So You Want to be a Writer!?

Interview with Amy Durham

2012-01-27T12:51:00.000-08:00

Today I have the honor of interviewing Amy Durham, author of Once Again.

Before we begin, here is some information about her new release:

eincarnation sucks! Unless it comes with a cute guy. That’s what sixteen year-old Layla Bradford discovers when she moves to Sky Cove, Maine, a small-town she thought was ordinary, but turns out to be an episode of “Cold Case” on steroids.

Layla doesn’t want to fit in; she wants to blend in and stay out of the spotlight. But the spotlight is where she winds up when she catches the eye of school cross-country star and all-around-nice-guy Lucas Ellis. She quickly learns there’s more at stake than high school reputations when she and Lucas discover they are the reincarnations of a young married couple from the mid-1800s who suffered a horrible tragedy at the hands of a madman who was never brought to justice. After a series of frightening visions show Layla and Lucas glimpses of their past-lives, they realize that the villain of their previous existence has also been reincarnated, in the form of a fellow high school student who targets them with teenage pranks that soon turn dangerous. As they grow closer, will Layla and Lucas be able
to uncover the truth in time to stop the same tragedy from unfolding once again.

1. How long have you been writing?

I've been writing, in some form or fashion, since the 6th grade. Nine years ago, just before my second child was born, I made the decision to pursue it seriously. I got involved in a writer's organization and really got serious about learning the craft of writing.

2. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write your book?

The original idea was to write a reincarnation story. I had a vision of two people seeing glimpses of their past-lives and being caught up in the mystery and the romance of what had once been. From there, the plot of ONCE AGAIN just sort of took off, and I was able to plot the various story threads and flesh out the characters.

3. What sets your book apart from other books in the same genre?

I love all kinds of Young Adult fiction... everything from Urban Fantasy to true-to-life stories that tackle tough issues. What I tried to do differently in my book was to craft not just a paranormal story with obstacles that the characters have to overcome, but to also weave a love story throughout, complete with a happy ending for the two characters. I really wanted to take what I love about paranormal and what I love about romance and combine them into a Young Adult storyline.

4. As an author, what is your writing process?

I work full-time as a teacher, and my husband and I have 3 children (ages 13, 8, & 5). My time is limited! The key to my writing process is to be INTENTIONAL. Writing is important to me, so that means I make time for it, even when my time is limited. If all I have is 20 minutes at the end of the day, once the kids are in bed, then I make those 20 minutes count! When I start a new book, I generally start with an opening scene or bit of dialogue that's in my head, then sit down to plot the book. The plot/synopsis is usually pretty rough, and always changes as I'm working through the story, but it helps to have a synopsis to guide me and keep me on track.

5 How long did it take for you to start and finish your book?

ONCE AGAIN was written over the course of about 18 months.

6. Do you have any advice for other writers?

If you love to write... write. Write for yourself! I've always said that even if I never published a book and no one ever read my writing, I would still write because it gave me something I couldn't get anywhere else! Also, find other writers. Writing, by nature, is a solitary venture, so it's wonderful to find other people with whom you can share that creative side of yourself. Other writers are a wealth of information and knowledge that will make your writing better.

7. What’s next for you?

I'm hard at work on the sequel to ONCE AGAIN... titled ONCE AND FOR ALL. It follows two new characters from Sky Cove who run into a different kind of reincarnation drama than the characters in ONCE AGAIN. I hope to release ONCE AND FOR ALL in late 2012.

8. If you could time travel anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?

Wow... that's a tough one! There are so many interesting places and times that I'd love to experience. But if I had to pick just one, I would probably choose to see Scotland, before the last Jacobite uprising in 1746. I'd love to see the clans wearing their plaid and playing their pipes and experience that culture that was all but lost. Some of my favorite stories have been set in Scotland, and I think it would be wonderful to see what life was like when the clans still existed the way they originally did. Oh... and if could pick just one more, I'd go back in time and see Beethoven's Ninth Symphony when it was performed for the first time. Beethoven was completely deaf when he wrote his Ninth Symphony (known as the "Ode to Joy"), and on the night of the premier, he sat in the front row, unable to hear the orchestra that was performing his masterpiece. At the end of the performance, they audience stood to its feet with thunderous applause. Beethoven had no idea. Someone had to tell him to stand up, turn around, and take a bow. How devastating his deafness must've been for him, but what an example of overcoming great difficulty to achieve a dream!

You can get her new books here:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Once-Again-Sky-Cove-ebook/dp/B0071NTTV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327621050&sr=8-1

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/once-again-amy-durham?keyword=once+again+amy+durham&store=allproducts

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/126513

Thanks for stopping by, Amy!

--
Amy Durham

amy-durham.blogspot.com

twitter.com/amy-durham

facebook.com/AuthorAmyDurham

The Writing Bug Knows No Age Limits

2011-10-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today I am honored to present Morgan St. James. She is a fantastic writer. I'm greatly honored to have her here.

Before we begin, here is a little about Morgan:
A self-described workaholic who splits time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Morgan is an entertaining speaker, frequently appearing on author’s panels and presenting writing workshops. She co-authors the award-winning Silver Sisters Mysteries series with her sister Phyllice Bradner, also writes as Arliss Adams, and her short stories have won awards. They appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and other anthologies including her own anthology, “Women on the Edge.” Her “Spotlight” and “Writers Tricks of the Trade” columns appear weekly in Los Angeles and Las Vegas editions of www.examiner.com, and inspired her recently released book “Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction.”

The Writing Bug Knows No Age Limits

Stephanie and I are at opposite ends of the pole. She began writing at an early age and now is twenty and multi-published. I didn’t jump into the insanity of being a writer until I’d had several other successful careers. Some people know where they are heading when they are kids; others, like me, are lucky if they ever find out what they’ll be when they grow up. LOL

That raises the question: “How did I become a writer and eventually write about ‘tricks of the trade’ for other writers?” It wasn’t my major or passion when I was in school, although I loved to read and always wrote well. It all happened when I was an interior designer. My partner and I were approached by a slick West Coast design magazine to write an article for them. We had designed a unique wood floor and the magazine wanted a typical “How we did it” article.

Of course we said yes—free publicity in a highly circulated magazine—instant credibility as designers recognized by our peers? It never even crossed our minds to turn it down. When reality set in we had to face the fact that we weren’t writers, at least not yet. The photographers had been out, and the deadline approached rapidly. We had nothing! On the night before the article was due we knew we were in trouble. After a few glasses of wine and lots of hand-wringing, we turned out a spoof. A one page noir mystery involving searching the waterfront for crates to turn into a custom wood floor.

We rationalized that it was better than turning in nothing. Well, the gods were in our corner, because the editor loved it and wanted more. My partner wasn’t interested. She was a designer. But, the moment I plucked the magazine from a rack in the supermarket and saw my name in print I was hooked.

During the years that followed I wrote many ‘how to’ design articles for the trade, then branched into other topics as diverse as dementia and bartering for other magazines and newspapers. When my sister (a published journalist with two non-fiction books to her credit) and I decided to try our hand at fiction, it was an ego-deflating experience. Our first Silver Sisters Mystery took us a few years to write and we loved it so much we fantasized about a bidding war. Instead, we got enough rejection slips to paper a wall.

The lesson learned? Writing magazine and newspaper articles and writing fiction are two different animals. A few more years followed as we learned the ins and outs of writing fiction. I want to say here that although I’ve won awards, wrote the recently released book Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction and I publish a writers’ newsletter and four Examiner.com columns weekly about writing, I’m always finding something new—another tip or technique to ratchet my skills one step higher.

