Bad Haircuts and Bad Writing

Don't forget to comment today for my Saturday prize drawing. Please include your email with your comment.

Also, please keep in mind The Wild Rose authors blog tour each Wednesday this month. I'll reming you on Tuesday so you'll know the urls.

Have you ever had a bad haircut? I don't mean a little shorter than you itended--I mean awful, terrible, horrible?

Darling 1 came for the weekend a week ago. We decided, spur of the moment, to have our hair cut. My hairdresser doesn't work in Saturdays, so we got appointments with someone a friend had recommended. We picked out photos from magazines in the shop. Darling 1 went first. and the beautician cut Darling 1's hair exactly like the photo. Exactly. Perfectly. Let me explain Darling 1's hair. She inherited wonderfully textured, thick, glossy hair from my mother-in-law.

On the other hand, I inherited my mom's thin (and sparse), fine, flimsy hair.  I showed the photo I'd chosen to the hair stylist. She smiled and began. When it was short, she reached for her razor and told me there were too many dry ends. Okay, I might, maybe, most of the time, have my hair highlighted. It might need a little help, I admit. But next, she started whacking off hair right and left. Help! I've been punked! She cut, cut, cut. Anyone remember how Billy Idol wore his hair?  I didn't leave the house the next day. Not for church, not to help my friend Elaine deliver a meal to one of our charitable causes. Instead Darling 1 and Hero took the food for me. When I went out on Monday, I wore a hat. Yes, a hat. One of those big floppy beach hats. Sigh.

I know even bad hair cuts grow eventually. I can already almost style it. My friends have been supportive and told me it looked cute. In woman talk that means they're too kind to tell me it looks ridiculous.

So, what does this have to do with writing? It reminds me that even a bad chapter or scene can be helped. Given time, and lots of rewrites, the story will improve. Nora Roberts is reported to have said, "I can edit crap but I can't edit a blank page." Whatever is good enough for Nora is good enough for me! Right now, my hair is crap, but time will edit it.  In the meantime, I can stick close to the computer, keep my head down, and write. I can always edit if it doesn't turn out well.

Welcome Guest Author Catherine Bybee

Please help me welcome author Catherine Bybee. Catherine, thank you for visiting today.
Readers love to get to know authors. Please tell us about growing up. Siblings? Locale?  Were you the shy kid or the tomboy? Share anything that lets readers get to know the real you.

CB: Thank you for having me on your blog today, Caroline. Since you write historical and paranormal books, I’ll be talking about my time travel trilogy, which has elements of both. You asked me about my childhood and what made me the person I am today. I grew up outside of Seattle in a tight little house with three bedrooms and one bathroom. *rolls eyes* Some days I can’t imagine only having one commode. I had three siblings, two older and one younger. I don’t think I was born with a shy bone in my body. But I did spend an awful lot of time with my head in a book… once I discovered romance novels that is.

CC: Oh, my, I remember the days of one bathroom per family. Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

CB: Romance… Romance… Romance – I read Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense. I even read Western Romance, but not as much as the others. I do have a lot of authors on my TBR list that write westerns. My critique partner writes M/M romance primarily, so I read that as well. Sadly, all M/M romance ends up in the erotic category, when most of the books I’ve read could easily be in the mainstream section of the bookstores. As for a favorite author? Kathleen Woodwiss started my crazy obsession with her epic books, Nora Roberts has to be acknowledged, and so many more I can’t even count.

CC: I was fortunate enough to hear Kathleen Woodiwiss speak in Houston and met her afterward. Have a treasured photo of us together. But I digress. How many books do you read a month? What are you reading now?

CB: I try and read 2 full length books a month or more and 4 short stories. Again, I read a lot for my critique partners, so they keep me busy.

CC: When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

CB: Scrapbooking, sewing… Yoga! I just love Yoga. I suck at it, but it’s a great way to relax.

CC: I agree, yoga is relaxing. I  especially like the breathing exercises. Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?

CB: Sometimes I need to read a sensual story to help with some moods and scenes. A good glass of wine goes a long way, too.

CC: How long have you been writing?

CB: Four years of serious writing. A decade of starts without a single finish.

CC: Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

CB: Laptop and no music please. If the kids are home, it’s easier to promo than to write new stuff.

Knock, knock…

“Mom, my brother did this…”

“No I didn’t!”

“Yes you did.”

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

Cathy’s head meets Cathy’s desk – Ker plunk!

 CC giggles: Yes, I remember those days. My favorite was, "She looked at me." But, back to the interview. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

CB: Pantser all the way baby! Oh, I have a crazy internal outline; kinda… sometimes… okay, not often, but not enough to ever be considered a plotter. I know where the story starts… a scene or two in the middle and where it ends. My characters show me the rest of the story as it evolves.

CC: Do you use real events or persons in your stories?

CB: No, not really.

CC: Do you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?

CB: As I’m going… from names of my characters to the trees in their yards.

CC: Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

CB: I do write something daily. Edits or new stuff. Some days I only manage to blog or yak on line. You can’t release seven stories in two years without dedicating a lot of time at your computer.

CC: That's true. Do you write full time or do you have a day job. If you have a day job, what is it?

CB: I write full time now. I am an ER Nurse when I do work, but haven’t for a few years due to an injury.

CC: Wow, ER nurses work so hard. What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

CB: Escape and a smile.

CC: What advice would you give to pre-published authors?

CB: Write the best story you can, work with a critique partner to spit shine and polish, and then send your baby out. It will never be published sitting in your hard drive. The worse any publisher can say is no. And sometimes they say yes.

CC: Good advice, Catherine. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?

CB: I write several different genres in the romance world. I have several werewolf stories out, a couple of kilted erotic stories, and the series I’m highlighting today. So if you don’t like one type of story, but enjoy my voice, check out my website to see if something sparks your romantic side.

