Chrys Fey's Blog, page 50

Emma and Mrs. Perkins Character Interview / White Light by Anna Simpson

For today I have a very entertaining character interview with Emma and Mrs. Perkins from Anna Simpson’s book, WHITE LIGHT. These two made my rather bland questions hilarious. Check it out:


Hi, Emma and Mrs. Perkins! Can you tell us about White Light?

Mrs. Perkins: I’ll read the blurb. *clears her throat*
Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car. 
What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.

Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it's haunted with guilt? 

Books Links: Goodreads / All Romance eBooks / Amazon / Kobo

1.    Who would play the two of you in a movie?
Emma: *glances over at Mrs. Perkins and shrugs* I don’t know. She’d have to be young but tough, and like, understand that hanging with older folks has its quirks. The food’s great. Know anyone like that?
Mrs. Perkins: *facepalm* Well for me it would be Cybill Shepherd.
Emma: *mouth drops open* She’s tall… and blonde…and beaut—
Mrs. Perkins: *smoothes her grey sausage curls* I suppose I could dye my hair for our headshots.
2. What are your jobs?
Mrs. Perkins: Retired
Emma: I read tea leaves at the Pie ‘n’ All. At first I was so freaked out. Me read leaves? I can barely read the Tarot. But it worked out okay. Aunt Alice, my great-aunt, she’s dead you know. Oh, and a psychic. Anyway, Aunt Alice is always ready to pop in and give me a hand when I get stuck.
Mrs. Perkins: It’s all true. She is really, really bad at reading anything. Not a psychic bone in her body. *wipes her nose with a hanky* We are so blessed that Alice still has time for us.
3. What do you do for fun?
Emma: Fun? Mrs. Perkins and I play bridge. I’m getting pretty good too.
Mrs. Perkins: *opens her mouth*
Emma: *hand swings up and an open palm pushes in Mrs. Perkins’ direction* Galdy says I’m getting better every game.
Mrs. Perkins: Sure she does. Her and Jay have been beating us at every tournie. You might as well be on their team.
4. What’s your biggest pet peeve?       
Emma:Peeve? *Emma’s eyes cut to Mrs. Perkins* Besides nurses, I don’t have any. I mean who likes those pajama clad, needle wielding sadist anyway? Nobody I know. And I know people.
Mrs. Perkins: Maybe we should move on to the next question.
5. How did you meet Mrs. Perkins?
Emma:Old family friend.
Mrs. Perkins: Old? More like lifelong. Really, Emma. If your aunt could hear you right now---
Emma:Okay, Okay. I give. She’s a lifelong friend of Great-Aunt Alice. We are quite the threesome.
6. What was your first impression?
Emma:*burst out laughing*
Mrs. Perkins: Well, tell her.
Emma:*straightens face* Never a dull moment…Not even if I’m ready to sell my soul for one. We’re neighbors you see.
Mrs. Perkins: True. You should see her lawn. It’s a disgrace. And in regards to dull moments. Emma acts older than I do.
Emma:*clenches teeth*
Mrs. Perkins: Let me just say on my behalf, I’m very supportive. Without me the girl would starve. And without Alice, well, we’d have to go look for cases. Overall, we make an excellent team.
Emma: Exactly what I would have said.
7. What kind of trouble do the two of you get into?
Mrs. Perkins: So far we haven’t landed in jail. Okay I’m speaking for myself. Emma on the—
Emma:Hey. It was only a conference room.
Mrs. Perkins: Were you locked in? Did Tom have to bail you out? Well…
Emma:Benny the bully locked me in. So what? *exhales a long breath* I try to stay out of trouble. *swings a thumb toward the older woman* Not easy if you get my drift.
Mrs. Perkins: You’d think being a small town not much would happen. It’s just ridiculous how busy we are.
Emma:Too ridiculous. I’m used to a quieter life.
Mrs. Perkins: *takes Emma’s hand* No worries. Crime will never be the same now that we are on the job.
8. What moment of White Light was your favorite?
Emma:When Tom picked me up for my first date in years.
Mrs. Perkins: When Emma finally agreed to help me solve our mystery.
Emma:Sorry, but my moment is with Tom.
Mrs. Perkins: What can you do?
9. What moment of White Light caused you the most fear?
Emma:When I knew Mrs. Perkins went off on her own. I just felt she was in trouble. It was horrible.
10. Is there anything you did in White Light that you would change if you could?
Emma:*raised a forefinger to her chin as she thought.*
Mrs. Perkins: I would have told Emma the truth a lot sooner.
Emma: Nope, not a thing.
Mrs. Perkins: *glares*


