Allison Knight's Blog, page 28

Looking at a Story honestly

I'm in the middle of my next WIP. But I had to stop writing.
I knew something was wrong, so I ran through the whole first
six chapters and discovered there was way too much in Chapter
three. I was rambling. The story wasn't going anywhere.
I brought in a character that served no purpose what so ever.
Bad, Bad, Bad!

Every character has to have a role, even if they only show up
in one scene. My character did nothing for the story, adding
nothing and took the tale no place. The character had to go!

As I read I realized that whole chapter needed a trimming,
big time. There was too much of nothing. Which leads me to
my point. If you write, even the simplist letter, ask yourself
what is the point, what am I trying to say. Describing a situation,
then stick to the situation. Writing about conflict, then take
out those unnecessary things. Stay with the subject.

Okay, it's not easy, but then what in life really is easy?
If you have an answer, let me know. Basically, I think we are
all just a wee bit lazy and looking for the easy way. I'll
admit I do, but after reflection, I deligently reread my chapters
and I'm now a happy camper. Back to "Windsong" without the extras.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Waiting for "Roses For My Lady"
coming the 7th of February
from Champagne Books.

Meet A Science Fiction Author

WHY SCI-FI?

Who doesn't want to be transported into another world, another universe…

Okay, but that's not strictly why I like to write science fiction since the same could be said for any book you read. You run the risk of falling head first into the world created by the writer, whether it's a mushy romance, a grisly detective tale, or a way-out-there fantasy with the ever-popular vampires and witches. Every single book you read takes you someplace else other than where you are. And yes, even the dull boring ones, cause you imagine being someplace else rather than having to read the book.

But why did I choose science fiction? Not quite sure, but I do love the genre. Maybe because I have a fascination with wanting to know what the future would be like. It didn't help that the TV shows and movies that had me riveted were the likes of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, and well, you get the idea. Maybe I'm an inherent geek. Scratch that, I am a closet geek who surrounds herself with all sorts of techie stuff. That being said, science fiction doesn't necessarily have to be set in the future, or on a different planet, universe, dimension…it could be happening in the here and now. Throw in some choice tech words and cool gadgets, and there you go. These days, there's all sorts of sub-genres in sci-fi, from hard core sci-fi to space opera to science fiction romance.

When I set out to write my book, The Lancaster Rule, I knew I wanted to write a story so engaging with adventure and excitement and unforgettable characters that live in a world that was believable enough to be real. And I knew I didn't want it be in the present time, if I wanted to go wild with making up stuff. That was the fun part…just making things up and telling extremely tall tales. After all, it's the future, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't been invented yet, anything can happen!

When I put together the skeleton of the Lancaster story, I knew I'd created something that needed a little more playtime with, more explanation, more details. I knew that if I wrote a trilogy, I could somehow fully capture the story in its entirety. Hence the sequel, The Master Key was born, and then the final story, The Eternal Knot. And with each book, I could introduce another small element of the future as, well, I see it. Drop a little bit here, tuck it in there so it looks like part of everyday life.

After completing the trilogy, I had more ideas bubbling around in the back burner. I sketched out a rough outline and decided to try a more 'contemporary' novel. You know, one based in the present time with a little murder, some mystery, and a little romance (gotta have the love, right?) It wasn't working. But I did try, then hit the delete button and started from scratch, this time flinging it back into the future that I'd already created. After all, the world there had already been built and I knew it so well.

Perhaps I can attempt a non-sci-fi book in the future. Perhaps… But for now, I'll stick to the world I created, in the future as I see it, filled with all sorts of interesting and exciting characters as they go through life.

For more information on me, visit
My blog/website: The Lancaster Rule

Or become a fan of my: Facebook pages

Or

Follow me on Twitter: TKToppin

Meet T.K. Toppin!

I mentioned I would be introducing you to T.K. Toppin, a new Science Fiction author who write with a touch of Romance. Here she is:

DRUM ROLL....

A Nominee for Champagne Books coveted "Novel of the Year" award.

Be sure to visit tomorrow when she blogs about why she decided to write Science Fiction

T.K. Toppin

I was born, raised, and live in Barbados and I can't quite picture living anywhere else in this world.

My growing up years were all about loathing going to school, running wild on the beach, listening to far-fetched stories my brother created out of his imagination, watching TV, reading, and day-dreaming. You could say I was born to be a creative person, since I never quite ended up doing what I'd studied to be, which was management-level courses for the hospitality industry. I ended up being a graphic artist.

For twenty odd years, my life was all about creating ads, designing logos, and doing the odd calligraphy work. To think I used to love it that I lived and breathed it. I had such determined energy and hunger for the field I'd chosen to dedicate the rest of my life to. Can't say the same thing now, since I groan to work each morning, bitching and griping about this that and the other. It's a good thing I no longer have to drive to work. Can you imagine! Working for yourself has some perks, after all. But, to be honest, I'd rather be reclining and reproducing onto paper the unforgettable worlds I create in my head.