CC: Tell us about your latest release.

CB: Next month, September 3rd, SILENT VOWS, Book Two in my MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy will be out in paperback and e-book. To get you ready for that I’m going to talk about BINDING VOWS. BINDING VOWS is where this epic series begins. Each book can be read without reading the others, but lets face it… when you pick up book two, and didn’t know there was a book one, it’s a bummer.

CC: That's so true, Catherine. I prefer starting with the first in a series. Can you give us a blurb?
CB: Here's a blurb:

Duncan MacCoinnich's task...

Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both.

Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock Hand-fasting binds them.

When Duncan whisks her to his home in Scotland she could accept that. But, can she forgive him for taking away her modern life when she finds herself in the sixteenth century?

And is it love they feel? Or something else?

CC: What an interesting premise. Share an excerept with us.
CB: Excerpt: PG

"Where are you going, Tara ?"

"Out!"

"I can see that, but where?"

She stopped and turned. "Far away from you."

He almost collided with her. Before he could react, she was storming off again, as he shouted, "A lady is not safe out here by herself."

She stopped. This time he didn't stop in time and fell into her. Hands at her sides, her chest thrust up next to his she gritted between her teeth. "A lady isn't safe around you either."

"Now, Tara." He tried pleading with her.

"Oh, don't you even ..'now, Tara' me." She stepped to the side and started off, in a different direction. Stalking in circles.

He let her walk for several minutes before attempting to speak to her again. "I would be happy to escort you on a walk. But, we need to get you more properly dressed." He knew the effect watching her walk in tight jeans was having on him, he could only imagine what his men must have thought when she stormed the
courtyard.

"You're a bastard, you know that MacCoinnich?"

He wanted to counter what she said, but cautioned himself against it. "Still, we need you in more fitting clothes. If someone were to come along, questions would be raised which would be most difficult to answer."

"You should have thought of that before you brought me here." She waved a hand in his general direction. "Right now, I don't give a crap what questions you might have to answer."

"I told you how necessary it is for secrecy." He turned to the Keep and noticed some of the men watching, curious about what would happen. He needed to put a stop to this and soon.

"Bite me."

A completely inappropriate image of him doing exactly that popped into his head. A slow lazy smile inched over his lips.

Unfortunately, for him, Tara read his thoughts. She didn't find them nearly as entertaining as he did. "You ass..." She raised her hand to slap his face.

He caught her hand before it made contact. "I've had enough of this."

CC: Intriguing! Where can readers find your books?

CB: This series is available at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/
And all major online booksellers. Amazon – Barnes and Noble - Borders

CC: How can readers learn more about you?

CB: http://www.catherinebybee.com/

Thank you for visiting with us today, Catherine. Best of luck with your series!
CB: Thanks for having me, Catoline. I hope your readers will buy my books and enjoy them.


Each Wednesday in August, I'll be hosting an author from The Wild Rose Press on our blog tour. Catherine is first, August 11 Christine De Petrillo will be here; On August 18, Maya Blake; and on August 25 Aileen Harkwood will be my guest.

At the same time, I'm a guest today on Aileen Harkwood's blog; on August 11 at Rae Summers' blog; on
August 18 at Lilly Gayle's blog; and on August 25 at Maya Blake's blog. Please join us for this tour to showcase our authors and their work.

Body Language in Writing

The photo at left has nothing to do with this blog. I just love it and wanted to use it. Crazy, maybe. Monet is my favorite painter, so I find most of his work restful.

And no,  I don't mean the body language of the writer. I mean of the characters. Sometimes authors overlook a very good tool to use for identifying a character's mood--Body Language. Books have been written on the subject, one of which I have in my research books. Here are some good clues for a character's state of mind.

1. Crossing the arms--he's uncomfortable, especially defensive, angry.

Here's a passage that illustrates this:

"Jim, you know I only said that to help you."
Jim crossed his arms. "Yeah, right."

Do you think Jim was convinced?

2. Eyes won't meet those of the person to whom he's talking--watch out, he's not being honest.

"I can't take your gambling any longer, Joe."
 Joe looked at the window on his left. "I promise I'll quit if you just give me one more chance."

Do you believe Joe?

3. Leaning forward toward speaker--listening and eager to hear more.

4. Tapping foot-- impatient, nervous

5. Glancing at watch--eager to finish and move on

These are just a few of the many signals we give with our bodies whether we want to or not.

What are some examples of body language you use in your writing?

Highland Heroes

The winner of the ARC of WILD WICKED & WANTON: 101 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU'RE IN A ROMANCE NOVEL is Monique. If you'll send me your email and your mailing address, Monique, I'll send you your prize.

My husband asked me, "What is it with all these Highland heroes in romances?" I couldn't think of a quick answer, so I've pondered it.

The Highlands represent free spirit, clan loyalty, and so much more. One reason they're so popular among Americans is that so many of our citizens trace their ancestry back to Scotland and the Highlands. We believe them to be fiercely proud--like William Wallace, Rob Roy, and Sean Connery. Wait. I got carried away for a minute.

Who wouldn't love a man brawny enough to wear a kilt to war? And that's only after they were civiilized. Before that they went to battle wearing nothing but paint. That really took a brave man! Whew! It's a wonder there were any children born after some of those battles.

Coming from a strong Scot-Irish heritage, I find Scottish history fascinating. Supposedly, my father's family traces back to both Duncan and Macbeth. Probably anyone with British blood has the same line in his or her family tree. Is that why we're so enthusiastic about Scotsmen?

