Lydia Michaels's Blog, page 9
August 14, 2015
Don’t miss the PARTY this Saturday!
Don’t miss out!
Book signing & Celebration
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Free to attend!
Hold Me Fast {McCullough Mountain 7} RELEASE PARTY!!!
August 8, 2015
Are you READY for the McCulloughs?!?
McCullough News!!!
We have so Much to Celebrate this August!
SAVE THE DATES!
Monday, August 10
Hold Me Fast Release!
Virtual Release Party on Facebook!
Saturday, August 15
Join Lydia & Friends at
The Irish Rover Station House
for a signing & celebration!
More Details Below!
Readers are asking “who” is Hold Me Fast about?
HOLD ME FAST goes back to the beginning and tells how it all began with Frank & Maureen McCullough, but that’s not all! The book has two parts and Part II is a final goodbye, as readers get a present-day epilogue including all the McCulloughs they know and love! There is also a special note at the end of the book for all of the lovely readers that inspired me & the McCulloughs along the way. Please take the time to read it…your name might be mentioned!
The Parties…
We are having 2 parties to celebrate the RELEASE of Hold Me Fast and the conclusion of The McCullough Mountain Series. One will be a virtual event on Facebook & the other will be a physical event at an Irish Pub in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Both are FREE to attend!)
The “Physical” Party…
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Paint the Town Green with
Lydia Michaels!
BOOK SIGNING
&
CELEBRATION
at
1033 S Bellevue Ave, Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047
BOOK Signing 7:00pm-9:00pm
DJ & Dancing 9:30pm-2:00am
KILTED Model & Photographer
Lydia Michaels T-shirts
Signature McCullough Drinks
*Chance to WIN an Android Tablet! (*purchase necessary)
Free to attend! No Cover!
PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!More details on Facebook. Click here!
Several HOTELS within 3 miles!
The Irish Rover is located directly across from the
SEPTA Langhorne, PA Train Station
Print this coupon!
The “Virtual” Party…
Can’t make the physical release party? We’ve got you covered!
Monday, August 10, 2015VIRTUAL RELEASE PARTY!
Join Lydia & friends on Facebook to celebrate Frank & Maureen’s big day! McCullough Mountain has been a journey and joy for bestselling author Lydia Michaels and she wants to celebrate this final part of the McCullough saga with YOU!
A copy of every McCullough Mountain book 1-7 will be given away, along with several guest appearances and giveaways from some AMAZING authors!
You won’t want to miss the fun!
Mark your calendars and invite your friends as Frank & Maureen McCullough take us back to the beginning and show us how the story ends ♥
You’re all invited as they renew their wedding vows and celebrate 40 incredible years!
GET YOUR IRISH ON!!!
Take me to the Virtual Release page on Facebook!
Teasers & Trailers!
Hold Me Fast {McCullough Mountain 7}
August 10, 2015
Maureen O’Leahey has always hoped for a family to love, but with so many men returning from a lost war, she finds life to be a bit less romantic than expected—until she stares in to the blue eyes of Frank McCullough. Though the odds are against them, Frank and Maureen can’t seem to keep their distance. Against her father’s wishes, Maureen falls for the boy trying so hard to make it as a man and Frank fights to keep every promise made to the fiery red head that’s captured his heart.
During difficult times, they find solace in each other. As Frank struggles to do right by his young bride and Maureen aches to be a good wife, they are taught the true value of patience and shown the strength of unconditional love in this memorable story of a devoted Irishman and an untamable woman with a remarkable spirit.
Excerpt
“When’s that birthday of yours, love?”
She frowned. “July twenty-fifth. Why?” Was he planning on getting her a present?
He nodded, making a masculine sound in his throat. “I’d like to get my lips on you before then, lassie.”
Appalled, she turned and scowled at him. “And that is how you ask? I’d like a lot of things, Frank, mostly, to meet a man who knows how to ask a woman for favors. And if that is why you’re waitin’ for my birthday you can just forget it. I’m saving myself for marriage.”
Every trace of cockiness fled his face as her words sank in. Oh Christ. She wasn’t necessarily saving shit, but it pissed her off that he’d assume the calendar was all that was holding him up from gettin’ into her knickers.
