Callie Hutton's Blog, page 9

Jason Cavendish, Earl of Coventry, is trying to discreet...

Jason Cavendish, Earl of Coventry, is trying to discreetly locate his unwanted and abandoned bride among London society to request an annulment. However, he doesn’t remember what she looks like because he was blind drunk at his arranged wedding, and hasn’t seen her since.

The fascinating Lady Olivia has captured the Earl’s attention. Newly arrived from the country to stay with her school friend for the Season, she is appalled to discover that her husband, Lord Coventry, doesn’t even recognize her. She’s not about to tell the arrogant arse that she is his wife. Instead, she flirts with him by night, and has her modiste send her mounting bills to him by day.

Will Coventry discover that the woman he wishes is pursue is actually his elusive wife? And if he does, will Olivia welcome him with open arms?

The Earl Needs Your Help!

Dearest Readers,

Your assistance is needed to locate the Earl’s wife! Numerous women have volunteered to help, but I fear their abetment is less than honorable. With your aid, the Earl hopes to find his happily ever after…could it be in the arms of his wife?

As the Earl’s solicitor, I will bestow a soft bound copy of my best selling novels An Angel in the Mail and Emma’s Journey to the two individuals who lead the pursuit. Time is of the essence. By adding The Elusive Wife to your bookshelf, the Earl is destined to find the answers he needs. Please utilize the link below to my website where you may sign up to assist the Earl in the pursuit of The Elusive Wife!

Respectfully yours,

Callie Hutton

http://calliehutton.com/

Dearest Readers,Your assistance is needed to locate the...

Dearest Readers,

Your assistance is needed to locate the Earl’s wife! Numerous women have volunteered to help, but I fear their abetment is less than honorable. With your aid, the Earl hopes to find his happily ever after…could it be in the arms of his wife?

As the Earl’s solicitor, I will bestow a soft bound copy of my best selling novels An Angel in the Mail and Emma’s Journey to the two individuals who lead the pursuit. Time is of the essence. By adding The Elusive Wife to your bookshelf, the Earl is destined to find the answers he needs. Please utilize the link below to my website where you may sign up to assist the Earl in the pursuit of The Elusive Wife!

Respectfully yours,

Callie Hutton

http://calliehutton.com/

Story Ideas and Other Things…

Where do you get your ideas from? Like most authors, I get this question all the time. Interspersed with the inevitable I have a great idea for a story. You can write it, and we’ll split the money. Sure. Let me check my calendar.

Ideas come from everywhere and anywhere. A line in a song, a movie, a book, something someone says, in church, at the supermarket, bank, post office. As long as there are places and people, ideas will come.

Oftentimes when I rode the train to work years ago, I would make up stories about the passengers. Since I ended up riding with the same people most days, these stories became continuing sagas. Then I would meet one of them on the street and feel sorry because that poor woman’s husband was cheating on her and she didn’t know it. Hmm. Not so – I made that up.

I have a regency novel releasing from Entangled Publishing in April, The Elusive Wife, about a woman named Olivia. Got that idea while sitting in church and a woman in front of me called to her little girl Olivia, come here. I took out my checkbook and outlined the entire story on the back of a check. Sorry, Pastor Dave, I really didn’t mean to ignore your homily.

I love being able to write stories, probably the Irish in me. They’re known for their story telling skills. Blarney I believe it’s called? Creative and artistic juices run in my family. My nephew just signed a contract to write a biography and my cousin is a playwright. Three nieces sing like angels, my son is an artist, my daughter designs jewelry, and another niece makes designer cakes.

So what does this all mean? Absolutely nothing. Just felt like rambling today. Hope you have a super Thursday cause we’re starring at the weekend right now. Or as the duchess said in Downton Abbey “What is a week-end?”

 

Google It!!!

Google it has become a common phrase in my house. No matter what anyone wants to know, be it a recipe, a definition of a word, or how the west was one, someone will shout google it.