I don't know, but maybe our romance with Scots is the same as with the American Indian. We find intriguing those who resist being conquered. And as with the American Indian, we resent being stripped of all of our possessions and shipped off our lands--or forced to hide out to remain. Come to think of, I also have a Cherokee line of ancestors, so my family was robbed by two countries. LOL 

I first fell in love with Scots Highlanders from reading Julie Garwood's beautiful novels. Sigh. That lady knows how to write to steal your heart, doesn't she? Diana Gabaldon gave such great historical detail that she's received historical association awards. Diana Cosby, Sandy Blair, and Beth Trissel write great Scottish heroes, too. I loved Janet Chapman's time travels of Scotsmen carried to the U.S.  I seem never to get enough Scottish heroes.

Why do you believe we romance readers are in love with Scottish men? Besides Sean Connery, I mean. And Liam Neesom. And that "Highlander" guy. Oh, my. They are good looking devils, aren't they?
 

What Are You Reading?

Today is the last day to enter to win an ARC of WILD, WICKED, AND WANTON: 101 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU'RE IN A ROMANCE NOVEL by Christie Craig and Faye Hughes. Leave a comment to enter, and please include your email in the comment.

Continuing the thread on readability from earlier in the week, what are you reading and what's on your TBR stack?

I've been reading Diana Cosby's HIS CAPTIVE (review earlier this week), Denise Belinda McDonald's WRONG TURN, RIGHT COWBOY (review of her book yesterday), Jodi Thomas' REWRITING MONDAY (which somehow I missed last year), and Loretta Chase's THE LION'S DAUGHTER. I have so many authors whose work I enjoy, that it's hard to fit them all in. Sometimes I have to wait a while to buy their books. That pesky old cash thing is always such an issue. I'm sure I was supposed to have been born wealthy, but somehow it didn't work out that way. Know the feeling?

On my TBR stack are actually some e-books, so I guess you'd say they're stacked on my computer's hard disk. One of those is a new release from The Wild Rose Press, Rachel Brimble's THE ARRIVAL OF LILY CURTIS, that I'm eager to read.  The same goes for Nicole McCaffrey's WILD TEXAS WIND, Celia Yeary's TEXAS BLUE, and Paty Jager's DOCTOR IN PETTICOATS, all also from The Wild Rose Press. 

When I stay TBR stack, I mean STACK! Older books I missed when released include two by Jayne Ann Krentz and Loretta Chase's THE LAST HELLION. Then there are all the books Darling 2 has loaned me. She and I love cozy mysteries and she's loaned me Carolyn Hart's MERRY, MERRY GHOST, all of Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series (I've finished three), Ryhs Bowen's Evan Evan series, and Mary Jo Putney's LOVING A LOST LORD. They keep stacking up, so I need to read faster!

Yes, and I should quit rereading books until I finish off the TBR stack. Hard to do. I want to reread Julie Garwood's FOR THE ROSES and PRINCE CHARMING as soon as possible. Both are all-time favorites and I love them each time I read them. She is such a terrific author.

But wait----this week in my email comes the list of the new releases from The Wild Rose Press and there are some I can't resist. Help! So many books, so little time.

Stop! You say, "Step away from the books!"

Write! Fingers on Keyboard, Seat in Chair.

Sigh! Yes, I know I should write diligently. I really do love writing and would be lost if I couldn't sit at my computer msot of the day churning out stories I love.

 Okay, so I'll write, then maybe I'll make enough money to buy more books. See, reading is an incurable disease. Not that I've ever tried to find a vaccine.

What are you reading? What's on your TBR stack?

Don't forget to leave a comment for this weeks's prize giveawy--WILD WICKED & WANTON: 101 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU'RE IN A ROMANCE NOVEL by Christie Craig and Faye Hughes.

Book Review WRONG TURN, RIGHT COWBOY by Denise B. McDonald

WRONG TURN, RIGHT COWBOY, by Denise Belinda McDonald, is an August 17, 2010 release from Samhain Press. In this book, Denise continues her popular series set in fitional and idyllic Paintbush, Wyoming.

Massage therapist Gillian Harwood and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Heidi, are on the run toward Montana. They’ve moved so many times in the past, they’ve both lost count of towns and states. Never staying long enough to make friends or trust anyone, they’ve moved on to evade the madman who killed Gillian’s sister twelve years ago. He's after Heidi because she witnessed the murder.

One wrong turn, and Gillian is lost on the Skipping Rocks Ranch near Paintbrush when she intends to be in Montana where a job awaits her. Swirling dust—okay, maybe it’s because she’s driving way  too fast on a dirt road—causes her to almost run down cowboy Quint Walters and his horse after Gillian plows through a fence. This incident launches this Paintbrush story.

Quint Walters has given up on love and on pleasing his father. He moved to Paintbrush to be near his aunts. His baseball career went down the tubes when he injured his knee for the third time, but he prefers ranch work anyway. If only he could get the new woman in town with the haunted, wary look in her eyes out of his mind. And if only his body didn't respond to her every move.

Although she believes she has no family except Heidi, Gillian learns good friends can replace family. And that her wrong turn was really the best she could have made because it led her to the right cowboy for her--and home.
                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRONG TURN, RIGHT COWBOY is a terrific book for anyone who loves contemporary tales of the west, cowboys, or suspense-filled novels. Denise hooked me from the beginning and kept me chained to the computer to find out what happened next. Even though this is a fast paced novel, it includes Denise's fun sense of humor. Familiar characters from the first Paintbrush novel appear, but this definitely is a stand-alone romance novel.

