Jessica Greyson's Blog, page 6

Author's Alphabet R

RRomance
Romance, it's a tricky subject.

Growing up in a conservative church and circles where most couples didn't kiss, and some didn't even hold hands until their wedding day. I've always loved the pure sweet romance. Though perhaps my characters are a little more romantically inclined and lovey-dovey than how I grew up, I've still tried to maintain that sweet romance and keep it simple and clean for my books and readers.

Here are some tips to help keep the romance, sweet, simple, and clean.

Remember that not all moments of love need to culminate into that all popular four letter word...k-i-s-s. Some gestures are quite as romantic, and far less intimate than a kiss.

A look
Never forget the power the eyes have.
They convey love, pain, sorrow, hate, tenderness, anger, puzzlement.
Instead of simply having your heroine get lost in the dreamy shade of your handsome heroes eyes.
What is the look he is giving her?
What are his eyes expressing that his words cannot?
What are his eyes telling her?
Is he in love?
Are his eyes only for her?
Is there a hint of anguish that they cannot speak...dance....be near?
Are they tender, protective, caring, gentle?
Is his glance wary? Why?

Hands
Hands are powerful communicators.
They can be flustered, reliable, gentle, firm, secure, safe, electrifying, warming, stiff, cold, and so much more.
A hero or heroine's hands, the grip, their knuckles, can convey so much.
They can offer warmth and security, in a time of danger they can be tight and fierce, in a stand off they can be firm and cold.
Hands can draw into an embrace, pull into safety, comfort in a time of frustration, fear or loss, they can push away, they can hold people at arm's length.
In a dance, they could squeeze softly to say I am happy I am dancing with you, they could bite fiercely that their partner is dancing all wrong, or the enemy or rival has entered the room, or they could be saying I hate you or I don't want to lose you.

Hugs
I am a huggy person. I love hugs.
And if you ask me hugs are far far far under rated in the literary world. There should be more hugs.
Hugs are also an excellent way to show tenderness and closeness without getting too mushy.
Side hugs.
Traditional hugs.
Back hugs.
ALL THE HUGS!


Kissing
Of course, I am going to talk about it.
There is something very romantic about kissing.
Sweet...if we have read fairy tales and watched Disney movies we know that KISSES are the cure to almost any heroines problems. This, however is NOT true in real life.
The very fact that I am talking about kissing in books is rather cracking me up, I used to count it as a bad thing, the hero kissed the girl...take off about 30 hero points! HE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT!!!!!!!! NO ONE SHOULD EVER EVER EVER KISS!!! EVER!!!!
I used to even close my eyes and wince.
I am not quite in that same boat now...
(Maybe it's because I am a bit more grown up...)

While none of my currently published books have kissing in them...at least on the lips before marriage, Ransom does kiss Annabeth on her cheek, Taleon does kiss Cassandra's hand on the last page, and Mitch kisses his wife on the last page of Sufficient Grace.
While I might let certain circumstances allow for kisses before marriage, I still want to maintain that kissing should be saved for those special relationships.

Actions
However, remember romance doesn't need to be kept in a physical box! No indeed!
There are such things as romantic gestures. (And they can be more powerful.)

Flowers, chocolates, letters are some of the most basic ones, but a girl can notice a boy beyond his traditional acts of love declaration, or his looks because come on girls, that is rather shallow.

She could be attracted by the way he watches out for others, treats his family, sister, grandmother, young children, animals....etc. Remember Emma rather fell in love with Mr. Knightly when he rescued Harriet...Harriet fell in love with him too but, it was an act of kindness that pushed at her heart's door.
The way he works or studies hard.
The way he is passionate about ...... pretty much anything.
Sharing the love of a scripture verse, or a line of poetry, or hymn. (It's more romantic than you think, I honestly want to start memorizing more so I can quote scripture with my future husband and I want to quote scripture back and forth...even though I am kind of bad at memorizing it.)

Author's Alphabet Q

QQuality
As a writer, and a reader these are so important!
You want to provide quality literature for your readers.

How can this be done?
Take the time to review and have your story reviewed by others, to help you work out some of the kinks and quirks ahead of time.

Editing, for me this is one of the hardest things to achieve well and cheaply. However there are sites that offer free editing help, one of my favorite is Grammarly! I loved it so much I've purchased the subscription and it's helped me improve my writing and correct my mistakes to be a stronger writer, diversify my vocabulary and see the pattern in my mistakes.

Set a budget.
Being an author is hard work, and while you can do it all yourself it can be very difficult to manage every aspect of writing and publishing. There are things that are better or easier if someone with professional experience can help you!
Define the things that you find most difficult and your greatest weaknesses, look for someone you trust, or recommendations by other authors who have found the help of professional, editors, publicists, platform builders, graphic designers, etc. to help establish you and your book in writing world.

