Ally Shields's Blog, page 74
April 1, 2014
Joan Leotta loves writing and strong, dark coffee!
It's Coffee Chat Wednesday! Time to sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy a little book talk. Our guest today is Joan Leotta, who calls herself an eclectic writer. Welcome, Joan. How do you take your coffee?
JOAN: Dark and strong. In fact, you asked about some unusual about me...
Coffee is a passion of mine! My son used to say I needed a 12-step program for Starbucks, but really it is not the big brand coffee so much (that was simply a convenient way to talk about my addiction) as it is good, dark strong coffee that I love. I am a fan of the local brews Port City Java--I always go for the dark blend. I like Starbucks Sumatra and we now have a Kuerig so we can get individual cups quick and hot. I like Italian roasts and French roasts in most brands--Peets has especially good French roasts in the Keurig cups and we use the Tully's French and Italian roasts as our daily drink at home. I also like tea--chai and a good strong English breakfast. I brew loose teas mostly but am not above using a teabag.
Ally: A dark brew is coming right up. Perhaps while I do that you could share your bio with us.
Bio:Joan Leotta has been writing and performing since childhood. Her “motto” is "encouraging words through pen and performance.” Her award-winning poetry, short stories, books and articles have been published in many journals, magazines and newspapers.
She performs folklore shows and one-woman shows on historic figures at venues up and down the east coast. She lives in Calabash, NC with husband Joe. You can learn more about her at www.joanleotta.wordpress.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Leotta-Author-and-Story-Performer/188479350973
Ally: Why don't we start with what you write, how long you've been published, and how many works are available?
JOAN: I write non-fiction poetry, short stories and novellas--can’t seem to squeeze out those last few thousand words for a full fledged novel. Have also written a travel book and history book for children.
Three romance books (sweet, YA historical fiction) are currently available from Desert Breeze Publishing and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
The very first thing I published for pay was a poem with a magazine that no longer takes student work. I was fourteen. It was wonderful! For many years I wrote only in my job and then , after leaving office work , I became a freelancer and professional story performer. The freelance non-fiction articles (My masters is in international economics) paid a lot of bills and the performing paid some bills and fulfilled me creatively allowing me to stay home with my children and have a fabulous time being a mom. I love to write for children but it is the most difficult type of writing and I admit to begin slow with it though I have several projects going. My first full length book was a travel book. I contributed to several books and then also was able to do a non-fiction for Scholastic for children.
After my husband retired, I went into semi-retirement as a non-fiction writer--just a couple of clients now. I turned to short stories and back to poetry. Have had some success with poetry and the short stories and essays .
Genre wise I am all over the map--eclectic one could say, or if you are feeling less generous, scattered. Mystery and light romance are the most fun to write. The three books with Desert Breeze are novellas.
Ally: Are you a pantser or plotter? Why do you believe this method works for you?
JOAN: I am both pants and plot. I do a semi-outline of where I want the story to go and then start writing and often the tale changes directions--No formal outlines tho, I hated the roman numeral number thing-- as a child.
One thing that is very important to me is to keep my audience ever in mind--how will they react to what I am doing, how is my pacing--will it keep them involved, how much detail is overload for the plot and for the reader/ Important to me.
Ally: Do you write full time or get in a word or two whenever you can? Daily goals? Word count?
JOAN: I write every day, but not always on the same project. Usually I have four or five writing projects going on at the same time and fit poetry in as I can. I like to do a poem a day in nanowrimo challenge, but am trying now to challenge myself with various poetic forms.
When I start the book I will set goals, and I will be starting book four of my series for Desert Breeze as soon as my research is father along after a few weeks.
Ally: How long does it take you to write a first draft?
JOAN: A couple of months. Rewrite? Another couple of months. Remember tho, I am doing other projects at the same time--newspaper articles and books reviews, articles for the disability website I write for and of course, preparing stories for performance, writing poems and the occasional personal essay.
I recently started to write more personal, non-fiction essays and send them out (Chicken Soup has picked one up) because people seem to like them! One thing that is very important to me--my audience. I guess attention to audience is a part of the intersection of my writing and performing personae. I want my readers to feel what I feel when I write, to be entertained and edified.
Ally: Are settings important in your writing or could your stories happen anywhere?
JOAN: Settings are very important--both time and place. I write a lot of historical fiction, so the research is very important .
For the second book in my series, Letters from Korea, I spent hours tracking down the names of restaurants in Pittsburgh's downtown--places that are long gone but that existed then. Research is the heart of how I make things real.
Ally: Before we wind this up, let's try some quick answer questions:
favorite dessert: ice cream one item you'd take to a deserted island: my bible favorite actor, tv show and movie: it is still, cary grant, tv is ncis, and movies--oh dear so many. an item on your bucket list: don’t believe in bucket lists, but I love to travel. comfort attire: sweats, jeans or shorts--sweater--my house is always cold for me so I wear sweater all the time. I wear baggy slacks or jeans, take a walk when the weather is fine. I love wearing slippers at home. Restful .
Ally: Thanks, Joan, for visiting the Coffee Chat. Please stop by again. Now, let's take a look at the novella your brought to show us.
