Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 51

Out and About at Romance Lives Forever

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Interviewed at Romance Lives Forever and
talked about the fantasy romance 
Windmaster Legend. 




 

Tuesday's Title, Misguided Honor #timetravel #romanticSuspense

Can Becca unravel the past and prevent the tragic death of a heartbroken young woman?

Title: Misguided Honor (Unraveling the Past #1)
Author: J. S. Marlo

Date of Release: September 2019
Genre: Time Travel Romantic Suspense

Publisher: BLW Publishing
Buy Links:   Amazon  / Barnes&Noble /  Apple iTunes  / Kobo  

Blurb:

Fascinated by the Legend of the Cornwallis Ghost, Becca sneaks into a military base to see the ghost’s tombstone.

When she finds and follows a secret tunnel to the Officers’ Mess, Becca meets a living and breathing Eve, the betrayed young woman who hanged herself and haunts Cornwallis.

Trapped in the past with Eve in the days leading up to her tragic death, Becca becomes Rebecca, a woman devastated by a shattering loss and failing marriage.

Can Becca unravel the past to give Rebecca and Eve a second chance, and escape with her heart and future intact?

Behind the Scene:

Back in the late 1980's, hubby and I enjoyed a three-year posting to beautiful CFB Cornwallis, a Canadian military training base in Nova Scotia. We lived in PMQs and from my living room window, I was spoiled with the most gorgeous sunsets over the Annapolis Basin. We moved in with one daughter and moved out with two daughters and half a son.

The thing that fascinated me the most on the base was the legend of the ghost of the Officers' Mess. According to the legend, a local young woman fell madly in love with a British sailor during WWII. When the sailor left on his warship to go back to his wife to England, she was heartbroken. She watched him sail away from one of the upstairs bedrooms of the Officers' Mess before hanging herself in front of the window. Her ghost was said to haunt the Officers' Mess, making strange noises and playing with lights, but only showing her ghostly self to unfaithful married men.

I wasn't a writer back then, but I've never forgotten that legend. I've always thought it would make a great story. Well, more than thirty years later, I tackled the story of the ghost in "Misguided Honor."

In Misguided Honor, a reporter named Becca sneaked into CFB Cornwallis to investigate the story of the ghost only to be transported back in time to 1941 where she meets the local young woman in the days prior to her tragic death.

Author Bio:

J.S. grew up in Shawinigan, a small French Canadian town. She attended military college for a year, then married a young officer and raised two daughters and a son. She enjoyed many wonderful postings in many different parts of Canada. She isn't sure where time flew, but decades later, she ended up under the Northern Lights in Alberta spoiling a gorgeous little granddaughter.

For more on J. S. and her works, find her on the web at:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

If the police searched my computer... #MFRWauthor

Welcome to week 40 of the challenge. The official topic is "Research - How It Can Open New Worlds For you." The inspiration for this week's post came from a story told by a mystery author about how the research that was on her computer could be misinterpreted. She flippantly said that if police ever searched her computer and discovered all the information on ways to kill someone or various other sundry crimes, she would need bail money. So that is how the title came to be.

But how does that tie into opening new worlds? The information acquired through the research allows you to to do things in your mind that you would never be capable of, either physically, emotionally, or perhaps most importantly, without running afoul of the law. Then you capture the dream or experience in words and call it writing.

Before my writing shifted to fantasy, I was a correspondent and feature story writer for a military collectors magazine. Forget poisons and such, my computer was filled with all kind of pictures, research, and sometimes even fun information on tanks and fighter planes. Oh yeah, did I say cannons and automatic weapons too?

While traditional fantasies do not lend themselves to such things, the information on bladed weapons and tactics has come in handy to make my sword fights realistic. Some of the characterization used in WindmasterI and Windmaster Legacy as the characters faced their final challenges came from interviews with former military officers, martial artists, and historic reenactors.

And as far as planning a murder? I take the fifth and refuse to incriminate myself.

As for my characters? A teaser to a scene in Hatchling's Curse. After a burial at sea attracts a fast-moving swarm of toothfish, creatures that pass for sharks in the land of the dragshi, the body is gone without a trace. Only the frayed ends of the tow-rope remain. Broch realizes her enemies could disappear, that once the toothfish have their way, the bodies will NEVER be found.


