Liv Rancourt's Blog, page 34

Dancing With Detective Danger

So yesterday my newest romance, Forever & Ever, Amen, officially came into the world. You can jump HERE for a sneak peek at the first chapter if you’re interested. Meanwhile, to continue with the release week celebration, I’d like to welcome Lynn Crandall to the blog. Her newest, Dancing with Detective Danger, was also released yesterday, and she stepped up to answer my fiercely challenging interview questions.

Well, okay, they’re not all that challenging, but they are kind of fun. Keep reading to learn more about Lynn & her work…

LR: What’s the most compelling thing about Dancing With Detective Danger?

LC: I love the characters. Sterling has suffered great loss in childhood and it has driven her actions. Ben, too, went through very difficult events early in his life and they shaped him. In the story Ben and Sterling face their wounds and have opportunities to do things differently now. I love that kind of emotional journey because it’s something so common to the human experience.

LR: Interesting – in yesterday’s post, Traci said something very similar. Seems like writing down their stories is the only way to get the characters in your head to shut up some times.



I LOVE the cover of Dancing with Detective Danger. IMHO, it gives the whole thing a film noir quality. Is that something you were after, and does it carry through to the piece? If not, what’s the mood you’re working with?

LC: Thanks, Liv. I am very happy with the cover, too. The story is set in a mid-size town and features places in the downtown, so there is an urban feel. I also like that on the cover Ben and Sterling seem to be connecting emotionally. I’m not sure if the film noir quality is present in the book, though. If you read it, tell me what you think.

LR: I will! It’s definitely in my TBR pile! Now, if you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be? What’s had the most impact on your work?

LC: I have a background in newspaper writing so for me, talking to first hand sources would be counted up at the top of my list of recommendations. When I talk to someone who has experience and/or expertise in the area I’m researching it is likely I’ll get truly “real” input that helps give my story authenticity.

LR: Clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.

LC: Funny! I definitely like quiet to write in. That has changed, because I began writing when my house was full of young children and they would pop into my writing space any time – I had an open door policy – and interrupt because they got an A on a paper or whatever was happening for them at the moment. But they’ve grown up and things have turned serenely quiet, which I find to be a very rich environment for my creativity.

LR: How do you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?

LC: This is such a pertinent question for so many writers. As I said, my children are grown but they still “pop” in frequently and I work as a freelance writer and editor, so I’m always juggling projects. It’s difficult to put writing my fiction at the top of my things-to-do list. I try to organize my life to spend time every week on various projects, including working on my WIP.

LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet marathon runner? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe you secretly want to appear on Antiques Roadshow?

LC: I love being outdoors and bike and hike a lot. Wish I were a closet marathoner, though I wouldn’t keep that accomplishment in the closet.

LR: As I write this, my Seahawks are heading into their 2nd playoff game and there’s a rumor that Seattle may soon have another NBA team. Are you following the NFL playoffs? Doing jumping jacks because the National Hockey League is finally getting their act together? Or is there another sport that does it for you?

LC: I live in Central Illinois where people are Illini fans, whether they want to be or not. When the University of Illinois teams are playing well the whole town smiles.

LR: What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or other upcoming project.

LC: In Dancing with Detective Danger Lacey, the main character’s sister, is a minor character. I’m working on the “Lacey” book, that features her efforts to deal with issues regarding her husband’s death, though he isn’t out of the picture.

Blurb

Uncovering secrets and exposing truth are all in a day’s work for private investigator Sterling Aegar. But when her latest case threatens to reveal her own buried feelings for an old love, Sterling runs for cover.

A body in the bathtub and pleas from a jilted wife to find her wayward husband mean a welcome break from the usual humdrum cases Sterling and her sister, Lacey, are called to investigate. But when Sterling’s old flame, Detective Ben Kirby, walks into the murder scene, she feels her world spin out of control. Danger from thugs and murderers poses no greater threat than the peril she’d suffer if she lets daredevil Ben get too close.

Seeing Sterling for the first time in two years is for Ben like drinking in a healing tonic. He could never forget the way it felt to run his hands over her delicious curves or the way she touched his soul. She remains the one person who can make the emptiness in his gut go away. Finding the murderer is his job, but protecting Sterling from seriously dangerous people is his mission.

As the case unfolds, Sterling and Ben not only solve the murder and locate the missing husband, they confront secrets that set them each free from a painful past.

Excerpt

Though Sterling broke off her engagement with Ben two years ago, unsettled emotional issues still churn between them, as seen in this scene as they attempt to work on a mutual case.

Ben strode through the doorway into the office and Sterling’s heart instantly leaped into her throat. Damn him, she thought to herself while offering a perfunctory smile. Why does he affect me so? A crisp white shirt set off his dark good looks. His gray suit, a perfect fit, flattered his strongly muscled body. It was all heady stuff that worked at her already jangled nerves.

“Good morning, Lacey, Sterling.” Ben nodded in Sterling’s direction.

“Have a seat, Ben.” Lacey motioned to the couch. “What brings you to our neighborhood again?”