Since I write historical romance, Google has become a big part of my research life. Like most readers, I have my library of research books, but recently, when editing, I ran across a regency character saying ‘they’re playing musical beds,’ I gave pause. When was the children’s game, musical chairs first played? Was it as early as the 1812 year I set my book in?

Alas, no. Musical chairs was from around the year 1875. So, obviously, raised eyebrows and looks of confusion would have greeted my heroine had she uttered those words.

Speaking of how the west was won, when I did the research for my recent release, Emma’s Journey, I found the internet invaluable. I tracked my characters from Missouri to Oregon, investigating all the places they would have stopped and passed along the way.

How active were Indian attacks at the time? What did Fort Laramie look like? What illnesses plagued the pioneers who took the Oregon Trail? All of this information was at my fingertips, thanks to the internet. Had this book been written twenty or so years ago, I would have spent an inordinate amount of time at the library.

As much as I love the library, and browsing their shelves, getting quick answers helps the muse to stay active, and my fingers busily writing storyline.

I thought about all of this recently when three different companies dropped phone books at my doorstep. I haven’t used a phone book in years. I just Google it.

What about you? How has the information available on the internet changed your life?

Romance Author Barbara Barrett

Today, I welcome romance author, Barbara Barrett, who’s going to talk to us about sequels. Take it away, Barb.

Three Potholes to Avoid When Writing a Sequel

I’ve never given much thought to the nature of sequels. I assumed the author typed “The End” on the first book and kept going. That’s the approach I took when I started the sequel to my first published romance novel, The Sleepover Clause. Boy, was I wrong! My critique partners soon set me straight. Since I’m now back at the drawing board, I thought this might be a fitting time to share some of the lessons I learned.

That’s not to say I’ve had this great epiphany and am now all knowledgeable. More like I’ve discovered a few potholes to avoid and am using this article as an opportunity to put them into coherent perspective.

The intended timeline for this second book in my “Clause” series starts shortly after the first one ends.  So I began with essentially the same scene, same location and same assemblage of characters, thinking this would make for a smooth transition. Discovery Number 1, don’t litter the first few pages with too many characters. Someone who read the first book probably wouldn’t be thrown by this. But someone who isn’t familiar with the first book will be thrown with all the names and connections coming at them before they’ve had a chance to acclimate to the time and setting. As in any book, sequel or not, the main characters need to stand out and immediately engage the reader. That’s unlikely to happen when they’re competing with everyone else for space in that first chapter.

Discovery Number 2, Avoid Information Dumps. In other words, don’t give the reader too much information too soon. Not only does it overwhelm the reader with unnecessary details that clutter up the introduction, it slows the pace. And pacing is important. The beginning of a sequel is highly vulnerable to this tendency, because the writer is anxious to bring the reader up to speed as soon as possible so both reader and writer can get on with the new story. Edit, edit, edit to eliminate every nonessential item, every plot point that can be revealed later. Focus on introducing the main characters. Establish their conflicts as soon as possible, not the full extent, that won’t happen until well into the first quarter of the book, but lay out the bones. Not only does that hook the reader’s interest, it also will help set this book apart from its predecessor.

Discovery Number 3, the second book should assume its own personality from the start.  Without realizing it, I started this first draft of the sequel in a fashion similar to the first. I even had one of the main characters echoing dialogue similar to that of one of the characters in the first book. I could argue that I was attempting to establish a common framework shared by the two books, but get real. It’s one thing for the reader to immediately recognize the author’s voice; it’s totally another matter for the author to be perceived as a “one-trick pony.”

I’m off to start the second draft and follow my own advice. Who knows? Once it’s finished, it may inspire a sequel to this blog article, “Three More Discoveries I Made About Sequels.” So what do you think? I am on point or off base?

Barbara Barrett spent her professional career as a human resources analyst for Iowa state government, and that training has stayed with her in her writing of contemporary romance fiction. The theme of her writing, “Romance at Work,” reflects her fascination with the jobs people do and infiltrates her plots almost to the point of becoming a secondary character.