You never stop learning, and if you think you do it could translate into not being willing to expand your mind.

We paid our dues. With what we learned, the entire manuscript was rewritten, contracted for, published and awarded Best Mystery Audio Book 2007 by USA Book News. More fiction followed, but now I’m back to my original roots as well. I realized I really wanted to write a book, columns, blog and newsletter for writers. I’m a good teacher and this allows me to share information in an easy to read, ready to use format. That’s what I mean by not closing down your options. I’m still writing fiction, but I’ve broadened my horizons.

At a time in life when most people are slowing down, I’m speeding up. Readers can subscribe to the blog/newsletter at http://writerstricksofthetrade.blogspot.com. Guest contributors from all over the U.S. are now writing articles for the monthly newsletter and next month we will
welcome Stephanie as one of our contributors. Readers are encouraged to share the link for the newsletter with their writer friends.

Stephanie has such a solid start I can imagine how many books she will have in print by the time she is my age. Enough to fill a room, I suspect. For more information about Morgan and her books, visit www.morganstjames-author.com and

Guest Interview with Kim Cormack

2011-10-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Guest Interview with Kim Cormack! She is absolutely fabulous. Thank you so much for coming, Kim.

1. First off, as a way of introduction, I am going to ask you why I am asking you these interview questions?

Well I haven’t committed any crimes lately so let me guess is it the books? I have two published children’s books “Being Four,” and “Shark Boots” and a just a couple ready for release indie children’s books,” Stuff about My Mom”, “Heaven smiled on me”, “Freckles On his nose and Wiggles in his toes,” and “Tigergators Do.” I have also written a bordering on inappropriate gag children’s book, “The Boogie Man Can”.
My Very First Teen/Adult Thriller “Sweet Sleep “will be out in the new year.
“Sweet Sleep,” is going to be a three book series so far, but you never know.
    I am incredibly stoked about this book it’s twisted, dark and mortifyingly shocking.
    It comes out of the gate genuinely traumatising enough to make you desperate to read the next in the series. I’m genuinely attached to the characters already and can’t wait to see myself where I take them in the next book.

A writer should be able to pull off writing about absolutely anything.
I wrote ,”The Boogie Man Can” about children wiping boogies on furniture so maybe my next children’s indie will be a lovely little book about poop.
I also have another Adult novel,”The Hot Chick Diaries.”It’s kind of a dark comedy about dating. This book however does not stand a chance of being edited and sent out before next summer there is far too much on my plate right now.

2. I see that you like to right comedy. Do you "get in the comedy mood" before you write?

I think I’m kind of always in the comedy mood ;)
    My life sometimes feels like some kind of cosmic joke. I’m sure that every parent gets that feeling that someone is laughing their behind off about and saying,” Now let’s see what she does when the children do this.” I usually get plenty of writing material from my son alone.

3. What is your favourite funny line from your book?

Sweet Sleep: “Hey I will have you know I have been going commando since my first wedgie in grade five. Once they grab for underwear and don’t find any they get very afraid and back right off. “Kevin said with an authoritative tone.

     Kayn doubled over into fits of giggles, “I may actually pee myself,” she said through bursts of hysterical laughter.

    “You learn lots of little things that help you maneuver through geekdom unscathed if you’re crafty you know, “Kevin said as they started walking again together.

4. Is there any main character that is inspired by you?

Yes I am the commando wedgie guy ;) just kidding.
I have some of Kayns easy spirit I think, mixed with some of Chloe’s voodoo powers.
It’s been like 36 years at least since I wiped a boogie on anything besides a Kleenex, so I’m pretty sure I’m not at all like the Boogie Man.

5. Do you work people that you hate into your novels?

Not yet, and I have disliked people but hate is such a strong word.
   The Hot Chick Diaries; full of people who resemble people I may have known and some I may moderately dislike. But I promise there are no names or descriptive traits about looks coming close to the actual muses. The Hot Chick Diaries is a hilarious dark comedy.
Hate/Dislike is the difference between wanting to run a man over with your car and peeing in his coffee.   (Any single girls can cheer now)
   I’m in such a peaceful place with a great man; it’s a happy time for me.

6. Say you are REALLY hungry. Do you find a way to write about food in your books?

I totally would find a way to write Nachos and Swedish berries into my books.
Crab and artichoke dip yummy, chocolate and Cherry Jell-O.
Rice Crispi squares yummy....it’s possible that I may be the person most easily swayed by suggestion on the planet.
Bet I pegged you off with something on that list ;)

7. What is your ideal working environment?

My laptop in my bedroom, the kids at school, and I am golden.

8. Do you do anything really weird to prepare for writing?

Just a few simple chants that are followed by some small bug sacrifices that’s all.
Oh and I must wear the slippers that I squished them in, but not if it’s Sunday.
   I would like to apologise to all of the small bugs that may have been harmed during my writing process.
I will make a donation to the Bug Zoo tomorrow in their honour ;)
Joking, all I do is have a big glass of Water and some Green tea/Earl grey tea.
I do wear my big fuzzy slippers on most days ;)

9. Are you as funny in real life as you are in your books?

Not remotely funny, I have an extremely bad attitude, no sense of humour at all ;)
   I never make jokes about anything and have people complaining that I am far too serious. ;)
   Do you know a good plastic surgeon that does nose jobs?

10. Are you a people person?

I like everyone unless they smell bad, and then I still like them I just like them from afar.
    I’ll be serious for a second; I am a people person ;)

11. How did you get into writing?

I used to write songs short stories and then basically stopped writing for ten years. Then one night at two thirty in the morning I had a dream about holding a baby chick and being very small. I texted my first book, “Being Four” into my cell phone.

12. What is your favourite book?

Robert Munsch is just my favourite children’s author to read to my children.
    I’m kind of all about,” Sweet Sleep” right now. It’s just amazing to me that, this book came out of my brain.
   “Being four,” because it felt kind of magical how it came to be.
    “Shark Boots,” because it’s just tickle your funny bone till you have an accident, absolutely hilarious.

13. If you had the choice between meeting a famous author and meeting Penelope Cruz, who would you choose to meet?

I would love to meet Steven King, I just think he’s brilliant.

14. Cars, girls, or books?

Books for sure, however I have a sexy minivan.

15. Some writers have weird quirks. Jack London even pretended to be a wolf and ate raw meat. Do you have weird quirks?

I always ask my waitress for a gross amount of hot sauce, and then I add in a joking manner when they clarify how much. I say I would like you to be personally grossed out and offended at the amount of hot sauce on the wrap ;)

16. Finally, the question the separates the men from the boys. If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be? Why?

I would be a coconut so I would be high up enough to knock someone out when I fell, and who doesn’t love that song. Its catchy ....I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts....there they are all standing in a row...big ones... small ones ....some the size of your head.

Tina Gayle on Goals, Motivation, and Conflict

2011-10-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Today I'm proud to announce that I'm having another fantastic guest blogger, Tina Gayle. Thanks for coming, Tina! I'm proud to have you.

Goals, Motivation and Conflict

Some of you might be thinking I’m going to talk about Debra Dixon’s book, but the same words can apply to developing the plan for your career.

Goals: At the start of the New Year, we plan what we want to achieve. It might be easy to come up with the goals but hard to achieve them. After all, we only have twenty-four hours in a day, no more, no less. Yet, we all know people who seem to get it all done.

How you might ask?

