Shades of Suspense

Shades of Suspense is Saying Goodbye

2010-08-17T08:00:00.003-05:00

Man, it is hard to find a decent picture of someone waving goodbye, lol. So I guess we're just going to have to settle on Johnny Depp.

(I'm not complaining.)

Anyway, today, I am sad to announce the closing of Shades of Suspense. After much discussion, it has been decided that all of us here at the blog need to be focusing on our own projects--upcoming books for all you wonderful readers and our own blogs.

Fall is coming, and it's time for us to all to get back to work, and quit sipping on champagne and eating bon-bons. (Okay, that's what we want to be doing, but that's just a fantasy--we're all really pretty busy).

So thank you for your patronage, especially in a world where there are so many blogs to be reading, we greatly love that you took the time to come to ours.

Thank you.

We all are still around, please visit our websites and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Marie-Nicole Ryan

Loribelle Hunt

Meg Allison

Catherine Berlin

Donica Covey

Sharon Cullen

Candice Gilmer

Cara Marsi/Carolyn Matkowsky

Melanie Atkins

Jerri Drennen

Again, thank you for spending part of your day with us here at Shades of Suspense.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-08-16T08:13:00.002-05:00

Summer is still going strong in my part of the country, but despite the heat that great rite of fall passage is here. School is back in session! This year I have a kid in elementary, middle, and high school which is kinda weird. Even weirder they were all ready to go back. I imagine that won't last long lol.

I, on the other hand, am in heaven. I have my house to myself all day all week. Last week I finished up a novella and this week I'm going back to finish a novel. All this wonderful progress. It's amazing how helpful a quiet house is lol!

So tell me, am I the only one who counts down to the beginning of the school year? Are your kids back or are you still waiting? (You have my sympathies if you are!)

We’re having a heat wave….

2010-08-12T00:04:00.003-05:00

Anyone else remember the MASH episode where it was colder than all get out and the guys sang that tune to try and “think warm thoughts”? In high school I went to private school and we rode a bus for over an hour each morning then over an hour each afternoon. My mom worked in hospital and dad’s job started equally as early so my brother and I were dropped off to wait by ourselves on the bus until the driver showed to start it up.

Some mornings it was so FREAKIN’s cold I swear my body was numb for hours. There was a group of boys who, on days when it was colder than a witch’s…thumb…they’d sing out with “We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave…” and keep it up until we all were singing along.

Well my question is—what would they do in case of an actual heat wave? How do you “think cold thoughts”? Do you fantasize about Christmas, with mountains of white? Do you imagine ice dangling from the gutters, sheeting the roads? Do you sing Christmas carols?

I ask because, my darlings, have we got the heat! Temps reaching 100-105 with indexes that melt the asphalt from the street. I mean, you want to know how hot it is? Check out THIS photograph:
BWAHAHA

Hunting Mickey is on its way to production—WOOHOO!!! The release date is coming in October and I can’t WAIT! The cover arrived and in case you haven’t seen it, I’ll just have to share it with you here…LOL
AWESOME, right?!??!!? I LOVE IT!

I got a confirmation email from the acquiring editor regarding Death Rides a Pale Harley. Don’t go getting all excited, it’s not a contract offer…(yet? Yet? Yet? LOL) she just wanted to let me know she had received the manuscript and she was getting ready to dive in. She also wanted me to know she was EXCITED about it and INTRIGUED with the idea… I have to wait another 4-6 weeks to hear back if they want to offer a contract (fingers, toes, arms and legs all crossed in hopes of bringing about good JuJu!)

And the positive news doesn’t end there! After over 16 months of no job, after submitting over 65 applications, sending in resume after resume, and feeling the ends of the rope fraying between his fingers my DH has TWO job interviews! TWO! They’re both excellent positions and fantastic opportunities…best of all, if he gets offered the one he interviews for this week, WE’RE MOVING TO ARKANSAS!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! YIPPEE!!! (Of course if he gets the second one, we’re moving closer to the Missouri Bootheel which will STILL put me closer to Arkansas…) But I’m rooting for relocation to Arkansas. PLEASE keep your fingers crossed that it works out? Thank you VERY much!

Well I’ve rambled enough. I’ve got to get busy on the next submission. See y’all again soon.

Huggles and HAPPY READING!
Donica

Why So Serious?

2010-08-11T10:12:00.003-05:00

This very question was put to me yesterday, when a certain WIP was making me want to stab my eyeballs out. It was a deep, dark, powerful, morbid story.

And so not my thing.

And my husband texted me "Why So Serious?"

I got to thinking about it. It must have hit me at just the right moment, because it made things click over in my brain.

Why was I being so dark and depressing, and, well, so damn serious in this story? After all, the character was not known for her serious demeanor, that's not why I fell in love with this character, and have been trying to write her story for a while now.

She wasn't serious.

I needed to remember that.

Because even the best, most suspenseful stories don't have to be serious all the time. Especially with smart-mouthed characters.

I had lost my character, in the object of building up her world, I forgot who she was, and she'd become way more serious than necessary.

So I found an old short I'd written about her and never published, and re-read it. While some of the minor details had changed, it was still a perfect representation of who the character was.

And I remembered.

While "Why So Serious" is a catch phrase from The Dark Knight, I have a feeling, it will wind up being her catch phrase too.

Thanks Hubby. :)

Available Now--LOVE ME IF YOU CAN

2010-08-09T06:03:00.005-05:00

Finally the day is here. LOVE ME IF YOU CAN has finally been released by The Wild Rose Press. It comes in both electronic formats and print. It was a pleasure to write and went through five hellish rewrites. At this point I have no idea if the story holds together or not. I guess the reader will be the judge as the reader always is.

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN was set here in Nashville which for the last forty years has been my home. When I first conceived the book, I conceived an entire series set within the confines of Nashville and Holt Investigations. There are five more members of the Holt-Lackey clan, and their stories deserve to be told. To be honest, if they're as much trouble as Scott and Tess were, the stories might just have to stay unwritten.

ISBN: 9781601547767

e-book: $7.00

Print: $14.99

Music City Heat Series: Book One

Summertime in Nashville gets pretty steamy. No wonder Tess and Scott combust.

Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley has a lot to prove. She comes from a long line of police officers, including her father and older brothers. First, she and her partner are taken off a high-profile case and sidelined with a cold case instead. After reviewing the files, she’s certain her cold case is connected to the current one, and she sets out to prove it. Too bad it means locking horns with a handsome PI who could win her heart and derail her career.

Scott Holt is all business when it comes to running his family’s PI firm. When the lovely Detective O’Malley comes to question him about his possible involvement in her cold case, he has everything but business on his mind. Like locking lips with the fiery redhead.

(Pages 356) Spicy

Since I shared an excerpt last week, here's part of the prologue which didn't make it into the final version of the book. Bear in mind, this excerpt hasn't been through the professional editing process. As I read through this old excerpt again, I'm reminded of the adage, "Life is what happens when you're making plans." The prologue takes place ten years before the actual story starts.

EXCERPT (Take out scene):

PROLOGUE TAKEOUT (1) LOVE ME IF YOU CAN
©2009 Marie-Nicole Ryan, All rights reserved by author

One way or another, there’d be hell to pay. Scott eased from the warm bed. Somehow he had to get some studying done before class and before Lana was hot and heavy for another session of mattress mambo.

“Andrew Scott Holt, get your butt back in this bed.” Lana patted the spot he’d just left.

He shook his head and kept heading to his desk. “Can’t, babe. I’ve a Torts exam tomorrow.”

His fiancée pulled her lush lips into a familiar pout. “I’ll be so glad when you get out of law school. I’m sick of your nose being stuck in a book all the time. Makes me feel downright insignificant.”

“Not gonna work. I’m on to your tricks…this time,” he added with a grin. When Lana put her mind to it, she could be damned distracting—which was most of the time.

“I thought when we moved in together we’d spend all our time in bed.”

“If that’s the case, we should’ve waited ’til I’m out of law school.”

“But that’s another year and a half,” she whined.

Another year and a half. He gave a mental groan.

“What was that?”

“What?” Had he groaned aloud?

“I thought I heard you moan.”

“Guys don’t moan.” Still focused on his purpose, he sat down and opened the text book. “Spring break’s not that far away. We’ll go to Florida and spend the week in bed.” Maybe that would distract her.

She rose to her knees. “We can spend our time in bed now. We don’t have to go to Florida. Spring Break is for partying.”

Scott gritted his teeth, stood and calmly collected his laptop and textbooks.

“Where’re you going? I thought you had to study.”

“I do. Heading to the library…for some peace and quiet.”

“Fine. And maybe when you get back I won’t be here.”

He could only hope. “Suit yourself.”

“No. No. No. Wait a minute.” Lana hopped from the bed and thrust her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. I know I’m a little bitchy. You forgive me, don’t you? I’ve a better idea. Why don’t we get married during Spring Break?” She gazed up at him, lips parted.

“That’s not the plan. After law school. That way I’ll support you the way a husband should.”

“I don’t want to wait. I can quit grad school now and support you. We’re a modern couple…equals.”

Scott shook his head. “That’s not the plan.”

“You and your plans.”

Jaw clenched, he bit back a heated reply. Marriage after law school was supposed to be their plan. Reality check. Life with Lana wasn’t hitting a home run. The plan needed revisions.

The phone rang. Lana scowled and flounced over to the bedside table, then snatched up the phone. “Hello?”

Good. She was occupied. Time to make his escape.

“Scott, wait.”

The tremulous quiver in her tone stopped him. He turned. Her eyes were wide as she held out the telephone with her trembling hand.

A rush of panic swept over him. He took the phone. “Yes?”

“Andrew Holt?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“Detective Ferguson, Metro. There’s been an accident.”

“Who? How bad?”

“Your father and step-mother. I’m sorry. They were hit head-on.”

The voice on the phone continued, but grew hollow…as hollow as Scott suddenly felt. He staggered back and sat on the edge of the bed. His stomach knotted. Tried to process the bare statement. “Both of them? Are you sure?”

“I’m sorry. It was—uh, instantaneous.”

“I see.” No, he didn’t—not really.

“We need you to come down and—”

“Yes, I understand.” He dropped the phone.

“Your parents?”

A bleakness, stark as a winter landscape without a tree in sight invaded his soul. “Gone. Both of them.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to identify…” His throat closed. He couldn’t say the words…their bodies.

“I mean who will take care of all your brothers and sisters?”

“I will. Who else?” What the hell was he going to do? He shook his head. “Later. Gotta go.”

====

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN is now available in electronic and print formats.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com/

MY TBR PILE

2010-08-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

My TBR pile is threatening to take over my house. I have four large bookshelves of books waiting, begging, for me to read them. That’s just in my office. I have two other shelves in the breakfast room. I want to read them. Really. But there’s not enough time. I suppose I could get to them if I quit writing, quit housework and ordered takeout every night. I’d also have to give up my subscriptions to three newspapers, Newsweek, Vogue, Bazaar and Woman’s Day. Then I might, just might, get to all those books crying out to me. Back in the day, before my son was born (almost 29 years ago) and before I started writing, I read two or three books a week. Those were the days!

Four years ago, I was forced to clean out my bookcases because we were having our 70-year-old hardwood floors refinished and we had to clear the rooms of furniture. I had to empty the bookcases to move them. I gave away seven bags of books to Goodwill. Many were paperbacks and hardbacks I’d had since the Seventies. Many were books I’d never read—books I’d gotten free at conferences; books passed to me from friends. It broke my heart to give away books, but I had to be merciless. I’d run out of bookshelves. My bookcases were groaning, books were piled on the floor. The floor refinishing nudged me into doing something about my overabundance of books. I had to make room only for those books that meant a lot to me, and those books that I truly wanted to read.

There are some books that are so dear to me I’ll never part with them. Like my Judy Bolton mysteries which I started buying when I was a teen in the Fifties. My favorite book, “Green Darkness,” by Anya Seton, is a hardback that I’ve read so often, some of the pages are loose. There are my WW2 history books and my old Gothic romances. Of course, there are also many romances I’ve read through the years that occupy a special place in my heart, and on the shelf.

Now, here I am four years later, and the bookcases are full again. When I sit in my office at the computer, I swear I can feel books watching me, hoping I’ll pick them up. And that’s not even counting the flash drive filled with ebooks. And I’m planning to buy a Kindle soon. That means more books to go unread.

Seeing these unread books, and wanting badly to read them, causes me stress. A while ago, I came up with a method to get through my TBR pile. My method was similar to a Chinese menu, one from column A, one from column B, etc. In this case, I decided I’d read the first book on shelf number one, then go to shelf number 2, and so on. Then I’d take a book from my friends’ shelf. This is a separate shelf where I store books by my Wild Rose Press friends, like our own Marie-Nicole Ryan, whose latest, “Love Me If You Can,” I just received from Amazon. On my friends’ shelf are books by my Elements RWA and my Valley Forge RWA chapter mates, plus other writer friends I’ve made through the years. After reading a book from the friends’ shelf, I’d read one of my ebooks. Then I’d start the cycle all over again. This method worked swimmingly until the RITAs. I’m a first round RITA judge. In February, 2010, I got my package of eight RITA books to read in six weeks. I read them and got the scores in on time, but it totally threw me off my “method,” and I’ve never gotten back.

I spend a good deal of each day writing. In the evening I like to relax in front of the TV. I guess I could give up TV, but then I tend to fall asleep if I read anything after nine pm anyway.

As the saying goes, “So many books, so little time.”

What a quandary. How do you handle your TBR pile?

My New Toy

2010-07-27T21:30:00.002-05:00

To my friends who are missing me online, I blame this lovely little device. It's the Barnes and Noble Nook EReader. I got one for my birthday last week, and frankly, I've had my head stuck in it for days.

Not only have I discovered a new author because of her free ebook on Barnes and Noble, (That would be Christie Craig, btw -- hilarious romantic suspense)but I've, of course, had to download all the available books by said author, and am tearing through them.

Oh, and I've discovered I actually can sort of play soduku. The Nook comes with soduku and chess as games to play.

But anyway, do I have any complaints about my Nook? Nope, not a one. It's easy to read, and even my mother, who is totally a print book gal, was interested, since she could make the fonts huge. I mean, it only comes with 5 font sizes, but the sizes are good. Even my grandmother could read the larger prints with no problem.

Oh, and bonus, it reads most all my older PDF books without a bit of trouble. Now, my older books don't get the pretty little covers at the bottom of the screen in color, but they are there, and listed.

And when I got it, I figured out really quick that a touch screen phone would be seriously bad news for me. The small touch screen at the bottom of the Nook took a few days to get used to, though I'm still not totally used to it. It's quite sad, when I have to hand it to my husband and say "Make the thing move again."

But I figure that just takes time.

So again, I say to all my friends in IM land... sorry you haven't seen me. I've been playing with my new toy.

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN, Paperback Available Now

2010-07-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

People are always asking authors where we get our ideas. Basically anything, anywhere is up for grabs when it comes to inspiration. It might be something as simple as a TV show which starts the creative juices flowing. Several years ago I was watching Extreme Home Makeover, on ABC when one of the featured families was a blended family of siblings. The parents had passed away—I’ve forgotten the details—and the older siblings abandoned whatever plans they had, got jobs and took care of the younger siblings.

I thought what if the eldest of the siblings was in law school and had to drop out in order to run the family business, a P.I. agency founded by his late father? I envisioned a series of six books, one for each sibling. LOVE ME IF YOU CAN is Scott’s story ten years after the parents’ death. He meets and tangles with Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley when she comes to investigate him as part of a cold case which rapidly heats up.

Nashville, TN, has been my home town for the last forty years so it was a joy to set this story here. As familiar as I am with the city, I still had to do some “drive-around” research to keep it up-to-date. Obviously it was written and already edited before the 2010 spring flood, but Tess’ building and Scott’s office building would’ve incurred some damage as both are located right down town in historic buildings along First Avenue. The flooding will be addressed in one of the sequels.

EXCERPT:

Tess took another bite of pizza, her silver gaze never leaving his. “You going to help me out or not? Forbes is your client, after all.” Her voice rose and, again, heads turned in their direction.

“Calm down. I’d like to live long enough to walk you home…and maybe get a good-night kiss.”

Taking a deep breath, she leaned back and signaled everything was cool. “You want to walk me home and kiss me good-night? How sweet.”

Her soft tone mocked him, but he didn’t care.

“Like we’re high school sweethearts.” She wrinkled her nose, but her eyes shone with moderate good humor.

“Would you rather I said what I was really thinking?”

Her lashes fluttered briefly, then she eyeballed him directly. “Maybe. Depends on what you were really thinking.”

He lowered his tone a notch. “About pressing you up against the wall and having my way with you.”

For a second, her gray eyes flashed silver.

Damn. He was a goner—as in, he’d gone too far. Said too much. Too soon.

She leaned forward. “I’ll have you know I don’t engage in up-against-the-wall, wild animal sex on the first date, not that this is even a date.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. Maybe he could still pull his nuts out of the fire before they went up in smoke.

“A guy can always hope,” he said, without a chance in the world she wouldn’t kick him to the curb. Or have one of her fellow officers do the honors.

“A guy can hold his breath…until he turns purple.”

“I can see I’ve put my foot in it. I’m sorry… But damn, the sight of your mouth. Your skin. Your eyes. Dammit. You’re driving me up a wall.”

“Another reference to the wall? Would that be the same wall?”

“Bad choice of words.”

***

You can order a copy of LOVE ME IF YOU CAN at Amazon.com or at her publisher's web site. If you prefer an e-book format, check the publisher's web site on August 6th.

excerpt from ROMANCING THE STONES by Catherine Berlin

2010-07-25T11:09:00.002-05:00

This week the SOS Blog brings you an excerpt from Catherine Berlin's ROMANCING THE STONES. Charlie, the archaeologist heroine trying to figure out who stashed a body in her house while she was out of the country, keeps crossing paths with Vaiden, the detective attempting to find out the same thing.

*****

Charlie descended the wall too quickly and scraped the sides of her palms. It was either slow way down, or endure more scrapes. Finally, she dropped the last ten feet to the ground. The lights from the fire trucks spun wildly against the buildings through the tiny vertical view, and she had no idea how close they would come to her location between the buildings.

She’d thrown her backpack down first, before climbing out the window, and now stooped to pick it up. She barely straightened, intent on slipping through the puzzle-pieced walkways to emerge far away from the scene without calling attention to herself.

Then she realized she wasn’t alone.

Thick arms circled her waist as she tried to run and someone knocked her to the ground. He angled his shoulder and kept her from hitting too hard, taking her weight as she fell.

His big body landed half on top of her legs and held her still, one hand covering her mouth. A hand that smelled of pencils, not of smoke and sulfur. Not that she would have screamed. Better one witness to lose than a passel of them come to her rescue.

She bit hard on the finger that rested against her lips, then rolled sideways, trying to wriggle away. Who the hell would be back here anyway? Though the sun had yet to peel away the inky darkness, she could see the man’s face easily. The black arched brows, thick ebony hair…face full of accusation. Vaiden.

“Ow! What the hell did you do that for?” He shook his hand and then sucked the finger she’d chomped.

He backed up, still on the ground, but she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to the wall and out of range of the lights. Her determination to get away unseen dissolved into irritation. First he had her tailed, and now this?

“You followed me?” She whispered harshly and pressed him against one wall.

“Had you followed. But you managed to ditch your tail when you got on campus. When I saw the fire trucks I figured you had to be in the middle of it. Trouble follows you.” His hands rested on her waist, so easily. Too natural. She inched away before her body did what it wanted and leaned in against his strength. She had to fight this damned attraction. She’d end up hurting him if she didn’t stop.

He followed, taking a step closer, never taking his hands from her waist. “What are you doing, Charlie?”

“I needed something from my father’s journals. They’re kept in the records room. And, no, it couldn’t wait.” She wished she could see him, but when she’d pulled him against the building, she’d lost that advantage. The night filled the passage, and except for his hands, gentle on her hips now, she wouldn’t have known where he stood, much less what he was doing with his face.

“So you admit you were breaking and entering?”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘breaking’. It’s not as if I broke any locks.”

He sighed. “Charlie you scaled a wall and went in through a window. I think that’s pretty classic B and E.”

His scent swept past her nostrils and she closed her eyes. His mouth grazed her cheekbone and she held her breath.

“You smell like smoke.”

She exhaled. “Yeah, well, I had company. A little firebug.” She puffed a bit of air from her nose in anger. When she got a hold of—

“This isn’t funny. You could go to jail.” His fingers tightened on her side and held the material of her shirt to keep her from getting away.

The jackass thought she set the fire?