“I wasn’t… I hadn’t meant to insinuate—”
“Don’t try backtracking now. I know what you meant.” It was like her mouth had disconnected from her brain and there was no stopping her words.
Like a runaway train, she’d unleashed on him. “You think I have nothin’ better to do than wait around so you can legally take my virginity? You can think again, Mr. McCullough. I have standards and they aren’t the sort that crumble for some blue eyed, silver-tongued Irishman wantin’ to put his lips on me. I’ll be expectin’ a gentleman, next time I see you, if your lips will be getting’ anywhere near me—”
His mouth was suddenly crushing hers as he pulled her halfway across the seat and cut off her words. She’d never been kissed before, at least not like that. His hand cupped the back of her head as his mouth slanted and his tongue pressed deep, teasing and awakening parts of her she’d rather ignore. Her eyes held wide as his other hand fit around her thigh and massaged through the fabric of her skirt.
“You talk entirely too much, Maureen O’Leahey,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m thinkin’ it’s high time a man shut you up in a way you found acceptable.”
He kissed her again and her chest lifted, her nipples tightening as heat pulled in her stomach and a strange pressure set her insides on fire.
“No,” she mumbled as his hand slowly rubbed higher on her thigh. Pulling back as that hand steadily crept to a place she strongly considered off limits to others, she did the first thing she could manage and smacked him across the jaw.
The sharp slap left the car in dark silence. Quietly, he chuckled. “You really are something.”
“I told you,” she said, out of breath. “You’ll need to be a gentleman to get your lips on me. Buyin’ me dinner doesn’t prove shit.”
The side of his mouth kicked up in a half-smirk. “You sure got a mouth on you, woman.”
She liked being called woman, considering she was only seventeen. “And wouldn’t you like to see all the things it can do.”
His half-smirk turned into a full smile as he laughed. “Well, look at you. You’re tongues as sharp as mine is silver. You better be gettin’ home before real trouble finds you. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
That was right. Tomorrow she was graduating. Funny how such a monumental achievement paled in comparison to being kissed by Frank McCullough.
“Good night, love,” he said, cracking open the door.
“Frank?” He stilled and she took a second to process her sudden insecurities.
He paused, still facing the door. “Yes, Maureen?”
“The kiss… did I do it okay?”
His head tilted as he again faced her. “Have you not been kissed before?”
“Never like that,” she whispered, her fingers tracing where his mouth had been.
He slid back inside the car and turned to the windshield, pulling his lower lip in for a taste. A quiet chuckle escaped, but he didn’t seem amused. “You’re that innocent then?”
“Never mind,” she immediately said, wishing she’d never opened her mouth—for anything.
“No, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have assumed…” he shook his head. “A gentleman indeed.” He laughed. “I’m sorry I came on so strong, love, but when I’m around you, I lose sight of right and wrong and all I can tell is that I want you.”
Her eyes widened as she choked on her words. “Me?” That couldn’t be right.
His gaze turned on her, his eyes appearing almost pained. “Aye, you. I think you’re bonny, smart, funny, and I think about you naked every day.”
“Frank!”
“Sorry, but it’s true. Your curves enchant me.”
Was that how men and women spoke to one another? “I’ve never been naked in front of anyone but my mum and my sisters.”
A smirk pulled the corner of his mouth tight. “We could remedy that.”
She smacked his arm. “Don’t be a pig.”
“I have a healthy appetite for beautiful women, love. There’s nothin’ wrong with that.”
“Aye, well if your wantin’ this woman you’ll lose your taste for all others, do you understand?”
“Aye.”
They were silent for several minutes. She fidgeted as she waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Finally, she broke the silence. “What does this mean, Frank? People will talk if they see us together.”
“It means I like you.”
“Like me? Why?”
He shrugged and pointed to his chest. “It’s here, in the way my chest gets tight at just the sight of you and I want to hold you fast, but never feel like we have enough time.”
“Oh.” That was rather sweet and more poetic than she’d expected. “Are you saying we’re…”
“I want you to be mine for more than a minute.”
