Elizabeth M. Lawrence's Blog, page 20

Setting: Selection and Significance

The Romance Reviews is turning 3, and throughout the month of March, a massive game and giveaway is taking place. With over 450 participating authors and publishers, your chance of winning is excellent! The grand prize is a $100 gift certificate, and there are loads of other goodies. To register and begin playing, go to The Romance Reviews website.

On March 16th, my Q&A will be available from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST. I will be giving away a signed and numbered print copy of my historical romance, The Truth Seekers. The answer to my question can be found in this post, so pay attention!
Now... Setting Selection & Significance.


By definition, every novel must have at least one setting. Even if a science fiction author were to write about a character floating around in a great abyss of nothingness, that abyss is still the place where things happen (or don’t happen, as the case may be). So how do writers choose the location for their story? How much does that choice matter to the story?

In my first novella, My Apple Tree, the setting was never specified for the reader. It could have been any town, really. The reality was that in my own mind the story was set in Joplin, Missouri, my mother’s hometown. The setting in this case was more important to me than the reader, and it definitely influenced the way I felt about the story and the choices I made concerning the plot and characters. After a devastating tornado leveled a third of the city, I went to visit my family there. What I saw had a profound impact on me, and that overwhelming mix of grief and rebirth was transferred to the story and my characters. So in that instance, the setting was very significant, but not in a way that the audience would necessarily be aware of. Normally, I would post pictures to illustrate my point. Although I do have pictures of the affected area, the devastation and loss these people faced is too personal to broadcast. However, the cover photo was taken at a nearby cemetery where much of my family is buried, and so that, too, has deep personal significance for me.


The significance of setting was flipped around for Wishing Cotton. For this story, the setting I envisioned was entirely fictional. I just needed a summer resort on a beach, with isolated cabins and a nearby funfair to suit the needs of my story. In other words, the setting was determined by the demands of the plot rather than the other way around. Beyond its function to support the story I wanted to tell, the setting has no further significance to me as a writer. Because of this, the only details I provide are ones that are necessary in order to present each scene clearly. Otherwise, the characters could be anywhere else and the plot could remain largely unaffected.


Setting again became important when I wrote my historical romance, The Truth Seekers. For this novel, I used a real-life location as the foundation for the story. Although I employ a great deal of artistic license, my protagonists Geoffrey Hawes and Miranda Claridge meet for the first time in an unnamed fictional community that is based on the very real Chautauqua Institution in New York State. 
Athenaeum Hotel
The grounds of this historic community preserve a great deal of the world that Geoffrey and Miranda would have inhabited, and the focus on philosophy, art, music, and learning lends itself to a novel of this type. It was simple to imagine two Victorian lovers debating the merits of different social and philosophical principles in such a setting. While I did change a number of minor details, such as turning the very real Packard Manor into the governor’s mansion, the architecture, landscape, and pace of the location are kept very true to life.

Geoffrey first encounters Miranda in the Hall of Philosophy, which not only is a real building on the grounds at Chautauqua, but also is the source of the book’s title. 
 
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle is the longest continuously running book club in the United States, and for many years, each year’s theme was preserved in mosaics running along the floor of the Hall. Visitors to the Hall of Philosophy can easily find The Truth Seekers mosaic.


In many ways, my love of Chautauqua influenced my handling of Geoffrey and Miranda’s story, but at the same time, it would not have been possible to envision their story in the first place without having experienced the setting beforehand. This is a place where it is easy to picture what life must have been like one hundred years ago, and it is also a place where one can feel the passage of time and the natural continuity of life and love and time. A great deal of the grounds have remained largely unchanged and are teeming with artists, authors, poets, dancers, musicians, theologians, and thinkers. It would be near impossible for a creative person to be in such an environment and not be inspired. Because of this, The Truth Seekers became not only a love story between two people, but it is also the story of an author’s love for a place. I hope that by bringing Geoffrey and Miranda’s world to life, I have also captured in some small way the magic of this small, precious community. Miller Bell Tower on Lake Chautauqua
In these three examples, you see how differently setting can be used to shape and influence a story and its characters. For writers, it is important to consider the role setting plays in a piece so that the handling of locations and environments complements the tale you are trying to tell. For readers, it is often a subtle influence that can color your perception of the world each new character inhabits. Either way, settings are something to enjoy and explore, even if only in one’s imagination.



More than 450 participating authors!!!
More than 450 prizes to be won!!!

PARTICIPATING PUBLISHERS
Soul Mate Publishing
Dreamspinner Press
Musa PublishingLoose Id
Riptide Publishing

PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
Vivi Andrews
Lynnette Austin
Judith Arnold
Tonya Ramagos
Lisa Kessler
Laurie Fitzgerald
Skye Warren
Dianna Love
Hope Tarr
Kristen Ashley
Jennifer Haymore
Cat Johnson
J.A. Redmerski
Rosalie Lario
Jodi Redford
Verna Clay
Kris Pearson
Kate Deveaux
S. Carman Knight
L.E. Franks
Hannah Fielding
Laura Harner
Kitsy Clare
Susan Lodge
Stormy Glenn
Colet Abedi
Liza Gaines
Shirley Wine
Laurie Olerich
Jenna Howard
Peri Elizabeth Scott
Afton Locke
Terri Rochenski
M. Leighton
Aditi Chopra
Sarah Latchaw
Felicia Rogers
Davee Jones
Jaye Frances
Georgina Guthrie
Billi Jean
RM Alexander
Alyssa Linn Palmer
Honoria Ravena
Karen Michelle Nutt
Christine Murphy
Dariel Raye
LeTeisha Newton
T.D. Hassett
Rosanna Leo
N. Jay
Karen Mercury
Nova Chalmers
Teresa Noelle Roberts
Jenna Rose Ellis
Sarah Phelan
R.J. Redlynn
James Cox
Ursula Sinclair
Beth Yarnall
Theresa Rizzo
Ashlynn Monroe
Michael Davis
Debra Anastasia
Nicole Pouchet
Bianca Vix
Rebecca Sinclair
Anna Wells
Jennifer Anderson
Toby Neal
Linda Nightingale
M.A. Stacie
Carlene Love Flores
Liv Honeywell
Gail Mencini
Kaje Harper
Elizabeth Coldwell
Jenny Lyn
Jay Northcote
Charlie Cochrane
Lisa Becker
Lea Bronsen
Chantal Verlaine
Patricia Yager Delagrange
Nicole Castro
Chacelyn Pierce
Jennah Scott
Monica Epstein
T.D. Hassett
Jennifer Garcia
Rhonda Laurel
Sable Hunter
Helen C. Johannes
Bev Pettersen
Lauren Linwood
Elsa Winckler
Alison Packard
Anne Barwell
Jana Richards
Natasha Knight
Katheryn Lane
Jonell Kirby Cash
Shiloh Saddler
Annabelle Jacobs
Laila Blake
Alane Hudson
Shawna Kenney
D. McEntire
Christy McKellen
Jane Taylor Starwood
Jessica Lauryn
Geoff Nolan
Evi AsherKate Brady
Sara Hantz
Jaime Rush
Hayson Manning
Shayla Black
Susan Carlisle
Elizabeth Essex
Emma Holly
Sharon Buchbinder
Kelsey Browning
Abbi Glines
Lynsay Sands
Sara Daniel
Shawntelle Madison
Jane Kindred
Debra Andrews
Sam Cheever
Katherine Bone
Lou Sylvre
Jaime Reese
Hebby Roman
Tara Lain
Rachel Kelly
Leigh Daley
Justus Roux
TL Alexander
Anne Lange
Maggie Mae Gallagher
K.M. Fawcett
Gail Bridges
Irene Preston
Nicki Elson
Natasha Moore
Jenna Jaxon
Gillian Archer
Jewel Quinlan
Catherine Kean
Kaitlin Bevis
Holley Trent
Kadee McDonald
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
Beth Trissel
M. Stratton
Scotty Cade
Anne Kane
Emma Weylin
Gloria Davidson Marlow
Tara Fox Hill
Sommer Marsden
Selena Illyria
Virginia Kelly
Ann McGinnis
Diana Green
April Bostic
Sloane Taylor
Gemma Brocato
Cheryl Brooks
Rory Ni Coileain
Nikka Michaels
Morgan Hannah MacDonald
Caitlin Ricci
Vanessa Devereaux
Francesca St. Claire
Alena Stuart
Frances Pauli
Killarney Sheffield
Deb Julienne
Mary Campisi
David Meredith
Heidi Lynn Anderson
Indra Vaughn
Alannah Lynne
Rose Anderson
Iyana Jenna
Kathryn Lively
Z. Allora
Mac Rome
Rachel Rossano
Juliette Miller
Liz Davis
Madison Sevier
Rhea Rhodan
Rosalind Scarlett
K. Vale
Maddy Barone
Lucy Felthouse
Claire Fullerton
Carolina Valdez
Jessica Coulter Smith
Devyn Dawson
Amber Daulton
Charlie Cochet
Gwendoline Ewins
Willow Brooke
Ellen Cross
Carol Cassada
Liz Crowe
Elizabeth McKenna
Patricia Leever
Lily Harlem
Rebecca Heflin
Aubrie Dionne
Linda Hays-Gibbs
Cheryl Phipps
Megan Derr
Juli D. Revezzo
Magdalen Braden
Allyson Young
Laurie Olerich
BethAnn Buehler
Lynn Cahoon
Tory Richards
Erica SutherhomeShelley Munro
Eileen Dreyer
Marina Martindale
Erica Ridley
Dianne Duvall
Sarah Granger
Christy Hayes
Angela Campbell
Ella Quinn
Zoë Archer
Shona Husk
Ashlyn Chase
Teri Riggs
Sabrina Sims McAfee
Constance Phillips
Jody Wallace
Rhyll Biest
Jenn Langston
Aileen Fish
Mary M. Forbes
Katheryn Lane
D.M. Weeds
Breena Wilde
Cheryl Bolen
Ana Barrons
Danica Avet
Alexa Grace
Amy Greogory
Karen Kay
Karen Rock
Jan Graham
Angelia Whiting
Rebecca E. Grant
Shoshanna Evers
Collette Cameron
Anna Daye
Paula Martin
Jane Leopold Quinn
Grace Wen
Joy Lynn Fielding
Eva Lefoy
Allie Ritch
Jana Barkley
A. Sangrey Black
Shauna Aura Knight
James Grey
Kelly Boyce
Lorraine Paton
Jocelyn Dex
Mychael Black
Rachell Nichole
Liza Gaines
Fiona McGier
Liana Laverentz
Reese Ryan
Jennifer Ann Coffeen
Jennifer Faye
N.L. Campbell
Nancy Corrigan
M.Q. Barber
Karen Dales
Kate Evangelista
Madison Chase
Luke Mallory
Andrea R. Cooper
Angelicka Wallows
John A. Heldt
Candice Butler
Mindy Hardwick
Sarah Madison
Shannon MacLeod
J. Annas Walker
Ria Candro
Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku
Dawn Marie Hamilton
Lillian MacKenzie Rhine
Juliet Chastain
Marcus Lopés
Nancy Loyan
Marie Rochelle
Diane Leyne
Lorenz Font
S.J. Maylee
Cathy Tully
Keira Andrews
Naya Nikki
Kay Jaybee
Chris T. Kat
Lori Verni-Fogarsi
Ash Jay
Sandra K. Marshall
Lily Malone
Jennifer Kacey
Mary Hughes
Heather Gray
Tasha Temple
Rachel Randall
Mary L. Ball
Cinsearae S.
Mary Calmes
Samara King
Tina Donahue
Cameron Vale
Jessica E. Subject
Pavarti K. Tyler
K.R. Haynes
Elizabeth Krall
Patricia Bond
R.E. Hargrave
Susan Shay
David Russell
Melanie Atkins
Sibel HodgeMichele Renae
Sienna Matthews
Sabrina York
Traci Douglass
Tiffany Allee
Kai Andersen
Nancy Naigle
Cassandra Carr
Vella Munn
Sherilee Gray
Jill Shalvis
Jamie McGuire
Michelle Diener
Moira Keith
DJ Gross
Elaine Cantrell
Piper Malone
Kristy McCaffrey
Catherine Wolffe
Nicky Penttila
Dariel Raye
Jackie Leigh Allen
Riley Murphy
Calinda B
Kerry Adrienne
Blaine D. Arden
Cara Marsi
Layne Wong
Eden Ashe
Gail Koger
Suki McMinn
Victoria and Rebecca Heap
Stacy-Deanne
Forbes Arnone
Marisa Mclean
Haley Whitehall
Ann Herrick
Misa Buckley
Christina Thacher
Jianne Carlo
Dominique Eastwick
Kat de Falla
Jennifer Rae Gravely
Maxine Flam
Clara Nipper
Ashley Chunell
London Saint James
Angela Aaron
Cheryl Rhodes
Andrea Bramhall
Evie Knight
Glynnis Campbell
Sloane Taylor
Katie Kenyhercz
Nina Pierce
Dev Bentham
Anna Keraleigh
Cate Masters
Traci Hall
Layne Wong
H.C. Brown
Anne Stenhouse
Gemma Juliana
Syrie James
Molly McLain
M.J. Porteus and R.D. Blackmore
June Kramin
Lorrie Farrelly
Nan Reinhardt
Shani Struthers
Becca Jameson
Rachel E. Kelly
Ros Clarke
Lisa Clark O'Neill
Jenny Kane
Ayla Ruse
Siobhan Muir
Catherine Sharp
Stacy Juba
Dianne Hartsock
Krista Ames
Samantha Holt
Gale Stanley
Lauren Smith
Kathy Bosman
Laci Paige
Andrea Downing
MaryLynn Bast
Leigh Ellwood
Stephanie Burke
Clarissa Johal
M. Garnet
Victoria Blisse
Teodora Kostova
Natalie J. Damschroder
Ginger Simpson
Susan Griscom
Becky Lower
Rhonda L. Print
Bella Leone
Andrea R. Cooper
Kelly Wyre
Helena Fairfax
T.F. Walsh
Dy Loveday
S.C. Rhyne
Pippa Jay
Julianna Keyes
Naomi Bellina
J.Q. Rose
Aaron Lazar
M.E. Franco
Sylvie Kaye
Elizabeth M. Lawrence