~till next time, Helen

Autumn Cleaning

Summer vacation is over. School is back in session. Beach towels, lawn chairs, and bathing suits have been cleaned, washed off, and put away until next year. You could call it fall cleaning (the slightly cooler weather second-cousin to spring cleaning, but there is more than can be done than getting the house ready for autumn and winter. It can be time to clean your computer.

Take fifteen minutes a day, or if you have the time a half-hour or an hour, to do things like:

Wipe the fingerprints off the screenVacuum out the sand or other tiny granules that have found their way between the keys Back Up... back up... back up your hard driveDelete unneeded files (Yes, I put back up and delete in that order for a reason. You may have a slightly larger backup, but if you find out you need a file, the odds are better you will have it. If you delete first, there is no backup if you find you really didn't mean to get rid of it.



Organize emails into folders and delete emails that contain dated or inaccurate informationIf you use a universal link, rescan it to see if any additional sites now carry your books Update pre-release posts and cover reveals to include the sales sites  
There is another computer-related item that will apply to many of us. Update the website. Now I'm not just talking about cleaning out old posts that are no longer relevant. If a broken link scan hasn't been performed in a while, this is a good time to do so before the busy autumn season. Results of the check were a total of 3000 pages scanned and 57 broken links found. A couple were my fault where I put in the placeholder title of the article it was to link back to rather than the actual URL. Me bad. Then there were a couple where the author changed their website without putting in a redirect. They bad.

The items that constituted the most broken links were the result of the changing world.

An ebook site going awayA site's reorganization of their archivesSales sites no longer valid for books that were showcased on my site and which are no longer available or an updated version was published which resulted in a different ASIN, ISBN, and URL.~till next time, Happy Cleaning, Halen

Why A Legend Has An Epilogue #MFRWAuthor

The post, Where's the Ending? from the 2018 challenge dealt with epilogues. In the year that has passed since I wrote Where's the Ending, I still don't write epilogues. This time around, we are asked not whether to have an epilogue or not, but more of the why.

To me, an epilogue hurts a story. I prefer to have a final ending to a story. And many guides state a happily-ever after ending, or at least a happily for now is a requirement for the romance genre.

And I particularly don't like cliff-hangers. Even if a work is a series, the main thread should be tied up enough to leave the reader feeling satisfied.

That said, I broke my own rules with Windmaster Legend. The story ends with the hero and heroine trapped with no escape. Or more accurately, I should say that the last numbered chapter ends at the edge of the cliff.

“I’m sorry, Iol,” Pelra said. “It’s my fault you lost your ship, your crew. Now when those of Pirri arrive, they’ll put both of us on the pyre.”

A tilt of his head indicated the waves below. “Trust me?”

“Of course, my love.”

She stepped into his arms. He pulled her close. One finger tilted her head up, he lowered his. His lips met hers. The world fell away, time suspended. For long moments, not even the baying of the hounds broke through.

A deep sigh and Iol broke the embrace. “Ready?”

“Yes.” Taking her hand he walked to edge of the cliff. A narrow path wound its way partway down the cliff. “We’ll climb down as far as we can. If we make the beach, we head north. If we can’t, we’ll jump. That ledge mid-way down the cliff juts out beyond the rocks. It will be like the cliff divers of Tarekus.”

At the flash of fear in her eyes, he squeezed her hand. “It’s no higher than the leap from the yardarm every novice has to make.”

“I never made the leap,” Pelra confessed. “My test was from the bowsprit.”

“Just jump out as far as you can and cross your arms across your chest. After you hit the water, kick towards the light. I’ll come over and get you.”

He kissed her again as if it was for the last time. “After all, it wouldn’t do for the bearer of gold bracelets to let someone drown on their watch.”

“Then let’s go, captain. I have the urge to swim,” Pelra answered.

Down the pair climbed. Each step took them closer to the lower ledge and the tentative safety.

All too soon, it became clear. They would never reach the beach. They would have to jump from the ledge.

Iol stopped and turned. Pelra moved into his embrace. They held the position, lovers frozen in time and space. A loud, “There they are,” and they broke apart. “On three,” Iol said. “One… two…I love you, Pel.” A deep breath and, “Three.”
At this point, the major issues between the hero and heroine had been resolved, and they were together. I could have written several more chapters giving details of what happened after the step, but it felt way too anti-climatic.