She placed her palms on his chest and heaved. Like trying to move a wall of stone. “Why would I destroy my own father’s materials?” She almost screeched, but was careful to keep her voice down. Most likely the firemen were making enough of their own noise and wouldn’t hear them far way between the buildings, but she didn’t want to take a chance.

He spoke against her ear. “I don’t know, but I assure you I intend to find out.”

He actually thought she’d broken in to do harm. She wanted to kick him in the shin, but knew from experience that there were better ways to get a man to release her, and in the process shock him long enough to get away. She closed her eyes, sure that she would regret what she had to do. She opened her mouth and extended her tongue, making contact with Vaiden’s neck just below his ear. Then moaned his name.

He stiffened, then clenched her tighter as she kissed his throat. “Charlie, stop.”

The pulse that beat erratically beneath her lips reminded her that Vaiden was all man, and he did want her. Power was a heady feeling, but she hated this abuse of it. He’d be angry later when he realized she’d tricked him.

At last she kissed him full on the mouth, feeling empty triumph when he returned the kiss. She had no need to fake her desire for him. He made her smolder with only a look. Maybe the dark did have its advantages after all.

Her hands sought his loosened tie and jerked it from his collar. Her skin sizzled as his hands slid beneath her shirt. She feigned a struggle with the buttons of his oxford to get him to remove his hands from her. When he did, she mouthed an apology he would never see, tightened her hold on her pack, and ran from him. As fast as her feet could carry her.

Vaiden sagged against the wall and grinned at Charlie’s fading footsteps. She might think she’d gotten away with something. Two could play that game.

He’d wondered how he’d get the tracking device on her. Her little kissing game had provided the perfect opportunity. Though he’d enjoyed her ruse, and in fact almost forgot to stick the tiny metal disk in her backpack, her sudden assault on his neck had set warning bells clanging louder than the fire truck sirens.

Seeing her shimmying down the side of the building had stopped his heart. If she’d fallen…

But she hadn’t. She’d moved like a pro, which meant she’d done this before.

*****

ROMANCING THE STONES is available from Samhain Publishing at http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/romancing-the-stones

What goe on in the mind of a writer?

2010-07-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't think my mind is normal. I'm constantly devising new ways to kill people. Different ways to have people meet. I take ordinary, everyday stories my friends and family tell me and I try to twist it into different shapes to see if I can include it in one of my stories. Or I file it away to bring out when I think it fits. So don't tell me a story about yourself if you don't want it included in my book.

Questions swirl through my brain and I spend a lot of time on Google trying to find the answers. If you were to look in my recent history on my computer you'd think a madman was on it. Nope. Just me. Doing my job.

So I thought I'd share some of the Google questions I asked this week, just to prove I'm not normal:

What does it feel like when you think you're being watched? I wanted physical reactions here but I learned there isn't such a phenomenom of knowing you're being watched. Its something that doesn't really happen. Well that was a bummer. But since most people think there is such a thing I went with it.

What types of bird live in France? I wanted my heroine to hear birds, but I didn't know what types live in France. These are the little things that lend credibility to your writing. Thank goodness for Google. I don't know what writers did back in the day when they had to actually search for their research materials. BTW, I used a Woodpecker. It wasn't what I was originally going for but the sound of a Woodpecker pecking on a tree fit perfectly with the scene.

Are there squirrels in France? Do you detect a theme here? My heroine is in France and she's in nature. Yes, there are squirrels in France, but what I learned that was very interesting was that there aren't that many gray squirrels in France. They mostly have red squirrels.

What does Mountain Heather smell like? I know heather grows in France because I researched that several months ago, but I wanted to know what it smelled like. Interestingly enough, this was a hard question to answer. I had to search for some time to find it. Mountain Heather smells like a bouquet of flowers with tones of amber.

What emotions does a soldier feel during battle? I hate writing fight scenes and I needed to get into my heroes head (he used to be a soldier and was calling on his past experience). This again was another hard one. I never really did learn the answer to it. But I have a very good imagination and I could imagine what a soldier would feel. In the end I didn't really need this information anyway. That's the funny thing about research. Sometimes you can spend hours trying to find one tiny thing and in the end you don't need it.

What does it mean when you see red when you're angry? Another question I never really got an answer about. And another bit of research I ended up not needing in the end.

What does it feel like to be strangled? Believe it or not, I got a lot of hits on this one. Your vision starts to dim, your limbs become heavy and stop struggling and eventually everything goes black. It doesn't hurt all that much either. Very interesting and something I used in my scene.

All of those questions just for one scene. Isn't it amazing?

What's the craziest thing you've asked Google and did you get an answer?

REQUIEM FOR A COMPUTER

2010-07-22T07:35:00.001-05:00

Last weekend my laptop died. This happens to everyone at some time. Knowing that others feel my pain doesn’t help alleviate it at all. I was depressed, discombobulated, edgy. Am I an addict to the computer? Sure felt like it. How did I get so dependent on computers?

We have a netbook and I was able to use that for my email. That helped my withdrawal symptoms a little. But the netbook doesn’t have Word. I’m a writer. Cutting off Word is like cutting off an arm.

I’d finished a short story and needed to polish it. Without Word I couldn’t do it. Besides being depressed and edgy, I was imagining my so-called writing career imploding before it even really got started. I got increasingly more upset. Someone recommended a program called Open Office which is a word processing system compatible with Word. I uploaded it onto the netbook. Open Office is very hard to use. I couldn’t figure it out. I thought I could put my flash drive into the netbook and use Open Office to write and it would be just like Word. It’s not compatible with Word. You can’t format in Open Office the way you can with Word. There was no way to shut off widow and orphan control, no spell check. I got more depressed.

We called Toshiba, we called the Geek Squad. They all tried to help on the phone, but the laptop remained dead. We took it into the Geek Squad at Best Buy. The tech turned it on and saw the problem immediately. The entire computer wasn’t dead, just the screen, much like a monitor dying on a desk top. To fix it would cost as much as a new laptop. We decided we’d shop for a new laptop, but that didn’t solve my immediate problem. I needed Word. The tech suggested we connect the laptop to an old monitor if we had one. We did. When we got home, we hooked up the laptop to an old monitor from a dead desktop computer, and Voila!, I had my computer back. More importantly, I had Word. I’m using the laptop/monitor combo now.

We still need a new laptop but now we have time to research and decide which one we want. The tech said the average lifespan of a laptop is three to four years. My laptop is three and a half years old. Luckily, the hard drive is intact and we were able to transfer the hard drive to an external HD just in case the laptop goes totally kaput before we get another one.

I spent three-fourths of my life without a computer and now I’m ready to go bonkers if I don’t have my computer. How crazy is that? How do you feel when your computer dies?

I'm home!

2010-07-15T02:48:00.001-05:00

As I've repeated over the past several months, I've been living with my grandmother, being her primary care provider. It's been a tough job, filled with moments of fear, frustration, agitation, and overwhelming sadness. The sadness is what has me right now. I made the arbitrary decision--with the support of my aunt--to allow my grandmother to return living on her own.

It was rather like leaving your first born at kindergarten--tears on both sides. But I know that right now my grandmother is capable of caring for herself. She can still cook, clean, bathe, brush her teeth, and do her own laundry. While she has her wits about her, I want her to enjoy that independence because I can also state with NO hesitation, she is slipping and one day in the not too distant future she won't be able to live alone any more.

While she can, I want her to. Forcing her onto her own feet will help her. I truly believe that. She is forced to get out of bed, she HAS to make her own meals (okay so I made up "TV" dinners--divided plates with single servings of things like baked chicken, with vegetables and gravy, spaghetti and meat sauce, etc.) I go over and take her to the senior center three times a week, to her doctor and dentist appointments, and call her a couple times through out the day just to check in on her.

Now I sit here at home struggling to get caught up with business that has suffered from inattention over the past several months.

I shouted cheers of joy as I FINALLY finished the first round of edits on my October release, Hunting Mickey. I'm an anal author who usually receives her edits and has them done and returned in a 24 hour time period. It was driving me ape crackers that I was unable to focus and get the work done. When I wasn't over at Nanny's, I was home desperately trying to catch up on the sleep I'd been deprived of the previous week.

Today I spent a full hour in my favorite summer hobby: sun bathing. It was the first time all season I'd seen the sun for more than the time to took to drive from point A to point B. Knowing that beginning July 24 until July 29 I'll be spending 8 or more hours out in the sun, fishing, boating, ATVing, horse back riding, etc, I need to get my skin ready for all that massive exposure so I don't end up lobster maroon by the end of the first day.

I'm selfishly excited how wonderful it was to sit out on the deck today. The sun above, a good book in my hands (Rereading Erma Bombeck's Family-The Ties that Bind--and Gag)Tomorrow I'm hoping to spend another hour before I have take Nan to the dentist.

While I was away from home, I received a rejection notice. It was hard for me to read those lines telling me thanks but no thanks. Harder than past rejections. In large part owing to the decided lack of sleep and emotional rawness and in small part owing to the fact that the book rejected was Death Rides a Pale Harley. I was STUNNED that the book received an R. It's a strong, wonderful story with fabulous characters and an intensely intriguing plot. I ended up crying into a big bowl of Moose Trax ice cream and burying my pain in a HUGE Dove Milk Chocolate Bar.

I intend to read it over and then send it out again.

I've also been inspired to try my hand at something new. It's a project I am doing mainly for my own enjoyment but if it works...I've decided to write a musical. Yes, I sing--quite well. I've won awards for my voice talents over the years as well as had my share of jobs requiring my voice. In recent years I sing for myself and my babies--but I digress. It's not just any musical. It's one that I've messed with during the worst times of the past months. A Musical that Weird Al himself would be proud of! It's called COWS: The MOOSICAL.

Yep, it's just as nonsensical and silly as it sounds. The plot is off beat and goofy, the songs are parodies of some oldies but goodies...I know, there's red tape to wade through and hoops to jump to use some of the musical scores I've envisioned but that's all right. If it never see's the lights of OFF OFF Broadway, that's just fine with me. As long as I release the building pressure with some udder nonsense, that's what its for!

I would like to take a minute to THANK everyone! Over the past few months, your emails, cards of encouragement, keeping the family in your prayers, it has been a wonderful blessing and I'm grateful to each one of you who have made sure to let me know you were thinking of us and sending support in our direction.

Since I'm just recently home, I've got a ton of work still ahead of me. The vacation I've lived for is coming in 9 DAYS and I'm behind on preparations. Plus even though DH is supportive of my "selfish" vacation, I am trying to help him get our home packed, one room at a time, so it can go up on the market. He's still not found a job and we're not sure how much longer we can hold on. We've come to terms with the fact that it's inevitable. Maybe a miracle will present itself and he'll get a job in the next week or so--but I've learned recently that miracles only happen once in a great while. It will be sad to say goodbye to the place that's been our home for the last few years, but there's obviously something better in store for us. I'm almost excited to see what is in store for us next!

Well, I guess I better take off. It's GREAT being back--and I hope I can hang around for a while longer!

Have a fantastic rest of the week and I'll see y'all in August!

Hugs
Donica

New cover art!

2010-07-13T08:23:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm excited to show off the fabulous new cover of BELOVED CAPTIVE, my September book at Desert Breeze, the fourth book in my New Orleans Detective series. This book is an "on the run" story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love writing books like this. It's so much fun! And I love the cover. Jenifer Ranieri does great work.

Only two more books to go in this series once this one is released. UNWILLING ACCOMPLICE will come out in February, with PERFECT PARTNER to follow in June. I'm working on a new series, though, titled Keller County Cops. Those books will come out beginning in April. Can't wait!

Blurb:

Detective Kevin Jacobs believes integrity is the most important trait a cop can possess, until a beautiful doctor accuses him of murder and he's forced to take her hostage in order to clear his name. Rebecca Daniels cooperates with Kevin, and soon finds herself in a fight for her very life -- and also for her heart

Excerpt:

He gritted his teeth. "We're going to get up together and you won't make a sound. Got that?"

She didn't answer. Didn't move, didn't breathe. Silence filled the space around them so completely Kevin forgot to breathe, too. When he did, he drew in the bitter tang of blood. The coppery scent caught in his throat.

He gripped the back of her neck and squeezed, careful to keep his fingernails from digging into her tender skin. "You hear me?"

She nodded slowly, and a lone tear dripped down her cheek. Her pulse skittered wildly beneath his hand.

He tamped down the urge to be gentle with her slender, quivering body. He needed her to fear him so she wouldn't cause a commotion as they left the courthouse. How he'd get away without leaving a trail of blood, he didn't know. But he had to try, and she was his best hope.

"Get up." He rose and pulled her with him.

She held herself rigid. He turned her around. The light hit her face and he reeled from the animosity written there. Her eyes were the color of a clear summer sky. They snapped with rage.

"You killed Judge Boykin." Her sharp words made him blanch.

He tightened his grip on her arm. "It wasn't me."

"Oh, no? I saw you." Her accusing gaze slid down his black-clad body and he suddenly realized he and Fowler could be mistaken for twins -- except for the blood now soaking his clothes.

She tried to wriggle free, but he held her fast.

"I can't let you go. I need your help."

"Are you crazy?" She gaped at him.

He fought off a wave of dizziness. "I have to get out of here. I'm losing blood fast."

She looked at his side and her eyes widened. "Oh, my God."

"He stabbed me."

"Who did?" Her gaze jerked to his. "The judge?"

"No." There wasn't time to explain further. He eyed the window.

"There's no way out," she said "except the door."

"We'll see about that." He lifted the Glock to her head. "Walk over to the window. Now."

"Surely you're not planning to--"

He looked at her.

"You are." The blood drained from her face.

Ranger or Morelli?

2010-07-12T08:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, we've asked ourselves for years, Why isn't there a Stephanie Plum movie or TV series? I understand now from my good friend, Annie Solomon, that there's a movie in the works.

Katherine Heigl will play Stephanie Plum in ONE FOR THE MONEY. Sorry, gonna have to see that to believe it. She's not who I pictured as Stephanie, but I'll withhold judgement until I see the movie.

Irish-born Jason O'Mara will play Joe Morelli. Given that O'Mara played a chilling serial killer in THE CLOSER, he definitely has the acting chops to play one of Stephanie's two favorite men friends. He's a dreamy-looking guy, and I remember him from a BBCAmerica series, MONARCH OF THE GLEN, where he played a recurring character named Fergal.

Daniel Sunjata will play Ranger and from his photos, he'll make a great sexy bail enforcement agent. I haven't seen him in anything, but he's definitely got the look down pat, meaning he's smouldering HOT.

Like the TWILIGHT fans who are split between Jacob and Edward, Evanovich fans are divided into two camps: Morelli and Ranger. I'm firmly in the Morelli camp, but the appeal of a dark bad boy type like Ranger holds a great deal of appeal.

All that male lusciousness aside, I'm looking forward to the Stephanie Plum movie(s). Yes, I think there'll be more than one. The books are too much fun, and I've read all of them except the last two. Personally I'm waiting for the Kindle prices to go down. If they don't, then I'll buy paperbacks and pass them on to my mom who doesn't care for techie toys.

So which one do you want Stephanie to be with: Joe Morelli or Ranger?

The News. Watch, or Avoid?

2010-07-11T10:32:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I think it would be better if I wrote in isolation, rather than in a world where things happen.

I hate to be on a roll, writing up a storm, and then hear something on the news that sparks another idea. Especially when that idea can't possibly work in the book I am working on.

I was happily writing my cowboy story this week, when that terrible tragedy with the tour boat that got run over by a barge occurred. In the midst of feeling horrible for those people and what that accident must have been like, it popped into my head that if you were a a kid, on a boat like that, with all the other boats helping out- you could easily be kidnapped by one of the "helpers" and if you were young enough, you might not even remember that you didn't belong with these people.
My brain leaped years into the future when a grown up boat-victim would suddenly start recalling tiny things that compelled him or her to go on a quest, finally discovering who he or she really is...

See what I mean? Even in TELLING you about it, I am off on a tangent.
I don't need a writing office. I need a cave.

WHY DO I WRITE?

2010-07-08T06:54:00.002-05:00

Depending on what day you ask me this question, I might say I write to give life to the characters in my head, or I might answer, “the heck if I know.”

The other day I had one of those “heck if I know” and “why do I do this to myself?” moments. I got my second rejection from “Woman’s World” magazine. That’s two for two. Later that day I got my first ever rejection (sort of) from the True Romance editor. She said while my latest submitted story was great and enjoyable, they were no longer taking summer stories and could I please resubmit next spring. I’d submitted it as a September story, but since it takes place end of August-Labor Day weekend, I can see how the editors would see it as a summer story. I’ll resubmit next April. Although I’ve had success with the Trues and I love writing for them I was a little disappointed that I’d have to possibly wait a year to see this story in print. As for WW, they are a notoriously hard nut to crack, but I’m determined. It doesn’t take long to write an 800-word story so I’ll keep writing and submitting to them.

What inspired this blog was an article I wrote in 1997 titled, “Why I Write” for my now-defunct local RWA chapter. Here’s some of what I wrote then (in bold):

If you believe the doomsayers at RWA, a new writer’s chance for publication is slim to none. So why do I persist against overwhelming odds? Why do I give up reading, TV, socializing to stare at a blank computer screen? (Why indeed, I’ve asked myself many times since I wrote this. I still refuse to listen to the naysayers).

I write because I love to write. My heart soars when I’m transported to the Wyoming plains with Alec and Sabrina, or standing in Tom’s gleaming white kitchen with him and Mary Beth. I dream of sharing Alec and Sabrina, Tom and Mary Beth, with others. (I still haven’t shared Alec and Sabrina. That story went nowhere, but it was set on a ranch in Wyoming. I’m strictly an East Coast girl. However, Tom and Mary Beth were characters in my first pubbed novel with Avalon. And that novel was set in my hometown in Delaware-so write what you know. I learned that lesson).

Here’s more of what I wrote in 1997:

I want readers to love Alec for his beauty and his fierce devotion to his family. I want them to cheer Sabrina’s spunk and her determination to have what she wants from life. I want them to laugh and cry when Tom and Mary Beth take tentative steps to rekindle the love they once denied. (In 1997 I’d only completed two novels. I’ve completed a few more since then (some pubbed, some not), and I’ve loved all my heroes: Tom, Logan, Adam, Dominic, Nick, Matteo and also the heroes in my short stories, but Alec was and is my first love. A tall proud Cherokee, just thinking about him makes my pulse jump. I’ve got to use him and Sabrina in another book).

So why am I still writing? I’ve had limited success. Thank God for the epubs and magazines. In addition to my Avalon book, I’ve got two romantic suspense books with The Wild Rose Press and seven short stories, published over the past 18 months. Very limited success, but I realize I’ve accomplished more than most who set out, stars in their eyes, to write a book. So I can’t complain.

I still agonize over rejections, but not as much as before. I’ve gotten a lot more relaxed. A rejection isn’t going to change my life. A three-book contract with an advance well into the six figures, on the other hand, can change my life quite a bit.

I write because I love to write. Simple as that. Do I want to sell more books? You bet. Will I? I have no idea, but I don’t believe in giving up. I’ll keep submitting to “Woman’s World” because I’d sure like to make $800 for an 800-word story. I’m revising my werewolf paranormal yet again because I love my hero Nick and my heroine Kyla (she’s gone through a few name changes). At times I’ve thought of putting my paranormal into the proverbial drawer and forgetting about it. But I believe in that book and love it, so I’ll keep submitting. Or I may self-publish with Amazon or Smashwords. I believe in it that much.

I write even though my husband is non-supportive and is resentful of the time I spend writing. I try to balance my writing with doing work around the house and spending time with hubby. It’s not always an easy balancing act. I will continue to write until I no longer get pleasure from it, until my heart no longer soars when I’m with Alec and Sabrina, Mary Beth and Tom, Logan and Doriana, Dominic and Lexie, Chloe and Matteo, Nick and Kyla. And I will continue to write my short stories for the confession magazines. They keep me in the game.

So why do you write?

Beating the heat...

2010-07-07T11:59:00.004-05:00

We're sweltering here in the Northeast United States. Besides the obvious option of cranking up the AC -- we only have one window unit in the master bedroom -- I've been trying to think of other ways to keep the kids, and myself, from melting.

One dd opted to fill a Ziploc baggie with ice and place it strategically in her shirt. (GGG) We've also had water balloon 'wars'; two-shower days -- producing extra loads of towels in the washer; and have ingested copious amounts of ice cream, watermelon, and Popsicles. If you have to be miserable, the least you can do is enjoy it on some level. :)

We also limit outdoor activity to the early mornings and early evening. Not an easy task with some three acres of yard to tend. But at least the weather is good for our blueberries, raspberries and tomato plants.

