Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog, page 70

SECRET WRITERS: PENNY DAWN

Secret Writers

Penny Dawn

As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.

PENNY DAWN
Do I write under a pseudonym? I suppose I do. However, the name on the spine of my books is on my birth certificate, on my passport, and I'm sure it will be on my death certificate, too, so it doesn't often feel like a pen name at all. I write under my first two names, leaving my Catholic names and my last name out of the limelight. My reasons for doing so are two-fold, although both circle around the genre in which I write:

First, I write erotic fiction. I don't see any reason why my baptismal and confirmation names need to be involved in something sexy. In that vein, why should I use the name I was given at the altar of St. Gilbert Catholic, when I was married? Marriage is a sacrament, and like baptism and confirmation, we receive names for performing the rites involved. Therefore, I omit these names out of respect for my faith--seeing as my fiction doesn't quite jibe with much of what I learned in Sunday school. While I'm Penny Dawn S*****-T***** S****** in other facets of life, I am Penny Dawn when writing erotica. Think Clark Kent and Superman...or at least Madonna and Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.

Second, while I cherish my privacy (and I'm leery of stalkers, but that's another story), I'm also proud of every word I write. I don't mind if my neighbors know that Penny Dawn of erotica is really PDSTS of the PTO. But someday, my daughters, ages 7 and 9, might mind. They ought to be awarded the opportunity to decide how involved they want to be in the publishings of my alter ego. Maybe they'll be embarrassed to tell their high school boyfriends that their mom writes erotica. Maybe they'll be proud. I don't know how they'll feel, but they deserve the chance to decide for themselves. I'm raising daughters with strong voices, but my genre falls under harsh criticism. My decision to write erotica has nothing to do with my girls, so they shouldn't have to defend me or my work, if they don't want to do so.

BIO
Penny Dawn is the author of seven novels, including Measuring Up, Rolling in Clover, and Ancient History, seventeen eBooks, and countless poems and trade articles, including "eFabulous: Publishing in a Paperless World" for Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Penny teaches her craft at two colleges in the Chicago suburbs, volunteers at elementary school writing centers, and edits the work of hopeful writers through The Calliope. When she isn’t writing, or teaching others to hone their ability to do so, she immerses herself in other passions: parenthood, the discipline of dance, home improvement, and her yellow lab. You can visit her online at http://www.pennydawn.com .

LINKS
Penny Dawn - http://www.pennydawn.com

Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com

Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

Measuring Up – http://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Up-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797555/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017787&sr=1-1

Rolling in Clover – http://www.amazon.com/Rolling-Clover-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797369/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_11

Ancient History - http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-History-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017748&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: PENNY DAWN

Secret Writers



Penny Dawn



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



PENNY DAWN

Do I write under a pseudonym? I suppose I do. However, the name on the spine of my books is on my birth certificate, on my passport, and I'm sure it will be on my death certificate, too, so it doesn't often feel like a pen name at all. I write under my first two names, leaving my Catholic names and my last name out of the limelight. My reasons for doing so are two-fold, although both circle around the genre in which I write:



First, I write erotic fiction. I don't see any reason why my baptismal and confirmation names need to be involved in something sexy. In that vein, why should I use the name I was given at the altar of St. Gilbert Catholic, when I was married? Marriage is a sacrament, and like baptism and confirmation, we receive names for performing the rites involved. Therefore, I omit these names out of respect for my faith--seeing as my fiction doesn't quite jibe with much of what I learned in Sunday school. While I'm Penny Dawn S*****-T***** S****** in other facets of life, I am Penny Dawn when writing erotica. Think Clark Kent and Superman...or at least Madonna and Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.



Second, while I cherish my privacy (and I'm leery of stalkers, but that's another story), I'm also proud of every word I write. I don't mind if my neighbors know that Penny Dawn of erotica is really PDSTS of the PTO. But someday, my daughters, ages 7 and 9, might mind. They ought to be awarded the opportunity to decide how involved they want to be in the publishings of my alter ego. Maybe they'll be embarrassed to tell their high school boyfriends that their mom writes erotica. Maybe they'll be proud. I don't know how they'll feel, but they deserve the chance to decide for themselves. I'm raising daughters with strong voices, but my genre falls under harsh criticism. My decision to write erotica has nothing to do with my girls, so they shouldn't have to defend me or my work, if they don't want to do so.



