Seven Simple Steps for Finding YOUR Next Chapter; Claire Cook – Author Guest Post
Self. You can’t have self-awareness, self-confidence, or any of those other good self words until you decide to like yourSELF, and who you really are.
Soul Searching. Sometimes it’s just getting quiet enough to figure out what you really want; often it’s digging up that buried dream you had before life got in the way.
Serendipity. When you stay open to surprises, they often turn out to be even better than the things you planned. Throw your routine out the window and let spontaneity change your life.
Synchronicity. It’s like that saying about luck being the place where preparation meets opportunity. Open your eyes and ears – then catch the next wave that’s meant for you!
Strength. Life is tough. Decide to be tougher. If Plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters (204 if you’re in Japan!)
Sisterhood. Connect, network, smile. Build a structure of support, step by step. Do something nice for someone – remember, karma is a boomerang!
Satisfaction. Of course you can get some (no matter what the Rolling Stones said.) Call it satisfaction, fulfillment, gratification, but there’s nothing like the feeling of setting a goal and achieving it. So make yours a good one!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Claire Cook is the bestselling author of seven novels, including Must Love Dogs, which was adapted into a Warner Bros. movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, The Wildwater Walking Club, Life’s a Beach, and her latest, Seven Year Switch, which has received beach read shout outs from People, USA Today, and The New York Times. Her reinvention workshops have been featured on The Today Show, and she has been a judge for the Thurber Humor Prize and the Family Circle fiction contest. Her books have been featured on Good Morning America and in People, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and more. She has two kids, seven brothers and sisters, and one husband. She lives in Scituate, MA.
Visit her website and find reinvention and writing tips at http://www.ClaireCook.com.
Friend her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClaireCookbooks/.
Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ClaireCookbooks/.
HER LATEST BOOK...Just when Jill Murray's finally figured out how to manage on her own, her ex-husband proves that he can't even run away reliably. After seven long years missing in action, he's back--crashing into the man-free existence Jill and her ten-year-old daughter have built so carefully. And what's a good mother to do? To a child, even a deadbeat dad is better than no dad at all.
Jill's life just hasn't turned out quite the way she planned. By now, she'd hoped to be jetting around the world as a high-end cultural coach. Instead, she's answering phones for a local travel agency and teaching cooking classes at the community center.
Enter free-spirited entrepreneur Billy, who hires Jill as a consultant for an upcoming business trip. Is their relationship veering off in a new direction? And what about her ex? Jill couldn't possibly still have feelings for him . . . could she? Suddenly, her no-boys-allowed life is anything but.
They say that every seven years you become a completely new person, but Jill isn't sure she's ready for the big change. It takes a Costa Rican getaway to help her make a choice--not so much between the two men in her life, but between the woman she is and the one she wants to be. - FROM AMAZON
Check out her book trailer below. If you can't see it here, click here.
On Grounding Reality in Fantasy, Kailin Gow – Author Guest Post
In my newest book series, The Wordwick Games, with Rise of the Fire Tamer Book 1 just released, five teens are challenged in a game so real, they don’t know whether to believe it’s real or it isn’t.
Part of this illusion is the establishing of a world so familiar yet so fantastic to us that there is already a sense of reality in this world. As Gem, Sparks, Rio, Jack, and Kat step into the mysterious castle for the first time, they see a castle steep in history. So much has happened in this medieval castle. In The Wordwick Games, Anachronia is the world the five teen gamers enter, thinking it is the 10th level of a virtual game they are playing. To enter this world, they must first begin at Word Castle, a medieval castle I based on Warwick Castle in England. I’ve visited Warwick Castle a number of times and it has always had an impact on me. The castle, the land, the peacocks, and yes, even the ghosts (it’s said to be haunted). Finally, I had to make it a character in a book, and it became a major character in The Wordwick Games Series.
The medieval qualities of Anachronia and our familiarity of this time period through fairy tales and folk tales which brings us knights, ladies, dragons, ogres, trolls, and wizards set the reality of this fantasy adventure novel. Having five teens that walk and talk like real teenagers also provides the realism of this novel. They are familiar faces and people who we know in school or in our daily lives so we are transported with them into this amazing adventure.