On Failure

I am a failure.
(Stick with me. My story gets better.)
February has always been a miserable month for me, and this one was especially so. Now that it’s (thankfully) the final day of that month, I’ve been thinking about all the ways I’ve fallen short over the course of my life.
In grade school, I stopped doing my homework because it was uninteresting, unchallenging, and silly, and I’d figured out that my grades at that level weren’t really going to impact my future enough to worry over. In high school, I did do my work, but I didn’t actually try. I made no effort to excel or distinguish myself. The after-school clubs were left unjoined, and papers and projects alike were completed like a recipe in the kitchen—one cup of hypothesis, three tablespoons of salient points, a dash of reference material, and bake. I was not engaged; I was a mass-production line.
It had always been assumed that college would be my time to shine. While the classes were far more interesting, I still did not put anything close to my best effort into my work. I dated a thoroughly unsuitable boy, bringing him home to meet my parents and ensuring many sleepless nights for them while they worried I’d keep him (I didn’t). My performance at school was perfectly adequate, but that was all. There was nothing on paper to show that I was intelligent, unique, and had something to offer the world. I did not go on to graduate school as I’d wanted, and I did not land a decent job when I graduated. It was several years before I had anything even remotely resembling a career, and I was only brought to it out of necessity rather than ambition.
While the official reason for my departure from that career was my children’s special needs, there will forever be a voice in the back of my head adding that another reason was that I sucked at it. It never felt real to me, and I was incredibly unhappy. I couldn’t be one of those moms who juggle everything, keep lists, vacuum more than once a year, and get up at 5 a.m. to do Pilates. In a lot of ways, when I quit my job to stay home, I felt like I was bailing on adulthood.
Since then, I’ve edited a pile of novels and published my own work. My royalties are abysmal. I do nothing to change that, make no effort to really market and promote. I even am seized with the impulse to apologize to those who have spent money on my books.
Sorry I suck. Better luck next time.
However. If I hadn’t lived the life I’ve led, so many things would have been lost. I never would have dated my husband if I hadn’t been so determined to date my ex’s opposite. I never would have been a parent who could respond to her children’s social and academic anxiety with compassion and understanding. I never would have been able to support my friends without judgment when their lives fell apart. I never would have learned how to engage and really try when the object is genuinely important to me.
I have unpaid bills, holes in my carpets, and missing plaster on my walls. My house will never be on the historical register. I may never be a successful author. My kids will definitely never be entirely “normal.” My middle-age spread has evolved into what might be called a hostile takeover of neighboring space. I frequently forget to floss. In the eyes of the world around me, I am a failure.
When I’m with my husband, it still feels like we’re dating. I still get butterflies in my stomach when he smiles at me. When I talk to my children, I see whole worlds in their eyes that no one else can access but them. When I help an author understand how to tap into a manuscript’s full potential, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment, as well as gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of that process. When I write, I am happy and focused and learn to know myself better. I stretch and challenge and grow.
Being a failure is pretty damn fantastic.

