Rosalind Morris's Blog, page 2

September to Remember Giveaway Extravaganza!

Today I noticed that I finally made it to ten reviews!  Granted I need about 50 before Amazon starts to pay more attention to my novel, but ten is a really good start.  So a big thank you to everyone who has left a review so far.  If you have read the book and have not left a review, you could be among the forty others that I need to reach my goal of fifty.

Talent, Research, and Betas! Oh, My!

Happy Friday all!  As my title might suggest, many exciting things are happening with regard to Author Roz.  I would like to share some of them with you today.

Before I get into today’s blog, I want to let everyone know that I finally finished reformatting the e-book.  For everyone who had a previous version, you should receive an update.  Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Talent

First of all, I am looking for the right male voice talent for The Wages or the Gift.  Yes, that’s right, my next step for the novel is to make it into an audio book.  I am super excited to get started, but first I need to find the right guy for the job.  I have invited numerous voice actors to audition, but the auditions are trickling in slowly.  At this point, I have no clear trajectory as to when audio book enthusiasts can expect to listen to The Wages or the Gift, but as soon as the voice has been chosen, I will update.

Research

I have started working on the next book in my Life Choices series: God or Mammon.  I am super excited because this book is going to be a medical thriller.  This is a fun genre that will require a lot of research.  I am studying everything from medical terminology to hospital administration.  Fun stuff!

Betas

Right now my second novel (completely unrelated to The Wages or the Gift) is with a wonderful group of people called Beta Readers!  My Beta readers include my publicist (Jen Thomas), my editor (Martha Lowe) and a group of around 7 or 8 random lovers/readers of Christian Fiction.  Most of them are still in the process of reading the book, but I have gotten a few of the results.  So far, the general consensus is that I am on the right track (ie. they already really like/love the book), which is good.  After I hear back from everyone, I will start working on draft two.

Oh, My!

I am super excited to draw your attention to  The Voice of Literature Ezine at www.voxlit.co.uk. It’s a great publication out of the United Kingdom that features book reviews, excerpts from novels, author articles, and a section called Writer’s Notes. I am excited to share that an article I wrote on the technique of zooming is featured in this month’s Writer’s Notes section! It’s the first one you’ll see.  Check it out!  If you are a writer, or a person who loves literature, this is a great e-zine to follow.

 

 

 

About the Kindle Version…

This is just a quick update about the Kindle version of my novel.  Amazon sent me something about “serious errors” in my novel, actually one error: the book is not reflowable, so they turned it off for purchase.  Which I never knew that was something that was mandatory, but at any rate it’s pretty easy to fix.  Praise God I learned HTML years ago.  I am reworking the file now, and I should be done no later than a week from today, so the ebook will be back soon.  In the meantime, the print version of The Wages or the Gift is available for purchase.

Why the Cover Change? Glad you asked.

Or maybe you didn’t, but I am excited to talk about it anyway.  First of all a quick announcement:  The Wages or the Gift is now available in print with a new cover and a new lower price.  Right now it is only available for this new cover/lower price at Blurb.  Amazon is experiencing some kind of glitch where only an overpriced third party group is selling it. (I hope that’s temporary, and I have already contacted the group and asked them to stop.  Hopefully, it will be resolved in a day or two.  Until then, do not by the print version from Amazon. Don’t pay $22.87 for the book. It’s $12.99 right now on Blurb.), also it should be available on Barnes and Noble soon as well.

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So why’d I do it?  Well, I have a couple of quick stories to tell about that.  My first hint that my original cover design (which I really liked, btw) was not the most successful choice I could make came when someone made a comment on Julia Wilson’s wonderful review  that said the book  looked like a non-fiction book to her.  I did not put too much stock in the comment, since it was the first one I had heard.  Most people were telling me they liked the cover. Still I would occasionally notice little things like people looking at the cover and saying, “Oh the Wage or the Gif” or something similar.  I would then explain that the it’s Wages and Gift, and the dollar sign and the present  (which I later discovered some people thought  was a cross with a bow on it)…you get the drift.

I guess these little isolated incidents were starting to get my attention because after the conversation I had with Delilah Cordova about the cover, I started to really question it.  A friend of mine came into town, and I asked her what she thought of the cover.  She was like, well I can tell it’s a religious book.  (Not necessarily a bad thing, I mean it is Christian Fiction)  She went on to say that it was a little confusing, etc. So I started working on changing it.  This time I posted it in a couple of Christian Fiction Readers/Writers groups to find out what kind of book people thought it might be.  Most of them said suspense or thriller.  A few said horror, but no one said non-fiction. And thus I had my new cover.