I give it a 5 out of 5 rating.
                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Denise Belinda McDonald started her writing career at the tender age of eight. Her stories have changed over the years, but not her love for telling tales. An overactive imagination and a propensity to embellish have kept her books rich with lovable characters and interesting twists. A member of RWA, she belongs to several chapters. Denise lives in Texas with her husband, four boys and two dogs where she juggles her time between writing, carpool, Cub Scouts, sports galore, and a multitude of crafts. If you would like to learn more about Denise and her other books, please visit her web site: www.denisebelindamcdonald.com or you can e-mail her at denise@denisebelindamcdonald.com
                                                          ~~~~~~

PLEASE join me tomorrow at http://www.savvyauthors.com/ for a Symposium on Building A Hero.

Reading Levels and Our Books

Pat (my cousin) and I recently conversed on reading habits. She is ADHD and can hardly sit through a television show without hopping up. Me? Heavens, I am so opposite ADHD that I could sit and read for hours. Wait! I do sit and read for hours! I mentioned on a blog that my husband and I are both voracious readers (doesn't that sound salacious?) and each of us reads rapidly. We go through what seems like a ton of books a month. Besides, isn't it my duty to read the books of my friends and to keep up with the latest trends in publishing? Sure it is. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking with it. LOL

Seriously, there are many people who don't like to read. My own mom didn't like books until she was almost retirement age. Once she discovered the pleasure of novels, she regretted wasting so many years to dicover the joy derived from reading. She grew up on a farm where she started to school late each fall after the crops were harvested and had to stop school each spring when it was time to hoe weeds. That meant she was always behind and didn't read well and was embarrassed. The more she read, her language and comprehension skills grew. I suspect there are a lot of people like my mom out there. Maybe they dropped out of school or graduated but never excelled in English or Literature. Perhaps they associate reading books with unpleasant school memories. Let's win them over, shall we? I seriously hope we can.

That's why writers have to use language that takes into account the range of readers from the school drop out to the PhD. In one seminar at Romance Writers of America's National Conference in Denver years ago, Judith Stanton explained the Fleisch-Kincaid Scale and Readability Statistics available from Word's Tools section when one checks spelling and grammar. Ms. Stanton said that Nora Roberts writes at a fourth grade level. This is NOT an insult to the Great Nora! It means that someone in the fourth grade can pronounce and understand the meaning of each word--even if the reader does not understand the emotional impact of those words or the way they're used. Ms. Stanton recommended that everyone follow Nora Roberts' example and strive for an easily read popular novel.  We all know that whatever Nora Roberts is doing works! Nora is one of my heroes (heroines?) so I have stuck with Ms. Stanton's advice.

Since taking Ms. Stanton's seminar, I always check the readability level of my writing. In addition to the grade level, she suggested an ease of readability not less than 80% and no sentences longer than fifteen words. Also, she thinks we should not have paragraphs over five sentences long. She said many readers skip longer paragraphs. I don't know about you, but I want readers to read every word of my books.

If you haven't found the Readability Scale on your software and you use Word, click on Tools and check Options.  Then go to Spelling and Grammar and make certain the box near the bottom that says Readability is checked. I've found the Readability scale helpful for analyzing my writing as I go. It's one more tool (pardon the pun) to help me write the best book I can write.

Are there suggestions you'll share for making our books more readable?

Book Review of HIS WOMAN by Diana Cosby

Yesterday I wrote about first lines that hook the reader. Today, I want to add one more from the book I’m reviewing in this blog, HIS WOMAN, by Diana Cosby from Kensington's Zebra.


“He thought her a whore.”

The statement is made by Lady Isabel Adair about Sir Duncan MacGruder. Captured my interest, and the fast pace of Diana Cosby’s HIS WOMAN held my interest for the entire book. In order to save her gambling and drinking father, Isabel has agreed to be mistress to the ruthless Earl of Frasyer. Her life has been a living hell, but she has not admitted that fact to her father, Lord Caelin, or her brother Symon. She longs for the man she loves, Duncan MacGruder. Duncan is lost to her, or so she believes. This book contains intricate plot points and a real surprise (for me) ending.

Diana has researched the medieval Scottish/English era so thoroughly that a reader becomes engrossed in the period. Her writing is exceptional, with complex plots that keep the reader turning the pages. Whether you rooted for William Wallace or King Edward, any reader who enjoys historical romance will love this book. Of course, you’ll love HIS WOMAN more if you rooted for William Wallace!

Diana is a former Navy Chief Meteorologist/Oceanographer whose retirement allowed her to write romance novels. She has lived around the globe, so she has rich stories and characters to relate. Her first love, though, is writing and reading Scottish medieval romances. HIS WOMAN is the second of the MacGruder brothers series. HIS CAPTIVE was her debut novel for Kensington Publishing. HIS CONQUEST, the third of the MacGruder series, will be available in November.

Diana donates a tithe of her royalties to the various charities in which she is active. She firmly believes that each of us can make a positive difference in another person’s life. In the midst of raising children, moving across the country, and writing terrific books, Diana manages to work with Habitat for Humanity. She organized a group of writers from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to help with a Habitat project. One Thanksgiving she took a traditional dinner to the fire station near her home because the men had to work away from their families on a holiday. She bakes pies and cookies to take to others. I’m honored to call this compassionate woman a friend and hope you will enjoy her writing as much as I do.

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter my weekly drawing. This week I'm givin away a fun book, WILD, WICKED, AND WANTON: 101 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU'RE IN A ROMANCE NOVEL, by Christie Craig and Faye Hughes. Please leave your email with your comment. A follow counts as a second entry. You know all that, right?
 

Hook 'Em Quick, Keep 'Em Reading!

What hooks the reader? What first sentence—or first paragraph—pulls the reader into the book? Now that e-books have, for many, replaced brick-and-mortar bookstores, authors are still required to hook the editor or agent to offer a contract for the manuscript.


