Vallory Vance's Blog, page 16

On the Soapbox ~ Don’t Tell Me It Should Be Longer

Fair warning – this post is a rant!

Don’t tell me you want a short story to be longer and give me a one to two star review based on that reason!

Here’s the blurb:

In this short story, a frustrated Daniel Weir sets out to seduce his wife after an off-hand remark sends her off in a huff. Little does he know, Leslie Weir has her own game of seduction planned.

For Leslie, Daniel is a solid columnar mass of a man, more than capable of providing her with mind blowing experiences. But since the birth of their son, he has become the most gentle of lovers and Leslie has grown tired of his carefulness. In a night of gentle teasing, she hopes to reignite his passion.

One night. Short story. That’s it! (The site gives you the length. It’s not an epic saga.)

Tell me that the piece is chocked full of grammatical errors. That the story doesn’t flow. That the dialogue is stilted or unbelievable. Something other than a short story is short.

Enough ranting. Back to being smiling Val!

~Enjoy your holiday weekend.

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Published on May 23, 2013 20:59

Hump Day Hook ~ Amber and Kevin

Welcome to the Hump Day Hook! This is a weekly blog hop in which authors give you a peek at their work. To check out the other authors participating in this event, click here. You may just discover your next read!

This week, I’m sharing from my WIP (still untitled, but I have two ideas so far). This story involves two of my favorite characters, Amber Grayson and Kevin Miller. Amber and Kevin met in the novella, In the Moment. Kevin proposed in A Miller Tradition, a free read on Goodreads.

And here we are – pre-married life with the future in-laws spending the night.

I’d love to know what you feel about the characters from this snippet.

Willing blood flow into his flaccid member, he tried to concentrate on her fingers working over his skin. He flexed his hips off the bed, curled his lips back against his teeth. Sex, sex, sex, he repeated in his head and forced himself into the twist of her hand with a grunt.

The comments from dinner didn’t matter. He didn’t give two shits about them…except…except he did.

“Why do you always have to remind your mother about my degree? I’m not an architect.”

Her hand stopped mid-glide. “But you do have a degree…”

“I operate a renovation company. That’s construction. Is there something wrong with that?” His voice rose above the whisper in which they’d been speaking.

“Shh….I never said that.” The waistband of his boxers snapped against his stomach with the hasty removal of her hand.

“Don’t shhh me in my own damn house.”

“It’s my house too. Shh…shh…shh…”

The groan of the futon’s springs didn’t seem to bother her as she jumped to her feet. “Have fun jerking off, alone.” The door creaked closed behind her, catching on the old carpet and ruining her attempt at a slam.

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Published on May 22, 2013 04:00

Honing the Outlining Process

Before beginning to write and learn, I had no idea what a pantser was. For my first published short story, I was a total pantser. I came up with an idea, had a vague idea of my characters and wrote their story as it came to me.

Calendar Girl Cover

For a short story, less than 8000 words, the editing process was arduous. I was extremely lucky that Amira Press even took the chance on Calendar Girl. I literally typed as Nia and Connor spoke.

Feeling adventurous, I ventured into a longer work. Lena and Ethan, Music for Her Soul, still spoke to me but there were missing spots in the story and I began to develop my own system of outlining.

The character bio – How old? Where are they from? What is their relationship like with their families? Where do they work? What are their hobbies? I even include things like their senior prom experience and who they voted for in the last presidential election. This is especially helpful when I’m writing dialogue.

The story idea – I write a paragraph or two which basically tells the whole story.

The plot outline – I used to write plays and think in terms of acts. So I outline Act I, Act II, Act III, etc…

Research – What do I need to complete all these things? Job notes? Housing? Airline Schedules? What I think I need I collect and store.

The first draft – This is part of my outlining process. I begin to add words and dialogue and setting to the plot outline. The hardest part about the first draft is not to edit myself and just let the characters speak. The work is for later.

Rewriting and Editing – This is the fleshing out and corrective process. Actually my least favorite part, but I’ve had some good moments.

I used this process with Deja Vu.

