Livia Quinn's Blog, page 7

#Listen to my practice #Soundcloud #snippet of Storm Crazy @IARTG #bookboost

So I'm playing around with soundcloud. Here's my practice session for the beginning of Storm Crazy, the first book in my Destiny Paramortals series. I think I need some background...

#Happyholidays @MFRWauthor @IARTG @IAN1 @ASMSG #readers

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Hope you all have a safe and peaceful holiday!

It's #release day for Merry Christmas, Baby #iartg #mfrwauthor #holiday romance @liviaquinn

Yesterday was release day for Merry Christmas, Baby (A Knights Christmas) book 3 in my Under-Cover Knights series. The lovely cover was created by Linda Boulanger. 
~~
It’s a Christmas weekend full of love and Larue social media is a twitter at the return of their hometown movie star, Ducane Beauregard Larue, and a visit by Raptors quarterback, Gino Manelli, at the only place to celebrate Christmas Eve—the Romanos’. Catch up with the characters from Larue and Thunder Point and as a bonus get a peek into the lives of upcoming characters.

Beau hates Christmas. It reminds him of what he can’t have. He’s been avoiding homecomings and the biggest reason is unavoidable this Christmas – Madison Hart, who has loved Beau for most of her adult life. Whenever rumors surface about him returning home, Madison hyperventilates at the prospect of seeing him again.

Samantha Larue’s baby is overdue and everyone is hovering including Jed, who ended their relationship last summer because kids weren’t “in his future”.

Bad guys don’t scare Delilah Burke but Luc’s mother and five sisters have her stalling on setting a date to marry the man she loves.

Nothing could make Buffy Romano happier than delivering a few surprises and helping the people she loves find love. Then, a Christmas Eve miracle confirms what she already knows – that with a little nudge, all her love ones’ happily ever afters will happen in the not so distant future.

Read an excerpt on the Amazon description page or my books page here.

Ironically, the book went live on Pearl Harbor Day and my oldest character, Grandpa Earl was there. If you'd like to know how you can support our troops in some way, visit my Vet-links Page. 

Practical #Scrivener tips. Labels on the Fly #amwriting #ASMSG #IARTG #MFRWauthor

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I've been polishing up Merry Christmas, Baby (book 3 in my Under-Cover Knights series) and I used the flexibility and color of Scrivener labels to help set goals for the revision process. Above you see a screenshot of MCB after one pass through. During the previous pass, I determine what stage the scene is in - needing to be revised (pink), incorporate or move text elsewhere (aqua), a scene that needs to be written (red) and one which might need to be deleted (always green). (I also use green highlight or revision mode green for possible deletions.) 

Setting the goal. I know on the next pass I have to start from the beginning but this time I'm concerned about my deadline and getting through the text thoroughly so I create a label called Today in orange. I planned to have the revision on this novella done in six days. At 28k that's around 5k a day, allowing for scenes that have to be written and the normal growth that happens in revision. So I select the number of files that add up to around 4-6k and apply the orange label. (If you don't know this, as you select a group of files in the binder, the word count is displayed at the bottom of Scrivener editor for the selected files.)

Here's what that looks like. Now the files I need to revise today are orange. I renamed the 'Done' label  'Do final pass' and as I finished each scene I applied that label. (On my last book which was 82k I selected 10k at a time and gave that a label that said 'Revise by Tuesday'. I knew it would be more trouble to rename all the labels if I got behind so it kept me on track until at least 75k was complete. ) [image error] [image error] [image error] When I'm finished all the files will be pink and labeled 'Do final pass' at which point I compile them with chapter headings and send them to word so I can read it in a different format and prepare to put the completed manuscript in Vellum. 

The point is, the labels can do or be whatever you need them to be. They can label plot points, pov, villain appearances and love scenes during the writing process but that doesn't mean you're done with them during revision. I hope this gives you some ideas about using labels. 

If you use them in a unique way, please tell me about it in the comments.

Look for a cover reveal on Merry Christmas, Baby the first week in December. And be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the homepage to get a chance to win the ASUS tablet for Christmas. 
DON'T FORGET Her First Knight sales go to #veterans all month. And until tomorrow Hard Days Knight is #free.

#Whatmakesahero #Veterans day is the perfect time to recommit to our #soldiers and their families. #IARTG #MFRWauthor

My dad in China Burma Campaign I saw a twitter post about a BBC project with the tag #whatmakesahero. 

The video called "What Makes a Hero" by veterans and produced by the BBC is here. As you'll see, there are some  military men and women who are uncomfortable being called heroes. It's complicated, for them and for those of us who didn't choose to, or were unable to, serve. 
I need to say thank you to men and women I admire, who have the qualities and courage to put themselves between me and someone who’s intention it is to harm me or my country, even if they feel like they're just doing their job. I feel the same way about firefighters, law enforcement, and social service personnel.

The most important thing this Veterans Day, is to re-commit to donate our time, efforts or funds to making sure these dedicated men and women have a rich normal life, like we all deserve, when they come home, and for their families while they are serving.

As the veteran Senator said on the video, "We don't want parades and celebrations, we just want someone to give us an opportunity when we get home."