What happened to the two lovers according to legend was mentioned in the two earlier books in the series and several possible outlooks after the leap were already presented to the reader. Depending on their mood of the day and whether they wanted fantasy, romance, or a mixture of both, I wanted to allow the reader to have their own vision of what happened to the star-crossed lovers. Instead of telling them,  I wrote an epilogue.

The trick was to tie this un-numbered section into the two earlier books and the current one. I did this by having the narrative presented in the point-of-view of the ancestress of one of the characters from the two earlier books. A child she asks her grandfather about two bright stars in the sky. Readers who haven't read Windmaster or Windmaster Legacy, are told the legend. Then the various endings, all happily-ever-after of course, are given.


“Because of Iol and Pelra’s devotion to each other and to the water gods, the gods brought up a storm to protect the lovers. Then they transformed Iol and Pelra into shipfish. Legend has it they swam together to the end of the world.” He pointed to a pair of stars so bright they were visible despite the shimmering curtain of green lights. “One powerful leap carried them into the night sky.”
Rima studied the sky as the lights gradually faded until only the stars appeared.
I hope you consider adding Windmaster Legend to your to be read pile so you can chose the ending you prefer. This is a blog hop. Visit the other authors in the challenge to see whether they use epilogues or not. 

~till next time, Helen

Crickets Aren't The Worst Result

Week 38 of the 2019 challenge is "Whether or not to enter contests." A brief discussion of pros, cons, and tips appeared in Part 1.

This year I decided to break my own rule of not entering contests and submitted a book into an contest. Rather than an excerpt, I thought I'd use the spot in the #mfrwhook hop to post about his years experience.  I promise not to turn it into a complete rant. A summary of earlier years Contest Experiences appeared in the 2018 challenge.
Why did I enter? It was a chance to get a book before a large group of book reviewers in my genre. The reviews would be on their blogs, in their newsletters, on the contest site, and of course, all the readers of the above. I felt pretty safe, the book had had good reviews both from readers and editorial sites. I didn't do it for the reviews, but for the exposure to new readers.

My experience? Let's just say the contest button won't be on my website. I will not be promoting the results or recommending the contest to anyone. The first round judge gave low ratings to half the first group of entries. And it wasn't because of poor writing, typos, lack of editing or anything dealing with craft. Not every story reasonates with every reader and that is a given. However, when I judged contests the first rule was to keep your own personal preferences out of the judging. Not liking a story because it didn't reasonate with you was only one factor in the scoring. Not the total score.

No, this reason the books were ripped apart was because this particular judge believes there should be no romance in a fantasy.

I'm not going to tell you what book(s) were involved, nor the judge. I'm deleted the contest information from my tracking system and marked the task entry as DNF, Do Not Use. Now that the bad memory is blocked, it's time to move on to other projects. There are more reviews to be requested, books to be written and edited, and posts to be written.
~till next time, Helen

Out and About - Visiting with a Lady at BWL

Today I'm guest posting on the BWL authors blog. Or I should say, Lady Pelra of the House of Pirri is visiting the blog. Hope you'll stop by and see the secrets she shares about her life.

https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/2019/09/meeting-lady-by-helen-henderson.html

~till next time, Helen

Crickets and $$$ #MFRWAuthor

Week 38 of the 2019 challenge is "Whether or not to enter contests." Just as I sat down to write the post the image of people bearing balloons and an oversized check appeared on television with the question "Would you like XXX dollars for life?" While the answer is yes, whether or not I would enter the contest is a different story.

But since this post is part of the Marketing for Romance Authors challenge, I will answer the question as it relates to me as an author.

First, reasons to enter a contest. If you win there can be:
Cash prizesChance at publication contractBragging rightsMarketing advantage
Other advantages are more ephemeral and can be yours just for entering the contest, even if you don't win.
Writing contests provide great experience in writing to a specific topic or theme.You get to practice adhering to a word limit, which is very important for professional writing assignments.You must under a deadline.You get to practice editing.You receive valuable feedback on your writing skills and style.Your work may be noticed, picked up, or published, opening new doors and paths for future publication of your work.You build a network of connections and a platform for future work.If you enter an unpublished manuscript, you may be able to receive valuable feedback from professional judges (authors, editors, agents, etc) you can use to improve your skill as a writer.Then there are the cons:
Feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy that come with entering a writing competitionFees can be expensiveSimply by entering a contest, you may inadvertently relinquish first publishing rights to the organization running the contest, thereby killing any opportunity to shop your work around to publishing houses in the future.