Do you know of any books which feature a building or a place so important to the plot, it becomes a main character in the book? If so, which books and what is the name of the building or setting?
After winning a contest for a popular game called Wordwick Games, five teens - Gemma, Sparks, Rio, Kat, and Jack, are invited to stay at Wordwick Games inventor Henry Word's mysterious castle and play the newest level of Workwick Games. Little do they know, the castle is the doorway to a wondrous world call Anachronia where words can be used as weapons, power, and commodity.
There is unrest in Anachronia, and if the five teens can follow the rules of Wordwick Games and prove to be the best player, one of them will be crowned Ruler of Anachronia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Kailin Gow is the multi-published author of The Shy Girls Social Club Handbook for Dealing with Bullies and Other Meanies and 30 more books for teens and young adults, including The Gifted Girls Series which have been recommended by the Parents Teachers Association, PBS Kids, Homeschooling organizations, and Best Teens Books lists. Her fiction titles for older young adults and adults are: Diary of a Discount Donna (A Fashion Fables Novel), and the newly released The Phantom Diaries and Rise of the Fire Tamer (Wordwick Games Book 1). She holds a Masters Degree Communications Management from USC, and Bachelors Degrees in Drama and Social Ecology from UC Irvine. She is a mother, a mentor for young women, and the founder of the social group for girls age 13 to 19 called Shy Girls Social Club at shygirlssocialclub.com.
Read one of her latest interviews here.
Writing Young Adult fiction and the Inspiration Behind The Phantom Diaries, a YA Paranormal Romance; Kailin Gow – Author Guest Post
Although I have written books for all generations, I’m known largely for writing Young Adult books such as the new releases Bitter Frost and The Phantom Diaries. To me, the teen and young adult years are interesting to write about because there are so many issues connected to society and the human experience – first kiss, first love, family issues, friendship issues, becoming independent, and so many decisions on life and so many choices. The onslaught of issues can be overwhelming for a teen, yet, they present opportunities for great growth. Having been a peer counselor in high school, a college mentor, and informal mentor to young women, I tend to bring real life experience about relationships and self-esteem into all my young adult books. For instance, the issue of bullying was one issue brought up in Bitter Frost.
Another young adult issue brought up in The Phantom Diaries, is first love and self-discovery. Annette is an innocent 18 year old girl who is suddenly thrown into a very grown up world. Protected all her life, she finds herself growing up quickly as the new star of the leading opera in New York and the object of affection from three amazing men.
I could feel the excitement, the sense of awe, and the trepidation of this young woman as she was let loose for the first time in her life into the world of adulthood, sophistication, and mystery. As I wondered who was this young lady and what was she doing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the story of the Phantom emerged. As Annette begins to delve into the mystery of the music, she finds herself the center of a century-long story of love, obsession, and revenge. More than a love story, The Phantom Diaries is a study of human cruelty, passion, and redemption.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Author of over 20 books, Kailin Gow is also a writer, producer, and filmmaker. She lives in Southern California with her husband and daughter.
ABOUT THE BOOK...What happens to the Phantom after the tragedy at the Paris Opera House is the basis for this fantastic tale of The Phantom Diaries, loosely based on Gaston Leroux's classic, The Phantom of the Opera, but with a new tale and a modern twist. This new series for older teens and young adults is told through the eyes of 18 year-old Annette Binoche, who lands a job at the New York Metropolitan Opera House as a seamstress' assistant only to become the lead singer of the Opera House, with the help of the mysterious, yet highly-seductive Phantom.
Why Some Writers Go Cat, and Never Go Back; Sam Hilliard – Author Guest Post
Long before publishing became a viable career path, writers turned to pets for companionship, love and the occasional moment of inspiration. As is the case with pet owners, writers often forge a particular allegiance to one kind of pet, be it a cat or dog. While felines and canines can coexist quite well, since writers tend to work at home, they seldom introduce chaos—at least intentionally—into their workplace. So it’s generally one kind of pet or the other. And sometimes it can be quite a lot of that kind.
More than fifty cats roamed Hemingway’s grounds and writing studio; however, most writer’s cat households are more modest in size. Regardless of the number though, the real question of why some writers prefer cats remains unanswered.
As the head of my own Cat Army, Oedipus, Electra, Abra, and Mooshy, I have given the question of why writers go cat great consideration—usually while cleaning up hairballs.
1) Generally quiet. This is critical since most writers alternate between broke and destitute and therefore must rent their abode. A quiet cat makes for a happier landlord. Since cats sleep roughly 65 percent to 95 percent of the workday, depending on the make, model, and age they don’t have many opportunities to make noise.
2) Legal reasons. Plenty of housing complexes restrict dog ownership, but allow cats. Irony is such a cunning mistress.
3) Self-regulating by nature. As long their human provides clean water, food, and checks on the litter box periodically, the cat usually takes care of the rest. No need to rush home to walk them. Going away for the weekend isn’t a problem either. That’s just more bed for them.
4) Cats communicate directly. For instance, when the cat wants his person to start writing so he can claim his bed again, he might gnaw pages left on the night stand. After going a few rounds with an editor, this might seem refreshing but can make the rewrite fun and it generally achieves the desired result of a now writer-free bed.
5) Superior memory. While the writer can’t remember where he put his favorite pen, the cat does. It’s hidden in their lair behind the couch, right where they dragged it.
6) Esoteric taste in people food. Pork rinds, beef jerky, pork lo mien and uncooked pasta are just some of things I’ve caught my cats nibbling.
Hopefully this sheds some light on one of the most pressing questions in contemporary fiction.
ABOUT THE BOOK....The Last Track: A Mike Brody Novel
Imagine if being late meant a child disappeared forever. That is the fear that drives Mike Brody--the man you want, when the one you love is missing. Mike is more than just a master tracker. An ex-Special Forces operative, smoke jumper, and now extreme adventure tour guide, he also possesses a unique ability to tap into the memory and emotional state of those he pursues. In The Last Track, a police detective recruits Mike to help find an asthmatic boy lost in the dense woods surrounding a dude ranch in Montana. An unwitting murder witness, the boy burrows ever deeper into the rugged terrain, fearful of being found. As Mike and a local officer search for the boy, the killer follows them. While the investigation expands, Mike's ex-wife, a well-connected journalist, uses her contacts to unravel the truth behind the murder. Her discoveries threaten to snare them all in a treacherous conspiracy . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Sam resides outside New York City with his girlfriend, and an army of four cats—one feline under the legal limit. His first book, The Last Track: A Mike Brody Novel, a mystery/thriller, released this Spring. When Sam’s not writing, he's the Director of IT at an all-girl boarding school where he gets a chance to observe world-class drama firsthand. It’s also the reason he studies Krav Maga and Tai Chi.
FIND THE AUTHOR ON...
@Twitter: http://twitter.com/samhilliard
@Facebook: http://facebook.com/thelasttrack
@GoodReads http://goodreads.com/samhilliard
How To Make Blended Families Work, Dr. John Bell – Author Guest Post
It all takes knowing yourself and what you can live with and what you can not. It really comes down to what you love about someone that you will accept their successes as well as their failures to make life better for all. Blended families have great challenges especially with the acceptance of a new father or mother in the family this can also be brothers and sisters that will have some resistance joining into the blended family.
It seems that the nuclear family of Mother and Father with two kids is diminishing every year. In 2008 according to the US census, 2.4 million children live without a father in the home and were raised primarily by the Mother. This may sound alarming but it is an ever growing trend in the US. 72% of African-American children are raised in single parent holds. 40% of Latino or Hispanic children are born to single parent household. 37% of all white children are raised in single parent house hold. Therefore, to claim that this is a minority problem is not being accurate of the facts.
However, this also demonstrates the need for blended families and their contribution to our society as we try to rekindle the flame of family. Blended families are the new family solution of America's growing demographic dismantling of the nuclear family today.
It is imperative that society promote and respect blended families for what they aspire humanity to reach for with the best of what family is all about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Dr. Bell is married and has one daughter and a step son and has experienced the subject of the baby daddy syndrome and the drama that can be experienced from relationships that include a blended family structure. Dr. Bell has chosen to write about some of the challenges from a man’s perspective involved in a blended family where the man does not have any children and the woman has a child from a previous relationship. You can visit his website at www.drjohnbell.com.
EVERY UNWED MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE COMES TO LIFE IN THE PAGES OF INVASION OF THE BABY DADDY, a compelling and moving debut novel that echoes the emotional and cerebral frustrations of unwed mothers throughout the ages. Its unforgettable characters and authentic story line are interwoven with current and real facts about the volume of unwed mothers in our society today. In the story, Dr. Sands believes he has found his perfect mate only to discover that she is pregnant from a previous relationship. Not fully aware of the ramifications of this colossal news, Dr. Sands and Rachel date via long distance during her pregnancy and ultimately decide to get married. In order to make a life together, Rachel must move to Tennessee to start a new life with her husband. But the Baby Daddy has other plans for them. Determined to make this marriage work, Dr. Sands goes to extraordinary lengths to try and negotiate with the Baby Daddy. Brimming with honesty from the author s own experiences, Invasion of the Baby Daddy comes alive with unique freshness, candor and rich detail. - AMAZON.COM
The Hazards of the Sailing Away Fantasy, JP White – Author Guest Post
There are few fantasies more compelling in American life than sailing away and leaving the rat race behind. Yet less than half the couples who embark on the "booze, cruise and snooze" life in the islands find the adventure bliss they are seeking. The other half routinely find trouble and lots of it including theft, infidelity, drugs, divorce, loss of boat and sometimes murder. The sailing life -- which is the setting for my debut novel Every Boat Turns South -- provides more than enough fodder for the mystery/crime genre because unsavory characters linger on every dock, beach and fishing pier. And it turns how sailing away is hard work. You need to navigation, engine repair, be reasonably fit and nimble, and have enormous reserves of good cheer and resilience because things will go wrong, the weather will turn foul, and will run aground somewhere. What else?
We don't have to look very far to see that pirates are alive and well in our world. Wherever there is water, there are men and women on boats with guns who know those waters better than anyone else. The Bahamas, where my story travels to, have always been used for drug smuggling because of their proximity to the States. In the 1980s, there were hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine coming into Florida through the islands. Now, there is both human and drug smuggling. If nothing else, the law of the universe tells us opposites always attract. Where there is great beauty and peacefulness there is also the worm of its undoing.
In my novel, a boat delivery from West Palm Beach to St. Thomas in the B.V.I. gets sidetracked by the Trade Winds shifting. The Trades blow from the northeast from November to April then switch around to the southeast starting in April. Matt Younger, my protagonist, is a skipper on a forty-foot trimaran that pulls into South Caicos on April Fool's Day. Problem is, Matt is heading south and he gets caught there. While he's waiting for a front to push back against the Trades, he gets mixed up with a drug pilot and makes a reckless decision to steal a cocaine drop out from under the pilot's nose. When the weather turns foul, sailors make bad decisions all the time. In fact, they've been doing this for thousands of years. Every Boat Turns South is a sailing adventure retold to a dying
father. Bad decisions are the standing rigging of this tale, but then one good decision arrives, but it's not one that anyone expects.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR... J.P. White has published essays, articles, fiction, reviews, interviews and poetry in over a hundred publications including The Nation, The New Republic, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Gettysburg Review, American
Poetry Review, and Poetry (Chicago). He is a graduate of New College in Sarasota, Florida, Colorado State University and Vermont College in Fine Arts. He is the author of five books of poems and a novel, Every Boat Turns South.
Author website: www.jpwhite.net
Every Boat Turns South is the story of Matt Younger, a 30-year-old boat delivery captain, who returns to Florida from the Dominican Republic to make a confession to his dying father.
With two companions, a cook named Jesse, and Phillip, a French mechanic, Matt tells his father how he set off from West Palm Beach on board Stardust, a 40' trimaran that will be tested as much as the crew. Matt Younger reveals how, instead of sailing Stardust in one outside shot to St. Thomas, he drifts through the Bahamas, arriving in the Turks & Caicos, just as the Trade Winds switch against him. There, in Cockburn Harbor, Matt's brush with a drug pilot will take him off course to the Dominican Republic where the dreams that enchant these three sailors are paid for in lust, betrayal, and violence.
When Matt meets Rosario, a sensuous Dominican woman, he believes she can help him outdistance his guilt over his role in the premature death of his brother who was the father's favorite son, yet Rosario has her own dream of escape which she must negotiate just as Matt presses her to leave with him for St. Thomas.
Every Boat Turns South is, in part, a meditation on dying, on love and forgiveness as well as an adventure odyssey of the wayward flesh and the returning spirit, and on how one re-invents and denies the past in order to redeem the present.
Late Payment Warning by Dale Robyn Siegel – Author Guest Post
I received my Chase MasterCard bill in the mail today. I am one of those people that review the charges line by line, the interest rate and my reward miles. I must have been bored, because I really analyzed the bill and all of the new disclosures the bank has to include now.
One really caught my eye. Although I knew about this new rule, I wanted to point out how to avoid any extra charges or increases in interest rates. This is what it says:
Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your minimum payment by the date listed above, you may have to pay up to a $39.00 late fee and your APR will be subject to increase to a maximum penalty of 29.99%.
This means that if I am one day late with my payment, they will charge me 39 bucks and probably have the ability to increase my rate to wow 29%. That would be horrible. Any excuses for late payments, (such as the dog ate my bills, I left my briefcase on the bus or we were away for a month and did receive our mail) will not stop them from hitting you both ways. So, what to do to avoid this happening?
Apply for the AutoPayment feature on all of your credit cards. AutoPayment is very simple; it allows you to have your credit card payment taken out of your checking account each month on the due date. They give you choices, such as minimum payment, monthly charges or total balance. It is easy to do online, and takes a month or two to go into effect. Also, note that if the online feature is not available, you might need to send down a voided check. Anyway you have to, go AutoPayment, it will not fail you. Never a late payment shall you have! - FROM DALE ROBYN SIEGEL
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Dale Robyn Siegel is a licensed attorney in New York and President of Circle Mortgage Group, in Harrison, New York. She is an adjunct professor at NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate as well as Baruch College. She is the editor for the blog "Diaries of a Mad Mortgage Broker" and has been speaking to the public and teaching real estate professionals about mortgage finance for the past ten years. She is a sought after expert on all things real estate and frequently quoted in national publications such as The New York Times, Smart Money and BusinessWeek. She is currently working on a second book, The 20 Hour S.A.F.E. Comprehensive Mortgage Loan Originator Course Textbook. This course is now required nationally for all those mortgage professionals with direct consumer contact. She is teaching the course herself in the New York Metropolitan area. Siegel holds both an MBA and a Law degree which have given her the base to be a leader in her field.
Follow the author: Twitter - Website - Facebook - LinkedIn
ABOUT THE BOOK...THIS BOOK IS the latest and most current how-to book on how to get the best mortgage and the lowest interest rate out there..... The book is short, around 200 pages, so there is no room for fluff or filler. It is easy to read, set up in chapters and short essays on specific topics. A how-to book on real estate written by an attorney, 20 year veteran in the mortgage industry AND a college level professor. The material is a combination of her classroom format, her every day knowledge and expertise combined with real life experiences to bring the point home. This works and you will love it!
A few interesting and favorite topics covered in 300 words or less: * What are the new guidelines for FICO scores and loan to values and how do they affect mortgage rates? * What is Rapid Rescore Response and can it really improve your credit score in 48 hours? * How to get money from your 401k without a penalty * When can a loan from my father-in-law be called a gift? * Why is now so important to show as much money in reserves as you can? * PMI v self insured. Which one is the bigger rip-off? * What will it now cost you to refinance your home and pull cash out? * Appraisal fraud and how is it affecting the value of your home * What is an appraisal contingency clause vs. a mortgage contingency clause and how can you lose your deposit if you do not know? * Points, origination fees, discount fees and broker fees. How do you avoid them all? * What really affects the mortgage rates? * Where do you find the best lawyer in town? - FROM AMAZON
Excuse me, Does this Cake Make My Ass Look Big? – Diane Sweeney: Author Guest Post
I have a question. How many times have you walked by a mirrored window and glanced at your reflection and cringed? The other day, I was walking around Campbell, and I happened to turn and look at my reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, I was annoyed. Why was a huge person following me so closely. Back up, buddy. Give me some room. However, he was right on my heels. Finally, I stopped and whipped around, but there was nobody there. I looked back in the mirror and did a double take. There was never anybody following me. It was me. Holy Cow! How long has my backside been trailing behind me like a 320-pound linebacker?