BIO:
Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she's lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn't able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.
The woman is easy to find though, if you know the magic word -- emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you'll see what I mean. :-)
Author Links: Blog| Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Thank you for chatting with me, ladies. And I have to say, Mrs. Perkins, you’re a hoot!
Please leave a comment for Anna Simpson. :)

B - Beth Kennedy + 3 Excerpts

GIVEAWAY: I'm giving away 3 paperback books by different authors in the Paranormal Romance, Historical Fantasy, and Sci-Fi Romance genres. For your chance to win, you have to subscribe to my newsletter. In January 29th's issue, I'll reveal what you have to do to win them. There will be additional prizes to the 5 runners-up, so you'll want to act fast!

Sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter!

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Beth Kennedy is the heroine of the Disaster Crimes series (Hurricane Crimes and soon-to-be published Seismic Crimes). She is smart, tough, and romantic; what every good heroine should be.
Character Profile:Name – Bethany Grace KennedyOccupation – Self-Defense InstructorLocation – Central FloridaDoppelganger – Kate BeckinsaleLove Interest – Donovan GoldwynLikes – Canoeing, boxing, writing poetry, poker, the beach,Dislikes – Snakes, hurricanes, cheating ex-fiancés, car troubles
Image from Wikipedia
Here are some special never-before-shared teasers from Seismic Crimes to illustrate just how smart, tough and romantic Beth really is.
Smart Teaser:
“Chewy, one of the cops…” She stopped suddenly, her face burning as she looked at the four officers in front of her. What if one of them is in league with Chewy? What if they all are? They could kill me and then kill Donovan.
“It’s okay, Ms. Kennedy,” Officer Burnett said. “Please go on.” His gentle smile and sincere, brown eyes calmed her, and she found the courage to tell the truth.
“Chewy was in the house when Donovan went in to retrieve the footage. I heard a gunshot, and I got out of the canoe to help him.”
“And all you had was a shovel?”
“That’s right.” Beth explained how she saw Chewy hit Donovan and hold him under the water in Ryan’s living room. “I hit Chewy in the back with the shovel so he’d release Donovan. He fired a shot at me and told me to drop the shovel. I did and that was when I stepped on another gun under the water. It’s in the canoe outside. I’m sure if you checked it, you’d find it’s registered to Chewy.”
“We’ll check,” Burnett reassured her.
“I told Chewy I had Ryan’s journal in the canoe because I knew he wouldn’t want any evidence out there for someone to use against him. Chewy held the gun to Donovan’s head and told me to back out of the house. I dragged the gun under my shoe down the driveway to the canoe and slowly reached inside. I brought out a journal, but it wasn’t Ryan’s. It was mine. When I saw Ryan’s journal was identical to the one I wrote poetry in, I thought we could replace Ryan’s with it. Before Chewy could take my journal, though, I threw it. He went after it, and I went for the gun. When I came back up out of the water, Chewy had his gun pointed at me. I fired before I could even think. The bullet hit him in the head.”
Tough Teaser:
“Empty out your pockets. Now!”
“All right.” She slowly dipped her hands into her pockets and pulled them inside out to show she didn’t even have a gum wrapper. Lint occupied the deepest recesses of the cotton squares. “See,” she said, forcing calm. “I don’t have any money. Now let me go.”
“Turn around.”
“What?”
“I said, turn around. I want to see your back pockets.”
Beth glared at him as annoyance washed over her. I don’t have time for this. I have to get back to Donovan. She grabbed his wrist, stepped around him, and wrenched his arm behind his back, forcing his hand toward his head while twisting his wrist at an awkward angle. He let out a growl and released the blade. It clattered to the asphalt at her feet. She didn’t waste a second to peer down at it. She kicked the back of his knee with the side of her foot as hard as she could. He crumbled and she let him fall. When he was on the ground, she gathered a fistful of his dark hair and slammed his forehead into the ground, knocking him unconscious. Then she launched into an all-out sprint.
Romantic Teaser:
She helped him back into bed and even stretched out beside him. Her fingers stroked his temple and combed through his hair. It wasn’t long before his breathing became deep with sleep.
Mid-day, she peeled the gauze off his burn to clean it and reapply salve. Removing tape from skin and hair—not to mention from an irritated wound—always hurt, so she barred her teeth and lifted the strips centimeter-by-centimeter. Donovan’s eyelids fluttered open when she was half-way through the task. Her fingers stilled.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Your burn needs to be cleaned.”
He made a soft humming sound from deep in his throat before his lids lowered, curtaining his worn-out eyes. Stroking his brow, she murmured endearments to him even though she figured her words wouldn’t have enough power to penetrate his subconscious. Regardless, she hoped he could hear them in his dreams.