BIO

Penny Dawn is the author of seven novels, including Measuring Up, Rolling in Clover, and Ancient History, seventeen eBooks, and countless poems and trade articles, including "eFabulous: Publishing in a Paperless World" for Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Penny teaches her craft at two colleges in the Chicago suburbs, volunteers at elementary school writing centers, and edits the work of hopeful writers through The Calliope. When she isn't writing, or teaching others to hone their ability to do so, she immerses herself in other passions: parenthood, the discipline of dance, home improvement, and her yellow lab. You can visit her online at http://www.pennydawn.com .



LINKS

Penny Dawn - http://www.pennydawn.com



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1



Measuring Up – http://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Up-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797555/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017787&sr=1-1



Rolling in Clover – http://www.amazon.com/Rolling-Clover-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797369/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_11



Ancient History - http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-History-Penny-Dawn/dp/1592797113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017748&sr=1-1

Excerpt from Many Genres One Craft

HEIDI RUBY MILLER
photo by Jason Jack Miller

EXCERPT from "Tomorrow's Kiss: The Duality of SF Romance" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:

Romance and Science Fiction. Because the classification for either of these genres is open at best, deciding how to define the two when blended strains the mind. For this article we'll settle for an anemic definition: SF Romance presents a plot which relies on an alternative reality, usually brought forth through technology, as well an emotional journey of a couple or multiple couples.

With such an exciting and intriguing concept, why do Romance and Science Fiction readers have such a difficult time embracing SF Romance? The answer may come down to nebulous percentages. What portion of the plot, character interaction, and ending is SF and what portion is Romance? If a writer sways too much in one direction or the other, she fears losing part of her audience.
--

EXCERPT from "The Shifting Grail: A Quest for a Good Read" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:

A good, believable grail should be evident to your readers immediately because character motivations provide the foundation for a gripping plot. (How much less exciting would Jurassic Park have been if there was no need to flee the island?) And, when other goals stumble in the character's way and need immediate action (the power outage to the dinosaur paddocks), look out, the grail shifts. The possibilities for reader engagement have just expanded ten-fold (like Dr. Grant riding the rapids to escape the T-Rex).
--

EXCERPT from "Be an Archetype, Not a Stereotype" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:

Be a Hero/Heroine.
Don't be infallible or pretend you're the perfect man/woman…everyone struggles at something. Perfection is boring.

Be a Villain.
Don't be evil-for-the-sake-of-evil. Even a bad guy/gal gets behavioral motivation from somewhere. Access your daddy issues.

Be a Sidekick.
Don't show up the hero/heroine. I know it's hard, but you're only there to make them look good. Sorry.
--

EXCERPT from "I'll Scratch Your Back and You Promote My Book" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:

Giving and receiving in equal measure.

I end my daily yoga sessions with this meditation, then try to put it to practice in all aspects of my life. And, as a former marketing director, I found out how important that philosophy is for promotional interactions as well.

There's a reason sayings like "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" and "you have to give a little to get a little" are so common -- it's because they're true. Think of situations in your own life. Aren't you more likely to help someone who either has helped you in the past or who will be there for you in the future? That balance makes us feel good. We don't like to be taken advantage of, but on the flip side, we gain satisfaction from returning a favor. Promoting your writing can bring about these same feelings while avoiding the guilt of egotism.
--

EXCERPT from "Touring Virtually" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:

Real world book tours often cover large distances, making them expensive and time consuming, so most authors also choose to tour online by asking sites to feature them and their books according to a planned schedule. Here's how to set up your own Virtual Book Tour (VBT):

1.Decide how long and when you want to tour. Do this at least three months before the book's release date. If you have limited time, I recommend scheduling your first stop at least one week prior to your book's release, then continue through the first two weeks of its availability. If you can start earlier, however, you can generate more word of mouth and entice pre-orders. Why not make it a month-long celebration?
--