Interview with Amber Johnson, author of BEATLESS

As part of the blog tour for new release, Beatless, author Amber Johnson has stopped by for an interview. Check out her story, and be sure to enter her Rafflecopter giveaway!
1) Tell us a little bit about how the idea for this story got started.
I’d already begun writing this story when I was having a conversation with a fellow writer about someone we both knew. I had this compulsion to be friends with this person we were discussing even though she was not one back in the least. It wasn’t because she was more popular than me; it was because I genuinely liked her and I didn’t care if she used me or said mean things. So I asked, “Why do I want to be her friend so much? She clearly doesn’t care.” And the answer my friend gave back was, “Because plastic hearts don’t beat.”
I started thinking about those girls who make you feel like a shadow all of your life, and how hard it can be to find your own voice. These are the type of girls that steal the bottom of your bikini and throw it over a fence at a party and then make fun of you for being naked in the pool. The kind that of girl that spits gum into the hair of another girl who has chosen not get a haircut for religious reasons. But she’s pretty and popular and if she ever spoke to you, you’d probably go running to her for reasons you can’t explain at that age.

2) What do you feel is the biggest lesson your main characters learn from their experiences in this story?
The biggest lesson I wanted Mallory to learn was that there’s no plan in life. That when you finally experience something life changing, you’ll figure out that all of the petty things you gave weight to at one time, the things that made you think your life was over, will seem so stupid when you view them in retrospect.

3) How important was setting to the plot of the story?
I wanted the area to be small enough that you’d know someone the entire time you went to school, but big enough to leave room to meet new people. I chose Lawrenceville and Snellville because they’re the areas I grew up and were the most vivid setting in my mind as a backdrop for teenage angst.

4) What is the significance of the title? What prompted you to choose it?
Beatless has a lot of meanings. I had always intended the story to be about a drummer quitting a band and the members that were left behind having to do without the beat, thus becoming Beatless. Then there’s Lassiter who has no soul or heart. And then Mallory getting her heart broken. 

5) What element in the main characters’ relationship impacts the story most?
That people who have been abandoned are the first to abandon others.

6) What’s your secret geeky obsession?
I collect book character Barbies and won’t let my son open the boxes. Don’t judge.

7) Which secondary character was the most fun to write?
It’s a tie between Sara McNamara and Eliza Scott. They both had the best sarcastic lines. 

8) What was your biggest challenge in writing and publishing this story?
Beatless, as most stories do, started out as something completely different - a girl in her senior year of high school. I’d always had the three main characters lined up and named, and I knew the heart of the story, but it evolved. Originally it was going to be named Plastic Hearts because of the conversation I reiterated above, but another author put a book out with that name while I was still trying to write it, so I had to find a new one. It had taken me three years to find the exact story that I wanted to tell so I deleted everything off of the original document except the first chapter and in November sat down and wrote the entire thing in 25 days. I actually dreamed the entire book, got up at 4 a.m. to outline the chapters and finished it within 5 days after. Then I entered it into Pitch Wars and was told that it could not be New Adult if it took place in High School. So I had to sit down and revise it.

9) What is your next planned project? What can you tell us about it?
My next concrete project is a novel that has been contracted by The Writer’s Coffee Shop:
10) And the most important question: chipmunks or squirrels?
I’m gonna have to go with chipmunks because I’ve fed a squirrel up close and their teeth are so orange they glow in the dark.




Synopsis
Mallory Durham has been left behind and it is making her feel less like an adult and more like an afterthought.

Divorce, sickness, educational aspirations being shattered, and her Aunt Sam moving into her home, have made Mal's life nearly unrecognizable to her.

When Tucker Scott re-enters her life along with his band, will they offer what she needs to once again find her voice and self confidence or will it strip her of it even more?

Told through the dual voices of Mallory as she navigates her new world, and Aunt Sam's letters to her niece, Beatless tells the story of two women at very different points in their life, fighting the same battles; proving that no matter what age a person is, there are always lessons to be learned.

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20693377-beatless?ac=1

Excerpt
The Scott house was less than five miles from mine, but it could have been in a completely different world. The neighborhood was older, clearly didn’t have a Homeowners Association, and the houses themselves looked like they were in dire need of repair. His was a brown ranch that had an exposed basement, which I quickly learned was where he had all his musical instruments set up. It was a sweet deal because he’d soundproofed the room with egg crates, the whole back wall was filled with band posters, and there were a few guitars mounted to the studs above his keyboard.He seated himself in front of it, turning on the power and shuffling the sheet music that had accumulated there. “What’s your vocal register?”“I don’t have one anymore, remember?”“We can change that.” Light notes plinked out from beneath his fingertips and he swiveled in his seat to regard me carefully. “I know you’ve got it in you. You have to believe it too or it won’t work.”“I don’t want to sing in front of you.” The thought alone was making me want to vomit. What if I was as terrible as I imagined? I’d only been singing along to the radio in my room, but it was breathy and sparse, and honestly, it hurt a little if I went too high.His eyes softened and he patted the seat next to him. “Then sing with me.”