QUESTION: Which teaser did you like more? The smart teaser, tough teaser, or romantic teaser?

Writing About: A Honeymoon + IWSG Announcement

ANNOUNCEMENT
Last week, I was asked to join the Insecure Writer's Support Group to head the group's newest endeavor...a monthly newsletter! I happily agreed. So...Hi, everyone! I'm your newest IWSG Administrator! :D And I'm thrilled to help launch the IWSG Newsletter.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group Newsletter will feature articles by industry experts, IWSG members, and administrators. There will also be a dozen links to helpful articles for writers in each edition, as well as a special Member Spotlight. Even if you're not a member of the blogging group, you'll greatly benefit from these FREE monthly newsletters.
First issue goes out on February 24!
Sign up for the IWSG Newsletter
FYI: Those who are part of the IWSG are already signed up.

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In a romance where you follow the relationship between your hero and heroine, and chronicle their wedding, you should detail their honeymoon as well. At least for a short chapter.
See: Writing About: A Wedding

Here are 3 main points to consider if your characters go on a honeymoon.
1. Where does your couple go?
Have they discussed a dream vacation? If so, send them there. If not, where could you picture them going? A sun and beach loving couple could go to the Bahamas. An adventurous couple could go to Colorado. And a romantic, food loving couple can go to Italy. Where are your characters telling you they’d like to celebrate their love?
Four Seasons HualalaiImage from Wikipedia

2. Romance x10
Now is the time to break out all the romantic quips you’ve been locking away. Let your characters ooze romance. Describe their tender kisses, warm caresses, and love making. But make it more than sex. Make this intimacy strengthen their bond and deepen their relationship.
See: Writing About: Intimacy
See: Kissing Scenes
See: How to Write Romance


3. Let them have fun!
Aside from fun in bed…your characters should get out and about. Send them on an adventure or to sight-see. This should be a light moment for your characters and readers before it’s time to get back to reality and to shake things up with the plot line waiting for them.

BOOK TIDBIT: In the 3rd book of my Disaster Crimes series, a disaster strikes during Beth’s and Donovan’s honeymoon. Any predictions?

QUESTIONS: Have any of your characters gone on a honeymoon?
If you’ve been on a honeymoon, where did you go?
If you haven't where would you want to go?

Scene Spotlight for SHATTERPROOF by K.K. Weil

Today I am welcoming a fellow Rose from The Wild Rose Press, K.K. Weil. She’s sharing an artistic, romantic, and slightly funny scene from her newest release, SHATTERPROOF.
Welcome, K.K.!
Title: ShatterproofAuthor: K.K. WeilGenre: NA Contemporary RomancePublisher: The Wild Rose PressReleased: October 28, 2015