“I have more questions regarding the Pamela Witt murder.” Ben settled into the couch, all the while eyeing Sterling.

“I told you everything yesterday,” Lacey said.

“Did you find out the information I asked about?”

“As soon as we have something for you we’ll let you know. You haven’t given us much time to work on it, Ben.”

Fully aware of his eyes on her, Sterling gathered her purse and jacket from her desk, wanting to bound out faster than a jack rabbit. “Ben, Lacey will be working alone on this case, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you two alone.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed and Sterling felt as though he could see right into her head.

It had always been like that with him. From the moment they’d first met, they’d finished each other’s sentences and anticipated each other’s actions. Her face felt warm and her skin dimpled annoyingly.

“I suppose the next thing you’ll say is there is nothing personal intended.” His tone was as crisp as burnt toast.

“I wouldn’t try to sell that to you, Ben.” She saw him angrily ball his hands. This wasn’t going very well. “I think you know as well as I do, we can’t work in the same room, much less cooperate on a case.” It was funny how the passion that used to burn so hot between them, illuminating a bigger-than-life love, now boiled beneath the surface like an angry pot threatening to erupt.

“So, as usual, you’re going to walk out.”

“Okay, okay, time out,” Lacey interrupted, pounding her hand against her desk. “Ben, our agency wishes to cooperate with the investigation, but Sterling’s direct involvement with the case has ended. Besides, I know as much as she does and I saw everything she saw. Don’t sweat it.”

Ben knitted his brow and drew in a deep breath. Still staring at Sterling, he exhaled heavily. “Okay, I’m sorry for acting like such a jerk.”

“Now, what do you want to know?” Lacey leaned back in her chair, ready to talk. Sterling quietly shoved her arms into her jacket, thinking how lucky she was to have such a great sister. As she walked to the door, she made a mental note to buy Lacey some double chocolate pecan ice cream—her favorite.

Bio

Lynn Crandall started spinning stories as a child when she tried to entertain her younger sister at night when they were supposed to be going to sleep. In the dark, her stories typically took on a scary or paranormal element — didn’t do much to put them to sleep. Today, she hopes her stories still fail to put readers to sleep, but rather take them on a journey. That’s what she’s been on since she decided to make writing her focus. As a reporter and magazine feature writer, she truly enjoys learning as she works on stories. As a romance writer, she enjoys doing the research and following an evolving story of her characters.

Dancing With Detective Danger is available from Crimson Romance, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine e-book retailers.

Seal Of Destiny

It’s release day, and to celebrate, I’m playing hostess for one of my Crimson Romance sisters, Traci Douglass, who’s new release Seal of Destiny is available today. I’ve only had a chance to look at the first couple chapters, but so far I’d say this book’s got a little of Gina Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld mixed down with a taste of Rob Thurman’s Nico & Cal books. Yummy! Keep reading to learn more about Traci’s work…



Thanks so much, Liv for inviting me on your blog today! I’m so excited for Seal of Destiny’s release day and to share this story with the world. And your website is totally amazing! I love the concept and the artwork and the tarot/meets Ouija board/meets Día de los Muertos theme. Cheers to a fantabulous Release Day for both of us!

LR: What’s the most compelling thing about your most recent project, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?

TD: The characters. They’ve evolved so much from the beginning of the project. They’re living, breathing people to me now. And people who demand to have their stories told.

LR: If you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be? What’s had the most impact on your work?

TD: Hmm. Book wise, I’d recommend Stephen King’s On Writing. Great, salt-of-the-earth advice there. For classes, I’d have to recommend both Kristen Lamb (for social media) and Margie Lawson (for writing craft). Both are awesomely talented ladies that can help you produce amazing results. Margie’s EDITS system, along with her other classes, really helped me take my writing to the next level.

LR: Fantasy or reality? Most people lean one way or the other in their work. Do you have a preference, or do you swing both ways?

TD: Fantasy, definitely. I get enough reality in my everyday life. When I read or write, I want to escape into the World of Possibilities.

LR: Clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.

TD: Both. My writing office looks quite cluttered, but (for the most part) I know where everything is. I love to close my office door, put in my headphones and slip away to another world when I’m writing.

LR: How to you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?

TD: It’s difficult. Besides writing the fourth book in the Seven Seals Series, I’m editing the third book. Plus, I’ve started classes to get my MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, so I’ll be adding a new series to my workload soon, as part of my thesis project. I’m way busier now than I ever was when I was only working a straight 9 to 5 job. But I love it!

LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet marathon runner? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe you secretly want to appear on Antiques Roadshow?

TD: LOL! I actually got tickets to be on the Antiques Roadshow a couple years ago. It’s my Mom’s favorite show, so I got the tickets as a gift to her. It was actually pretty fun. Our taping was in Pittsburgh, PA.

For myself, I love to read, listen to music, walk, and play with my dogs.

LR: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer? Which one gets your blood moving the fastest – or is there another sport you prefer?

