M.J. Compton's Blog, page 64
July 26, 2015
Laughter and Romance Writers
I belong to my local chapter of Romance Writers of America. We meet monthly at a local library. Sometimes, the “big” room isn’t available for our day-long meeting, so our sessions are split–mornings in a smaller meeting room, afternoons in the big room.
This happened a few months ago. As we were leaving the smaller room, I noticed a group of women sitting at a table outside the smaller room. “Are you ladies waiting to get into this room?” I asked.
“Yes,” several of them replied.
I stuck my head in the door and told the stragglers the next group was waiting to get in there.
“What group are you?” one of the ladies asked.
“We’re the Central New York Romance Writers,” I replied.
“You certainly laugh a lot. What was so funny?”
“Love is funny. Life is funny. Romance goes for the happy ending!” I replied.
According to RWA (and we are the last word in romance fiction) a novel must have two elements to be considered a romance: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.
I read an article in Publisher’s Weekly not too long ago: “When did happiness fall out of fashion?” The author of the article concluded with, “Books with happy endings are a gift of hope.”
Isn’t that a wonderful thing?
Happiness Happens month starts on August 1. I’m going to start my list a little early: Happiness Happens when one of the books I write gives someone hope.
July 22, 2015
Story Bibles
One thing I cannot do without while writing my Toke Lobo & the Pack werewolf series is my story bible. I wish I’d kept it up to date a little better than I did. I’m correcting that now.
The story bible is a 3-ring binder that contains all the pertinent information about the series in one place:
how the characters are related to each other
hair and eye color; build; etc.
who plays which instrument in the band
pack status
all of my wolf, werewolf, and country music research
casual mentions of people in one book who might actually show up in another–example: in Moonlight Serenade, the character Luke mentions his cousin Drioni is the band’s webmistress. My first draft of Luke’s story mentioned Drioni was related to another character. Oops! Glad I thought to check that.
The physical sensations a human experiences when in the energy field of a shifting werewolf.
I have read series where the author changes something three or four books into the series, and I always find that discombobulating.
Solution: a story bible.
July 19, 2015
Slice of Life Sundae!
Today is National Ice Cream Day.
I will admit, I am an ice cream addict. I stopped bothering with scoops and bowls years ago. I simply sit with the carton and my spoon.
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of favorite flavors.
Heavenly Hash was probably the first “grown-up” ice cream I loved.
Lady Borden used to make Tin Roof Swirl (fudge ripple with peanuts), and when I had a bad day at then-current-day-job, a quart of that would be lunch.
Fell in love with Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.
My daughter was gestated on Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie (which probably explains why she loathes chocolate).
Panda Paws and Moose Tracks have become recent favorites.
My local supermarket chain, Wegmans (one of the America’s top 10 employers, according to Forbes), has an amazing Peanut Butter Sundae: a lightly flavored peanut butter ice cream with peanut better cups, fudge swirl, and peanut butter swirls.
Byrne, a local dairy, makes Midnight Madness, which I discovered quite by accident. Creamy Chocolate Ice Cream with Chocolate Fudge Swirl & White Chocolate Chunks. How can you go wrong?
Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Caramel Fudge is a new favorite.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
July 15, 2015
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
I am on vacation from Day Job this week. That does not mean I am not working. I am. So far, I’ve written 20 pages every day since Sunday. That’s a lot of words. And in my local RWA chapter, every 20-page day is also a purple rose in our annual end-of-the-year rose ceremony. Twenty pages is about 5,000 words.
I’m also re-reading a favorite summer book — one I forgot to include on my summer reading list the other day. The Happy Summer Days by Sue Kaufman (perhaps best known for Diary of a Mad Housewife) is another book I tend to re-read each summer. I came across a quote in it that describes what’s been going on with the writing:
If only she’d come some other time instead of now, when she had stumbled onto one of those periods creative people dream about–mind all lost, world receded, only cramping muscles, a dryness of the mouth, reminding one that time has passed and passed and one has worked enough.
And that is how I’m spending my summer vacation.
July 12, 2015
Patio – Writing Garden Update
I am officially on vacation. My vacation plans for this year are to sit on my patio, stare at my writing garden and write.
Unfortunately, my plans didn’t come together quite the way I envisioned.
For starters, the patio extension still isn’t complete. Even after I told the Vanishing Landscaper I needed it done by vacation time.