BOOK LINKS:Amazon / NOOK / Kobo / The Wild RosePress

Scene Spotlight:
Griffin’s latest creation sits on the table in his empty warehouse. A sculpture of a tall, exquisite woman. Before I think about what I’m doing, I reach out for it. I can’t help myself. I caress her chiffon dress, then her hair. The textures in it are wavy and unruly, almost to a sinful degree. An invisible breeze fans it around her. I breathe in through my nose to experience the breeze. She smells like Griffin. That scent on him the day I ran into him at the hospital wasn’t paint, after all.
It was clay.
The woman’s arm is raised and her fingers are running through her hair, pushing it off her face. I think I’m being gentle when I trace my hand over her arm, but my touch is obviously not as soft as I think.
“No!” I wail when the statue’s hand separates from her wrist and her arm is limp in my hand. I start to panic. I can’t even run away, because I know if I let go of this arm, the entire thing will fall off. Holy crap. Why would I touch his work? Beads of sweat form on my forehead. I’m stuck. I can’t move a muscle for fear of destroying this beautiful piece even more. What the hell am I going to do?
Maybe if it let it go and run out of here, Griffin will think it fell off by itself. He never has to know I touched it.
“That wouldn’t be very nice.” Griffin’s grumbly voice startles me from behind and I jerk, inadvertently removing the arm a little from the shoulder.
“Damn it!” The arm sags in my hand but I don’t lower it. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have touched it. I don’t know why I did.”
Griffin chuckles from somewhere deep in his stomach. My own stomach clenches with nerves.
“It’s okay.” He steps closer.
“Wait,” I say. “What wouldn’t be nice?”
“Making me think it fell off by itself. That I did shitty, unstable work.”
I gulp. I’m glad my back is still to him, so he can’t see my heart pounding through my shirt. “I said that out loud?” I scrunch my face in embarrassment.
“Yep.” He’s amused. I am not.
“I’m really sorry,” I repeat again.
“I told you, it’s okay.” He moves within an inch of my back and reaches his arms around me. Before I realize what he’s doing, his hand is over mine, guiding it. Together, we methodically rebuild the arm. First at the shoulder, where it is still somewhat attached, then at the wrist.
Griffin’s chest is against my back and every slow breath he takes accelerates my own. He’s quite a bit taller than me and his chin is by my temple as he leans over my shoulder to fix what I broke. Can he feel the moisture on my forehead through his stubble?
“It wasn’t set yet,” he breathes into my ear. “Otherwise it wouldn’t have fallen apart in your hands that way.”
He’s quiet as we finish smoothing the clay, making it blend seamlessly.
“Who is she?” My voice comes out hushed.
“Just a client.” His answer is low and dismissive.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Yes.” The word vibrates in my ear.
There’s an inexplicable pang in my gut at the thought of him intimately sculpting this gorgeous woman, alone in this private yet open workspace. Especially since he said he wouldn’t sculpt me.
I turn around, but he doesn’t back away this time and now he’s right in my face.
He shaved down to a thin stubble again, probably because he was on his way to meet a client. God, he’s gorgeous. This close up, every one of his defined features is clear. His bottom lip has a small indentation, like he bites it out of habit. What a picture his lips would make. I’d love to run my hand along them and feel him. But this time, I refrain from touching.

Questions:
1. Where does this scene take place?
Griffin is a sculptor in New York City. He works out of a warehouse downtown. It’s a huge, empty space, sectioned off with metal accordion dividers.
Whenever a client enters, their steps echo on the concrete floor, which is usually the only sound, aside from Griffin’s soft Blues music playing in the background. There’s a long table, littered with sculptures and a stool, which Griffin rarely sits on while he works. A simple couch, chair and area rug warm up the cold, stark space, so his clients can be comfortable while he sculpts them.
2. If this were a movie, what song would be playing in the background?
I’d have to say Just Breathe by Anna Nalick. That song is so powerful and conjures up everything Frankie was feeling in that moment with Griffin standing up against her.



3. What do you love the most about this scene?
Sculpture has been everything to Griffin for years. It’s his savior and his sanity. This is the first time in the book Griffin brings Frankie into this world, even though it happens by accident. And he chooses to do it intimately. If it had been anyone else, he could have stood on the other side of the table and fixed the sculpture. But he’s drawn to her, even though he’s trying not to be, and allows himself this moment of closeness. Also, in the full scene, Frankie describes Griffin’s sculpture in depth, letting the reader see how affected she already is by the power of his work, and by him as an artist.
4. Was this scene difficult or easy to write? 
This was actually one of the first scenes I wrote. I’m a total pantser, writing without an official outline as I go. When I get an idea for a book, I write bunches of scenes, out of order, as they come to me. They give me an idea about where I want my story to go and who my characters are before I begin my first draft. They get changed a lot, when I start drafting, but still get my creative juices flowing.
I found the scene really fun to write, but it also had to be just so. I wanted you to feel their connection even before they actually did anything. Just the act of mending the clay with his hands over hers and the proximity of their bodies had to be intimate.
5. Can you tell us a secret about this scene?
I wasn’t sure exactly which way I wanted to end this scene. (The chapter does not end here.) I didn’t know if I wanted him to walk away from her (as he’d been doing), if they should kiss, if they should hook up right there in the warehouse. I had to play it out by writing it a few ways to see which way I liked it and which way felt most true to what Griffin would have done. I won’t tell you what I decided. ;) But I can tell you that in the end, I think it played out in a way that was very consistent with Griffin’s personality.