Book preview:"The Legacy of honor in her family meant that once a person made a promise, the promise must be kept."
Anna Maria O'Shea became a nurse to continue her family's Legacy of Honor.
In choosing to stick to her commitment to service, she looses her long-time college love. The pain of war is stronger than her private heartache.
Is Mark, the handsome physician, the balm her soul needs? Or is it George who will claim and heal her wounds with a love that transcends war and the pain she sees all around her?
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/legacy-of-honor-book-three-a-bowl-of-rice-by-joan-leotta/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Honor-Book-Three-Bowl-ebook/dp/B00J54ZDCW/
Also available at B& N.
Thank you for joining us today! Come back soon...
Joan Loetta loves writing and strong, dark coffee!
It's Coffee Chat Wednesday! Time to sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy a little book talk. Our guest today is Joan Leotta, who calls herself an eclectic writer. Welcome, Joan. How do you take your coffee?
JOAN: Dark and strong. In fact, you asked about some unusual about me...
Coffee is a passion of mine! My son used to say I needed a 12-step program for Starbucks, but really it is not the big brand coffee so much (that was simply a convenient way to talk about my addiction) as it is good, dark strong coffee that I love. I am a fan of the local brews Port City Java--I always go for the dark blend. I like Starbucks Sumatra and we now have a Kuerig so we can get individual cups quick and hot. I like Italian roasts and French roasts in most brands--Peets has especially good French roasts in the Keurig cups and we use the Tully's French and Italian roasts as our daily drink at home. I also like tea--chai and a good strong English breakfast. I brew loose teas mostly but am not above using a teabag.
Ally: A dark brew is coming right up. Perhaps while I do that you could share your bio with us.
Bio:Joan Leotta has been writing and performing since childhood. Her “motto” is "encouraging words through pen and performance.” Her award-winning poetry, short stories, books and articles have been published in many journals, magazines and newspapers.
She performs folklore shows and one-woman shows on historic figures at venues up and down the east coast. She lives in Calabash, NC with husband Joe. You can learn more about her at www.joanleotta.wordpress.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Leotta-Author-and-Story-Performer/188479350973
Ally: Why don't we start with what you write, how long you've been published, and how many works are available?
JOAN: I write non-fiction poetry, short stories and novellas--can’t seem to squeeze out those last few thousand words for a full fledged novel. Have also written a travel book and history book for children.
Three romance books (sweet, YA historical fiction) are currently available from Desert Breeze Publishing and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
The very first thing I published for pay was a poem with a magazine that no longer takes student work. I was fourteen. It was wonderful! For many years I wrote only in my job and then , after leaving office work , I became a freelancer and professional story performer. The freelance non-fiction articles (My masters is in international economics) paid a lot of bills and the performing paid some bills and fulfilled me creatively allowing me to stay home with my children and have a fabulous time being a mom. I love to write for children but it is the most difficult type of writing and I admit to begin slow with it though I have several projects going. My first full length book was a travel book. I contributed to several books and then also was able to do a non-fiction for Scholastic for children.
After my husband retired, I went into semi-retirement as a non-fiction writer--just a couple of clients now. I turned to short stories and back to poetry. Have had some success with poetry and the short stories and essays .
Genre wise I am all over the map--eclectic one could say, or if you are feeling less generous, scattered. Mystery and light romance are the most fun to write. The three books with Desert Breeze are novellas.
Ally: Are you a pantser or plotter? Why do you believe this method works for you?
JOAN: I am both pants and plot. I do a semi-outline of where I want the story to go and then start writing and often the tale changes directions--No formal outlines tho, I hated the roman numeral number thing-- as a child.
One thing that is very important to me is to keep my audience ever in mind--how will they react to what I am doing, how is my pacing--will it keep them involved, how much detail is overload for the plot and for the reader/ Important to me.
Ally: Do you write full time or get in a word or two whenever you can? Daily goals? Word count?
JOAN: I write every day, but not always on the same project. Usually I have four or five writing projects going on at the same time and fit poetry in as I can. I like to do a poem a day in nanowrimo challenge, but am trying now to challenge myself with various poetic forms.
When I start the book I will set goals, and I will be starting book four of my series for Desert Breeze as soon as my research is father along after a few weeks.
Ally: How long does it take you to write a first draft?
JOAN: A couple of months. Rewrite? Another couple of months. Remember tho, I am doing other projects at the same time--newspaper articles and books reviews, articles for the disability website I write for and of course, preparing stories for performance, writing poems and the occasional personal essay.
I recently started to write more personal, non-fiction essays and send them out (Chicken Soup has picked one up) because people seem to like them! One thing that is very important to me--my audience. I guess attention to audience is a part of the intersection of my writing and performing personae. I want my readers to feel what I feel when I write, to be entertained and edified.
Ally: Are settings important in your writing or could your stories happen anywhere?
JOAN: Settings are very important--both time and place. I write a lot of historical fiction, so the research is very important .
For the second book in my series, Letters from Korea, I spent hours tracking down the names of restaurants in Pittsburgh's downtown--places that are long gone but that existed then. Research is the heart of how I make things real.