      A member of Romance Writers of America and several of its affiliate chapters, she was first “published” in sixth grade when a fictional account of a trip to France appeared in her hometown newspaper, the Burlington Hawk-Eye. Years later, she was fortunate enough to visit the subject of her essay, although in it she never envisioned that she would trip on a curb near the Arc d’Triomphe and have to limp her way through the Louvre.

      Now retired, Barbara spends her winters basking in the Florida sunshine and returns to her home state of Iowa in the summer to “stay cool.” She is married to the man she met in dormitory advisor training her senior year of college. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. When she’s not writing, she’s busy lunching with friends or playing Mah Jongg.

      Her first book, The Sleepover Clause, was released by Crimson Romance in September of 2012. Her second book, And He Cooks Too, will officially be released by The Wild Rose Press on March 22, but in the meantime, it is available in the Kindle version on Amazon.

      She loves talking about writing romance and welcomes invitations from book clubs to join them via phone calls or the Internet.  Check out her contact information to request she visit your book club.

Barbara has offered a glimpse of her new book, And He Cooks Too

Three men, three lies. Two made her doubt herself and the last nearly destroyed her career. And now, blacklisted by the city’s finest restaurants, Chef Reese Dunbar must put the resuscitation of her battered reputation in the hands of yet another man. The television experience Nick Coltrane’s cooking show offers is her best option. But after giving her heart to him, her trust is put to the test when she discovers that Nick has lied about the real reason he brought her on board – he wants her to replace him before his audience learns he is a fraud; the host of “And He Cooks Too” can’t cook. Reese must not only come to terms with Nick’s deception, she must also reconsider the unhealthy motivations behind her relentless drive for success. Before he can escape the charade he has allowed himself to be party to, Nick must stand up to his aunt, the only woman who has always stuck by him, and risk losing her support. Reese’s parting words, questioning whether the woman owns his soul, help him find the courage and self-knowledge to do that. In return, he helps Reese realize the folly of atoning for a teenager’s mistake through an adult’s misplaced ambitions. Only as they come to trust the other are they able to return the other’s love and pursue the careers that give their lives meaning.

Here’s an excerpt:

The woman, her boss had called her Reese, angled her head, as if absorbing the man’s statement. It was the first real look Nick had gotten of her. Not bad. Not bad at all. “Patrice got the job because of Julian Parker, not because you and she got together?”

He glanced away. “Uh, well—”

“Both of you?” She started for the door again. “I am so out of here.”

Louis clamped a hand on her shoulder. “C’mon, Reese. Cut the drama. I thought if I explained the situation, you’d understand.”

“What I understand is that there is nothing here for me anymore.”

“You know the code, Reese. Chefs don’t leave their kitchens in the middle of service. You’re good, but not good enough to test it.”

She twisted around. “You can thank your new sous chef for the timing. Do you think her telling me just prior to the dinner hour was an accident?”

“Stick around. We’ll work out something,” he coaxed.

“Yeah, right.”

“Nobody leaves me high and dry. You’ll regret going out that door.”

“Let’s see who regrets what.” She ripped a net from her head, allowing a mass of raven black hair to escape, and pushed through the door to the outside world.

************

Website:  http://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com

Email: barbarabarrett747@gmail.com

Facebook: Barbara Barrett

Twitter:  bbarrettbooks

I want to thank Barb for being with us today. Her book sounds wonderful, and I look forward to its release.

 

 

 

How Much is Too Much?

 

As authors, we all know it’s up to us to market and promote our books. Times have changed, and it’s the rare author (except for the big names) who gets much support from his or her publisher. In fact, a lot of publishers are requesting a market plan from the author before they’ll consider contracting the book.

I’m sure most of us follow the same path. We read books on marketing. We sign up for Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. We visit blogs of our friends, invite them to visit our blogs, and watch our numbers on Amazon.

I eventually reached a point where I was forced to ask−how much is too much? Little by little, I found myself spending more time with social media than I was with writing the books that required me to have a presence on social media. I was swallowed up with visiting the same author friends on the same blogs promoting the same books. I mean how many times can you wish someone ‘best of luck with XXX?’