Planning ahead and breaking things down into bite size pieces are the two best ways to achieve your goals. Okay, your goal is to write four books this year. Impossible you might say. But let’s break it down with a few questions:

How many pages can you write a day?

How long are the books?

How much time do you need to edit the book once it’s done?

Let’s say you want to write a 240 page book. You can squeeze out three pages a day with everything else you have to do.

Simple math 240/3 = 80 days.

You want to write 4 books x 80 days = 320

365 days in a year - 320 = 45 days to do edits.

If you can edit each book in 11 days, you’ve made your goal with one day to spare.

Is this feasible for everything else you have to do?

What about other commitments?
Other objectives?
Family?
Friends?
Will this fit in your over all scheme? What about promotion and blogging?
Can you make it happen by editing at odd times, like at your child’s soccer game?
How about writing more pages on weekends and take off time during the week.

If you plan ahead, set deadlines and make your objectives clear to your family and friends, you can make it happen.

Motivation and Conflict

These two things can kill a well laid out plan. If you are unmotivated to write or have some type of conflict, your writing can suffer. This is where you need to work some flexibility into your plan.

Work in time for potential conflicts that might arise, if they don’t it’ll only give you more time to write. We all have life outside of writing and things happen. Like our characters, conflict tests our resolve and the best way to work our way through it is by revising our goals and forgiving us for our shifts in priorities.

Finding motivation can also derail a plan. If you are worn out or struggling with other issues in your life; it can be difficult to sit your butt down in the chair and write. Again, give yourself a break and schedule a special treat for yourself like an hour in the tub with a glass of wine and scented candle. Remember to celebrate each victory that comes along and give yourself time to enjoy your accomplishments.

Hope all your dreams come true.

With a little planning, they will.

Thanks Stephanie for letting me blog with you,

Here is a little about Tina’s current release:

Blurb for Youthful Temptation:

A widow with two grown children, Linda Clayton is ready to let loose and have some fun. Jilted at a party, she met a younger man, Vaughn Reagan. He has an active imagination and allures her into his life by tempting her with seductive games.

Vaughn is thrilled to find a woman who doesn’t want children. He offers Linda a job so he can spend his days with her. Now, if he could only convince her to forget their age difference and enjoy the nights in his arms.

Find out more about Tina Gayle on her website and blog.

http://www.tinagayle.net

http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

The Interview, Part 2

2011-10-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of Hank's interview! Please check out part 1, if you haven't seen it already!

Here is more about Hank's book:

Zaftans stand over seven feet tall on their eight tentacles and weight more than four hundred pounds. Atop small round heads with cruel beak-like mouths, a pair of two-inch-long eyestalks support their eyes, black with red irises. Their gray-black skin ooze green slime

Tell us about the book

Here is the book blurb:

The Zaftans and the folks from Gundarland are at it again. This time, the encounter is in deep space and two powerful fleets of warships face off.

While the fleets challenge each other, two females struggle to survive.

Sam is a new type of android with an organic brain. She is perplexed by her unexpected ability to experience emotions. Her primary one is loneliness caused by the officers she is supposed to work with who treat her with contempt.

Klatze, a beautiful zaftan officer blessed with talent and ability, a rarity in the zaftan navy, comes to the attention of the fleet's commodore, Gongeblazn. He lusts after her and her continuous refusals to have sex angers the commodore and his lust turns to thoughts of vengeance.

Sam and Klatze each face unique situations that test their mettle and their desire to survive in the midst of chaos.

This website page has a list of book sellers. http://strangeworldsonline.com/ZM-main.html

How is your book different than others out in the market? What needs does your book meet that makes it a must for someone to buy?

1) It's a rare combination of scifi and fantasy. In addition it's a book that doesn't take either genre serious (a situation that will annoy many purists in both genres).

Why did you write this book? Is there any “back story” that inspired you to write this book?

I had the idea for Sam, an android, a few years ago. Originally, I planned to use to her in a short story. Her job was as a stew-droid on a space ship, but I never found a story for her. When I started to plan this trilogy, I saw a spot where Sam could have a major role and really become a star.

Tell us more about zaftans

Zaftans are the ultimate in political incorrectness. A zaftan interested in a promotion gets it by murdering or disgracing all the other candidates for the promotion. This method means that the upper levels of government and corporations are staffed with skilled murders who usually have no ability to actually do useful work in their new position.

I love writing about zaftans.

What do you do when you aren't writing stories?

I have another job: I'm CEO, chief editor and reporter (under a dozen or more pseudonyms) for the Faux News Network. Its mission is to provide an alternative opinion on modern issues. Usually, this means a satirical viewpoint on the news and politics. It's available from only my blog: http://strangeworldsonline.blogspot.com

Author Interview with Hank Quense

2011-10-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today I am here to interview a very great writer, Hank Quense. He's very funny and very incredible.

Now, on with the interview!

First off, as a way of introduction, I am going to ask you why I am asking you these interview question?

Very few genre writers use humor and satire in their stories. I think this is deplorable, and I'm trying to remedy the situation. I refuse to write serious fiction. The world needs more laughter, not more serious scifi and fantasy stories. Folks who read my stories say that I succeed.

I see that you like to write comedy. Do you "get in the comedy mood" before you write?

I don't do anything specific. When I'm writing a new story, I write one new scene a day. I start thinking about the next scene as soon as I finish the previous one. By the time I write the scene, I've been thinking about it for quite a while. The humor (or satire) just shows up.

Do you work people that you hate into your novels?

Not specific people, but organizations. Many times, the characters will be corporate execs or politicians who I satirize as a way of lampooning the organizations

Say you are REALLY hungry. Do you find a way to write about food in your books?

No, I have detailed plans on my books before I begin writing. Hunger etc. doesn't impact the day's writing

Do you do anything really weird to prepare for writing?

No, I get up in the morning around 6:30 and start writing

Are you as funny in real life as you are in your books?

I doubt it.

Are you a people person?

Nope. I'm an observer of life and report what I see in my books, cleverly disguised as aliens or fantasy creatures.

What is your favorite book?

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. it's timeless satire that attacks the military and is wildly successful. It's the best satiric novel I've ever read.

If you had the choice between meeting a famous author and meeting Penelope Cruz, who would you choose to meet?

I'd really like to meet Eleanor of Aquitaine. She lived in the 13 hundreds, was at different times, queen of France and queen of England. Two of sons became Kings of England. In her old age, she ruled England when her son Richard the Lionhearted was out of the country which was most of the time. She's one of the most fascinating historical characters of all time

Some writers have weird quirks. Jack London even pretended to be a wolf and ate raw meat. Do you have weird quirks?

I have over 1800 tunes on my laptop and I listen to them while I write. That's not very weird, is it?

Finally, the question the separates the men from the boys. If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be? Why?  

A xtronp. It's a very popular fruit grown on Zaftan 31B, the home world of my favorite aliens. It has a disgusting taste, but it is exotic and it's a rarity, and therefore a status symbol, on Earth.

Guest Blogger Sarah Pepper

2011-10-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

I'm very proud to introduce Sarah Pepper today:

She's pretty, isn't she? Well, she is not only goregous, but she has a great story to tell us about writing. Here she is:

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had my nose in books. Cover after cover, I absorbed the characters’ triumphs and failures instead of putting down the darn thing and going to bed. I loved reading, but never thought I’d have a future in the “book business” for the simple fact I struggled with spelling. I hated English class, thought my teacher lost her marbles and was out to get me.