Playlist: 1. Incomplete- Switchfoot2. The Queen and I - Gym Class Heroes3. Love Somebody - Maroon 54. Stay the Night - Zedd5. Collar Full - Panic! at the Disco6. Miss Missing You - Fall Out Boy7. I Lived - OneRepublic8. Adel/Eurythmics mashup - Rolling in Sweet Dreams9. Ellie Goulding/ Eminem mashup  - Love the Way You Burn10. Imagine Dragons/ Coldplay mashup - Radioactive Paradise11. Lorde/ Katy Perry mashup - Royals vs. RoarBonus track: Ke$ha/ Beatles mashup - Tik Tok Together(mashups can be found on Youtube)
Dream Cast:




About the Author
Amber is a full time mom, full time wife, is employed full time, and writes when she can. She believes in Happily Ever Afters that occur every day - despite the obstacles that real life serves up on a regular basis. Or perhaps they're sweeter simply because of them. She always has 2 rubber bands on her wrist, a song in her head, and too much creamer in her coffee cup that reads 'Cocoa' - because she's a rebel. If she's not at her desk, with her boys, or behind the computer, she's supporting live music with her arms raised above her head and eyes closed, waiting for the drop.  


Connect with Amber
Website: amberlynnejohnson.comTwitter: @WhereIsJakeRyanFacebook author page: Amber L. Johnson Author
 Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why is Writing so Hard?

My husband, bless him, believes that I’m talented. This means that he has trouble understanding why I haven’t written ten best-sellers already. “Just write it,” he says, blissfully unaware of the challenges that he’s waving aside so dismissively.
He’s not entirely wrong, of course. To write a book, there is a critical requirement that at some point your butt hits a chair and you write it. No matter what your “process” is, at the end of the day you must translate your ideas and imaginings to paper. However, there is a lot more that goes into the creation of a novel than that, and it is often these invisible considerations that make the task so daunting.
1. First, the writer must overcome “I-Suck-itis.” 

The split second that you start listening to that voice in your head that tells you all your ideas are rubbish and your writing is crap, you are done. While an inflated ego is not required, you do have to have at least a whisper of belief that what you write has merit and will appeal to someone out there. Because we all have good days and bad days, a lot of writing time is lost to those moments when we are grappling with self-doubt. Even disciplined writers with daily quotas have been known to meet those quotas by writing about how badly they suck. Often after a bad review or critique.
2. Next, the writer must address the limitations of an idea. 

You want to write a story about the caretaker of a creepy old house who must fight off four trespassing teenagers and a large talking dog? Great. What happens? How does the tension build? How will each character develop? What is the climax? In other words, just coming up with an exciting premise for a book is not the same thing as figuring out the complexities of plot and character that come together to bring that premise to life.
3. The characters. 

Non-writers do not understand that once a character is given life, its creator has about as much control over it as a parent does over a teen-aged daughter’s moods. Frequently, characters wander off in unplottable directions, and the author is left scrambling to catch up. These little surprises can often turn the story outline on its ear, stretching and challenging the writer to come up with new ideas and solutions. This requires a lot of thinking, pacing, and muttering to oneself. Hair-pulling and inarticulate growls can also manifest themselves.
4. Then there’s real life. 

Spouses and children expect to be interacted with on a semi-regular basis. Some attention to hygiene must be paid as well. Phones must be answered, taxes must be filed, and food must be purchased and consumed. Even if a writer were to be able to neglect all these things indefinitely, it would still be a problem, since we must experience these human interactions and activities in order to write realistically. So much inspiration comes from the small moments in our days that becoming a hermit to write a book is a self-defeating tactic.

I would love to be a full-time novelist, but it’s not feasible. Bills must be paid, and working as an editor makes that more likely to happen. When I’m not editing, I still have two special-needs children to tend to (sometimes three, if my husband is having a rough day). I do have a work in progress currently that I’d like to take a determined stab at finishing, so I plan to blog about that process periodically in the hopes that this may give me further insight into my own writing process. Also, I think some readers might find it interesting. Let's see how far my husband's "just write it" approach can get me!

Sydney Logan's STUPID CUPID Giveaway!

Sydney Logan's holiday short story, "Stupid Cupid," is now available!♥♥♥ Jada Morgan hates Valentine’s Day, which is ironic, considering she's a writer for a greeting card company. She meets Nathan Reynolds, one of the company’s new graphic artists, and they bond over their mutual hatred for all things Cupid while working on designs for this year’s marketing campaign. As they grow closer, Jada learns Nathan is a single father, and she quickly becomes attached to him and his little girl. When it’s time for the company’s holiday party, Jada assumes she and Nathan will attend together, not realizing he already has a date for the event. Has Stupid Cupid broken her heart once again? A heartfelt story about love, family, and second chances. Enter for your chance to win a "Love to Read" T-shirt, Hershey's Flavored Lip Balm, and signed bookmarks from Sydney Logan!a Rafflecopter giveaway  AmazonTWCS Publishing House Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author who may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with music (seriously, she loves everything from Eminem to Johnny Cash). She also has an amazing husband and a ridiculously spoiled cat, both of whom join her in soaking up the stunning views from their East Tennessee front porch. Find her books on Amazon, iBooks, B&N, and TWCS Publishing House. Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Hershey's, or Blogger. We hereby release all names listed of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. Let me know if you have any questions or issues by contacting me: @SydneyALogan. - Good Luck!