BIO:
Instead of telling you how I’ve always loved to write (which is true) or how I dabbled in different genres for years while I was a teacher, before I took it up full-time (also true), I’d like to let you get to know me a little.
I love trying all different foods. I enjoy everything from street meat to decadent delicacies. When I travel, I pester the locals for restaurant recommendations, off the beaten path. Having said that, I am a savory fan. I don’t have a sweet tooth. I’d much rather have another bite of dinner and one more glass of wine that save room for dessert. There is one exception to this rule. Reese’s peanut butter cups. Sometimes I think I love those more than I love my children. I’m kidding. Maybe.
I’m left handed. I blame my horrendous handwriting on this, even though I don’t really believe they’re related. Everything in this world is built for and by righties. (Ever try using a can opener with your left hand?) So when I meet another left-handed person, I feel an immediate bond to her, like we’re in this special club. A club founded on being inconvenienced. When I was young, I was desperate for my sister to be a leftie like me. So even though she grabbed things with her right hand, I’d quickly switch them to her left. Now she’s ambidextrous.
I always save the best of everything for last. It’s a compulsion. I don’t like pizza crust very much, so I eat it first. I tear it off, piece by piece (I don’t bite the slice backwards. I’m not a Neanderthal, for God’s sake), until there’s just a little bit left in the center. I use this as a handle.
I have an irrational fear of lice, bedbugs and any other insect that can become an infestation.
I prefer beaches over grass, heels over flats, dramas over comedies, coffee over tea, night over morning and fall over spring.
AUTHOR LINKS:Website / Facebook / Twitter / Blog

Thank you for sharing this funny and yet romantic scene between Griffin and Frankie, K.K.!
Please leave a comment for K.K. about this wonderful scene. :)

A – An Acceptance Story

May 2013 I had sent a query letter for Hurricane Crimes to The Wild Rose Press. It was a decision I made when I struggled to find a willing agent to even want to read a chapter of the first book in my series. I couldn’t even get acceptances from magazines or ezines for my flash fiction. I was depressed and desperate. I knew I had to do something to break into publishing, and that’s how I decided to write a hurricane story set in Florida.
On Christmas Day 2011, I started writing it. It took me a year to write and edit it because I was also writing the last book in my series. But when it was done and I created a list of possible publishers, I sent off the email query to the first place on my list with all off my hopes and dreams attached to it.
Then something amazing happened. The senior editor from The Wild Rose Press wanted to see the manuscript! I sent her the short forty-odd pages with about a dozen prayers and crossed fingers.
In June, I got a reply back. The editor said the story was good and that she enjoyed the characters as well as the plot but the manuscript needed a tad bit more work. They were easy fixes and I sent it back more nervous than ever. Everything was riding on this manuscript…this moment. The fear of rejection loomed over my head like an anvil hanging from a strand of hair.


This is an actual entry from my journal:
August 8th 2013,

Message to my best friend: 

“…I’m not optimistic. Nothing ever works out for me. I know, I know, have to be positive but I’m in a very depressed state right now…I don’t want to be in this situation much longer, so God better hurry things along!...I’m done with people thinking I’m a bump-on-the-log. I’m over [people] not understanding my situation. I don’t know how much more I can feel like a failure at this point and at this stage of my life.” 

I was so depressed that day that I didn’t even bother checking my email that night before I turned off the computer. Well, the next morning I found an email waiting for me from the editor, which was sent the night before. I started to panic, thinking it was a denial. It wasn’t! She offered me a contract!

What did I learn from that experience? When you ask God to hurry things along, he will. And sometimes you just need a few more hours of patience to have your wish come true.
This is my acceptance story for Hurricane Crimes, the start of my publishing career. I hope to have many more acceptance stories in the future. Including books 3-5 in the Disaster Crimes series. :)

QUESTION: What’s your acceptance story? If you don’t have one yet…don’t worry. You will one day. :)

The First Sentence of a Book

The first sentence of a story is the most important sentence. It has to draw in the reader. It has to be able to bear the weight of the entire story, of the thousands of sentences that follow it. It’s a first impression and we all want to make a good first impression.
A boring first sentence may not break a story, but a first sentence that is either exciting, intriguing or funny will pique a reader's interest. A first sentence that invigorates a reader’s senses, opens a portal to a new world, or introduces the main character in a clever way will keep a reader reading and wanting more.