After I changed the cover, I got a lot more feedback on the first cover that definitely confirmed the necessity for the change.  My publicist, who liked the cover, but agreed that it could seem a bit “non-fiction adjacent” told me this story:  “I was reading your book in Missouri, and a girl looked at me and asked if I was trying to build a better financial future.”  That pretty much says it all.

One more thing, the new cover is up for cover of the month on Allauthor.com.  Please vote.

 

A Flashback Friday Video Review

Okay, granted Flashback Friday may not be an official thing, but it is for me on this particular Friday.  The following video review was one of my very first reviews.  When I offered a review copy to this lady, I had no idea what kind of books she read/published (she owns a small press as well as writes).  To both of our surprises, she writes erotica while I write Christian Fiction.  Still, she was very gracious and did the review anyway.  So I am posting it here today.  #FlashbackFriday #MayNotBeAThing #CreativeLicenseIsMySuperpower

 

 

My Interview with Delilah Cordova!!

In this interview, Delilah Cordova and I talk about The Wages or the Gift as well as upcoming works, a bit about my writing process, and about what inspires me. Also Delilah gives some great advice on marketing. It was an honor to meet and chat with her today! Also, it was a lot of fun!

 

Inside The Wages or the Gift: A Glimpse at Eb and Steph

In light of the royal wedding in England today, someone in one of my favorite Facebook groups mentioned wanting to see more “royal” courtships, especially with interracial couples.  I immediately thought of Ebony and Stephen from The Wages or the Gift.  I mentioned that my novel contained such a courtship, and someone asked me if there had been any backlash for including the couple.  Fortunately, I could happily say there has been none.  In fact the feedback that I have received from others has been positive, and there has been no mention of the ethnicity of any of my characters.  That brings me here.  Today, I am giving blog subscribers and those passing by a sneak peak into their relationship with a few excerpts from the book.

From Chapter 2:  

“Steph, we need to talk.”
“Sure, Eb. What’s on your mind?”
“You know that I’ve given my heart to Jesus.”
“Yeah, and like I said, to each his own. If this helps you deal with your father’s death, I have no problem with it. I just want you to be happy.”
“Well, since then, I’ve been going through a lot of changes. I’m learning more and more what it means to live for God. That’s the definition of being born again. I no longer live my life for the glory of me. I live to glorify God in everything I do.”
“Honey, I can’t say that I understand all this religious stuff. It’s not my thing, but I won’t discourage you if that is what worries you. I love you, and you can’t change enough to change my feelings for you. You are my world, Eb. So if that’s where you’re going with this, just stop. I’m not going to leave you because you are the one person I cannot live without. So go ahead and do whatever you have to do to honor your God.”
As Ebony listened to the heart of her fiancé, her eyes filled with tears. How could she say, “I’m leaving you,” after that? She prayed for strength and wisdom. Heavenly Father, what I am about to tell him is going to break his heart. Please give me the strength to do your will. Please help him to get through this. I do love him, Father, but I love you more. Help me to obey you. In Jesus’s name, amen. 
“Stephen, I can’t live here anymore. I know this is going to hurt you, but I cannot live in sin. According to God’s word, it’s a sin to live with someone outside of marriage. I’m moving out tonight.”
Stephen flinched as if she struck him, but then, he smiled. The smile surprised Ebony, and she stopped to let him speak. He spoke, and she wished she had kept going. “I can fix that, Ebony; we’ll move up the wedding. We can have a private ceremony. We can do it this weekend if you’d like—”
Ebony stopped him mid-sentence because she knew if he continued, she would lose her resolve. “Stephen, stop. There’s something else. I can’t marry you, Honey, not right now.”
“Why? I know you still love me. Don’t you?” Stephen asked.
“I love you more than you could know,” Ebony started only to be interrupted again.
“Then what’s the problem, Ebony? I don’t get it!” he said, his voice becoming louder and more distressed with every word.
“Because the Bible is clear about not marrying outside of—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Stephen jumped to his feet. “What! This God of yours is some kind of bigot. I can’t believe you. We’ve spent our whole relationship learning to deal with people like that! Now you agree with that kind of thinking?”
Ebony cringed, understanding him completely. “No, no, Honey. It’s not a race thing. However, God does have a problem with marriages between believers and non-believers.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Well—”
“Bigotry is bigotry whether it’s racial or religious.”
“Steph—”
“So even though you love me, you will leave me because of your religion?”
“This isn’t about religion, Stephen. I now live my life to please God. I wouldn’t trade my relationship with Jesus for anything or anybody. I’d like us to go back to being friends.”
“Friends! After all we’ve been through, you give me the friends speech? You know what, if you’re going to leave, you need to do it right now. I don’t want to hear anymore about Jesus. You can take your Jesus and stuff him up your—”
“Stephen!”
“Get out, Ebony! And take Jesus with you!”
His words hit her with the sharp and swift intensity of a rubber band pop to the face, and Ebony did not wait for him to ask twice. She ran out of the apartment.