There are so many ways to help.
Be there for a veteran or family member when they need it. Write your congressmen about issues involving veterans. Donate money or time to organizations that make a difference. You may know of some, if not, there’s a partial list on my          Vet Links page

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN and know of an organization that works, please leave a link or the name in the comments so others can benefit.


~~ 
This month all sales from Her First Knight go to veterans charities.

In my fictional contemporary romance, the Under-Cover Knights series, Knights Production Inc. is a studio where images and videos are produced for use on book covers, ads, media campaigns and where the actors and models might even be used as movie extras. One of the owners of KPI, Ridge Romano, was responsible for the creation of a consortium of private companies that’s taking over the care of veterans. Ridge has made it part of their mission at KPI to hire vets and other men and women of integrity and service. They are not only former military but their regard for and dedication to humanity is intrinsic to their everyday lives. 

So far we’ve met Luc Larue in Hard Days Knight , who is not only a veteran but whose teencenter in Larue is changing the lives of disadvantaged youth, and Ridge, from Her First Knight.  

 
Let’s make a difference this year. The need is greater than ever. 

#Whatmakesahero #Veterans day is the perfect time to recommit to our #soldiers and their families. #IARTG ��#MFRWauthor

My dad in China Burma Campaign I saw a twitter post about a BBC project with the tag #whatmakesahero. 

The video called "What Makes a Hero" by veterans and produced by the BBC is here. As you'll see, there are some  military men and women who are uncomfortable being called heroes. It's complicated, for them and for those of us who didn't choose to, or were unable to, serve. 
I need to say thank you to men and women I admire, who have the qualities and courage to put themselves between me and someone who’s intention it is to harm me or my country, even if they feel like they're just doing their job. I feel the same way about firefighters, law enforcement, and social service personnel.

The most important thing this Veterans Day, is to re-commit to donate our time, efforts or funds to making sure these dedicated men and women have a rich normal life, like we all deserve, when they come home, and for their families while they are serving.

As the veteran Senator said on the video, "We don't want parades and celebrations, we just want someone to give us an opportunity when we get home."

There are so many ways to help.
Be there for a veteran or family member when they need it. Write your congressmen about issues involving veterans. Donate money or time to organizations that make a difference. You may know of some, if not, there’s a partial list on my          Vet Links page

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN and know of an organization that works, please leave a link or the name in the comments so others can benefit.


~~ 
This month all sales from Her First Knight go to veterans charities.

In my fictional contemporary romance, the Under-Cover Knights series, Knights Production Inc. is a studio where images and videos are produced for use on book covers, ads, media campaigns and where the actors and models might even be used as movie extras. One of the owners of KPI, Ridge Romano, was responsible for the creation of a consortium of private companies that’s taking over the care of veterans. Ridge has made it part of their mission at KPI to hire vets and other men and women of integrity and service. They are not only former military but their regard for and dedication to humanity is intrinsic to their everyday lives. 

So far we’ve met Luc Larue in Hard Days Knight , who is not only a veteran but whose teencenter in Larue is changing the lives of disadvantaged youth, and Ridge, from Her First Knight.  

 
Let’s make a difference this year. The need is greater than ever. 

Her First Knight #Veterans fundraiser #military #romance begins today. @liviaquinn #MFRWauthor #ASMSG #IARTG

Just in time, I've got pretty new re-formatted files and a new cover for the paperback of Her First Knight. (Purchased this book before? You can request that Amazon deliver the new file to you minus any highlights or notes you might have added.)

If you've visited my vet links page you've seen how I feel about empty celebrations and hollow thank yous for our veterans. I've been guilty as we all have of just repeating the phrase, "Thank you for your service." But I wonder, what more can we do for the veteran family member, the wounded warrior, the homeless vet, or our veteran neighbor on a daily basis to make a difference. 

There are several things in your own community you can do without donating money. Do you know a vet who has to get to another city for a doctor's visit? Someone who needs paperwork filled out? Are they trying to get someone to donate flowers for memorials? It is so many little things that matter. 

This month all profits from Her First Knight will go to one or two #Veterans charities. I may take half and donate toward those memorial tributes. It depends, if you're generous, I can be. None of this money will be retained.

If you would like to see ratings for organizations that help vets go to my vet links page and click on the Charity Navigator link.

Here's an excerpt:


Ridge was up to his Special Forces tattoo in manure.

“Take ‘em off, Tucker. Tucker. Tucker…”  

What had he been thinking? He considered himself a careful planner, the consummate decision maker. He’d worn many hats—inventor, Ranger, mentor, CEO. So how had he wound up on stage in nothing but his trousers and tie beside two cover models with a hundred women screaming for him to take it off. That’s the question his friends and family would be asking tomorrow, if they found out. That, and “Who’s Tucker?” He’d just have to make sure no one found out about his little side trip. A whim and a folly could turn into his worst nightmare. 

It had seemed like a recipe for harmless fun. Take one curious CEO on the way to his room following a gorgeous redhead onto the wrong floor. Add a hundred romance writers and readers attending a conference. Toss in some false assumptions, throw out a lifetime of good behavior and Ridge was up to his Special Forces tattoo in manure. 