My idea of writing didn’t start until a dear friend forced me to watch Twilight with her. Sparkling vamps? Give me a break. But I humored her, thinking that any night I had an excuse to shove popcorn down my throat was a good night. Within three days following the movie I finished the first two books.

Soon after I found a few different authors specializing in the sci-fi/fantasy realm and read their works. Days turned into months about as quickly as I turned each page in the books I finished. Soon I had a dilemma. My favorite authors weren’t coming out with their newest works for another several months. A light bulb went off in my head…

Without going into much depth, my first novel Unspoken Lies was a monstrosity at 174,000 words. It was wonderfully boring and had no personality. I can’t tell you how many times I revised that baby until it shined with dynamic characters, unexpected twists, and unbelievable addictive love scenes. I cut the novel in half with all my edits.

Then what?

I bought the Getting Published for Dummies book and had at it. After whipping up a query letter, I sent it out expecting to get loads of offers… I received over 300 “no’s” in the months to follow. Knowing I had a great premise, I sat down and really took a look at my first sentence and synopsis. If I was a surgeon, I’d have been covered in blood. With as much as I edited, altered, and triple checked the first sentence, I was mentally exhausted. Changing the rest of the letter took some convincing and loads of chocolate.

My novel finally had the happy ending I knew it could. Unspoken Lies débuts January 2012.

Coming from me (a person who can’t spell to save her life) I hope to encourage others not to give up on a dream simply because of a handicap. If you can’t get someone intrigued by the first sentence, than write, rewrite, and edit some more. It is all that is standing between you and your first book. For more details about my other works, check out www.peppersreadingcorner.com.

Thank you Stephanie for letting me share my story!

Guest Blogger J.M. LeDuc

2011-10-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

One thing that I've got to say is what a catchy title as well as an amazing book cover:

It definitly makes me want to read it, at any rate. J.M. is going to tell a touching life story about becoming a writer. I'm more than honored to host such an amazing person here:

As strange as it seems, the hardest part of writing a guest blog is trying to figure out how to begin it. What keeps coming to mind is to first thank Stephanie for the opportunity to introduce myself to all of you.

I thought I would use this time to answer the question that comes up most often at every event I’ve had the opportunity to speak at, “How and why did you become an author?” Unlike Stephanie, I did not start writing at a young age. My writing was born out of a void that was produced in my life after I had bilateral hip replacements in 1997 and then again in 2003. I spent a lot of my younger years as an adrenaline junkie and unfortunately those activities caught up to me. After I had both hips replaced the first time, I felt so great, I went right back to what had gotten me in trouble in the first place. During a five day survival race in April of 2003, I broke both of the prostheses loose and had to repeat the surgery.

After realizing that I needed a new outlet for all the pent-up adrenaline, I began to write. Not with the idea of publishing or even with the idea of writing a novel, just with the ambition of channeling some of the energy that was now displaced. My writing, like a blob of clay started to take shape the more I worked on it. That shape changed many times until it finally evolved into adrenaline induced fiction that fit into the thriller genre.

My first novel, “Cursed Blessing”, the first in a trilogy, was released through Suspense Publishing on August 29^th, 2011 and is available at all e-book retailers. The second in The Trilogy of the Chosen, “Cursed Presence” will be released in February of 2012. You’ll find that many of the activities that I enjoyed in my life have become part of the protagonist’s personality.

It’s difficult to say all you would like in a blog, but I hope I’ve at least had the opportunity to introduce myself to you. Please check out my blog at jmleduc.blogspot.com

Stephanie, thank you again for the opportunity to be a guest in your home.

J.M.

Guest Blogger Arlee Bird

2011-10-13T21:21:00.000-07:00

Today I have the honor to introduce Arlee Bird. Arlee Bird is a juggler and musician who spent many years with touring stage productions. He has mostly held positions of management with occasional forays as a limousine driver, market researcher, and construction grunt. Currently Arlee is a blogger, unpublished writer, and stay-at-home unemployed guy looking for his next big break. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife. He is the father of five grown children.

Currently his other blogs are:

http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

Today Arlee's going to tell us about his new blog, a Faraway View.

A Faraway View: My New Blog

I have built a presence over the past two years with my eclectic blog Tossing It Out (http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/). I have built a sizeable number of followers primarily due to my work with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) which will be in its third year in 2012. Last year nearly 1300 bloggers from around the world participated in this event. Next year we expect to go considerably beyond that number.

Recently I have made a quiet entrance with a new blog A Faraway View: a blog about dreams (http://afarawayview.blogspot.com/). This blog as the title infers is about dream life or the subconscious mind. It may even eventually deal with dreams as aspirations at times, but not for now. This blog is my sleeping child.

In the past I have frequently been annoyed when I go to a blogger profile and see a whole list of blogs and I don’t know which one I should look at. I hope I have clarified my blog situation with the explanation I give in my “About Me” section. This is also why I’m lying low with the new blog. I don’t want to annoy my regular readers with the pomposity of adding new blogs to my repertoire.

But I do want to find readers of the new blog. A Faraway View will fill a niche. I will be looking for readers who are interested in dreams, visions, and surrealism. There are other blogs in this niche, but I hope that this one will find its loyal advocates who will be willing to comment and have conversations about the topic.

Why dreams? For many years I’ve kept dream journals and studied psychology. I’ve long had a fascination with what we experience during sleep and at other times when we burrow deep into our minds to discover our hidden selves. Dreams speak to us and I want to learn the language of the whisperers of the night.

Why the name A Faraway View? Dreams are like something seen from a distance. While in my dreams I may feel like I am there, but then again not completely. Upon awakening it is almost as though I have witnessed that dream world through an ethereal telescope that has given me a view of something that I cannot touch or understand. I see a faraway view of a place that I may long to visit or merely decipher into something that makes sense. I gain a glimpse of the seemingly unobtainable.

This is my new blog and I’m inviting you to join me. Shhh—the child is sleeping but is beginning to stir. I know this child is a good child, but it needs attention and care. I hope you will be there with me to watch it grow.

Guest Blogger Sheila Deeth

2011-10-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to welcome Sheila Deeth, a wonderful author and woman, to my blog. She's sharing her publishing story with us today, as well as telling us about her new novel.

One of the questions I always ask published writers is, “How did you get there?” I used to ask, “How did you get there from here?” but then I got published. It’s kind of weird thinking I’m maybe halfway, well, a quarter, an eight of the way “there.” But it’s probably time to answer my own question.

I started telling stories as soon as I learned to talk (or earlier—no-one’s really sure what those first strange noises meant), and I started writing them down as soon as I could write. Once I realized I was never going to make it as a trapeze artist I decided I’d have to be a writer and be satisfied with imagining gymnasts and space-men and all those other wonderful people I could never be.

By the time I grew up I’d somehow morphed into a mathematician—I think it was something to do with the way math questions have right and wrong answers and essays are always up for debate. I got a job and wrote stories on the back of reams of computer paper—the sort that had green stripes and little holes in the edges with perforated page limits. I had kids and wrote stories in a little note-book that got taken to school and lost. I taught Sunday school—more stories—and chess club—yes, even chess club has its stories—have you heard about the girl who wanted to stop falling for fool’s mate?