And the writing garden still looks mostly like a mud hole where a pool used to be.
But I do have new patio furniture, and today I purchased plastic wine glasses for patio use. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased three solar lights for the area. I found citronella candles in the basement. I’m ready.
I’ll make do–because it’s summer and warm and sunny and my current work-in-progress is flowing almost faster than I can type it. But the patio – writing garden fantasy persists.
July 8, 2015
Summer Reading List
People always seem to have a summer reading list. Then I realized I do, too, although it’s not as formalized as some I’ve seen. So here’s what I plan to read this summer, in no particular order:
The Last Time I Saw Her by Karen Robards
If you haven’t read Robards’ Dr. Charlotte Stone series, and you’re a fan of romantic suspense with a touch of paranormal, you don’t know what you’re missing. The fourth installment of the series is due out August 25. Okay, maybe there’s more of a touch of paranormal here. The hero? Well, he’s a ghost.
After the Storm: A Kate Burkholder Novel by Linda Castillo
July 14th is the release date on the latest in Castillo’s Amish mystery series. Lifetime made a movie of the first book in the series. If you like a good mystery and an exploration of a different culture, I highly recommend this series.
Devoted in Death by JD Robb (okay, this isn’t out until September, but it’s still on my list)
The continuing saga of Eve Dallas and Rourke. Futuristic police procedural. I’ve been reading the “In Death” series for years.
A Family Come True by Kris Fletcher
I love Kris Fletcher’s stories. They are crafted with such care. The characters are people you know. Always a great read.
A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle
Annual summer re-reads for me. Wine, food, hot summer days & nights. What more can I say?
Superstition by Karen Robards
Another annual summer re-read. Summer on Pawley’s Island. An old murder, ghosts, and a TV reporter with more ambition than common sense. Great twist at the end. One of Robards’ best.
Omega Moon Rising by MJ Compton (hey! that’s me!)
I plan to have the final draft of the book in the Toke Lobo & the Pack werewolf series done and revised this summer. This is Luke’s story. Have to read it to revise it.
What are your reading plans for the summer?
July 5, 2015
Reading By the Season: July
JULY-A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle
We had talked about it during the long gray winters and the damp green summers, looked with an addict’s longing at photographs of village markets and vineyards, dreamed of being woken up by the sun slanting through the bedroom window.
This collection of twelve months worth of stories from the British author’s life the first year he and his wife moved to the south of France fills a need in me, best expressed in the above quote. The descriptions of the wonderful local foods and wines combined with the hot, dry weather are bliss to this misplaced-in-a winter-world reader.. I looked for a book with these elements for years before I discovered this one. The follow up book, Toujours Provence, is also good, in a different way.
July 1, 2015
WIP Wednesday: Nona Raines
MJ: I’m delighted to have author Nona Raines as my guest today. Nona, July is National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day. If you could create a “new” flavor of ice cream what would it be? Why?
NR: If I could, I would re-instate a now defunct Ben and Jerry’s flavor–it is my all-time favorite! It was a pineapple ice cream with swirls of mango sorbet. It was delicious. Unfortunately, it was only around for a short time. Boo hoo.
MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?
NR: Gee, if I didn’t write, I’m not sure what I would do creatively. I’ve tried knitting and crocheting, but could never get beyond scarves. I’m too old to get back to roller skating. If I couldn’t write, I’d probably just keep making up stories in my head.
MJ: Other than writing, what would be your dream job? Why?
NR: I would be a librarian in the world’s biggest library, and I’d have the place all to myself. All those lovely books–mine, all mine!
MJ: Describe your ideal or dream writing space.
NR: I like to move around when I write, so my dream writing space would be a beautiful house with plenty of rooms. When I got tired of one room, I’d move to another. And of course there would be a garden in case I wanted to bring my laptop outside.
MJ: What do you love most about your WIP hero?
NR: I love the fact that he is playful and mischievous, a bit naughty, but underneath it all has a level head and a kind heart.
MJ: What do you least like about your WIP heroine?
NR: I think what I like least about her is her insecurity about her body. But the hero helps her work that out, lol.
MJ: What genre is your current WIP?
NR: It is a sexy contemporary New Adult romance.
MJ: How did you come up with your hero and heroine’s names?
NR: For Cam I wanted something short and kind of sexy. His last name is Cleary, because I wanted to make him Irish American. My heroine is Layla Messner. Her first name just sounded pretty. I like to give my characters names that aren’t run of the mill Smith/Jones etc. Messner sounded like a good solid Germanic last name.