This year will be super busy for me with what I already have under contract, planned to write, edit, and have published. Plus I’m the new president of my local RWA chapter. In addition I give back to the writing community by judging contests and critiquing other authors’ manuscripts and/or beta reading. And I enjoy giving book reviews as a trade for reviews of my books. It was time to take a serious look at how I was spending my time.

When it comes to writing, I’m usually a panster, but a definite plotter in my life. I tore apart my entire marketing strategy for 2012, went over what I did, what I thought worked, what I thought was fun, but generally a waste of time.

Several online groups I belonged to had become no more than cyber coffee klatches. They had to go. Twitter is important, and so is Facebook. Goodreads comes in third, and possibly (for me anyway) not the best use of my time.

Blogging is good. As long as I have something to say worth reading. Constant blogs about my books would become boring and uninteresting in no time. Hence this blog – well, maybe in part about my books, but more about my plans.

I checked out a few new things I’d learned about in my quest for the ‘perfect marketing plan’ and will see how they work out. But for the most part, I’m headed off into a better use of my time this year.

We’ll see how it goes, and I’ll report back next year. In the meantime, I’d like to hear what has worked for you, and what changes you might be making this year.

Monday Magic welcomes Sharon Clare!

I’m happy to welcome my fellow Crimson Romance sister, Sharon Clare. She’s here to share her book, Rhapsody with us.

First let’s find a little bit about her. Take it away, Sharon.

If you could be a character in one of your books, who would it be, and why?

It would be fun to be Finn, the Elvin trickster who appears in both books. I’d love to have his power to teleport and his advanced understanding of energy and metaphysics. Even though he spends most of  his time amongst humans, I’d visit his wonderful world of beauty and decadence. Perhaps I could tame the trickster in him.

If you hadn’t decided to become a writer, what other occupation can you see yourself in?

If I wasn’t a writer, I’d like to be doing something creative and be in business for myself. I’d love to learn graphic design and work with book covers and promotional materials.

Do you prefer redeemable villains, or like them nasty through and through?

I prefer a redeemable villain. Finn is the antagonist in Rhapsody and although he’s not evil, he will disregard human feelings for his own gain. Still, he has a good reason for his actions. In Love of Her Lives, Matthew is a nasty villain, but I gave him a justifiable reason for his actions that lies in his back story and drives his motivation. It’s warped, but he believes it.

What faults do you prefer your heroes to have?

I give my characters faults that stem from misguided beliefs in the way they see themselves and the world. In Rhapsody, Jonathan doesn’t value intimacy. He’s a bit of a womanizer and not in touch with his emotions until he’s forced into a vulnerable position and must rely on the heroine.

In Love of Her Lives, I had a great time making Calum a control freak who can’t quite control his own temper. These faults gave him great attitude and voice, at least that’s how he felt to me.

What faults do you prefer your heroines to have?

I like the hero and heroine’s flaws to feed off each other. In Rhapsody, I gave Isabelle a self-esteem issue, mainly because men see her beautiful sex-kitten body instead of the person inside. In the story, she’s working on a relationship rescue course, and this was great fun to help her begin to see her flaws and it also red-flagged the hero. In Love of Her Lives, Beth is a risk-taker which drives Calum’s need to control, which in turn pushes Beth into precarious situations and so on.

How do you pick the names of your characters?

I use one of those online name generators and I go through the list until something feels right.

Is finding the right title easy or hard?

Terribly hard.

Who would you like to see cast as the hero and heroine in a movie made about Rhapsody?

I’m terrible at this question since I don’t know movie personalities that well. Be right back. Heading to the Crimson Romance writer’s Facebook group for inspiration. Back. For Jonathan I could see Olivier Martinez (I love him with his long hair in Unfaithful) For Isabelle, I could see Michelle Monaghan.

What did you do immediately after receiving your first ‘call?’ 