Ally: Before we wind this up, let's try some quick answer questions:
favorite dessert: ice cream one item you'd take to a deserted island: my bible favorite actor, tv show and movie: it is still, cary grant, tv is ncis, and movies--oh dear so many. an item on your bucket list: don’t believe in bucket lists, but I love to travel. comfort attire: sweats, jeans or shorts--sweater--my house is always cold for me so I wear sweater all the time. I wear baggy slacks or jeans, take a walk when the weather is fine. I love wearing slippers at home. Restful .
Ally: Thanks, Joan, for visiting the Coffee Chat. Please stop by again. Now, let's take a look at the novella your brought to show us.
Book preview:"The Legacy of honor in her family meant that once a person made a promise, the promise must be kept."
Anna Maria O'Shea became a nurse to continue her family's Legacy of Honor.
In choosing to stick to her commitment to service, she looses her long-time college love. The pain of war is stronger than her private heartache.
Is Mark, the handsome physician, the balm her soul needs? Or is it George who will claim and heal her wounds with a love that transcends war and the pain she sees all around her?
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/legacy-of-honor-book-three-a-bowl-of-rice-by-joan-leotta/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Honor-Book-Three-Bowl-ebook/dp/B00J54ZDCW/
Also available at B& N.
Thank you for joining us today! Come back soon...
March 29, 2014
Reader Poll: What is...?
It's all about you...Writers are obsessive about a lot of things: writing, research, finding just the right word or character name. But the subject most fascinating to authors is readers. Believe me...
All other obsessions pale in comparison.
So, today the blog is about getting to know you: who you are, and what you like.
I hope you'll participate in my efforts to serve my readers better by answering just four questions. You might even find it's fun! :) What type(s) of blog posts do you prefer? Choose up to 3. What is your favorite book genre? Who are you? Where did you first hear about the Guardian Witch series? Thanks for stopping! Have a great day!
March 26, 2014
Beth Yarnell: Mysteries with Humor, Romance
It's Wednesday and time for another author Coffee Chat!Welcome to mystery author, Beth Yarnall!
How do you take your coffee?
BETH: I drink hot coffee with half and half, no sugar. I like to add a flavored creamer to my iced coffee. Mmm, coffee.
Ally: Since the Midwest really hasn't embraced Spring weather yet, I'll pour you the hot version today. While I'm doing that, I know readers would love to read your bio, including something unusual you wouldn't normally include.
BIO:Best selling author, Beth Yarnall, writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and the occasional hilarious tweet. A storyteller since her playground days, Beth remembers her friends asking her to make up stories of how the person `died' in the slumber party game Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, so it's little wonder she prefers writing stories in which people meet unfortunate ends. In middle school she discovered romance novels, which inspired her to write a spoof of soap operas for the school's newspaper. She hasn't stopped writing since.
For a number of years, Beth made her living as a hairstylist and makeup artist and owned a salon. Somehow hairstylists and salons seem to find their way into her stories. Beth lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their dog where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Something unusual: I loooove Barbies and even have a small collection. The new Barbie collector's catalog just came and I drooled all over it. They're so pretty. There's even a Divergent Barbie and Ken with tattoos. Tattoos!
Author Contact links:
Twitter- @BethYarnall
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/BethYarnallAuthor
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431701.Beth_Yarnall
Pinterest- http://www.pinterest.com/bethyarnall/
Website- www.bethyarnall.com Ally: Your books often fall within the broad category of cozy mysteries. Can you define the terminology for those who aren't familiar with the genre?
BETH: Cozy mysteries or 'cozies' are the gentler, funnier younger sis of crime fiction. There's no sex or if there is it occurs 'off stage'. Violence is downplayed. There's no guts and gore in cozies and strong language is kept to a minimum. Cozy mysteries are humorous and often feature a bumbling or amateur detective such as my character, Azalea March, who is a hair stylist turned detective. They're fun and funny and one of my favorite kind of books to read...and write.
Ally: Tell us about your main character and why you love her.
BETH: Azalea is a hairstylist and co-owner of a salon with her best friend. She's absolutely out of her element as an amateur detective. She's sweet and funny and is way more curious than is good for her. Azalea's into fashion, especially vintage clothing, and loves to create a different look for herself each day. She's the kind of girlfriend anyone would want to go to Vegas with for a wild weekend.
Ally: Do you have a writer's cave or someplace special where you do your creating?
BETH: I finally have my own desk for writing and it's set up just how I want it. Except that I need a new chair. That's next on the list. When I really need to buckle down and concentrate, like when I'm plotting out a new book, I like to go to a coffee shop with spotty wifi so I don't get distracted on social media. I love social media.
Ally: Do you plan to be writing ten years from now? Will it still be cozies? If not, what do you hope to be doing?
BETH: If my behind holds out that long, absolutely! Spreadous derriere-ous is a terrible, terrible thing.
I love writing and I love killing people...on paper. I may venture into contemporary romance, but my first love will always be mystery and suspense.
Ally: I'm addicted to quick answer questions, so here goes...
