Apr 1, 2012

Character Interviews - Contest Entry

Character Interviews
By
Marion Webb-De Sisto

Interviews with Archangel Samael and Angel Manah, the two main characters  in Final Retribution, which is Book Three of the Angelic Chronicles trilogy.


Interviewer: "I'm here today to chat to the archangel named Samael. Actually, you'll probably know him better as the devil, the one who rules Hell. So, Samael, I'd like to welcome you here. I’m Andrew and I'll be asking some questions and finding out more about you."

Samael: "You will address me as Prince Samael."

Interviewer: Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you have a title. Well, Prince Samael, let’s get started."

Samael: "I thought I was to be interviewed by a woman."

Interviewer: "Yes, well, how can I put this? My boss changed her mind about who should interview you. She heard you have an eye for the ladies and thought you might try to proposition a female interviewer rather than answer her questions."

Samael: "It is difficult for women to resist me. I’m the first-born archangel, who has more power than any other. Many men also cannot refuse what I ask of them."

Interviewer: "Oh, uh... I don't think I'll be one of them. I'm really just here to pass on information about you to our readers. So, Prince Samael, I’d like to ask you about the place you rule. Is it really filled with flames, fallen angels and demons?”

Samael: “There are many fallen angels and demons, as well as humans in my realm. Parts of it are very hot, like the Pit, and other parts are icy cold, such as the outer boundaries that lie close to the Abyss, but there are no flames. That is a human misconception.”

Interviewer: “Ok, no flames. Now, we call your realm Hell, but you have a different name for it. What is it?”

Samael: “Abbadon.”

Interviewer: “And while on the subject of names, I thought yours was Lucifer, not Samael.”

Samael: “On some of his visits to Earth, Angel Lucifer has boasted that he is me. I presume he does it in order to present himself as being more powerful than what he actually is. This is how the mistake has arisen.”

Interviewer: “I see. Does his pretence annoy you?”

Samael: “No, why should it? I admire deception and keeping humans unaware of my true identity gives me an advantage over them.”

Interviewer: “Well, you just lost that advantage over me and those who read this interview.”

Samael: “Be warned! That remark angers me and you would be wise not to incur my wrath.”

Interviewer: “Oh, my apologies, Prince Samael, I was just trying to state the obvious. I don’t want to make you angry; I’ve heard the consequences are terrible for those who do. Can you tell us about your punishments?”

Samael: “I can have you thrown into the Pit where demons will attack you and drink your life force essence, or I might extract your soul with my lodestone crystal. Another punishment would be me severely injuring you with my crystal light wand.”

Interviewer: “Those all sound quite frightening, but I do have a couple of questions about them. You mention demons drinking essence. Is that like vampires drinking someone’s blood?”

Samael: “It could be considered similar. The life force essence is energy that flows through the bodies of all life forms, just as blood flows through humans.”

Interviewer: “Ok, and what do you do with an extracted soul?”

Samael: “I keep it prisoner inside a dome where I keep all of the other extracted souls.”

Interviewer: “They say you collect souls, but I didn’t realize you do it literally. Continuing with the subject of punishment, I’d like to know if the holstered crystal on your left shoulder is the light wand you mentioned.”

Samael: “It is. My crystal wand is a trusty friend. Its three points emit rays, which can burn right through you. Their color is pale blue and they’re as powerful as what, in your world, is known as a laser. Would you like me to demonstrate?”

Interviewer: “No thanks, I’ll take your word for it. Now, some questions about something a little more personal. As I said before, you have an eye for the ladies. You were in love with Archangel Malkura and she loved you, but your drastic change of character from good to evil turned her away. She has given her attention to your brother, Seriel, and appears to be in love with him. This must...”

Samael: “Do not make mention of that! I have abandoned my feelings for Malkura and banished Seriel from my realm.”

Interviewer: “Oh dear, I guess I’m making you angry again, but I really didn’t mean to, Prince Samael. You see, our readers love to hear about the love life of those we talk to so we try to include any updated romance news as part of each interview. I’m supposed to ask you about your consorts. Ok?”

Samael: “It will depend on what you ask.”

Interviewer: “Well, I believe they are Lilith and Kokabel. Correct?”

Samael: “Yes, but Lilith is no longer with me. I sent her back to the other demons for a reason I’m not prepared to discuss with you. However, Angel Kokabel continues to live in my palace as my consort.”

Interviewer: “So may I ask if she’s important to you?”

Samael: “I hold little regard for her. She remains with me only because I know it infuriates Angel Azazel. Kokabel was his consort until he disobeyed my command. That is another subject I shall not elaborate on.”

Interviewer: “One more question in the romance department. There is an angel named Manah with whom you’ve been keeping company. This is surprising because she’s very different from you, being gentle and pure. Are you attracted to Manah or do you hope to corrupt her?”

Samael: “The reason why Angel Manah visits me in Abbadon is strictly a confidential matter. I have no desire to tell you anything more about her other than to say this. When she is interviewed, nothing must be said to upset or concern her. If this should happen, I shall take action against whoever is responsible.”

Interviewer: “I’ll make sure the interviewer is aware of what you’ve told me. Shall we move on to something else?”

Samael: “No, I have given you more than sufficient insight into myself. I’m leaving now.”

Interviewer: “Well, folks, he’s just flown away so that’s the end of our chat. Not the most enjoyable, but interesting. I think he’d probably have been more sociable if I was a woman.”

* * * *

Interviewer: "Today we have Angel Manah with us. There’s a lot of angelic gossip going around about her so we’re hoping to get the real scoop. Welcome, Manah, it’s great to have you here. My name is Janet and I’m looking forward to chatting with you.”

Manah: “Thank you, Janet, I’m happy to be here.”

Interviewer: “So where to begin? Your life seems to be rather hectic lately so I’m pleased you could find time to be interviewed. I’ve heard you keep visiting Samael in Hell. Oops! I guess I’m supposed to call him Prince Samael. My colleague, Andrew, was told to do that.”

Manah: “Yes, he thinks he should be addressed as such, but his real title is Lord Samael.

Interviewer: “Why does he want to be different?”

Manah: “He considers himself to be more important than the other archangels. Your colleague probably noticed he is very proud.”