This train of thought began last week when Darling 2 and I were shopping for paperbacks in one of our favorite Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex bookstore chains. Of course, we always hit the clearance section first, then stop to check the shelves for our favorites writers or a new author to try. As we do this, we check the first page—especially the first paragraph to see if the writing measures up to our quirky standards.

This set me thinking about the hook needed to sell a book—to the editor and to the bookstore customer. Here are some I searched out of my own collection to give you a look at some hooks that I believe capture the reader’s interest immediately, including the author who wrote the words and book in which they appear.

“There are some men who enter a woman’s life and screw it up forever.” Janet Evanovich in the Stephanie Plum launch novel, ONE FOR THE MONEY

“It had been months since I’d needed rescuing from anything—no dragons, hideous monsters from hell, evil wizards, not even a really bad blind date.” Shanna Swendson in DON’T HEX WITH TEXAS.

“There’s nothing like a woman’s scream to bring a man bolt upright in bed.” J.A. Jance in INJUSTICE FOR ALL.

“Belle Cantrell felt guilty about killing her husband, and she hated that—feeling guilty that is.” Loraine Despres in THE BAD BEHAVIOR OF BELLE CANTRELL

“Greetings from the Big Lemon, formerly known as the City Of Brotherly Love.” Gillian Roberts in IN THE DEAD OF SUMMER

“Yesterday, Carl Hades had been shot at by a man wearing a black thong and a pink silk nightie.” Christie Craig in WEDDINGS CAN BE MURDER.

“If she’d had a foot fetish, Anna would have been an extremely happy woman.” Nevada Barr in FIRESTORM

“At a quarter after ten on the last Wednesday in May, I put a beautiful woman in a taxi and watched her ride out of my life, or at least out of my neighborhood.” Lawrence Block in THE CAT BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART

“Katie Callahan needed a man, but Hell would be renting ice skates and serving bubble-gum flavored snow cones before she chose one of the three specimens presently being offered to her.” Christie Craig in DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DECEIVED and one of my favorite opening lines.

“What do you mean, there’s no law against it?” Bill Crider in CURSED TO DEATH

“Sonofabitch! The bastards are burying me!” Caroline Clemmons in THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND. Yeah, I cheated and included one of my own works. Hey, it is my blog!

Personally, I like authors who paint beautiful word pictures to set the mood, but our instant-gratification society no longer tolerates a slow opening. We're always on the run, always in a hurry. We demand that a book suck us into the story’s action immediately and send us on a fast-paced ride to the finish.

Do you judge a book by the first line/first paragraph before you buy it? Do you rely on the back blurb?

Working With Editors

Vicki won Saturday's drawing. I'll be emailing her to send her a PDF of one of my books.

Working with book editors can be satisfying or frustrating. Editors probably say the same thing about authors!

Here are some of the frustrations editors can create: 

An editor might like a submission well enough to ask for revisions, but doesn't offer a contract with the revision letter. Making the revisions does NOT guarantee a sale, however, as many authors have learned to their chagrin and sorrow.  Some authors have gone through two or three sets of revisions only to be told the project is not for that publisher.

What if your editor asks for changes you believe ruin your story or change your voice? Do you make the revisions, or withdraw the manuscript?  Some houses fine an author for withdrawing a manuscript after the editing has begun, so withdrawing a work can be potentially a costly decision. However, my friend withdrew her manuscript and found another publisher when she felt the first editor wanted changes which replaced her voice with the editor's voice.

I've already mentioned an instance when an editor I trusted gave me a terrible book cover. I should have had a hissy fit, but I naively went along. Sometimes a hissy fit is undervalued. LOL

In another author's work, the editor above changed a little boy to a raccoon because she felt the hero's friendship and nurturing to the child might be misunderstood as perversion. Well, yeah, we have to be careful of giving a false impression, but a raccoon? Why not just strengthen the hero?

Okay, but none of the above is very helpful, is it? Let's talk about good editors whom we know are doing a great job--like those I've encountered at The Wild Rose Press. Say your editor asks for a change with which you disagree, what do you do?  Do you pitch a fit? In spite of my joke above, a fit is never professional. An author has to weigh the change against others. Has the editor asked for a million nitpicky changes that make no sense? Is this a voice thing, or is the change recommended legitimate? Is it a regional thing with which the editor is unfamiliar?

Even if an author disagrees with the change, one must make compromises. As the saying goes, "Choose your battles." Don't quibble over minuteae. Remember, the editor is in charge. Is this a change that will embarrass you? Is it unimportant in the long run? Most editors want the best book possible, so their goal is the same as the author's. Why not work together to accomplish that goal?

I've been very fortunate at The Wild Rose Press. My editors have been Allison Brennan, Kelly Schaub, and Leanne Morgena. Each has been knowledgable, efficient, and gracious. I couldn't be happier unless I were actually making money. LOL But I'll come closer to making whatever is possible if my books are well written and don't include mistakes that cause readers to cringe.

Here's the summary.

Never forget that being an author is a business.
Don't wear your feelings on your sleeve.
Toughen up.
Always act in a professional, courteous manner.

An author owes it to his or her reputation to publish the very best book possible. If that involves massive edits, major compromise, or withdrawing a manuscript, being professional is a major necessity. Publishing is a small world. Act in an unprofessional, temperamental manner, and news travels like lightning.  Besides, what kind of reputation do you want--that of gracious and excellent author or the hard-to-get-along-with diva?

Have your editor experiences been pleasant or frightening?