Lots of things were longer than minutes but still quite short. “Are you askin’ to date me? I’m not trying to be thick headed, but I’ve never much dated and…”
“Aye. I’m wantin’ you to be mine, Maureen O’Leahy. Mine and only mine.”
Liquid heat swirled in her belly as her veins pulsed with excitement. “I can’t let my parents know.”
“It’s no one’s business.”
Insecurity made it difficult to look in his direction. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing and sound foolish. “I…I never much dated,” she repeated.
“Me neither.”
She laughed, still finding that hard to believe. A thought occurred to her and she frowned. “I’ll not have you hitting on other girls if you want to be with me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
His gentle tone retrieved a bit of her courage. “And I’m not easy. I’m not promising you a thing, if you get what I mean.”
“Aye. It’ll keep.”
Shooting him a sidelong glance, she snickered. “You seem certain I’m keepin’ it for you.”
“You are,” he said with palpable cockiness.
Her mouth gaped at his surety. “There’s something wrong with you.”
“To be sure, but I speak the truth. I’ll have you, Maureen O’Leahey, make no mistake of that. I’ll be a gentleman for you, as you’re deserving of such, but make no mistake, I’m a man and I will not deny what I want no matter how long you deny me from gettin’ it.”
See you at the party!
July 30, 2015
You’re Invited!
Print this coupon!
June 4, 2015
Lydia is at The Annual Reader Author Get Together!
…so is Lydia Michaels!
Find her at #RAGT15
Where?
6189 Muhlhauser Road
West Chester, Ohio 45069 USA
When?
The Convention is Thursday, June 4-Sunday, June 7
OPEN TO PUBLIC BOOK SIGNING
Saturday, June 6
3:00-5:00
Meet over 100 great authors!
Lydia Michaels
Lori Forster
Jay Crownover
Kallypso Masters
Erin McCarthy
Virginia Nelson
Jayne Rylon
Sandy Sullivan
Wendi Zwaduk
and
MORE!
May 23, 2015
Hold Me Fast …teaser!
The Beginning & the End…
August 2015
Book Trailer
May 18, 2015
Please Vote!
have been nominated for the
2015 RONE Award
in the
Contemporary (Steamy) category!
Please show your support and McCullough love by voting!
You can vote TWICE in this category!
VOTE HERE!
http://indtale.com/2015-rone-awards-week-six
Thank you!!
McCullough Mountain 4
May 10, 2015
The Moms behind Maureen McCullough
I am often asked where my characters come from. It’s a small vault I store in the big toe of my right foot. LOL! No. I honestly don’t know. I pull inspiration from every person I meet and every thing I hear, so there is always a mix of people compiling into one. But there is one character, a mother, that I love above all the characters I’ve written. Her name is Maureen McCullough and she is the matriarch of the McCullough Mountain series. And today I’m going to share exactly where she comes from.
Me and Mom getting our Irish on!
Maureen is a compilation of all the incredible moms that inspired me throughout life and loved me even when I was hard to love. First and foremost, she is my mother. She is strong, maternal, nurturing, good with a wooden spoon, always there when you need her, and a champ at having children and identifying each one as an individual with unique gifts and talents. My mother had four children (I’m the favorite, the best one,the rest were just practice. I can say that because I’m pretty sure my brothers don’t read my stuff so there *sticks out tongue*). My mom is Irish, but she can cook with the best Italians. She can throw down an F bomb and still look like the classiest lady in a room. She is hilarious and big hearted and who we can count on when the chips are down. She always has wine and cookies and will literally drive to a farm a state away just to get the best ice cream if there is an emotional emergency. She makes the best chicken noodle soup and delivers it hot whenever we’re sick. She stuffs a thousand eggs at Easter for every kid she knows. And her corn bread is literally a sexual experience on a food level. She is, plain and simple, awesome. I love you, Mom!
But then there are the other parts of Maureen. Maureen can throw together a meal and feed an army. She can demand everyone attend and get them there. She is sensitive and beautiful and burns like a lobster in the sun. She is also pieces of my beautiful Aunt Carol. She is our matriarch and the creator of Maureen’s chicken casserole (Luke’s favorite). She is true and trusted and never too busy for her family. Happy Mother’s Day, Aunt Carol.