TD: Football. Gorgeous quarterbacks in tight pants with rock solid butts? What’s not to love???

LR: What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or other upcoming project.

TD: The second book in the Seven Seals Series will be released from Crimson Romance in May 2013. I’m editing the third book in the series now and hope to start writing on book four soon. I’ll also be working on a new series for my MFA thesis project, in a genre I’ve not worked in before. It’s a paranormal romantic suspense with touches of thriller and horror mixed in. Think Remington Steele meets Joss Whedon.

Love conquers all… but can it stop the Apocalypse?

Mira Herald is having the worst life ever. Not only is she plagued by horrific nightmares starring the Devil himself, she’s now the target of a power-hungry, rogue minion, freshly sprung from Hell and bent on her destruction. To complicate matters further, she’s acquired a stalker. One who insists he’s a divine warrior sent for her protection because she houses an ancient relic with the power to unleash Armageddon. Last time Mira checked, she wasn’t insane. Still, all this celestial mayhem is enough to drive a girl crazy.

Kagan is a member of the Scion, an elite team of immortal warriors selected by Divinity to aid mankind and save the world. After a century alone, Kagan is summoned for a new mission. He’s eager to begin. Eager until he’s informed his mission consists of protecting a woman with no clue to the power she wields. Plus, his briefing fails to prepare him for his new target’s cosmic-sized attitude problem. As Divinity’s sworn servant, he’s required to fulfill his duty. His oath, however, does not require him to be enthusiastic about his new assignment or warm-and-fuzzy toward his new compatriot. He plans a wham-bam rescue and a quick return to solitude.

The minion attacks—with the backing of a mysterious organization—and all Hades erupts, putting a fast end to any whirlwind escapes. Accustomed to staunch independence, Mira’s survival now requires full cooperation and an unwavering belief in Kagan. The battle-hardened warrior is also forced to chose: between duty and desire. Amidst the turmoil, Kagan and Mira’s undeniable passion draws them closer to each other and down a path neither expected but both yearn for, more than they ever knew.

Will love save the day? The world’s fate depends on the answer.

Traci Douglass is the author of contemporary and paranormal romance/urban fantasy and featuring a sly edge, including her current Seven Seals Series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.

A storyteller since childhood, she began putting her tales down on paper in November 2011 after the idea for the Seven Seals Series occurred to her in a dream. She finished the first draft of what was to become her debut novel, Seal of Destiny, in one month and decided to pursue a full-time writing career in January of 2012. Life has now become a rollercoaster, crash course in pursuing your dreams.

Traci is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University.

Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards and won the Paranormal Category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.

Seal of Destiny, her debut novel and Book One of the Seven Seals Series, was published by Crimson Romance in January 2013. Seal of Surrender, her second novel and Book Two in the Seven Seals Series, will be released by Crimson Romance in May of 2013.

Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series and a new futuristic paranormal romance/urban fantasy detective series with hints of horror.

Sunday Snippet

Tomorrow is the big day! Forever & Ever, Amen makes its official appearance and will available for download from Crimson Romance, Amazon and other fine e-book retailers. In honor of that, I thought I’d post a little nibble…

Molly’s just getting home from a long day of work, and overhears her teenagers arguing. She ends up learning something no mother wants to hear!

***

As she walked up the cement path to the front door, she could hear them. A few steps closer, and she could tell they were yelling. At each other. Because it was still Monday.

“I saw you, that’s how I know,” Jamie yelled. Molly paused, hoping and dreading that they’d get to what Jamie had seen.

“Spying on me? Fine. Gotta love having a brother I can trust.” Flora’s voice was high and tight.

“You can totally trust me not to let you do something stupid.”

“Mind your own business, asshat.”

Molly reached toward the door, then paused for just a little longer.

“Jesus, do you hear yourself. You’re the one dating a vampire. You do know that, right?”

***

Oh yeah, dating a vampire. That’ll give a mother grey hair. Check out the links above to learn how this little revelation ends up.

Peace,

Liv

The Perfect Place For Romance

Today’s the start of the Girly Book Blog Hop, which means fun and PRIZES! I’ll be giving away an e-copy of my newest release, Forever & Ever, Amen, to one person who comments here. Also, each of the participating blogs have giveaways, and there’s a big ol’ Grand Prize that you can enter on Libby Mercer’s blog which is at the top of the Linky Link list below.

