her on her blog talking about writing, movies and music athttp://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com or chat on Twitter at @LisaMondello.

CONTEST

Copies of The Knight and Maggie's Baby and The Marriage Contract. One each to a blog visitor who leaves a comment. Just read the excerpt and post. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL hit the Movers and Shakers list on ...

TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL hit the Movers and Shakers list on Amazon this morning! And it hit #1 on the Historical Hot New Releases! I'm thrilled!

The Future of Indie Publishing

Interesting article on the future of indie publishing.

Welcome Bestselling Author Wendy L. Young!

Welcome Wendy L. Young, the author of mystery novels COME THE SHADOWS and RED SKY WARNING.

Are you a Weird Writer? I am.

Our world moves at an incredible pace, and technology continually improves how FAST we can accomplish our tasks and how QUICKLY we can communicate.

I don't want to knock these amazing accomplishments and I freely admit I could never be in this position without these advances. I can reach readers, and other authors, at the speed of a tweet – Australia is just as accessible as Texas and Tennessee.

Writing, however, is a process, and one that requires care. It doesn't matter how fast I type if I'm not building a story the reader will enjoy and that means I have to unplug from the 'modern world' and revert back to a sometimes lost art…

Pen and paper.

I feel like I should whisper those words. Who does that? Does the iPad have an app for that?

How uncool, I hear.

How wonderful, I say.

The physical act of putting pen to paper is inspiring. It slows down the brain, it focuses the mind, and (last I checked) it has no Twitter or Facebook access to distract from the process.

Granted, it has its drawbacks. I am fiendishly protective of the spiral that holds a new novel and I dread the typing that is to come. About half way through the first draft I'm also dying for a search function to check a quick detail or a character's name.

The positives far outweigh the negatives for me, however. As one of the (uncool) people without an iPad, you can hardly beat the portability of my tools. And, I can use any pen or paper I find and no one will (typically) accuse me of stealing.

Those are just surface positives, though. I love to quote an anonymous saying:

Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the internet.

I can't write two sentences on a computer without flipping to Firefox and an endless round of Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, news, email, and so forth. I'm writing this directly on the computer, with no Pen and Paper middleman, and it's taking me forever.

I can type about 1500-2000 words an hour but I can only WRITE about 500 words an hour on the computer with all these modern, wonderful distractions. On paper, however, I can keep up with the typing and never lose my groove.

Aside from the obvious focus issues, I also find I'm 10x more creative with my old-fashioned tools. The physical act of forming the words slows down my brain and allows me to focus on the immediate and upcoming action in a way that I can fill the pages one after the other without ceasing until sleep comes.

Does it make me old-fashioned? Sure. Weird writer? Sure. Does it matter, as long as the book is enjoyable?

I think all writers have their own quirks but the most important thing is that you can craft stories that leave the reader with a sense they spent their time well – either through pure enjoyment or enrichment.

I have to say that I'm destined to stay a Weird Writer and I'm proud of it.

What's your quirk? What makes you a Weird Writer?

RED SKY WARNING and COME THE SHADOWS

would make wonderful holiday gifts for the reader on your list!

Wendy L. Young is an internationally bestselling mystery author of Come the Shadows and the newly released sequel Red Sky Warning – both part of the trilogy, The Campbell Creek Mysteries. She lives in East Tennessee with her family and has been writing since elementary school. She loves to connect with readers online and can be found on Goodreads, her blog, on Twitter @wendyyoung, and on Facebook.

 

TIDES OF LOVE hit the Amazon Bestsellers List!#746 Pa...

TIDES OF LOVE hit the Amazon Bestsellers List!

#746 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Biological Sciences > Biology >  Marine Biology
#33 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance >  Historical Romance