I grimace as I write this …which actually gets me thinking of Grimace the big purple looking creature in the McDonald’s commercials. What was he? Wasn’t he Ronald McDonald’s best friend? Was he Barney for the 80’s brat pack? Didn’t he represent milkshakes? Yum. Milkshakes. ARGH. Food. Food. Food. That is all I ever think about. Do you know how many times I have been to Weight Watchers? Probably more times than I have been on dates. It stops, today. I am going to begin my diet for the 1,345th time. I am going to join an online Weight Watchers group, and I am taking a few of my friends along for the ride. Wanna join in on the fun? We can lose weight together.
Now, where did I put those articles I just got from my US Weekly? Ah, yes, here they are—I just clipped 2 articles from a current magazine. One is a diet guaranteed to drop 10 pounds off my body in a weekend. The other is a recipe for a 6 minute pecan fudge cake. Who says we can’t have our cake and eat it, too?
I have a question. How many times have you walked by a mirrored window and glanced at your reflection and cringed? The other day, I was walking around Campbell, and I happened to turn and look at my reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, I was annoyed. Why was a huge person following me so closely. Back up, buddy. Give me some room. However, he was right on my heels. Finally, I stopped and whipped around, but there was nobody there. I looked back in the mirror and did a double take. There was never anybody following me. It was me. Holy Cow! How long has my backside been trailing behind me like a 320-pound linebacker?
I grimace as I write this …which actually gets me thinking of Grimace the big purple looking creature in the McDonald’s commercials. What was he? Wasn’t he Ronald McDonald’s best friend? Was he Barney for the 80’s brat pack? Didn’t he represent milkshakes? Yum. Milkshakes. ARGH. Food. Food. Food. That is all I ever think about. Do you know how many times I have been to Weight Watchers? Probably more times than I have been on dates. It stops, today. I am going to begin my diet for the 1,345th time. I am going to join an online Weight Watchers group, and I am taking a few of my friends along for the ride. Wanna join in on the fun? We can lose weight together.
Now, where did I put those articles I just got from my US Weekly? Ah, yes, here they are—I just clipped 2 articles from a current magazine. One is a diet guaranteed to drop 10 pounds off my body in a weekend. The other is a recipe for a 6 minute pecan fudge cake. Who says we can’t have our cake and eat it, too?
TITLE: Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace
AUTHOR: Diane Sweeney
PUBLISHER: Adelmore Press
PUBLICATION DATE: December 11, 2009
FORMAT: Kindle
In today's age of virtual "hook-ups" and online encounters, it is no surprise that there are thousands of websites devoted to Internet dating.
Told in a series of vignettes, Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace, Dianne Sweeney's revealing account of dating in the 21st century takes you on a hilarious, often poignant journey of online dates, dumps, and disasters. As she discovers the world of Internet dating is blessed by those seeking true love and plagued by those just "seeking." Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace uncovers the reality of online dating-its pleasures, its horrors, and all the quirky stuff in between.
35 Old Tips for New Writers, Amelia Grey – Author Guest Post + Giveaway
Thank you for having me at The Book Faery. I’m very happy to be here.
It’s hard for me to believe, but I have been happily published for twenty years now. My first book came out in 1990 and now I’m thrilled my twenty-first book, An Earl to Enchant, the third book in the Rogues’ Dynasty Series has just hit bookstores. I don’t know who said it first, but whoever did was right when he said, “My how time flies when you are having fun!”
I remember the early days of my writing career when I attended conferences held by Romantic Times and Romance Writers of America. I was fortunate enough back then to sit under the tutelage of some of the Masters of romance books; Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Lavyrle Spencer, Jayne Ann Krentz, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, and Debbie MacComber just to name a few.
Did you know that in the early days we could take recorders into workshops and tape the sessions? They don’t allow us to do that now. I would take notes and record the speakers and then go home and type out useful one-liners from my notes. Over the years, I’ve collected some great advice for beginning and seasoned writers that I made into a check list. I always read them before I start a new book.
Over the years, I didn’t keep up with which writer said what, but I thought you might like to read what I call my great one-liner tips from some of the best and most successful romance writers in the business.
- Every writer has their own way to write a book
- Think about your story for a long time
- Collect all your research
- Know your characters
- Establish a character on first page
- Don’t under estimate your first page or your first chapter
- First page sets the pace
- Study your first page – Did you tell who, what, when, where?
- Best first lines are drama
- Good first lines plunge hero or heroine into dire straits
- The better you use your opening chapter, the better your book will be
- Plunge your reader into conflict immediately
- Reader involvement is the most important thing you can do
- Get your reader early and you’ll keep them to the end of the book
- Give the hero and heroine the promise of romance early in the book
- But readers get bored with too much happiness
- Write in a little misery, then resolve it
- If you don’t pace yourself, you’re headed for trouble
- But don’t be slow
- No two people talk alike – remember your characters’ personalities
- Never assume your readers know your characters just because you do
- Don’t let your characters sit around and do nothing
- Watch for uneven characters
- Secondary characters should never take away from the hero and heroine
- Go directly to action – Don’t stop for background
- Give background in small segments
- A sense of urgency is a must
- Don’t make emotional scenes long or chatty
- Don’t let your story lack life or excitement
- There has to be a strong emotional concept
- Motivation must be made clear
- Don’t throw logic out of the window for the sake of drama
- Make sure you have enough threads to hold the book together
- Cut the trite and silly
- Don’t be trendy
- Keep up with today’s market
- Don’t forget to read – all kinds of books
So after reading these fabulous tips from romance’s finest, do you think you’re ready to start a book?
The first chapter of my latest book An Earl to Enchant, the third book in the Rogues’ Dynasty Series is available on my website. I hope you’ll stop by and read it.
I love to hear from readers. Please e-mail me at ameliagrey@comcast.net or visit my website at ameliagrey.com.
AN EARL TO ENCHANT by AMELIA GREY—IN STORES APRIL 2010
He’s determined not to be a hero…
Lord Morgandale is as notorious as he is dashing, and he’s determined no woman will tie him down. But from the moment Arianna Sweet appears on his doorstep, he cannot resist the lure of her fascinating personality, exotic wardrobe, and tempting green eyes…
She has a deadly secret…
Arianna Sweet never imagined the significance of her father’s research until after his untimely death. Now she is in possession of his groundbreaking discovery, one that someone would kill for. She can’t tell Lord Morgandale her secret, but she knows she needs his help, desperately…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Winner of the Booksellers Best Award and the Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter, Amelia Grey's books have been sold in Europe, Russia and China. Married for twenty-five years to her high school sweetheart, she has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and now calls Panama City Beach, Florida, home. For more information, please visit www.ameliagrey.com.
BOOK GIVEAWAY…Thanks to SourceBooks, The Book Faery Reviews is giving away 2 copies of An Earl to Enchant to one lucky commenter of this post. Commenter’s must have a US/Canada address and no PO Boxes. For additional entries you can do the following:
1) Got another writing tip you've heard of or use for yourself? Tell us for your main entry. OR leave a comment for the author. 
2) Tweet (make sure you add in “@farrah1230 #tbfr” so I can find the tweet easily)
3) Post about this giveaway on your blog or other social networking site and leave me the link
4) Be an e-mail subscriber
5) Be an RSS Reader subscriber
This giveaway will run until April 30th, 2010.
My Sister’s Voice, Mary Carter – Author Guest Post
TITLE: My Sister's Voice
AUTHOR: Mary Carter
PUBLISHER: Kensington
PUBLICATION DATE: May 25, 2010
PAPERBACK PAGES: 352
GENRE: Women's Fiction
A proudly deaf artist in Philadelphia, Lacey Gears is in a relationship with a wonderful man and rarely thinks about her childhood in a home for disabled orphans. That is, until Lacey receives a letter that begins, 'You have a sister. A twin to be exact'. Learning that her identical, hearing twin, Monica, experienced the normal childhood she was denied resurrects all of Lacey's grief, and she angrily sets out to find Monica and her parents. But the truth is far from simple. And for every one of Lacey's questions that's answered, others are raised, more baffling and profound. "My Sister's Voice" is a beautifully written novel about sisterhood, love, and the stories we cling to until real life comes crashing in.
