Xio Axelrod's Blog, page 18

Great Beginnings – Romance Writer’s Weekly

Welcome to another installment of Romance Writer’s Weekly. If you just hopped here from Victoria Barbour‘s page, welcome! Have you checked out her latest, Geek Groom? If not, get on it.

This week, Sarah Hegger is interested in great beginnings. Aren’t we all? “A great opening line draws the reader in, makes them want to know more and compels them to read further. Share a great opening line, can be a classic or a more recent novel, tell us why you like it and then share the opening line to your newest WIP.”

Sure thing, Sarah!

I racked my brain trying to think of favourite opening lines and I couldn’t recall any. Not one. Strange, right? There have to be openings that sucked me into a story. I must have written at least one, right? Maybe?

Sarah threw me for a loop with this one, because I know that openings are important for a story. If you can grab someone with a snappy beginning, chances are they’ll stick around. I’d been grabbed myself. Often.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” and all that.

So what do I consider a great opening line? I had to go look through my collection of favourites. I found that, sometimes, an opening could be so good that I’m afraid to read further. Such is the case with Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” 

I mean, wow. Right? This one has been on my TBR list for a long, long time because of that line. I really want to bump it up to the top but I know it will be a book that takes a chunk out of me. Here’s an opening from something I’ve actually read, lol.

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Why do I love this opening? It clearly establishes Holden’s voice and guides my expectations. It’s a loooooong sentence, but that’s what I like about it. It’s very natural and conversational, if not a little confrontational. Anyway, we all read this book in middle school so let’s see if I can find an example from this century.

“Clare: It’s hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he’s okay. It’s hard to be the one who stays.” The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

It’s not the opening line that grabbed me, but the third. It’s hard to be the one who stays. Stays where? What does she mean? There’s so much love, pain and longing in those few words. I sailed through that book in less than two days because of that line. I needed to know Clare and Henry’s story!

As for romance, I’ve come across a few beginnings that have floored me and made me want to capture that feeling in my own writing, like Playing the Part by Robin Covington.

“Dammit. She was late. Piper James mentally bitch-slapped her inner whiner, who persisted in spouting out monologues of melodrama. She needed to haul up her Teflon-coated big girl panties and focus on executing the here and now.”

Again with the voice. The voice! After that opening, Piper was in my head. I happily followed her to the end of her journey because I immediately felt like I knew her. Hell, I had been her.

Okay, one more. This one is from a book I finished reading just last week, Unexpected Eden by Rhenna Morgan.

“Slow breaths in, slow breaths out. All Lexi had to do was focus on the thump of Rihanna’s latest hit, keep the drinks flowing, and stick to her half of the bar. The mother lode of testosterone on Jerry’s side couldn’t sit there all night. Could he?”

That paragraph has everything: Lexi’s voice, the chaos of the club she works in, and the edginess she feels from the presence of someone sitting at the bar. Someone she is drawn to, despite her misgivings. I don’t want to spoil the plot, so just Read. This. Book.

This may or may not be the cover.

What about your opening lines, Xio?

So nice of you to ask! This is from a work-in-progress called Diamonds and Pearls:

“As far as strip clubs went, this one wasn’t a complete armpit. At least the woman currently gyrating on the poorly lit stage had shaved hers. Sometimes, it’s the little things.”

Yay? Nay? You tell me.

And finally, this is the opening of my first release, The Calum:

“Lovie Grant wished like hell that she had paid the five dollars for the airline headphones. But that balloon had popped, and now she was stuck listening – again – to Joana’s latest “brilliant” plan. She hunched her shoulders and buried her face in the in-flight magazine. Anything to avoid one more word about their freaking trip.”

Do either of those beginnings make my books un-put-down-able? I sure hope so. What are you favourite opening lines? Let’s hop over to Sarah Hegger‘s blog and see what grabbed her attention. By the way, I can’t wait until her new novel Nobody’s Angel comes out. I know everyone will love it as much as I do. She hooks you from the beginning.

See you next week!

FoX Friday with Jeanne McDonald!

Welcome to another FoX Friday, folks! This week’s special guest is author Jeanne McDonald. Her new release Indulgence promises to heat up even the coldest, winter nights. Here’s a bit about the book:

A year has passed since Addison George was left at the altar after her husband-to-be announced he was gay. Still friends despite what happened, she secretly harbors hope that all of this was a phase and he will come crawling back to her. That dream is shattered when he announces that he’s engaged to the man he left her for.