Before closing a few tips:
Is the entry fee reasonable? / Who’s doing the judging? / Have you protected your rights?ALWAYS read the rules and guidelines before submitting to contests.Make sure you'll be getting something out of it. In some contests, it is more important to get traffic on the site than to uncover the next bestselling author?
And what could be the most important - Create an entry of the highest quality writing and craftsmanship.


Though a little dated dated, Writers Digest gives insight into the pros and cons of entering a writing contest and I will end the post with how they did.

When it comes to writing contests, enter at your own risk. You may lose a finger or two. Before you decide against it, though, ask yourself if the benefits of a great critique outweigh the drawbacks of a bad one. After all, what’s a few fingers?

Oh and about my personal experiences with writing contests? There is a saying on a popular court show. "Say it, forget it. Write it, regret it." I'm going to think before I write, so there will be a Part 2.
The other posts are at http://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/. Or if you have a favorite author, on the individual links below. ~till next time, Helen

Weekend Writing Warriors, Battle's Eve, Hatchling's Vengeance

​ 
Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


​Today's excerpt is from the fantasy romance Hatchling's Vengeance. To set, the scene, the dragshi have located the Parant's forces. Talann is saying farewell to Glynnes as he leaves for battle. She has fought him, demanding to fight at her his side. Even though they had been engaged, they hadn't yet had their formal ceremony, a situation Talann offered to rectify that night. She has refused because she knew it would distract him, his father, and the rest of the dragshi from preparing for the war. And now the Sunday Snippet, Talann's response to her refusal.

* * * *

“To my last day, to my last breath.” His tight embrace reinforced his words. “As I have made a vow, Glynnes, I need one from you.” The sorrow in his gaze deepened. “Promise me that if I fall, you will live.” After a moment, he added, “Without the formal handfasting to tighten our bond beyond breaking, I know you are strong enough.”

His pause showed Glynnes the effort Talann was taking to maintain control of his emotions. The depth of it shocked her. No one had ever cared for her to the point of giving up everything.

“Promise me to live,” he pressed. “However long it takes, I will wait for you on the other side of the veil.”

* * * *

Buy Links: 1-Click to all Ebook Sites Or if you prefer paperback: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.
​I hope you like the snippet I shared for Talann and Glynnes this week. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads. 

~till next time, Helen

Passing On Bad News #MFRWAuthor

The topic for week 37 of the 2019 52-week #MFRWAuthor Challenge is very similar to one from the 2018 challenge. 2019 is "What if anything would you pay not to have to do again?" while last year's was ""If I Never Had To Do This One Task Again." One implies an unpleasant task. Doing dishes was a popular task many of us would happily forgo doing. The other prompt could be construed the same way, merely as an unpleasant taken, or taken a step further. If you're a James Bond fan you might remember  "Never Say Never Again." You'll never XXX, then life or fate forces your hand.

This is one of the few posts which is personal. I once swore I would never tell someone that a friend or loved one had died. Don't say never because fate will get back at you. At last count, I've presented the "I'm sorry to tell you, but..." message a dozen times. For a while it seemed every time one family member was in the hospital, one of her friends died. And I had to do tell her.

Doing notifications requires a certain temperament and empathy, and takes a toll on one's soul. And I don't think if you are human, it ever gets easier. There are cases such as with a stroke victim whose memory net has a hole where the memory of their parent's death and funerals used to reside, or the person with dementia who continually forgets a relative's death.

The empty spot in the memory is not filled with the first telling of the bad news, or sometimes even the fifth or sixth. The hole is a black hole, absorbing news that the person cannot or will not accept. Do you keep telling the person, forcing them to relive the grief and loss? Or find a way to deflect the question? A few resources I've encountered are at the very bottom of the post.

My respect to pastors, doctors, and those in the military who have to deliver final notifications. 

My piggy bank doesn't hold much, but it's yours if the next time a notification has to be made, you'll choose to accept the mission. till next time, Helen

http://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/








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What to Do When a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Forgets that Someone is Dead


Tips for Delivering Bad News to Senior Parents