Where did you go on your last vacation? My family and I went to Prescott, Arizona. My husband has family that lives in the area so we travel there a lot. On this last trip we went to Jerome and my Southern California kids got to play in the snow.Last movie you loved: This is a tough one because I don't get to the movies often. The last movie I saw was Frozen, which I enjoyed except for the singing and twirling princesses. I took my 11 year old son to see it and he complained endlessly that there were no princesses in the commercials so WHY were they in the movie? Thanks Disney.Favorite tv show: Now this is an easy question! Big Bang Theory, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, The Following, Sister Wives, Downton Abbey, Justified, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Lost Girl, Castle, Maury, The Dog Whisperer, Pit Bulls and Parolees, Say Yes to the Dress, I Found the Gown, Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, and just about anything on TLC. See, easy peasy.An item on your bucket list: I have about a dozen places in the world that I would love to visit. I love to travel, I just wish I had a ton of money to do more of it.Favorite hobby or pasttime: Watching TV? Hahaha, no. I love to go to antique swap meets and find interesting things to decorate my home. I even have a collection of barbed wire on my wall with labels that have the name of the wire and year it was made. Fun!Ally: It's been so much fun having you on the Coffee Chat, but before I let you go, I'd love to hear about the book you brought. It looks like a great read...
Book cover blurb-Hairstylist Azalea March is looking forward to a wild weekend in Las Vegas with her friends. Oh, sure, they’re supposed to be there on business, attending the biggest hair show on the west coast, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun. But fun quickly turns to drama. On the first morning of the show, Dhane, the biggest celeb of the hair-styling world, is found dead. As it urns out Azalea’s friend, Vivian, not only knew Dhane, but the tale she weaves of how they met is faker than a showgirl’s uh… assets. When Vivian confesses to the murder and is arrested, Azalea knows there’s no way she could have done it and suspects Vivian may be trying to protect someone. But who?
Azalea now has to convince Alex, the sexy detective from her past, to help her prove Vivian’s innocence and comb through clues more twisted than a spiral perm. But the truth is stranger than anything found on the Las Vegas Strip, and proving Vivian’s innocence turns out to be more difficult than transforming a brunette into a blonde.
Buy links:
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Azalea-Mystery-Entangled-Select-ebook/dp/B00EBRDEYC/
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dyed-and-gone-beth-yarnall/1115438190?ean=9781622661237
iTunes- https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dyed-gone-azalea-march-mystery/id683984546?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo- http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dyed-and-gone
Google Play- http://books.google.com/books/about/Dyed_and_Gone_An_Azalea_March_Mystery.html?id=stN1nAEACAAJ
March 25, 2014
Beth Yarnall: Mysteries with Humor, Romance
It's Wednesday and time for another author Coffee Chat!Welcome to mystery author, Beth Yarnall!
How do you take your coffee?
BETH: I drink hot coffee with half and half, no sugar. I like to add a flavored creamer to my iced coffee. Mmm, coffee.
Ally: Since the Midwest really hasn't embraced Spring weather yet, I'll pour you the hot version today. While I'm doing that, I know readers would love to read your bio, including something unusual you wouldn't normally include.
BIO:Best selling author, Beth Yarnall, writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and the occasional hilarious tweet. A storyteller since her playground days, Beth remembers her friends asking her to make up stories of how the person `died' in the slumber party game Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, so it's little wonder she prefers writing stories in which people meet unfortunate ends. In middle school she discovered romance novels, which inspired her to write a spoof of soap operas for the school's newspaper. She hasn't stopped writing since.
For a number of years, Beth made her living as a hairstylist and makeup artist and owned a salon. Somehow hairstylists and salons seem to find their way into her stories. Beth lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their dog where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Something unusual: I loooove Barbies and even have a small collection. The new Barbie collector's catalog just came and I drooled all over it. They're so pretty. There's even a Divergent Barbie and Ken with tattoos. Tattoos!
Author Contact links:
Twitter- @BethYarnall
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/BethYarnallAuthor
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431701.Beth_Yarnall
Pinterest- http://www.pinterest.com/bethyarnall/
Website- www.bethyarnall.com Ally: Your books often fall within the broad category of cozy mysteries. Can you define the terminology for those who aren't familiar with the genre?
BETH: Cozy mysteries or 'cozies' are the gentler, funnier younger sis of crime fiction. There's no sex or if there is it occurs 'off stage'. Violence is downplayed. There's no guts and gore in cozies and strong language is kept to a minimum. Cozy mysteries are humorous and often feature a bumbling or amateur detective such as my character, Azalea March, who is a hair stylist turned detective. They're fun and funny and one of my favorite kind of books to read...and write.
Ally: Tell us about your main character and why you love her.
BETH: Azalea is a hairstylist and co-owner of a salon with her best friend. She's absolutely out of her element as an amateur detective. She's sweet and funny and is way more curious than is good for her. Azalea's into fashion, especially vintage clothing, and loves to create a different look for herself each day. She's the kind of girlfriend anyone would want to go to Vegas with for a wild weekend.
Ally: Do you have a writer's cave or someplace special where you do your creating?
BETH: I finally have my own desk for writing and it's set up just how I want it. Except that I need a new chair. That's next on the list. When I really need to buckle down and concentrate, like when I'm plotting out a new book, I like to go to a coffee shop with spotty wifi so I don't get distracted on social media. I love social media.