The theme of the hop is travel, and since a picture is worth a whole lotta words, I thought you might like to see some amazingly romantic destinations. Imagine you and your devastatingly handsome lover have an open invitation to go anywhere. Hang on for the ride…

Bridge of Sighs, Venice

There’s no better place to start a romantic journey than Italy. According to Wikipedia, a kiss given while on a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset will grant a couple eternal love and bliss. Hmm…

Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Duichear, Scotland

From Italy, maybe to Scotland, where you could spend a lovely evening warming up the cold stones of a 13th century castle. Beautiful…

Balloons over Canberra, Australia

And because there really are no limits to this journey, next you could take a balloon ride over Canberra, the capital of Australia. Given how chilly it is here in Seattle today, and how warm I know it is Down Under, I totally want to live out this particular fantasy…

Ice Hotel, Sweden

What? Was I just complaining about the cold? Not when you put it to me this way. I challenge you to make your romantic journey hot enough to melt this ice…

Vernazza, Italian Riviera

And then it’s back to Italy, for some sweet wine and sweeter lovin’ on the Italian Riviera…

Ann Hathaway’s Cottage

Speaking of sweet, for the end of your journey, you could stay in this lovely cottage in England. This house belonged to Ann Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare. How could you not want to visit a place once lived in by the man who wrote these lines…

Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, Did my heart fly at your service (The Tempest – Act 3, Scene 1)

I hope you and your lover enjoyed this little journey. Make sure you follow the Linky Link to check out the other blogs in the hop, and to enter to with the Big Swag Bag grand prize. Now, what’s your favorite romantic destination? There are so many we DIDN’T get to here. And make sure you check out Libby Mercer’s blog post for a chance to win the grand prize. Leave a comment below…

Peace,

Liv

LINKY LINK

Which Paranormal Character Would YOU Be?

For those of you who’ve been following along, you know I love all things paranormal, with a special place in my heart for stories involving witches. Therefore I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play hostess for one of my fellow Crimson Romance authors, Rowena May O’Sullivan. She’s traveled all the way from New Zealand to tell you about the first book in her Greenwood Witch trilogy, called The Silver Rose….

If you were magical what creature or person would you be? I’ve always wanted to be a witch like Samantha in Bewitched. I loved the notion of that nose twitch and instantly something magical would happen. Oh, how I tried to twitch my nose on many an occasion, and now as an adult with a grandchild, I still try to twitch my nose from time to time. Alas, the magic hasn’t kicked in yet.

Once Bewitched finished, I became engrossed in other pursuits, such as ballet, theatre, singing and reading. I read anything and everything I could get my hands on, including the back of labels in the bathroom. Seriously. I did. It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I rediscovered magic in the form of a trilogy from the library about a set of magical stones, but alas the titles escape me. But it whetted my appetite for more. I discovered Ray Bradbury, a little science fiction if you please. It stands to reason that I read these type of books as my father was an avid reader and read widely including all the books by Eric von Daniken about beings from outer-space.

Next came Anne McCaffrey. I loved her Pern books. I read them all out of order as I couldn’t work out which was the first one. That first book, Moreta, Dragonlady of Pern had me hooked and I worked my way through all her books on Pern and then moved on to read others including The Rowan, The Crystal Singer etc. etc. etc. I discovered The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper. Wow. Wonderful. This was what I loved. Then came the Nora Roberts Key trilogy, my favorite being Dance Upon The Air. I loved those books. You get the picture I’m sure you know by now that I LOVE BOOKS. Especially paranormal romance.

I also read Jill Barnett. For those of you who have not, please look her up. She is still writing although not as often, but her books are mostly historical with paranormal elements. Some of the situations her heroines find themselves in are laugh out loud funny and I adore them all. If I were to pick one to start with I’d choose Bewitching. Dreaming and Wonderful. They are keepers.

Then there is the wonderful and uber-talented Nalini Singh. She is someone to look up to and aspire to. Her world building is amazing. Her characters wonderful. I love her PSY Changeling series and the Guildhunter series as well.

You will not then, be surprised that I turned to writing to create magical stories of my own and now I have my very first published book, The Silver Rose, a paranormal romance available as an ebook. Print On Demand will be available from Amazon in the next few weeks.

I started writing this blog thinking about what creature I would like to be. The thing is, I still want to be a witch. So I guess the natural progression was to write about things I love. In a dream I was delivered a brown package and when I opened it, there was a book inside, my first published book, called The Bells of Marylebone. The premise for my very first book, The Silver Rose, Book 1 of what I call the Greenwood Witches trilogy, came from this title and the Bells of Marylebone have a very significant meaning and appear in The Silver Rose. The Greenwood witches are about three sisters, all powerful witches, whose time has come. They must overcome adversity to achieve their dreams and find love. They each have their own story to tell. The first story is about Rosa, the eldest sister.

If you would like to learn more about me, or would like to subscribe to my newsletter, you can visit my website at www.rowenamayosullivan.com

The Silver Rose can be purchased from:

Crimson Romance eBooks | Amazon | B&N | iTunes

I’d love to hear about what magical creature or person you would like to be? What magical power would you like to have?

I’d like to thank Liv for allowing me to appear on her blog. I live in NZ so the time zone may mean I cannot respond immediately to your comments, but I will pop in from time to time and reply to you all.

May your nose twitch with the wonder of magic and love.

Rowena

As a child Rowena May O’Sullivan dreamed of becoming a writer. Before that she dreamed of becoming an actress, a ballerina, singer, hairdresser, an adventurer, a magician, you get the picture. Reading while walking was another passion until she fell down a manhole while doing so. Her only thought, save the book! In order to fulfill her dreams, she eventually returned to her first desire, writing. At least that way she could create stories and become any heroine she wanted without actually endangering herself. Although Rowena has travelled the world she chooses to live in the very beautiful New Zealand where she was born. Learn more about Rowena at www.rowenamayosullivan.com, or visit her Facebook page or on Twitter.