How do you know if your first sentence is a good one?
1. Look at it separately. Read it. What does it do? Does it evoke an emotion? Does it introduce a character or world? Does it lay the ground work for a mystery? If it does one of these things then the odds are that the sentence is good…or getting there.
2. Once the first sentence has a purpose, look at the words you’ve used. Are they weak? If so, replace them. Find stronger verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. Make them good!
A Girl Writing; The Pet Goldfinch
by Browne, Henriette (1829 - 1901)
3. Check out the writing. Is the first sentence as vivid as it could be if you’re using it to begin world building? Is it as suspenseful as it could be if it’s opening a thriller? If it’s introducing a character, does it paint a clear image and evoke the correct feelings you want your reader to have toward that character?
4. Examine the length. Shorter first sentences are better. At least in my experience. You don’t want a long-winded first sentence. Save some of that for the paragraph to follow. Shorter sentences means the reader will get to the next sentences faster. The sooner the reader can dive into your story the better.
5. Now read it with the following sentences. Although the first sentence has to be a winner, the others have to stand up and do their part too.


Here are the first three sentences of my published works:
HURRICANE CRIMES: She was going to die. At least according to the nervous weatherman on her flickering television screen. An image of what was supposed to be Florida wavered in and out, except it was barely visible beneath the swirling mass of a Category 5 hurricane named Sabrina, which seemed to have a vendetta against the Sunshine State.
30 SECONDS: Dani Hart jogged up the five flights of stairs to her small but homey apartment in the heart of Cleveland. Fresh snow soaked the bottom of her scrubs, the soles of her wet sneakers squeaked against the wood, and her white medical coat floated behind her. After pulling an all-nighter at the E.R., topped with three emergency operations, she couldn’t wait to sink into bed with a pint of coffee flavored ice cream.
GHOST OF DEATH: I’m dead. Jolie Montgomery didn’t know how she died, but all of a sudden she stood over her body in an alley. Her dark hair swam in a pool of blood.
WITCH OF DEATH: The moon was a ceramic bowl overflowing with milk in the amethyst sky, and all the stars were sugar crystals. At three o’clock in the morning, the suburban neighborhood slept with its manicured lawns, matching mailboxes, and cars parked in spotless driveways. All the residents were asleep in their beds, dreaming dreams of beauty, emptiness, and horror. 

AND...the first three sentences of Seismic Crimes, TBP this year!
SEISMIC CRIMES: Beth didn’t die. The anxious weatherman forecasting Hurricane Sabrina’s arrival was wrong. She didn’t even die at the big, slightly calloused hands of Donovan Goldwyn, as she had thought she would.

SHARE: One of your favorite first sentences from a published work or WIP.

Blogger Interview with...ME!

Last year I started doing Blogger Interviews. I’ve interviewed many awesome bloggers including Alex J Cavanaugh, Arlee Bird, and Sherry Ellis. For a full list go HERE. This month I decided to do something a little different and interview...MYSELF! :P

1. Tell us about Write with Fey.
I started blogging in 2012. There was no secret motive behind it. Why I started blogging is the same reason so many other writers started...we were told to. We heard many agents and publishers say that writers should be blogging and building their platforms well before they publish their first book. So, I caved and created Write with Fey. The first year I published 52 posts about how to write a novel from beginning to end. I had about 5 comments. Haha!
2, What was your very first blog post?
Catching a Spark was my first post. I reference this a lot whenever I talk about how I started writing since the full story is there.


3. How did you come up with your Writing About feature?
During my second year of blogging I wanted some way to get potential interested readers and to help writers at the same time. So I looked at the book I was writing at the time (the last book in my unpublished series) and created posts based on the types of scenes I wrote. The first one I ever did was “Writing About: A Kidnapping” which receives a lot of views. When I ran out of posts for that book, I looked at all of my published and unpublished stories. As of today I’ve published 64 of these posts. 

To see them all go HERE.
4. Do you have anything new ideas for your blog this year?
Since I’m not doing A to Z this year (I know, I know. I’m sorry!), on the Wednesdays not devoted to IWSG, I will be doing my own form of A-Z devoted to my new series. This year I’ll be publishing book 2 in my Disaster Crimes series. Each Wednesday will be for a different topic related to my series from A-Z. There will be a lot of neat insights and teasers, so I hope you’ll all enjoy it. :)



5. What are the top 5 most-viewed posts on your blog?
Writing About: A Car AccidentProtagonist VS. AntagonistWriting About: HospitalsChrys Fey’s 30 Day Writing ChallengeWriting About: An Interrogation
6. What gave you the idea to interview bloggers?
I wanted to broaden my audience and honor the great bloggers I’ve gotten to know. Whenever I post a blogger Interview, I love to see comments from readers who thank me for introducing them to a new blogger. That’s a great feeling!
7. Share your number one tip to bloggers just starting out.
Take time to plan out what you want to do with your blog. Don’t just dive into blogging blindly. Make a plan, know how often you want to post, and what topics you will cover.
See: Blogging 101 for more tips.