Interviewer: “Andrew did remark on his apparent sense of importance, but, being the head honcho in Hell does carry some weight, I suppose.”

Manah: “You have many strange expressions in your 21st century world, but I think I know what you mean. We also refer to his domain as Abbadon, not Hell.”

Interviewer: “So can you tell us why someone, who is as wholesome as you, would want to be keeping company with the devil? I didn’t see him, but the girls in our office said he was a real hunk and nothing like how we would imagine him to look. No horns, cloven hooves, or tail and no pitchfork. Are you attracted to him, even though he is who he is, because he’s drop dead gorgeous?”

Manah: “Lord Samael is very handsome and he can be charming when he wants something from you. It’s difficult for me to ignore my attraction to him, but I must because I abhor his evil actions. If I became his consort, as he has suggested, that would mean I condone his wicked nature and I cannot.”

Interviewer: “Ah, he wants you to be his consort. He has others, too, doesn’t he?”

Manah: “He did have Lilith, but he sent her away from his palace so only Kokabel is with him now.”

Interviewer: “And he wants you to join him, as well. Hmm, I guess it’s quite flattering to have such an important guy wanting you to be his, and yet a little scary, too. Doesn’t it mean he would own your soul or something like that?”

Manah: “The manner in which he possesses a soul is by extracting it with his lodestone crystal, and then keeping it prisoner in a dome from which there is no escape. I trust he will never do that to my soul.”

Interviewer: “Well, Manah, if you stop going to see him, there would be no chance of him grabbing your soul, and that leads me to my next question. Why have you been back and forth, two or three times, to Abbadon?”

Manah: “It would take too much of your time for me to explain fully, I shall just try to give you a very brief summary. Lord Samael coerced Lady Malkura into living with him, but Lord Seriel, his brother, rescued her. I had accompanied Lady Malkura, my mistress, to his palace. When she escaped, he kept me prisoner as a way of forcing her to come back to him. She refused and he had to release me, but only on the condition I would visit him at least once. I did, and then he persuaded me to return one more time.”

Interviewer: “I guess it’s hard to refuse him even though you hate the things he does?”

Manah: “Yes, it is difficult. When his anger is not controlling him, he is charming and very persuasive. Lord Samael is also very generous. He gave me this comb and my armlet.”

Interviewer: “I’m going to describe these two items for our readers. The comb is made of tortoiseshell with what, I believe, are topaz gems across the top. It’s a really beautiful hair decoration. Manah is also wearing what looks like a solid gold snake wrapped twice around her upper arm. It has amethyst eyes and is a stunning piece of jewelry. I have to say I can understand why you’re feeling ambivalent about Lord Samael. These are lovely gifts.”

Manah: “He is perplexing. To me he is generous, complimentary and attentive, yet to others he is cruel and demanding. Lord Samael is very protective of me, as well.”

Interviewer: “Apparently he is. Andrew told me how during his interview he was warned by the archangel that nothing must be said to upset or concern you. If it was, he would punish the culprit. So, Manah, I would say Lord Samael has feelings for you.”

Manah: “It’s impossible for me to believe he does.”

Interviewer: “Then why would he give you gifts and be concerned about your welfare?”

Manah: “This has puzzled me, but I have come to a possible conclusion. I remind him of Lady Malkura and so he feels kindly toward me. If it’s not the reason, then he is amusing himself by pretending to be interested in me.”

Interviewer: “I suppose the devil could act affectionately for some twisted sense of humor. However, I’m sure it’s not why he’s good to you. Perhaps you don’t realize just how beautiful you are.”

Manah: “Thank you, Janet, for your kind words, but I cannot imagine Lord Samael being attracted to me. An angel is less than an archangel.”

Interviewer: “I really can’t comment on that. My knowledge of angelic matters is very limited. Now, you mentioned Lady Malkura and I’d like to ask you about her. Wasn’t Lord Samael in love with her?”

Manah: “Yes, they shared a deep love until he changed. His cruel acts and devious behaviour drove her away and she is now in love with his brother, Lord Seriel, who has always loved her. He’s a noble archangel and was loyal to Lord Samael until he helped my mistress escape. His action caused a great rift between them and he was banished from Abbadon by his sibling.”

Interviewer: “But he went back. Why?”

Manah: “Lord Seriel wanted to tell him how much he was saddened by his drastic change in character. They fought against each other with their crystal wands and both were injured. However, they did reclaim their former closeness.”

Interviewer: “I’ve heard about those weapons. They must be quite deadly?”

Manah: “They can cause terrible injuries, but they can also transport you instantly to wherever you wish to go.”

Interviewer: “Fascinating. Well, I’m getting the signal to wind this up so I’d like to thank you for being here, for answering my questions and giving us a better idea of what’s happening between you and Lord Samael. I do hope things work out for you. Maybe he’ll have another change of character and become a good guy once again. I think they call that redeemed.”

Manah: “Sadly, it will never happen. I have to make myself forget about him, but I’m grateful for your interest. Thank you, Janet.  


Marion Webb-De Sisto has held a keen interest in Women's Spirituality, Crystal Therapy and the Celestial Hierarchy for the past twenty-seven years. She is a graduate member and former tutor of the International College of Crystal Healing, a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and a Reiki Master. Marion is also an experienced teacher/lecturer in both the UK and USA, being a guest speaker at holistic festivals, health shows and The Seeker's Trust. Having lived and worked in the US for many years, she presently resides in South East England with her American husband. Marion has two sons, two step sons, three daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren.

Marion's writings have been featured in Diane Stein's books - All Women Are Psychics, Prophetic Visions of the Future, Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats and The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats. Also in Dick Sutphen's Finding Your Answers Within. Her own books have been available since 2001. Reviewers considered her Angelic Chronicles to be "beautifully written;" a story that "just swoops one along," and then "leaves your heart panging." Marion's non-fiction books are described as "hard to put down," being written in "a clear and understandable fashion."

How to find Marion


Buy Links

Final Retribution, Book Three of the Angelic Chronicles

Mar 30, 2012

Writing Way Outside The Box - Contest Entry

Writing Way Outside The Box
by
Julie Eberhart Painter

Editors and agents frequently ask what makes this book/story different? Why should we invest time and money in seeing it to print?

The criteria has to be that the story is either a familiar theme from a unique perspective, or it’s really off the wall, another reason for instant appeal or instant rejection. Despite the outside the box style, it has to make sense to readers.

Several examples come to mind. One is a new TV show called Awake. This is a story about complicated grief, something I saw in bereavement groups when I volunteered as a counselor’s co-facilitator with hospice. When guilt (He was driving the car when it crashed.) is mixed with extreme loss, the grieving can produce an extrasensory reaction like the one being portrayed in Awake. The man who suffers the loss of either his wife or his son is seeing two psychiatrists. Each is trying to sort out why he is living—either asleep or awake—two lives, one with his wife and one with his son. It's obvious he is grieving and in extreme (dramatic) denial. By keeping them both alive, but mourning one and then other he honors them both.

Another story with an unusual perspective is, Turn of Mind, by Alice LaPlante, who wrote the entire book from the point of view of Jennifer, an Alzheimer’s patient who may or may not have murdered her best friend. One reviewer called it a diary of a disease, but it’s also a murder mystery. The mystery is the linear backstory while the rest is the fragmented and confused thoughts of the patient as she sinks deeper into dementia still trying to remember what happened the night her best friend died.

The Lovely Bones and The Sixth Sense movies are two other examples of unique formatting and unusual points of view.

When choosing a way to tell any story, it must come from the most visceral place, the heart of the character with the most to lose. If the authors mentioned above had chosen an outside narrator, the stories would have been reduced to journalism.

Using the material from research as a linear back story, the writer should put his or herself into the main characters’ heads, starting with their first awareness that something is off.  Writers need passion and patience to wander through an experience as if never having seen it or felt it before. That sense of marvel brings the story to life.

It's the feelings that sell the book. LaPlante's book is totally un-linear, except for carrying the plot time line by using the female detective’s unannounced visits to search out the truth. Could a woman with advanced Alzheimer’s have murdered her best friend? Now that’s off the wall and out of the box.

Julie Eberhart Painter is the author of seven books. Her champagne books include Mortal Coil, Tangled Web and the CTRR award-winning Kill Fee. Author website at: www.books-jepainter.com


Julie Eberhart Painter's Books

Mar 29, 2012

Out of the Box, Forever! - Contest Entry

OUT OF THE BOX, FOREVER!
by
Rolynn Anderson

Truth is, I’m not sure what it feels like to be ‘in’ a box…all my life I’ve roamed outside the cardboard confines.  In fact, I was hired to open a brand new out-of-the-box high school, to become the first female principal in a big conservative school district.  Oh boy, do I have stories to tell about that experience!

I spend four months out of the year on our trawler exploring the Northwest’s Inside Passage with my DH.  Knots of stories on those cruises-very OOTB!

I ‘became’ a writer in 2001.  Published by the famous Wild Rose Press in 2011.  Soon to be published by TWRP for the second time in 2012.  Will self-publish in 2012.  Eight more novels ready for prime time.  Still climbing all around the box.

But let me tell you some specific out-of-the-box experiences with my first published novel, LAST RESORT.  Here’s the OOTB list:

1.  Never wrote a thriller…LAST RESORT is one.

2.  Hadn’t used more than three POV’s…LAST RESORT has five!

3.  Wanted to add a non-hibernating grizzly to my British Columbia setting…my research (and a cool story about grizzlies that swim long distances) told me I could.

4.  Thought I couldn’t show a sympathetic side of a terrorist…readers tell me I did.

5.  Heard a rumor in Big Bay, B.C. that helicopters were taking a TV crew back and forth from a B.C. resort to the Olympic Games in Whistler.  Worked that rumor into a truth and a framework for a terrorist event.

6.  Didn’t know anything about helicopters…now I do.

7.  Wanted a punk party girl in my novel…got my nieces and nephews to help me build her language.

8.  Canadian and American undercover intelligence agencies working together?  How in the world would that happen?  Found out.  Made it happen.

9.  What does a corporate fixer do?  Learned about the career…made up the rest.  My heroine is fabulous at her job!

10.  Thought about selling LAST RESORT in marinas surrounding the  real-life setting for my novel.  Marina managers bought dozens of my novels and sold them to boaters cruising up and down the Inside Passage.  Want a ‘no way’ shiver up your spine?  A Big Bay marina manager I pitched to…runs a small fishing camp called…LAST RESORT!  Here’s another coincidence goose-bumper...she met and married a fishing guide, just like my heroine!

Can’t wait to hear all the OOTB experiences from my writing buddies.  We stand together on seeing and crafting worlds in new ways!

SUSPENSE SPIKED WITH ROMANCE
LAST RESORT on sale now, print & download
Wild Rose Press: http://tinyurl.com/682vwgv
FB: http://tinyurl.com/63vsnmt

Rolynn Anderson is a retired Washington State high school principal (and English teacher) who now spends four months on her  trawler, INTREPID, cruising up and down the Inside Passage to Alaska, and the other eight months on the Central Coast of California.  

The Last Resort

Feb 29, 2012

Leap Year Blog Hop

Welcome to the Leap Year Blog Hop.

This hop consists of 9 authors with 9 prizes.  Please comment on every blog where you want to be entered for a prize.

Below is the order of the hop. Enjoy!


Amber Kallyn
Paranormal & Erotic romance
http://amberkallyn.wordpress.com
1 e-copy (PDF) of Dragos Burned by Amber Kallyn
Barbara Edwards
Barbara Edwards Comments
ebook copy of Ancient Blood awarded to one lucky commenter
let me know any other details.
 M. S. Spencer
M. S. Spencer ~ Tale Spinner
1 of my four romantic suspense M/F releases, Lost in His Arms, Lost & Found, Losers Keepers or Triptych
Juliette Springs
Juliette Speaks
Paranormal Romance Paperback Pack (three books)
Wendy Soliman
Confessions of a Writer
Copy of my contemporary romance ebook - A Class Apart
Rachel Haimowitz
Fantasy Unbound
An e-copy of each of my first-in-series titles: Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen #1), Anchored (Belonging #1), and Master Class (Master Class #1)
Janice Seagraves
Janice Seagraves
Pukka shell necklace
Lynn Crain
 Lynn Crain's XtraOrdinary Romance
Copy of my indie short, A Lover for Rachel, and a $20 gift certificate from Amazon or ARe, winner's choice
R. Ann Siracusa
It's The Journey That Counts
First two ebooks of the Tour Director Extraordinaire series and a free critique of the first 50 pages of an unpublished novel.

Feb 21, 2012

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Everyone dreams. You might not remember them, or may be superstitious and hesitate to tell your dreams before breakfast for fear the revelation will bring you bad luck, but everyone dreams.
I do my best dreaming in the hour before I wake. The minute I open my eyes, the dreams evaporate. All memory of the dream fades, too. I tried keeping a notepad and pen beside my bed, but I couldn't write fast enough and the dreams still fled.
What about the other dreams? The kind you dream when you're awake? I've lived long enough I can safely say all my dreams have now come true. How about yours?

Restored Dreams

In Restored Dreams, my latest eBook release from Desert Breeze Publishing, Treasure Montgomery dreams of fixing her leaky roof, of remodeling her hundred-year-old kitchen, of someday opening a home for abused and unwanted boys on her property. She owns four-hundred acres, room for each boy to raise a colt of his own, but doesn't have money to pay for the needed repairs to her house.
Like so many other homeowners, Treasure is house poor. Her teacher's salary barely covers her property taxes and monthly expenses. Try as she may, she can't save enough money to put a new roof on the century-old Victorian house she inherited from the great aunt who raised her.
Treasure may have an empty bank account, but she has a heart big as all outdoors. She gives free equine therapy classes to abused children, and holds a story hour for children hospitalized with leukemia. On the drive home she dreams of restoring the original beauty of her house. Winning the lottery would be a big help.
Then Bradley Harrington Coleman the Third arrives in town. He prefers the name Buck. This retired rodeo champion has dreams, too. He dreams of making a difference in the lives of the residents of Lakeview, hopes to right some of the wrongs suffered because of his grandfather nefarious deeds. Buck inherited a fortune from his ruthless father, money he refuses to spend on himself, and soon becomes the Bill Gates of the rural community, spreading his millions around where the money will do the most good.
After putting a new roof on a Lakeview church and the community center, Buck sets his sights on Treasure's repairs. The penniless middle-school teacher needs a contractor to replace the water-damaged floor in her upstairs bathroom and Buck, a licensed craftsman, offers to do the job.
Poor Treasure hasn't saved enough to do the repairs right. Yes, she's fully aware her roof still leaks and the next rain might damage the new bathroom floor, and no, much as she'd like to, she won't take Buck up on his offer to replace her roof at no cost. Too proud for her own good, she insists on paying her own way, refuses to accept charity, and rejects outright Buck's offer of an interest-free loan.
Just when it looks like Treasure won't be getting her roof repaired before the next rain she gets an unexpected windfall and tells Buck to go-ahead with the roof. He mistakenly thinks Treasure gave the okay to put on a new roof, promptly buys the shingles and sets to work.
Weeks later, after the new roof is in place and Treasure has fallen in love with Buck, she learns the truth. Her dream turns into a nightmare. Because he overspent, she doesn't have enough money set aside to pay Buck back and she fears he will take her house.
How could he do this to her?
Buck dreams of making Treasure his wife, then helping her establish the home for abused and unwanted boys she dreams of on her property until Treasure angrily confronts him about the cost of her new roof. He never dreamed she'd be so furious with him she'd sell her favorite antique to settle his bill, then order him out of her life.
Can he make amends?
Dreams come to us when we least expect them, teasing and tempting us with tantalizing certainty. My fervent dream is I've tempted you to download and read Restored Dreams. Enjoy.

Restored Dreams Blurb:

Her roof leaks, the plumbing, too, but on a teacher's salary Treasure Montgomery can barely pay the taxes on her property, so the list of needed repairs to the grand Victorian house she inherited from the aunt who raised her continues to grow.
Treasure surrounds herself with other people's children, seeking some fulfillment in an otherwise empty life until she meets Buck. A retired rodeo rider turned philanthropist, Buck willingly donates his labor to anyone who needs a helping hand, spending his father's ill-gotten fortune to make amends for his father's bad deeds, but Treasure wants no part of his charity.
            Buck persists. Treasure resists, and he turns to subterfuge to get around the obstacles she throws in his path. She learns the truth and fears she might lose her house to Buck. How wrong can a woman be about the man with whom she's fallen in love?

 
You can find Toni on Twitter ~ @ToniNoelWriter
Toni’s Bio
From Toni’s Website

Toni Noel
             While growing up in the South and completing seventh grade Toni Noel, writing under another name, laboriously typed each copy of the newspaper she published and circulated at church.
            When she was fourteen Toni began an autobiography, but after only three chapters realized she had not lived long enough to give her life story an arc.  She concluded her effort in the fourth chapter by giving her heroine an incurable disease.
            She later edited her high school paper and one of her editorials earned her membership in Quill and Scroll.  She also wrote a weekly fishing column, perhaps her first published work of fiction, for at that time she had never held a fishing pole.
            For two of those high school years a weekly column about the happenings of her high school friends earned Toni a byline in a Scripps-Howard daily newspaper and a neighborhood weekly, the first income earned from her writing, money her father faithfully set aside for her to attend college.
            Toni thrived on spending time in the library, loved to do research and write term papers.  She would finish her theme well ahead of the due date so she could type the papers of classmates, a lucrative way to add to her college fund.
            She met her husband of fifty-nine years her first week on campus and at the end of her freshman year gave up her dream of teaching to marry the first-year teacher who had captured her heart.  He retired in 2010 , ending a sixty year teaching career.
            The couple later moved to San Diego, where Toni became a Girl Scouts leader and troop organizer while actively working to secure a library for her neighborhood and earning an Honorary Membership in the PTA.
            When her last child left for college, Toni resumed her college education, earning a business degree with special emphasis in System Analysis from SDSU.  Hired by a government contractor specializing in research and development of underwater vehicles, she supervised the accounting department software and payroll until the company closed and she retired to write romance.
            Toni continues to hone her writing skills by attending Romance Writers of America national conferences and local RWA-SD meetings.  She loves to take on-line classes and reads every book she can get her hands on, regardless of genre, now reading them on her NOOK.  Currently Toni devotes her time to writing stories like the novels she loves best, books about finding safe havens for the heart.
            With the release of Lawbreakers and Love Makers by Toni Noel from Desert Breeze Publishing, Temp To Permanent and her latest release, Decisive Moments, a dark romance, you have three opportunities to download her novels and lose yourself in a safe haven for the heart novel, too.


From Desert Breeze Publishing’s Website
Since the day my mother started reading The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew to the four of us books have been an important part of my life. As a small child I couldn't wait to learn to read, and in school I devoured every printed page I could get my hands on. Summers in Birmingham I rode my bicycle three miles to the local drug store to check out Zane Grey novels which I shared with my father, a tireless breadwinner and avid reader. As a young wife and mother I started church libraries in two small Tennessee towns. Later, when the Bookmobile no longer satisfied the needs of my growing daughters, with the encouragement of my husband, I appeared before the San Diego City Council and City Planning Commission, urging them to purchase property for a library in our fast-growing subdivision before the preferred sites were snapped up by service stations. I bugged city officials so much I was later invited to assist the Mayor at the ground-breaking ceremony for the promised library. Although that library now needs expansion, it is my fondest dream that they'll save room on those crowded shelves for the romance novels I write.

Feb 13, 2012

MFRW is on Facebook

The MFRW Banner
MFRW on Facebook is a sister group to Marketing for Romance Writers on Yahoo. It enables us to post promotional info, get and give help on questions, and support one another. This group is open to authors (published and non), agents, editors, author promo services, publishers, cover designers, artists, and virtual assistants.




Join us on Facebook, and you can use the Facebook page as a target for Networked Blogs, post promotional info, and share updates about your writing.  We look forward to seeing you!


Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/


Also join our other blog: MFRW - Marketing for Romance Writers
http://mfrw.blogspot.com

Jan 28, 2012

Lynn Crain's Indie Book

            I had never intended to become an indie author but when the opportunity presented itself, I thought why not? I had the rights revert back to me from a publisher for an anthology and that story needed a new home. It really wasn’t something too exciting or new, so I decided to revamp it by totally rewriting it, get it a cover, hire an editor and a copy editor then put it up on all the major ebook sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
            I really wasn’t new to publishing in this way. In the past, when I had owned a print shop, I had my own speculative fiction magazine. I knew about editing and how to format things. I knew how to put an ebook into PDF format but not the new formats like epub. Furthermore, I didn’t have the required software. While I knew I could do this if I spent some big bucks, I decided to hire someone to actually do the formatting. All I had to do was provide a clean Word copy and another more intricately formatted version for the PDF.
            Once the edit was complete for the book and it was returned to me all shiny and new, I sat on it. I drug my feet and rethought my decision. I’d heard many varying stories on how authors were either wildly successful or disappointingly failed. I’d heard that some of the traditional publisher would never even look at a book of mine again if they knew I’d self-published. For me the point was that I’d never get all my stories published if I didn’t do a variety of things, both traditional and non-traditional.
            When all the arguments were worked out in my head, I plunged forward as the holiday season was fast approaching and it needed to be there for that. On December 22nd, 2011, I published my story A Lover for Rachel with Smashwords who made it available in every format as well as on Kobo and Diesel. I had decided to use a book aggregator for the other places (Amazon, B&N, Sony and Apple) and uploaded to them as well. It was soon available at Amazon and the rest have come filtering in since it was submitted.
            I had done it. I had published my own story and while it was a lot of work, it wasn’t as traumatic as I had expected. From the moment it was up, I started to promote as much as I could. I had certain ideas in mind. One of the things I knew is the fact that most indie books take up to six months to really start selling. Yes, that’s right, I said six months. While that is a long time to see any return on my investment, it gives me time to really promote the book as well as decide what stories will be next in this part of my publishing adventure.
            If any of you are interested in self-publishing, just let me know and I’ll answer any question you may have. It isn’t for everyone and it certainly isn’t the only thing I’m going to do with my publishing career. For me it’s just another avenue to get my work in front of more people. It will also, hopefully, give me more income so that I can continue to live my dream of being a full time writer.

Lynn

The Magic of Love comes to everyone.

Rachel Hamilton comes to Stonehenge to celebrate her birthday on Summer Solstice, only to find herself trapped beneath the massive rhyolite bluestones with sexy wizard, Dewin Kingston, who convinces her that she is the key to their escape.

Excerpt:

A Lover For Rachel

“Come on, we’re going to be late! You’re the one who wanted to go to this thing. Besides, it’s the dead of night, so who’s going to see us?”
Rachel frowned at her best friend, Samantha Andrews, again. Yes, she was the one who wanted to go to the summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge. Who wouldn’t if their birthday fell on June twenty-first and they happened to be in the area? Last time they’d come to England in June, they avoided the place because of the massive crowds attending the event. This time there was no way she would miss the opportunity.
“I’m almost done.” She sighed. This was the best it would get. She glanced at herself in the mirror of the bathroom in the luxurious bed-and-breakfast that had been their home for the past week. Everyone told her she’d gone from frumpy to svelte in the last year, but she couldn’t see what they meant.
“You’d think you’re meeting a lover or something.” Samantha stood in the doorway and tapped her foot impatiently. “Come on, Rach, you look beautiful. I envy your curves.”
Rachel smiled at her in the mirror. “You’re only saying that because you love me.” She wiggled her eyebrows and the women burst into laughter.
“No really, you are. You’ve changed so much this past year. Still, we need to leave if we’re ever going to get there and through the gates before the sun rises. Do you have the tickets?”
They had applied to get special passes to participate with the group performing ancient celebrations at the site. The members of the large group were as close to Druids as anyone could be, considering that not much was left in the way of their history. And from everything she’d read about the ceremony, it was a very special and personal event.
She nodded, straightened her shoulders, and brushed her hair away from her face, determined not to worry about her appearance. “I do, and I know what you’re talking about. I have changed. I just feel weird about it, that’s all. Especially when someone calls me beautiful. I’ve just never seen myself that way.”
Samantha clutched her arm, smiling at her reflection. “Come on, how many people can say their birthday is on summer solstice? So what? You have baggage. I do too, now let’s get going before we miss the whole celebration.”
 “I know you’re right. I’m just not going to participate in the getting naked part. Okay?” She was relieved when her friend nodded her agreement. One more glance in the mirror and she pulled the steely reserve around herself that she normally used in the courtroom. Today was the day to have fun and no worries. Today was her day; she wasn’t going to let the past cloud it in any way. Smiling, she grabbed her backpack from the bed and headed for the door. “Let’s go.”
Their drive through the English countryside was always an adventure from start to finish. First, they had to drive on the wrong side of the road. The narrow roads barely managed two compact cars, let alone anything bigger. Rachel and Samantha dodged the predawn traffic racing along the Salisbury Plains to get to their destination. Thank God, they only had a short distance to go through the darkness of the night. The only thing piercing the shadows were the stars that shone bright in the night sky.