Spiraling out of control, Addison agrees to accompany her best friend to the sex party of the year. Hosted by world-renowned erotic romance author, Sebastian Hawk, exposed anonymity is the name of the game. The rules are simple: all guests are required to remain nude for the duration of the event, except for a mask to hide one’s identity, and everyone must partake in at least one salacious delight.

Out of her sexual league, Addison spends the evening with a certain clothed employee who explains to her the world in which the enigmatic author lives. While she wishes to understand more about the strange novelist, Addison can’t help but feel drawn to the handsome and mysterious employee who has introduced her to the sensual realm of Indulgence.

Lost in a world of secrets and passion, Addison will unmask the man behind the mystery while exploring her carnal nature. Through it all, she’ll discover that not everything is as it seems, and to never judge a book solely by its cover.

Intrigued? Here’s a trailer.

About the author:

Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event. She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry. She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend.

Her passions include a “mild” Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance. When she’s not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

You can catch up with Jeanne on:

Her website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter  |   Goodreads   |   Amazon  |  Google+

Writing quirks, habits and oddities – Romance Writers Weekly

It’s time for another installment of Romance Writers Weekly! Collette Cameron would like to know – What quirky habits (superstitions, must haves, etc.) do you have while writing? Collette is part of a wonderful new anthology called Captivated By His Kiss. Seven great tales for only 99 cents! Grab yours.

You probably just arrived here via the lovely and talented Eden Ashe. Did she have any unusual habits while writing? If you missed her entry, pop back over there. By the way, check out The Dragon’s Heart, book one in her Dragon Lore series. It is awesomesauce!

I’m going to be really boring now. Sorry. I don’t have any really juicy quirks or habits when it comes to my writing.

I know.

I’m disappointed as well.

Capote makes it look so inviting, but I would be asleep.

I wish I could say that I wrote “supine, with a glass of sherry in one hand and a pencil in another” a la Truman Capote. Or in a parked car, emulating the environment that Vladimir Nabokov preferred. “A bubble of stillness ideal for writing.” Not in downtown Philadelphia, comrade.

Nope, I’m boring. I only need two things to write: my laptop and some music. And a comfy place to sit.

Okay, three things: my laptop, some music and a comfy place to sit. And water or tea.

Four things, then: my laptop, some music, a comfy place to sit, and water or tea.

Writing on the beach in Punta Cana

I’ve also been known to write voluminously on the beach during vacation, which is done the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. No laptops on the sand, I’m not that wealthy brave.

Normally, I would find other voices distracting – you won’t catch me working in a cafe or public library anytime soon – but the white noise of a crowded beach has never bothered me. And I’ll still have my music piping through my headphones. The water or tea also becomes a mojito. *cough* Or three. What? I’m on vacation!

So, in conclusion, my needs include: my laptop (or pen and paper), a comfy place to sit (or the beach), music, and water or tea (or a pitcher of mojitos. Stop judging me.) Boring, boring, boring. *yawn*

I’ll try to develop some weird toe-writing habit between now and the next time this topic comes up. I promise. Now I have the pleasure of introducing our newest RWW member, Tracy Gee. In addition to her writing, Tracy also runs LOVExtra.com. If you’re looking for your next great read, be sure to swing by her site. She delivers the best news and reviews about new releases. Welcome to the party, Tracy! Now tells us all of your dirty little secrets odd writing habits.

See you next week!

Xio

Limited Edition “Calum On” T-shirts and Hoodies!

A few people asked if I’d offer the “Keep Calm and Calum On” graphic as a shirt. I thought, “why the heck not?” Your wish is my command. It’s for a limited time only, so grab it while you can. I’m going for the toasty-warm hoodie, myself. =)

 

My long, long…LONG-long-long TBR list – Romance Writers Weekly

Welcome to another installment of Romance Writers Weekly! Elizabeth Janette wanted to know what was on our TBR (to-be-read) lists. Did you just pop over from Betty Bolte’s? I’m sure your reading queue grew after checking out her post. As for me, my TBR shelf on Goodreads has 123 titles. You read that right. One. Hundred. Twenty-three. Wait…124. No, 125. Dammit! You see my problem. I read a lot. A lot a lot. If it weren’t for my e-reader, my house would look something like this…

When I’m not on a deadline, I read between 3 to 5 books a week. Mr. X thinks I am crazy and he would be right, lol.

Without further adieu, here are the next fifteen ten five books in my reading queue:

I’m 25% into UNEXPECTED EDEN: a sexy and unique, fantasy romance by fellow RWW (and debut) author, Rhenna Morgan. Most people believe Eden no longer exists. Lexi Merrill’s about to learn they’re wrong. A hard-working bartender with a self-sufficient backbone and a wary nature, she knows pickup lines like a second language. So, when Eryx Shantos barges into her world with too-smooth words and a body to back it up, she locks up her libido and vows to keep her distance.