Hyper Round:1. Favorite time to post blogs? 7:00am Eastern for normal posts, 6:30am for IWSG2. Blogger or Wordpress?Blogger (Although I use Wordpress for my website.)3. Do you host guests? YES!4. Where are you when you’re blogging?At my desk in the part of my bedroom that is my office.


QUESTION: Do you have any questions for me about my blog? I’d love to answer them! If I get enough, I might do a post later this month. :)

Accomplishments and Goals / IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a safe place for insecure writers of all kinds.Sign up here: Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Some of you may have seen the picture at the top left hand corner floating around Facebook about using a jar to store notes for all the good things that happen during the year and reading them on New Year’s Eve. I first saw this three years ago and I've been doing it ever since. I even decorated my jar!
From my Facebook Page.In my jar for 2015 there were things such as: - Connor Daniel (my nephew) born 12/15 - Got a contract for Seismic Crimes- Moved into a house- Bought a laptop
Another tradition I started with my mom back in 2007 is writing goals and wishes on a piece of paper and putting it in a pretty bottle...like a message in a bottle. On New Year's Eve, I fish mine out to see what I accomplished and write a new one. The bottle sits on my bookcase year round. 
From my Instagram
Some of my accomplishments from 2015:
January:-       Co-hosted Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day-       Co-hosted Terri Rochenski’s Facebook Release Party-       My first week co-hosting the blog Unicorn Bell-       Created my author website
April:-       Published Ghost of Death-       Co-co-hosted A to Z Challenge (Tremp’s Troops)-       The Quest for Queena Auction (donated 2 eBooks)
May:-       Published Witch of Death-       Submitted Seismic Crimes to publisher
August:-       Co-hosted IWSG Day (second time)-       Sent out first newsletter
October:-       Co-hosted Author Bash FB party
Image from Picserver
Publishing Goals for 2016:-       Publish Seismic Crimes-       Submit prequel to 30 Seconds to publisher -       Edit Disaster Crimes Book 3 (title TBA) and submit to publisher May/June
Writing Goals for 2016:-       Start seriously writing my NA Zombie Apocalypse Romance
Number Goals for 2016:-       1,000 Twitter followers-       600 Facebook followers-       200 Newsletter Subscribers


I HOPE ALL OF MY AWESOME IWSG FRIENDS MEET THEIR GOALS IN 2016 AND HAVE A BLESSED YEAR! :)

Writing About: New Year's Eve + January Question of the Month

New Year’s Eve is a fun night in the real world and it can be a fun night in fiction as well. It could be a night of passion for a romance story or a night of suspense for a mystery. Maybe two people meet at an acquaintance’s party, or a murder takes place. Whatever happens, try to fit one or more of the following highlights into your story.
1. New Year’s Eve Party
A lot can happen at a New Year’s Eve party. Dozens of people get together wearing their best party clothes (glitter and sequins galore) and consume pints of alcohol. There’s dancing, snacks, champagne, and entertainment in the form of karaoke and watching the ball drop. You can spin a party tale for a romance, mystery or thriller. And even for different age groups including new adult and young adult.
Image from Wikipedia
2. Midnight Kiss
You can’t write about New Year’s Eve without including a midnight kiss, or the dilemma of who your character will be sharing a kiss with. It’s sweet if they share it with their love but intriguing if they share it with a stranger. The outcome of the latter could be the start of a new relationship or maybe he/she just kissed a murderer. Think about it….
3. New Year’s Resolution
A fun addition to a romantic-comedy or any genre is the mention of a New Year’s resolution. Perhaps it’s said with sarcasm or with hope. A good resolution for a romance…although a cliché…would be for a character to find someone to love.
Image from Pixabay

New Year’s traditions from around the world:
- Colored underwear. Many believe wearing yellow underwear on New Years Eve will bring happiness. Others believe red underwear will bring their soul mate to them.
- Eating lentils is supposed to bring a prosperous new year.
- In Ireland, they bang bread against the walls and doors of a house to chase away bad luck and spirits.
- Do a version of Spring cleaning to get rid of old and start fresh.
- Eat 12 grapes (one for each month) while making a wish. 
- Write things you'd like to leave behind on a piece of paper and burn it so you don't bring bad habits, experiences, etc. into the new year.
- Light candles. Red will bring love and passion, orange is for wisdom. blue for peace, green for good health, and yellow for financial success.