With an additional writing class which I thought was wonderful, I’m adding another step between first draft and rewriting. I’m calling it the questioning period. I’m going scene by scene and asking myself if this is the most important focus of the character at that moment and making sure the reader knows this as well.

For instance, I walked into my office this morning and saw a bright pink sticky note in curvy writing on my monitor at work this morning. That caught my attention. I had a class to teach in ten minutes, I hadn’t arrived as early as I should have and the note could only be from my boss. It wasn’t until later in the day that I noticed the six files crammed into the corner of my desk and the light blinking on my phone that I had messages.

I want my readers to be in that moment with my characters and I’m trying out my new technique in my WIP – wish me luck!

~Happy Writing

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Published on May 20, 2013 17:19

Winner Announced – Speaking of Moms!

Congrats to Rosie who won the e-gift card from my duel post with Elodie Parkes! You can meet Rosie over at A Little Bit of Naughty and visit Elodie at Elodie Parkes: Erotic Romance.

Thanks Ladies

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Published on May 18, 2013 10:05

Hump Day Hook ~ Speaking of Moms

Welcome to the Hump Day Hook! This is a weekly blog hop in which authors give you a peek at their work. To check out the other authors participating in this event, click here. You may just discover your next read!

My little piece is from Deja Vu, available at Amazon and Amazon UK, and is actually posted in conjunction with my appearance on the Elodie Parkes: Erotic Romance blog. (Thanks again, Elodie!)

In this snippet, the reader is introduced to Darcey St. Claire’s mother. Mrs. St. Claire was born in Bristol, the largest city in the south west of England (according to my research).

Sherrie St. Claire was not an excitable woman and took life as it came, trying to find the good in all situations. Her main role in the St. Claire family was to soothe the veins that often throbbed in Darcey’s father’s forehead.

It was Sherrie who had stood between the two of them when she declared that she was dropping out of college and moving to Myrtle Beach with René. It had been Sherrie who had smoothed those lines in her father’s forehead when René had lost his job and they needed money for the rent. And Sherrie who had driven her home from the airport, broken. Held her through her father’s tirades all the while smiling sweetly.

“Mom?”

“Still sick, are you?”

“Not really. I’ve got something to tell you and I think you should be sitting.”

“Dear Lord.”

*** And The Contest!***

Thanks for stopping by and remember to visit Elodie! She’s hosting a contest for me and here’s how to enter – Give me a very British phrase for Sherrie to use in the next installment of the Rose Gold Collection (Darcey has other things her mother will need to be sitting to hear) and you could be the winner of a $10.00 gift card and have a special acknowledgement from me in the next book!

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Published on May 15, 2013 04:00

Finally Writing Again – The WIP

I’ve finally had the time to really, really work on the conclusion to Amber and Kevin’s story and I’m quite pleased with myself.

Is it done? Kinda, sorta. All the chapters are written and I’m now tweaking and sending out chapters to be read to anyone with time.

As I’ve said before, Amber and Kevin hold a very special place in my heart and I’m excited to finish their story with a bang.

To catch you up on where we are – Kevin proposed to Amber and she accepted! Was there even a question as to her answer?

So their next story will begin sometime after that – engaged and blissfully happy! Engaged yes, but remember A Miller Tradition ends with my little warning.

Here’s a snippet from the work in progress:

A few months before her fortieth birthday, Time had suddenly caught up with her. The window of opportunity for having a child was closing.

In the beginning, Kevin had said he was willing to try. But with each bout of tremors following an injection, his willingness had more than waned. Now at the end of the third cycle, he was adamant that they try something else even if this was the most effective way.

Their battle raged on. She’d already conceded so much during their engagement – her home, her job. She wouldn’t concede this one point.

As always, feedback is welcomed!

~Happy Reading

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Published on May 11, 2013 17:18

The Last Time Release Event ~ Hosted by Elodie Parkes

Thank you for inviting me to the blog for the release of The Last Time, my latest contemporary, erotic romance. Available May 1, 2013, from Eternal Press

Just a little about me to let your readers know who I am.