Finding the WRITE Critique Group or Partner

There’s nothing like trying to pull together a blog post after working all night. Been having huge technical difficulties and ended up posting both here and on my old Blogger site, to make sure the post ended up somewhere. Thanks for your patience!

Today I’m thrilled and pleased to welcome Sheryl Hoyt aka Saralynn Hoyt to the blog. She was recently featured in a Time Magazine article and has written a number of popular romances. She’s also almost my neighbor, which is kinda fun. Here’s her take on the importance of finding a good critique partner or writer’s group….

My name is Sheryl Hoyt and I was recently featured in the December 10th issue of Time Magazine in the article “The 99¢ Best Seller” by Andrew Rice. It was an amazing adventure that I was very happy to share with my good friend and critique partner, Deborah Schneider, who is also featured in the article. We’ve been together for over 20 years and I can’t think of anyone I would rather be on this journey with.

If you had asked me twenty years ago, when I first went looking for a critique group if this would end up being one of the most important decisions of my writing career, I would have laughed and then maybe cried. Criticism of your work is not a fun thing to contemplate, but living in a bubble isn’t going to help you master your craft either. You must find someone— other than your mom or significant other— to read your work and make honest, helpful comments.

My story goes like this. Once upon a time, I joined a writer’s group who met monthly to discuss the craft, and the speaker that night talked about finding a critique group and encouraged the 20 or so attendees to form a few amongst ourselves. I can’t remember if it was Deb (Deborah Schneider aka Sibelle Stone) or me who raised their hand first and said, ‘I would like to join a group, but I live in North Bend’. The other one of us said, ‘I live there too’, and it was the beginning of a great friendship. Of course, we didn’t know it at the time. Two more people asked if they could join us, and back then we figured, sure the more the merrier, but whoever joined us, would have to meet on our terms because of how far away we lived from the city. They agreed and the group decided on terms, like how many chapters we’d exchange, how often we’d meet and where to meet.

Note: This was 20 years ago, so there are many online options available now. It’s probably what I would do if I was seeking a critique partner today. But whether you are cyber critiquing or in person, this is all still relevant.

Fast forward: feelings are hurt, people are no-shows, the group disintegrates and it’s just Deb and I left. We probably repeated this cycle another three or four times, adding and then losing new writers. There were various reasons and some lessons learned. We’re very lucky to have stuck together all these years and have a great working relationship. Looking back I can see some things we could have done to get there sooner.

Two people are enough for a critique group: For some reason we had it in our heads that a group was more than two. But why try to fix it if it ain’t broken? What we found was that we had the same goals and wrote at about the pace. We both simply needed someone who liked our writing to read our chapters and honestly comment on what was working and what wasn’t. To point out the really good stuff, so we’d do more of that, and also point out where we had some bad habits we needed to clean up. For instance, I love the word THAT, and Deb hates introspection. She used a red pen on my THATs and I marked up her manuscript with ‘what is he/she feeling?’ notes. We are both more aware now and our writing improves with each book.

Don’t try to critique a genre that you don’t like to read: This was one of the earliest mistakes we made when forming a group. We had a guy who may have been a great writer, but it wouldn’t have been a book that I would ever have picked up to read. So being forced to read his chapters and comment was like getting a root canal without Novocain.

Make sure everyone is giving and receiving: We had one gal who is now a multi-published author selling tons of books, who wrote like a demon. What I mean is she could pound out a novel in the time it took me and Deb to write a chapter. We simply couldn’t keep up with her requests to read and we basically become her editors. On the flip side, she was unwilling say anything bad about our books, not understanding we did actually want to know her opinion. Another gal we worked with just showed up to talk about recipes and scrapbooking. I’m not sure if she ever even wrote a book?

All critique should be honest and constructive: Notice I’ve bolded constructive. We had one critique member who would simply tell you all the stuff she didn’t like about your writing. Which is fine, please be honest. If I wanted someone to love on my book, I would have given it to my mom! But we are all writers here, so please tell me what you would have done differently or at least tell me why you don’t like it. That is what you showed up for in the end.

Don’t take any of it personally: This is the #1 most important piece of advice you should take away from this blog. Just take a deep breath, and look at the comments you’ll receive objectively, as if you didn’t write those chapters. As if you’re just there doing this as a favor for a friend. You know, like you see on TV when the guy walks into the therapist’s office and says, ‘I have this friend and he’s got this problem…’ And guess what, if you don’t agree with the critique, you can ignore it. But do pause, think about it, maybe come back to it later and look at it from a new perspective. If you have picked the right critique partner/group, you will see the merit of any comments they have, or at least be aware of why you disagree. You may even decide to tweak other parts of your work in order to change their mind. It should all be useful to you and your craft.