Aunt Carol celebrating with me at the Red Carpet Bash!
And then there is the crazy side of Maureen. She can’t drive. Seriously, I break out in a sweat every time I write a scene with Maureen behind the wheel. She works too hard taking care of the business side of things to have fancy nails. She’s always in a rush even when there’s nowhere to go. This is my Aunt Donna, who while taking us through yard sales along the Jersey shore one year, drove away with the passenger doors still open and my grandmother half in the car. She’s crazy, but you have to love her.
She knows everything about everybody and if you have a secret you NEVER tell her. If she finds out, it’s over. My Aunt Donna loves to entertain and anyone is welcome at her table. She’s like a chaotic storm you sense coming and know by the time she leaves you’ll need a nap. From her smudged glasses to her functional shoes, I love this woman because I know for a fact there is not another person out there like her. I know you’re too busy and in a rush to read this, Aunt Donna, but I hope you have a nice Mother’s Day.
Aunt Joanne and my cousin Marleen
And then there is a woman who is so beautiful to me I could just squeeze her. She fills me with the same warmth as chocolate or the scent of homemade pie every time I see her. She talks so fast it’s like your brain has to go into translation mode to break down her words. She is a grandmother, yet maintains an innocence about her that will never fade. She is curvaceous and soft and maternal thus strong. She cleans with the speed of a jaguar and just loves to sit and watch the people go by when the work is done. She is known by all and loved by all. So popular for her goodhearted ways, her picture is even hanging in a hospital somewhere with a note under it that reads, “If you don’t know this woman you don’t exist.” She is my lovely Aunt Joanne. Happy Mother’s Day, Aunt Joanne. I love you.
And then there are the softest sides of Maureen. The moments we see her weep when her children’s hearts are broken and struggle to find a way to fix the unfixable. She is an ever loving creature who, despite any shortcomings, we know that she is good to the bone. My Aunt Linda inspires this goodness. She is the gentlest person I know. Her empathy for others is incredible and she has been there for me in quiet moments of sadness more than she probably realizes, always listening with compassion, and always understanding when there was nothing anyone could do but…listen and understand. Thank you for being the gentle spirit you are, Aunt Linda. Happy Mother’s Day.
So you see, there are many sides to Maureen McCullough and many inspiring people behind her character. I know what it is to love a character so much you want to reach in the book and pull them into your real life. I am lucky enough to have the incredible women that make Maureen in my every day life and for that I am truly grateful.
In closing, I’d like to mention two other important people on this Mother’s Day: My grandmothers, Mary and Mary. Yes, they are both named Mary like in the McCullough Mountain books, and yes, one is Italian (well, actually Polish, but after years of being married to an Italian the culture sort of took over) and the other is Irish. Italian Mary has knotty knuckles from working with her hands and sewing and cooking. She hides them under fancy jewels because she is not above vanity. Her cooking is best. Period. Do NOT argue with her about it. Sigh. We lost my grandmother this year to Alzheimers, but she was an amazingly strong woman who taught us how to put up with each other and be a family rich in tradition. I am lucky to have had such a person in my life. And then there is Irish Mary. She is quiet and reserved but will not hesitate to mess you up if you need a good reality check. The contrast of my grandmothers is clear, but somehow they summered together at the Jersey shore and put up with each other despite their different opinions on meddling and life. When I look at my Irish grandmother I sit back and see her quiet strength and I know I am strong because she is. It’s in my blood with a mix of so many other incredible women who have mothered me well and taught me how to be exactly who I am. And I am happy.
Happy Mother’s Day, All.
Find Maureen McCullough making maternal memories in all of the McCullough Mountain Series! Maureen’s story will be the final book of the McCullough Mountain Series, which releases late 2015. You won’t want to miss it!
McCullough Mountain 3
McCullough Mountain 2
McCullough Mountain 4
McCullough Mountain 5
McCullough Mountain 6
McCullough Mountain 1
March 24, 2015
Tuesday Tips: The Beauty of a Beta
Betareader: also referred to as pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the story, its characters, or its setting. Beta reading is typically done before the story is released for public consumption.So how many Betas do you need?