Ally: Do you plan to be writing ten years from now? Will it still be cozies? If not, what do you hope to be doing?
BETH: If my behind holds out that long, absolutely! Spreadous derriere-ous is a terrible, terrible thing.
I love writing and I love killing people...on paper. I may venture into contemporary romance, but my first love will always be mystery and suspense.
Ally: I'm addicted to quick answer questions, so here goes...
Where did you go on your last vacation? My family and I went to Prescott, Arizona. My husband has family that lives in the area so we travel there a lot. On this last trip we went to Jerome and my Southern California kids got to play in the snow. Last movie you loved: This is a tough one because I don't get to the movies often. The last movie I saw was Frozen, which I enjoyed except for the singing and twirling princesses. I took my 11 year old son to see it and he complained endlessly that there were no princesses in the commercials so WHY were they in the movie? Thanks Disney.Favorite tv show: Now this is an easy question! Big Bang Theory, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, The Following, Sister Wives, Downton Abbey, Justified, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Lost Girl, Castle, Maury, The Dog Whisperer, Pit Bulls and Parolees, Say Yes to the Dress, I Found the Gown, Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, and just about anything on TLC. See, easy peasy.An item on your bucket list: I have about a dozen places in the world that I would love to visit. I love to travel, I just wish I had a ton of money to do more of it.Favorite hobby or pasttime: Watching TV? Hahaha, no. I love to go to antique swap meets and find interesting things to decorate my home. I even have a collection of barbed wire on my wall with labels that have the name of the wire and year it was made. Fun!Ally: It's been so much fun having you on the Coffee Chat, but before I let you go, I'd love to hear about the book you brought. It looks like a great read...
Book cover blurb-Hairstylist Azalea March is looking forward to a wild weekend in Las Vegas with her friends. Oh, sure, they’re supposed to be there on business, attending the biggest hair show on the west coast, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun. But fun quickly turns to drama. On the first morning of the show, Dhane, the biggest celeb of the hair-styling world, is found dead. As it urns out Azalea’s friend, Vivian, not only knew Dhane, but the tale she weaves of how they met is faker than a showgirl’s uh… assets. When Vivian confesses to the murder and is arrested, Azalea knows there’s no way she could have done it and suspects Vivian may be trying to protect someone. But who?
Azalea now has to convince Alex, the sexy detective from her past, to help her prove Vivian’s innocence and comb through clues more twisted than a spiral perm. But the truth is stranger than anything found on the Las Vegas Strip, and proving Vivian’s innocence turns out to be more difficult than transforming a brunette into a blonde.
Buy links:
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Azalea-Mystery-Entangled-Select-ebook/dp/B00EBRDEYC/
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dyed-and-gone-beth-yarnall/1115438190?ean=9781622661237
iTunes- https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dyed-gone-azalea-march-mystery/id683984546?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo- http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dyed-and-gone
Google Play- http://books.google.com/books/about/Dyed_and_Gone_An_Azalea_March_Mystery.html?id=stN1nAEACAAJ Thanks, readers, for stopping to join our chat! Beth would love to answer your questions or comments. What do you think of her fab cover?
March 23, 2014
What Do Writers Do Between Books?
Good Morning!I'm answering one of my most frequently asked questions today: what do writers do between books? There's an obvious answer, but reality goes far beyond that.
WHAT DO WRITERS DO BETWEEN BOOKS?
Release Day is over. The book is launched. Now what?
First and most important is I'm writing the next book. Even before book five in my series was released, I had started on book six. At the same time, I was writing another urban fantasy involving elves which has now been submitted to a publisher for consideration.
But what else do I do, writer-wise? I upload new posts to my urban fantasy blog at least twice a week, the same posts go on Facebook, Google plus, and Goodreads. Every day, I send out 10 - 20 tweets on Twitter: tweets about my blog posts or about my books and book reviews; retweets of writing tips and other authors' books; and occasional personal updates, often posted to hashtag #amwriting. I spend at least a few minutes daily responding to Twitter questions or mentions.
I also answer readers' email questions, participate in blog hops, nag, I mean, ask people for reviews, arrange for book promotion, write posts for other blogs, and buy swag. The swag is one of the really fun parts. Here's the latest swag that came in the mail: pens with the Blood & Fire cover on them, and new bookmarks with all five current covers!
There are a thousand little things that writers do almost every day. Research, editing, rewriting, plotting, etc. Oh, and I almost forgot, reading. Most of us are voracious readers, some books for enjoyment, but many for keeping up on our genre and the current publishing world. Writing is more consuming than a full-time job, and no one can do it all by themselves. But most of us try! :)So what can you do to help those hard working authors you love to read? Write reviews, at least on Goodreads and Amazon. Tell everyone you know about their wonderful books. Retweet, share blog posts. Anything you do will be appreciated by him or her, and with any luck, the karma will return to you a hundred fold! :)
Hmm, I wonder if I've forgotten anything really big. If so, I'm sure my writer friends will remind me...
Thanks for stopping to chat. I hope you come back soon!