Maybe I'd always meant to write, after all, I used to write and scribble random thoughts and half-hearted stories throughout my childhood and adult life. (We won't mention my fascination with pens, paper, and paints, etc). When I finally decided to just shut up and write, and write something good, I was truly amazed at how quickly the words just fell out of me. What I thought was impossible, became possible. And I haven't been able to stop writing since then.

I've completed my first book, The Lancaster Rule, the first in a trilogy. Its sequel The Master Key is due out in July 2011, and the final book, The Eternal Knot is this close to being submitted. I'm also writing two other books, got another in the back of my mind, and well, who knows what else I can cook up. To top it off, this month, my publisher Champagne Books nominated my book for Novel of the Year 2010. I feel truly lucky.For more information on me, visit
My blog/website: The Lancaster Rule

Or become a fan of my: Facebook pages

Or

Follow me on Twitter: TKToppin

TAX TIME

As a small business owner, and yes, I work at my
writing full time and own my business, I don't really
like January much. It means 'tax time'.

I'm really very lucky, though. My father worked years
for the Internal Revenue (Known today by some as the
infernal revenue). I also worked for a tax preparation
company and did taxes myself for a time.

I learned from my father two very important points.
I'll pass them along with the hope that it might help
someone.

First, records are essential. I keep copious records. I
have sheets detailing every cent I spend on my business,
but I also have every receipt to back up those expenditures.
I have things catalogued, receipts numbered and saved and the
lists of all those receipts backed up on my computer - in
two places. You only have to have a serious crash once to
learn to back thing up more than once. So records are the key.

And second, be honest. If you spend something for personal
use, you can't, honesty, claim it for business. As much as
I hate to say it, what is taxable, has to be taxed. I don't
like to pay taxes, but it's part of living where I do. So,
I will figure what I have to pay, pay that and but not a
cent more.

So my writing has been paused while a gather records and
prepare to figure out what I legally owe our government. That
will require another couple of days when I get forms from a
number of companies. Then I can once again get back
to my first love (well, my DH is my first love so my second
love) writing. In the meantime, I'm delighted to take time
out of tax preparation, and promote my new book.

Visit Champagne Books to find out more.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"

Two interesting bits

Soon I'll be posting a blog from an author friend.
We've agreed to share blogs, so you don't have to
listen to (read) me all the time. So, that's the first
bit. I'll post her blog's URL on the 18th, when I will
visit her. When she's ready to post here, she'll post
my blog address on her blog. So I think you will find
her work fascinating. Be sure to check back often to
see when she'll post.

The second bit is almost important. I'm a great believer
in the digital market. All but one of my children and my
husband reads books on the Kindle. I have a Sony, and one
of my granddaughters has a Nook. This week, I take each
day to lead you through my adventures into digital
publishing on Novel Spot.

You'll need to register to make a comment but you can
read about my experiences by going to:

Novel Spot - Behind the Scenes

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
watch for Roses For My Lady available
from Champagne Books in February

Christmas mess

Whew! Finally, I can take a deep breath.
I usually make cookies and candy about
two weeks before Christmas. We make up
plates of goodies for friends and delivery
them a day or two before Christmas.

However, this year as I made cookies,
I discovered that after the first sheet
or two of each kind, the next sheets
appeared to have been baked too fast.
By the time I had four different kinds
baked, with the same result, I decided
something was wrong. I used my oven
thermometer to check the temperature.

Okay, so I'm a little slow.

Oh, Yikes! Once I turned on the oven it just kept
heating. So the batches of cookies not quite right
were baked at 450 or more degrees, when they should
have been baked at 375. On top of that, the family
was coming for Christmas and I had a big ham in the
refrig to bake. Fixing the oven the week before
Christmas was not going to happen. (The parts would
take from six to eight weeks to arrive, if they
could figure out what was wrong.)
What do you do?

You go buy a stove, that's what you do.

Right after Christmas, the galley for
"Roses For My Lady" arrived. Between football
games I worked on the galley. The cover is here and
the book will be available in digital format on the
7th of February. I think my covers get better and better!

What do you think?

Happy Reading!

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Roses For My Lady"
Available in February from Champagne Books

The Joys and Tribulations of Research

Have you ever wondered what kind of trees grew in England
in the 13th century? Well, I have.

Have you ever wondered what Christ Church college looked like
in the 16th century? Well, I did.

What about chickens, or cows, or pigs? Did they raise them
in England in the 18th century?

And more important, where on earth do you find the answers?

I used to spend hours in a local library, or have the librarian
at the school where I taught hunting for old books with a page or
two of necessary information. I often went to the library
downtown, where you could copy a page or two on the copy machine
for a dime a page, with a hand full of coins. Hours and hours
were spent hunting for one or two facts needed to confirm
what I suspected.