I live in rural England, United Kingdom and I work in an antiques shop as well as writing. I have two dogs that keep me fit with their need for walks. Love the countryside and the coast.

I write romance, contemporary, and erotic with a twist of mystery, suspense, or the paranormal, now and then. I like to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale.

I started writing when I was seventeen. Life intervened in my writing time and I stopped serious writing for some time. I started writing again seriously a couple of years ago, because I had so many stories in my head.

The Last Time

Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.

Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out… yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.

The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.

Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?

With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.

Excerpt 18+

Seth made a little sound of need. He felt he was in a fog of lust and sensation, surprised he was thick and hard again.

Bethany took as much of his length into her mouth as she could. She sucked and swirled her tongue around the shape of him. She moved her lips up his shaft and then nuzzled the velvet end of him.

Seth was beginning to thrust his hips and sigh. He felt Bethany’s hair spread out across his stomach. It felt soft and teasing. He reached to grasp a handful, as Bethany began to do the best thing he had ever felt with her mouth, her tongue, her hands cupping him, grasping him, until his entire body was sensitized, and then it all began to pool in the bottom of his stomach, and then lower. Between his thighs where she cupped him was pulsing with sensation, and he was moaning and thrusting.

Bethany sucked suddenly deeper, harder, and he was coming, moaning with the intense feeling. He heard himself groan. It lasted a long time and Bethany held him until he had finished. She was very gentle taking him out of her mouth. Seth moaned a little feeling a loss. Bethany kissed up his body and left a wet trail across his nipples, her own hardened peaks brushing his body.

Seth held her head and brought her face to his. He realized she must have swallowed his seed, and only a trace of the taste was on her lips as he tenderly kissed her.

She moved back just slightly to whisper against his lips.

“Seth, put your fingers in me. Feel how much I need you. I’ll come very quickly if you just let me move on them. You’re so delicious.”

Seth was enchanted by this. He hadn’t been with that many women, and none of them had talked like this, nor made love like this.

He kissed her again and tenderly pushed his fingers into her. Her gasp of pleasure and the way she began to move on him almost had him moaning again. He held her head and kissed her softly as she murmured against his lips, coming just as she had said very quickly. He left his fingers inside her, and then kissed her hard, holding her head with his hand tangled in her hair.

****

Find Elodie online: where you can read lots of snippets from my erotic romance novels, meet other authors and read snippets from their books.

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/ElodieParkes
http://www.goodreads.com/elodieparkes
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448944.Elodie_Parkes/blog
https://twitter.com/ElodieParkes
http://www.manicreaders.com/ElodieParkes/
http://www.theromancereviews.com/EllieP
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114681167004175190514/posts

Find Elodie’s books:

*Amazon, Bookiejar, Smashwords,

Barnes and Noble, KOBO, Apple iBooks, and Diesel ebooks*

You can view the trailer for The Last Time on Youtube.com

***CONTEST******CONTEST******CONTEST***

Click HERE to enter the rafflecopter drawing to win $25 US, or £25 GB Amazon gift card and an ebook basket, of all five of Elodie’s erotic romance books released to date.

Millie Reinvented, Two of them,The Horoscope Writer, A Celtic Tapestry in which Elodie has a short, The Picnic, and The Last Time.

Please remember to leave a valid email address when entering the contest and feel free to share news of this great prize pack!

Prize winner will be announced on June 1st! Good luck everyone!.

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Published on May 08, 2013 05:00

Continuing Education for the Writer – Technical vs. Sales

There is a six week course about writing a short story being offered by my local community college in which students learn how to properly craft a short story.

Hump Day Hook with a Giveaway!

The Hump Day Hook is weekly blog hop where authors run a paragraph or two from a WIP or their latest release. This week we’re all hosting giveaways, so be sure to the click the Hump Day Hook link for some great snippets and the chance to win a prize!

Here’s the hook: My snippet comes from Cheers, a short story introducing Darcey St. Claire and Vincent Guidry from the newly released, Deja Vu. This scene takes place a few hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve on the interior balcony of the Chat Noir, a club in New Orleans.

“You know, I’m pretty good at reading people…” He leaned closer.