March 18, 2014
Coffee Chat Interview with Author Kristen Ethridge
It's Coffee Chat Wednesday!Kristen Ethridge is visiting today to talk about books and how sweet romance can be.
Would you like a cup of coffee, Kristen?
KRISTEN: I actually don’t drink coffee—I never have! If I’m in a coffee shop, I’ll get a hot chocolate or a really cool sounding tea blend. If I’m at home, I’m usually drinking kombucha. My current favorite flavor is mojito kombucha. It’s been a great, tropical flavor to get me through this really looooooong winter.
Ally: We'll see what the magic pot can do for you while you show readers your bio. Don't forget to include something unique that isn't in your regular bio.
BIO:The writing bug bit Kristen Ethridge around the time she first held a pencil. A 2012 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award Finalist, Kristen was discovered by Harlequin through their 2012 So You Think You Can Write contest.
She writes contemporary inspirational romance for Harlequin's Love Inspired line, as well as sweet contemporary romance. Her favorite stories are filled with love, laughter, and happily ever after--and her favorite happily ever after is the story of God's love. Although she has fun creating characters, Kristen's favorite people are her family. She lives in Texas with her husband, children and a self-important poodle. Visit her online at www.kristenethridge.com.
Something unique? I was born just a few blocks from the beach in Galveston, Texas, so I’m what’s known as a BOI (Born On the Island).
Contact links:
Amazon Author Central Page: http://amzn.to/1nQSoJ8
Website: www.kristenethridge.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristenethridgebooks
G+: www.plus.google.com/+KristenethridgeBooks
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristenethridge
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kethridgebooks Ally: What kind of books do you write? Tell us about your Holiday Hearts series. Are the same characters or new ones in each book?
KIRSTEN: The Holiday Hearts series is a series of six stories I’m putting out this year, all with a holiday theme. These stories are about finding love on some of the most special days of the year. There will be releases featuring New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas this year. Most of the books have separate characters, although you meet Lisa Fleming, the heroine of Lucky in Love (St. Patrick’s Day) in The Cupid Caper (Valentine’s Day). And, although the first two Holiday Hearts Stories were novellas, Lucky in Love—which will actually release shortly after St. Patrick’s Day, at the end of March—will be a full-length book.
Ally: When you're ready to start a new manuscript, what comes first: characters, plot or theme?
KIRSTEN: Usually, it’s actually the title…but I honestly don’t know why. For Lucky in Love, my March release, it was obviously a St. Patrick’s Day theme. I started thinking about what could I do with St. Patrick’s Day, and I thought about the “luck of the Irish.” That actually led me to set the book in Las Vegas—a city where everyone hopes for luck—and brought me to Ryan McBride, a professional poker player nicknamed “Lucky Charm” by those in the business. I’m a “pantser” by nature as a writer, so once I’ve got a few basic details lined up in my head, I just start writing and let the story come together organically.
Ally: How do you choose character names? Do you ever base them on people you know?
KIRSTEN: Usually they just come to me. Like I said, I’m a total “pantser,” so I’ve been known to start writing without having names and I wait until one of the other characters calls them by name.
Ally: What is your favorite thing to do when you're not writing? hobby, sport, vacationing, etc. How did you get into this and/or why do you find it so satisfying?
KIRSTEN: Two things… As a family, we tend to do a lot of things related to Baylor University athletics, especially football. My husband and I are both Baylor graduates and we met at a football tailgate. So I guess you could say it’s a long-standing family tradition.
Another interest of mine is real food and healthy living. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of wonderful bloggers along the way in this area and I’ve started blogging about these areas in addition to my writing. In fact, I’ve kind of tagged my blog as a place to find “food, family, faith, and fiction.” It kind of ties a lot of things in my life together. I work full-time, I have an active family, and I write sweet contemporary romance and inspirational romance. The blog is part of my way to let readers connect not just with my writing but with me as a working mom, because I know so many of my readers are working moms trying to take care of their families and keep everyone healthy, just like I do.
Ally: Ready for some quick answer questions?
Spike heels or sneakers: Definitely sneakers, although my favorite pair of shoes is a pair of tall boots with a 3” heel. I’ve had them for fifteen years and I will have them completely rebuilt before I ever get rid of them. Favorite candy: Chocolate. Is there another kind? Last place you went shopping: Does the Internet count? I bought shirts for my kiddos today off Zulily that said “Don’t Go Bacon My Heart…I Couldn’t If I Fried.” An item on your bucket list: My family immigrated to the U.S. several generations ago from Switzerland. I’d love to go back to the region in Switzerland that they came from. I think there are still some distant cousins there. It would be fun to meet them. Car you drive: a big ol’ Mom-style SUV; car you'd like to drive: I actually love my car, but when my Mom SUV days are over, I’d like to go back to a convertible so I can enjoy the Texas sunshine! Ally: Thanks so much for visiting with me. It was a pleasure to have you. I hope you'll visit again. Now, before you go, will you show us the book you brought?
Blurb:Sometimes you've got to take Cupid's bow and arrow into your own hands.