So what do you do to beat the heat?

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

2010-07-06T05:12:00.002-05:00

I just finished another book. Writing The End has always been difficult for me, even harder than writing the very first scene in a book. You want to be able to make the reader sigh, maybe even tear up while reading the two characters confessing their love to each other and know they'll have their happily-ever-after. It seems like every ending I write takes a little bit out of me. This last ending, in a way, is special since my characters in Unplanned were sitting on my desktop in limbo for about seven months without one. I had moved on to something else because, like I said, endings are so hard for me. What pushed me to finish the book was my sale to Liquid Silver with the first book, Untouched, in my Men of the Jungle series. So I was thankful for the push to give my hero and heroine an ending. Now, I'm working on the third book, Undone, and revising Hook, Line, Murder and need to write about 6,000 more words to finish Memory Lane. Wow, I'm tired just thinking about that. Clearly, I have too many irons in the fire, fishes in the pot or whatever. Maybe that's why I have such a hard time finishing anything.

So, is there anyhing you have a hard time finishing? Something that makes you procrastinate?

Have a fantastic week!

The End

Jerri

Countdown to Nationals

2010-07-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

It happens to me every year at about this time. A mix of excitement and panic--Nationals is coming up! And every year I don't have half done of what I needed to finish before leaving home. This year is no exception.

I have a book to finish, a pitch to write, revisions from my editor coming any day now, and a ton of personal things too. I may have to sacrifice sleep to accomplish half of it! But sleep is overrated, right? LOL

The worst part is, I've had plenty of time to get stuff done. I'd love to blame my lack of progress on the to do list of doom on having 3 kids home for the summer. And yeah, some of it is that. I must confess a good part of it is just pure laziness though. I'm hoping publicly confessing will motivate me to get busy! (Hey, I'm writing this blog a day early so maybe it's already working lol!)

I hope everyone is having a great summer! See you in Orlando!

Being a Mommy Today

2010-06-30T10:49:00.004-05:00

(Yeah, I just wish I had him around the house to do my chores for me) Today, I am being a Mommy. Yesterday was a fairly productive day for the WIP, so today, I'm making up for the chores I didn't get done yesterday.

I think I'll be taking some 5 Hour Energy soon.

Anyway, I've done some laundry, have bed sheets to change, and pulled a toy out of the air conditioning vents (Eww... I had to use tongs). There's a ton more. I dusted and vacuumed yesterday, so that's done. But I kinda want to mop and see if I can get more of our laundry done. Though I don't like running the dryer in the afternoon because it gets so hot, the dryer heat only adds to it.

I have to rearrange my cabinets and spices, because my son thinks it's his duty to arrange them as he sees fit--he's two, so you can imagine...

And that doesn't count preparing for this weekend's barbecue we're going to--getting anything we need to bring, fireworks, etc. And then there's bill paying...

Not to mention going to work tonight at 5.

Yeah, I'm thinking I won't be getting a lot done on the WIP today.

Unless I procrastinate again...

And I don't ever do that...

Tee hee he.

How do you balance home chores and writing?

New review!

2010-06-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

My publisher recently notified me about a new 5-wing review for the second e-book in my N.O. Detective series, PRIME SUSPECT, that's up at Classic Romance Revival. This book was released in February 2010 from Desert Breeze Publishing. I'm so excited! I loved writing this series.

"Atkins crafts a pulse-pounding suspense with Book Two in the New Orleans Detectives Series, Prime Suspect. (Her) writing is crisp and sharp, engaging the reader from the first page. The plot is complex, but easy to maneuver in Atkins capable hands. Prime Suspect will take the reader on a nail-biting suspense thrill ride." -- Stephanie, CRR

You can read the full review here on the Classic Romance Revival website.

The N.O. Detective series:

CHERISHED WITNESS available now here.
PRIME SUSPECT is available here.
CHOSEN TARGET is here.
BELOVED CAPTIVE -- September 2010 (info here.)
UNWILLING ACCOMPLICE -- February 2011
PERFECT PARTNER -- June 2011

And look for my upcoming Keller County Cops series:

MARKED FOR MURDER -- April 2011
SHIELD OF VALOR -- September 2011
QUEST FOR JUSTICE -- January 2012 (tentative)
Book 4 -- June 2012 (tentative)

Another Book Video Teaser

2010-06-28T06:57:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Cara's example, I finally sat down and worked up a video teaser for my August release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN.

The One True Media site wasn't difficult to use and allows for a slightly slicker result than Windows Movie Maker.

In case anyone remembers my whining about it, this is the book I rewrote at least four to five times for four different editors at two different publishers. I'm so happy that it will finally be available on August 6th from The Wild Rose Press.

It's set in my hometown of Nashville, TN, and thankfully my heroine's loft condo located on 1st Ave. South hadn't been flooded by the 2010 spring flood at the time it was written. This writer can only hope she and the hero moved into new digs before the flooding. I'll have to take that into account if I ever complete the series.

Marie-Nicole

Heroes versus Husbands

2010-06-27T11:03:00.002-05:00

You know, as a romance author with a husband, I walk the fine line of my husband thinking I do a lot of research and my husband thinking I am obsessed with a random face.

To explain: I often make a notebook to go with the story I am fleshing out. I'll put things in there that help me out- maybe a map of the place, maybe pictures of clothes from that time period, maybe a face I think is close to that of the hero or heroine. Some notebooks have a lot in them. Some are just some sheets of paper wedged between pages of a research book.

Sometimes though, when I find a face that REALLY works for the hero, I will collect many images of the face. An example would be Billy Zane when I was working on Romancing the Stones, or Sean Michaels with my cowboy story, or Alex O'Loughlin with the sneezing story (don't ask). It helps me work. It helps me picture things in my head as I write.

If he sees my notebook, my husband doesn't comment, but he will make "that face". He might even tell me my "boyfriend" is on TV. I get it. But there's no convincing him that I have no actual feelings for these... pictures.

What I wish he understood was that I love every single face HE makes. These 2D images? I probably only choose 1 of every 100 images. The other 999? They don't help me work at all.

Book Recommendations

2010-06-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've scaled back my writing this summer due to vacations and such. I plan to jump back in, refreshed, at the end of July, but for the moment I'm reading like mad. Something I don't get to do often when I'm in full writing mode (which I have been since January).

For some reason I'm on a historical binge (I know this is a romantic suspense blog, but hey, most of the historicals I'm reading are suspense as well!), so I thought I'd pass along some really good summer reading material.

I'm not a fan of Susan Wigg's contemporaries but I absolutely love her historicals. I just finished the second book in her Chicago Fire trilogy and highly recommend both The Hostage and The Mistress. The romance is slow in these and I don't mean slow in the bad sense. I mean the path the main characters take to falling in love is a winding one, but it seemed so much more realistic than some of the romances where they fall in love (or bed) within the first three chapters. The stories are about three girls who survive the great Chicago fire and how their lives, and luck, change. Its an interesting concept that Wiggs introduces--that people can change who they are in the chaos of a tragedy.

Lisa Kleypas', Married by Morning, was wonderful. I just love tortured heroes and the hero in this book is definitely tortured. This is the third book in the series, but I didn't read the other three and was able to follow along easily. I liked it enough that I purchased another one in the series because the secondary characters intrigued me.

The next book in my TBR pile is The Firebrand, the third and final story in the Chicago Fire trilogy. Then after that? Well, I don't have to tell you that my TBR pile is enormous, but the characters in my head are clamoring to be let out and I'll probably return to my writing after that, revived, refreshed and ready to go.

What are you reading this summer?

BOOK TRAILERS AND PROMO

2010-06-24T10:03:00.002-05:00

We writers, especially those of us with small presses and epubs, know how important promo is. And what a time-sucker it is. Yet, because our books aren’t on shelves, we must do promotion.

Nora Roberts once gave excellent advice about promotion. She said writers should spend only a very small percentage of their advance on promo. I forget the exact percentage she recommended. If you’re with a major publisher and you received a large advance, even one percent of that advance will get you some major promotion. What if you don’t get an advance?

My very first book was with Avalon in 2003. I didn’t even have a website then. Avalon pays $1000 advance. Very few of their authors get royalties because the print run is so small. Avalon books are hardbacks and they are marketed specifically to libraries. I didn’t do promo because I had no idea what book promo entailed. Doing promotion for my Avalon book wouldn’t have changed anything anyway. I still wouldn’t have gotten any more than the $1000. I did, however, use some of the money to take my husband and son to dinner at an upscale restaurant, and I bought myself a pair of designer sunglasses, a real treat. And I hired someone to do a website for me. All good uses of my money.

In 2007 my RS, “Logan’s Redemption,” came out with The Wild Rose Press. I love the story and wanted to promote the book. I made lots of expensive mistakes. I should have followed Nora’s advice and spent nothing on promo as I had no advance. I took out an ad in a community newspaper. The ad ran for two issues and was distributed all over the county. I’m too embarrassed to say what the ad cost. Did it sell books? No, and even if it had, I made so little on royalties, there would be no way I could ever recoup what I’d spent. I also paid a company to make a book trailer. The trailer is very nice and professional, but it didn’t sell books. I had postcards made up with the cover. The postcards look good, and I noticed that right after I gave them out at a conference, I had a small uptick in sales. That seems to be the only promo item that even remotely helped sell books. What was I thinking spending all that money on promo? This was an ebook. I didn’t know at the time that, despite glowing reviews, I’d make very little from a non-erotic ebook.

Lesson learned. Fast forward to the present. I have another ebook, "Murder, Mi Amore," scheduled for release at the end of 2010. This time I’ve scheduled a half dozen free, mark that-FREE-online interviews and blogs. When my last ebook came out, I only scheduled one interview. I’ve learned since then to go for the free promo and schedule the interviews early because the slots get filled quickly. I may have postcards made up again, but if I do, they’ll be my only promo expense.

Another thing I did differently this time is I made my very own book trailer. It’s not as professional as the one I paid someone to do, but I think it’s darn good. And I paid a whopping $3.99 to join the video website for one month. I plan to do some tweaking on my video before my month is up. If you want to look at it as it stands now, below is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CarolynMat2

So is there any promo you did which you felt was helpful?

What's a Tagline?

2010-06-22T05:32:00.004-05:00

I'd never had to write one before. But I was asked to put one together for Untouched. So, I scoured the internet for examples, hoping that would help. I asked my critique partners, my MORWA members, my husband and anyone else who'd maybe had to write one before for advice--okay, so my husband has never had to write one, but I asked him anyway.

A tagline can make or break a product. Companies have been using them for a long time. Like Nike's Just Do it. Pretty much everyone knows that saying. That's a tagline. How about Got Milk by the California Milk Processor Board. Who hasn't heard that one.

So, how do I write one sentence that would have the same effect? I can't. Not even going try, but I did the best I could. This is what I ended up with.

He came looking for treasure, but what he found was more precious than gold.

Do you have a great tagline you'd care to share? I'd love to see it.

Jerri

New Release for me!

2010-06-16T10:22:00.002-05:00

I have been a horrible blogger the last month, occupied with so many other things, I keep forgetting. (And let's not talk about my screw up on my calendar that kept saying I was blogging on the wrong weeks...)

But today, I'm trying to get caught up with everything.

And without further ado, I'm pleased to bring you:

The Reluctant Prince

Duty comes with a price—his heart.

Sydney Martinson’s budget is so tight, it squeaks—and she couldn’t be happier. Her divorce from her controlling husband is final, and a Vegas hair stylist convention is the perfect place to cut loose. Yet she can’t quite shake the feeling she’s being watched.

It took some doing, but Hadrian’s managed to slip away from his watchdog personal assistant for a weekend of well-deserved relaxation. Life as TV’s “Pasta Prince” comes with pressure, and so does his closely guarded secret. He doesn’t just rule the kitchen, he’s royalty with a capital R—third in line to the throne of Koros. And he’d like to keep it that way.

When he spots free-spirited, blue-haired Sydney tossing a coin into a Luxor fountain, he feels the punch in the gut that family lore says all Drake men feel when they meet their match. One weekend with her has him thinking about forever.

Until his assistant tracks him down with dreadful news. One cousin is dead, another is missing. Hadrian is the Crown Prince of Koros—the last job in the world he ever wanted. Worse, he and Sydney are next in line on a killer’s list.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Here's a short excerpt:

After they finished eating, Hadrian and Sydney talked about his growing up in Missouri and her spending her summers there when she was a kid.

A hardness lingered in her, he noticed. A stiffness that she didn’t let down very much. In her eyes, behind the cold images, he could see so much warmth and love, or rather, the need for it.

Part of him wondered, if only for a second, what it would be like to date her, to spend time with her on a regular basis. He wanted to see beyond the hurt inside her and see the real part of her that she kept tucked away from the world.

He imagined it had to do with her profession. The need to be perfect and receptive for everyone else causing her to lock down her own problems, her own thoughts, and be a person, must weigh heavily on her. Like himself. He rarely got to open up, to talk to someone like normal people did, and he missed it.

As the alcohol floated around in her system, the more her posture relaxed, and she started leaning forward to reveal her awesome cleavage and looking at him through those hooded eyes that he knew would look mind-boggling on his bed. That would be if she were naked…

Knock it off, he told himself.

Sydney looked around a bit. Her hand landing an inch or from his hand, she stretched her fingers to touch his. He moved his hand so their fingers laced together.

“Hadrian?” She ran her fingers up and down his.

“Yeah?”

“I wanted to tell you a couple of things.”

He raised his eyebrow at her, clenching his beer bottle. “Like?”

She blushed, bowed her head, then looked back up at him. “Uh, yeah, well, I think you’re really very nice…” she glanced away from him. “This is harder than I thought it would be…”

“Well, just say it.” He took a swig from his beer.

“Uh, well,” she let go of his hand, fiddling with her untouched spoon and straightening it as she stared at the table. “Will you sleep with me?”

He choked on his beer, his eyes about popping out of his head.

“This is my last night here, and I have classes all day tomorrow, and I really wanted to do something, well, just not me, and you’re so damn sexy, you have a bod that won’t quit, and I really, really, really would like to screw your brains out.” She let out a breath, and her eyes pleaded with him, innocence and sexiness and pure desire all wrapped up into one look.

He blinked. His mouth went dry, and his dick went hard.

He raised his arm. “Check please.”

Five Things I like about Summer

2010-06-15T09:08:00.005-05:00

I've never been much of a summer person, mainly because of the incredible heat we have here in the Deep South. But this year I find myself actually enjoying it. Not so much the weekend my air conditioning went out and I had to go stay with my other, but ever since I've been pretty happy and have been trying to make the best of our early heat wave. Thinking about it, I've decided that I like:

1. SITTING ON THE BACK PORCH either early in the morning to have my coffee or late in the afternoon. I've made it like an extra room in the house with pretty plants and tomatoes I'm growing for my mom. The cats gather around, and we enjoy watching the birds and squirrels.

2. SWIMMING early in the morning at the gym. It's just mid-June and already the water feels like bath water, but it's so relaxing. I have friends there too, and that makes it even more fun. Swim before dawn and no one can see what you look like. lol

3. LONG DAYS thanks to Daylight Savings Time. I leave the cats outside until dark and then they sleep all night without waking me up too early in the morning. I'm lucky that I have a big yard and live on a dead end street. No worries about traffic.

4. FRESH VEGETABLES at my local farmers' market. I've been visiting it quite often and have enjoyed fresh corn, peaches, yellow squash, cucumbers, etc. I'm trying to eat more veggies, and having such delicious ones so close makes it easier.

5. MORE TIME TO WRITE thanks to a more relaxed schedule, and maybe because I've finally decided to just relax and enjoy the summer. I can do without the 97 degree temperatures, but otherwise it's been pretty fun.

What do you like about summer? Do you write more then, or do you write less?

To read more about me or all of my books, please check out my website here. I'd love for you to visit!

Benefits of Joining P.A.S.I.C.

2010-06-14T07:19:00.006-05:00

This is more of a post for authors, rather than readers--sorry 'bout that--but being a member of RWA's PAN group was my goal for years and now not so much. I'm a member of PAN and have been since Samhain was (briefly for several months) a RWA recognized Publisher. Okay, admittedly I sent in my application to join the night I received the news that Samhain was recognized.

I didn't join RWA's PASIC (Published Authors Special Interest Chapter) until a little over a year ago. The wonderful JoAnn Ross saw me on MySpace and encouraged me to join. Whoa! A NYT bestselling author encouraged me to join. I messaged her to see if she understood that I was small press/e-published and was assured there was room for published authors who were RWA members. JoAnn was the membership chair at the time and believe me she did a bangup job.

I already belonged to my local chapter, Kiss of Death, so another membership, another fee to join. But guess what--I joined.

PASIC differs from PAN in the fact that it functions like a chapter. Chatting is the norm, but in that chat, I find more industry info than you find anywhere else along with the nitty-gritty of behind-the-scenes. Newbies to publication are encouraged to ask questions, and the wealth of experience and generosity of spirit among the membership is AWESOME.

Not only that, but I'm told the PASIC conference held in NYC every two years is a must attend for agents and editors, and it's very releaxed, unlike Nationals. I haven't attended yet, but it sounds fantastic.

They have a great web site. They hold live industry chats periodically throughout the year with a variety of publishers, editors, and agents. The have a great bookseller database for their members, too.

But the personal interactions whether encouraging an author who has just been orphaned (editor left or line closed) or one suffering through career doubt or health issues are invaluable.

It's a MUST READ loop, unlike so many I delete unread.

Okay, off my soapbox.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com/

Inspiration Everywhere

2010-06-13T10:47:00.003-05:00

I went to the Styx concert with my husband last night. Okay, it was Kansas, Styx, and Foreigner. But of the three, Styx was just AMAZING (Kansas was great...Foreigner...my mama told me if I can't say anything nice...).

What made me take lots of pictures and mental notes were the guys in Styx. And if my computer were not dead right now, I'd upload photos. Two of the front men for Styx were dressed in what can only be described as old-school romance novel hero outfits. I'm sure that's not what they were going for, but the tight jeans, flowy neck wear, chains on chests peeking out of pirate-cut shirts... Plus, the long hair and the Errol Flynn facial hair... I was waiting for a sword to replace the guitars ; )

I'm sure at some point my husband will ask why we have so many pictures of those two men when we were actually there because we wanted to see his buddy Todd on the drums. But when he sees me pounding away on the keyboard writing another book (if I ever get my computer back!!), he'll understand.

My mental writer is now firmly locked on Historical. Excuse me while I go find a pen and paper...

MEMORIES, MEMORIES

2010-06-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I recently found an old article I wrote for the newsletter of a now-defunct RWA chapter. The article was titled, “Why I Write.” I may revise that and post it at another time.

Reading that piece I wrote more than ten years ago took me on a trip down my writing memory lane.

I’d always loved books and dreamed of being a writer. I’ll spare you the details of how I found RWA. Filled with hope that I’d actually write a book and get it published, I went off to my first conference, one put on by the New Jersey RWA chapter.

At the urging of some new-found writer friends, I pitched the book I’d just started. I’d only written a few chapters. I had no idea what POV was, had no idea how long the book would be. I had no pitch, didn’t quite know what a pitch was. I trembled all over when I was talking to the Harlequin editor. She let me down easy, explaining she handled historicals and since my book was a contemporary, she wasn’t interested.

I know better now not to pitch something that isn’t completed, but at that time everyone was telling me I absolutely had to meet with an editor. I still remember my feeling of utter terror when I had to talk to that editor. Anyone else have a similar experience?

The next year at the same conference I met with an agent and a Silhouette editor. The book still wasn’t completed, but it was further along. And I’d learned a lot more. I at least knew what POV was. At that time there were no epubs, but there were several more print publishers than there are now. I wanted desperately to sell to Silhouette Desire. The agent and editor I met at that conference asked to see the full manuscript. I never sent it. I knew on some level that the book wasn’t ready for prime time, and I still had to finish it.

I finally finished the darn book and pitched it to two editors at yet another New Jersey conference. One editor was with a major publisher that will not be named, and the other was with Kensington. Both editors asked for a full, and I sent my first full manuscript out in December 1998. Two months later I got an encouraging letter from the Kensington editor saying she didn’t like the story and especially didn’t like my hero but she liked my writing. She sent me two Precious Gems to read and asked me to send something else. I figured she sent the Precious Gems so I would know what she wanted. By the way, I’m still waiting to hear from the other editor to whom I sent my manuscript in 1998.