If Molly and Belinda could see him now, they would be stunned, say he’d gone off the deep end. They’d be right.

He should own up right now and stop this farce, exit while he still had his drawers, but that guaranteed revealing his faux pas. He decided to play along, call as little attention to himself as possible—while stripping off his clothes—and slip away unidentified when it was over. Before something went wrong…

 
Praises for Her First Knight:
    "There is a part near the end of this book that brought me to tears...I was sobbing. This book is dedicated to veterans and it's just a beautiful scene. If you haven't read it you'll know which one it is, if you have.... well you know what scene I'm talking about." Amazon reviewer

     "I enjoyed the interaction between the two of them, and how they really complimented each other!!! Each came to an understanding with how their relationship would progress, and the ending was awesome. I loved this story and you will too!!!" Amazon Reviewer

Buy Link Her First Knight  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00REUM57A

Hard Days Knight: Under-Cover Knights, book 1 Here



Here's the new paperback cover. Didn't Linda Boulanger do a lovely job?

#Nano and GE. Ugly transforms into beautiful. #ASMSG #IARTG @nanowrimo

"Ideas are scary, messy, and fragile, but under the proper care, they become something beautiful." 

Interesting, fun, intense, thrilling and ugly. That's how the first draft of a manuscript often feels whether it's during @Nanowrimo or not. I was thinking about the current Under-Cover Knights book I'm writing and how these emotions have bounced around. Then during that fabulous Saints football game last night (sorry, you know I have to get my Saints thumbs-ups in when I can) I saw this again. It's a perfect description of a new creative work - or perhaps a career.

When you're in the middle it's messy, and yes, very scary, and then hopefully, the magic happens and it transforms into something you're not ashamed to put your name on, a piece that gave you joy to create and a sense of satisfaction to see the finished project. You do know that we are all creative beings.  Where does your imagination take you if you're a mechanic, a fisherman, a football player, a doctor, whatever. The mind is magic isn't it?" So says the GE commercial. Haven't seen it? You're in for a treat.

Kudos to GE for this ad that has so much truth in it. 

#DreamBig #ASMSG

If you don't


                build your dream,
 
                
      someone else 


                      
                 will hire you 



                             to build theirs!


                            
                                         Tony Gaskins

#RELEASEDAY: Storm Warning #ASMSG #MFRWAuthor #IARTG #RomanticSuspense How Brenna and I banished our fear of storms.

The first time I experienced the weather of the South was the very month I moved from DC to Mississippi. Only one week landed and there were tornados "walking the Interstate". One of the worst winters the state had ever had.

Coming from Maryland I was no stranger to bad thunderstorms. We had our share being near the Atlantic coast. But in fact my father told me I got my fear of loud noises and lightning from a Fourth of July fireworks event they took me to when I was three. 

Tornados, though, were another story. After I moved to the South, I became a weather watcher, a weather forecast addict, listening to all the preventive tips on avoiding lightning strikes, how to tell if a tornado is near, etc. 

I remember sitting up in the middle of the night that winter wondering "Is that a train? Or is that a train? To this day I still don't know what part of the train I'm supposed to be on the look out for, the roaring, the whistle, the wheels on the tracks... 

But my experiences aren't just based in Louisiana for the last how ever many years. I also spent a lot of time at my mom and dad's house near Tampa. I remember one weekend while I was visiting, four people were killed by lightning. It's the lightning capitol of the world. They were doing everyday tasks like washing a car, boating, bathing and one man was on the phone. Back then the weather authorities didn't advise the public as much as they do now to stay away from those types of activities during a lightning storm. But I was gathering clues to bolster my phobia.

I'm not as fearful of storms as I used to be, but I don't go out when it's thundering either. All this to say that much of what I write about in the Storm Lake series is first hand. As the months go by, I'll share a few of my funny stories about my ridiculous reactions to thunderstorms. 

But don't hold that against my heroine in Storm Warning. Brenna has chosen to confront her fears on Storm Lake, which is infamous for its severe weather. Storm Warning is set in Thunder Point (you can see a map in the front of your book or here on my website and read an excerpt as well.)

As you know if you've read any of the series, the books based on the west end of the lake are the paranormal books and as you travel east on the lake things have less of a mystical bent. By the time you get to Larue, home of the Under-Cover Knights and Thunder Point where the most violent weather is because of its location, you've arrived where the books are contemporary (military romance and contemporary). 

The Destiny books are a continued series with recurring characters and should be read in order. All the books are loosely connected to the lake and in Blame it on the Moon, Ridge from Her First Knight even made an appearance, but for the most part the Under-Cover Knights and Thunder Point books are standalones.

I hope you enjoy Storm Warning. It was the first book I wrote, ten years ago, in what would become the Storm Lake series. The characters are like family. I've already been asked if Declan will get a story and the answer is a resounding YES!

Sign up for my newsletter on the home page or news page to be entered for the ASUS tablet giveaway at Christmas. And as always, thanks so much for your support. I'd love to hear from you.

Livia