Amanda Marsh is in love with love. As a high school English teacher, she is surrounded by poetry and classic literature, including the love stories written by her favorite author, Shakespeare. She knows she’ll never find anything as romantic as the stories that have stood the test of time, so she’s settled on having a crush on chemistry teacher Luke Baker from a far.
Luke Baker left his career as a research chemist behind to share a love of science with students. And he’s about to make his pet project a reality as the curriculum lead for the district’s new specialized science and technology academy. When a poem shows up on his desk drawing him into The Cupid Caper, the Valentine’s Day-themed dance and fundraiser for Skyview High School’s Student Council, Luke dismisses the whole thing as a silly game. But when he realizes that winning the grand prize in The Cupid Caper is the one way he can help a star student attend the new STEM Academy, he decides to play along.
Paired together, the English teacher and the chemistry teacher both realize The Cupid Caper is more than a game, but neither can tell the other their feelings are no joke. When an education in happily ever after is on the line, will a man whose life has been ruled by the scientific method and a woman who quotes sonnets miss the mark, or will Cupid’s arrow finally ring true?
The Holiday Hearts Series: Heartwarming Stories of Finding Love on the Most Special Days of the Year:
The Cupid Caper: http://amzn.to/1ebnWnC
New Year's Eve: http://amzn.to/1jO4sNN
Saving Gracie: http://amzn.to/NeIHsO
Thanks for spending time with us today. Please check back soon!
March 15, 2014
These Boots Were Made For Walking
Ari Goes Shopping With Her BFFsAri may be a tough cop, but when you've had a bad day, there's nothing like a little shopping therapy.
So Claris, Lilith, and Ari went shopping for new boots (and I tagged along). You can't imagine the dozens of open boxes and discards they left behind, but at the end of the day each of them had a new pair of boots. Out of the photos* below can you identify the boots that each woman chose?
(For those of you who haven't yet read the Guardian Witch series, these characters are all in their mid to late twenties. Ari is a witch cop, Claris is a human who runs an herbal shop, and Lilith is a werelion security guard.)
They tried on tall boots...
#1 
#2 
#3 and short boots...
#4 
#5 
#6 even some practical choices...
#7 
#8 
#9 designer books...
#10 
#11 
#12 unique boots of all kinds...
#13 
#14 
#15 When the last purchase was made, we were exhausted (and my feet hurt just looking at the height of some of those heels), but they were happy with their choices. Think you know who bought what? Try to guess first, then you can check your answers HERE.
Thanks for shopping with us!
(*Footwear images from www.1234f.com)
March 12, 2014
Coffee Chat with Women's Fiction Author Ute Carbone
Hi! It's time for another author chat.Grab your favorite beverage and draw up a chair...
Ute Carbone, women's fiction writer, is visiting with her book, Dancing in the White Room. How do you take your coffee, Ute?
UTE: Hot, with just a bit of milk or cream. If there's a piece chocolate to go with it, all the better.
Ally: I think we can handle that. While we're getting settled, maybe readers would like to see your bio.
BIO:Ute (who pronounces her name Oooh-tah) Carbone is an award winning author of women’s fiction, comedy, and romance. She and her husband live in New Hampshire, where she spends her days walking, eating chocolate, and dreaming up stories.
Books and Stories by Ute Carbone:
Blueberry Truth
The P-Town Queen
Afterglow
Searching for Superman
Sweet Lenora
The Lilac Hour
To The Wind
Dancing in the White Room
For more about Ute and her books, please visit:
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Author page Pinterest Love Stories (daily newsletter)
Ally: I ask all of our authors to tell us something about themselves that isn't in their bio.
UTE: Apropos of the book I brought today, I learned to ski when I was a little girl.
Ally: Now for a little book talk. What type of books do you write and how did you choose that genre(s)?
UTE: I write in three different genres, which sounds like a lot, but they’re all related—all of them have strong women characters who undergo some sort of change because of the story.
The comedies are fun, I like to laugh and I hope my readers will find them amusing and entertaining. I have three of them currently available; The P-Town Queen, Afterglow, and Searching for Superman, with a fourth title, Confessions of the Sausage Queen, due out this July.
The women’s fiction, also called ‘book club fiction’ allows me to write what I care about most in the world, that is, how we relate to one another and those we love. My newest release, Dancing in the White Room, fits this category, as does my debut novel, Blueberry Truth. I also have a short story trilogy, The Lilac Hour, that’s about love and relationship.
And, lately, I’ve delved into historical fiction, something I’ve always enjoyed reading. The Anton and Lenora series of novellas is a mix of history, romance and adventure. The first two stories, Sweet Lenora and To the Wind, are currently available. A third part of the series, All Things Returned, comes out in April. I’m currently writing part four.
Ally: Was there another author or writing teacher who inspired you to write or influenced your choice of genre?
UTE: There were more influences in my life than I can count on a single hand. I read a lot, and have learned a lot from the writers I love. Kate Gleason, a wonderful poet who teaches writing workshops in my area was a big part of my discovering myself as a writer, first as a poet and then as a storyteller and novelist. I also have a wonderful ‘support team’ of real life writers who have been there along the journey.
Ally: Describe the main character in Dancing in the White Room. What do you like best about her? What is her greatest flaw?