Long story short, I began writing a story for Precious Gems. By the time it was finished Precious Gems had folded. I ended up revising the story to make it sweet and sold it to Avalon.

Through those early years, I kept writing, kept reading, went to workshops and conferences and really tried to learn the craft of writing.

Now I’m a seasoned veteran of conferences, but I still get nervous when I have to meet with an agent or editor. I’m much better prepared now of course. I was foolish in those early days to think I could pitch something that wasn’t ready. And I was foolish to listen to others even though my instincts told me something else.

I don’t want to bore you with too many memories, but when I think back to my first critique partners, the ones who laughed at what I’d written and made fun of me, I want to scream. Our small chapter did critiques after every meeting. I invariably came home with my tail between my legs, crushed at the terrible things they said about my writing.

When I got into a critique group with good writers who were also good critiquers, my writing improved greatly.

It’s been a long, hard road. I’m not yet where I want to be. I never did sell to Silhouette or any big publisher. I’m still trying, but I now have enough confidence in myself to write what I love and not go against my instincts. I no longer beat myself up over every rejection or come back from critique feeling whipped.

What kind of memories do you have?

Joys of summer...

2010-06-09T13:09:00.004-05:00

We have five children. One started at the public high school last fall; the other four take on-line classes through a charter school. It was a good year for all of them -- decent grades; making new friends; learning new things; etc. Now comes the season almost every mother dreads -- Summer Vacation.

Now, as a home-schooling mom, summers aren't really all that different. My kids are always at home. However, since they no longer have set class times or homework -- and the pesky middle child is again home 24/7 -- the dynamics of the family have been sharply altered since that last day of school.

It hasn't even been an entire week. Yes, they seem to be getting restless, already. Although I was happy that they were getting along well... until today. :\ Argument and semi-violent outbursts since late morning have clued me in quickly -- Summer is really here.

Is it September, yet?

I think any of us with children experience this roller coaster in one form or another. We get in a set routine of early mornings; homecomings; snacks; homework; bedtimes; etc. Then in a blink of an eye, we have a huge chunk of time opened up like a giant black hole. Question is: What do we fill it with?

My children have learned it's not wise to whine: "I'm bored."

"You are? Well, I can find something for you to do."

I've learned that I'm becoming my mother. :\ All-in-all, not a hugely bad thing, but still...

In addition to all this 'free time' and the joyous prospect of caring for the family garden during the next three months, I have another conundrum. How do I keep them from forgetting most of what they've learned over the last nine months?

Yeah. Good question. And no, do NOT tell me about Sylvan or other similar programs. We have enough debt, thank you very much. Not to mention the fact that I want my kids to, you know, like me. They may be choosing my care someday, after all. ;)

Seems odd that summers are supposed to be the fun time. The free and easy days. Sun. Play. Lazy days.

Yeah, whoever said that probably wasn't a parent.

Writing through the hard times!

2010-06-08T04:39:00.004-05:00

I am writing again, though things haven't really settled down here. I'm just writing through all the ups and downs. I have been writing snippets here and there, hoping to rack up word count and get to the end of Unplanned so that I can have it ready to show my editor once revision is done on Untouched. I'm bound and determined to be productive even if the road gets bumpy. If this were a 9 to 5 job outside the home, the company I worked for wouldn't put up with my excuses--they wouldn't let me slack off just because my hubby's car bit the dust and we had to buy a new one. Okay, it's been a bad year for that, but so what. Get over it and move on. I need to quit coming up with reasons not to write and just do it.

Do you make excuses for not doing something? Do you think it's a flaw in your character? When you do have those days, what do you do to get yourself motivated and move past them?

Here is the blurb for my action-adventure Untouched.

Botanist Madeline Wentworth is relieved to be heading into the Amazon, far from the university and the vicious rumors circulating about her failed love affair. But on arriving in Peru, her team finds their guide dead with a small puncture wound to his throat. Waiting to replace him is Travis Kane, Amazon guide, treasure hunter and super hunk. Mattie is instantly attracted but uncomfortably suspicious. When a member of her team falls ill and a similar wound is found on his body, her suspicions deepen.

Travis has stuck with being a jungle guide for over ten years despite a run of unsavory clients. The rain forest is full of hidden ruins and undiscovered treasure, and he’s determined to find his share. But, when his grandfather dies, leaving a letter boasting of Templar gold, he's sure it's nothing more than an old man’s delusion. Everything changes when he finds his grandfather's map. With high hopes, he leads Mattie’s team into the jungle, and finds himself overwhelmed by the beautiful blonde. When the group is attacked and has to fight its way out of the jungle, Travis discovers something more precious than gold--the love of a woman who's made him want to be a better man.

Have a wonderful week!

Jerri

Late to the party

2010-06-07T16:04:00.002-05:00

I apologize for blogging so late today. *blush* First I couldn't get into Blogger, then I got distracted with projects. I've been so busy the past few months I'm amazed I make anything on time.

I'm working on a novel that is pretty different from my contracted books. It has a very Southern voice and lots of paranormal happenings, but the romance is quite a bit tamer than my erotic romance stuff. I'm trying to get it finished and prettied up in time for Nationals in Orlando.

This isn't my first foray into sensual rather than erotic romance, however, and I'm happy to say I accepted an offer on another book from Carina Press. I'll be writing the sequel to it next and I'm really looking forward to it. I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to write in that world again!

Other than that, it's summer vacation here so I have kids running around and a pool open for business. We're doing yard work and house projects and generally staying very busy. I hope everyone else is having an awesome summer!

NEW RELEASE

2010-06-03T09:18:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to shout out that next week, June 8th, CRY WOLF will release from Samhain Publishing. WOOHOO!!! I so cannot wait. It's been ages since I've had a new book release.

I still have not heard from my editor regarding my submission of Death Rides a Pale Harley.It's only been in the editor's computer since April 21 so it's not overly surprising that I haven't gotten an answer either way. Still it's terribly hard to be patient when I'm dying of hopeful anticipation!

In personal news, I'm still with my grandmother. Some days are better than others. It's very frustrating when she is in such pain that all she can do is cry yet when we take her to the Emergency Room the doctor says "There's no reason for the pain so just keep giving her pain pills...also it may be time to consider alternate living arrangements..." and the nurses disappear for hours until suddenly three of them show up in less than fifteen minutes to tell you its time to go--and compares the exam rooms to a pizza delivery counter. Sorry for the rant. I'm just feeling utterly frustrated.

The plans for the annual girl's week vacation next month are solidifying. I havent been horseback riding since I lost my mare 5 years ago. (My kids' first horse experience was with this gentle creature) Actually it was long before that. My mare was over thirty years old so she was well beyond the age of riding. Well, there is a place near the farm that offers horse back trail riding. While I am not big on trail riding--I prefer to climb into the saddle and just roam alone--we decided to schedule it into the week's activities. I'm not certain if I'm excited about it or not, lol. We're also kidnapping my dad and his boat to spend one day on the lake. And of course several days of ATV riding, fishing, swimming, and--if my foot allows--some hiking.

I design and make hats for us each year but the material I had picked out for this year was packed into a box by the dh and he can't remember which box he put my "sewing crap" into...LOL So when I get a break here before long, I'm going to head to a couple of local craft/sewing shops and checking into some options.

Well, there are some storms moving in here, they're supposed to be strong and pretty nasty at times, so I guess I'll head off for now! See ya soon and thanks so very much for dropping in on me today!

Huggles,
Donica

New contract...yippee!

2010-06-01T15:01:00.004-05:00

I'm excited to announce that I've just been offered a new contract with Whiskey Creek Press for FLASH BANG, a single title romantic suspense set in the Deep South. FLASH BANG is a reunion story that grabbed me right off the bat.

Blurb: Allie Robbins would die to keep anyone from learning that her son, Caden, is FBI Special Agent Noah Sterling’s child. Then Caden disappears, and the only person she can trust to help her find him is the man who left her alone and pregnant ten years before. Noah thought he'd put his past behind him when he joined the FBI, and now it's returned to bite him in the ass. He and Allie pull out all the stops to find their son--and in the process, they rediscover love.

I don't have a release date yet, but hope to soon. I'm thrilled to finally find a new home for this story. I had sold it to another publisher that went under, and it's been languishing on my computer ever since. Thank you, Whiskey Creek!

To read more about this story and all my other books, please check out my website here and/or my blog here.

New Contest--Win a book a Week

2010-05-31T07:57:00.002-05:00

Starting June 4, a Friday, I'm giving away an autographed print book a week to celebrate my August 6th release of LOVE ME IF YOU CAN.

The contest ends on August 6th when one of the weekly winners will win a signed copy of the new release.

All you have to do to enter is e-mail me at marienicoleryan AT yahoo DOT com with "August contest" in the subject line. You can enter now.

All entries will remain in the pot until the grand prize winner is chosen. Details on my web site: http://marienicoleryan.com/contests.htm

Marie-Nicole

PS: Sorry for the limited post, but I'm out of town and my computer access time is limited. I hope everyone is driving safely on this day of remembrance.

First Kisses

2010-05-30T15:41:00.003-05:00

Not sure what got me thinking about first kisses...

I got kind of irritated today because I went to the movies to see Prince of Persia. Right at the oh-my-gosh-if-we-don't-do-this-thing-right-now-the-world-will-end moment, the hero and the heroine suddenly decide to have their first kiss. It was one of those too stupid to live moments. If it had been a book, it would have been put down in disgust.

My own first kiss was behind the curtain of the auditorium in elementary school. I was a dental hygienist in the school play about teeth, and my partner in crime was playing the role of the dentist. I don't remember the kiss itself AT ALL, except that I remember thinking at the time that he kissed like the professor on Gilligan's Island. I'm not even sure what that means. Maybe stiff and awkward? After all, it was third grade.

Do you remember your first kiss?

A Note from John Callahan

2010-05-28T19:46:00.000-05:00

So Sharon came to me a few days ago and said she had this blog post to write, but she was too busy what with the end of school, a deadline approaching and a vacation to plan. She asked if I could pretty please write it for her.

"Just tell your story," she said.

Yeah, right. I'm not the writer here, she is.

Needless to say, I wasn't as on board as she would have liked. What the hell am I going to write about on a romance writer's blog? But she was pretty damn insistent and when she gets to begging, well, I'm toast. So here I am.

I guess you'd like to know about me before I go spouting off. My name is John Callahan and my story is Redemption (by Sharon Cullen). You can buy it through Samhain Publishing.

Sharon says that's not enough information, that people want to know more.

Hell.

Okay.

Here's how it started. I live in a cabin I built with my own hands high in the Smokey Mountains. I'm a Sheriff for a small department that doesn't have a lot to do in the winter but gets our ass kicked in the summer because we have a lake that people like to visit. Catawba Lake. It's quiet, it's peaceful and it's just about as damn perfect as God could make it.

Some people would say it's boring, and ten years ago I would have probably said the same thing. But a lot of shit can happen in ten years. And that got me to thinking about how life changes.

What, you didn't think an outdoor guy like me could think deep thoughts? Just kidding. But I do and I can and there was a time in my life when all I had to my name were deep thoughts.

I grew up in a loud household with a sister and a great mom and dad. At eighteen I knew I needed more and I knew if I stayed in the small town I grew up in that I would slowly fade away and become that dude who ran the local garage on the street corner. You know, the one who plays poker every Tuesday night and spends his weekends warming the barstool at the pub across the street. I didn't want that. I wanted excitement and adventure. I wanted to see the world.

You can see where this is headed, can't you?

I was a wet dream for an army recruiter and the second I stepped into the recruiting office, they were all over my ass like white on rice. I signed up, full of dreams of traveling and dodging bullets. Yeah, dodging bullets excited me just as much as the traveling.

I'll spare you the details and just jump to my point (yes, I have a point). I dodged the bullets, I saw Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan and just about every continent there is to see. I made buddies that ended up being closer to me than my own family (if you want to read about one, read Luke's story. Next time, Luke, it's your ass writing this!). And I was recruited into the IATT which in laymen's terms is a secret anti-terrorist organization.

On the government books we didn't exist. I didn't exist and neither did the men and women I worked with. It was cool. It was exciting. And I was doing things I'd never imagined.

So how did I end up in a cabin in the mountains?  It all went to hell.

When I was 18, my signature still wet on the recruitment papers, there were a few things I'd never imagined I would do:

1. Be taken prisoner for three months in a third world country

2.Have my government turn against me

3.Fall in love with the most beautiful, courageous woman I've ever met.

I learned that sometimes what you wish for and what you get can be totally different and at the same time exactly what you need.

I went through some deep shit and when Hope met me, I was just minutes away from ending everything. Yet, looking back, I can't make myself regret my choices or my actions because every step I've taken has led me to where I am today--living in the most beautiful part of the country God created, with the most beautiful woman God could have given me.

It's been one hell of a rough ride but I'd weather every bump again to have what I have now.

If you want to read my story, you can find it here for electronic and here for print.

Gotta go. It's been real and, yeah, okay, it wasn't all that bad. But Luke, you're still doing the next post.

John

THIS AND THAT FOR THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY

2010-05-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

My turn to blog was rapidly approaching, but I found myself devoid of ideas. Not a good thing for a writer. But there I was, high and dry of topics. Then I read a newsletter that included blog ideas for May. Eureka!

The article wasn’t quite what I thought. Rather than blog topics, it listed May monthly observances. I picked out the ones I liked, then set about figuring how I could relate them to each other and to writing. So here goes:

May is Creative Beginnings Month. That certainly relates to writing. We all need a great beginning, a hook that will reel in editors, agents, and readers.

May is National Salsa Month. Salsa is spicy and delicious--just like romance novels. A scrumptious opening hook whets our taste buds for the rest of the story.

May is Sweet Vidalia Onion Month. Vidalia onions sweeten a salsa recipe. Sweet, tasty Vidalia onions enhance any recipe much as a passionate and sweet love story enhances any romance novel.

May 27 is Cellophane Tape Day. Cellophane tape holds things together. Good writing, good characterization, and believable conflict will hold any story together, be it sweet or spicy, or a dash of both.

May 30 is Hug Your Cat Day. I love cats. Most writers own cats. Every day should be Hug Your Cat Day.

I’ll end on that note as I go off in search of my cat Killer to give her a big hug.

Calgon please take me away! I said please.

2010-05-25T05:07:00.003-05:00

Well, still not writing. The last week and a half has been a bit bumpy. Had a sick kitty and I love my kitties. He's doing much better since his visit to our amazing vet, so my mind hasn't been on much besides him and the fact that apparently I've got bad Karma and I don't know why. Since the beginning of the year, we've had like 5 or 6 things break on us. First, it was my Sony PC. Then my washing machine. Had to buy new ones. Before I bought the new Dell, I was using my laptop, which was a year old but was hardly ever used, blue screen after blue screen later. Thank God my son was able to fix it. In the meanwhile, my car's timing belt broke and my husband replaced it but for some reason it wouldn't run right and now it won't run at all. Two days ago, his car's transmission went out and he's now driving his old Zuki that's on its last leg. So, then we're cutting the grass. We have a rider and a push mover. Anyway, push mover died. You see where I'm going. Had to buy a new one. I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop. We seriously can't afford for anything else to break on us. Calgon take me away and if you have any good karma to spare anyone, please send it my way because clearly I need it.

Out of touch

2010-05-20T00:54:00.001-05:00

Life has certainly been busy here. My grandmother's health is poor once again and I am living with her to help in her care.

Between that and the building excitement for this coming weekend--my baby girl graduated high school and my son turns 22 on Sunday my computer time--my personal time period--is extremely limited.

I am excited to shout that in just a couple of weeks Cry Wolf June 8th is just around the corner and thats when my next release comes!

I'm also getting ready for my annual girls week trip--my best friend and I are once again planning to spend a wweek in the most glorious place God ever created--the Ozark Mountains--for a week of ATVing, hiking, fishing, target shooting, and this year we're also adding in boating! I'm so ready for this vacation.

DH has some feelers set out into a couple of jobs that seem promising. Of course if he gets any of the most recent applications, it means we're moving. I'm ready for a fresh start--hell I'm just ready to know he's got a job. Please keep your fingers crossed? THANKS much!

So, now that summer is just around the corner, what are your summertime plans? Whatever they are, I hope you're safe, happy, and fun filled!

Hugs
Donica

Kitty Trouble

2010-05-18T14:57:00.005-05:00

Trouble at my house wears a fur coat. Yep, that’s right. My feisty little cat Shipper is the friskiest, most inquisitive kitty I’ve ever owned. She’s into everything! It’s like having a two year old in the house again. She steals toilet paper, pushes stacks of magazines to the floor just to watch them fall, and steals binder clips and hides them all over the house. Don’t ask me why. She’s even adopted a stuffed kitten as her own and carries it from room to room. One of other cats, Widget, just watches her like she’s nuts, and Spike is scared of her because she hisses at him all the time.

A little history: I got Shipper from the girl I didn't want my son to date, but he did anyway -- and now they're married and expecting my first grandchild. She's turned out to be a gem, which was a nice surprise, and I suspect she'll also be a wonderful mother. The cat, however, has questionable genes. Not to mention, she’s a Manx. Built like a rabbit and thrilled with the prospect of being up high. I can’t count the times we’ve had to get her out of trees, off the blinds on the back door, and off the top of my TV. She’s small, quick, and sneaky. The last time she was up a tree, she almost fell trying to leap at birds flying by. She’s quick, but she may not have a lot upstairs.

I plan to include Shipper, probably under another name, in one of my books someday. She’ll make a great kitty-character, and will add lots of comedy and amusement to my plot, I’m sure. My May release at Desert Breeze Publishing, CHOSEN TARGET, has one cat in it that stirs up trouble much like Shipper.

Hope you’ll check it out, along with all of my other books at my website here and on my personal blog here.

Free Excerpts & Prizes Galore

2010-05-17T07:05:00.004-05:00

Dare I become repetitious? Sharon has already announced the Samhain Authors Spring Showers event at Coffee Time Romance. However, something this cool bears repeating. It's going on all month with almost 80 authors participating and to participate we're all offering a prize.

Here's the link to my excerpt from SEDUCING THE SHERIFF.

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/showthread.php?t=12995

The only catch is you have to comment in order to win a prize. No, I cannot remember what prize I'm offering. I signed up weeks ago, and the list for week 3's prizes hasn't gone up yet.

Why do we authors participate in such events? Now that's the big question. It's all about promotion and getting our names and work "out there." Coffee Time Romance is a huge review/reader site and they have many members who've probably never heard of some of us. This is our chance to garner new readers who might never have read or tried an e-book before.

So I'll be watching my stats this week and hopefully responding to all the comments from readers. It's all part of this wonderful job. Yes, writing is a job, but it's one for which I'm particularly suited.

ADDENDUM: The prize list is up, so I'm pretty sure my prize is a GC at Amazon.com.

Cheers,

Marie-Nicole
Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.
http://marienicoleryan.com/

10 Ways to Avoid Writing, by Catherine Berlin

2010-05-16T13:02:00.004-05:00

10. Forget to establish the Don't Bother Mommy When She Is Writing rule.

9. Have the kids' computer at a desk right next to yours.

8. Don't buy headphones for everyone else's noisy toys and entertainment.

7. Don't use your own headphones because people like to sneak up on you and now you are too paranoid to wear them.

6. Pick up a book from your TBR pile and tell yourself you'll JUST read ONE chapter before you settle in to write.

5. Make writing the reward for getting everything else in the house done instead of the other way around.

4. Work so hard during the day that you are exhausted and fall asleep at your keyboard when you finally have time for yourself.

3. Sit at the keyboard when your daughter starts a 20-minute rendition of "I Hate Steven" on her guitar (and those are also all the lyrics of the song).

2. Put everyone else's needs and wants above your own.

1. Make up lists of reasons why you can't get any writing done instead of actually doing it.

Do you like free books????

2010-05-14T06:33:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't like free books? Dying for something to read? Want to add to your TBR pile? Then you need to hop on over to Coffee Time Romance where many wonderfully talented Samhain authors have gathered to give you some of the best excerpts ever and a chance to win some books. There are over 75 prizes!!!

Click on the image above to start the fun.

On a serious note, this week is Police Memorial Week. I've been married to a police officer for 16 years and this week is always important to me. Police officers sacrifice so much to keep you safe and some give the ultimate sacrifice to protect you and the ones you love. Please keep them in your prayers this week and always and if you see a police officer this week, remember to thank them for their dedication and service.

A NEW CONTRACT AT LAST

2010-05-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

I can breathe easier. I’ve recently signed a new contract for a romantic suspense novella with The Wild Rose Press. Whew! A new contract after three years. It feels good to have a new book out there.