Book Review of FRONTIER WIFE by Margaret Tanner

FRONTIER WIFE, by Margaret Tanner, is a July release from The Wild Rose Press. In this story, Thomasina "Tommy" Lindsay arrives in Melbourne, Australia in the company of her two brothers. Her elder brother, David, was wounded in the Zulu Wars and left for dead, and is still frail from injuries received there. Her younger brother, Jamie, is only ten. Though she looks like a delicate English rose, Tommy leads the family unit. They've inherited eighty acres from their Uncle Henry, who died unexpectedly while they were in route to live with him after the deaths of their parents. They're penniless. Their only valuable posession--other than Uncle Henry's mediocre farm they've inherited--is a stallion that David believes will establish the Lindsays as horse breeders.

Adam Munro is the large landowner whose ranch rings their farm. He wants to buy them out because they have water he needs for his cattle and sheep ranch, especially now there's a terrible drought in the area.  One look at the city-bred English Lindsays and he believes they'd be far better off selling to him and living in town--or returning to England. Munro is a harsh man, or so his reputation would lead one to believe. Yet he and the Lindays forge a tentative bond . . . not friendship, but a wary neighbor relationship.

Will David Lindsay gain enough strength to raise horses? Will Adam Munro drive the Lindsays off their land.  Can the Lindays withstand the rigors of colonial life?

I thoroughly enjoyed FRONTIER WIFE. Margaret Tanner's writing paints a clear picture of Australian colonial life. The life is so similar to the tales I love of western United States ranches, that it was easy for me to identify with both the Lindsays and with Adam Munro. The only two words that threw me were "slab house" and "squatters." From its usage, I believe "slab" refers to hand-planed wood timbers used to build a home, and not to concrete as we would use the word in the U.S. The term "squatter" is exactly opposite of the U.S. usage, which I found amusing. The emotions, the plot, and the characters are well written and kept me reading when I knew I should stop and get to sleep.  I give this book a 5 out of 5.

One of the great things about this book was that I won my copy. Talk about lucky! The very day I planned to order FRONTIER WIFE, I received Margaret's email that I'd won a copy. .
~~~~~~~~~~
Margaret Tanner is an award winning multi-published Australian author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically correct. No book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty. Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors in frontier Australia. She once spent a couple of hours in an old goal cell so she could feel the chilling cold and fear. Her favorite historical period is the 1st World War, and she has visited the battlefields of Gallipoli, France and Belgium, a truly poignant experience.

Margaret is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, the Melbourne Romance Writers Group (MRWG) and EPIC. She won the 2007 Author of the Year at AussieAuthors.com. She also won it for a 2nd time in 2010. The Trouble With Playboys, set during the 2nd World War, finished in 3rd place in the romance section of the Preditors and Editors Poll for 2010. Margaret and her husband have three grown sons and one granddaughter. You can learn about her other books at http://www.margarettanner.com/.

Effect of E-Readers on Book Collectors

In our home we have bookcases in the bedrooms, the family room, my office, and Hero's office. In addition, we have stacks of books beside the bed (both sides) and in numerous places around the master bedroom. We can't help ourselves--we love to read and we are both fast readrs. In addition, we often reread favorite books. I've read several so many times you'd think by now I could recite them. I have certain shelves for my "keeper" books. There are many, such as Julie Garwood's FOR THE ROSES and PRINCE CHARMING that I will keep forever and reread once a year or so. Same goes for Louis L'Amour's FALLON. I just dug out my Jodi Thomas books to reread them. So, there are hardback and paperback books I will always keep. They've brought me hours of pleasure and I treasure the books and admire the authors for their ability to create books that remains memorable.

There are tons of others I read once and pass to friends. Why shouldn't I buy those in e-book form and save money? How long would it take to make up the cost of the e-reader in the amount of paperbacks and hardbacks a voracious reader buys?

After reading a discussions on The Wild Rose Press authors' loops and on Hearts Through History's loop on the effect e-readers have had on the book collection of those posting, it's clear that I really need an e-reader. Really, really need one. What kind to choose?

I've entered all the contests I've found that offer an e-reader as a prize. Darling 1, who is incredibly  lucky in contests, has also entered to try for an e-reader she would give to me. Isn't that sweet? In reality, I'd like a Nook or a Kindle, but I wouldn't turn down any brand if it's free! Free is one of my favorite words.

I have been trying to wrap my mind around the concept of cuddling up with an e-reader for a cozy evening of reading. So far, my brain can't quite make the leap. I am positive I can adjust, though. I always have a book tucked into my purse, plus emergency books in the car in case Hero decides to make a quick stop while we're out. He can't pass a Harbor Freight store without going in. LOL But my friend Cynthia takes her Kindle everywhere. That appeals to me. Only one thing to carry, yet it holds too many books to count. Wow, I'd never be stuck somewhere with nothing to read! 

But my mind is quirky and I'm wondering if in the future there will be a special way to save "keeper" e-books?  Will we have multiple e-readers because we've filled the first one with all the "keeper" books it can hold? Can you see a full e-reader on a bookshelf. Yes, I know my mind goes off on strange tangets. After all, I'm a writer.

Do you have an e-reader? If so, what type?

How Do You Write?

How do you write? No, I don't mean with pen and paper or typewriter or computer keyboard. I mean the process of composing a manuscript for sale.  I have heard of writers who submit their manuscript without editing it. Wow! How do they do that? Unfortunately, I'm definitely not one of those writers.

I'm the world's worst at editing and editing and editing ad nauseum. It's a disease. LOL I try to pound out the pages without stopping to correct typos, but I can't help myself. Even with this, I have learned that I write in several stages or layers.

I've already finished my research before I start the manuscript. When I first begin writing, I get in the main details--the plot, the characters, the dialogue--especially the dialogue. Next I go back to layer in the setting--the mood stuff. You know, layering is like the layers of an onion. You build up details and emotions one layer at a time.

Is it daytime, is it raining?  What color dress is the heroine wearing? All the nitpicky details. If I did miss something in research or something new pops up, I research or ask my daughters to help me find answers. Both Darling 1 and Darling 2 are excellent at research.

I check the dialogue to see if there's difficulty discerning who's speaking. I add some action to the dialogue so I don't have pages of talking heads. This also helps let the reader know who's speaking without using tag lines. Not that I believe tag lines are bad, you understand. Many authors believe "said" is invisible. I prefer action instead.  I want to know what people are doing while they speak.

The last layer I check is emotion. This is hard for me. Readers have told me that they like the emotion of my scenes, yet it seems to me I am always layering in more. I view the scene through the Point Of View (POV) character's eyes as I write. Sometimes I forget that even though I know what the POV character is feeling, I have to write it down. LOL

My critique partners are excellent.  They let me know when they feel I've skipped an important chance to deepen a character or strengthen a scene. Thorough critique partners are a writer's best writing tool. I mean this.  Your family and your best friend may say your work is the best they've ever read. Sure, their opinion is important to you! But the reader who buys your book and pays hard cash for it expects more.  Dependable critique partners help a writer deliver a better product. The great editors at The Wild Rose Press are also invaluable. They spot problems and point them out graciously.

By the time I'm ready to turn in a manuscript, I've gone over it a gazillion times. Hmm, "gazillion" might be a slight exaggeration, but it doesn't seem that way when I'm finishing a book.  All that's left then is to sprinkle on a little fairy dust to send the manuscript on its way.

Every writer has his or her own process.  Above is what works for me--okay, maybe I don't really use fairy dust. Maybe I just pray a lot.  I say whatever method works for you is the one you should follow.

What does work best for you?

Don't forget to include your email with your comment to be entered in my weekly drawing.

  

Selling Your "Baby" and Making Choices

First, just for my info, what do you think of ads on blogs? No, I do not intend to place ads here! A friend is just setting up her own blog and we discussed them. I wondered how people feel about seeing ads when they visit a blog site. There are so many buttons of various types that I admit I don't pay much attention to ads one way or the other. How do you feel?

Now, on to selling your manuscript. We slave over a hot keyboard for months perfecting our latest work in progress. Finally, our critique partners say it's finished. In our hearts we know this is the best thing we've ever written. Then what?

If you already have an agent, you're fortunate. Your agent can tell you if the manuscript is marketable, if it needs tweaking, or if you need to spin it a little to meet current publisher demands. I've only had one agent, and she was so bad she almost killed my career. She's since been removed from RWA's list of approved agents. But I digress.

Say you do not have an agent, do you try for one or go it alone? If you opt to go on your own, several NY print publishers will let you query by email. A few even accept snail mail queries and manuscripts. With publishing costs increasing, however, the chance to break in with a major print house grows more and more slim. The lucrative contracts go to those writers with a proven fan base. Not without exception, of course. My friend Diana Crosby has managed to maintain good numbers at Zebra and her third book, HIS CONQUEST, will be released in November. 

A friend told me today, though, that Janet Evanovich wants fifty million (yep, that's right) for her next four Stephanie Plum books. I've no doubt her demand will be met because she has a huge fan base who will buy her books.

Those of us in the real world, though, have tough decisions to make. Do we wait for the perfect agent to send us to the perfect publisher or do we strike out on our own? I waited for a long time. In fact, I almost quit writing from discouragement.

Then a lovely group of women took me in and accepted me as one of their own. These are the women whose blog is http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/ Some of them talked about doing an anthology and most wanted it to be about the Civil War. I love nonfiction about the Civil War, but shy away from fiction in that era due to the nastiness of the slave issue. However, to be a good sport among my new friends, I agreed to participate. Then, some had to drop out due to other committments. In the end, six of us participated in the anthology, NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES. This experience introduced me to The Wild Rose Press. What lovely people with whom to work!