Thanks be to Technology. Today, I type in a question, or key words
on my computer and wait for the selected search site to find the
answer. I don't always get the answer I want and I need to search
some more, but the need for a pocket full of dimes no longer exists.
I don't have to use a copy machine because I can print the page or
two right from my desk. And the time difference is unbelievable.

Today, I thank the stars there are so many sources available with
the information I need. I also don't use just one source for facts.
If I can't verify the information with several sites, I won't use it.

Example - I needed the answer to the question of what trees grew in a
certain region of England during the time of Edward the first. I
found four sites that discussed the forests of England from the
11th century on. I wanted to know if pine trees grew in my area.
Nope! Beech, poplar, walnut, even maple (which surprised me) but
no evergreens.

If you have a need to do extensive research, be grateful you don't
have to spend the hours I did, searching for tidbit of info.
After all, in my books, the way it was during the time my hero
and heroine lived needs to be correct or as close to the time
period as I can find.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch

The approaching holidays

Okay, Thanksgiving is around the corner for those of us in the US,
and Canada has already celebrated their day of Thanks! This is a
great time to reflect on what we have. There are lots of the
additions to our household that were never dreamed of years ago.

People give little thought to the grocery store today, but I
remember Mom calling in an order and the food was brought to
the house. You also ran up a bill at the grocers settling the
account on payday. Today, you can buy milk from the grocer.
We used to get ours from the farm and later it was delivered
in glass bottles with lots of cream on the top. Packaged frozen
foods did not exist, and you got butter and eggs from the local
farmer. Margarine looked like lard, white. There was a small
bubble of yellow dye in the middle which you broke and mixed
with the white stuff.

Of course, radio was your entertainment, or card games and family
sing-alongs. A trip to the library meant you had a book to read.
You didn't have many books because they were expensive. So, no
TV, no computers, no internet, and no internet or computer games.
Your telephone was usually a party line and the operator would
ask you what number you wanted when you picked up the phone. If
you lived in a small town, you ask the operator to connect you to
so-and-so. And you didn't use the phone during a storm. Lightning
traveled over the wires and into the house.

Thanksgiving meant you bought a live turket from a farmer, or if
you had a farm you raised them yourselves. Before Thanksgiving,
you killed it and dressed it. Cranberry sauce meant fruits, nuts
and whole cranberries chopped up and let me tell you, those
suckers are hard to chop.

The family gathered together for Thanksgiving, but that was no problem
because everyone lived only a few miles apart. Of course, not everyone
had a car, so the family would see everyone made it to the table by a
pickup and deliver system. But that worked because gasoline was only
15 - 25 cents a gallon and you didn't have to drive a distance to
collect the family members.

No microwave to cook the food, so every burner on the stove was either
on or lit, depending if you had electricity or gas. You hoped the cream
you whipped for the pies didn't turn to butter because cool whip wasn't
invented yet and of course the minced meat pie did contain meat.

I'm so glad I live today, but I clearly remember what it was like. Yep,
I'm delighted with the additions to our household we have today.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"

Holiday time

The holidays are closing in fast. I'm not doing much this
year, for I have a lot of catching up to do. My "Windsong"
the next medieval is beginning, paper work needs to be
cleared up before the end of the year and we have a lot of
family coming for the Christmas holidays, so I will have
to bake cookies and make candy.

Or the next couple of weeks, I'll post some of my favorite
Christmas cookie/candy recipes on line. In the mean time
I'm busy blogging about writing for other sites.
Tomorrow I'll be talking about researching foods for
my medieval romances at Long and Short Reviews.

My web page needs updating and there are several loops I
intend to join the first of the year. Wow, a lot to do.
Then there's facebook, and I still haven't had time to
figure out how to use twitter. I'll get there, just not
this week. Sigh!

I'm going to have to follow my own advice and set up a
'written schedule' or I'm going to get so far behind,
I catch up with me going.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"

It's finally over

A month between posts, but as usual - I do have an excuse.
DH (see Sept. post) is recovery nicely. He can walk now, so
I consider the knee replacement a success.

I only wish I could say the same about my London fire and
plague book. I love the characters, I love the time period, but
the story just doesn't work. It's not a nice feeling to write
a hundred thousand words, force yourself to finish and know
that what you written is no good.

So what do you do? I tried to resurrect the book. I rewrote
and attempted to add more detail. Adding detail didn't work.
The story is just not there. The heroine and the hero don't
like each other and there was nothing I could do to make
them change their minds.

Okay, so that sounds a bit weird, and it probably is, but unless
you write, you can't understand how a book character can
almost become real for the author. You know you are a
writer when a character in your book does something that
surprises you. I've had it happen time and again. It's how
I know I'm a fiction writer. It a strange experience, but
something that goes along with imagination, I suspect.

I'm now well into the next 'song' book. Battlesong was
released in August. If you want more information about this
series, first HEARTSONG, next BATTLESONG, and now
WINDSONG, visit my web page to read an excerpt.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
"Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch"