Promoting My Competition: Are You On My List?

About a year ago, I embarked on a program on my blog to interview other authors in the romance genre. The idea was that my guests would share the wealth of their experiences as writers. I looked at it as an opportunity to get to know fellow authors and learn from them.
Many might consider this as promoting my competition, and they'd be right. That's one of the things I love about belonging to the writing community: not only do we promote each other incidentally with advice, information, reviews, tweets, FB announcements and the like, we actively help each other succeed.


A perfect example is the LoveHistoricals website I've recently had the good fortune to become part of. Thirteen historical romance authors have banded together to promote each other! Five of these writers are women who either blogged with me and/or I was a guest on their blog. I encourage you to read the stories written by these generous authors: Cynthia Woolf, Margery Scott, Sydney Jane Baily, Jill Hughey and Heather Boyd. At the end of this post is the complete list of the remainder of my guests since January 2013, with my thanks.

Cynthia Woolf: Fiery Bride.
After a disastrous marriage, Matchmaker Maggie vowed never to marry again. She will never give another man the power of life and death over her body and soul. Unfortunately, that doesn't keep her lonely heart from fantasizing about her newest client, Caleb Black. She made the mistake of starting a flirtatious correspondence with the clever devil, believing they would never meet. But when his new bride abandons her mid-way to Colorado to elope with another man, Maggie is forced to face the devastatingly handsome Caleb and explain. Now she'll have to stay long enough to make things right and find him a new wife. But Maggie better hang on to her vow with both hands, because Caleb has other plans for the fiery matchmaker...and a very seductive kiss.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00DSSVG72
BN: http://bit.ly/1a7Qizy
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fiery-bride/id670597781?ls=1
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=fiery+bride

Margery Scott: Emma's Wish

A man consumed with grief ...
Sam Jenkins still hasn't come to terms with his wife’s death, but he can't build his ranch in the Texas wilderness and care for three children alone. He has only one heart-breaking choice – send his children away until he can provide for them properly.

A woman desperate for a family ...
A tragic accident changed Emma Witherspoon’s life. Now, she has accepted the fact that she will never have a husband and children of her own, but that doesn't ease the ache in her heart.

A proposition ...
When Emma offers Sam a marriage of convenience, neither of them can foresee the changes that will make their lives – and their relationship – anything but ‘convenient’.


Buy links: Amazon Barnes&Noble Apple (iTunes) Kobo Smashwords

Sydney Jane Baily: An Inescapable Attraction

In a year of roaming the West, angel-faced, sharp-tongued Eliza encounters a world of card sharks and low-life gamesters, all the while trying to forget the searing brand of one man’s fiery kisses. In a dangerous game of high-stakes poker, she tangles with the wrong gambler and finds herself in a heap of trouble. With heartache haunting her relentlessly and a killer on her trail, she has no choice but to run.

Thaddeus Sanborn has always had a weakness for the girl he calls Ellie. Even though she cut him to the quick by getting engaged to his childhood friend, she’s the only female who’s ever kept his interest smoldering at a scorching level. When she steams unexpectedly into his carefree life, derailing his plans for getting rich, he’s stunned by the trouble that accompanies her. But he’ll do just about anything—even kill—to protect her.

Dangerous men, Indian trackers, and wanton women populate the landscape—while steam trains, swift horses, and a lively riverboat keep Eliza and Thaddeus on the move. Though they do their best to escape the peril that’s always merely a hoofbeat behind, they can never run away from their own Inescapable Attraction.

Website: http://www.sydneyjanebaily.com 

Purchase: http://amzn.com/B00H7LEUOM

Jill Hughey: Vain

A tailor’s abandoned daughter fashions a vain nobleman’s tunic, finding passion between the neckline and hem as misfortune forces her into his precarious aristocratic world. 

Links: Amazon http:// viewBook.at/Vain
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vain-jill-hughey/1114587598?ean=2940016262406
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id669474409
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/vain-evolution-series-3
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/284641

Heather Boyd: Miss George's Second Chance 

When desperately private writer Imogen George offered to marry neighbour Peter Watson it wasn't just to save a friend but to secure her own future. With her eyesight failing and no other prospects for marital bliss on the horizon, surely it wouldn't be too horrible to marry without the benefits of love. But then Peter gains a title a week before they’re set to wed and all of Imogen’s expectations change.

Peter once believed that marriage to Imogen would solve his financial problems. He didn't mind marrying for convenience and a large fortune when affection was within reach. Yet when he gains a title, an estate, and a fortune of his own the secretive writer releases him from their engagement so he might marry for love instead. Now he’s returned, unwed and unaware of changes in her life, should he do what is expected or listen to his heart instead?

APPLE 

Aus  https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/miss-georges-second-chance/id737406840?mt=11&uo=4
US  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/miss-georges-second-chance/id737406840?mt=11&uo=4
UK  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/miss-georges-second-chance/id737406840?mt=11&uo=4
Canada  https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/miss-georges-second-chance/id737406840?mt=11&uo=4
Amazon US  http://www.amazon.com/Georges-Second-Chance-Mayhem-Novella-ebook/dp/B00GMU6P7O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384309273&sr=1-1&keywords=B00GMU6P7O
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Georges-Second-Chance-Mayhem-Novella-ebook/dp/B00GMU6P7O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384309273&sr=1-1&keywords=B00GMU6P7O
aRE  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-missgeorge039ssecondchanceamissmayhemnovella-1344504-160.html
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374755
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-georges-second-chance-heather-boyd/1117341656?ean=2940045370844
Kobo  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/miss-george-s-second-chance

Here's the list of my remaining guests:
Virginia Henley

Danita Cahill

Victoria Pinder

Joan Reeves

Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sandy Loyd

Lois Winston

Ruth Glick (Rebecca York)

Judy Roth

Lily Rede

Jennifer Zane

Mary Raimes Curtis

Rose Anderson

Jill James

Janis Patterson

Pati Jager

Sharon Kleve

BC Brown

Leanne Tyler

Bonnie Edwards *

Florence Witkop

Melissa Keir

Berengaria Brown

Gemma Juliana

Shelley Bates *

Cara Marsi

Virginia Vail Kelly

Diane Burton

Dawn Marie Hamilton

E. Ayers

Jodie Esch *

Lynda Bailey

Jane Toombs

Pat Amsden *

Tina Donahue

Reggi Allder *

Mary Marvella

Melba Moon

Kate Hill

Mona Risk

Mimi Barbour *

*Fellow members of Vancouver Island Chapter RWA.

Please Welcome Lily Rede

My guest today is romance author Lily Rede. Tell us about your current series, Lily.
Bright's Ferry is a nice little seaside town hiding some dark secrets. In Book #2, Safe From the Fire, we meet Grace and Matt. Grace is having trouble finding a guy to play out her little domination fantasies with, and Matt is terrified of turning into a controlling monster like his father. Too bad he's been head over heels for Grace for years. As they attempt to date, tying each other in figurative and literal knots, an arsonist terrorizes Bright's Ferry, and all evidence points to Grace's formerly delinquent brother. It's hot, sweet, and twisty, just like I like it.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?
Fantastic! A year ago, I would never have considered self-publishing, and now ten months in I've sold nearly 20,000 copies. I had plenty of self-doubt holding me back, but getting to share my little worlds with readers and learn from more experienced writers has been incredibly rewarding. I hope this is just the beginning of a wonderful career.

Sounds like you are off to a promising start. What was the hardest thing you've found in the process of self-publishing? And the easiest?
The hardest thing is remembering that it takes time to build an audience, to learn from my mistakes, and to write the next book instead of waiting for reviews. This life requires buckets of patience, which I often have very little of, no matter how hard I try. The easy part is getting it out there - the Internet is an amazing creature, and I am grateful or how idiot-proof most of the process has become. I am not tech savvy on the best of days.

I know what you mean! What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? 
I have trouble when the words come out faster than I want them to - I have to remind myself to slow down and really let the characters feel and express each moment before moving them to the next scene. That and continuity are my nemeses.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?
Don't stop. That's it. Rejection is guaranteed, but so is improvement. You will be better with the next story, and the one after that, and the one after that. Do not let fear of failure get the best of you.

I second that! What is your writing routine like? 
I like to write in the mornings, since I'm useless after 2pm. Coffee, music without lyrics, sometimes the jumbled noise of a coffee shop, and I'm set.

I'm the opposite. I like mornings too, but I prefer a quiet atmosphere. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? 

All the time. I usually go work on something else for a while and let my brain stew on the problem until it starts clamoring at me to go back and finish what I started.

What’s next for you?
I'm almost done with a contemporary novella called More Than A Night about a wealthy but inexperienced young woman who decides to pay for an escort for the night, and finds that there's more to love than sex, and also the prequel novella to my paranormal Hearts of Stone series - Shadow of the Raven (monsters and muses, oh my!) In June, Book #3 of Bright's Ferry - Safe From the Storm. Also, there's an ongoing erotic suspense serial on my blog called Shiny Things.

Where can readers find you?
I'm only on Amazon at the moment, but I'm hoping to branch out soon! Safe From the Dark is available in ebook and print, as is Hot & Sweet - Beginnings, my collection of shorts, but the rest of my titles are currently ebook only. I'm gradually formatting the rest, but there are only so many hours in the day, and miles to go before I sleep, LOL...meanwhile, tons of excerpts up on my blog, along with free chapters of Shiny Things.

Thanks for being my guest today, Lily. Here's the blurb for Safe From the Fire.
Firefighter Matt Harris has wanted edgy librarian Grace Mallow forever – there’s something about her purple hair and her sexy dark side that pushes all of his buttons, even if the rest of the town looks down on her. Unfortunately, Matt’s memories of an abusive childhood have left him terrified of turning into a monster like his father. He’s determined to find a gentle way to woo Grace, but he’s unprepared for the white-hot heat that burns when they finally come together.

Grace Mallow knows that no matter how badly she wants him, she doesn’t belong with a wholesome blond dreamboat like Matt, who would be horrified to learn that she wants to be sexually dominated. But Matt is persistent, and Grace is having a hard time turning him down and keeping her emotional walls intact. As the couple struggles to handle their passion for each other, an arsonist begins terrorizing Bright’s Ferry, and all signs point to Grace’s younger brother, a reformed firebug recently returned to town to make amends for his crimes. Matt and Grace race to stop a madman, but can they find common ground and save each other and their town, or will passion and fire burn out of control and separate them forever?

EXCERPT:

“What’s the matter?” asked Grace, and then looked up, eyes widening, “Oh.”
“Hi, Grace.”
Did he have to take up all the oxygen in the room? Grace supposed that when a man was as big as Matt Harris, he was going to take the lion’s share of breathable air. She assured herself that her sudden breathlessness was not a result of her impossible attraction to the hot firefighter. He was objectively beautiful, that was all – all that hard muscle that clothing couldn’t disguise, the face carved by a divine hand, thick golden hair, and sky blue eyes that practically shone with honesty and goodwill toward mankind.
She wanted to climb him like a ladder and lick every inch along the way.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Grace forced a cool smile.
“Hi, Matt. You remember my brother Adam.”
Matt nodded, clearly curious, but didn’t comment on her brother’s sudden reappearance. Adam had been a nightmare for the Bright’s Ferry Fire Department, and Grace couldn’t blame Matt for being un-thrilled to see him again.
“Adam’s going to be staying with me for a while, taking some classes. Isn’t that great?” she went on brightly, squeezing Adam’s hand reassuringly.
Grace knew the second Matt spotted the scars on Adam’s wrists, but again, he remained silent, just raised a surprised eyebrow.
“Did you want something?” Grace cringed internally as the words left her lips, because for the briefest moment, Matt’s eyes flared with heat, and she felt an answering tug low in her stomach.
Oh, he definitely wants something.

Blog: lilycrede.wordpress.com
Email: lilycrede@gmail.com
  

Welcome Ruth Glick Writing As Rebecca York

It's a treat today to welcome Rebecca York, an author with a wealth of experience to share, both in traditional publishing and indie. Tell me, Rebecca, if you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I grew up in Washington, DC, and love living outside the city, where I can drive in to the Kennedy Center or to see the cherry blossoms. I’d love to live somewhere warm in the winter because I hate the cold, but it would be difficult to move my three cats to an alternate location.

I sympathize. I’m struggling with what to do with one cat when we go away for long periods. Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
I was a college student, a graduate student and a mom before starting to write articles for my local paper. I gradually slipped from articles into novels.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?
I am a full-time writer, and I always have several projects going in various stages of development. I might be writing a novel and working on a proposal. If I stop and edit a novel, I focus on the editing until I've been all the way through the manuscript.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don't have that you wish you did?
I wish I could draw better. And I wish I could sing. And I wish I knew Photoshop (but not enough to spend time learning it). I am a great cook. I’m good at gardening and decorating and craft projects.

My eyes glaze over after a while trying to figure out Photoshop. How did you get started writing?
I started my career writing articles for newspapers and magazines. The idea of writing a whole book would have terrified me back then. Some of my early articles were food oriented, and that led to my first cookbook, DON’T TELL ‘EM IT’S GOOD FOR ‘EM, which I wrote with two other authors. (This got me an entrée into the low-fat market, which is a whole other story.)

 

I was always interested in writing fiction, so I gradually began writing novels while I kept up my nonfiction career. My first novel was a kids' science-fiction story, INVASION OF THE BLUE LIGHTS, which I wrote in a class at my local community college. I read it chapter by chapter to the group, did a ton of editing, and started sending it out on my own. I got four form rejections. Then an editor at Scholastic wrote me a two-page revision letter. I was smart enough to know it was a good letter and took her suggestions, adding more stuff of my own. I sold it to her, then got the contract and knew I didn't have a clue about what to ask for; so I got an agent to negotiate the contract. The book is now available in an electronic version (see http://tinyurl.com/Invasion-BlueLights ).

My career took another direction when a friend asked me if I wanted to write a romance, I told her I hadn't read any, and she brought me shopping bags full. I loved them because they were an expansion of the romance subplot I’d always looked for in the books I read. And here were whole books where it was the main plot. I started in straight romance and quickly got bored with that. I wanted more action and switched to romantic suspense. My agent sent my first romantic suspense to Harlequin Intimate Moments, and the editor said it had “too much plot.” 

Lucky for me, Dell was looking for women’s fiction that combined romance and suspense. My first romantic-suspense series was THE PEREGRINE CONNECTION for them. Then the Harlequin Intrigue line started. At first, the plots were pretty timid, but when they began taking more mature plots, my agent submitted to them, and they liked my idea for 43 LIGHT STREET, a series centered on a building in downtown Baltimore. If you move in there, someone will come at you with a knife or a gun—but you’ll find a great guy to help save your life. And the two of you will end up happily ever after. After years of writing romantic suspense—usually with paranormal elements—I know that’s where I belong.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I've written 140 books and novellas. My favorite is usually the book I’m working on at the moment; but right now, I’m still in love with Frank Decorah, the hero of ON EDGE. I will always love Ross Marshall, the hero of my first werewolf book, KILLING MOON. Another personal favorite is DAY OF THE DRAGON—again because I love the hero, Ramsay Gallagher.

Wow! 140! Tell us about your current series. I’m most excited about my Decorah Security series, my entrée into the indie market. It revolves around a detective agency where all the agents have paranormal powers or take on paranormal cases.

I launched the series with a novel, DARK MOON, a novella, CHAINED, and a short story, AMBUSHED. During 2012 I added another novel, DARK POWERS, and a short story, HOT AND DANGEROUS. This year I published ON EDGE—all the while keeping up my “day job,” writing for Harlequin Intrigue, Sourcebooks and Carina Press. I've put several of the above titles together into a DECORAH SECURITY COLLECTION that’s doing really well on Amazon.

Indie publishing is a wild ride with some big advantages and also some disadvantages. Nobody tells you how long to make the book. If you have an idea that will work better for a short story than a novel, you can go write and publish it. And nobody censors you. If your bad guys tend to use the “F” word when they’re angry, they can sling the trash talk with the best of them.

Then there’s the book cover. Over the years, I've been disappointed by so many of the covers my publisher has provided for my books. Now I get to pick the guy, the pose and the background. It’s exactly MY vision of my story, which is more satisfying than you know. And it doesn't matter if romantic suspense is “in” or “out” or if an editor wants paranormal or not. I can do it my way.

What is your least favorite part of writing?
I hate facing a blank page. I try to write as fast as I can so I can go on to the fun part—editing.

What is your typical day like?
I get up and read e-mail, do some social media stuff and read some of the paper. Somewhere along the line, I eat a little breakfast. By eleven, I panic that I haven’t written anything and get started on my current project. My goal is to write ten pages a day. If I try to write more than fifteen, my production for the next day will be very low. If I haven’t written ten pages by 10:00 in the evening, I keep working.

I wish I had your discipline! How does your family feel about your career?
As a dumb little 18-year-old, I was somehow smart enough to find the perfect husband, a guy who’s supported my career since the beginning. Not only that, because I can’t spell and proofread, he does that for me. He loves getting involved in the business of writing and loves going to conferences with me.

What a great guy! How has your experience with self-publishing been?

I love being in charge of my own books, covers and production schedule. I've sold more than twenty-seven thousand indie books, but I’d love to sell more. Part of the key to success in self publishing, I think, is in having a lot of books out. I wish I had the rights back to older traditionally-published books, but that’s not going to happen. That means I've had to produce a lot of new material while still working for traditional publishers. I think that if I were not a very experienced writer, I wouldn't be able to produce the volume of work I’m putting out now.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Never put out a book that hasn't been professionally edited.

What advice to you have for aspiring writers?
Apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. Work at your writing as many hours a day as you can. Find a good critique group or critique partner because you can’t always evaluate your own golden words. But I emphasize the word “good” here. You need advice you can trust.

Great words of wisdom, Rebecca. Thank you.

Sharing The Wealth - Sandy Loyd

Welcome, Sandy. Tell us about yourself.  First of all I’d like to thank Anna for inviting me here today. My name is Sandy Loyd. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, but left after high school to see the world. In my earlier life, before I started writing, I was a sales rep for a major manufacturer and I traveled a great deal. I was able to live and work in some fabulous places in the US, including South Florida. I've met a lot of people and have seen a lot of places, which is a good thing because I now have a million stored memories to draw from for my novels. I currently live in Kentucky and am able to write full time since I've recently become an empty-nester. But I’ll always be a western girl at heart, so I try to get back to the Wasatch Mountains every year to renew my muse. 

How did you get started writing?
I never wanted to be a writer. It seemed like a lot of drudgery. But I’m an avid reader and according to my family, I've always got my head buried in a book. Or did have until I started writing. Now, I’m always on my laptop. What got me writing was that I didn't enjoy the books I was reading. So, I challenged myself. Rather than complain, I decided to do better. Of course, that’s when I realized how extremely talented and gifted writers are. I've worked harder at writing than I ever did selling, and the drudgery just disappeared. I love everything about writing now. Well, almost everything. I hate revising.

You and me both! How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
To date I've published eight books: four contemporary romances and four romantic mystery/suspense/thrillers. My favorite is my latest release, A Matter of Trust. I love the romance in the story. I love the plot and the characters. It’s a fun book to read and even more fun to write.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?
It has been an awesome experience. I’m filled with energy to do what I love doing. My muse has been lifted up with writing and promoting. I have no time to devote to querying for something I no longer need, thanks to Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.

I feel the same way.What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
Do your homework and make sure your book isn't one of those poorly edited stories. There are a million places to go for help if you’re thinking about doing it.

And my experience has been that it is a sharing community with lots of people willing to offer advice and expertise. What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your books?
I was at a conference two years ago that focused on going it alone and I realized that it was a fit for me. But, my books needed much work before I put them out. In the meantime, epubbing exploded and is still exploding. 

Did you decide on ebook or print only or both?

I have both. Createspace with Amazon makes it so easy and relatively inexpensive to do. 

What went into the process? Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service, can you share?
The process for self-publishing is extensive. That’s one of the negatives of going it alone. You have to do everything yourself. Fortunately, there are writing loops like Indieromance@yahoo.com, Selfpublish@yahoo.com, & Authornetwork@yahoo.com. They provide a fountain of necessary information such as references for editors, cover designers, and formatters. I belong to several RWA chapters and within those chapters and the above loops I found what I needed. I used KelliAnn Morgan’s Inspire Creative Services for my first three covers and I used Judi Fennel at www.formatting4u.com to format them. I learned how to upload them myself because with eight books and more in the works, having someone do it for you can get expensive, especially when it takes time to recoup the expenses. I use Bulletproofing for my editor, but like most good editors, she’s booked more than a year in advance. I think Judi and KelliAnn are really busy too. Don’t let that stop you. There are others out there just waiting to help and the resources are there to help find them. Once a book is ready to publish, the true work begins because then you have to sell it.

Great advice. All self-pubbed books are rumored to be shoddily edited. What do you say to that?
I say that’s totally misleading and wrong. Too many self-pubbed authors are hitting best sellers lists and the people who put them there don’t buy shoddily-edited books. On the other hand, there are plenty of traditionally pubbed that books are shoddily-edited for sale. Good and bad writing is everywhere. Newspapers are notorious for bad writing. I've recently started reading more self-published authors and I've found many I love and will read anything they write. In the long run, readers decide what they like. Poorly-edited self-pubbed books won’t sell any better than traditionally published works.

What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?
Read the blurbs first. It that interests you, then read the first few pages. A poorly-written book is usually obvious from the first page. What I find interesting is that too many people who don’t like the subject matter or how the author presents the work might consider it poor writing, when in reality it is voice. I haven’t clicked on an eBook yet that didn't let me know in advance whether or not it might be something I’d enjoy.

Do you have critique partners?
Yes. What makes a critique group work is to have a well- rounded group of writers who are at a similar skill level. Other writers can help with all those things that make up bad writing – like plot holes, no character development or a story that doesn't flow. They will also tell you if your characters are likable or not and if their actions and thoughts make sense.

Do you belong to a writing organization?
Yes. Writing organizations are a writer’s salvation and joining one is the best thing any writer can do. I belong to RWA, Louisville Romance Writers, Utah Romance Writers, Kiss of Death, From the Heart Romance Writers and Central Ohio Fiction Writers. I love them all and have met life-long friends. More importantly, I have learned the craft of writing through them. I've taken at least a hundred on-line courses that all RWA chapters offer. I attend my local chapter’s monthly meetings. LRW is a small chapter full of talented people who are willing to share their knowledge. This year LRW can boast of a RITA finalist and a Golden Heart finalist. Conferences (both national and regional) are also a great place to learn about craft and the business of writing. I try to go to at least three conferences every year. If you surround yourself with writers and continue writing, your skill level can’t help but improve.

Where can readers find your books?
I’m available at most online retailers for both eBooks and print copies of my books.

Author page at Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/author/sandyloyd
My website URL is www.sandyloyd.com.
Links to A Matter of Trust:
Amazon at http://amzn.to/XWJsZ1
Barnes & Noble Nook - http://bit.ly/14bVJxe
iTunes – http://bit.ly/XuM9OS 

Thanks for sharing your insights, Sandy. 

It was great to be here. Thanks for having me.

If you leave a comment you have a chance to win an eBook of Sandy's latest - A Matter of Trust.

Welcome, Mimi Barbour

I am delighted to welcome Mimi Barbour to my blog today. We are both members of the Vancouver Island chapter of Romance Writers of America, and Mimi has been a tremendously helpful mentor to me. Today she is sharing a little of her writing journey with us. One of her books is FREE today on Amazon (see details below).