Lynn Crain realized at an early age she wanted to write. She took the long way to being published by doing a variety of things like nursing assistant, geologist, technical writer and computer manager all of which have added to her detail-oriented stories. Now she’s a full-time storyteller and weaves fantasy, futuristic, and paranormal tales, as well as erotic stories for various publishers. She normally lives in the very hot southwest with her husband, son, two dogs, three cats, and she’s gotten rid of her snakes. Don’t ask. Other members of her clan live nearby and include another son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons, plus various long-time friends. She is a past national board member of the RWA; founding president of Las Vegas Romance Writers Chapter of RWA; has held the positions of president, vice-president, secretary and contest chair of EPIC. Her latest adventure has taken her to Vienna, Austria with her husband as he works for a UN-affiliated organization. You can find her hanging out at A Writer In Vienna Blog (www.awriterinvienna.blogspot.com) and various other places on the net (www.theloglineblog.blogspot.com; www.twitter.com/oddlynn3; www.lynncrain.blogspot.com ). Still, the thing she loves most of all is hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.

Jan 26, 2012

Transcend

Today we have the wonderful West Thornhill with us. She brings us an excerpt of her book, Transcend. You can find her at her blog http://wthornhillauthor.blogspot.com. Transcend is published by Silver Publishing and you can purchase it here https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/transcend-ebook-p-719

 Excerpt:
Gael looked at himself one last time before dropping the towel held tightly in his hands and leaving the bathroom. They were coming to pick him up and take him to his new home in Richmond. At least it was only an hour away from Rick's home in Williamsburg. If things didn't work out, he could always call Rick to come and get him. He stopped when he heard voices coming from the kitchen.
"So, where is he? I'm surprised you're ready to give him up." There was a teasing note in the melodious voice.
"You're so funny, Tink. He'll be down in a few minutes." Gael could hear the warmth and concern in Rick's voice. "This is a big deal for him."
"Fine. I'll behave for now."
Gael could hear the teasing in her laugh. A laugh that reminded him of the wind chimes in Hawaii.
Gael sighed and slowly edged away from the wall he'd been leaning against. Determined not to trip over his own feet, he strode into the kitchen feigning confidence. Nervous as hell, he wasn't prepared for his first view of Jason and it stopped him dead in his tracks. Jason had the longest legs he'd ever seen. They were encased in well-worn black denim that hugged them perfectly. Gael's eyes traveled up over the fitted black T-shirt to the strong, square jaw. He gasped. It felt like the air he sucked in couldn't reach his lungs, making him lightheaded and dizzy. He'd known from listening to Rick that Jason was good looking but he wasn't prepared for breathtaking. On any other man Jason's slightly tilted, hooded eyes, full lips, high cheek bones, and square jaw would just be wrong. But on him it was perfect; like the Titan god Prometheus had sculpted him out of the earth to be a living testament of male beauty. His cock hardened just looking at the man.
Gael took a deep breath before continuing, trying to control his awakened libido. He knew Rick had picked up on his presence even though no one would have seen him standing in the hall. Rick, being an awesome empath, was always aware when someone was nearby, and he didn't want to see the teasing gleam in Rick's eye because of his reaction to Jason.
"Tink, your wait is over." Rick nodded to the doorway just as Gael stepped through.
Gael forced himself to smile as he walked toward them. He spoke softly. "Hey."

About West

In 2003 I decided I was going back to college and finish my degree. Three years later I graduated from a small woman's college (R-MWC) that has since become coed with a degree in Classics and a minor in British and American Lit. It wasn't until five years after graduating that I finished and submitted my first novel, Transcend. The characters in this story have been on a wild rollercoaster ride for those five years. Yes, it took me five years to get Gael's story where is needed to be. I'm hoping for things to move a little faster for the sequel.
I have always been a avid reader and thanks to my Classics background I discovered an admiration for Ovid and Hesiod. I also think Latin and Greek are awesomely fun. Yes, I am a geek and an otaku girl. I love Yaoi manga and anime as well as Bleach and Death Note. My all-time favorite Yaoi series is Junjo Romantica.
I am also a single mom. My demon child is light of my life and he was diagnosed with Autism at the age of six. Luckily, he's on the higher end of the spectrum and currently a pre-teen handful. He has taught me a lot about how to see people and the world in general. Life is never boring and I am asked some crazy questions. I should probably brush up on my American History. LOL!

Jan 12, 2012

Using Your Life to Jump Start Your Research

Today we have the wonderful Julie Eberhart Painter giving us research tips. Help me in welcoming her to the MFRW Authors' Blog.