Hearts on Fire Blog Hop

Hearts on Fire is sponsoring a Valentine Blog Hop with prizes from participating authors. Prizes include a gorgeous heart pendant with a 20 carat lab ruby and 14k gold chain PLUS signed paperbacks from each author - entire series by Victoria and Kym.

I am giving away a signed and numbered copy of The Truth Seekers, so enter below!

The Grand Prizea Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Sydney Logan's STUPID CUPID

Coming Valentine's Day!♥♥♥ Jada Morgan hates Valentine’s Day, which is ironic, considering she's a writer for a greeting card company. She meets Nathan Reynolds, the company’s new graphics artist, and they bond over their mutual hatred for all things Cupid while working on designs for this year’s marketing campaign. As they grow closer, Jada learns Nathan is a single father, and she quickly becomes attached to him and his little girl. When it’s time for the company’s holiday party, Jada assumes she and Nathan will attend together, not realizing he already has a date for the event. Has Stupid Cupid broken her heart once again? A heartfelt story about love, family, and second chances. Enter for your chance to win a "Love to Read" T-shirt, Hershey's Flavored Lip Balm, and signed bookmarks from Sydney Logan!a Rafflecopter giveaway AmazonTWCS Publishing House  Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author who may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with music (seriously, she loves everything from Eminem to Johnny Cash). She also has an amazing husband and a ridiculously spoiled cat, both of whom join her in soaking up the stunning views from their East Tennessee front porch. Find her books on Amazon, iBooks, B&N, and TWCS Publishing House. Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Hershey's, or Blogger. We hereby release all names listed of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. Let me know if you have any questions or issues by contacting me: @SydneyALogan. - Good Luck!

Goodreads Giveaway: The Truth Seekers

To celebrate the birthdays of two of my favorite people, I am giving away five signed and numbered copies of The Truth Seekers on Goodreads! The giveaway begins on January 17th, the birthday of Favorite Person #1, and it ends on January 31st, the birthday of Favorite Person #2. 
These copies of The Truth Seekers are from my personal stash. Only twenty-five numbered copies exist, so when they're gone, they're gone! Click the giveaway link below and enter today!

Summary:  

At the turn of the century, the Victorian upper classes live in a vibrant but strictly-ordered world that encourages gentle, intellectual pursuits. Theirs is a life of ease and elegance, but it can be snatched away from them in an instant if the rules of polite society are not followed. Gothic novelist Geoffrey Hawes has never been willing to let such restrictions hold him back, and he refuses to honor conventions for which there is no discernible value. When he spends a social season in a community created to celebrate the Arts, music, and philosophy, he is unexpectedly befriended by the daughter of the Governor, Miranda Claridge.

Bitter and disenchanted with the privileged and wealthy, Geoffrey finds his beliefs repeatedly challenged by the intelligent and vivacious Miranda. In the midst of their heated debates on the mores of the upper class, this unlikely friendship blossoms into a passionate love. He encourages her to pursue her interest in painting and gives her a new understanding of what relationships between men and women should be. Meanwhile, Miranda begins to open his eyes to all that is wonderful and beautiful and good in the world.
Geoffrey at last accepts that he has fallen in love with Miranda, but misunderstandings and lies come between them. Knowing that Miranda believes it is her duty to marry, he prepares himself to hear news of her wedding. Geoffrey attempts to escape the pain of her perceived rejection by traveling and throwing himself into his work. However, he cannot run forever. One day, he encounters Miranda again and soon discovers that she is not the same woman he left behind. Can the couple realize that they each must relinquish some of their prejudices and preconceived notions before it is too late? Can love really conquer all?



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Goodreads Book Giveaway The Truth Seekers by Elizabeth M. Lawrence Giveaway ends January 31, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
Excerpt:
“I have not been humoring you, Miss Claridge. On the contrary, I am intrigued that such a refined and doubtless well-protected woman as you should carry such sorrow. Will you not confide in me?”Her answering smile was wry. “Am I to provide material for your next book? I assure you, there is nothing I could hope to offer that would interest you or your readership.” The words were bitter, but her tone was not.“I would tell you that you will not appear in my work, but that is beyond my power. Pieces of every person I encounter have a way of appearing in my books, whether I will it or no.” Moved by some inexplicable impulse, he reached out and took her hand in both of his. “Let me assure you, however, that I am most anxious to know what troubles you so.”“You are very kind,” she said.“That surprises you?”“A bit. You do not strike me as a man who interests himself in the problems of a mere girl, least of all a naïve and inexperienced one such as I.”“This is perhaps true,” he allowed. “Yet I sense, Miss Claridge, that there is more in your heart and mind than I would expect to discover in a woman of your upbringing.”“I very much doubt that, sir. In truth, from infancy I have been schooled to have as little on my mind as possible.”Her eyes returned to their perusal of the lake, but he continued his examination of her face.After a moment, he responded. “Be that as it may, I think there is quite a good deal in your mind, and in your heart, too. I very much hope that I am nearby if ever you should decide to divulge it.”