Years ago, after I had written my very first book (which still resides in the oldest files on my computer), I knew I needed to find others like myself who were serious about a writing career.

Chicken right down to the elastic on my undies, I wouldn't tell anyone in my personal world about my new favorite pastime. Not me! I was still very green to the writing world. I guess I worried they might jeer, or tease and make fun. I knew if anyone scoffed or didn't take me seriously, I’d be emotionally wounded. All my life, my imagination would kick in anytime I drew on it, so I felt strong enough about this path to fantasize about my impending wealth, just not that confident in my writing ability.

 I needed to make contact with others who had the same interest, people who could teach me all about the craft and the business. New friends, like myself, who were serious about being an author. Look and you shall find said…?? Humm, someone must have said it because I didn't make that line up. Anyway, I did look and I found the local RWA group, met some wonderful woman and have never looked back. 

It was through one of my new associates that a contest being offered by a small e-publisher called The Wild Rose Press came to light. Something inside me pushed that button – you know the one that says – go for it! What do you have to lose? - So I entered. Unfortunately, my submission didn't come close to following their guidelines. What can I say? I almost never do what I’m told….sigh!!

 

They’d asked for a novella-length story, which had to be about a woman who would walk through a garden gate in a small town in England called Bury. They even had a picture of an old house and a garden gate for us to visualize. Once the protagonist walked through, she must go back in time to one of four eras. I chose the Vintage era. Since I’d lived through the fifties and sixties, I figured how hard could it be? Course it didn't enter my head that I hadn't lived those years in England. Uh huh…I know!

My raging imagination kicked into overdrive and I thought it too tame to just have my heroine walk through a dumb ole gate. So I had her go through the blasted thing, sit on a vicarage bench and prick her finger on a magic rose bush. Then to make matters even worse, instead of letting the girl end up in her own body, I had our heroine, gorgeous but spoiled model Jenna, go back forty years to invade the body of a librarian, chubby, lovable Lucy. So the two of them reside together in one body, and the antics are hilarious. Had such fun writing this story!

Needless to say, my submission wasn't accepted into the contest, but their editor offered me a stand-alone contract. And so began the series called The Vicarage Bench. The first three books “She’s Me”, “He’s Her” and “We’re One” are novellas. 

Then determining that I should write full-length, I did so for the next two “Together Again” and “Together for Christmas”. After taking a hiatus from this series to write my Angel books and the Vegas series, I am working again on the next book for the Vicarage Bench called “Together Always” and expect it to be published next year around this time. 

Happy to announce that today, She’s Me is “FREE!!” on AMAZON, as is my medieval romance Passion in the Blood.

Saluting Charles Dickens

This week we are observing two momentous anniversaries. Two hundred years ago, Charles Dickens was born. Sixty years ago Elizabeth Windsor ascended to the throne of England.
These two events are significant for me. Let’s start with Charles Dickens. He was a prolific writer who popularized the idea of serializing stories. Unlike most authors who employed the same method of bringing their work to the mass market, Dickens often made the episodes up as he went along. I tend to write in the same way. I’m what’s known as a “pantster”—I write by the seat of my pants! True I have a general idea of where the story is going when I begin, but the events, twists and turns usually come to me as I write, or sometimes when I’m asleep!
As I get to know my characters their lives seem to evolve “before my very eyes”. Who knew, for example, that my heroine in Conquering Passion, Mabelle de Valtesse, would be kidnapped by a Welsh rebel chieftain, Rhodri ap Owain? Even less likely was that Rhodri would spawn a clan and a book series of his own! (Coming later in 2012)
Many writers would find my way of doing things difficult. They are “plotters” who have most of the story outlined before they begin. Both methods are of course legitimate and equally creative. I suspect a lot of authors fall somewhere in between.
So I salute Dickens. He wrote what he knew. His childhood was difficult and many of his experiences feature in his stories. It’s reported his last words were, “Be natural my children. For the writer that is natural has fulfilled all the rules of art.”
My favourite book is A Tale of Two Cities. I cried buckets the first time I read it! What’s yours?