Heidi Ruby Miller pursued several career paths, just not at the same time, including contract archaeology, foreign currency exchange at Walt Disney World, secondary foreign language teacher, and Educational Marketing Director for a Frank Lloyd Wright House. Now she is adjunct faculty at Seton Hill University, where she graduated from their Writing Popular Fiction graduate program the same month she appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Her fiction is in various print and online publications. Among them are: Ambasadora, "The Islands of Hope" in Sails and Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy (Fantasist Enterprises Ed. by W.H. Horner), "The Surrender" in Best of Every Day Fiction 2008 (Ed. by Jordan Lapp, Camille Gooderham Campbell, and Steven Smethurst), "Mr. Johnson's Boy" and "Sounds in the Jungle" in Eye Contact. She is a member of The Authors Guild, Pennwriters, Broad Universe, and the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Read her author interview series at http://heidirubymiller.com.

Excerpts: Many Genres One Craft

Excerpts



Reposted from the MGOC site :





HEIDI RUBY MILLER

photo by Jason Jack Miller



EXCERPT from "Tomorrow's Kiss: The Duality of SF Romance" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:



Romance and Science Fiction. Because the classification for either of these genres is open at best, deciding how to define the two when blended strains the mind. For this article we'll settle for an anemic definition: SF Romance presents a plot which relies on an alternative reality, usually brought forth through technology, as well an emotional journey of a couple or multiple couples.



With such an exciting and intriguing concept, why do Romance and Science Fiction readers have such a difficult time embracing SF Romance? The answer may come down to nebulous percentages. What portion of the plot, character interaction, and ending is SF and what portion is Romance? If a writer sways too much in one direction or the other, she fears losing part of her audience.

--



EXCERPT from "The Shifting Grail: A Quest for a Good Read" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:



A good, believable grail should be evident to your readers immediately because character motivations provide the foundation for a gripping plot. (How much less exciting would Jurassic Park have been if there was no need to flee the island?) And, when other goals stumble in the character's way and need immediate action (the power outage to the dinosaur paddocks), look out, the grail shifts. The possibilities for reader engagement have just expanded ten-fold (like Dr. Grant riding the rapids to escape the T-Rex).

--



EXCERPT from "Be an Archetype, Not a Stereotype" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:



Be a Hero/Heroine.

Don't be infallible or pretend you're the perfect man/woman…everyone struggles at something. Perfection is boring.



Be a Villain.

Don't be evil-for-the-sake-of-evil. Even a bad guy/gal gets behavioral motivation from somewhere. Access your daddy issues.



Be a Sidekick.

Don't show up the hero/heroine. I know it's hard, but you're only there to make them look good. Sorry.

--



EXCERPT from "I'll Scratch Your Back and You Promote My Book" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:



Giving and receiving in equal measure.



I end my daily yoga sessions with this meditation, then try to put it to practice in all aspects of my life. And, as a former marketing director, I found out how important that philosophy is for promotional interactions as well.



There's a reason sayings like "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" and "you have to give a little to get a little" are so common -- it's because they're true. Think of situations in your own life. Aren't you more likely to help someone who either has helped you in the past or who will be there for you in the future? That balance makes us feel good. We don't like to be taken advantage of, but on the flip side, we gain satisfaction from returning a favor. Promoting your writing can bring about these same feelings while avoiding the guilt of egotism.

--



EXCERPT from "Touring Virtually" by Heidi Ruby Miller in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction:



Real world book tours often cover large distances, making them expensive and time consuming, so most authors also choose to tour online by asking sites to feature them and their books according to a planned schedule. Here's how to set up your own Virtual Book Tour (VBT):



1.Decide how long and when you want to tour. Do this at least three months before the book's release date. If you have limited time, I recommend scheduling your first stop at least one week prior to your book's release, then continue through the first two weeks of its availability. If you can start earlier, however, you can generate more word of mouth and entice pre-orders. Why not make it a month-long celebration?