As many as you can trust!
It’s a common known fact that I’m dyslexic, so I value my betas beyond measure! If your book is in shabby shape, even an editor or publisher you’ve worked with for years will reject it. It must be polished and practically perfect before you submit. And even then, I guarantee there will be plenty to improve and correct when the real editing begins.
Who are my betas?
1. Ms. L.: Ms. L. is an asset to my work, because we talk so frequently she’s in my head and knows where I’m trying to go. I use her for feedback only and she gets my work chapter by raw chapter. As soon as she finishes a chapter, we discuss and analyze the hell out of it.
2. Ms. C.: Ms. C is also an early critiquer who offers insight based on her reading experience. If my work is similar to another author’s or the twist I’m working toward has been done, she points it out.
3. Ms. M.: The incomparable Ms. M. has gotten me out of many sticky situations! I call her in when my plot has gone awry and my characters refuse to behave. Perfect example, Cain Hartzler from The Order of Vampyres. Ms. M. has a great way of helping me see opportunities I’ve missed.
4. Mr. J.: Mr. J. is an older gentleman who loves to read and I adore his perspective because it’s often different from the traditional romance reader’s. He takes his time, always uses an extra day or two to digest the story, and then follows up with a detailed phone conference.
5. Ms. G.: Ms. G is also an author and as such, she understands certain writing dilemmas a reader might not think about. She’s wonderful when I simply need to know “Does this work or should I scrap it?”
6. Ms. J.: There is nothing better than a reader who doesn’t like all your characters. Ms. J will openly tell me when someone is getting on her nerves. Although you can’t please everyone, if Ms. J is annoyed, someone else will eventually be too. She’s good at identifying actions that need further explanation. She helps me clarify the characters’ motive(s). She’s also great at finding typos!
Notice no one’s even touched on spelling or grammar yet… That’s because you want to work out your story first. No point combing through something that might drastically change. While all of these betas are busy with their copies, I, too, am reading and changing. I’m finding typos and rewording sentences and basically trimming and cleaning things up as much as possible. Once all their feedback is in, it’s time for part 2 of editing…proofing. Duhn, duhn, duhnnnnnn!
7. Ms. T.: Ahhhh, the incredible Ms. T. She is the mother of all betas. Not only will she demand my writing be poetic, it must also 
be erotic. From prose to practically pornographic descriptions, she will accept only the best. I love her for this. Not only will she carefully read my work (and at rapid speed I might add) she will then reread it to see if I improved. She is, indeed, my greatest asset and I adore her. She works directly from the document (like an editor), which is also a plus. But the greatest thing about Ms. T. is that she truly enjoys my voice as an author. She likes my stories and admires my way with words. While I may not suite everyone’s reading taste, it’s helpful to work with those that “get” me. Ms. T. is a very dear friend who knows me inside and out. She can sense when I’m struggling to express something and has taught me so much about stretching my abilities. I think working with her is my favorite part of the entire editing process.
8. The Troublesome Beta: I feel the need to interrupt this segment to discuss the troublesome beta (TB). The TB is a phenomenal proof reader who has an incredible eye for typos, but never keeps his/her promises. A beta is important, but one that promises to read and doesn’t is only costing an author time they can never get back. Writing a novel takes an extremely long time when all is said and done. If a beta cannot keep a commitment, they are better off saying, “sorry no”. (I’ve had to say no many times, which is unfortunate. I know so many wonderful writers and I’d love to have the time to work with all of them, but it just isn’t possible. That being said, we authors understand how precious time is. If you don’t have any to spare, that’s okay. We still love you.)
9. The Proofers: This is the army that handles all the fallout. They are getting the cleanest version of your work to date (seriously, make it clean or you will go crazy trying to organize everyone’s notes). There are multiple proofers out there and the 
easier you make their job (by cleaning up your work before they get it) the more proofers you will acquire. It is my opinion that you can NEVER have enough proof readers (especially because by this point you can’t stand the thought of reading your book one more time! If you can tolerate the thought, you clearly did not read it enough and should wait before giving it to anyone else.)