            Anna Quindlen, former journalist turned novelist, said: “Each of us has one hundred stories, then we must write on the news.” This applies to romance writers also. One advantage that we have over journalists is that few of us will write 100 novels. But even for the less prolific, research is a major factor. It's also our responsibility.
            To write accurate scenes and dialogue that resonate with readers, we must know our stuff. The more  involved/empathetic our readers are with our stories, the more likely they are to buy and read our books―again and again.
            Writers are readers. We select favorite authors not just for their stories, but because we trust the information contained within their stories.  We don't have to wonder if the town we knew as rural and quiet really did have a subway that we were unaware of. When we see that red flag of error, we know we're in the  hands of an unreliable storyteller.
            Two excellent examples of trustworthy authors are Wilbur Smith, with more than 33 books in print after a long career, and Nora Roberts.  Smith is not as prolific as Ms. Roberts, with more than 100 published works, but like her, the details in his novels are accurate because they have been well researched and are sprinkled with the atmosphere and flavor of their venues. In other words, they take you there.
            Mr. Smith lived for many years on a private island in the Seychelles at 1500 miles east of Madagascar  off the coast of the eastern Africa. Isolated as he was he found time to research through travel, visiting libraries, studying history, and when available via the Internet. Ms. Roberts used her Irish background and frequent visits to her environmental roots to gather her research.
            What makes Smith and Roberts alike is not the subject matter or depth of their research; we don't read their works as we would textbooks. The similarities lay in their use of their own life experiences among  assimilated facts. The collected emotions: tactile, visual and auditory generate emotional accuracy. Use your life experiences to make readers feel what your characters are feeling.
            I write romantic suspense. My background is that of an adopted woman, raised in eastern Pennsylvania,  relocated to parts of the Midwest and eventually transplanted to the South.  I've been exposed to a diverse group of people in these locales. My work history, from interior design, duplicate bridge directing for the national organization (ACBL), nursing home and  community ombudsman volunteering, and eventually acting as a co-counselor in bereavement groups for a local hospice  provided me with the voices, emotions, situations and living examples of the people I write about. 
            I would be remiss if I didn't double check my facts, the correct spellings of towns', street maps, historical works, plus the literature, art and  music contemporary to the time-frame of my stories.  Even the choices of names is important to specific locales and the generations.
            The devil may be in the details, but the proof is in the authors' works.

Julie Eberhart Painter's latest books: Mortal Coil, Tangled Web and Kill Fee are now available in Amazon’s Kindle Store and in print from lulu.com or the publisher, www.champagnebooks.com.