The critique process also prepares you for the real world. You’ll always have people who don’t like your writing, it’s inevitable. Every bestselling author I’ve ever heard speak tells the same story about letters from fans and fanatics. One file folder for ‘likes’ and one for ‘not so much’.

So lift up your chin and go out into the world and seek criticism! It will make you a better writer, and a stronger person.

Bio: Sheryl Hoyt was born and lives in the Seattle, WA area. She resides in the beautiful Cascade foothills with her high school sweetheart and their cats. A business professional by day, Sheryl has been writing novels in her free time for over 20 years. A lover of all things historical, she enjoys research and travel in order to expand her knowledge and add authenticity to her stories

Links to my stuff

My Website

Goodreads

Twitter

FaceBook

Pinterest

Time Article

Amazon Author page

Amazon My Books page

Dangerous Heart available on Amazon

Heaven Made available on Amazon

The Scoundrel and the Saint available on Amazon

BN Books Page

Saralynn Hoyt on Kobo

Diesel eBooks

Apple iTunes page

Smashwords

Reviews:

Dangerous Heart on BN.com

Anonymous

Posted March 22, 2012

4 Stars: Very interesting story.. Could not put it down!

The Scoundrel and the Saint on BN.com

Anonymous

Posted May 11, 2012

5 Stars: Very romantic

Loved it! Loved it! Really feel like i knew the characters. Excellent writing! I want me a Brand! Must buy!

Dangerous Heart on Amazon.com

Great characters and interesting topics May 27, 2012

By Erin W.

Format:Kindle Edition

4 Stars: I really enjoyed how this book is not just your typical historical romance. The characters have problems and issues that are just as relevant today. I enjoyed going along on their adventures.

How to Find The WRITE Critique Partner or Group

by Sheryl Hoyt, writing as Saralynn Hoyt
My name is Sheryl Hoyt and I was recently featured in the December 10th issue of Time Magazine in the article “The 99¢ Best Seller” by Andrew Rice. It was an amazing adventure that I was very happy to share with my good friend and critique partner, Deborah Schneider, who is also featured in the article. We’ve been together for over 20 years and I can’t think of anyone I would rather be on this journey with.
If you had asked me twenty years ago, when I first went looking for a critique group if this would end up being one of the most important decisions of my writing career, I would have laughed and then maybe cried. Criticism of your work is not a fun thing to contemplate, but living in a bubble isn’t going to help you master your craft either. You must find someone— other than your mom or significant other— to read your work and make honest, helpful comments.
My story goes like this. Once upon a time, I joined a writer’s group who met monthly to discuss the craft, and the speaker that night talked about finding a critique group and encouraged the 20 or so attendees to form a few amongst ourselves. I can’t remember if it was Deb (Deborah Schneider aka Sibelle Stone) or me who raised their hand first and said, ‘I would like to join a group, but I live in North Bend’. The other one of us said, ‘I live there too’, and it was the beginning of a great friendship. Of course, we didn’t know it at the time. Two more people asked if they could join us, and back then we figured, sure the more the merrier, but whoever joined us, would have to meet on our terms because of how far away we lived from the city. They agreed and the group decided on terms, like how many chapters we’d exchange, how often we’d meet and where to meet.

Note: This was 20 years ago, so there are many online options available now. It’s probably what I would do if I was seeking a critique partner today. But whether you are cyber critiquing or in person, this is all still relevant. 

 Fast forward: feelings are hurt, people are no-shows, the group disintegrates and it’s just Deb and I left. We probably repeated this cycle another three or four times, adding and then losing new writers. There were various reasons and some lessons learned. We’re very lucky to have stuck together all these years and have a great working relationship. Looking back I can see some things we could have done to get there sooner.

Two people are enough for a critique group: For some reason we had it in our heads that a group was more than two. But why try to fix it if it ain’t broken? What we found was that we had the same goals and wrote at about the pace. We both simply needed someone who liked our writing to read our chapters and honestly comment on what was working and what wasn’t. To point out the really good stuff, so we’d do more of that, and also point out where we had some bad habits we needed to clean up. For instance, I love the word THAT, and Deb hates introspection. She used a red pen on my THATs and I marked up her manuscript with ‘what is he/she feeling?’ notes. We are both more aware now and our writing improves with each book.

Don’t try to critique a genre that you don’t like to read: This was one of the earliest mistakes we made when forming a group. We had a guy who may have been a great writer, but it wouldn’t have been a book that I would ever have picked up to read. So being forced to read his chapters and comment was like getting a root canal without Novocain.

Make sure everyone is giving and receiving: We had one gal who is now a multi-published author selling tons of books, who wrote like a demon. What I mean is she could pound out a novel in the time it took me and Deb to write a chapter. We simply couldn’t keep up with her requests to read and we basically become her editors. On the flip side, she was unwilling say anything bad about our books, not understanding we did actually want to know her opinion. Another gal we worked with just showed up to talk about recipes and scrapbooking. I’m not sure if she ever even wrote a book?