I always go back to my first betas and ask if anyone would like to reread for typos. Then I enlist anyone who is willing to read my book in a week. Time matters because you reach a point where mistakes are spotted you the straggling proofer is just wasting their time finding things that have already been corrected (I always feel terrible when this happens, because typo hunting is a pain in the manuscript).
Typically, I ask my proofers to write the sentence that seems wrong and mark the word that stood out to them. I then use Microsoft’s “find” settings to make the corrections. This is tedious for everyone, but necessary. Hopefully you really read through your book and there aren’t that many mistakes. What always amazes me is how each proofer will miss and find things others spotted and overlooked. No proofer’s list will ever be the same.
10. The Beta that Counts Most: YOU! I know, I know…you are really starting to despise the book, but trust me, it’s for your 
own good. This is YOUR story and you need to make sure you really like it the way it is before you submit it. Now is the time to put away the laptop and send it to your Kindle (or other device). Pretend you’ve just bought this new title and try your best to erase everything you know or assume. Cozy up and enjoy. This is beyond difficult for writers and sometimes it takes months to mentally get there. You might have to read several other novels to erase your memory, but it still comes back to you. When you do settle in for the read, try not to get hung up on new changes. If you see a typo, yes, make a note and fix it in the end, but you eventually have to trust in your book and let it go (for a while).
11. The Big Guys: Yay! You’re novel’s been accepted, contracted, and edited! Bet you didn’t think you missed so many mistakes, 
did ya? Well, that’s why we LOVE editors! Ahhhh… back to reading your book. And you thought it was impossible to dislike the story any more than you already did. Remember when you loved it? Well, someone else will too and that’s why we’re doing this. Buckle up and read it. Twice! Then the editor will also read it again and if he/she is nice she’ll let your read it a third time, just to be safe. Isn’t that sweet?
12. The stealthy one’s we often forget about: Don’t relax yet! You’re copy editor just sent some more corrections! One. More. Time.
13. Your Last Hope: And now, you drag yourself to your friend’s house, bleary eyed and disheveled, and you kindly say, “Could you please read my book one more time just to be sure we didn’t miss anything? This is the last chance I have to make changes.” They do and you love them all the more for helping you.
And don’t worry… at some point some reader will leave a review remarking about the lack of editing in their opinion, but we’re all human and all we can do is try our very best.
Happy proofing!
How do you feel when you find a typo in a book?
March 10, 2015
Tuesday Tips: My Point of View on Point of View
“How do you choose point of view? I am trying to write for the first time. For some reason I am at a battle between 1st and 3rd. I would really enjoy hearing your thoughts on this process.”POV is a great place to start!
First, let’s get a basic understanding of POV so we’re all on the same page.
There are 3 basic points of view: 1st Person, 2nd Person, and 3rd Person. There is also omniscient POV, which we’ll briefly touch on, but I’ve never met an editor that allowed that POV. Keep in mind, this is my blog so this is my opinion. Every author has their own style and some of the bestselling books have broken all the rules.
First Person
A budding author should know, upfront, this one is hard to sell. 1st person POV is written in the narrator’s perspective. This occurs by using the pronoun “I”. “I” is a tricky little bugger, more so than “She” or “He”. My first novel was written in 1st person, but many small presses will not even consider 1st person, so I never published it. Rewriting it in a different POV was simply too daunting a task at that stage of my career, so in a drawer it sits. However, some very popular books (True Blood and Twilight ) were written in first person. I personally think larger New York publishers are more flexible when it comes to 1st person POV, but it really depends on the editor and your story.
Little known fact… The Surrender Trilogy was originally written in 1st Person. It took me two months to rewrite the first book into 3rd Person. It was also originally called The Hooked Trilogy and that original version still exists on my computer under the title: HEROINe {Hooked 1}.
Second Person
2nd Person is rarely used in fiction, especially romance, to my knowledge. This is a style that includes the reader by using “you”, 
but not as in dialogue when a character might refer to another character as “you”. This style speaks directly to the reader as if the author is giving instructions or a play by play. (Example: You will see, the more you practice one point of view the more natural it will become for you.) Imagine that in a romance novel…it would read like an instructional Cosmo article. (He put his what on my where?!?)