QUESTIONS: What do you like most about New Year’s Eve?
What do you dislike?

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QUESTION OF THE MONTH
To join this monthly blog hop visit Michael G D'Agostino's blog.


QUESTION: What are some new year’s resolutions you’ve had in the past?

My Answer: I set reasonable goals every New Year's Eve. It's a tradition. I write down a list of goals, including some of my deepest wishes on a piece of paper. Then I store it in a glass bottle for the whole year. At the end of the year, I fish it out and see if I met any of my goals. 
Some of my old goals that I achieved: 
- Move out of my apartment into a house- Buy a laptop- Get a car- Get my GED - Finish writing certain stories- Submit certain stories for publication

Best of Write with Fey for 2015 / Holiday R.A.N.T.

NOTE: I recently had dental surgery, so please forgive me if I don't get back to you right away.

Every year I do a Best of Write with Fey post, so here are the most popular posts from my blog for 2015:

Top 5 Best Writing About Posts:
1. Writing About: Winter -  This was my first seasonal post and the one with the most views, comments, and shares.
2. Writing About: Witches– A lot of commenters thank me for shining a light on what real witches are versus what society has pegged them to be.
3. Writing About: School – So many told me about their time in school and about being bullied. It was wonderful and heartbreaking.
4. Writing About: A Corpse– I got more feedback on this one than I thought I would’ve.
5. Writing About: Ghosts (Part 2) – Even more tips on how to write about a ghostly character.


Top 10 Best Random Posts:
1. Blog Post Ideas – This post is a list of blog post ideas for those who struggle to find something to blog about.
2. Dear Mom – A letter I wrote for my mom.
3. Nature in a Frame – A Kid’s Project– This is a neat nature project you can do with your kids/grandkids/nieces or nephews.
4. I’m a Tree Hugger! – My best tree photography.
5. A Kick in the Butt / IWSG– I shared an email that kicked me in the butt.
6. My Sunflowers – Pictures of the sunflowers I grew from seeds.
7. Self-Defense Tips – Self-Defense tips that anyone can do.
8. Bullying Awareness Project – A project to teach kids about the impact of bullying and hurtful words.
9. 15 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas – A list of easy, crafty Christmas gift ideas.
10. 12 Days of Writer’s Christmas – A fun poem...go ahead...sing it!


Top 10 Best Publishing Posts:
1. Blogging 101 – tips on how to create a blog, get readers, and even to spice up an existing blog.
2. How to Create an Author Facebook Page– step-by-step tips and advice on how to get likes.
3. The Ultimate Editing List– the title pretty much says it all.
4. Organization Tips – for writers, authors, and bloggers.
5. How to Write an Author Bio– again, self-explanatory.
6. Working with a Cover Artist– advice on how to get a cover image you want and how to work with a cover artist.
7. How to do a Cover Reveal– Techniques for how to do a cover reveal.
8. Book Release Party – Tips on how to host a successful Facebook book release party.
9. Getting Reviews – Full of tips on how to get more reviews for your books.
10. How to Promote Free Days – This post will tell you how to get the most out of your book’s free days.


Top 10 Best A to Z Posts:
1. A is for Avalanche (most comments)
2. E is for Earthquake
3. J is for Judgment Day
4. P is for Plague
5. Q is for Quasar Explosion
6. S is for Solar Flare and Sinkhole
7. T is for Tornado and Tsunami
8. W is for Wildfire
9. Y is for Ypres Battle (And All Wars)(most views)
10. Z is for Zombie Apocalypse
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If you want to participate in R.A.N.T.
hosted by J.A.Scott, you can find me details HERE.
It really bothers me when people say, “It’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays!” Why can’t it be a merry Christmas for you and a happy holiday for someone else?
What's so wrong about saying “Happy Holidays” anyway? Wishing someone happiness during this lovely time of the year is a Christian thing to do. I'm Christian and if someone me tells me “Happy Holidays” I smile and say it back, because by saying that they are wishing me a happy Christmas and New Year. I even say “Happy Holidays” to strangers.
People get so mad over this phrase because they dont believe in the other holidays/religions, but this season is not meant to be a time of anger. So, say “Happy Holidays” to someone and see how it brightens up their faces. Let that brighten you.
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Well, that’s it for 2015. I’m taking a blogging break starting...now! I’ll be back in 2016. :)
XOXO,Chrys Fey


Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!