I received an email from my editor Jennifer Lawler at Crimson Romance. Like everyone, I imagine, I was crazy excited. I don’t think I even finished reading the entire email before I grabbed my husband to come see it. I was beyond happy, on the other side of bliss, better than winning the lottery (in a way) because it meant validation and dreams come true.

Now for a few fun things:

Mountain home or beach house?

Oh man, hard to choose. When I start selling gazillions of books I’d like to have both please, but I’ll take the beach house for now.

Gloomy day or sunshine to get your muse going?

Sunshine no question.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoons.

Cat or dog?

Again, not easy to pick one since I have both. Okay, dog. (Don’t tell Dave my cat—he can be ornery)

Beach vacation or sightseeing?

I love to alternate, but I’m dreaming of beaches lately.

Jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers, or pencil skirt, silk blouse, and killer heels?

Jeans, t-shirt and sneakers.

Carrie Underwood or Lady Gaga?

I guess Carrie Underwood. Sorry, not a big fan of either.

I want to thank my fellow Crimson sister Callie Hutton so very kindly for having me as a guest on her blog today! To thank your readers for visiting today, I like to offer a chance to win one electronic copy of Rhapsody. Please leave a comment with your email address and tell us what is your favourite romance or book genre.   

Here’s what Rhapsody is about:

Isabelle plans to escape the real world when she takes a tropical vacation. But escape becomes too real when Paradise Resort disappears. To win her freedom, she must break an oath and out-play her opponent in a game of seduction. Her self-control is resolute until her traitorous body decides this is a game she wants to play.

Jonathan’s needs are simple: break down Isabelle’s resistance, win the game, and get back to the real world where an emergency waits. Desire grows between them as each roll of the die reveals secrets, truths and skin, until Jonathan is forced to confront his worse fear or forfeit Isabelle to the dark mastermind of the game.

Sharon Clare lives in Ontario with her husband and three wonderful grown-up kids who come and go from the nest. She fell in love with writing at the University of Toronto where she graduated with a science degree in psychology and professional writing. She writes paranormal romance and has published short stories, art reviews, newsletter and magazine articles. Her favourite place to write is outside under the maple trees beside the lily pond.

Find out more about Sharon Clare’s books at: sharonclare.com

 

Monday Magic Welcomes Meggan Connors

I’m so happy to welcome once again my fellow Soul Mate buddy, Meggan Connors, with her new book, Jessie’s War. She’s written a very interesting blog for us.

Take it away, Meggan:

Thanks for having me today, Callie.

January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, when we all resolve to make changes in our lives. For me, the time when I make resolutions that I may actually keep is usually in September, because my life revolves around the school year schedule. Has since I was little, and still does.

But no matter—I’m guilty of making January resolutions, too. And no, I don’t usually keep those, either.

So, this year, because I sort of missed the annual September resolution time (it’s a long story), I’ve decided to make attainable resolutions in January!

Here are my top five attainable resolutions:

1) This year, I will not punch a buffalo in the face.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep this one. There’s a ranch about 40 miles away that has buffalo. The first time I saw it, I seriously thought I needed a new prescription for my glasses. I even gasped and said to my husband, “OMG, what’s wrong with those cows?”

I’m a city girl at heart. I was concerned about them—they looked wrong.

Husband, who raised cattle in his youth and grew up on a ranch, looked at me like I had lost my mind. But even he did a double take.

“No, Wife, I think those are… buffalo?”

Admittedly, not a sight we see around these parts. In any case, I resolve not to punch one in the face. If I do, however, I’m sure you’ll hear all about it. Because I will be screaming so loudly you’ll hear me in from space.

2) I won’t dress like Dr. Frank-N-Furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show this year.

You’re welcome.

3)  I resolve not to intentionally eat any large insects.

I refuse to make promises about the unintentional ingestion of insects.

4)  I will not wear these boots in public. Or private. Or really, anywhere.

Mostly because they make me fall down, and I’m pretty certain I’d break something. I’m a delicate flower, don’t ya know?

5)  Lastly, this year I resolve not to kiss Nathan Fillion.