Repost.Us

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labels

#MFRWAuthor #Thursday 13 #Thursday13 #excerpt 1001 Nights Press A. Catherine Noon A.B. Gayle A.C. Arthur A.D. McLain AC Katt Abbie St.Claire Adam Mann Adele Downs Adelle Laudau Adera Orfanelli Adite Banerjie Adriana Kraft Aidee Ladnier Aileen Fisher Aithne Jarretta Akaria Gale Alethea Williams Alice Orr Alison McMahan Allison Knight Ally Shields Amber Kallyn Amber Polo Amy Quinton Ana E Ross Andrea Cooper Andrea Parnell Angela Benedetta Angela Benedetti Angela Drake Angela Quarles Angela Scavone Angela Smith Anita Philmar Anna Alexander Anna Durand Anna James Anne Ashby Anne Carrole Anne Kane Annemarie Brear Ashley Ladd Ashley York Author Interview Author Spotlight Autumn Piper Ava Martell Avril Ashton Ayla Ruse Azure Boone BA Tortuga Barb Caffrey Barbara Donlon Bradley Barbara Edwards Barbara Lohr Barbara Meyers Barbara White Daille Ben Tanner Berengaria Brown Berkley Heat Bet Trissel Beth Barany Beth Caudill Beth Rhodes Beth Yarnall Betty Jean McLain Bev Irwin Black Opal Books Blaine D. Arden Blushing Books Book Hooks Book Spotlight BookStrand Romance Boroughs Publishing Brannan Black Breathless Press Brenda Jernigan Brenda Novak Brenda Sparks Brenda Whiteside Brina Brady Brita Addams Bruce Jenvey Brynna Curry C.C. Marks C.R. Moss Calisa Rhose Campbell Hill Publishing Candace Sams Cara Carnes Caridad Pineiro Carina Press Carly Carson Carmen Stefanescu Carmen Webster Buxton Caroline Clemmons Caroline Warfield Cassandra Carr Cat Grant Cat Johnson Catherine E. McLean Cathie Dunn Cathy Perkins Catrina Barton Cecilia Tan Celine Chatillon Cera duBois Champagne Books Changeling Press Chanta Rand Chantilly White Charmaine Gordon Chelle Cordero Cherise Sinclair Christi Williams Christian Phillips Christian Romance Christina Routon Christina Tetreault Christine Fairchild Christine Young Christmas Cinsearae S. Clare Dargin Coleen Kwan Contest Entry Cora Blu Cora J. Ramos Crimson Romance Cupid Publishing Cynnara Tregarth Cynthia Cynthianna D Dominik Wickles D.X. Luc DP Denman Dahlia Dewinters Dani Wade Dariel Raye Dawn Montgomery Dax Varley Dean Pace-Frech Debra Andrews Decadent Publishing Delaney Diamond Denise Devine Denise Patrick Denyse Bridger Desert Breeze Publishing Desiree Holt Dev Bentham Diana Rubino Diane Burton Donna Gallagher Donna June Cooper Donna Maloy Dreamspinner Press Dystopian EL Esch EM Lynley Eden Winters Ednah Walters Elaine Cantrell Elise VanCise Elizabeth Kolodziej Ellora's Cave Emerald Emily Ryan Davis Entangled Erika Kelly Erin McRae Erin O'Quinn Etopia Press Evernight Publishing Fated Desires Featured Author of the Month Flame Arden Flossie Benton Rogers Frances Pauli GLBT Gail Olmsted Gail Roughton Branan Gale Stanley Georgie Lee Gerri Bowen Ginger Simpson Glenn Maynard Greta Buckle Guy Ogan Gwenna Sebastian H. Lewis-Foster Hachette/Forever Harlequin Heartspell Media Heather Curley Heather Long Heaven O'Shey Helen Ellis Helen Henderson Holley Trent Hywela Lyn Indie Published Ines Johnson Irene Preston Iris Blobel J.C. Conway J.F. Jenkins J.L. Sheppard JJ DiBenedetto JJ Keller JM Maurer JM Stewart JMS Books Jackie Leigh Allen Jacquie Biggar Jami Gray Jana Richards Jane Leopold Quinn Jane Toombs Janet Mullany Janie Franz Jannine Corti Petska Jasmine Hill Jaymi Hanako Jean Joachim Jeanne Barrack Jenna Storm Jennette Green Jennifer Britt Jennifer France Jennifer Lynne Jerri Hines Jerrie Alexander Jessi Gage Jessica Cale Jessica E. Subject Jianne Carlo Jill Blake Jolie Pethtel Joselynn Vaughn Joyce Holmes Joyce Palmer Juli Revezzo Julia Talbot Julie Eberhart Painter Juliette Springs June Kramin June Shaw Jupiter Gardens Press K. Lynn K. Starling K.A. M'lady K.E. Saxon KC Klein Karen Blake Karen Cino Karen Lopp Karen McCullough Karen Michelle Nutt Karenna Colcroft Kathleen Rowland Kathryn R. Blake Kathy Kulig Katya Armock Kay Dee Royal Kayelle Allen Kaylin McFarren Kelley Heckart Kendra James Kenra Daniels Kensington Keta Diablo Killarney Sheffield Killian McRae Kim McMahill Kimberly Dean KindleUnlimited Kingsburg Press Kissa Starling Kristina Knight Kryssie Fortune L.A. Remenicky L.A. Sartor L.C. Chase L.C. Giroux Lace Daltyn Lauren Linwood Laverne Thompson Lazy Day Publishing Lee Rowan Leta Blake Libby McKinmer Liese Sherwood-Fabre Limitless Publishing Linda Banche Linda Bond Linda Hoover Linda McLaughlin Linda Mooney Linda Rae Sande Lindsey R. Loucks Liquid Silver Lis Anne Harris Lisa Carlisle Lisabet Sarai Livia Quinn Lizzi Tremayne Lizzie T. Leaf Lloyd A. Meeker Loose Id Lorelei Confer Louisa Masters Louise Lyndon Luanna Nau Luanna Stewart Lucy Francis Lynda Bailey Lynda Coker Lynda Kaye Frazier Lyndi Lamont Lynette Sofras Lynn Cahoon Lynn Gale Lyric James Lyrical Press M.K. Gilher M.S. Kaye M.S. Spencer MFRW Author Banner Day ML Skye MLR PRess Mackenzie Crowne Madeline Archer Madeline Pryce Mae Clair Maggi Andersen Mahlee Ashwynne Malia Mallory Marci Boudreaux Marcia James Mardi Maxwell Margaret Fieland Margay Leah Justice Margery Scott Margo Bond Collins Maria Alexander Maria-Claire Payne Marianne Rice Marie Harte Marion Webb-De Sisto Martha O'Sullivan Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Mary Montague Sikes Mary Morgan Matthew Lang Meg Benjamin Megan Kelly Melinda Curtis Melissa Fox Melisse Aires Melody Jerva Mercedes King Meredith Bond Mia Frances Michael Monaghan Michaela Rhua Michelle Roth Mickie Sherwood Miguelina Perez Miriam Newman Molle McGregor Mona Karel Multicultural Romance Musa Publishing Muse It Up Publishing N.N. Light Nancy Corrigan Nancy J. Cohen Nancy Marie Bell Naomi Bellina Neil S. Plakcy New Adult New Release Nicky Penttila Nicole Graysen Nicole Hurley-Moore Nicole Zoltack Normandie Alleman North Shore Press Notion Press P.A. Estelle P.J. Dean P.J. MacLayne P.S. Singer P.T. Macias PJ Fiala Paisley Brown Paloma Beck Paranormal Romance Patricia Preston Patricia Yager Delagrange Pauline Baird Jones Peggy Jaeger Pender Mackie Penny Estelle Phaze Books Pippa Jay R Costelloe R. Ann Siracusa R.E. Mullins R.M. Sotera Rachael Slate Rachel Haimowitz Rachel Wilder Racheline Maltese Rae Renzi Raven de Hart Reana Malori Rebecca Hunter Rebecca J. Clark Rebel Ink Press Reet Singh Renee Michaels Renee Reynolds Rhonda Hopkins Rhonda Jackson Joseph Rianna Morgan Robert Costelloe Robin Glasser Rolynn Anderson Romantic Mystery Romantic Suspense Rosalie Redd Rosanna Leo Roz Lee Rue Allyn Ruth Casie Ruth Kaufman SKN Hammerstone Sabrina York Sadie Grubor Samara King Samhain Publishing Sandy Nachlinger Sapphire Phelan Sara Walter Ellwood Sarah Jae Foster Savannah Chase Savannah Morgan Secret Cravings Publishing Selena Illyria Self Published Shannyn Schroeder Sharon Clare Shauna Knight Shauna Roberts Shelley Munro Sheri Fredricks Sherry Ewing Shirleen Davies Silver Publishing Siren Publishing Sloane Kennedy Snap Dragon Press Soul Mate Publishing Sourabh Khanna Stacey Brutger Stacy Eaton Stacy Juba Starla Kaye Steampunk Stephanie Queen Stevie Woods Stormy Night Publications Sultry Summers Susan Behon Susan Frances Susan Jaymes Susan Sofayov Suz deMello Suzanne Rock Suzzana Ryan Sydney Jane Baily Sylvia McDaniel Synithia Williams Tamara Hoffa Tami Brothers Tara Lain Tarah Scott Tasarla Romaney Teagan Oliver Tena Stetler Teresa Reasor The Wild Rose Press Thea Dawson Tiffany Daune Time Travel Romance Tina Donahue Tina Gayle Tmonique Stephans Toni Noel Torquere Press Totally Bound Trevann Rogers Tricia Schneider Ursula Sinclair Ute Carbone V.S. Tice Vicki Batman Vicky Burkholder Victoria M Noxon Victoria Pinder Vijaya Schartz Viola Ryan W.M. Kirkland Wendy Lynn Clark Wendy Soliman Western Romance Whiskey Creek Press Wild Child Publishing Willa Blair Yolanda Ashton Young Adult Zeenat Mahal Zrinka Jelic anthology bdsm blog hop book bundle book party catherine gardiene chick lit chris redding contemporary romance eKensington eXtasy Books erotic romance erotica fantasy giveaway historical romance holiday romance inspirational romance interracial karen cote kristen ethridge lynn crain menage military romance novel novella regency romance review romantic comedy rose anderson scifi romance spanking romance suspense thursday13 urban fantasy w. lynn chantale women's fiction