Somewhere in this process I tried sending stories to agents and publishers, with no success. My Sunday school tales were either too religious or not Biblical enough. My picture books had too many words or too few. My novels were returned with pre-printed letters that said, “If you enclosed a stamped addressed envelope we are returning…”

I always said I’d never self-publish—I wouldn’t dare since I’d need the security of somebody telling me what I’d written was “good enough.” Perhaps I wanted some kind of mathematical score. But my Mum paid for me to go to my one and only writers’ conference. One thing I heard over and over was that “You have to have a platform—an internet presence.” So eventually I decided to make my Sunday school stories into my platform—I self-published them on Lulu, created three blogs, and began to set up a website…

Self-published books are kind of hard to sell. The stores won’t take them because there’s so many self-published authors out there. The library won’t take them either—same reason—though I think if I’d bought an ISBN it might’ve been different. But strangers passing by my stall at our local Christmas bazaar buy them once in a while. I’ll never get rich, but I’ve gained experience. I also gained the confidence to send more stories to magazines—after all, I had books in print (sort of)—and soon I had two (it sounded a lot to me) stories in print as well, and several more in online magazines.

When I entered a Gypsy Shadow Publishing competition, I was at least able to say I have a platform; when I won, I started trying to sell my ebook through that platform. I followed other writers, read lots of other blogs, left comments that gradually progressed from “Nice post” to saying what I liked about the post. Eventually I plucked up courage to send my novels out again, picking publishers of authors I’d met online.

Email submissions are much less stressful than those old days of stamped addressed envelopes, and much kinder. Email rejections usually start with “Thank you for…” so when I got the email from Stonegarden that started “Thank you for…” I knew at once it was just another rejection—except it wasn’t!

So here I am, with my third ebook, Flower Child, just released by Gypsy Shadow, and a full-length novel under contract. How did I get here from there? Slowly. Step by step. One submission, one story, one letter, one dream at a time. And I’m still getting there.

I’m really grateful to Stephanie for inviting me to her blog. I hope you’ll visit my blog today too (http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com) and read Stephanie’s fascinating post about modern writing and communication.

About Flower Child: When Megan miscarries her first pregnancy it feels like the end of everything; instead it’s the start of a curious relationship between the grieving mother and an unborn child who hovers somewhere between ghost and angel. Angela, Megan’s “little angel,” has character and dreams all her own, friends who may or may not be real angels, and a little brother who brings hope to her mother’s world. But Angela’s dream-world has a secret and one day Angela might learn how to be real.

Where to find Flower Child: http://gypsyshadow.com/SheilaDeeth.html#Flower

About the author: Sheila Deeth grew up in the UK and has a Bachelors and Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University, England. Now living in the States with her husband and sons, she enjoys reading, writing, drawing, telling stories, running a local writers' group, and meeting her neighbors’ dogs on the green.

Sheila describes herself as a Mongrel Christian Mathematician. Her short stories, book reviews and articles can be found in VoiceCatcher 4, Murder on the Wind, Poetic Monthly, Nights and Weekends, the Shine Journal and Joyful Online. Besides her Gypsy Shadow ebooks, Sheila has several self-published works available from Amazon and Lulu, and a full-length novel under contract to come out next year.

Find her on her website: http://www.sheiladeeth.com
or find her books at: http://sheiladeeth.weebly.com

The Plot Synopsis

2011-05-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that I hate more than difficult than a query letter, it is the plot synopsis. It is a basic bio of your written work that is between 2-5 pages long. Usually, the shorter the better, because agents and editors don't have much time and would like to get through it quickly. They know what kind of books that they represent or publish, and once they get through the synopsis, they are usually aware of how good of a "fit" your novel is for them.

There are some general rules for the plot synopsis:

Always do it in third person, regardless of whether the book itself is in that format.

Introduce the main character first.

Only include major plot line information and characters.

Leave out large segments of dialogue.

Try to make it as engaging as possible.

Always reveal the ending.

The basic format of your synopsis:

The first page should include your name, address, and phone number. Usually an email address helps too.

After that, headers are important. Have you ever dropped a manuscript on the floor with two hundred pages flying around that have no numbers? It is not pretty. Just make sure not to number the first page. The header, not on the first page, should include your name, the books name, and the page number in the right hand corner.

Here are some good examples of a plot synopsis:

RAVEN'S HEART

SYNOPSIS

RAVEN'S HEART takes place on a future Earth, transformed by an alien asteroid that melted the polar ice caps and saturated the air with microscopic crystals which react to life forces.

Born with the ability to see and manipulate the energy fields (or auras) around living things, Raven Armistead lives in constant fear of discovery. She has devoted her life to the Auric Rights League founded by her father, which works to prove "Aurics" like them are not inherently evil or agents of the devil. They have as little success convincing the morally rigid Inter-Continental Police (ICP) of Auric virtues as she has convincing her father of her competence. But with her father trying to marry her off to his overbearing second-in-command, and the ICP about to embark on a program of Auric genocide, she's got to do something, and fast.

ICP agent Val Tarrant was convinced at an early age by his preacher father that his adventurous spirit would doom not only him, but any of his friends who were foolish enough to follow his lead. No longer trusting his own judgment of right and wrong, Val confines himself to the strict moral dictates of the ICP's Oath of Agency. His success at tracking down both normal and Auric criminals, as well as his inability to work with other agents, made him the perfect person to lead the development of a computerized Auric Tracking System. He believes that when the system is activated, enforcing the ICP's moralistic laws, it will allow him to atone for his youthful misdeeds.

The story begins with Raven running away from the deserted ICP computer center, which contains explosives set to go off in less than two minutes. When Tarrant enters the building, she fears the worst and races back to the computer center, hoping to catch him before the explosives go off. She arrives just in time to tackle Tarrant, knocking him to the floor and stunning him, then using her Auric powers to shield them both from the blast. With her shield about to collapse, she reluctantly augments her energy with his, linking their auras together. She succeeds in saving them, but is too weakened by her efforts to flee before the fire control systems seal the room, trapping them together.

Once their immediate safety is ensured, Tarrant questions Raven about her presence in the computer center. He grows suspicious at her evasions. Afraid that he will discover she is part of the Auric Rights League, she uses her powers to enhance his natural attraction to her, further binding her aura to his. She is unaware that the sensual daydream which she views as a desperate distraction will be seen by his ICP superiors as a violation of his Oath of Agency and cause for his dismissal. He realizes how she has tricked him when a service technician arrives and she uses the last of her power to incapacitate both men. Tarrant vows to hunt her down and bring her to justice.

A week later, Tarrant's search for Raven takes him to the diner where she works, and he chases her into the nearby alley. She uses an Auric trick to blend into a wall, rendering her invisible to a casual glance. The affinity that developed between them in the data center allows him to sense her, and destroys the illusion. He cuffs her hands behind her back to neutralize her Auric powers, which require her to be able to see the crystals her hands shape. Mistakenly assuming her Auric powers are her only defense, he lets down his guard. She springs a surprise martial arts attack on him and escapes.

She tries to persuade her father to flee before Tarrant locates the current League headquarters, but is intercepted by Marshall Livermoore, the power-hungry lieutenant her father treats like a son. Marshall is pursuing his own agenda and isn't willing to leave. Recognizing that Tarrant isn't like the other agents she's met in the past, and secretly longing to see him again, Raven lets Marshall manipulate her into agreeing to meet Tarrant. Marshall claims that since she saved Tarrant's life, she can convince him to abandon his pursuit of her.

Meanwhile, Tarrant's failure to capture Raven when he had the chance provides the spark to set off his Captain's holy civil war to annihilate all Aurics. The Captain claims that the League is a front organization for the Shadow Assassins, the supposedly undetectable Auric assassins who are trafficking in stolen arms shipments. Coupled with Tarrant's previous admission of Raven's ability to distract him, her escape proves to the Captain that Aurics use mind control. He plans to leak this information to the media, hoping to start an anti-Auric panic.