Quality, always leads to a good reputation in the author world. Take the time, it will be worth it.

Write on!
Jessica

Author's Alphabet P

PPublishing.

(Beware this is a post by an incredibly happy and more than slightly biased indie author....)

As you write the last words to your book, as bitter-sweet as it is to say goodbye to our beloved characters, our thoughts also race towards something very special. The publishing journey, one of the pinnacles of writing a story, is opening up your world for the world to read it.

So how should you go about publishing? Traditional? Indie? Pay for a publisher?

There are so many options, it can be overwhelming.

Personally, I chose to do indie, simply because I like to have full control of my story from start to finish, the artwork for the cover, and the editing (that is something I am still working on, it is my greatest weakness when it comes to writing).

Here are a few ways to help you make your choice.

How much control do you want for you story?
I am probably a control freak when it comes to my "story babies", but honestly, no one is going to care and love for my stories like I do. A publisher is looking for a cash cow and if my book doesn't bring in the expected flow, it's just easy for them to sweep it out of their way and move onto the next story than to push mine forward.

Also a publishing house will ask for your opinion...but ultimately it is theirs that matters so even if you get a chance to put your oar in, it could still go in a completely different direction.


How soon do you want your book on the shelves of bookstores?
Indie publishing means you have your book out when you want it and on your terms. I like the ability to make my books fit around my life...instead of trying to make sure I am hitting deadlines of an publisher.

Finding a publisher can take...years.... (I am not that patient.)


A publisher can get my books more places...
Lie.
Nope!
I am an indie author and I had a book signing and Barnes and Noble!
Now, I did work there at the time but I could still order any of my friends Indie books online...just like I do through Amazon, and so many other online bookstores, if a publishing company is promising that they can get your book in stores...ask them how, and how many physical copies will be sent to bookstores, more than likely it is on an order only basis not sitting waiting for someone to just casually pick it up in store unless you are A BIG TIME HIT AUTHOR...there is a very slim chance you're going to actually FIND your book sitting on a shelf in Barnes & Noble.


Should I pay for a Publisher?
NO! If there is EVER a company offering you the publishing package of your dreams for the "tiny" price tag of 250-2,000$. Run! Run for your life! This is just another scheme for them to make money, waste your time and for 1,000 copies of your book to sit in your basement while you wait for fame to find you.  Though it has been successful for some people it is more often the exception than the rule.

Did that help answer some of your publishing questions?
Feel free to pepper me with more in the comments below!

Author's Alphabet O

OOpenings
Openings, for authors can be the make or break of a reader's interest in your story.

So how do we create interesting openings?

The main character should be introduced, and you can always have other side characters beside them to start fleshing out personalities and relationships.

If you are laying groundwork for your book as you build up to the crux of the book foreshadow or introduce hints of conflict of what is to come to entice the reader's interest forward.

Not much for backstory and ground work because thing should be more mysterious and working that in later? Then don't be afraid to throw your readers almost directly into the lion's den. Introduce your characters and the conflict immediately, tell them why this is important and what is at risk....and you will have readers on the edges of their seats!

What's your favorite opening to a novel? Is it sweet and slow or fast and edgy?

Write on!
Jessica Greyson

Dreams and Devotion by Sarah Holman

Some dreams will be dashed, and their devotion will be tested. Dara's life is full of farm work and worries, especially now that her older brother is a priest in a far off city. Yet she still has time to dream of the life she hopes will someday be. She dreams of marrying her dear friend and the worries of her family ending. Now, the selfishness of one person threatens her very way of life. Dresden's initial excitement about living a life devoted to the service of God quickly is dashed on the rocks of reality. The life of a priest is nothing like what he imagined. To make matters worse, he finds out his family back in his home village is on the brink of disaster. Torn between his vows and his love for his family, what will he choose?


Buy the book for the special preorder price, here.  a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sarah Holman is a not so typical mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings, and author of many published books and short stories. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Find her at www.thedestinyofone.com Stops on the blog tour:
July 8 Bookish Orchestrations ~ Faith Blum
July 9 His Princess Warrior ~ Katie Hamilton July 10 In the Book Case ~ Tarissa Graves Jessica Greyson ~ Jessica Greyson
July 11 Gods Peculiar Treasure Rae ~ Raechel Read Another Page ~Rebekah Morris
July 12 Whimsical Writings For His Glory ~ Jesseca Dawn Shannon McDermott ~ Shannon McDermott
July 13 The Page Dreamer ~ Deborah O'Carroll
July 14 Knitted by God’s Plans ~ Kendra E. Ardnek With a Joyful Noise ~ Amanda Tero Once Upon an Ordinary ~ Kate Willis
July 15 Jaye L. Knight ~ Jaye L. Knight

Author's Alphabet N

NNegativity
As authors, we sometimes face negativity and it can be hard to deal with it?

So how can we take these negative thoughts, attitudes, and reviews and use them as positive energy?
When I first started saying I wanted to be an author, I received many negative reactions.
"Why would you want to be an author?"
"That is so much work!"
"I know an author, don't do it they never amounted to anything."
"Don't become an author, there are so many better things you could be doing with your life."

With these negative things, I really struggled to move forward, but I did. Often many of us are burdened and called to tell our stories, it's not a miracle that just happens over night. Remember why you are writing and the ONE who has called you to be a pen for His Kingdom, don't put it down, write on.

Negative readers, reviewers, etc.
Once in a while, we will get feedback from family, friends, readers, and reviewers that can really really hurt.
While it might be instinct to lash out and protect what is dear to us in this manuscript and they innocently do not know how many hours of labor and love we poured into that scene/character that they are at this moment despising/pulling apart.
1. Really listen to them, they just might have something helpful to offer....even if you find it painful to accept.
2. Realize that in the world there are many different points of view and you might be looking at the same thing from two very different directions. You both might be talking about an elephant but one of you is standing in front and the other behind, trunks, and tails look very different.
3. Accept that they just might not get it. And that is okay.
4. You wrote this book with a purpose, not everyone is going to understand it...and that is okay, you didn't write this book for everyone in the ENTIRE WORLD TO READ IT....you wrote it for those whose hearts would be blessed, and they might be few and far between.
5. Learn to laugh it off. Not everyone gets it. Instead of taking it to heart. Let it go and laugh. It makes you a stronger person.


Write on!
Jessica Greyson

Author's Alphabet M

M Motivation
Motivation can be hard to come by, either for yourself or for your characters, so how do you find it?

How do you motivate yourself in your writing? Sometimes we've come to the "boring" part of the story. The part where we lay down the foundation for what is necessary for the next part to happen. This can be tedious.
a. Remember this is not boring, it is essential for building tension and drawing your readers further along
b. Hide "Easter eggs," drop hints, and foreshadow little nuggets to get your readers excited about what is coming next, and to get the re-reader to appreciate your labors.

Reward yourself.
Give yourself extrinsic motivation by letting yourself get to do, eat, etc. after you write X amount of words, pages, or chapters. These little things can be excellent motivation, a cup of tea, a piece of chocolate, or an episode of your favorite show can push you forward to greater things.

Music,
Compose a playlist or theme songs for your book to listen to while you write, or while you do housework to help your story mull itself over in your head adding dimensions and developing characters and inspiring your book with fresh ideas.

Pictures.
These are great to create lovely visuals to help you imagine your story...but make sure you keep yourself on track because it's easy to Pinterest yourself into another world and let your writing time slip away completely.

Motivating your Characters
Motivations for them can easily be found in their background or in their current circumstances. These are the underlying reasons a character is moving forward in the story, it is the core of who they are and what they want to be. Sometimes it is important to raise the stakes to make it more important and to drive the character forward. If it doesn't seem motivating enough, take a step back and reevaluate what your character wants and go from there.

A real motivation should evolve over time, developing different aspects pulling your reader more deeply in and adding dimension to your character. Make sure you have a continuous flow of the core with various checkpoints that deepen the character and heighten the stakes.

What are some ways you motivate yourself and your characters?

Author's Alphabet L

L
Love
Of course, we are going to talk about love.

I've  been single my whole life...but it still doesn't mean I haven't loved.

I think very often as authors when we think of love we automatically translate that to the romantic kind of love between a man and a woman, and while that is certainly an anchor and carry a story, I mean we have an entire genre dedicated to it...there are so many other types of love that can be explored.

Love of God
History is filled with all kinds of beautiful examples of people who chose to put God above everything in their lives, ranging from the martyrs who died to nuns and monks who lived to honor God with their lives.

Love of Country
This one is a powerful one that has driven young men to war for centuries. The women's role is traditionally different when it comes to this, I am all for hearth fires, but you know there have to be some movers and shakers out there too...and the only women we know that went to war were the ones who were discovered.

Parental Love
One of the most powerful forces known is the love of a parent for their child, they will go to the ends of the earth for them...and pay whatever price is necessary to keep the safe and cared for.

Brotherly Love
Brotherly love is far too discounted, it seems like most authors this day are more interested in the power of tension in a love triangle; however, true brotherly love goes beyond just family ties and is frequently found in army stories. I'd love to see it become more frequent, stories of David and Jonathan, Joshua and Caleb, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are a few compelling examples of how brotherly love can shape history and the power it carries.