All critique should be honest and constructive: Notice I’ve bolded constructive. We had one critique member who would simply tell you all the stuff she didn’t like about your writing.  Which is fine, please be honest. If I wanted someone to love on my book, I would have given it to my mom! But we are all writers here, so please tell me what you would have done differently or at least tell me why you don’t like it. That is what you showed up for in the end.

Don’t take any of it personally: This is the #1 most important piece of advice you should take away from this blog. Just take a deep breath, and look at the comments you’ll receive objectively, as if you didn’t write those chapters. As if  you’re just there doing this as a favor for a friend. You know, like you see on TV when the guy walks into the therapist’s office and says, ‘I have this friend and he’s got this problem...’ And guess what, if you don’t agree with the critique, you can ignore it. But do pause, think about it, maybe come back to it later and look at it from a new perspective. If you have picked the right critique partner/group, you will see the merit of any comments they have, or at least be aware of why you disagree. You may even decide to tweak other parts of your work in order to change their mind. It should all be useful to you and your craft. The critique process also prepares you for the real world. You’ll always have people who don’t like your writing, it’s inevitable. Every bestselling author I’ve ever heard speak tells the same story about letters from fans and fanatics. One file folder for ‘likes’ and one for ‘not so much’. So lift up your chin and go out into the world and seek criticism! It will make you a better writer, and a stronger person. 




Bio: Sheryl Hoyt was born and lives in the Seattle, WA area. She resides in the beautiful Cascade foothills with her high school sweetheart and their cats. A business professional by day, Sheryl has been writing novels in her free time for over 20 years. A lover of all things historical, she enjoys research and travel in order to expand her knowledge and add authenticity to her stories.
Links to my stuff My WebsiteGoodreads Twitter  FaceBook      Pinterest           Time ArticleAmazon Author page  Amazon My Books page       
 Dangerous Heart   available on Amazon  Heaven Made    available on AmazonThe Scoundrel and the Saint     available on Amazon
BN      http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/saralynn-hoyt?keyword=saralynn+hoyt&store=allproductsKobo   http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=saralynn+hoytDiesel  http://search.diesel-ebooks.com/index.php?page=seek&id%5Bm%5D=&id%5Bc%5D=scope%253Dinventory&id%5Bq%5D=saralynn+hoytApple https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/saralynn-hoyt/id521382986?mt=11Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=saralynn+hoyt&adult=on

Reviews: Dangerous Heart  on BN.comAnonymousPosted March 22, 20124 Stars: Very interesting story.. Could not put it down!
The Scoundrel and the Saint on BN.comAnonymousPosted May 11, 20125 Stars: Very romantic Loved it! Loved it! Really feel like i knew the characters. Excellent writing! I want me a Brand! Must buy!
Dangerous Heart  on Amazon.com

Real Dialogue

So this week my friend Noni took a run through my Christmas Present To Me, a short novella I’m calling Choir Camp (because it’s a geeky little story and I’m geeky enough to find it entertaining). She took a stern look at all my grammatical foibles and logic disconnects, but in the end had some nice things to say. One of the nicest was the compliment she paid my dialogue.

I’ll let you in on a secret. Writing dialogue is my absolute favorite thing to do. I’ll sit around and dream up conversations between people all day long. It’s layering in setting and sensory details that bogs me down – but that’s a different post. Today I want to talk about how to make dialogue real.

You know the easiest way to do it? Use phrases you hear in real life. While Noni lived in Nebraska, she learned some of the most entertaining expressions, and I love to borrow them. Like, when one of my characters was pissed at her boyfriend, she said, “Someone should pinch his head off and use him for bait.” That line cracks me up every time I read it. Why make up stuff when the things real people say are so good? Pay attention and make notes to yourself when you hear something good, then don’t be afraid to use it.

Another way to keep dialogue real is to remember that people don’t often say what they really mean. Generally our responses are filtered through a layer of emotional complexity that modifies the words that come out of our mouth. Even a simple yes or no question like “Are you free Friday night?” can get twisted up by variables like how handsome the ask-er is and how long it’s been since the ask-ee has had a date. It’s important to remember each character’s motivation in any particular circumstance, and then leave space for the reader to explore the subtext.

And finally, try to put a unique stamp on each of your character’s words. When I do a character profile, I include at least three details about the way they speak along with how they move and what they wear. Those details can include phrases, accents, and general guidelines for vocabulary, so that a high-school drop-out doesn’t end up sounding like a college professor.

One of the first things Cass, the angelic hero in Forever & Ever, Amen, says is “Hoo-wee, now, you have got to calm down.” That exclamation “hoo-wee” becomes his trademark, to the point where in once scene, when he secretly inhabits the body of another character, everyone knows it because the inhabited character uses that phrase.

Borrowing phrases from reality, avoiding directness, and developing a unique pattern for each character will help make your dialogue real. And lively! And fun! Your readers will thank you.

Have an awesome weekend.

Peace,

Liv

Hansel & Gretel & Big Guns

The subtitle of this post should be: Where do ideas come from? Because seriously, I never would have thought you could turn Hansel & Gretel into an action flick.