Disgustingly Sentimental Christmas Blog

It is perhaps both typical and telling that my Christmas blog post begins with a recent conversation I had with a psychologist. After all, the holidays are all about families, and if ever a family existed to stun therapists the world over, it’s mine. 
This particular doctor asked me to describe a typical Christmas celebration in my family.
"Typical? Um..."
Now, I actually do feel some pity for the mental health care professionals who deal with me and mine, so I didn’t laugh in his face. Bless the man, I’m sure he was envisioning a large, rowdy get-together with shared jokes and stories and children’s laughter amid bows and ribbons and eggnog. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever actually encountered eggnog in the flesh. It’s always seemed like an exotic myth, like flying reindeer or benevolent carolers who weren’t paid to be there.
Nowadays, Christmas in my home consists of loosely organized wrapping paper carnage first thing in the morning, followed by the requisite pilgrimage to my parents’ house for dinner. There, we eat on fancy plates we’ll have to hand wash, and there will be at least one or two properly strange contributions to the menu. One year when I was very pregnant, it was fresh mint in the green beans, which my sensitive nose did not appreciate. There is no children’s table, so we all participate in one central conversation, which sounds really lively and convivial until you remember who is sitting at the table.

The older generation governs the ebb and flow of conversation. In my case, these wise forebears are my father, mother, aunt, and uncle. For the uninitiated, that’s a Doctor of Inorganic Chemistry and former Director of Technology of a major international corporation; a Doctor of English Literature and former Executive Director for yet another international corporation; the former head of Literature for the area’s most important library and current darling of theater luminaries, who are forever begging her for research and copies of long-forgotten musical scores; and a history scholar who also is something of an expert in oriental rugs and organic fruit for reasons that escape me. Two Republicans and two Democrats. Two Episcopalians and two Roman Catholics.
To say that the dinner conversation is a tad academic would be putting it mildly. 

The evening ends with a frankly bloodthirsty game of Monopoly between my mother and aunt. The rest of us have learned not to interfere. The noncombatants swill glasses of port, nibble ginger cookies, and stare at the fire until a decent interval has passed and we can disperse.
However, this is my father’s side of the family. When I was a child, we spent Christmases with my mother’s family.
"Sing it, Perry!"
Christmas in Kansas was possibly my favorite childhood memory. Granny would make chocolate and peanut butter fudge, my grandfather would smoke his pipe and growl at everyone, my mother would dither, and my father would immerse himself in a crossword puzzle. My cousins and I would dress the Pomeranian in felt dolls’ clothes, hammer at the organ until our elders yelled, and laugh late into the night when my mother’s eyes would bulge with rage and we’d finally settle down. We sometimes wandered down to what was rather optimistically called the park, but was really a stone arch that gave way to a muddy clearing with a couple of large, cement pipes half-embedded in the grass. 
The shed at the back of the house was perfect for exploring, and I remember laughing over my mother’s impossibly pointed shoes from the 1950s and my grandfather’s naughty magazines. 
Do they still make Shrinky Dinks? Those things were pure genius. This was also the era of Star Wars. What 1970s childhood could be complete without a Princess Leia doll with real hair? Of course those gigantic buns didn’t last long, but she was still one of my favorite toys. I had an Uhura doll, too. I know you’re jealous.

The tree was plastic and glorious, the long drape of tinsel falling from star to floor, providing tantalizing peeks at the gaudy World War II era ornaments beneath. Perry Como would be crooning Christmas carols over the eight-track player, and I would scamper out in my prim Muppet Show nightgown with the frill at the ankle and bask in the excitement and anticipation. We children were always well-rested on Christmas morning, thanks to the administration of Granny’s famous hot toddies the night before. In later years, Granny got lazy and would just hand out shots of vodka. All I know is that we never stayed up late on Christmas Eve. 
Ho-ho-hangover
It’s amazing how many of your childhood experiences can’t be repeated with your own children just because it would land you in jail.
"Keep 'em coming, Granny!"
Anyway, the thing my children have missed out on (other than being knocked out with high-proof liquor) is the large, chaotic family get-together. I suppose I could get melancholy about it, but I think they’re happy with the less social, more sedate celebrations they’ve grown up with. As the only children in the house, and the only grandchildren, they are doted upon and spoiled rotten. I even occasionally catch them paying attention to the debates over the influence of 13th Century monasticism on the development of modern-day politics. They know they are loved and surrounded by the familiar and comforting, and I suppose that is all a child really needs to capture that holiday magic.
The fire starts to die, and the conversation tapers off. The boys watch their great-aunt tuck their dozing mother under a blanket, and they are amused that here, their mother is still a child. Their grandfather magically produces the batteries that weren’t included, while their father mutters over microscopic screws as he assembles the most interesting toy (now that the gouges from the hard plastic packaging have stopped bleeding). Grandmother cackles, malicious glee marking the acquisition of Park Place. Her victim groans, and her rueful laughter becomes part of the tapestry of my children’s memories.
My mother's kingdom.
What we pass on to our children and grandchildren isn’t the tradition. Presents at night or morning, holiday supper or breakfast or tea, midnight mass or sunrise service. None of that matters much. I know that lots of people don’t get those holiday warm fuzzy feelings, and this will sound like sentimental rubbish to them. That’s okay.
I totally respect your opinion.
My point is that, regardless of whether you celebrate Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Christmas, or nothing at all, the rituals that bind a family exist to comfort and reassure.  We are reminded of our connectedness, even as the world changes around us. 
When a new family starts out, new traditions grow out of the disparate backgrounds of both parents. Children grow up and make their own families, with new traditions of their own. What matters most is that we retain that connectedness and honor what has gone before, without allowing it to hold us captive to the past. We let our memories warm and reassure us, taking a deep breath of that fortifying air, and then return to the world for another year.
I don’t know what answer that psychologist was looking for from me. The Christmas of my childhood is long gone, as is that of my husband. I’ve taken the elements from my memories that were the most magical and preserved them for my own children, but by and large, we celebrate in our own way. While I may occasionally feel a sentimental twinge for the way things used to be, I know that we need to embrace the changes in our families to move forward. We can rejoice in some changes, while others break our hearts. At the end of the day, the holidays are for sharing love, memories, solace, and gratitude with each other. That’s the part we need to preserve most of all.
And Perry Como. Gotta preserve the Perry.