Sisterly Love
I'll say Jane Austen was a master of this. The Bennet sisters, Elenor and Marianne, Persuasion, are beautiful stories full of sisterly love...or the lack thereof. But the love of a sister carries a lot of weight. I didn't have an older sister, but I had a few mentor sisters, and they both carried a lot of weight in my life. As an older sister

Sibling Love
Your best friend, your worst enemy, the one who know all of your inside jokes, watches everything from period drama to action movies with you. The one you talk and gossip about books and the people you know, who can finish your sentences. The one you share some of your deepest stories and roots with

Friendship Love
This is one of the loveliest things in life. Sweet, unexpected...sometimes we grow out of them...sometimes we grow together. Friends come and go...and some just stay delightfully forever. But there are all kinds of twists and turns, and you just might never know where it's going next.

 What kind of relationships do you like to see in stories?

What I Liked About Wonder Woman

Thi last weekend I went to the movie theater, something I really only do when out of the country, and I chose to see Wonder Woman.
I fell in love very swiftly, and other than a few scenes that I would have skipped at home or if shown to a younger audience....I instantly fell in love with this woman. 

She was strong.
She was feminine
She was relatable
She was innocent.
She loved....
She experienced loss and overcame it.

The origin story was fascinating, and all kinds of similarities to other things can easily be drawn...even the villain was a master deceiver.

The action was beautiful without being too gory or detailed...the villains were perfectly bad and evil...but they didn't give me the willies.


An aspect I really loved about this story was while the romance was an aspect and Chris Pine NAILED his role as the romantic interest..it was merely a catalyst to the story line and not the main point...which was Wonder Woman. It was a sweet, simple love that held so much promise for their future. They were perfectly matched.

Wonder Woman was everything a woman should be.
Tender, compassionate, gentle, caring, strong, war-like, feminine, genuine, truth seeking, leader and yet companion. She was the embodiment of what a woman can and should be...I mean other than the supernatural powers....which none of us have. However, I would say it's easy to hold her up as a role model, I'd like to watch it a few more times just to get more out of it. I'll be honest I am a bit in wonderment of it to find too many of its flaws.

But...I think the thing I took away from it...was it's worth it to love....even in the pain.
It's worth it to love...

Three Sleeping Beauties and their stories

All three books release on August 7thStay tuned on Kendra’s Blog, knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com, for details.

Poison Kiss

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34854999-poison-kissKindle preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072SF4RRM
About the BookEveryone knows that Sleeping Beauty's curse is triggered when she pricks her finger on a spindle and that she is awakened by true love's kiss ... but what happens when the wicked fairy decides to switch things up?
Edmund didn't mean to put Auralea to sleep, but now it's up to him and the famous Puss in Boots to figure out how, exactly, a spinning wheel is supposed to awaken her.
About the AuthorKendra E. Ardnek is a homeschool graduate who picked up a pen at an early age and never put it down. The eldest of four, she makes her home in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her parents, younger siblings, giant herd of giraffes, and honor guard of nutcrackers. 
You can connect with Kendra on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
 Twisted Dreams
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34597569-twisted-dreamsKindle preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721T37DF/
About the Book“I, Calandra, of the Wingans, do bestow upon you, the Princess of Hanover, a gift. You have been given long life. I cannot interfere with that, but when you are sixteen years of age, you will prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into an everlasting sleep.” She stepped closer so that she could be heard only by Liesel and her parents. “Then you will at last see the truth. Be wary. Be wise. Your fate rests upon yourself.”
On her sixteenth birthday, Princess Liesel Rosanna falls victim to a sleeping curse—but wakens in another world, a prisoner of war. As the bait in a trap for her fiancé, the crown prince of Hanover, Liesel longs to escape back to the fairy tale world. The world where she is only wanting a true love’s kiss to set everything to rights.
As situations quickly grow dire, Liesel must choose which story to live, which life is real. The fate of her country rests on her decision.

About the AuthorMorgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. Her other interests include reading, playing and teaching piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.
You can connect with Morgan on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Rosetta Thornbriar Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35391254-rosette-thornbriarKindle preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072SF4GXZ
About the BookOnce upon a time, way out west...Back when they were young'uns, Fleur Guardstone proposed to Rosette Thornbriar with a cigar band ring. However, not long after, she disappeared back into the forest and hadn't been heard from since. However, when Fleur hears reports of smoke coming from that woods, he's determined to find out if it is, indeed, his dear Rosette. If he can get past all of the briars.
About the AuthorRachel Roden is a natural story teller, capable of weaving the most hilarious of fairy tales. She fell in love with the Lone Ranger in her teens, but ended up with a basketball referee instead. Together, she and the Ref homeschool their four children in the Piney Woods of East Texas, as well as any other odd kid who ends up in their house. She might also be the sole human who still uses math after college.
You can connect with Rachel on her blog, twitter, and Pinterest.