There are rare cases “you” slips in to a 3rd Person novel, but that’s a rule breaker. The author has to be sly in order to make this work. Most times the editors prefer the author to use the word “one” (Example: There is a moment in life when you one knows for a fact you’re they’re getting older.)
My suggestion to any budding author is to steer clear of 2nd Person.
Third Person
If you are trying your hand at writing for the first time, 3rd person is where you want to start. Why? Because most new authors sign with smaller presses (I LOVE working with both Penguin in New York and Secret Cravings Publishing, a smaller/newer press, so don’t assume one experience is better than the other. Small presses can teach you a LOT!) and most smaller presses only accept 3rd Person Past tense.
Third Person is the narrator’s retelling of events. This style is achieved with the use of “he” or “she”. There is an art to 3rd Person POV in that a good author makes it very deep. One does not need to be the character in order to know exactly how that character feels. I will eventually do an article on Deep POV, but if you are planning on writing a novel, you need to know that term and read everything you can find on it. Deep POV is your guide to making 3rd person read like 1st person. It is a book’s link to the reader on a very personal level, the same level that makes readers empathize and fall in love with characters. When done right, it is so clear and sharp the reader will believe she is the character and get lost in your story. That’s the goal!
Some quick tips on Deep 3rd Person POV:
Avoid using the character’s name. Give the name enough for the reader to remember it, but then stick with “she”. Randomly
using the name of a character tends to rip the reader out of the story.Do not start paragraphs with “she” (or “he”).
Try not to start sentences with “she”. This becomes torture to read. (Example: She turned the knob. She wasn’t sure what she expected. She jumped when the light flashed on and everyone yelled surprise. She started to cry.)… Oh, blah! Too much telling and not enough showing…How about… (Her fingers curled around the cool knob as she sorted the mail, hardly glancing up as she her feet crossed the threshold. The moment the light flashed on she her shoulders jerked with surprise. Multiple voices shouted, “Surprise!” and her throat constricted as her vision blurred with tears.)…See how you can feel her reactions? That’s called showing.)
Avoid phrases like “began to” or “started to”. The reader wan’t to experience the story in the moment. (Using the example above: She started to cry. vs. Her vision blurred with tears. See how one keeps the reader in the moment, where the other merely prepared them for the action? Always keep them in the moment as things are happening.)
Omniscience POV
This is straight up not allowed in romance novels. This is having a godly POV, knowing what happens before it does, or what is going on where the character couldn’t possibly see or hear. (Example: If only Eleanor knew this would be the last time she’d ever see Kyle….Umm…how do you know if she doesn’t? Are you a fortune teller? The reader really doesn’t like feeling like the last to know or feeling like they are keeping a secret from the heroine or hero. It becomes irritating and spoils some of the mystery or angst. The story should read like a live happening of events, unfolding for the first time as each individual reader turns the page, because THE READER’S imaginations is bringing those characters to life.)
Tenses:
There are three main tenses: Past, Present, and Future.
Don’t overwhelm yourself. Stick with 3rd Person Past Tense (Remember, my opinion is just that…an opinion. I’m only offering the advice I have based on my own experiences and preferences.) I personally find it very jarring to read present tense, because most romance novels are written in past tense and it’s what I’m used to. Every reader has their own preference, but I do believe most publishers prefer past tense. And there is nothing worse than having to rewrite the tense of an entire novel–trust me.
Tense Examples:
Past: She entered the apartment. (Common)
Present: She enters the apartment. (Less common)
Future: She will enter the apartment. (Awkward. Just don’t.)
POV Examples (all in past tense):
1st: I entered the apartment.
2nd: You entered the apartment.
3rd: She entered the apartment.
So to the reader that asked my POV on the subject of POV, I hope this helps.
My personal advice, try writing your first novel in 3rd Person past tense. It’s the most widely accepted style in romance.