Melting the Snow Release and Giveaway!

Holiday Cure for the Cursed Summary:Daniel Digby is cursed by his good looks. After years of sexual harassment, he’s convinced wearing a wedding ring is the answer to fending off unwanted attention.

CiCi Newport is cursed by her family’s money. When men look her way, all they see are dollar signs. After two years, her “no dating” rule is still in place.

After a chance meeting, they’re entwined for the holidays. What starts as attraction might just be the holiday cure they’re looking for.Lindsey Gray’s Biography and Links:Lindsey Gray dreamed of several different careers as a child. On the short list were doctor, chef, and actress. None held her attention like putting pen to paper and creating her own world through words. Since 2010, she has published three novels and one short story with The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House. In 2013, she went on her first self-publishing adventure and produced her novella, "Fireworks".

A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, rooting for the Green Bay Packers, reading whatever she can get her hands on, and making life interesting at every turn.

Link List:

Blog: http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/LindseyGray11

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindseyGray11

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4505542.Lindsey_Gray?from_search=true
Amazon US Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lindsey-Gray/e/B004MSX224/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Amazon Germany Author Page: http://www.amazon.de/Lindsey-Gray/e/B00D2CJVOE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Amazon France Author Page: http://www.amazon.fr/Lindsey-Gray/e/B00D2CJVOE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1380236557&sr=8-1
Libboo Buzzboard: https://www.libboo.com/buzzboard/lindseygray11




Frozen Moments Summary:The Sentinels live in our future and are the Keepers of Time. Sentinels have the responsibility of guarding the once gifted and proclaimed golden-children of the greatest government’s scientific communities. With the collapse of the world, they now hide and try to correct the downfall that nearly led to the end of life.A team of technically-altered humans race through frozen landscapes to save those they can and try to correct the flawed outcomes that threaten to create the catastrophic future. They’re faster, stronger, and more agile than those living in the time period. These unknown heroes live on low income jobs while they report to Melanie Shepherd, who freezes time to assist them in their endeavors.Is an event ever too big for them to stop?Michele Richards Biography and Links:Michele Richard is an author and the CEO of Renaissance Romance. Michele wrote the “Mocked by” series including Mocked by Destiny and the Mocked by Faith trilogy. She writes what comes from the heart.  Raised in Maryland, Michele currently resides in the Boston area. When Michele is between books, her days are filled with family and friends. Her greatest passions are traveling and learning new languages. She is currently learning French, Spanish and ASL, and one day hopes to be fluent in them. She has never met a language she didn’t like.
In 2012, Michele opened Renaissance Romance Publishing with her partners, Lisa Bilbrey and Laura Braley. Together, the three run the day to day workings of a small press.
 “Mocked by” series:Mocked by DestinyMocked by FaithMocked by Faith ~ Healing the FaithMocked by Faith ~ Affirming the Faith
Parasouls: Divine Intervention
Anthologies:Changes of the Heart (Life is More Than Candy Hearts)10 Days to Love (Harvest Treats)The Roommates (Sugarplum Dreams)
Novellas: 10 Days to LoveChanges of the HeartThe Roommates
Where to Michele:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MicheleA.RichardBlogger: http://michele-richard.blogspot.com/Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michele-richard/31/516/203Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_A_RichardTwylah: http://www.twylah.com/M_A_RichardGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4573125-michele-richardYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TheMicheleRichardTumblr: http://www.michele-richard.tumblr.com
Purchase Michele’s books on:Amazon: http://amzn.to/H3JGGTBarnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/miche...itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/michele-richard/id461078709?mt=11Renaissance Romance Publishing: http://www.renaissanceromancepublishing.com/




Tour Schedule:
Lindsey Gray:12/17: FS Meurinne Book Entice -- Promos12/18: Jude Ouvrard --Promo12/19: R. E. Hargrave -- Promo12/20: Sarah Says Read Romance—Review            Serenity Ashley Reviews-- Review12/21: Elizabeth M. Lawrence-- Promo12/22: Feeding My Lovely Addition– Promo and Review12/23: M. C. Rayne – Guest Post12/24: N. Wood -- Interview12/25: Lisa’s Lullabies-- Promo12/26: Jennifer Garcia – Promo12/27: Lorenz Font--Promo12/28: J. C. Clarke-- Promo
Michele Richard:12/17:  FS Meurinne Book Entice -- Promos12/18: Jude Ouvrard --Promo12/19: Sarah Says Read Romance -- Promo12/20: M. C. Rayne – Guest Post12/21: Elizabeth M. Lawrence-- Promo12/22: Feeding My Lovely Addition– Promo and Review12/23: N. Wood -- Interview12/24:12/25: Lisa’s Lullabies12/26:12/27: Jennifer Garcia – Promo12/28:  Lorenz Font—Promo
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