AUTHOR GUEST POST...Five things I learned while writing “My Sister’s Voice”
1. Character’s are what happen when the writer is busy making other plans
Like all my novels, “My Sister’s Voice” went through several drafts. The old adage, “Writing is re-writing” is one I live by. There were several major changes from one draft to the next. Some were brought about because of an editorial suggestion or decision, and some were realized as character’s deepened and took on a life of their own. Even when you have a character sketch or an outline, it takes awhile to get to know who your character’s are, and if you’re lucky, they’ll speak to you as you write. I’ve heard stories of actors who are in a television series saying to the writer—“My character wouldn’t say that”. That’s because over time the actor gets to know their character inside and out. A first draft is like a rough sketch. But by the time you’ve written three or four drafts your characters are more fleshed out; they become real human beings. By then, something you had them saying or doing in the first draft may no longer ring true. I love it when I get to know my characters well enough to realize instinctually what they would say or do. It often feels as if they’re telling you what to do, but I’m not complaining, it makes writing much easier when your characters are “bossy”!
2. Agents, editors, and writers groups, can disagree
I was taking a writing class when I started work on “My Sister’s Voice”. I think classes are great, even for published writers, maybe even especially for published writers, because you never stop learning. I also love meeting new people, being part of a group, and listening to feedback. On the first go-round of “My Sister’s Voice”, I opened with a scene at a funeral. My writing class loved it. My editor said it was too much and told me to scrap my first three chapters and start over. Eek! I wanted to tell him how much my writer’s group loved those chapters, but I put my ego aside and started over. In the end, I agree with my editor, although fun to write, the original scenes were a little too much. It’s all a process. And then, in the end, my agent had feedback that my editor didn’t quite agree with. These are all writers, informed readers, and professionals. The point is, you can have ten people in a room and all ten people might disagree. Writing is a process, and it’s also subjective. Although praise is great, and criticism can sting, it’s important to trust in your work, and realize that you can’t please everyone. On the other hand, it’s vital that you’re open to feedback, it’s the only way to get out of your comfort zone and step up your game.
3. A real life case of twins raised apart and meeting for the first time as adults was happening as I was writing my fictional account—and they wrote a book about it!
The book is called “Identical Strangers”, A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein. At first, I was worried people would think I took their real life story and turned it into fiction. In reality, the outline for my novel was submitted way before I knew about the existence of the book. It was a good read though, and it just confirmed how fascinated I was with the subject of twins being separated. I love all the stories I’ve read about twins raised apart having eerie similarities, including marrying women with the same names, living within 7 miles from each other, having similar jobs, etc. I love it. Nature versus nurture—never a boring discussion.
4. Philadelphia is a cool city
I had never been to Philadelphia before writing this book, even though I’m a short train ride away here in New York City. I loved Philly—the history, the bohemian feel, and of course, the cheese steaks!
5. Writing is easier when you use “what you know”
I did not have to research Deafness, American Sign Language, or interpreting. While I’m not an expert on any of the above, I am a certified American Sign Language interpreter, and I’ve been working in the Deaf Community for the past twelve years. I also grew up with a cousin who is Deaf and was married to a Deaf woman. Although I only saw him once in awhile, my sister and I learned a little bit of sign language as kids and would sign with him and his wife whenever we saw them. It was the start of my love affair with sign language, but especially with Deaf people who are just down right cool, and often misrepresented in books and movies. That said, the book is fiction and I do not speak for any individual or community in real life. Deaf people are as varied as hearing people, and so are their opinions, practices, and beliefs!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...MARY CARTER is a freelance writer and novelist. My Sister’s Voice is her fourth novel with Kensington. Her other works include: She’ll Take It, Accidentally Engaged, Sunnyside Blues, and The Honeymoon House in the best selling anthology Almost Home. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is part of the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has just completed A Very Maui Christmas, a new novella for Kensington that will be included in a Christmas of 2010 anthology. She is currently working on a new novel, The Pub Across the Pond, about an American woman who swears off all Irish men only to learn she’s won a pub in Ireland. Readers are welcome to visit her at http://marycarterbooks.com.
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