Okay, so here I found a press who (1) liked my work, (2) with whom I actually enjoyed working, and (3) who provided great covers. What more could I want, right? Only one important thing---The Wild Rose Press does not pay an advance. Sigh.  Oh, well, three out of four isn't bad.

The point here is that you have to make choices. Is it all about money, about satisfaction, about prestige, about having people read what you wrote?

When I began writing, I thought all I had to do was write a great story and the rest would take care of itself. Not so. I know many great writers who still have not been published.  I also thought the publisher took care of promotion. Wrong again, unless you're a major name.

Who takes care of my promotion? Me. My daughters help, my husband foots a lot of bills, but I plan my promotion and post on a gillion sites, write guest blogs, and appear wherever people will let me. Check http://kfwwriters.blogspot.com/ for my latest guest blog. Am I making money? Not much. Do I enjoy writing? You bet I do.

Does that make it all worthwhile? I believe so, especially if occasionally someone tells me how much they enjoy my books. To quote MasterCard's commercial, "Priceless!"

Don't forget to leave a comment for my weekly prize drawing. Please include your email in your comment. 

Celebrating Women and the Right to Vote

Congratulations to Celia Yeary, who won my Saturday prize drawing. Celia wins a PDF of my current release OUT OF THE BLUE, a paranormal time travel. I'll be emailing her with her win.

Now for my blog post for today. I  recived this in an email from a cousin, but it's written by an anonymous woman. I've never  used information from an email before, but I think this is worthy of a reminder. So, her goes:

This is the story ......of our Mothers and Grandmothers who lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.





The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

(Lucy Burns)

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.









Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.



So, refresh MY memory. Some women won't vote this year because - Why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Mrs Pauline Adams in the prison garb she wore while serving a 60 day sentence.

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

Miss Edith Ainge, of Jamestown, New York

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.

(Berthe Arnold, CSU graduate)

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. "One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie," she said. "What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn." 

"The right to vote," she said, "had become valuable to her all over again."



HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum. I want it shown on Bunco/Bingo night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

Conferring over ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution at National Woman's Party headquarters, Jackson Place , Washington , D.C.



Left to right: Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, Anita Pollitzer, Alice Paul, Florence Boeckel, Mabel Vernon (standing, right))


It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk , Conn. Serving 3 day sentence in D.C. prison for carrying a banner, "Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."

_____________________

Thank goodness, I didn't have to withstand this terror to gain the right to vote. Personally, I appreciate all these women did so that we all could share in democracy.

Thanks, Caroline

More on Covers

Just yesterday I received the cover for my sweet contemporary, HOME, SWEET TEXAS HOME. This is for a TBA release from The Wild Rose Press. Nicola Martinez designed the cover, and it fits the story so well.  The story is about a young woman in Dallas who is suddenly without a job at the same time the teenaged brother for whom she's guardian has started mixing with a bad crowd. Fortunately for her, she inherits a home and other interests from a man who befriended her when her mom was hosptialized. The inheritance takes her to West Texas, about twenty minutes from Lubbock. Incidentally, I grew up in Lubbock, so this story has special meaning for me. Anyway, she is linked through her inheritance to a handsome rancher with two darling kids, a boy and a girl. See how perfect the cover is?  Courtney, the heroine, has a dog named Bingo that crowded into the cover art. LOL The man from whom she received the legacy always called his dog Bingo. Saved choosing a new name and remembering it.

This is not the first cover Nicola has designed for me. In fact, she's designed all of my covers from The Wild Rose Press. My favorite is the one for THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE, which will be released on September 3. I'm sure the cover will help sales for this book.

What do you think? Do you ever purchase a book based on the cover? I admit that I have. In fact, I just bought one by Caroline Fyfe because the cover looked so appealing and of the sort of historical western romance I love.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in my Saturday prize drawing.

Hero Qualities

What's the most important trait for a hero? Some have mentioned in previous comments they like a brooding hero, but that's not really what I mean. Let me list some of the qualities I'm referring to:

1. Honor -- does he keep his word? Is he known for his dependability because once he commits, he can be counted on?

2. Intelligence -- is he clever or super intelligent? Those are not the same, you know. A man who lacks brilliance may still be clever at figuring out puzzles.

3. Strength -- is he strong as an ox or the guy bullies pick on?

4. Dedicated to family -- is he the one who holds the family together or is he a loner who's estranged from his family or orphaned?

5. Hard worker -- does he frequently spend a few days at the lake or is he in the office 60 hours a week?

These qualities shape the hero of the story. What traits do you feel are most important?

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entereed in my weekly prize giveaway. A follow counts as a second entry.

And don't forget my June release, OUT OF THE BLUE, is available in print and e-book download from The Wild Rose Press and others.

Hero's Book or Heroine's Book?

A romance involves two main characters, the hero and the heroine. However, each novel is more the story of one character than the other. You can't tell simply by the opening of the book. It may open in the hero's POV (point of view) yet be the heroine's story.

How does the author decide whose story a book is?

Sometimes the author may not realize the answer until he/she is into the book. For instance, the author may plot the book as if it's equal. During writing, though, one character's story will emerge larger than the other character's. Let's use a movie reference because that's so easy. "Sleepless In Seattle" was Annie's (Meg Ryan's character) story.

How do we know? Who has the most at stake or will lose? The Tom Hanks character isn't moving--he's already lost his wife and relocated. Now all he's losing is sleep. Meg Ryan's character gives up her lifestyle and her fiancé to meet Tom Hanks and will ultimately (we presume) give up her job and relocate to Seattle to be with him.

As you're writing your story, who has the most at stake? Whose life will be forever altered by the outcome. Yes, both will be altered because of the committment. One will totally change, though, even if the ending is a compromise.

Can you think of other instances where the story is clearly that of one main character?

Why Do We Write?

Why do authors write? There are probably several dozen answers. Here are some I've heard:

1. I can't help myself. (That's me)
2. To make money. (Poor soul unless he/she is like Nora Roberts et al)
3. So I can work at home in sweats. (Merline Lovelace once said that and I agree)
4. Because I have stories to tell and want people to read them. (Me again)
5. Writing is a form of immortality. (Oh, yeah?)

Most of us no doubt have multiple reasons for writing books, novellas, and short stories. Sure, I'd like to make money, who wouldn't? But that's not my primary motivation--which is really good, because I'm not making much here. But I want to tell all these stories collecting in my mind. In fact, all these people in my head need to be written down or they'll just keep hammering at me to do so. Writers understand this--we have to write! If possible, I want people to read my stories. One step further, hopefully readers will enjoy my various tales and be happy they read them--and want to buy my next book. See, this leads to the miniscule amount of money I'll make for each sale.

Okay, I also love the working at home in sweats, no pantyhose, no dress shoes, no makeup aspect, too. Who wouldn't love that aspect, especially is you've had a job that required dressing up? No transportation problems, no special work wardrobe, cut the cost of cosmetics, no business lunches or dinners--already my income has increased. Of course all bets are off for booksignings or presentations, but those are only a few compared to daily writing.

Immortality? Sure, print books are supposed to be a form of immortality. Shakespeare and other masters prove that. Truly I doubt the stories in mass market and e-books will be immortal, but I suppose there's always a possibility. Certainly I have authors whose books I save to reread. How that will translate to e-books is anyone's guess. How many books can an e-reader hold? Is there a way to transfer them to a CD Rom or something to store them for future reference? I don't have an e-reader yet, (it's high on my want list) so I don't understand all the functions.

How about you? Do you reread your favorite books? Why do you write?

Don't forget that one lucky person who comments will be entered into my Saturday prize drawing. A follow counts as a second entry. Don't forget to leave your email with your comment.