Have you seen the trailer? Here it is, in case you’ve missed it…



I’m totally going to see this movie, and not just because Jeremy Renner is…um… fairly compelling as a dramatic lead.

Heh.

On the one hand, I look at the trailer and think it’s kinda silly, turning a sweet little children’s story into something Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone could love.  But then I got thinking about the roots of most fairy tales and it began to make a bit more sense. According to the Wikipedia page on Hansel and Gretel, it’s a story of desperation stemming from some catastrophic event, possibly a famine, with side notes of cannibalism and child abuse.

Kinda makes Jeremy’s big gun seem tame.

And when you think about it, what do Americans fear more than guns? Okay, maybe one or two other things, but guns are definitely on the short list. The witches in the trailer barely look human, and Hansel and Gretel handle their weapons with style. Maybe this remix is trying to be a modern fairy tale. I’ll have to see it to know for sure.

Then there’s the question I started with, the subtitle of the post. Where do  ideas like this come from? I can’ t help but see a conference room somewhere in sunny LA with a bunch of writers sitting around a table and one of them says, “Yeah, well, people dug Snow White, but that Little Red Riding Hood thing didn’t do so well. Let’s try Hansel and Gretel, and give ‘em guns to mix it up.”

They mixed it up alright.

It might sound like I’m making fun of the writers and producers who came up with this movie, and I might be, just a little. Mostly, though, I’m envious. In one of my favorite books on writing, Save the Cat, Blake Snyder talks about the importance of doing the same thing, but different. There aren’t too many stories that haven’t been told already, in one way or another, and I’d love to come up with something really clever, something that made people say, “I never would have thought of that.”

Maybe someday I will.

~~~

And now for a couple of housekeeping notes. The winner of the $5 Amazon gift card from the NO KISSing blog post was Ellen Gregory! An email is already winging its way to her with the happy news.

Also, my January 21st release, Forever and Ever, Amen has pages on Goodreads and Amazon. If you wanted to cruise by and ‘like’ it or add it to your ‘to read’ pile, that would be awesome!!

Peace,

Liv

 

Too Old To Write?

Starting off with a little housekeeping…In my NO KISSing blogfest post, I promised a $5 Amazon gift card for one commenter, and I’ll award it in a couple days. Comments are still coming in – got two this morning, in fact. You can jump HERE if you want to check out that post and get in on the giveaway. But only after you read today’s post, of course… 

When you bring to mind a picture of an artist, what do you see? Burning eyes? Gaunt cheekbones? Ratty studio apartment with no money to pay for heat? By the age of twenty-five they’ve created some masterwork in whatever their discipline, then they die before they’re thirty or go on to live a semi-famous life, never quite reaching the heights they once did.

Right?

And what do you think of the middle-aged person who joins a rock band? Or the retirement-age person who signs up for a watercolor class at the Community Center? They couldn’t be artists, right? They’re not burning with creative energy, or driven, or, you know, gaunt.

Right?

So at the risk of sounding like I take myself way too seriously, I’ve been thinking lately about whether it’s possible to pick something up at mid-life (or at least a time that I HOPE is the middle of my life, and not too near the end) and do something good with it. Maybe not art – because let’s face it, my gaunt days are long over – but something decent, so that in fifty years if my grandkids are tooling around Amazon and stumble across something by Liv Rancourt, they’ll be like, “Oh yeah, that one book she wrote was pretty good.”

I always knew I’d be a writer. It just took me to the age of forty-seven to decide that it was time. And, with the help of my Amazingly Patient Husband and the support of an awesome group of friends from RL and the internet, I am doing it. I try to learn from every blog post, short story, and novel that I write, edit, or read, and then funnel that learning into my next project. While I try not to take MYSELF too seriously, I take my writing very seriously.

Research shows that involving yourself in creative pursuits when you’re older can have health benefits, and heck, sitting at the table writing is a lot easier than going to the gym and lifting weights. It also means putting yourself out there, opening up to criticism, taking a risk.

I think that’s the key, and the thing that so many of us struggle with. When you’re in your forties or fifties, you’re likely at the top of your game professionally. Your identity as an adult is pretty secure. In any number of different ways, you’ve answered the question: what am I going to be when I grow up?

So why the hell would you take on something new?

It means going back to being a novice, a beginner, and instead of a steady stream of praise for a job well done, you get people saying you suck because you use too many adverbs.

Ouch!

My whole life I’ve been attracted by the challenge of doing what scares me the most. Job in the NICU? Check. Fronting a rock band? Check. Naval-gazing blog posts on what it’s like to get older? Gotcha covered. The writing thing is a natural extension of the rest of my life. I figure I’ll keep at it until I’ve said what I need to say.

And then I’ll sign up for that watercolor class.

What do YOU think? Are you ever too old to take on something new?

Peace,

Liv

…oh, and if you want to do a little more reading on this subject, here’s a jump to a nice HuffPo article by Timothy Carpenter…