It may seem that I’m not prolific as the reason for the three-year stretch. True, I’m not a fast writer. However, since my last contract with The Wild Rose Press, I’ve written the novella, two complete novels (unsold) and numerous short stories. I’ve also started and abandoned two novels. I may pick one of them up again soon. I’ve been successful with my short stories, and they keep me in the game. The novella took me only four months to write, a record for me. Thankfully, it will be released for others to read, and I hope enjoy.

As writers know, it can take a year or two for a completed book to see the publishing light. One of my unsold novels is dead in the water. It has too many problems to fix. The other novel has possibilities, but it has been languishing at a major house for over a year now. I’ve called them three times, but can’t get anyone there to tell me the status. I’m assuming it’s a rejection. So, I will revise it and submit elsewhere. As you can see, there can be long stretches between contracts, and not always the writer’s doing.

I don’t want to dwell on the as-yet unsold novel. I want to celebrate my new contract. My novella, “Murder, Mi Amore,” is tentatively scheduled for release in December 2010. I love the cover, which I’ve posted here. I love the story. Here is a little information to tease you:

Lexie Cortese is in Rome to forget. The last thing she expects is to meet a sexy Interpol agent who suspects her of being part of a terrorist plot involving a stolen diamond. Suddenly thrust into a world of murders, muggings, and kidnappings, Lexie doesn’t know what to think—or who to believe.

Dominic Brioni’s assignment is simple. Befriend the American and bring her to justice. Only Lexie seems like the most unlikely terrorist Dominic has ever met. Sweet, determined, and direct, she faces life with courage and fire, a fire that sparks his protective instincts and a longing for something more—something he allowed himself to hope for only once before.

But that woman betrayed him, and his boss isn’t about to let him forget it. With his career on the line and Lexie in danger, will Dominic learn to trust his heart before they both get killed?

Writing and a Sale

2010-05-11T05:02:00.005-05:00

First, I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was quiet, which was nice for me.

On my last post, I mentioned that I had just finished a marathon of writing. Well, I haven't written much since. Things have been hectic here. I did a lot of Spring cleaning to get ready for the cable guys to come out and install our fast internet. Up until that point, I had dial-up. It's amazing how different it is. I could have had it sooner but I'm one of those people who hate change and this was a big one for me. Not only did I get different internet, but TV service as well. I'm still trying to figure out where all my favorite channels are.

On a high note, I received a contract on my manuscript, Untouched from Liquid Silver Books. I can't tell you how excited I am to be working with them. Here is a teaser for the book.

An ancient map sends a jungle guide to the wilds of Peru in search of Templar gold, only to find something more precious--the love of a beautiful Botanist whose integrity makes him want to be a better man.

Right now I'm revising the second book in my Men of the Jungle Series. I hope to have it done within the next month or so.

Have a great day!

Jerri

Hello!

2010-05-06T00:04:00.001-05:00

Well, how's every little thing going for y'all? By the time you get this post I'll be out of town, thanks to wonderful magic of programmed posting I CAN be in two places at once...LOL

Life's still the same old, same old here. I tell you we've been very lucky. I know the weather has been nightmarish for many people. My brother lives in Tennesee and over the past weekend his house was hit by luightning. It fried ALL their electric components, damamged the roof--which in turn allowed water damage from the deluge they were pounded with--but THANKFULLY none of his family were injured, the house still stands--it's a blessing for certain.

I've been extremely busy. Between my normal housework, I've been working on the edits for my June 8th release Cry Wolf! I've also finished and submitted Death Rides a Pale Harley--the first in my Four Horsemen series to my editor. I'm anxiously awaiting word on this submission. Please keep your fingers crossed!

Anyway--how about a bit on the book Cry Wolf?

I've been making a book video for it, but it's not ready adn being as I had to rush to pack for my out of town trip, I didnt have time to tweak it so you'll just have to wait for that! LOL I know, I'm such a tease!

Anyway, here is the blurb for Cry Wolf. I hope you enjoy it!

This second chance at love could get them both killed…

Fifteen years ago, denied the only woman he ever wanted as a mate, Remington Aldrich packed his few belongings and left home without a backward glance. Now the pack leader who ripped his world apart is on the other end of the phone, asking for his help.

Angela Martin, Remy’s first love is missing and the trail has gone cold. She may have refused to defy the alpha and run away with him all those years ago, but Remy can’t stop himself from coming to her rescue.

Abducted by two men—one for his ghastly scientific experiments and the other for his driving need for revenge against all Lycans—Angela despairs that no one will find her. Then she senses Remy nearby.

Together again and on the run from a killer bent on hunting them down, Remy vows to never let Angela out of his arms. But first they have to survive—and fight histories tendency to repeat itself…

I hope y'all have a fabulous May and I'll see you in a few weeks! Thanks for dropping in and saying hello!

Huggles!
Donica

I Miss Basements

2010-05-05T11:32:00.003-05:00

I grew up in a house that had a basement. We moved in there when I was about seven (my daughter's current age) and my parents lived there until about ten years ago.

It had a 3/4 finished basement--it had a family room, a bathroom, laundry room that was partially finished, a utility room where the water softener and heater was, and another bedroom (Though here, it couldn't be counted as a real bedroom because it didn't have an escape window).

It was a great house. I currently live in a small, 2-bedroom mobile home. And I know it's time to move. We're working this year to save as much money as possible to get a house next year. My husband has maintained since we started talking about moving, that we need a house with a basement.

I always said I'd be satisfied with a house that just had a living room and a family room. Just to get the TV out of the living room and in it's own space is high on my new home requirements.

But I'm starting to think my husband's desire for a basement is a good thing. For one, you can have storage--a utility room is an awesome place to store the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. And I know I have way more decorations than I ever get out, but I can never find them because I stuff everything in every possible nook and cranny in my house.

Oh, we're not ready for Neesy and Clean House to come in, nothing like that, but I have virtually no storage in my house. And that's something that is becoming a higher and higher priority.

Also, I can use the utility room as a writing room. I know what you're thinking--who'd want to look at concrete walls and a furnace while writing? My inspiration comes from my mother. Her own utility room in her current home has been converted into her sewing room. She has her machine, a large table for her quilting, a trunk with her fabrics, and those wonderful heavy duty garage shelf things to store all her quilts (each one wrapped in a plastic bag to protect them from dust and dirt).

And, because I have no storage in my home, I just salivate at this every time I go there. Because she has a place. It's a basement, it's a little dark, and has concrete everywhere, but she makes the most beautiful quilts there.

And that's what I need. A place doesn't have to be fancy for me to write in it. It just needs a door I can close so I can work. There, maybe I can make my beauty.

New release...

2010-05-04T08:22:00.004-05:00

I have a new ebook out this month at Desert Breeze Publishing. CHOSEN TARGET is the third book in my New Orleans Detective series, following CHERISHED WITNESS and PRIME SUSPECT. I’m excited about this new release because I fell in love with Cole McAlister while writing PRIME SUSPECT, and I knew he had to have a book of his own. Add a twin brother, terrorists threatening a major southern city, and Jaden Calloway, a woman he’s not sure he can trust, and you have a book that will keep you flipping pages.

Blurb:

Jadan Calloway’s latest night out on the town ends in the death of the man who charmed her off her feet. Now the people who killed Kent are after her, and the only man who can save her is Cole McAlister, the rugged, willful detective who believes she is behind his brother’s death. Together they become wrapped up in a frightening web of terrorism and intrigue–and to survive, they must depend on each other.

Excerpt:

Angry with herself, [Jaden] lifted her frozen margarita and took a healthy sip. She’d finish her drink, head home, lock the doors, and sit with her pistol by her side. No point sitting here watching couples sway on the dance floor. Bangles was known for its great dance music but dancing, like sex, was no good without a partner. And tonight, she had no desire for one.

The band struck up a lousy rendition of her favorite Rolling Stones’ classic, Satisfaction. Jadan laughed sadly at the irony of it as she finished off her drink.

“Trolling for another victim?” The deep southern twang sent a shiver up Jadan’s spine.

She spun to see Commander Cole McAlister staring at her with those mocha eyes. That was what made him different from Kent, she realized. His eyes. They were tawny, just like his brother’s. Yet they turned as dark as melted chocolate when he was angry. Which seemed to be all the time.

The word symmetry also came to mind as she studied him. His face was angular and chiseled, and those furious eyes were perfectly aligned. Not to mention his mouth.

Heat filled her as she remembered Kent’s searing kisses. She averted her gaze.

“Back at the scene of the crime.” Cole’s voice carried a hint of steel. “You’re one tough cookie.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” she said. Perspiration glided down her neck. The ancient ZZ Top song blaring from the speakers made her head hurt. Or maybe it throbbed because of the troubled man standing before her. She wiped her brow. “Are you following me?”

“Just wondering what you’re up to.” Cole’s assessing gaze bored a hole through her.

She resisted the urge to flinch. “Someone broke into my apartment last night. I needed a diversion.”

“Looking for a quick lay?”

“No.” She glared at him. “How did you know I was here?”

“It’s my job to know. You’re a suspect in a murder investigation.”

“Detective Montgomery said there’s no evidence linking me to Kent’s death.” Alarm slid through her, and she crossed her arms. “Why are you doing this?”

“Kent was my brother. I won’t quit dogging you until I learn the truth.”

“I’ve told your detectives all I know.”

“All you think you know,” he said. The bartender came up, and Cole ordered a glass of club soda.

She scowled at him when the bartender turned away. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’d like to ask you a few more questions, see if you remember anything new.”

“Do you really think that’s necessary?”

“What do you think?” He gave her a sharp look.

Perhaps it would be for the best. If she could convince him once and for all that she hadn’t caused Kent’s death, maybe he would leave her alone. Okay. She would do it – only not at Bangles.

You can read more about his release here. on the Desert Breeze Publishing website, and about all my books here on my website.

Natural Disaster Comes to Tennessee

2010-05-03T09:02:00.003-05:00

I've lived in Nashville since September 1970, and I've never seen the type of flooding we are experiencing right now. Record rainfall over the weekend has caused the Cumberland and Harpeth Rivers to overflow.

If you want to go to Memphis from Nashville or vice versa, you're SOL. I-40 is closed both ways for a considerable distance, and the alternate has flooding problems as well. Five deaths documented in Davidson County. On Saturday I-24 was also closed and accounts give the figure as 130 to 150 cars had to be towed after their owners abandoned them and the water receded. Here is a video of the I-24 mess. The building is a temporary schoolroom from Lighthouse Christian School. It floated down the interstate and disintegrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XyRNt2Uur8

Opryland Hotel, right on the Cumberland River, had to be evacuated last night and Gaylord entertainment figures it'll be several months before it'll re-open. This ought to get interesting since RWA's National Convention is supposed to be held at the Opryland Hotel in July. Naturally we're not the only large group involved. Here's a link to to more info.
http://tinyurl.com/2eyhphk

Of course today the sun is shining. I'm fortunate that I live at a higher elevation, and my part of town is easily accessible. Because one of our pumping stations is underwater, we've been asked to cut our water usage to fifty percent of what we normally use. I was at Walmart today and simply everyone had at least one 24-pack of bottled water. We still have one working water pumping station so the situation isn't dire...yet.

Keep you fingers crossed that the waters will recede quickly.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com

Keeping The End in Mind by Catherine Berlin

2010-05-02T15:10:00.003-05:00

Okay, I will admit it. Sometimes it is hard to keep the end in mind. I mean, it is a romance, so the end has to be reasonably happy. That's a given. So it is easy sometimes to let it slide until you are ready to write the "and they kissed, the end" scene (that's how my husband says all romances end).

But I had a reminder today from an unexpected place. The movie, Furry Vengeance.

At the end of the movie, there's a musical number. And as you watch it, there are lines from the song that were filmed during other pivotal scenes throughout the movie. So the person who put the film together knew they would do a musical number, and they kept that in mind, probably filming the song over and over in different settings and costumes, just to have the footage.

While it is true, they obviously had written it out in advance, those of us who are writing need to keep the end in mind too. We need to sprinkle in those clues that the reader might not even recognize until later when it all makes sense.

Truly my favorite way to write (as long as I can remember to do it!).

Sexual Tension--We can't live without it

2010-04-30T11:54:00.002-05:00

Ahh, sexual tension... We love it. We live for it, we thrive on it, whether in television, in books, and in movies.

This photo from the first season of HBO's True Blood is Sookie and vampire Bill. And in that first season, the tension is hot, hot, hot.

The entire season, all you can wonder, is "When are they gonna do it?!?" Granted, there's a killer running around, killing women who are vampire lovers, but that's besides the point. You wanna know about Bill and Sookie.

And that's an important element in a story. No matter the medium, good sexual tension is like a perfectly placed chord in a song--it just sings and enhances the story, making us root more and more for the hero and heroine. An out of tune chord, though, will kill a story.

So how do you know when? How do you know when to stop the fooling around, and when to start the sex?

There was an old school rule in writing romance, one that I was told way back when I first started writing -- No sex until page 200.

Fortunately, that rule's been practically abolished with erotic romance. Thank goodness, because there are times when even I'm going "Ugh! They so need to do it and get past this heat, this sizzle" and I'm the writer!

But it's the heat and sizzle that makes a great story, keeps a reader turning the page. I like a bit of sexy interludes in my stories as I go, I prefer something, a bit of petting, some kissing, etc, before the big event. For me, it heightens the story.

However, I'm very against the books where the hero and heroine are all revved up, ready to go, and one of them repeatedly says "no, I can't do this." Once, I can work with. Twice, maybe. But more than that, I want to bang the characters over the head, tell them both their being doo-doo heads, to shut up and get over it.

Does that mean I think they should have two sexually charged encounters then in bed? Not always. All their encounters should be sexually charged in some way or another. That's what makes the tension. However, it doesn't mean they need to be kissing every scene they're together. But there should be some kind of charge between them. Innuendo, slight touches that one of them registers, general intimacy that might not be sexual in nature, but could be considered that.

I think back to when I was a teenager, when I want inspiration on this. Sometimes, just a boy looking at me, or him touching my arm to get past me would be enough to get me to swoon. And since I'm now married, and have been for over a decade, I don't notice things like that with my husband--we're married, we're supposed to hold hands, rub each other's shoulders, etc.

So next time you're trying to write some sexual tension, think back, remember when you were younger. What little thing did that apple of your eye do that got your engine running? It could have been as simple as a smile and direct eye contact. But that all works to build tension in your characters.

Do you have any special things you think about when building sexual tension?

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED & LEAVE THE COMPETITION IN THE DUST JACKET

2010-04-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

THE PROCESS: HOW TO GET PUBLISHED AND LEAVE THE COMPETITION IN THE DUST JACKET

BY

PASSION FLOWER, PhD

&

COUNTESS BETTINA HOTTOTROT

As we write this, we are comfortably ensconced on the terrace of the Countess’ castle overlooking the Bavarian Alps. Hans the butler has just served us rich hot chocolate laced with aged brandy. Being the generous persons we are, not to mention that one of us is an aristocrat, we have decided to share our publishing secrets with you, our dear fellow writers.

Between us, we’ve written 1001 books, one of which has been published. Below is our foolproof system, which we’ve dubbed THE PROCESS, for getting your books published:

PROCESS #1: Toss all shame and pride. You want to get published, not make friends.

PROCESS #2: Print 2,000 copies of your synopsis. Go to conferences. Stalk editors and agents. Follow them into the bathroom if you have to. Force copies of your synopsis on them. Once they read your flowing prose, they’ll thank you for your forcefulness and clamor to publish you and represent you. If one or two get restraining orders out on you, ignore them. They don’t recognize genius when they see it.

PROCESS #3: Invite an editor to your critique group. Tell her a New York Times bestselling romance author (whatever author you want) is part of your critique group. Ply the editor with wine so she won’t notice said author is not there.

PROCESS #4: Purchase all books written by the top two New York Times bestselling romance authors. This is your biggest monetary investment. For each six or seven line paragraph you write, insert the third or fourth line of each of the bestselling author’s books, running consecutively through their bodies of work. Before you know it, you will have written a 300-page book. A guaranteed best seller!

PROCESS #5: When submitting your manuscripts electronically, copy all editors you want to submit to in one email. This will save you lots of time. Why wait for a rejection before submitting to another publisher? Such a waste of your valuable writing time. Don’t bother to blind copy the email. Let those editors know that they’d better sign you before one of the other editors on the list grabs your magnificent work.

PROCESS #6: If you submit by snail mail, send an interoffice memo with your submission. Instruct the editors to pass your manuscript to the next editor on the list. This will save you hundreds of dollars in postage and ensure that your manuscript is read by as many editors a possible. Do this with agents also.

PROCESS #7: Two months after submitting your manuscript, call the editor of your choice. Advise her that your computer had a virus and all your emails were lost. Also, the Post Office advised you that your mail was stolen. You need her to resend your contract ASAP as Oprah has scheduled you for an interview. The editor will be so impressed by the Oprah interview and so discombobulated to think she may have forgotten to mail your contract that she’ll send it right away.

Follow THE PROCESS and you will be published.

Dr. Flower is the author of the definitive tome on human sexuality: “You Want It-He Wants It-So What’s the Problem?”

Countess Hottotrot, the author of over 1,000 romance novels, is the great-granddaughter of romance doyenne, Lady Muffy St. Muffin.

Slow the pace, please?

2010-04-28T13:10:00.010-05:00

One thing that really bugs me sometimes is how fast everything and everyone moves. It seems we all need to be there now...get it done immediately...get in, get out, move on. We sometimes lose our patience when someone gets in the way. I've been guilty of that from time to time, as well.

Nothing brings this point home to me faster than when I'm standing in line at the local convenience store. I often feel this pressure to get up there, check out, pay and then get the hell out of the way. No, don't put your change away...just toss it in your purse and leave! :\

I can feel other people staring...waiting...even mentally tapping a foot and wishing I weren't so slow. I really, really hate that feeling.

Recently I was at that store, waiting for my not-so-healthy lunch, when I noticed an older gentleman staring at the touch-order screen. After a moment of indecision, I went over to him and asked if he needed help. He gave me a grateful smile, and I proceeded to walk him through the process of ordering via our computer age.

It felt good to perform a small act of kindness. It felt good to notice the people around me.

As a writer, I prefer to watch people rather than participate. But I notice many others don't take the time for either. They most often have a cell phone pressed to their ear or earbuds plugged in or are frantically texting away to someone...somewhere. All the while, they tend to basically ignore the very real human being standing beside them or waiting on them. That cash register is still operated by a person, isn't it? Acknowledge their existence. Please. It matters more than you know.

No, I have nothing against progress and all the wonders we have available, but sometimes I wonder if we're losing a bit of ourselves in the process? What are we actually doing with all this valuable time we're supposedly saving by stepping up the pace?

Maybe it's time we unplug for a moment. Offer a real smile to our neighbor. Slow down, for heaven's sake! What's the rush, anyhow? Where are we really going?

Words are lost to me!

2010-04-27T06:19:00.002-05:00

When I saw the notice that it was my day to blog, I literally panicked. Like I’d mentioned on my last post, I’ve been fast-drafting over at romance divas and right now I feel brain-dead. I met my goal for the two weeks, actually exceeded them, but now I feel fried. My goal was 1,200 words a day. I ended with a little over 18,000 words, 75 new pages. I believe that was a record for me in a two-week period. The only thing is, now I feel completely drained. I really want to finish the book in the next week or so but right now that might not happen if I can’t wake up the words again.

Has anyone felt this way? Any suggestions on how to re-energize my muse to write The End of Memory Lane.

Sorry for the short post!

Jerri

Nerves of wet noodle

2010-04-22T00:15:00.004-05:00

You know, I've been a published writer for some years now. (WOW! That is a statement I used to DREAM of making!) I'm still learning, still growing and still facing the same dread--submitting.

Before I became published I naively believed that once you were published that was it--all rejections ended. The first rejection was like a stab in the face. It hurt. My track record was as follows: submit-rejection...submit-sale...submit-rejection...submit-sale...submit-rejection...submit-sale. (After the initial pattern, I stopped keeping track.)

Now I'm getting ready to try it again...Submitting my first Four Horsemen book to my editor. I've got to write up the sucknopsis...er I mean synopsis first. Then make certain I've dotted every I and crossed each T so that this sucker shines brilliantly.

Then its a matter of weeks of waiting. Waiting to find out which stage of the pattern it will fall into. (No secret I'm PRAYING for the sale stage!)