--



Heidi Ruby Miller pursued several career paths, just not at the same time, including contract archaeology, foreign currency exchange at Walt Disney World, secondary foreign language teacher, and Educational Marketing Director for a Frank Lloyd Wright House. Now she is adjunct faculty at Seton Hill University, where she graduated from their Writing Popular Fiction graduate program the same month she appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Her fiction is in various print and online publications. Among them are: Ambasadora, "The Islands of Hope" in Sails and Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy (Fantasist Enterprises Ed. by W.H. Horner), "The Surrender" in Best of Every Day Fiction 2008 (Ed. by Jordan Lapp, Camille Gooderham Campbell, and Steven Smethurst), "Mr. Johnson's Boy" and "Sounds in the Jungle" in Eye Contact. She is a member of The Authors Guild, Pennwriters, Broad Universe, and the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Read her author interview series at http://heidirubymiller.com.

SECRET WRITERS: CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT

Secret Writers


Crystal B. Bright

As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.

CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT
I decided to use a pseudonym, not because I was embarrassed by writing erotic romance and wanted to distance myself from that side. I did it because I wanted readers to have sort of a shorthand to know what they're getting. When readers pick up a Crystal B. Bright book, they know it'll be a contemporary romance or paranormal romance where the sex mentioned in the book won't be as risque as in an erotic romance novel. When readers pick up a Bridget Midway novel, they know they'll get a great story with sex written in an explicit way.

As far as how I picked my pseudonym, that was easy. Well, once I stopped overthinking it, my final decision was easy. Most people think that my real name, Crystal B. Bright, is my pen name because who would name their child Crystal B. Bright? After trying to find names that were sexy, funny, mysterious, and catchy, I remembered something I had heard of how soap opera stars or porn stars pick their names. They take a middle name and the street they grew up on as their name. I told that story to some friends and one friend quickly said, "Oh, no. Porn stars use their pet's name and the street they grew up on." So I could have been Spunky Midway.

BIO
A self-professed nerd, Crystal B. Bright has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. Not one to give up on her dreams, she was determined to make it as an author after earning her B.A. in Creative Writing from Old Dominion University and her M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her essay "Write from the Heart" appears in the new writing guide Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Crystal makes Virginia Beach her home. She enjoys writing, reading, watching movies and spending quality time with her family and close friends. To know more, please visit her website at www.CrystalBrightWriter.com .

LINKS
Crystal B. Bright - http://www.CrystalBrightWriter.com

Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com

Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

Corporate Desires - http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Desires-Bridget-Midway/dp/1606599976/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303646&sr=1-3

Corporate Needs - http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Needs-Bridget-Midway/dp/1606599992/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303646&sr=1-5

Revamped - http://www.amazon.com/Revamped-Crystal-B-Bright/dp/1586088882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303303879&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT

Secret Writers



Crystal B. Bright



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT

I decided to use a pseudonym, not because I was embarrassed by writing erotic romance and wanted to distance myself from that side. I did it because I wanted readers to have sort of a shorthand to know what they're getting. When readers pick up a Crystal B. Bright book, they know it'll be a contemporary romance or paranormal romance where the sex mentioned in the book won't be as risque as in an erotic romance novel. When readers pick up a Bridget Midway novel, they know they'll get a great story with sex written in an explicit way.



As far as how I picked my pseudonym, that was easy. Well, once I stopped overthinking it, my final decision was easy. Most people think that my real name, Crystal B. Bright, is my pen name because who would name their child Crystal B. Bright? After trying to find names that were sexy, funny, mysterious, and catchy, I remembered something I had heard of how soap opera stars or porn stars pick their names. They take a middle name and the street they grew up on as their name. I told that story to some friends and one friend quickly said, "Oh, no. Porn stars use their pet's name and the street they grew up on." So I could have been Spunky Midway.



BIO

A self-professed nerd, Crystal B. Bright has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. Not one to give up on her dreams, she was determined to make it as an author after earning her B.A. in Creative Writing from Old Dominion University and her M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her essay "Write from the Heart" appears in the new writing guide Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Crystal makes Virginia Beach her home. She enjoys writing, reading, watching movies and spending quality time with her family and close friends. To know more, please visit her website at www.CrystalBrightWriter.com .