And remember, even though you’re not the character, you must write like you are. You can only tell what the character knows. That’s what POV is all about. If someone is watching her, but she doesn’t see the spy, then you must leave it out until either the POV switches or she becomes aware that someone is watching her. If she smells something delicious in the other room, you can only describe the scent until she identifies the fragrant object. If there is a loud screech, you must describe it, but if she didn’t see what caused it (perhaps a car or a bird of prey or maybe even an infant) than the reader is left in the dark until the character further investigates. Understand? Good 
You only have the character’s senses at your disposal, but that’s okay. Romance is sensual business. Get cozy with the senses. All those weirdos sniffing the air, making faces at their laptops, and feeling objects…they’re authors. Embrace the senses and be a little weird. Your readers will thank you.
I hope this helps any readers on the verge of turning writer. Best of luck on your new novel!
Do you have a topic that would make a good Tuesday Tip? Please share your suggestions in the comments below.
February 24, 2015
Tuesday’s Tips: Good Editing vs. Bad Editing
An author walks into a bar carrying 3 manuscripts. She hands the first one to a friend, the second one to the bartender, and the third one to the guy checking her out. Two weeks later she returns to the bar.
Friend: OMG! I lovvvvvvvvved it! You’re so talented! How did you ever manage to come up with that?
Author: Did you find any typos?
Friend: A few, but nothing major. I was so lost in the story I might have missed a few. Oh, did you want me to write them down?
Author (turns to the bartender): How about you?
Bartender: It’s good. I liked it.
Author: Did you connect with the characters?
Bartender: Sure.
Author: (turns to the last guy) And you?
Guy: I thought it was spectacular. It read like I was watching a movie. I marked a few grammar things I wasn’t sure about, but other than that it was perfect.
…So what’s the punchline here? This entire editing process is a joke! Congratulations, you just wasted two weeks of waiting on a critique your grandmother could have given.
Author: I said make it BLEED!!!
Believe it or not, bad editing is having someone gush over your work and inflate your ego. It’s not there yet. You know it’s not perfect and needs work, that’s why you asked for help. Gushing is not helpful at this stage. Compliments are wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but they are not a substitute for editing.
I have multiple beta readers (people who critique my work in the early 
stages). Beta 1 gets writing chapter by unedited chapter to help me stay focused. Beta 2 gets the book in quarters to decide if my characters are likable. Beta 3 gets draft one for plot hole inspection. Betas 4, 5, and 6 are on typo patrol. Meanwhile, I’m reading the manuscript so many times I know it by heart (not good because then even typos appear correct. I call this writer blindness.) It’s obviously time for the big guns!
You need someone who (1) is willing to offer their time. (2) They also have to be qualified. (3) They have to love you enough to not care about your feelings. When you hand them your MS and tell them to make it bleed, you explain to them that it should come back dripping in red! And you wait, no matter how long it takes. Never forget they are doing a favor for you others don’t have the heart to do.
When they return it to you, smile and say, “Thank you.” Don’t you dare get your feelings hurt by their honest criticism!
No pouting!
They went out on a limb for you, gave you the brutal honesty you needed to get the job done right. And believe me, hearing criticism from someone that loves you in the early stages of editing is a lot easier than getting criticized by a bad review when the chance to make changes is over.
I have an outstanding relationship with my editor at Secret Cravings Publishing (I have great relationships with all my editors, but this one I’m particularly close to). I was her first author and in the beginning (when I didn’t know what to expect) I hated her. She was horrible! How could she say those things about my work, suggest I cut out that crucial part? Never! In hindsight, she was right 99% of the time and I was wrong. This lesson came at the cost of reviewers pointing out the same suggestions she had made. She is now the acquisitions editor for the company and I refuse to let her leave me. What I thought was critical then doesn’t compare to the way she beats up my work now. I beg for it like a masochist and she literally whips my work into shape. When I say make it bleed she wrings her hands and grins like an evil doctor, because good editors are sadists at heart–just as they should be.
I’m very lucky to have an editor like that. As many of you know, I’m dyslexic, so my editing process takes about 6 times longer than my writing process. Surviving your first experience with a real editor is a lot like getting shot I imagine. You know it’s going to hurt and you can try to prepare, but you’ll never know exactly how that hurt feels until you’ve experienced it first hand. What’s important to remember is that it won’t kill you.
Good editors make great writers.
(Thank you, Elise, for kicking my ass. xo)
Who do you count on for honest feedback about your work? Who can you trust?
Respond in the comment section below.