Outraged by the Captain's immoral misuse of the ICP's power, Tarrant sees no way to thwart him. When he receives Raven's request for a meeting in a deserted park the next evening, the chance to stop the Captain's scheme outweighs his suspicions. An unknown gunman uses a stolen ICP rifle and ammunition to injure Tarrant and stun Raven. She uses her remaining power to heal him, but he mistakenly believes she is attacking him.

She passes out from the exertion. He realizes she healed him and discovers the energy burns on her back. Unable to repay her selfless action by leaving her open to another attack at the ICP hospital, he takes her to his apartment instead.

Fighting his forbidden attraction to her, Tarrant focuses on treating Raven's injuries. She wakes, shirtless, in his bed. At first afraid, she allows herself to relax and enjoy his ministrations. They begin to see each other as people instead of enemies. The strength of his emotions frightens Tarrant. He snaps a high-tech detention cuff on her wrist to confine her, reminding her that she is an ICP prisoner and destroying the budding friendship between them.

Thinking she's securely detained, he leaves to find more information about their assailant. She circumvents his safety precautions, steals the control cuff, and flees the apartment. She then tries to contact her father. Directed to a mysterious warehouse she's never heard of before, she sneaks inside, and finds Marshall has stockpiled stolen ICP guns and ammunition. The League has always advocated peace. Faced with this lethal evidence, she doesn't know who to trust or what to believe.

Learning that their assailant in the park was a Shadow Assassin, Tarrant fears for Raven's safety and hurries back to his apartment. Admiring her ingenuity despite himself, he trails her by following the transmitter built into the control cuff, reasoning that either she will lead him to the Shadow Assassins or he will catch up to her and be able to protect her from another attack. The Shadow Assassins inside the warehouse surprise and capture him, beating him and taking his gun and control device. When they scatter to search for more agents, Raven comes out of hiding and overpowers the remaining guard.

At first Tarrant thinks she's one of the Shadow Assassins. Knowing she needs his help to uncover what's going on, she proves that she's on his side by giving him back the control device. She expects to become his prisoner again, but he surprises her by deactivating it. He further surprises her by trusting her to draw on his life energy for an Auric illusion to hide them.

They flee the city in Tarrant's car, choosing a picnic spot for their destination because they feel safer out in the open. Taking the first tentative steps toward working together, they share information and a kiss. Tarrant stops them before they break any of the restrictive moral laws, but not before he's broken the far more restrictive Oath of Agency. This only reinforces his belief that he is incapable of telling right from wrong, and would doom Raven if he allowed her too close.

Ironically, his agonizing is pointless since he's been expelled from the force. When he calls a friend back at ICP headquarters, he learns his gun was used to kill the ICP double-agent working for the Shadow Assassins.

On the run from both the Shadow Assassins and the ICP, Raven and Tarrant check into a hotel as a married couple. Freed of the constraints of his ICP Oath, Tarrant kisses her passionately. He persuades himself that his growing feelings for her are only physical desire, and that he'll be able to leave her and return to the ICP when they straighten everything out. He wants to make love to her, but knows that acting on his feelings when he plans to leave her would be wrong. Unaware of his decision, she has no such reservations. At her instigation, they make love. She feels betrayed when she guesses that he plans to rejoin the ICP.

Although she is angry with Tarrant, Raven agrees to continue working with him to stop Marshall, as long as their relationship remains strictly platonic. She insists on returning to her father and warning him of Marshall's treachery. Instead, Marshall convinces her father that she's been brainwashed by the ICP and must be locked up for her own protection. He reveals his plans to start a revolution for Auric supremacy, and that he needs her to cement his claim as the League's leader when her father is "accidentally" killed in the fighting.

She uses the detention cuff to signal for help, and Tarrant follows their backup plan to free her. Contrasting him with her father and Marshall, who say they love her but treat her so poorly, she decides to trust Tarrant's actions rather than his words. And he acts as if he loves her.

Working together, Tarrant and Raven piece together their clues about Marshall's plans and determine that he will attack a vital food processing plant, knowing that the public outcry will defeat the Auric Rights Bill, and the backlash against Aurics will create an atmosphere ripe for revolution. Holed up in the home of a trusted League member, Raven recruits other Aurics who want equality, not supremacy. Tarrant recruits ICP agents whom he trusts not to reveal his location or details of the Shadow Assassin plot to the Captain. Although the two groups initially distrust each other, led by Tarrant's and Raven's example, they are willing to work together to defend the food plant.

Raven notices how all of the agents defer to Tarrant's judgment, and he admires her charismatic leadership and passionate devotion to her cause. Alone after the meeting, Tarrant and Raven give in to their fears about tomorrow and share one last glorious night of love.

Raven realizes she loves Tarrant, and believes he will eventually speak of the love his actions reveal. Meanwhile, Tarrant suspects he might not be able to leave Raven and return to the ICP. Although the thought of spending a lifetime with her is initially appealing, he fears the trouble he might cause her if he's not bound by the ICP's rigid strictures. For her sake, he has to leave her. His attempts to convince himself that he can walk away from her make her doubt his feelings for her. Their relationship is strained as they wait in the food plant, but the conflict ahead diminishes their personal disagreement and they set aside their differences.

The Shadow Assassins arrive, shooting two ICP defenders in the loading docks. When a failed attack shatters a room full of aquacels, flooding part of the ground floor, the remaining defenders position themselves around the stairs on the second floor, trapping the Shadow Assassins. The defending Aurics identify Shadow Assassins trying to slip through under cover of invisibility shields, and they are captured. The stalemate is broken by the arrival of additional ICP troops, led by the Captain, forcing the defenders to charge the Shadow Assassins in order to face the Captain's troops.

The fighting becomes intense. Instead of saving her strength for a defensive shield, Raven uses her powers to try to heal two wounded ICP defenders. Tarrant confronts the incoming agents and shoots the crazed Captain, leading Raven to risk her life to protect Tarrant. The defenders, in ICP-Auric pairs, survive the Shadow Assassins' final attack that fells the troops.

Tarrant must return to his ICP superiors and explain what happened, and Raven must return to the League and help restore the Aurics' belief in her father. Tarrant hopes his feelings for Raven will fade once he returns to active ICP duty, but suspects the memory of what he has lost will be a penance he carries for the rest of days. Raven learns that ICP agents are forbidden to marry anyone outside the ICP, and loses her last hope that she and Tarrant can have a future together.

Although he tries to return to his work, Tarrant is plagued by a series of dreams about Raven, forcing him to face the emotions he tried to deny. He admits that adherence to moral dictates is not a replacement for his own moral judgment. He loves her, and decides he will be a better person with Raven but independent, than without her, serving the ICP. He submits his resignation, but his Commander refuses to let him leave. Instead, she offers an ICP sanctioned marriage if he can persuade Raven to join the ICP's proposed new Auric/agent mixed division.

Raven and Tarrant meet again at the conference between the League and the ICP to discuss Auric Rights legislation and the ICP's mixed division proposal. He bungles his offer of marriage and a position with the ICP, and she refuses. Her father insists she'll be able to help the Auric Rights movement more from inside the system, working for the ICP. He puts his trust in her, something she's longed for ever since he started favoring Marshall over her, but that is no longer important to her. She needs to know that Tarrant values and respects her as well.