I think all writers get the jitters at this part of the process. I mean you pour your heart and soul into a manuscript, you coddle it, prod it through, bring it into the world then wait...and wait...and then--you wait some more. It's enough to make a person bald. Unfortunately in my case it's enough to add one hundred pounds being I'm a stress eater. (Of course I'm also a joy eater, a tired eater, a frustrated eater, an angry eater, a sad eater...)

So here we go. Writing sucknopsis, then submission here I come. Wish me luck? Thanks!

hope you're all having a fabu week and may the weekend ROCK!

Hugs
Donica

Rant: Piracy Sucks

2010-04-21T10:52:00.006-05:00

Yet again, I've found one of my books on a piracy site. And it generally ticks me off.

Seriously, ebooks are not expensive. Why in the world would people do this? It's pathetic.

Do the people who put books up on pirate sites think that we writers are just rolling in the dough, and that we won't mind if a book winds up on one of these sites? That we won't care, because we're making so much money every month?

If that's the case, they're sadly mistaken. If I was depending on my royalties to pay my bills, I would have declared bankruptcy a long time ago. Hell, I wouldn't be able to afford to feed my family, if all I had was my royalties to pay for it.

I have my theories on who the people are who do this, but of course, I have no proof. Because I doubt very seriously that the people who put the books up on these pirate sites buy the books first and then put them up. I have a strong feeling they get the books for free anyway. And the access they have to new releases is another hint as to who they might be.

On one hand, I am very pissed off, because this takes away from sales that I might have gotten, had some jerk not put them up on a pirate site.

But the "silver lining" side of me likes to think that, hey, if they're going up, at least I'm getting more popular.

I can send all the legal letters I want, but it doesn't stop it from happening, especially when some of these sites side with their people, using some kind of bogus bending of the law, regardless that the work is under copyright law.

People do it with music, movies, and ebooks, and it's sad. Sad that people have nothing better to do with their time than steal. Because that's what it is--stealing.

I pray for karma to come back and bite these people in the ass.

Oh, and a nice class-action lawsuit against the people who do this.

Writing with Distractions

2010-04-20T08:53:00.004-05:00

I'm trying to write these days, but stuff keeps interfering. Mainly, errands for my mom, who's in her 80s and can't drive anymore. She just called to ask me to make yet another prescription run. I hope I'm not on that many medications when I'm her age. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad she's here for me to help and I love spending time with her, but my writing is suffering.

I write when I can and am happy when I can eek out a couple of free hours and manage to still keep my focus. It's hard with my massive to-do list scrolling through my head. Yesterday was a good day, however. Monday is about the only time I don't have to go to my mom's house, since a friend goes by that day to do whatever she needs done--and yesterday, since I was home nearly all day, I wrote over 1200 words...which is amazing considering my usual measly word count. This afternoon, if things go well, I should be rewarded with two or three stress free hours. Hope so! I need to get more words down.

This weekend, I actually get to leave town and go on a retreat of sorts to a writer friend's house in south Louisiana. I can't wait! My sons and my mom's friend will check on my mother while I'm gone, and I'll spend my time resting, relaxing, and writing. I so need to go to the well to recharge and refuel. Time with writing friends gives me what I need.

How do you handle distractions and family demands?

The Waiting Game

2010-04-19T06:42:00.003-05:00

Once again, I'm reminded of how much selling my house is like selling a book to a publisher. You work for months getting the house ready and then you wait. In the same fashion you work for months (maybe years) writing a book, decluttering (oops, editing) and send it out into the world of agents and/or editors...and you guessed it...you wait.

The main difference is once a book is in the agent/editor pipeline the work on that one is done--at least until an editor buys it and sends it back to you for revisions--your work is done.

Not so with a house. You still have to live there and keep the freaking place "show ready." Let me say I'm not a neatnik, but I find myself wiping the moisture from the stainless steel sink more than once a day. Just call me Martha Stewart.

You have to keep the pretty little pansies watered and don't get me started on the yard! Where is my lawn man? It has been two weeks since he mowed, and I realize I have more weeds than grass. The wild onions are a foot tall and the six mature maple trees have decided NOW is the time to release all the whirlygigs. The cul-de-sac is COVERED in the suckers and it's not pretty. Of course, there are more, piling on the roof and will stay there until there's enough wind to blow them away. That'll take a storm not just a breeze. At least I have gutter covers and won't have to clean those.

So far, I've had one showing, but yesterday afternoon, I had TWO cars who cruised by slowly enough to take down the pertinent details from the signs in the yard. Does that mean I'll have two more showings soon? I sure hope so. I've done my home work. Paint, no wallpaper, new lighting, hardwoods, staging to look like no one really lives here. Will someone walk in the front door and think, "This is the one" like I did?

Just like I hope my next WIP finds an editor or an agent who loves my story as much as I do. With my luck the move and edits will hit at the same time, provided they both sell.

Keeping fingers crossed (and finding it damned difficult to type at that),

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com

Someone So Different

2010-04-18T00:55:00.003-05:00

How many of us get accused of being the person in our stories? I admit my heroines have sometimes had quirks borrowed from me or from other females I know, but are any of my heroines completely ME? No. No way.

Anna, the heroine in my Three Kinds of Wicked series novella, SOMETHING WICKED IN MIND, is a prime example. I've got several degrees; she never went past high school. She's thin and blond; I'm... not. And she's hot enough for the hero that she throws caution to the wind and makes love with him in her office building. ME? I'm WAY too shy.

Still, it's nice to be able to create characters that are so different from myself. In a way, I do get to be them because I am inside of their heads for so long. But are they me? Nope. Not at all.

USING YOUR ETHNIC HERITAGE IN YOUR WRITING

2010-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

You’ve all heard the old adage, “Write what you know.” Of course, we do research to write about places we’ve never visited, or we make up our own worlds. But regardless of what type worlds we writers imagine, we put a little bit of ourselves into everything we write.

I hadn’t thought of using my ethnic heritage in my writing until my third book. In my first two books, my heroes and heroines had Irish/English names, as do most characters in American books. Face it, we Americans have an easier time pronouncing English, Irish, Scottish and German names than we do Italian, Polish, French, etc.

When I decided to write my third book, I had an epiphany. Why not make at least one of the main characters of Italian descent, as I am? Thus, Doriana Callahan, the heroine of my RS, “Logan’s Redemption,” from The Wild Rose Press. Doriana, named after a woman I know who is an immigrant from Rome, Italy, is half Italian, half Irish. Doriana has the quintessential Italian mother, loving, but intrusive, named after one of my favorite aunts. Doriana’s Nana lives in South Philadelphia and is a sweet, tiny elderly Italian woman who is a terrific cook, modeled after my husband’s grandmother and mine. I had such fun writing these characters because they are so familiar and dear to me. I put in a scene where Doriana, her mother, her cousin, and Nana are making Italian wedding soup. My cousins used to make wedding soup together every year. I used their experiences.

I believe writing about characters who are familiar, who might have a shared background with you, makes for stronger characters and stronger stories. Of course, that doesn’t mean everything I write with ethnic characters is going to sell. The wedding planner book I wrote with an Italian-American hero went nowhere. The book I’d hoped to sell to Harlequin Presents with an Italian hero was rejected. I’m going to rewrite that one because I love my hero, Matteo. I’ve just finished a short RS book with an Italian hero and an Italian-American heroine, set almost entirely in Italy. I’m hoping to get a contract on that one. It was fun to write and brought back memories of my trip to Italy a few years ago.

Even my short stories, of which I’ve sold four in the past 18 months, feature heroines with Italian last names and heroes with Polish last names. You have to be careful when using ethnic last names. The names must be short and easy to pronounce, like Russo, Novak, Morelli, Brioni, Cortese. You don’t want readers tripping over the characters’ names.

I’m not saying all my characters will have Italian or other ethnic backgrounds from now on. But I am saying I enjoy writing about characters that are closer to my experiences growing up. It makes writing more fun, and hopefully will make the stories worthy of sales.

Analyzing a hero

2010-04-14T12:53:00.010-05:00

I'm struggling just a bit with my current hero. He's handsome, intelligent and quietly self-assured. But he's not quite the alpha-male he may need to be. :\

Or is he? Maybe I need to analyze him just a bit.

Nathan Toshio Quinn, hero of At Second Sight, is an intelligent man. He's a thinker, not a fighter, but he fights when necessary. He's handsome and is aware of his general attractiveness to women. He does have a tiny bit of uncertainty left over from his younger days, but nothing that can't be masked with a joke or a grin.

He's often the comedian in the group. The man with the quick one-liner and even quicker smile. He's a flirt... an extrovert with introverted tendencies. He's a loner who has only recently begun to feel alone. Maybe he's missing something?

He's a man's man -- the type to watch a game or hang out anywhere from the local art gallery to the corner sport's bar. He seems to belong wherever he goes, whether he's sitting quietly in the corner or laughing at the center of attention.

He can also be a ladies man -- note the second glances when he enters a room? But he has eyes only for his heroine. Damn. He's falling hard for this one.

So, what do you think? Is he 'alpha' enough to keep your interest? Tell me about your 'perfect' hero.

What Entertains You?

2010-04-13T05:05:00.005-05:00

I’ve mentioned a time or two that I’m a TV-aholic. I love to sit in front of my big scene and watch just about anything. I love movies. I love great series. I love reality TV. I could literally spend the whole day watching one show after another and having Dish affords me that option since I have over 100 channels. I’ve fallen in love with characters in shows that no longer exist on network television—the latest, Mick St. John on Moonlight. I just bought the entire series on DVD. Let me tell you, no one was more surprised about liking the show than me since I never was much of a lover of Vampires, though I grew up watching Dark Shadows. Mick is a wonderful anti-hero. He hates what he is and tries to make up for that by helping people. It doesn’t hurt that the man is tall, dark and handsome.

Another series I love is White Collar on USA, now on hiatus until Summer. The season finale a few months ago was a blast—literally, with a plane Neil was supposed to get on explodes.

The new show I’ve just started watching is Justified on FX. Love it! Love the characters and totally enjoy the setting of the show in Kentucky.

Wait a minute. I think there is a method to my madness. Every one of the above characters would be considered anti-heroes. Sure, Raylan in Justified is a Deputy US Marshal but he has no qualms about killing people he considers bad. And even though Neil works as a consultant for the FBI, he spent time in prison. Does that mean I’m drawn to bad guys? I think a lot of people are. What about you? Do you like squeaky clean heroes or do you like a man you’d be leery of turning your back on? The latter sounds much more fun to me.

Writing wise, I’m fast-drafting over at romance divas. 1200 words a day for two weeks. I’ll see you on the flipside.

Jerri

Welcome to APRIL

2010-04-08T00:52:00.000-05:00

Man is this a wonderful time of year or what? It seems as if we went to bed one night and all the grass was dead brown. The child breezes rattling the empty limbs of the trees filling the night with the sounds of skeletons dancing a jig.

Then suddenly one morning magic filled the air. The tulip trees were thick and heavy with their mauve blooms, tulips and daffodils dotted the sudenly green landscape with vibrant color. Flowers filled the now warm gently caressing breezes with perfume.

New life is everywhere--including our family! I'm pleased as PUNCH to announce the long awaited arrival of my "son-once-removed" Sterling Wayne Gordan. He was born at 10:45 on March 31. He tipped the scales at 8 pounds 1 ounce and was 19+3/4 inches long. He has a head of light brown hair and big gunmetal blue eyes.

Well, why should I just describe him when I can show off his pictures????

As you can see by the last picture, his big sister Alyx adores him. She slobbers kisses all over him. The other day he was crying pitifully and she came running up to me saying "Broken! Broken, Elisi! Broken!" lol

Yes, I've been just a bit distracted from my writing mania but I'm hoping to be back to full service ASAP. If I can just keep myself away from my little angels long enough to accomplish anything...

I'll see y'all soon!

Hugs until next time!

Donica

Think it's Cover Week

2010-04-07T10:30:00.005-05:00

Because I got my latest cover from Samhain this week as well.

The Reluctant Prince is a quasy-sequel to Fantasy Girl, and when I say that, I mean that some of the characters in Fantasy Girl have cameos in The Reluctant Prince, but it is a new story, that's slated for a June 2010 release from Samhain.

No OFFICIAL blurb yet, but here's mine, lol

He didn’t ask to be Prince, but duty comes with a price—his heart.

Blurb:

It’s time for a vacation. That’s Hadrian Drake’s plan when he heads to Vegas. A weekend of gambling, frolicking, and not being under the thumb of his dominating personal assistant sounds like the best cure for what ails him.

And his plan was going well, until he saw Sydney Martinson by the fountain. Inexplicably drawn to the free-spirited girl, he feels the punch in the gut his father had once told him hits all Drake men when they meet ‘the one.’

Attraction blooms among the poker tables and the dinner tables. When she’s not in her conference classes, they’re inseparable. Everything’s going incredibly well, and Hadrian doesn’t want to end this when he checks out of the hotel.

At least until his assistant calls.

His cousins have been attacked—one is dead, the other is gone and presumed dead.

He’s now the Crown Prince of Koros.

And it’s the last job in the world he wants.

I'm excited about this one, after all, it's a Cinderella story, but, uh sexier. And who doesn't love Cinderella?

New cover!

2010-04-06T08:04:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! I’ve recently received the cover for CHOSEN TARGET, the third book in my New Orleans Detective series, due out in May from Desert Breeze Publishing. It was scheduled for June but was pushed up a month. I love the cover art by Jenifer Ranieri! She so talented. You can check out the other fabulous DB covers here.

Blurb about the book:

Jadan Calloway’s latest night out on the town ends in the death of the man who charmed her off her feet. Now the people who killed Kent are after her, and the only man who can save her is Cole McAlister, the rugged, willful detective who believes she is behind his brother’s death. Together they become wrapped up in a web of terrorism and intrigue–and they fall in love.

I love these characters and am looking forward to having this book back out after a 3 1/2 year hiatus. It was out briefly with another publisher in late 2006, before the company went under. I’m so happy to be with Desert Breeze now. Be sure to check them out!

Tax Day Approaching

2010-04-05T07:31:00.005-05:00

Yes, tax day is approaching, inexorably like the shark from JAWS. You better believe I can hear that familiar theme music.

So, I worked on my taxes yesterday--most of yesterday in fact---and I hoped to be able to tell announce this morning that I was through. *insert record scratch herere* That's not the case. I'm so frustrated with the new tax software I bought that I'll probably have to start all over.

Basically I'm going insane over this stuff. I keep great records, but I have NO CLUE how much my house is worth without the land. No clue! And so on. And it seems each year the obscure things the software program asks are more and more off the freaking wall.

In desperation I have to call my IRA manager today and ask him/her multiple questions about the form they sent me.

What does this have to do with writing you might ask? Well, it's a necessary part of the business. But for a basically right brained person (I am left-handed after all), all the number crunching is torture. I don't mean the simple addition of numbers, it's all the depreciation and stuff that goes on in the background of the computer software. I have no clue if that stuff's right either.

Before I go out and buy a much more expensive tax prep program which would cost me over a hundred dollars, I might as well find an accountant who's familiar with the artistic side of the business. And my chances of finding one on April 5th, ten days before taxes are due are probably minuscule.

Wish me luck, folks. I'm gonna need it.

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com/

Editing My Life by Catherine Berlin

2010-04-04T20:23:00.004-05:00

So many times we as writers talk about our books as our babies. When we're told (or when we realize on our own) that we've been too wordy, and we need to cut a scene, a sentence, or even a word, it's painful. If a string of words means enough to me, I paste it into a file I have of stuff I have had to chainsaw from manuscripts. I doubt I'll ever use the text, but I just couldn't bear to throw it away.

I have someone in my family who keeps THINGS the way that I keep words. The difference is, I can see all of her stuff, and mine fits nicely into a file on my hard drive. Didn't really hit me until I was writing this post. I think I owe her an apology for criticizing her in the past about her habit.

And that's the other side to editing. Sometimes we get to ADD words, and sometimes the words we add the second or third time around make everything even more wonderful than it was to start with. I'm hoping that adding my apology to the family hoarder will add positive things to my life as well.

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the drive-by post. Its Spring Break and I need to shop for Easter dinner. The weather is a balmy 81 degrees. FINALLY! I never thought it would warm up.

I hope everyone has a great Easter. If you don't celebrate Easter then have a wonderful, restful day with your family!

WRITING ETIQUETTE

2010-04-01T07:23:00.001-05:00

Gather around, girls and boys. Today’s lesson is on etiquette, specifically writing etiquette. Maybe you think you don’t need the lesson. Humor me. There’s always something to learn. Below are my etiquette rules. You may have others. I welcome you to share.

1. ALWAYS be professional. And I mean ALWAYS. If an editor or agent sends a mean-spirited rejection letter, suck it up. Don’t lash out in any way. What if your editor rejects your second or third book? Don’t burn your bridges, to coin a cliché. Be pleasant and professional in all your dealings with that editor. Editors and agents have long memories. You never know when you might run into them again, or need them again.

Another aspect of professionalism: research a publisher’s guidelines before you submit. Nothing says amateur like a writer submitting an erotica to a Christian publisher. That might be an extreme example, but you get the point. If a publisher wants books with a word count of 80,000 minimum, why would you submit something that is 50,000? Please, do your homework before submitting.

2. Send thank-you notes. Here’s my criteria for thank-you notes. Yours might be different. If an editor or agent sends a personal rejection letter, send that editor or agent a thank-you. When I started writing, I sent thank-you notes on every rejection, all of which were form letters in the beginning. I now only send a note when I’ve gotten a personal rejection. In my opinion, it’s not necessary to send thanks on a form rejection. However, ALWAYS send thank-you notes to contest judges, even if they give you a low score you don’t agree with. I judge a lot of contests and I rarely get thanks from the entrants. Do the entrants realize how much time it takes to judge? Even a note thanking me for judging would make me feel good. And who knows, I may someday meet that writer and remember she sent me a note, or that she didn’t. My memory can be long too. Once, years ago, when I’d first published, a contest entrant in my local chapter won a critique from me. I spent a lot of time critiquing her work. I never, ever, to this day, have gotten thanks from her, or even an acknowledgement of my help. Maybe she didn’t like what I said, or maybe I wasn’t a big enough writer in her eyes. But that’s no excuse not to have thanked me for the time I spent helping her. BTW-she’s still not published.

3. Be understanding of how hard editors and agents work. They are not there to serve your every need. They’re doing the best they can with overwhelming workloads. I’m astonished at the stories I hear of writers who act like Divas and make unreasonable demands on their editors or the publishing houses. These are not big name writers, either. I’ve found the really famous writers are unfailingly polite and courteous to everyone.

4. Cooperate with your editor. When you’re going through the edits and you don’t agree with something your editor wants you to change, think about it for a while. Pick your battles. Most of the time the editors are correct. If you disagree strongly about something she wants you to change, make your case calmly and politely. She might come around to your way of thinking. If she doesn’t, she’s the editor and you make the changes.

5. Again, ALWAYS be professional.

What are your rules of writing etiquette?

The night shift

2010-03-31T10:59:00.005-05:00

I started a new job about four months ago. Recently, I decided to take on a different shift. Midnights. Where I work, it's actually from about 11:30 to 3:45, five nights a week.

Yes, I volunteered. No, I'm not crazy...or should I say no more insane than usual? There were several factors that brought me to this decision -- one of which, of course, was money. Others included the time I'm now home while my family is awake and active. Once I get some sleep, I'm up by noon and ready to do the mom and wife gig. ;)

During all this change, I've discovered something. The night shift is very quiet compared to others I've worked. The muse seems to come to life, as well. So, while I'm waiting between customers, I write. The old fashioned way with a pen on paper -- yellow, legal pad, to be precise.

The next day, I transcribe my writing to the document -- usually doing some tweaking along the way. It's a system I think I'm going to like, and one that will work for me. It may also mean I'll get this book done and ready to sub by the end of April. :)

Inspiration comes from amazing places. Sometimes it's in a song on the radio. A sunset on a cool spring evening. A drive through a ghost-like town at four in the morning, long before most people's alarm clocks have gone off. I've noticed my inspiration is better received in the quiet of the night...during those lulls when there's nothing to do except listen.

How important is a first line to you?

2010-03-30T06:29:00.002-05:00

I’ve heard that it’s very important and then I’ve been told it isn’t as long as you can draw the reader into the book within the first page. Some of my stories had good first lines, some don’t, but then again, I’m no expert on what makes for a strong beginning. I’m just trying to keep from giving away too much backstory, making sure my characters motivations are clear and adding a conflict that isn’t too contrived. All that in the first chapter you say, and you still want the first sentence to be awe-inspiring? Are readers asking too much? Probably not, but it does put a lot of pressure on a writer to go all out—stretch the boundaries to grab the reader’s attention.