LINKS

Crystal B. Bright - http://www.CrystalBrightWriter.com



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1



Corporate Desires - http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Desires-Bridget-Midway/dp/1606599976/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303646&sr=1-3



Corporate Needs - http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Needs-Bridget-Midway/dp/1606599992/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303646&sr=1-5



Revamped - http://www.amazon.com/Revamped-Crystal-B-Bright/dp/1586088882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303303879&sr=1-1

Meet the Contributors of Many Genres One Craft: Randall Silvis

On the Many Genres site, you can read an excerpt of Randall Silvis 's essay "Touch Love: Make Your Protagonist Suffer" from our new writing guide MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT .

Many Genres One Craft Virtual Book Tour (VBT)

Our recent VBT stops for Many Genres, One Craft are:

Stop: At Your Fingertips
At Your Fingertips highlights the work of author Tamela Quijas and that of her fellow authors, but isn’t only about the latest romance novels on the market. Stay for a while and you’ll find her reviews on a variety of books and movies, fantastic author interviews, sneak peeks into upcoming book releases, recipes, as well as being granted a private look into Tamela's world.
Host: Tamela Quijas
Tamela is a romance author that loves to write–from paranormal to contemporary romances and an occasional cookbook. Her work includes the novels Blood Moon, Blood of the Beast, My Lord Raven, Angel's Fire Demon's Blood.
Event: Book Review
Ratio of Romance - Crystal B. Bright
Contributor: Crystal B. Bright

Stop: Damsels in Regress
Jennifer, Emilie, and Tricia met while they were graduate students in Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program. They bonded over their love for children's and young adult fiction, especially all types of historical fiction, and their desire to see their books in print.
Host: Patricia B. Tighe
Tricia is currently writing the sequel to a young adult historical fantasy set in 1890s Belgium. In An Inherited Evil, 18-year-old Mathieu Korsten must discover the secrets of his grandmother’s past to end a curse that could take his life.
Event: Patrice Lyle Interview
C. Coco DeYoung Interview

Stop: Free Cotton
Providing discussion, tips, and marketing for education on all levels.
Host: Teffanie Thompson White
Teffanie Thompson White played with pen in hand. When pen was absent, she scratched words on ashen legs. She either taught class or wrote books, which she still does. Her picture book manuscripts, Bug Talk and For Tents and Ribbons, have been adapted into onstage ballets. Teffanie co-authors and co-publishes pictureless books.
Event: Educational Tips
Contributor: Jason Jack Miller

Stop: Kelly A. Harmon: Moving on to Fiction...
Kelly A. Harmon shares thoughts on leaving the newspaper business to freelance and write fiction, as well as gives tips on writing and attending writing conferences.
Host: Kelly A. Harmon
Kelly A. Harmon used to write truthful, honest stories about authors and thespians, senators and statesmen, movie stars and murderers. Now she writes lies, which is infinitely more satisfying, but lacks the convenience of doorstep delivery, especially on rainy days.
Event: Many Genres, One Craft: Writing Conferences
Contributor: KJ Howe

Stop: The Secret Writer
The Secret Writer blog is an attempt to bring readers, writers and authors together from all parts of the world to one 'Virtual Place', in order to review and promote the many different types of books and other literary material that is being generated today, or that has been written in the past.
Host: Calum
Calum has always enjoyed reading and writing. He is now preparing to venture on the journey down the path of writing his first novel!
Event: Book Overview
Contributor Overview
Writing Under a Pseudonym by Dana Marton
Contributor: Dana Marton

There's still time to be a host. Email Heidi Ruby Miller at heidirubymiller@gmail.com for details!

To order a copy of Many Genres, One Craft, visit:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell's Books
Books A Million
and other fine book sellers!

Meet the Contributors of Many Genres One Craft: Sharon Mignerey

On the Many Genres site, you can read an excerpt of Sharon Mignerey 's essay "M&Ms for Characters" from our new writing guide MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT .

Many Genres One Craft Official Release

You can finally get your hands on Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction , edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller and published by Headline Books, Inc. !



Visit your local bookstore or find it online at these and many fine retailers:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books A Million

Powell's Books

Writers Digest Shop



Read excerpts , meet the 65 contributors , and follow our mega virtual book tour at the Many Genres blog: http://manygenres.blogspot.com