In response to Raven's questioning, Tarrant admits that she will do a wonderful job leading the new division, and that she should take the position even if she doesn't want to marry him. He also reveals that he tried to quit the ICP in order to be with her. Convinced of his love by his willingness to sacrifice what he values the most, she accepts both the position and his proposal.

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 1

                    Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak
When the local gossipmonger barges into Tracy Gilbert's apartment to
bring news that Riley Collins has returned to town, Tracy scoots the
messenger out the door and tries to ignore the message. She tells
herself that it doesn’t matter--either Riley is paying a short,
springtime visit to his grandmother, or someone saw a man who looked
just like him.
     Tracy has an adopted four-year-old daughter now, as well as an
office manager’s position that she hopes to develop into a career.
She has long-term goals and an organized plan for reaching them. She
has no time to track down Riley or the truth. But before this busy
single mom can gather half a cartload of groceries, she notices an
entire shelf emptied of macaroni and cheese boxes. She imagines a
familiar man taking them, and curiosity wins out. Since Hannah is
with a sitter anyway, Tracy postpones her Saturday morning tasks and
heads north out of town. If Riley is hiding at the old house, she’ll
ask him to leave. He should know he no longer belongs in Kirkwood,
and Tracy is just the person to tell him. After all, they were once
the best of friends.
     Riley doesn’t answer his doorbell, so Tracy takes time to look
around. Within minutes, he appears in his own backyard to catch her
on his swingset. Tracy knows the odd flip of her stomach has nothing
to do with the sudden halt in her reminiscent swinging.

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 2
     Riley was always too handsome for his own good, but this man
is grown-up sexy. Between accusations and torrid glances, Tracy
doesn’t accomplish the one thing she came to do. The most she can
manage before she leaves is to issue a warning--don’t get
comfortable. You won’t fit in.
     Suddenly Tracy, who has been dubbed Ms. Superefficient by her
boss, is bungling things she usually handles effortlessly. It doesn’
t help that she keeps imagining Riley’s attributes on every man in
her path. She rededicates herself to her job and Hannah, knowing she’
ll soon forget about Riley. Just the way she forgot about him
thirteen years ago when he ran away with her bombshell sister. Then
forgot about him again when he abandoned that same, potentially
pregnant sister out in California. The picturesque Kansas college
town Tracy calls home isn’t huge, but it’s big enough to allow a
woman to avoid a troublemaking man.
     Avoiding any man who is sitting in your boss’s office mere
yards from your desk is difficult, Tracy decides a few days later.
Especially after Booker summons her inside to join them. And when
Booker and Riley dangle a consulting assignment, a promotion and a
fat commission check in front of Tracy’s nose, it’s even harder. She
wants that promotion rather badly. Hannah’s toys clutter every
corner of the apartment, and her reasonable childhood requests
threaten to overpower Tracy’s bank account. Tracy would love to the
means to buy a house, a pair of skates and a guinea pig, but not at
the cost of working with Riley Collins.

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 3
     She begins an exhaustive search for any excuse to refuse the
assignment, but she meets disappointment at every turn. Not only
does Riley have the appropriate credentials, his office space is too
cluttered to traverse. And he can hardly expect certain clients to
use his business if he insists on wearing an ear stud and a bandana,
especially given his history as the town’s most notorious
delinquent. Tracy admits to herself that her skills are suited to
his needs, and that turning down the job and subsequent promotion
would be ridiculous. She confronts Riley on his own front porch,
intending to give him news of her acceptance and list a few
conditions. They will be business partners only, she insists. And he
has to agree to take Tracy and her advice seriously.
     Riley always knew his childhood chum would grow into a pretty
woman, but he’d forgotten about Tracy’s spunk. She’s the only lady
who could stand there enumerating restrictions to their
relationship, while also charming him with her penchant for slipping
out of her shoes. She should know better than to challenge him,
though. In fact, when she suggests that his cherished motorcycle
doesn’t conform to a businesslike image, he works the situation
around until she rides the bike with him. And when she informs him
that fooling around is off limits, he kisses her.
     Of course, at their very next meeting Tracy outlaws workday
kisses. Riley knows she’s right to do so. He hasn’t

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 4
hired Tracy to seduce her, anyway. Most of those old rumors weren’t
true, and he wants to teach her a few lessons in the perils of
misjudging a person. However, every time he tries to make a point
with Tracy, a new lesson is drummed into his own head. He enjoys
teasing Tracy into smiling those huge, wrinky-nosed smiles he’s
always loved. And he tries to get around the no-kissing rule
whenever he can. At seventeen, he recognized that he and Tracy could
break one another’s hearts.
     He stayed away from her then. Why can’t he resist her, now?
     Their consulting appointments always seem to overflow into
their lunch hours, and Tracy and Riley rediscover a mutual liking
for one another. Unfortunately, they also get a lot of work done.
The job is soon finished, but Riley is reluctant to end the
regularly scheduled meetings. A back alley farewell turns into a
steamy kiss and grope session, and Riley realizes what it is that he
really wants from Tracy is a romance. A future. Quite possibly, a
forever.
     When he meets Hannah at Tracy’s duplex, Riley learns of the
child’s adoption. He recognizes that Tracy is the sort of woman who
makes long-term, life-changing choices. He wants to be sure he’s
serious before he professes his feelings. He resolves to be patient,
hoping to start with friendship and build from there. But he also
makes his intentions known to Tracy. He’s planning to hang around
and get to know both her and Hannah very well.
     On the first night of her sister’s visit from California,
Tracy worries about how Karen and Riley will react to one another.

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 5
Karen’s presence reminds Tracy that she needs to back away. She’s
beginning to care too deeply. But when Karen confesses a truth about
her past, Riley makes a gigantic leap from an untouchable man to a
potential lover. With Hannah headed out to a puppet show with Riley’
s grandmother, the only thing for Tracy to do is seduce Riley.
     Their lovemaking is passionate enough to be frightening. As
much as she enjoys Riley’s adventurous spirit, Tracy knows the
relationship can never be serious. He's the hot, impetuous boy who
survived a difficult childhood; she’s the good girl next door who
needs a warm, safe man. She plays down the emotional punch of
sleeping with Riley by avoiding him for a few days. Then she attacks
him again. She can’t find the strength to sever the relationship,
but she protects herself by taking on the role of seductress
whenever they are alone.
     For the citywide Independence day celebration, Tracy organizes
a picnic basket raffle as a fundraiser for clients. Since she will
be busy managing the event, Tracy leaves Hannah in Riley’s care for
a few hours. Immediately after the raffle, Tracy learns that Riley
has allowed Hannah to attend a play date in the home of a family
Tracy doesn’t know. Although Riley assures her that Hannah is fine,
Tracy is angry at the risk he has taken with her child. But her
initial fear for Hannah’s safety lasts long beyond the child's
return. Her quarrel with Riley becomes more significant when she
understands the problem--she has begun to open her heart and

K. Hagan, Hand-Me-Down Heartbreak -- Synopsis 6
her life to a man she distrusted for thirteen years. A man she has
always loved, but whom she has never considered as a true partner.
She makes an panicky attempt to revert back to sexy vamp, but Riley
tells her it’s over. This time, he’s the one claiming that he needs
to be taken seriously.
     After a sleepless night, Tracy speaks with her boss on the
phone. During the conversation, she realizes that she has misplaced
the money she raised in the raffle Ð over a thousand dollars.
Fearing for her job, Tracy searches for the money on her own. During
her madcap rush around town, Tracy realizes that she is mostly upset
about hurting her best friend. Riley is now a strong and respectable
man, as well as a creative lover. Her job, the promotion and even
the lost money become insignificant in comparison to a future
without him. For the first time in a while, Tracy knows exactly
what to do. After confessing her mistake to Booker, Tracy writes a
personal check for the entire amount. Then she leaves Booker’s
office without finding out whether she’ll have a job the next day.
     Tracy’s goals to buy a house and provide a future for Hannah
are still intact, but she knows they need to be adapted to fit a new
situation. Tracy speeds to Riley’s house to tell him that she’s
ready to be brave. She loves him without reservation. Her generous-
spirited man drops to one knee to propose, so Tracy kneels down,
too. She wants to look directly into his eyes, so he can see the
certainty in hers when she accepts.