MJ: How did you choose the setting for your current WIP?
NR: The setting is Buffalo, NY. Usually I create fictional towns, but because I’ve been to Buffalo a number of times and I know someone who lives there, I thought it would be fun to place a story there.
MJ: Can you share the first few sentences of Layla and Cam’s story?
NR: I’d love to. The working title is Not the Hot Chick
Jessi Wallace eyed the cute bartender’s butt the way a hungry cat might eye an unsuspecting bird. She actually licked her lips. “I am so going to do him.”
Layla Messner held back a sigh, took another sip of her lemon drop martini and asked herself for the sixth time that night, Why am I here, again?
Oh, right. Because I’m the wingman. Wingwoman. Whatever.
MJ: Oooh. I’m hooked! And do you have a book out now?
NR: Yes, Don’t Let Go.
Here’s a blurb:
Annalee wants a no-strings fling. Eric’s all about the strings.
Twelve years ago, when Eric Sorenson’s date dumped him right before the Senior Prom, his older sister’s best friend stepped in to save him from total humiliation. He never forgot Annalee or what she did for him that night…or the kiss they shared. He wants Annalee, and if he has his way, they’ll take up where they left off. And this time, he won’t let go.
After a messy divorce, Annalee’s not looking forward to her high school reunion. She’s shocked when Eric appears at her door ready to return the favor and play escort. Gone is the inexperienced boy with a severe stutter—he’s a striking, confident man. The memory of the kiss they shared rekindles an attraction that never died, and she’s been on her own for a year. Isn’t she entitled to kick loose and have a let’s-go-crazy night?
MJ: And where can people purchase it?
MJ: And how can readers stay in touch with you?
NR: I have a website, I’m on Facebook, and Twitter. I also have a blog and am on Goodreads.
MJ: Thanks so much for joining me today, and good luck with your books!
June 28, 2015
Dessert & Discussion
The public library system in the city in which I live recently reached out to me to kick off their adult summer reading program, Dessert & Discussion. I was thrilled to accept. The first program is on the topic of romance. Not only am I a romance author, but I am current president of Central New York Romance Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America.
So, if you’re in the Central New York area on Tuesday, June 30, I’ll be hosting a discussion on the romance genre at the Paine Branch Library on Nichols Ave in Eastwood. We’ll be starting at 6pm. Stop by to share your favorite romance titles and hear what other readers enjoy!
June 24, 2015
AlphaSmart: The Writer’s Dream Machine
In 2000, I bought a miracle machine. It was called an AlphaSmart. It was a portable key board with memory for 100 pages in 8 separate files. It ran (forever) on 3 double A batteries. It weighed next to nothing. The screen showed only 4 lines at a time, but could be read outside. It came with cable to hook to a computer to upload what you’d written into a file. And you didn’t have to worry about hitting a save button. “Alph” automatically saved everything. The unit was more portable than a laptop.
Other authors discovered AlphaSmart. In the Reno airport in 2004, after the RWA national conference, I overheard an airport employee saying he’d never heard of them until that week, and it seemed all these women were traveling with them.
I used Alph for years. I had to replace a couple of keys, the space bar, and the batteries, but entire books were written on Alph. Eventually the LCD screen popped a vessel or something a couple of years ago and the liquid crystal bled across the viewing window. The plastic holding the metal springy thingy for the spacebar broke. The “B” key split in half and fell off. The company had been sold, the new owners no longer sold replacement parts, and discontinued making the Writer’s Dream Machine. After nearly 10 years of slave labor, my original Alph had to retire. My $200 investment had been a great one.
Last year, one of my critique partners was cleaning out her office. She had an AlphaSmart she’d rarely used and offered to give it to me. I hemmed. I hawed. Eventually I caved.
Why did I hesitate for even a second?
I can pound out a page before I leave for work in the morning; another page is written on my lunch hour–all without waiting for my laptop to boot up. There’s no Internet distraction. I can sit on my patio-in-progress and just write. I still have an index card I wrote out years ago with a page conversion table on it: 0.6 Alph pages = 1 “old-fashioned” 250-word page; 1.2 = 2; 1.8=3; and so on.
Other authors I know still use their AlphaSmarts. I’m glad I rediscovered the joy of mine.