I normally read two books at once. I just finished a beta-read for a friend, so now I’ll dive into FLIRTING WITH THE COMPETITION by another debut-author (and fellow Tasty Tuesday curator!) Kerri Carpenter. Under normal circumstances, Whitney March might have appreciated sharing an elevator with a ridiculously attractive and clearly wealthy guy. Even enjoyed it. But when her companion turns out to be the man who almost ran her over in parking garage moments earlier? Nope and nope. Besides, she’s on her way to a job interview at a prestigious law firm, and she needs to stay focused. Not staring at the rich and sexy jerk. Then the elevator comes to an abrupt stop. They’re stuck.

Whew! Is it steamy in here yet? Next on my list is AGNES MOOR’S WILD KNIGHT by Alyssa Cole. This book was recommended to me by friend, author, and Tasty Tuesday cohort, Kim Golden. Kim’s never steered me wrong and, judging by the synopsis, this will be one wild ride indeed. Agnes Moor knows her place in the court of King James IV—as one of the “exotics” in his employ. When the king makes a kiss from Agnes the prize of a tourney, a mysterious knight plows through his opponents to claim it. But it isn’t chance. The Wild Knight has come for her, and her champion is after after the most elusive prize of all: her heart.

The story sounds so unique! I’m really looking forward to this one.

I’ll follow this up with FIX YOU by another RWW author, Carrie Elks.

You’ve found the one, but what if life has other plans?

London, 31st December 1999

At a party to toast the new millennium, Hanna meets Richard. He is a gorgeous, wealthy New Yorker. She is a self-assured, beautiful Londoner with no interest in clean-cut American men. They are from different worlds and have nothing in common… except for their instant – and mutual – attraction to one another.

As the clocks chime midnight it is a new year and the beginning of a wonderful romance.

New York, 12th May 2012

Hanna, the girl who broke Richard’s heart, walks into his Wall Street office – and back into his life – to reveal an explosive secret.

He was sure they were meant to be together forever, but she broke his heart so completely the last time, can he find a way to let her mend the pieces?

This book is getting fabulous reviews, and it’s tempting to jump right into it, but I have a two-book at a time rule. If I try to juggle more than that, I feel like I’m missing important details in what I’m reading. That’s not fair to the authors or to me, as a reader.

The last of the five that I’m sharing with you today is THE SHELL COLLECTOR by Hugh Howey. If you’re not familiar with his work, let me tell you that this tale of romantic suspense is not his usual fare. I’ve been a fan of his for a number of years and when I ran into him at last year’s annual conference for Romance Writers of America, I was a) surprised to see him; and b) fangirling like a mutha. Seriously. I squealed. The I got home and read his Facebook update about writing a romance novel.

This high-concept, hardcore science fiction author was wading into romance? Where could I buy it? But I’m scared, y’all. I’m really scared. Howey is good enough of a writer that, if he’s written this romance as beautifully as he writes his scifi, I’m going to feel like the sticky stuff on a hot city sidewalk in July, and just as useless. Damn him.

The ocean is dying. The sea is growing warmer and is gradually rising. Seashells have become so rare that collecting them is now a national obsession. Flawless specimens sell like priceless works of art. Families hunt the tideline in the dark of night with flashlights. Crowds gather on beaches at the lowest of tides, hoping to get lucky.  Supreme among these collectors is Ness Wilde, CEO of Ocean Oil. Ness owns many of the best beaches, and he keeps them to himself. It’s his fault the world turned out this way. And I aim to destroy him.  My name is Maya Walsh. You might be familiar with my shelling column in the Times. I was working on a series of pieces about Mr. Wilde, when out of the blue, he called. He says he wants to talk. But I don’t think he’s going to like what I have to say.

So that’s my five.

All done.

Move along.

Oh, who am I kidding? Here’s another one that I have to read-right-now-or-I-will-go-insane. I grew up reading Anne Rice, so when she announced that she was bringing Lestat back, I was elated.

Okay, I am REALLY finished now. I promise. Head on over to see what S. C. Mitchell has on his list. Knowing him, it’s bound to add more to my own. That reminds me, I need to read his latest, The Blarmling Dilemma. See? My list is longer already.

See you next week!

Xio

FoX Friday with Sarah Hegger!

It’s the first FoX Friday of 2015 and I am chuffed to host the other half of my brain, Sarah Hegger. Sarah is a crazy talented author and she has a new series coming soon that I am in love with.