I’d have to find him first, and that dude is wily. Can’t even find a royalty free image of him. Egads.

So there you have it!  My top five attainable resolutions.

Meggan Connors is the author of The Marker, Wandering Heart (from Soul Mate Publishing) and the upcoming Jessie’s War (from Musa Publishing), a western steampunk, coming out January 11.

Here’s the blurb for Jessie’s War:

She’s about to become a pawn in a brutal game between nations…


The American Civil War has raged for more than ten years. The outcast daughter of a famous inventor, Jessica White has struggled to salvage what little remains of her life. Then, one cold winter night, the lover she’d give up for dead returns, claiming the Union Army bought the plans for her father’s last invention. But he’s not the only one who lays claim to the device, for the Confederacy wants the invention as well. Both sides will kill to have it.

…And only he can save her.


As an agent for the Union Army, Luke Bradshaw is a man who will use whomever and whatever is at his disposal in order to complete his mission. An attack by Confederate soldiers ensures that Jessie will turn to him for help, but Luke can’t help but wonder about the secrets she keeps–and if those secrets will ultimately prove fatal.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? I want to thank Meggan for entertaining us today. And wish her the best of luck with her new release. We’ll be watching for it.

 

 

Free Kindle Books!!!!!

Merry Christmas to one and all. Several of us authors have gotten together and decided to offer our books for FREE today and tomorrow (December 25th and December 26th). There are some really great books here. Take a look:

Miss Merry’s Christmas by Callie Hutton: The Duke of Penrose is not happy with Miss Meredith Chambers, the American governess his new wards have arrived with. He quickly replaces her, happy to have his unwanted attraction to the unsuitable woman behind him. Until his mother hires her as a companion… http://amzn.to/U5ERjg 

Lady in the Mist, by Winter Frost: A psychology student takes a job caring for a mentally unstable young man on a remote coastal island and becomes embroiled in a deadly mystery. http://amzn.com/B008PUV36W

 

Quotable by Kathy L. Wheeler: GENNA LYNDSEY is not a people person. A short, too-skinny, wild haired waif, with crazy hair and sturdy nerdy glasses lives through books. So it’s lucky she and her best friend own their own bookstore. Her college days taught her that dating was too unreliable to depend on others. It was then that she started resorting to obscure quotes to shield herself from others who ventured too close.

RICK JOHNSON, Fraud Insurance Claims Investigator, is assigned to look into an unusual number of claims filed by Genna Lyndsey. He suspects Genna of sabotaging her own property for insurance money. His investigation uncovers an adorable introvert determined to keep everyone at bay, while someone else resolves to put her out of business—no matter how great the risk. http://amzn.to/V6OtbS

 

Journal of a Lycanthrophile by Fierce Dolan: When the kink most forbidden is the monster that satisfies. http://tiny.cc/9zgjpw

 

Last First Kiss by Lori Leger: Her daughters wanted a daddy…She wanted her old life back…All he wanted was the three of them… http://amzn.com/B005RBZS6I

 

The Dream Jumper’s Promise by Kim Hornsby: a broken promise has consequences…http://amzn.com/B00AA4FAJC

 

 

Bound by Decency by Claire Ashgrove: http://amzn.com/B008RH8XWU

 

 

 

The Good Daughter by Diana Layne: Payback is a bitch http://bit.ly/zfHNMJ

 

 

The Slayer’s Wife by Tenaya Jayne: Best friends turn into deadly enemies for the love of one woman http://amzn.com/B0080SDFT2

 

 

Her Druid Temptation by Trish F. Leger: http://amzn.com/B008C53PT8

 

 

 

 

Adrienne’s Ghost by Leah St. James: FBI agent and psychologist investigate the murder of an FBI recruit and come face to face with the victim’s spirit. http://amzn.to/J6Cuby

 

 

Vows of Revenge by J. F. Ridgley: After her patrician husband sells her to a fate worse than death, Aelia must learn that in Amalfi you live by your heart, not by Rome’s laws. http://amzn.com/B009BXC532