From Chapter 3: This excerpt takes place ten months after the above excerpt. A co-worker has gone missing.

 Stephen took Ebony to her apartment but made it clear that it was just a pit stop. “Ebony, you cannot stay alone tonight,” he said.
“The Lord has given his angels charge over me, Stephen. I’m never alone.”
“He has also given you friends who would love to have you stay for the night. Call Nicole,” Stephen reasoned.
“Fine. I’ll go call her, but we’re not leaving here for a while. We need to talk.” Stephen could not agree more. He made his way to her living room couch. The soft leather sectional welcomed him like a much-needed hug. He sat down and sighed, turning his heart toward heaven. Lord, he began to pray, I need your wisdom. I don’t want to act purely on my emotions, but I really feel like something is wrong at Prestige. I don’t want Ebony to go to Hong Kong. I’m still so new at this. Are you trying to tell me something? Father, speak plainly. I want your will over my own. His prayers were interrupted when Ebony joined him on the couch.
“Steph, do you think that this’s somehow connected with the problems at the Cairo office?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Chloe was so distracted today. I wish I knew what she wanted when she called you. I wish she had said something to me.”
Ebony stared at Stephen with her head tilted and eyebrows raised.
“What’d I say?” he asked. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Because there’s something you are not saying, and I’d like you to divulge.”
“I’m just talking here, sitting.” He cringed, realizing his blunder.
“You’re more upset than you are admitting and not about Chloe. So what’s got you all distracted?” she asked. She looked into his eyes determined to get an answer. He knew she would press until she had one.
“I have major problems with you going to Hong Kong, and I feel like something terrible is going on at Prestige,” he said.
“Uh-huh.”
“You have to admit this is all pretty suspicious.”
“Steph, I love you,” she said. “And I know you love me, but we’re just going to have to trust God. I’m going to Hong Kong. I’ve heard that Sun-Fun Jeans is a great company to work for. Besides, Mitch said it’s either this along with the Antonio Chi show in the fall or the Caramel Cosmetics account. I do not want to get into another five-year cosmetic contract. I will be twenty-one in June, and I only have two or three more years before I retire. I’m not doing this forever you know. I want children one day.”
Stephen had heard much of her speech before, so he pouted until she mentioned children. He grabbed her hands and looked into her eyes. They had made a pledge to each other and to God never to kiss passionately again until they kissed as husband and wife. He was tempted to break that promise.
“You want to have children?” he asked.
“I’ve changed my view on the subject. After I finish my career as a model, I want to start a family. It would be nice to give a child the life I never had. With a mom and a dad that loves them and all.”
Ebony’s eyes grew distant as if allowing herself to dream until she noticed the intensity in Stephen’s gaze and decisively reclaimed her hand. She scooted over a little, putting distance between her and him. He sighed, grateful for her restraint. He had lost most of his. “I’m sorry, Ebony. It’s just that you were so adamant about no children. You don’t understand what you’ve done to my heart just now.” Ebony just smiled and nodded. “I understand,” Stephen continued, changing the subject, “why you want the Hong Kong job. It’s just that I keep having these pit-of-the-stomach feelings. Like there’s something coming, and we better be ready for it. The thought of us being separated for months makes me uneasy.”
“Why don’t we pray now for wisdom for you and protection for Chloe. We don’t know if she’s alive or dead, and if she’s alive, she needs prayer,” Ebony suggested. She bowed her head and took his hand again. Throughout the course   of their prayers, they lifted up Chloe, asking for her protection and salvation. They also prayed for each other asking for wisdom, strength, guidance, and peace. When they were finished, the peace of God filled Stephen’s heart dispelling his anxiety, and the Lord blessed him with a clear understanding of what he should do next.

From Chapter 13:  This bit of sweetness occurs a few weeks after Stephen proposed to Ebony. 