Sarah: Thanks, Xio, for having me over. Anywhere you are, is always a good place to be.

Xio: Aww shucks. You know you’re always welcome. So tell us what’s coming up for you in 2015.

Sarah: This March marks the beginning of a whole new chapter for me (see what I did there *snicker*). With two medieval romances to my name, I’m stepping over to the other side of what I write – contemporary romance.

Xio: Yippee! You know how much I adore contemporary, and yours in particular. Tell us more!

Sarah: The first in the Willow Park Romance series releases March 31st, 2015 in paperback and eBook. I’m very excited about this series, starting with Nobody’s Angel and I’d love to share a bit about it and a little taste.

Xio: Please do! I’ve already been raving about the book to anyone who will listen. =)

Sarah: This is the blurb my publisher put together for me (in case you thought I made a habit of referring to myself in the third person.)

In this evocative new series from author Sarah Hegger, a woman returns home after a long absence–and wonders if two wrongs really can make a right. . .

Nine years ago Lucy Flint ran away to Seattle, taking her friend’s boyfriend and leaving her high school sweetheart without a word of explanation. Now she’s back in Willow Park, Illinois, to help care for her ailing father–and it’s no surprise that her ex, Dr. Richard Hunter, is still angry. 

Still, she’s a different Lucy now. Sober, wiser, ready to make amends to the long–make that very long–list of those she mistreated during her wild younger days. Falling for Richard all over again would mean wreaking havoc in both their lives and possibly squandering her opportunity for redemption. But here, in the place where everything went wrong, is the one person who always felt right, and a second-chance that could be the best mistake she ever made. . .

And as promised, a little excerpt.

*******

The wind dropped just then and Mad’s voice squawked out of Lucy’s phone loud and clear. The cyclist jerked his head up and Lucy swore again. All the way west in Seattle, Mads had no idea. Lucy ignored the steady stream of rationalizations coming through the phone as her stomach sped south, into her boots.

“Bye,” she whispered and hung up.

The man in the snow had gone dead still. His gaze locked on her like a heat-seeking missile. And Lucy knew he knew that she knew and he knew that she knew he knew. Or something. Her mind went blank. There must be something to say in situations like this, but she had nothing. She stared at him and he stared right back.

“What the hell are you doing here?” All things considered it was a very reasonable question. His tone and the glare he bent her way shot to hell any vague hope she might have held that Richard had learned to forgive and forget.

“Hello, Richard.” Her voice hit the loaded air in a strangled squeak.

His voice was deeper than she remembered, but she would have known it anywhere. Nine years was not long enough to forget any of the small details she could now make out.

Snow powdered one side of his face and stuck to his eyelashes. His face was leaner and the bones stronger and more decisive, but he was still Richard. Handsome in that Cary Grant, clean-cut, one-of-the-good-guys way. It had played havoc with her teenage heart and hormones. Her grown-up hormones were not dead to the appeal either. His eyes were the same pure, unadulterated cobalt. He blinked to clear snow from the dark veil of his lashes.

Lucy watched him with the helpless certainty that the light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train.

His head dropped forward almost onto his chest. He’d propped his elbows onto his knees.

She should say something to ease the tension, but she was clueless. She tucked her chin deeper into her scarf and waited.

“Tell me it’s not you,” he said, eventually.

******

Xio: Swoooooon! I love Lucy and Richard. The book is so grounded and real and heartbreaking and funny. And yet hopeful and romantic. It really was a perfect read. When can people pick it up?

Sarah: The book is on preorder right now, along with the second in the series Nobody’s Fool.

Xio: Cool! So folks can grab it on Amazon – Barnes & Noble – iBooks – Kobo

Sarah: I’d love to hear what you think.

Xio: I’m sure they’ll all love it as much as I do. And as a special treat, I’m sneaking in the cover of book two, Nobody’s Fool. I’m in the middle of that right now, and I LOVE it. As I knew I would.

More About Sarah:

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Draper, Utah, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

She loves to hear from readers and you can find her at any of the places below.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

You can also catch Sarah and I each week as part of the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop. That’s always a fun time.

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! Come back soon. =)

 

 

 

 

A Day in the Life of a Romance Weekly Writer #LoveChatWrite

Happy New Year! It’s our first blog hop of 2015, and – yay! – this week’s theme is my brainchild. Okay, so it isn’t terribly inventive, but still pretty cool. We’re giving you glimpses into our daily lives. Hopefully, you just hopped over from Steven Mitchell‘s blog. If you haven’t had the chance to check out his latest, The Blarmling Dilemma, get on it! So inventive and fresh.