What makes a great opening line? Does it have to shock you, or just make you wonder where the heck they’re doing?

Do your favorite books have fantastic opening lines? I’d love to see some of your favorites.

Here are the opening lines of the last four books I've written.

Going Once, Going Twice, Dead--Christ almighty! In the ten years Dane Reynolds had been in Homicide, he’d never seen anything like this, and that was saying something.

Hook, Line, Murder--Steve Morgan heaved a frustrated sigh and cast his line back into the water.

Diamond in the Rough--Sloan McKendrics stuck her head inside Quinton Jax office, finding her boss at his desk reading a file.

Memory Lane--The PI business was a little like having sex for money, you got screwed every-which-way if you didn’t watch your back.

See, some are sort of bland, right?

On another note, wish me luck because I really need it right now. I have two books out, a full at one publisher and a partial at another. I want to sell both.

Jerri

Hello, hello, hello!

2010-03-25T00:05:00.000-05:00

Man does it feel great to be back in the saddle again!

As most of my readers know I've been gone taking care of my grandmother. She's recovered enough to not require 24 hour care and I couldn't be happier! FINALLY she's not in complete agony all the time!

I'm also (almost) completely caught up on my work. I'm still behind with a few emails but I'm slowly getting there!

I came home and sat down with my fingers on the keys and this new story started flowing. I began thinking of this 4 part series back in February and had even written a few pages on another book before Nanny had her accident. Anyway....Last Monday I sat down at the computer and this story took control.

I'm telling you it's AMAZING! During the day I'm so immersed in this tale that I can barely stop writing to do anything else! At night I DREAM the story (with a few MINOR changes) and when I'm NOT writing, I'm hearing voices screaming telling me I NEED to be writing! LOL

I've been talking about this new book idea at my Facebook place, on my website/blog and at Twitter and I keep being asked for a little taste of what it is. I'm DYING to share it with y'all but the blurb isn't quite ready yet. I'm polishing it up and it will be introduced to the world in the April edition of my newsletter. After that I'll slowly be sharing it among the readers of my different sites.

I CAN tell you the title of the series is The Four Horsemen. The title of this book is Death Rides a Pale Harley. Great, right?

I also have to ask--are we LOVING the new look here at Shades of Suspense? I know the up keep has taken alot out of the people who are in charge of it--Marie Nicole has done an AWESOME job over the past few years as coordinator and head honcho of this group. She worked VERY, VERY hard and I dont think she ever realized how much I appreciated all her efforts on behalf of EVERY SOS author.

Now Candace Gilmore has stepped up to take charge and move us into the future. I know how hard she's worked already and how dedicated she is. She stepped in and saved us from being disbanded when the load proved to interfere with Marie's real love: WRITING. Rather than say goodbye, Candace sweetly volunteered to lead us forward.

THANK YOU to both ladies who've done so much for this group!

All right, well I best get boot sacootin' outta here. I've got a HUGE and Hunky man in my mind who's saying HEY! Ya wanna get back to the story of my life here???

Hugz to y'all!
Donica

I'd Trade My Brother For A Cupcake

2010-03-24T11:00:00.004-05:00

Okay, I probably wouldn't, but I found a t-shirt with that on it, and I had to buy it for my daughter. It was just too cute.

And yeah, cupcakes are always awesome, especially if they're Star Wars cupcakes. :) (Did I mention I'm a total Star Wars geek? I didn't? Um.... Yeah... I am totally).

But it just got me thinking about shirts and what they say... Some of the sayings are out of your mind funny. And others are not so much.

But here's some of my favorites from Cafe Press The Write Snark. There's coffee mugs, shirts, hats, aprons, bags, all kinds of stuff there, all oriented for writers, and all with a bit of fun attitude.

Now, I don't know why I can't get the pictures to show up, so I'm using links...

All it takes is time, drive, and maybe... a small blood sacrifice

You say character torture like it's a bad thing

My heroine can kick your heroine's ass (there's also a hero version of this same one)

If one more person says I don't have a real job

You interrupted my alien battle for this?

And my final favorite one:

Is it wrong to like the fact that my research books scare people?

I vow, the next big conference I'm going to, I'll buy one of these for every day, and wear them to the conference. Where everyone's dressed in business casual, I'll be the one in flip-flops and one of these t-shirts.

And maybe a ball cap, just for extra style. (Of course, this perfect image of me will only be fun if I loose at least 40 pounds, lol)

Anyway, in case you haven't seen these, I wanted to share.

Everyone have a great day!

Exciting new review...

2010-03-23T08:17:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone. I recently received a new review for CHERISHED WITNESS, the first e-book in my New Orleans Detective series, which is out with Desert Breeze Publishing. I'm so excited! She loved it.

"I loved this book. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the end. This is one of the best romantic suspense books I've ever read and I will certainly look for this author's next book." -- 5 hearts, Jaye Leyel, The Romance Studio

Squee! The full review can be found here, on the TRS website.

Here is a blurb about the book:

Kelly Watson, aka Teresa Pastral, threw the Fifth Amendment out the window when she testified against her mob boss husband at his murder trial. Now divorced, she has begun a new life in the Witness Security Program. Only--the mob finds her, thanks to handsome lawman J.T. Romano, who uses her as bait to lure the man who murdered his wife and unborn child to town. To ensure her safety, she is forced to trust J.T., the man who has betrayed her to the mob. But can she also protect her heart?

This book is special to me, not only because it kicks off the series, but because writing it was a turning point of sorts for me. The books after this one just poured out, and before I knew it I had six of them all lined up.

The next title in the series, CHOSEN TARGET, will be released from Desert Breeze in May. I should have my cover art any day now. Can't wait!

To read more about my series and the rest of my books, check out my website here and also my personal blog here.

Selling--Books or a House

2010-03-22T07:17:00.005-05:00

This was taken a couple of days ago. The butterfly bushes are fairly bare and won't bloom until summer. The irises were planted in the fall of 2008 and they didn't bloom in 2009, although there was some foliage. I'm hopeful they'll bloom this year. The new pansies planted on Friday morning have survived until Monday morning, thus far. Keeping my fingers crossed they live long enough for someone to see my house and sign a contract.

There's a lot to be said for comparing selling a house and selling a book. Now that the inside changes are complete on my house, the outside required some attention as well. Mulch, removing and moving some plants, and then planting annuals for curb appeal.

Every book is begun with a lot of hope that it will grow and bloom into a full-fledged novel which everyone will want to read. But first you have to make it pretty on the outside to tempt someone to pick it up and read the back cover copy. Curb appeal will encourage a prospective buyer to park their car and actually walk into the house. A great cover is the best curb appeal for a book.

I knew I wanted this house the moment I walked through the front door. Fortunately with my design background I could ignore the dysfunctional furniture arrangement and the dark dining room. I could envision what I would do with the house to make it mine. I was still young enough and physically healthy so the painting needed didn't bother me at all.

Every book starts with a vision, and while the vision may evolve during the writing process, so has my vision for the house. I'm no longer writing strictly for myself as I was when I moved in here, and now that all the updating is done, it's no longer for myself, it's for the next person who walks through the door, takes a deep breath and thinks, Home.

What readers and home buyers expect has changed. With the proliferation of shows on HGTV and other home improvement channels, buyers expect a home to be STAGED, in addition to being like new if not actually new. Readers, too, have grown more discerning and expect more from books which have grown more and more expensive over the years.

While flowered wallpaper is definitely out, a good story still has to grab the reader and pull them into the world of our heroes and heroines and keep them reading until the HEA.

Marie, who's keeping her fingers crossed while she tries to sell her house and finish her current WIP.

SOMETHING WICKED IN MIND by Catherine Berlin

2010-03-21T07:56:00.002-05:00

SOMETHING WICKED IN MIND releases April 1 from eRedSage.com . It's part of the Three Kinds of Wicked Series, which has a character, Trey, condemned to wander the strands of time helping fix relationships that should never have encountered problems. If he succeeds, he can find redemption for himself.

In my story, Trey helps unite a couple parted by scheming parents when they were teens, only to find each other as adults, still having the same feelings, but too scarred by the past to act on them.

Can't WAIT for it to come out so everyone can read it!

--Catherine

Unprepared

2010-03-19T10:42:00.002-05:00

Today is my day off. I've already been to two grocery stores, got the kids off to school, answered emails and ran all my errands. My hair's a mess. I can't wait until 3pm so I can FINALLY get it cut. Its bad when your husband looks at you from across the table and says, "When are you getting your haircut? It needs it." Then says, "Are you getting your highlights redone too. Because those need it." Urgh! I thought men didn't notice those things!

So that whole rant and rave was a roundabout way of telling you that I am in no way prepared for my blog post today. I'm sorry. Really I am.

I hate when life interrupts my writing. What I'd really like is to shut the door to my office (re: bedroom) and write until my heart's content. But that's not possible. Especially when I'm having the 5th bad hair day in a row. Lord, save me now!

But on the bright side, my alma mater, Ohio University, beat 3rd seed Georgetown last night in a huge upset. GO OU!

Okay, its time for me to put my hat back on and go out unto the world again. Sorry for the brief post. As a consolation prize I will leave you with a blurb from my back list. This is a paranomal suspense:

Mikael Giovanni, King of the Giovanni gypsy tribe, has been cursed to live forever. Jaded and bitter with the life he’d been dealt, he meets Allie Tremont, a woman with her own demons to battle.

Allie’s life is threatened when Mikael’s considerable past catches up to him, thrusting her in the middle of a centuries old gypsy feud. Facing the possibility of eternity without the love it took centuries to find, Mikael must confront the past before it destroys his last chance at a forever kind of thing.

Buy Link

GPS FOR WRITING

2010-03-18T07:07:00.002-05:00

Do you have a GPS in your car or as an APP on your phone? It seems everyone nowadays has a GPS. Everyone except me and my husband. Before a recent trip up the California coast, I decided we should buy a GPS and take it with us. My husband disagreed, saying the maps we got from AAA would be enough to guide us. When we picked up the rental car, we turned down the rental company’s GPS because we didn’t want to pay $140 when we could buy one for about $50 more. Big, big mistake.

We got lost a lot on that trip. A lot. At one point I was writing a story in my head titled, “A GPS Would Have Saved My Marriage.” We finally calmed down and resigned ourselves to getting lost at times. We missed many of the sights we’d wanted to see, partly because the state of California doesn’t believe in signs, and partly because we didn’t have a GPS. We missed Big Sur, which was one of the main things we’d wanted to see. On the other hand, while lost we stumbled onto Ventura, a true gem of a beach town. Now I know where all the Sixties hippies went. We spent a wonderful, unexpected afternoon in sunny, beautiful, quirky Ventura and decided it was a place in which we could happily live.

What does this have to do with writing? Do you have a GPS for your writing? Do you know what direction you want your writing to take, or are you barreling down the freeway and hoping for the best? When you started writing to sell, did you map out a plan? Did you decide to attend conferences and workshops to learn all you could about the craft of writing? Then, did you write and write and hone your craft? Or did you write with no real direction, feeling you didn’t need to study the market, that your books would find their way to the right publishers, like a GPS you plug in and wait for it to take you somewhere?

I know writers whose plan it is to sell only to a big New York house, and if they don’t, they’ll put their manuscripts into the proverbial drawer rather than go with an epub or a small press. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s their choice. Yet they may be cheating themselves by not recalculating their direction. I can hear that inner editor now going, “Recalculating, recalculating.” What if one of their manuscripts is just a little too out of the box for one of the big houses? Maybe a reputable epub or small press would love it. There are times when you might need to veer off onto small detours. You never know where those detours will take you.

By all means, get back onto the main highway after the detour, but by opening yourself to new roads and to adventure by contracting with an epub or small press, you’ll have a book out there, a book people will want to read. And you’ll have learned a lot about working with an editor. Isn’t that better than keeping the book hidden in a drawer?

On our California trip, we didn’t get to see Big Sur, but we discovered Ventura. And I’m so glad we did. When I started writing, there were one or two epubs and they were very new and earned no respect from the writing community. Like most of my fellow members of RWA, I dreamed of selling to a big NY house. After I was rejected by several big publishers, someone suggested I submit to Avalon Books, a small press. I hadn’t considered a small press. I submitted and I sold to them. My book, a traditional romance, gave me entry into RWA PAN.

Since then, numerous epubs have sprung up. Some fell by the wayside, but many others are thriving. I contracted for my second book, a romantic suspense, with The Wild Rose Press. In GPS terms, I haven’t found Big Sur, the NY publishers, yet, but I found my publishing Ventura, small press and epubs. I’ve still got my original map, and I’m heading down the expressway hoping to someday sell to a large publisher. Meanwhile, I’ve discovered the joys of having my stories out there for others to read and enjoy.

You might have to change direction from time to time, but the important thing is to know where you’re going. Study the market, write what you love, learn all you can and drive forward into that publishing freeway. But be prepared for detours and know those unexpected twists in the road might lead you to a publishing gem.

Coming full circle...

2010-03-17T14:19:00.008-05:00

My oldest son, age 14, pointed something out to me recently. That old 'double standard' -- or at least one form of it -- seems to have come full circle.

He saw a picture posted on-line of several 40-something women holding signs up and screaming like groupies for a certain young actor. For those Twilight fans out there, the young man in question is none other than Taylor Lautner, werewolf buddy turned one fine hunk of man. ;)

A comment posted with the picture stated that if a group of 40-something men staged the same scene for a 17-year-old actress -- the attention given by the public wouldn't be so accepting. No laughs and knowing winks. Those men would branded as disgusting perverts, if not worse.

Wow. A little harsh, but, yes, I have to admit it's probably true. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'd likely think those exact thoughts. And yet, here I am, a 40-something mom, completely appreciating the very impressive physique and handsome face of a boy young enough to be my own child.

Huh. That revelation made me squirm just a bit.

So, anyone want to hazard a guess how this happened? When did societal values shift so that older women ogling ... even lusting after younger men became okay? But the opposite became a bad joke?

Just to clarify, I don't actually lust after young Taylor. I do admire him from afar. I do find myself wishing certain men my own age still looked half that fit, shall we say? But I do not sit around and daydream about him.

Whatever the reasons have been, the truth is that things have changed. What was once taboo is no longer. And so a whole new sub-genre of the romance novel has been born. I haven't found a favorite older woman/younger man book, yet, but I'll let you know when I do.

I once read the statement that the difference between men and women being with someone much younger is that the woman knows she'll look ridiculous. I'm sure Demi Moore would have a few choice words regarding that observation. ;) But in reality... in the lives of average, everyday, non-movie star people, I think it's likely very true.

Most women I know would never dream of initiating a romance with a man ten or more years their junior, no matter the appeal. If such a young man were to make the first advance, that same woman might wonder what he really wanted... and just how long she'd hold his attention. Yes, we have many issues involving vanity. Perhaps some trust issues, as well.

Women now, as a whole, seem to now feel confident enough to admit they find men... even much-younger men, sexy and desirable. Men, on the other hand, are given nasty looks by many of those same women, if they're found lusting for much-younger girls.

Yes, the tables have turned on this particular double-standard. Makes me wonder what will be next.

In Revision Mode

2010-03-16T06:23:00.003-05:00

So, this last month and a half has been all about reworking three different stories of mine. Each I'm trying to get ready to submit to publishers. I have one chapter left in the first book that I plan to submit to my editor this week, another has a partial submitted, just doing a last read-through on it, and the last book I made some major changes to the beginning and have to encorporate them throughout the rest of the story. As you can probably imagine, I haven't written but a few new words in Memory Lane, a book I've decided will be a long book, instead of the novalla I had planned it to be. It's been years since I've written any story over 56,000 words but that's my plan for Mick and Lane. Wish me luck on that.

I have a strange way to do revisions. I don't know why I do this, but I put each chapter on a wordpad and do one chapter at a time. I haven't a clue why I do this, it just seems less daunting that way. Weird yes, but it works for me.

This morning I went to check my e-mail and there was one from Kiss of Death. I sent my application in a few weeks ago and I'm so excited. I can't wait to get to know all the romance suspense authors there.

Anyway, off to finished that last chapter so I can cross one of those books off my list.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Jerri

I'm Still Sick

2010-03-10T11:32:00.008-06:00

I hate to say it, but I'm still sick, and I'm not completely coherant yet, so I'm going to just show off some of the pretties that illustrate what I think many of my Templars look like in
Broken Shine

I don't normally find pics for different characters, but with my Templar Knights, I couldn't help myself. :)

Here's Liam: (Yes, it is Batista from WWE -- though I imagine Liam without all the tattoos)

Here's Sir Adrian: (though in his case, I can see him having the tattoos, especially the one on this guy's hip that says "for my brother" -- however, I've not seen Adrian naked so I can't be sure)

Here's Sir Ewan, another Knight, one of the youngest (if someone over 700 years old can be considered 'young':

And I was going to put up my pic for Sir Richard, but for the life of me, I can't find the thing anywhere, and I never quite picked out anything for Sir Tabor, so there's two more knights I ahve to find pictures for...

But for now, here's some of my inspiration.

Putting a story together

2010-03-09T09:00:00.004-06:00

I'm working on a complicated single title suspense that is blowing my mind. Usually I'm a pantser, just winging it as I write and letting the characters go where they will...and they haven't disappointed me yet. I'm always surprised and thrilled at the way things turn out, both with them and the plot. But this time...oh, boy.

This book is throwing me for a loop, and this time I'm actually forced to use a spreadsheet to keep everything straight. I despise spreadsheets, because they remind me of numbers. Silly, I know...but I don't like numbers. I'm a writer. I prefer words. And words are what I'm plugging into my spreadsheet as I struggle through a chapter-by-chapter outline. I've also listed a cast of characters and started a column for major plot points and red herrings. I don't want anything to fall through the cracks.

So far, the story is turning out great. I'm outlining as I go, just a little bit ahead of where I'm writing, so the characters will still have the chance to tell me their stories. And it's working. I'm so happy and relieved. If only I had more time to write. That, however, is fodder for another blog post. Here's to outlining when necessary. I lift a glass to all those meticulous plotters out there! You might be on to something.

Tossing and Turning All Night

2010-03-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

Amid the chaos of home renovations (that's my home office above), I find I'm having trouble sleeping. There's so much already done and so much yet to do. The painting is 2/3 done, but it seems like there's always something else being pointed out by my real estate agent or the painter or the home inspector.

There has to be a stopping point--right? At least that's what I tell myself.

So have I managed to work on my WIP during all this? Basically the answer is precious little. I've eked out a hundred words here and there, but the drive to finish the WIP just isn't there right now. All my drive is focused on getting the house ready to go on the market. After that, the worry over when it will sell will no doubt keep me awake, too.

The three bedrooms (one used an my office) are painted and complete. The hall still has some woodwork that needs painting, and the two bathrooms are done. That leaves the paneling in the living room/dining room and kitchen. The furniture will be moved back in place in the office today, and I'll be able to stage it, as well as use it again.

I spent part of the weekend shopping for decorative accessories and ordered a couple of things online. And yes, I need a few more things for staging. For me, shopping is the fun part.

The landscaper came by this weekend as well, and he freshened the mulch, moved some plants and removed a couple that were on their last legs. We've got to have curb appeal or folks will never come inside to see all the money I've spent on their new house.

It's no wonder I woke up at one-thirty this morning and didn't go back to sleep. Unfortunately it wasn't story ideas keeping me awake.

Pay no attention to the leaning mailbox. It will be straight before long. Hopefully the trees and grass will green up in another month. And add to the curb appeal, plus the new spruce and a bunch of annuals. The butterfly bushes will be green and will soon attract the butterflies I love to watch from my office.

Exhausted, but hopeful in Music City.

Marie-Nicole

Another Notch in my Belt

2010-03-07T18:16:00.002-06:00

No, no. Not that kind.

I sold another novella! This one is part of the Three Kinds of Wicked series over at Red Sage. The novellas all have a menage edge to them, with a common character that has been condemned for something he did wrong... his punishment is to travel through time and space to reunite couples that were meant to be together but got off-track. If he succeeds, he might just earn redemption.

I don't have a cover yet, but as soon as I do, you can bet I'll post it!

Now Available in Print

2010-03-05T06:40:00.003-06:00

Buy from MBaM

Buy from Barnes and Nobles

Buy from Borders

A killer’s obsession could destroy their second chance for love.

Only a year ago, Officer Alex Juran and his wife Tess had it all. Love, a solid marriage and a baby on the way. Then in one heartbeat they lost everything.

Now, Tess is doing her best to move on. She has a thriving business and while she may be lonely at times, she’s proud of the new life she’s built without Alex.