The crisp, cool air brushed them lightly as they moved hand in hand toward Ebony’s car. When they reached it, instead of letting go, Stephen stood still holding her hand and gazing at her beauty.
“I love the way you look in the moonlight, the glint it gives your eyes,” he told her, moving her hair back from her face to see it more clearly. “You are so beautiful,” Stephen whispered so softly and with such conviction that she saw and felt his words more than she heard them.
Ebony waited for him to divert his gaze, but Stephen continued his intent study of her face in the moonlight. “Stephen, you are staring,” she said softly, blushing under his scrutiny.
“Get used to it. Years from now, you are going to wake up only to find me staring at you. Or you may be on a hospital bed, giving birth to our third child, and I am going to be staring at you. You may be helping one of our children with their homework, and I will come and stare at you.”
“What has got into you, Steph?” His sudden change from normal guy to hopeless romantic amused her.
“I am a new man, Sweetheart. I used to stare at you before, but only when you were not looking and usually for vulgar and selfish reasons. It was a stare of lust, but not now. You do know that, don’t you? I don’t know how to explain this to you, but well…” Stephen searched for appropriate words to express himself only to realize there were none. He shrugged and said, “I love you, Ebony Reynold, and I am saying good night. Drive carefully, and text me when you get home.”
“I love you too,” she said. Stephen put his first two fingers to his lips and then pressed them to Ebony’s. The touch was quick, barely a millisecond passed before he withdrew his fingers and turned to get into his car. Ebony stood and watched him pull out of the driveway with a smile on her face. Then she got into her own car and headed for Mitch’s house.

For what’s next for this couple and to find out more about what’s going on with the missing Chloe and with Prestige Modeling Inc. get a copy of The Wages or the Gift.

Mother’s Day Giveaway!!!!!

This giveaway is for our wonderful mothers!  I happen to have an amazing (the most amazing in my biased opinion) mother, who always encourages, supports, councils, and loves me.  So to honor her and all mothers, I am doing a giveaway.  Enter now for a chance to win one of four print copies of The Wages or the Gift.  This giveaway ends at 9PM Central tomorrow night.  Here’s the five things you have to do to enter:

Like My Facebook Page
Follow this blog.
Tweet my “Click to Tweet” 
Share this blog post so others can enter!
Contact me and let me know you did all of the above and brag about your mother or a noteworthy mother that you know.

You must do all five of these things to enter, but if you don’t have Twitter, you can let me know during step 5. I will draw names live around 11 PM Central tomorrow night and announce the winners.

The Window Challenge

I felt like sharing a short story. 

What’s in a Name?

[image error]People often ask me where I get names for my characters.  I’m sure every author’s process for this is different. For me there are character names, especially first names, that just come to me as I start writing. For instance, Center Perkins and Stephen (pn. Steff-en) Campbell, two of the characters in The Wages or the Gift flowed easily from my pen and onto the page, in their first sentences.

Stephen “Steph” Campbell sat on the edge of his waiting room chair,  leaning forward with his hands propping up his head. His eyes moved faithfully around the room as he watched his best friend, Center Perkins, traipse.

I don’t know why, but I assume I had already thought about their names in the dream I had that inspired this very scene.  Ebony Reynold (pn. Ray Nold) came with a little bit more forethought, as I had the idea a week or so before I started writing that it would be interesting if there was a character that was a white girl named Ebony.  Now those of you who have read the book know that Ebony is not a white girl, but when I started writing this novel, that name had been recently on my mind.  I thought it would be a great name for the super model in this story.

There are a lot of names in The Wages or the Gift, and while most of them kind of happened organically, not all of them did.  The name Mathan Cigainero came from two places.  I got Mathan from reading through Jesus’s lineage from Mathew Chapter 1.  You know: the “begats”.  There was a man named Matthan in verse 15, and for some reason when I saw it, I thought to myself, “Hey what if I took out a t?  Then I would have Mathan, which rhymes with Nathan, which is different but not too far fetched.”   And I liked the thought. Mathan’s last name came from looking up names in the phone book.  I wanted to find a four-syllabled name, and when I saw Cigainero, it was a perfect fit.

Sometimes, I enjoy unorthodox names.  For instance, in Wrong Number, one of my upcoming novels, the main character’s name is Cardigan Dupree.  I think it may just be one of my favorite character names so far.  Why I chose to name the lady after a comfy sweater, I don’t know, but I love it.