As you may or may not know, my life is split between writing romance and writing music. I am a singer and songwriter (but NOT a singer-songwriter, thank you.) I’ve been recording and performing professionally since I was four years old. Call it the family business. My dad, sister, brother and cousins are all artists/producers/songwriters. I’m the first novelist, so yay me for “rebelling.” Haha!

I took the last year off to concentrate on this new venture – romance writer – but now it’s time to start juggling my many hats. Today I am spending the morning wearing my writer hat. I’ll compose this RWW blog entry (check) and then see how The Calum is doing in the world. Note: when you’re an indie, half of this writing thing is about promotion. Not unlike being an independent musician.

At noon, I’ll kick of the first Tasty Tuesday of 2015. My theme this week is Comeback Kids. I thought that would be fitting, what with New Year’s and all. Rob Lowe is a bit of a comeback kid, isn’t he?

This afternoon, I’ll finish up two book covers commissioned by an author friend of mine. Then I’ll rehearse my vocals for an upcoming gig and also work on some songs for my new album, which I’m set to record in a month or so. Emphasis on the ‘or so.’

This evening, I’ll work on book two of the Calum series and, you know, write.

It will take some time to find the balance between writing fiction and being a musician. With four books, an anthology and a box set planned for this year, my expansion into graphic design for writers, and the aforementioned album and subsequent tour, 2015 is going to be, well, INSANE.

 

http://xioaxelrod.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Tug-n-Pull.mp3

If you’re super curious about the music thing, here’s a song I wrote for my last album. I had a lot of fun with the vocals on this one, lol.

Now head on over to see how the lovely Collette Cameron spends her day. Collette just release the delightful Regency short, A Kiss for Miss Kingsley! Do check it out. And see you next week!

So, The Calum got a shout out on USA Today…today

Yep. That happened.

I woke up early this morning to find my Twitter feed ablaze with this loveliness: USA Today contributor Michelle Monkou reviewed and rec’ed The Calum in their Happily Ever After blog as a “must read romance.” I mean…dude. Check out what she wrote!

I totally failed this test.

“New author. Fresh story. Sexy contemporary romance at your fingertips.

Xio Axelrod debuts with The Calum, a fun (and funny), fast-paced romantic read. There’s poetry in motion when reading this story set in Scotland with brogues and customs to add to the experience. Warning: Once you start, it will be an all-out read-a-thon. Sexy, relatable characters who are seemingly ill-suited must overcome odds to find their cozy hub of happiness. Axelrod’s style to reach that happy ever after or happy for now is amazingly inventive, highly visual and swoon-worthy romantic.”

I’m not going to lie. I screamed.

Like a newborn.

Ha!

Calum on…

Out with the new (not really) and in with…more new. It’s 2015! (almost)

Wow. It’s almost 2015.

Sure, it’s cliché to say “this year went so quickly” or “where did the year go?” Seriously, though. 2014 flew by and where did the months go? One minute there was snow on the ground. Then I was in sunny (and hot!) San Antonio for the annual Romance Writers of America conference where I met the wonderful (man and) women of Romance Writers Weekly. It’s amazing to be a part of such a wonderful group of writers. Cheers to you, RWW!

Let’s see, what else?

My travel was all domestic for me this year – Texas, Vegas, California – but next year, I’ll be back on the road with my music. After taking a year off to concentrate on writing and learn about publishing, I’ll be back behind the microphone (and in the studio) starting in January. Yep, in 2015, I will be juggling both careers. Super fun times ahead!

I’m not fond of new year’s resolution lists. I never make them, but I do set personal goals. My goal for 2014 was to end it as a published author. Hooray! Mission accomplished. You guys fell in love with The Calum and the response has been better than anything I could have anticipated. Thank you!

So, 2014 was a pretty good year and 2015 has the potential to be even better. I have more books to publish and even more to submit to agents/editors, not to mention an album to release and a tour to plan. My schedule is insane, believe me, but I want to do all the things and I want to do them now. =)

Happy New Year, maniacs! Here’s to a lot more peace and a lot less conflict.

And looooooooove, loooooooooo, loooooooooooove…

Mwah!

Xio

Stocking your e-Reader Sale and giveaway!

More than 60 authors.

More than 100 books.

And some incredible prizes!

Yeah, I know the holidays are just about over. I hope yours was awesome! Want to make it even more awesome? Check out this massive e-book sale. 100+ books priced at 99 cents – including my debut novella, THE CALUM. Some are even free! Plus, there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs like a 6″ Kindle Fire and a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Hop on over, grab some ebooks and enter to win!