Two days before their divorce is final, Alex is shot in the line of duty and left for dead. He faces a difficult recovery so Tess finds herself postponing the divorce and offering to care for him until he can live alone again.

At first, cohabitation is little more than combat. Alex’s incapacitating injuries, the looming divorce, and his inability to remember who shot him have him lashing out at the nearest target: Tess. When someone begins stalking her, he suspects his shooter has returned. Convinced that Tess is in danger, Alex becomes desperate to recover his strength.

Because no matter how much she’s hurt him in the past, they’ve been given a second chance—and he’ll do anything to protect his wife.

WRITING FOR THE SHORT STORY MARKET

2010-03-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever thought of writing a short story? I used to say I could never write a short story. How wrong I was.

I actually wrote one short about nine years ago. I never sold it, and I eventually expanded it into my sweet traditional for Avalon, “A Catered Affair.”

I didn’t try my hand again at writing a short until about 18 months ago. I’d heard of a new magazine called “New Love Stories Magazine” that was actively looking for short romance stories. I labored over a story about two chefs. It was torture to write. I think every writer I know critiqued that story. I finally finished it and sent it off to New Love Stories Magazine. Imagine my shock four months later when they offered a contract. At that time NLS was still new and their response time was 3-4 months. It’s gotten longer now that they are swamped with submissions.

I wrote another story after signing the contract on the chef’s story (called “Chef’s Choice” March 09 issue). With high hopes I sent the new story, a modern day Cinderella tale, to NLS. This second story was much easier to write than the first. I was getting the knack of writing short. When I didn’t hear from NLS after 6 months, I contacted them. They sent back a reply stating the story was under consideration. I found out later that when the magazine likes a story too much to reject it, but not enough to offer an immediate contract, they will hold the story to use later as a filler. No rejection, but no contract either. Very different from my first experience with NLS. I like writing for NLS as they pay ($300) as soon as the story is published. Here’s the link to their submission guidelines: http://www.grassrootsmag.com/wrgu.html

I was beginning to love short story writing, but I needed another market. Then a chance encounter and conversation with another writer in an elevator at National in July 2009 opened a whole new world-writing for the confession magazines. This writer told me about an email loop made up of Trues writers(they call the magazines The Trues). I joined the group as soon as I got home from National.

After National, I fell into a writing funk. My werewolf romance, which I love, was getting rejections from agents and publishers I’d submitted to. Months earlier, an editor at a large house had asked for the full, which I sent March 09. To date I haven’t heard from them. The Harlequin Presents story I’d pitched at National got a rejection from the editor I’d pitched it to, a form rejection, which really hurt. I was ready to give up writing.

Then something happened. An editor from True Romance and True Experience magazines posted on the Trues loop that she was looking for Thanksgiving love stories, and she needed them fast. I’d had a story rattling around in my head for a few years, about a black cat that brings two lonely people together. I wrote my Thanksgiving story and polished it in five days, the fastest I’d ever written anything. At that time, I hadn’t read a confession story in over 40 years. All I knew was they had to be first person, filled with a little angst, and have the promise of a HEA. I didn’t have time to get the Thanksgiving story critiqued. My sister read it, made some suggestions, then I sent it off to the editor. I was shocked ten days later to receive an email from the editor stating she wanted to buy the story.

Since then, I’ve sold two more stories to True Romance (0ne a reworked version of my Cinderella story that NLS was holding. Being the impatient sort I couldn’t wait for NLS to decide. I emailed them and asked them to take it from consideration). I’ve discovered I love writing confession stories and I appear to have a knack for doing so. I also love the Trues editor I’ve been working with.

If you’ve also thought you could never write short, don’t let that stop you. Selling my short stories has kept me in the game. I may have quit writing all together if I hadn’t discovered this love for writing shorts.

Another great short story market is Woman’s World Magazine. They pay $800 for an 800-word story. It’s hard to write in exactly 800 words, but it’s a great writing exercise. To give you an idea, this article is about 900 words. I wrote a story for Woman’s World and sent it off. Got a rejection within a month. They receive hundreds of submissions a week. I recently completed a class in how to write for WW. From that class I learned WW wants upbeat and sweet. The story I wrote for them was a little dark, too much of a confession story. I will continue to try to break into the WW market.

My head is filled with story ideas that don’t have enough plot, conflict, GMC, etc, for full novels. I can use these ideas for my short stories. All I need is a little background, some angst, a little conflict, and the promise of HEA. And I love writing in first person. It’s so easy. Writing short has also taught me how to condense a story into one sentence. Think about the short story market for all those ideas you have that might not translate into a full book.

BTW-my latest story, “Reunion of Hearts,” is in the April True Romance. The story made the cover, which I’m told is a big deal, and it’s the lead story.

I HAVE SPRING FEVER

2010-03-02T04:55:00.002-06:00

So, I’m sitting in front of my computer, staring at a blank page, wondering if anyone would care if I decided to stop writing. I struggle with this daily, and right now it’s hard to see the forest from the trees. What does that saying really mean? Does anyone know? Anyway, I’m doing everything I can to keep from writing. At this very moment, I’m looking out my window at the gray sky, thinking Spring is never going to get here. I, like Loribelle, can’t wait to get my hands dirty in our garden, be out in the warm sun, soaking in all that wonderful vitamin D so I can be happy again. Before that, I was watching TV, my major time suck. No writing today, no revision. I’m too tired, too distracted, too unsure it’s all worth it.

But then, I think about Greer and Sloan in Diamond in the Rough, Steve and Whitney in Hook, Line, Murder, and my new characters, Mick and Lane in Memory Lane and I know I can’t quit because they’d all hunt me down and shoot me—well, I do write romantic suspense.

So, as a reader, what keeps you coming back to a specific author? And, as a writer, what keeps you writing when things just seem so hard?

Now, let’s do something fun. If you could be any character in a book, movie or on television, who would you be and why?

I’d be Beth Turner in Moonlight because then I could be next to Mick St. John (Alec O’loughlin) I never thought a vampire could be so hot.

Jerri

Ideas

2010-03-01T08:26:00.002-06:00

I have no idea what to blog about today which is kind of funny because I'm a chatter. I love to hang out with friends and just talk about anything and everything and nothing really important. But, today...I have nothing to say. So here's a couple random things.

*My newest release, Once Bitten came out last Tuesday at Loose Id. The second in the series is already written and I'm nail biting a bit waiting to hear what my editor thinks of it.

*My oldest daughter was in a regional science competition this weekend. Her team placed forth and is going to the state competition in two weeks!

*I am so ready for spring. I want to work in my garden and I'm already picking out seeds. Now if the weather would just cooperate...

*I've got several projects due this year so I'm busy writing and plotting and editing and submitting. It's going to be a roller coaster, I think, but worth it in the end.

That about sums things up for me this cold winter morning. How are y'all doing?

Not Just The Writing

2010-02-24T12:55:00.003-06:00

As I sit here at my computer, upgrading my virus protection (it's that time of year), I glanced at my web site (since it's my home page when I log onto the internet--because I'll never remember to update it if I don't look at it all the time), and I started thinking... I kind of want to do a new layout.

And then I thought about it more. Doing a new layout would mean having to redo the blog. And the Twitter page. Because you have to make it all tie together, for continuity, right? And while I'm not bad with web stuff, I'm not the greatest with graphics, so I tend to use templates to redo a website, or have someone build me a graphic to create a site around.

And all that takes time.

Time away from writing. But it has to be done. Regular blog posts, Tweets, Facebook posts, though now that my twitter is tied to my facebook--I know, I broke down and got Twitter, when I said I wouldn't do it--that helps somewhat, a little less work for me. Still, it's keep up with all of it.

And then there's making with the pretty stuff like website updating, etc. Since I'm all about the free and easy, a great website for author-inspired simple templates is WebSong Designs. She has simple ones as well as a few paranormal designs. And if you want to do the work yourself, she also has blank header banners you can use and customize for you site. And not to mention the free.... I love the free.

I have one writer friend, who always says if you do something every day, you're doing good. One promotion thing a day, one writing thing, you can go to bed feeling satisfied. I try to tell myself that every night, but sometimes it doesn't happen.

Though I'm trying.

What about you, what all do you keep up on all aspects of writing and marketing?

I love my Nook!

2010-02-23T08:49:00.003-06:00

This past Christmas, I gave myself a present I'd been wanting since I first heard about it. A Nook from Barnes and Nobles, their new ereader with both wireless and 3G capability. It was back-ordered but finally arrived in January -- and I absolutely love it. It holds up to 1500 books (I've only got about 10 on there so far, so I have a long way to go before I fill it up), has a changeable font, and isn't backlit so it doesn't hurt my eyes.

I had resisted reading ebooks until this point, even though all of my publishers publish books electronically (one in addition to print) out of sheer force of will. I loved the way print books felt in my hands; I loved turning real pages; and I'm generally old school when it comes to lots of things. But the Nook has changed my outlook. I love punching a button to turn pages; love being able to adjust the font; love the ease of buying books. And when I go to the gym and read on the bike or the treadmill, I don't have to juggle two books when I'm almost done with one and ready to start another. I simply pick another book with a flick of my finger -- and I'm reading once again!

I highly recommend the Nook because it will allow one to read in many different formats, including pdf and epub. The only drawback is that it's not compatible with Word format. Still, I wouldn't trade it for a Kindle, which only allows reading from Amazon's own proprietary format. And I wouldn't trade it for a cheaper ereader that doesn't let readers download books wirelessly. That's one of my favorite features.

Please keep in mind that this is strictly my opinion, and that the Nook works for me. If you're shopping for an ereader, I know you'll want to do your own research and pick out the one you like. But this one makes me happy.

My ebooks are available in multiple formats, and you can link to my publishers (Desert Breeze Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, Cobblestone Press) from my website here. Happy ereading!

Eliminating the Unnecessary

2010-02-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Cassie, the Wonder Sheltie on Valentine's Day

Once upon a time this week there was a romantic suspense author who had a great idea for a blog topic. Unfortunately this wonderful author forgot what it was. That's not to say she's scatterbrained--honestly, I'm not--but preparations for getting new kitchen flooring which consist with unpacking her china cabinet and pantry took precedence. Who knew she had so much crap in the bottom of her china hutch?

*insert record scratch here*

Enough of the third person when talking about myself. I found some articles I haven't seen in the thirteen years since I stowed them away. That's a definite sign they have to go into the yard sale. The infamous yard sale. I haven't had one in about twenty-five years. I'm waiting for warmer weather--should've had it this weekend since it was in the freaking sixties! Wonderful yard sale weather, except who knew it was going to be so gorgeous? Anyway I had other fish to fry or a china cabinet to unpack.

How many decorative items do I need? I'm seriously considering decorating my new apartment like a monk's cell. Okay, now that' s not going to happen, but I will be thrilled not to have so much "stuff" hanging over my head and taking up all the space in my garage. There's so much I have to get rid of I've decided to rent a storage unit to store what I'm taking with me! I'm sure I'll have to have another clearance when I start unpacking in Kentucky. Space will be limited. I can attest just how much it's possible to cram into those small apartments because I helped my mother pack to move down here a couple of years ago. She's since moved back but it was quite an undertaking.

It's almost like self-editing a manuscript. See--I knew if I kept nattering on long enough, I would figure out a tie-in to writing. Get rid of unnecessary and redundant words. Strike out all those self-explanatory phrases which we tend to use to end our sentences. Strive for natural flow. Just like you want to pay attention to how your floor plan flows, you want your words to ring true.

A word of note: a decluttered house is a decluttered mind. I can't work in a cluttered office, contrary to the general consensus that a disorganized desk is indicative of a creative mind. As far as I'm concerned that's a load of horse pucky.

What about you? Can you really work in a mess? I think the mess of delcuttering my house is what's keeping me from writing. Boxes are everywhere, since the garage is full. That's chaotic. And that's exactly the reason why I intend to rent a storage unit as soon as I can locate a friend with a truck. Anyway that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it. The flooring guy comes tomorrow and the painter comes a week from today, so the chaos isn't over.

Marie-Nicole, who will be so glad when her house is all staged and SOLD.

That's the suspense, honey.

2010-02-21T09:54:00.001-06:00

Think way back to 1977. Yes, we were all just specks then, but I'm sure at some point you saw the movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (of the third kind). It was on TV last night.

My kids had never seen it, and when they saw the MA rating, they asked (thinking I'd say NO) if they could watch. Since the rating was just for a few swear words, and my kids know better than to repeat them, I let them watch it.

They settled in, but kept asking if it was scary. Even though I said NO, it's not "boo!" scary, it's suspenseful, every now and then someone would start chatting nervously, or looking away from the TV. I guess they didn't believe me and thought any minute an alien would pop onto the screen.

Nearly at the end, both of them were getting a little stressed out (but not in a "will need therapy one day" manner). My oldest finally said, as Richard Dreyfus and his companion struggled to get over Devil's Tower, "WHY DON'T THE ALIENS JUST GET HERE ALREADY!!??"

I had a good chuckle. "That's the SUSPENSE, honey."

Have You Ever?

2010-02-20T07:15:00.003-06:00

MY TURN AGAIN!

Dry...thats me. Something has to happen in your life to have a subject to drone on about.

Okay, I hit on something. People you hated as a kid! Oh yeah, I can name a few. My question is...have you ever used any of them as characters in a book? I admit to having done so. Oh, I am sure in all their confidence and massive egos, they would never see themselves as the repulsive fool getting busted for using the side of a building as a latrine. Or the snooty witch with mush for brains. Think about it, The characters you hate the most have to have come from some dark corner of your mind.

Now, my heroes are men I have yet to meet. They don't exist. My heroines are chicks I would like to be but never had the grit. Maybe in my next life I will get to be an FBI agent, a cheeky babe that the filthy rich hero can't live without. Of course I would have mush for brains and choose the ragged butt ditch digger.

Okay, now for whats going on in real life. I went to the casino and hit two jackpots. I contribute my good luck to the tasty screwdriver I had. Note to myself..always have a screwdriver at the casino. My next morsel is__

ITS SNOWING AGAIN!!!!

I know one thing for sure. If I ever get the chance, I am pitching my tent in south Florida. I have had cold as a frog skin for months. I am freezing to death. The toe I broke three years ago is giving me fits with its constant throbbing pain. Okay, its time for another screwdriver!

Love you all,

Betty

Note: Photo supplied by Marie-Nicole Ryan from her purchased stash of Jimmy Thomas cover art.

Available in print March 2

2010-02-19T10:08:00.002-06:00

Good morning, everyone! I'm looking out at 10 inches of snow and listening to the weather report that's saying we're going to get more on Saturday! All that snow Vancouver's not getting? It's in Ohio.

I wanted to stop by and tell everyone that my latest romantic suspense, Obsession, will be available in print on March 2. Obsession received the Reviewers Top Pick from Night Owl Romance, 5 stars from eCataromance Reviews and 4 1/2 stars from Long and the Short of it Reviews.

The Long and the Short called it "a winner on all counts".

Here's a quick blurb. Heading out now to shovel some more...

A killer’s obsession could destroy their second chance for love.

Only a year ago, Officer Alex Juran and his wife Tess had it all. Love, a solid marriage and a baby on the way. Then in one heartbeat they lost everything.

Now, Tess is doing her best to move on. She has a thriving business and while she may be lonely at times, she’s proud of the new life she’s built without Alex.

Two days before their divorce is final, Alex is shot in the line of duty and left for dead. He faces a difficult recovery so Tess finds herself postponing the divorce and offering to care for him until he can live alone again.

At first, cohabitation is little more than combat. Alex’s incapacitating injuries, the looming divorce, and his inability to remember who shot him have him lashing out at the nearest target: Tess. When someone begins stalking her, he suspects his shooter has returned. Convinced that Tess is in danger, Alex becomes desperate to recover his strength.

Because no matter how much she’s hurt him in the past, they’ve been given a second chance—and he’ll do anything to protect his wife.

Read Excerpt

Visit my website

MY WRITING FANTASIES

2010-02-18T07:04:00.001-06:00

No, not those fantasies. Sometimes when I’m feeling down about my lack of success in writing-another rejection, my critique group tells me that my WIP isn’t working-I daydream and visualize my favorite writing fantasies.

I’ll share a few of them here.

I’m in a bookstore in the romance section. A customer picks up my latest book and starts walking with it to the checkout. I stop and tell her I’m the author and I’d be glad to autograph it after she buys it. She squeals with delight and tells me I’m one of her favorite authors.

I’m in a bookstore in the romance section. Two customers are perusing the shelves. One picks up my book and tells her friend that she read the book and loved it. I go over and explain I couldn’t help overhearing and I’m the author. They both squeal with delight. One says she’ll buy my book and will I autograph it for her. The woman who’d read my book buys another one so I can autograph it.

I’m in line at the supermarket or a department store or anywhere and strike up a conversation with the woman behind me. I mention I’m a romance writer, she says she loves romance, and what’s my name. When I tell her, she says she loves my books and takes my picture with her cell phone.

I’m at a party, casually mention I write romance. A group gathers around me, fascinated by what I have to say. Several of them have read my books and love them.

Okay, I may sound like a bit of stalker in some of these fantasies, hanging around bookstores, etc. But they are my dreams so I can do what I want. I imagine the above has happened in one form or another to big name authors. My two books aren’t available in stores so the bookstore scenarios won’t happen with them, but maybe some day I’ll have a book on the shelves. That’s another dream-a book readily available in bookstores around the country.

As for the scenario about the party. Partly true. I’ve mentioned in casual conversation at parties and other gatherings that I write romance. The reality? No fascination. Just polite smiles, then they go onto other topics. That’s it. Once in a while someone will tell me she intends to write a book some day when she has time. I think there are instances when even Nora would be ignored in certain groups. Non writers seem to think it’s easy to write a book and sell it. Maybe that’s why they don’t much care when I mention that I write.

Another dream is for one of my books to win the RITA. I hear you chuckling. It could happen, right after I win the lottery.

Now, for my all-time favorite writing fantasy:

My book is nominated for the RITA. A big time editor or agent sees that I’m a RITA nominee and asks me to send her something. I reply that I’d sent her my RITA-nominated book and she rejected it. Then, while she’s standing there with her mouth open, I smile and walk away.

Of course, in the above scenario I would be very polite and she wouldn’t see me snicker until I’d turned away.

So what are your writing fantasies?

Trends…what are they and do you follow them?

2010-02-16T06:23:00.001-06:00

In the dictionary under trend it says, the general direction; course. Figurative, fashion, style, vogue. There are trends in just about everything. Clothing, Cars, Jobs. I could go on and on. You have to be on the cutting edge of trends, be there to either start them or be right behind the ones that do.

In writing, I used to be trendy, writing romantic suspense. Not sure it’s still as popular as it once was but it’s not going to stop me from writing the genre. I love placing my characters in peril and seeing how they get themselves out of trouble. For me, they are writing the story, they lead me where they want me to go, even if it’s near the edge of a cliff and the villain is right behind them with all the intentions of pushing them off. Suspense calls to me, gets my writer juices flowing. I have tried other genres, but I always come back to suspense. It’s my fashion, my style, my vogue.

What about you? Is there a special genre that you can’t leave even if the trend is moving away from it? Do you write to the industry or do you write for yourself?

On another note, I was watching the news on Sunday and they had a segment of male escorts. Oh my god, I thought. I couldn’t believe it. They were talking about men they call walkers—they escorted women to functions and entertain them. Greer, in Diamond in the Rough works at the Black Stallion, an exclusion women’s club. He’s there to entertain the members. Here, I thought, I’d be pushing a few boundaries with this book, but there are men who actually do what he’s doing. All the men at the Black Stallion have day jobs. Mick, my hero in my current book Memory Lane works as a PI.

So, maybe I am writing to trend.

Jerri

Happy birthday, baby girl!

2010-02-15T01:33:00.001-06:00

My post today has nothing at all to do with writing and everything to do with bragging lol. :) It's my oldest daughter's 14th birthday. For me, it's a year I remember well and I'm sure my mom would like to forget. To label myself a wild child would be an understatement. So it's no wonder I've watched my girls' (my younger daughter is almost 13) teenage years approach with trepidation.

Thankfully I've done something right. Or I'm just very lucky lol. She's a smart, somewhat quirky kid who so far, rarely (cross your fingers it doesn't change!) indulges in mood swings or sullenness. I see what my friends are going through with their teenagers, I remember the trials I put my parents through, and realize how fortunate I am to have girls who still like their mother. Here's hoping that doesn't change anytime soon and a big birthday hug for my first baby!