UTE: Mallory Prescott is a professional ski patrol woman, though she is first a mom to her daughter Emily and a partner to the man she lives with, PD Bell. I love Mallory’s strength. She’s physically strong, as a skier she’s athletic, but she’s also mentally strong, and she cares very deeply about those she loves. She’s a woman who lives in a world that’s male dominated, and so she’s learned to be a tough girl. This is also her greatest flaw, because she has trouble opening herself up to others and she’s a bit commitment-phobic.
Ally: Tell us about your writing process. When, where, how long it takes?
UTE: Writing a novel is a back and forth process and, since I usually have about four projects going, it’s hard to say exactly how long it takes to finish a book. I don’t work on them all at once, but I might work on one for a while then switch over to another. First drafts can take me anywhere from a few months to a year or two, depending on what else I have going on. I write, or try to, everyday. I write my first drafts longhand, usually later at night. During the day, I set aside time to rewrite into the computer. I do a lot of re-drafting and a lot of deleting until I get the thing right.
I’m a pantser, I start by just writing. Though, that said, I do have a general idea of the shape of a story and a general idea of how things will progress and turn out. I often think my long hand first drafts work like big, messy outlines.
Ally: Let's finish up with a few quick answer questions:
Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes, though I do think love can grow and deepen with time. Manicure or pedicure: Manicure. I have the world’s ugliest feet. No kidding. Number and type of pets: I don’t currently have any pets. An item on your bucket list: To visit the great cities of Europe. Favorite accessory item: I love earrings. The danglier, the better!Ally: Thanks so much, Ute, for having coffee with me. Before you leave, let's take a look at your latest book...
Dancing in the White Room
Dancing in the white room is slang for skiing or boarding in deep powder snow. The dancer is PD Bell, one of the best extreme skiers on the planet. Mallory Prescott, the woman who lives with him and loves him, is used to Bell’s exploits. A patrol woman at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, New York, Mallory is no stranger to risk. But this time Bell is taking on the West Rib of Denali, highest and most dangerous mountain in North America. It’s a descent that has never been done, though it’s been tried. Five years ago, Bell had tried it. The attempt nearly killed him. Five years ago, he promised Mallory he wouldn’t try it again.
Over the six weeks in which he’s gone, Mallory begins to question her relationship with Bell. Does he really love her? Is he in it for the duration? What has loving him cost her? Mallory’s life choices are thrown into stark relief when her daughter Emily takes a terrible fall. Together with her life-long friend Creech Creches, she must work her way through a maze of uncharted territory at a hospital miles from home.
Dancing in the White Room is the story of the love we keep, the price we pay for that love, and the forgiveness it takes to hold on to what is precious.
Buy links:
Turquoise Morning Press
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
More about the book
Ute Carbone Website
Goodreads
You Tube
Thanks to everyone for joining us today. Please come back soon!
March 9, 2014
How Are Character Names Chosen?
Naming Characters: An Inexact ScienceI wish I could tell you I have this wonderful process by which I come up with just the right name for each character, but the truth is I don't.
Last names of my main characters are often decided on ethnicity and how the name sounds—strong, determined, etc. I own the Dictionary of Surnames by Basil Cottle, but I also use sites like Ancestry.com and this surname site:
First names are the hardest, because I believe this is how readers identify with my characters. I try to adhere to certain rules—don't use names that sound alike, don't make them too hard to pronounce, don't start two character names with the same letter—but obviously I trashed that third mandate when I named Ari and Andreas as my main characters. It wasn't deliberate. I knew Andreas's name from day one, but Arianna's name eluded me until I was working on the second manuscript. Until that time she'd been Samantha Calin, but the first name never seemed to fit. I wanted one that conveyed both her heritage and her personality.
Of course, I own a wonderful resource for first names, 100,000 Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, but when I decided the Samantha name had to go, I was vacationing in Florida and the book was at home on my bookshelf. So I did a lot of internet searches, and it's not as easy as you'd think. Most of the baby sites require a registration, which is time-consuming and floods your inbox with unwanted emails, or they're incomplete—one gives you names, another gives you meanings. (If you're stuck like I was, you might try this user-friendly site:
In the end, I can't tell you where the name Arianna came from. It just popped into my head, and I knew it was right. Very scientific.
So what about the secondary characters? Their names often occur to me on the fly and without any research, often matching the character's role or personality. I think about what letters of the alphabet I haven't used for first names and run through possibilities in my head until something clicks. If I change my mind later, it's easy enough to use Find and Replace.
I have one character named after a former colleague because she asked to be in one of my books. I won 't be doing that again. The character always felt like she didn't belong in my paranormal world.
I just finished a new manuscript with elven characters. I wanted their names to be somewhat recognizable to readers yet with an Otherworld look and sound. After some experimenting, I took ordinary names and changed a letter or changed the order of letters with surprising and satisfactory results.
I guess that's what works for me--experiment, try out different names, see how they look and sound, and listen for the muse to perk up and say, "That's it!"
So, readers, do characters' names really make a difference to you?
I'd also love to hear how other writers do it. Do you have resources you swear by or tried and true methods?
Thanks for spending some time with me, and come back soon!