The spicy aroma of his cologne filled the small space between them and she leaned closer for another whiff of the tantalizing scent. Maybe a little more than a kiss…

“…and I think I frighten you…but I’m a really good guy.” He patted her knee.

“What?” She almost choked on the champagne. Only he could ruin a moment when she was actually beginning to think she was going to make his New Year’s Eve!

“It’s okay. I know I can be intimidating sometimes, sweetheart.” He skimmed his fingers up her thigh to just beneath the hem. “Let me show you how nice I can be.”

Darcey banged her glass down on the table and twisted around to face him, ready to tell him that no man intimidated her. “Listen Vince…”

The gentle push of his lips silenced her.

Here’s the prize: The Rose Gold Collection to date!

An Electronic Copy of Cheers! (available internationally!)

As a successful Sales and Catering Manager for the posh Hayden Court Hotel located in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, Darcey St. Claire is absolutely thrilled to be working on New Year’s Eve. The commission and bonus she’ll receive from the two day Guidry Construction event will not only fund her spring trip to New York City, but buy a cute pair of shoes for the plane ride!

Her enthusiasm quickly turns to barely disguised irritation when Vincent Guidry arrives hours early for his scheduled check-in, demanding access to his suite. After he slashes the budget for the event, not even the crystal blue eyes of the former quarterback can quell the anger surging in her chest.

That is until he walks into the Chat Noir where she is trying to regroup after her irksome day.

In the private enclave known as the Cristal Room, Vincent willingly lights up Darcey’s New Year’s Eve and may have lost his heart in the process to the young woman who isn’t looking for anything serious.

A signed print copy of Deja Vu (available only in the US, electronic copy will be substituted in case of an international winner.)

Darcey St. Claire is never surprised when a man is attracted to her. In fact, her style revolves around that assumption. From her short skirts to her thigh-high boots to her flirty laugh, Darcey flits along the edge of provocation to sell the overpriced services of the Hayden Court Hotel and afford her the spot as top Sales Manager. So the lustful looks Vincent Guidry cast in her direction didn’t faze her. It was the feeling of déjà vu creeping up her spine that made her run at breakneck speed away from the handsome former quarterback. And she wouldn’t have ever sought him out again. Not for herself. But there was someone else to consider…

For a chance at winning, just leave a comment about the snippet, the covers or what the weather’s like in your part of the world! Good luck ~Val

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Published on May 01, 2013 05:00

The Tortured Hero Blog Hop Was Canceled.

However, I’d still like to do my post as I thought it was really cute and I had this gorgeous man as the poster boy for the tortured hero!

Tortured and brooding are the best qualities for movie romantic heroes to me. During the course of the film you get to see the tough exterior they have developed begin to crack until they are all soft and mushy under the gaze of the one they love. They may even shed a tear or two.

Awww…

Two of my favorite tortured heroes are:

Jack Twist in Brokeback Moutain

In this 2005 film set in the Alberta Mountains, a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy begin a lifelong affair filled with complications and tragedy that shows the endurance of love.

My favorite line: I wish I knew how to quit you. (Jack to Ennis)

Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets

In this 1997 film set in New York, an obsessive compulsive writer is thrown out of his comfort zone when he has to care for his neighbor’s dog and the only waitress who will tolerate him has to leave work, leaving him incapable of having breakfast. This leads to a weekend trip in which the unlikely trio discover the true meaning of love and tolerance.

Best scene:

Melvin Udall: Don’t be pessimistic, it’s not your style. Okay, here I go: Clearly, a mistake. I’ve got this, what – ailment? My doctor, a shrink that I used to go to all the time, he says that in fifty or sixty percent of the cases, a pill really helps. I hate pills, very dangerous thing, pills. Hate. I’m using the word hate here, about pills. Hate. My compliment is, that night when you came over and told me that you would never… all right, well, you were there, you know what you said. Well, my compliment to you is, the next morning, I started taking the pills.

Carol Connelly: I don’t quite get how that’s a compliment for me.

Melvin Udall: You make me want to be a better man.

Those are my Awww movie moments for the day! Please feel free to share yours!