Kathy Hagan sold this manuscript to Harlequin. It was published
under the title The Renegade, and under her pen name, Kaitlyn Rice.
(You can find the query for this story on the Sample Query Letter
page.) Buy the book.

The Wonderful Query Letter

2011-05-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

You've got your book done, and you've shined it up to complete perfection. You have also targeted your audience. Even if you are skipping the literary agent approach and are attacking small publishers, you have to know how to write a proper query letter. It will be your primary tool to catching attention. The problem is, summing up a three hundred page book in a few paragraphs can be tough.

Before we begin, here are some rules:

1) Don't make it longer than a page. As amazing as you think that your manuscript is, an agent receives a ton of queries per day. (As do publishers.) Respect their time.

2) Don't stalk them. That's just scary. They will read it when they're ready.

3) Don't begin your letter with "Dear agent," "Dear editor," or "To whom it may concern." Already, they've tossed out your query letter. After all, you didn't even bother to know their name. Why should they care about your book?

4) Don't call them or barge into their office. That's scary, too.

What you should do:

1) Do your research. Also, don't be afraid to comment on an agent's blog. There is a line between being friendly and professional and stalking people.

2) Bother to know who the agent or editor is interested in, what they have represented in the past, and how it relates to your work.

3) Do submit it to be mauled--ahem--I mean "cleaned" by a group of critiquers in forums. Query Tracker, one of the biggest listings of agents and book editors, has a great forum, as does Absolute Write.

4) Do use your resources. I've made tons of friends through networking.

Now, to begin the fun. A basic formula for a query letter is a one sentence tagline, a plot bio, and a self bio. Deviating from the basic plan isn't exactly a great idea. Try to sell your book by writing well, not by looking like a novice. Don't forget to include your email address, phone number, address, and name.

Do thank them for their time.

I'm going to enclose some samples and help you break it down. Don't be afraid to have more than one draft. Query writing isn't necessarily the most pleasant of jobs.

Dear XX,

Natalie Miller had a plan. She had a goddamn plan. Top of her class at Dartmouth. Even better at Yale Law. Youngest aide ever to the powerful Senator Claire Dupris. Higher, faster, stronger. This? Was all part of the plan. True, she was so busy ascending the political ladder that she rarely had time to sniff around her mediocre relationship with Ned, who fit the three Bs to the max: basic, blond and boring, and she definitely didn't have time to mourn her mangled relationship with Jake, her budding rock star ex-boyfriend.

The lump in her right breast that Ned discovers during brain-numbingly bland morning sex? That? Was most definitely not part of the plan. And Stage IIIA breast cancer? Never once had Natalie jotted this down on her to-do list for conquering the world. When her (tiny-penised) boyfriend has the audacity to dump her on the day after her diagnosis, Natalie's entire world dissolves into a tornado of upheaval, and she's left with nothing but her diary to her ex-boyfriends, her mornings lingering over the Price is Right, her burnt out stubs of pot which carry her past the chemo pain, and finally, the weight of her life choices - the ones in which she might drown if she doesn't find a buoy.

The Department of Lost and Found is a story of hope, of resolve, of digging deeper than you thought possible until you find the strength not to crumble, and ultimately, of making your own luck, even when you've been dealt an unsteady hand.

I'm a freelance writer and have contributed to, among others, American Baby, American Way, Arthritis Today, Bride's, Cooking Light, Fitness, Glamour, InStyle Weddings, Lifetime Television, Men's Edge, Men's Fitness, Men's Health, Parenting, Parents, Prevention, Redbook, Self, Shape, Sly, Stuff, USA Weekend, Weight Watchers, Woman's Day, Women's Health, and ivillage.com, msn.com, and women.com. I also ghostwrote The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers.

If you are interested, I'd love to send you the completed manuscript.

Thanks so much! Looking forward to speaking with you soon.
Allison

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Stephanie Cabot
The Gernert Company
136 East 57th Street, 18th floor
New York, NY 10022

Dear Ms. Cabot:

I am seeking representation for my historical novel, working title Tricolours , cast as a memoir spanning fifteen years of the life of a young noblewoman before and during the French Revolution.
During that time, France and its people struggled to build a utopia based on the ideals of liberty and equality, breaking new ground to free themselves from a sclerotic monarchy. Differing currents of thought clashed over the fate of a nation.

This provides the backdrop for Gabrielle de Monserrat's journey through hardships and betrayal by three men in her life before she reaches at last for an impossible happiness. A girl of quiet strength and startling beauty, released into the fascinating world of Paris nobility, a widow at seventeen with a young daughter, Gabrielle has little money and few prospects. Determined and inquisitive, she survives, maintaining her humanity and sense of decency. On occasion, she glimpses her first love, Pierre-André Coffinhal, as he ascends from obscure patriot to one of the most passionate architects of the new order.

The real Coffinhal remains to this day a controversial figure, a physician turned lawyer and then judge of the Revolutionary Tribunal. He was a man of resolute purpose, who presided over many political trials, often resulting in a death sentence, until he himself was sent to the guillotine. One of the themes of the novel explores when life may be justly surrendered, whether in support of a cause or in the defense of one's country.

I was educated in France and have spent over ten years as a practicing attorney in Los Angeles. My professional pursuits led me to explore the origins of the French legal system and its parallels to American jurisprudence. My research took me into the archives of the Revolutionary Tribunal and many memoirs of the time. I discovered that the French Revolution resonates deeply within my affection for history and narrative. This story emerged unbidden, prompted by the fact that I spent part of my childhood in the birthplace of three historical characters appearing in the novel.

I have enclosed a SASE. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Catherine Delors

Identifying Your Target Market

2011-05-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

You've finally finished editing. Now, the "fun" really begins. Before the querying process, you must identify your audience. After all, approaching the wrong people is bad, espescially when first impressions make a great deal of difference in the publishing industry. First off, to identify who you want to approach, you should ask yourself some questions and understand basic lingo.

Is your manuscript non-fiction or fiction? What is the genre? How many words is it? Was is the target audience? What do I want for my book's future?

Now, on with the lingo.

Literary agents submit your manuscript to publishers that are closed to unagented submissions. They usually have connections in the industry. An agent makes money when you do. The AAR canon of ethics is a great thing to look for in the querying process, as a good agent won't charge you fees. A down side to this is that the agents are so overrun with submissions that they often times have no room for new clients.

Editors work at publishing houses. There are many different types, most of which don't actually clean up your books. That is why you shouldn't approach them without a decent looking manuscript.

Publishing companies publish your books. (Yes, just in case you didn't know.) There are different types of traditional presses.

Small companies usually deal with specific genres and areas. A book with a small select target audience would most likely go here, because a larger company wouldn't see the profit. They also spend more time working with authors one on one, because they have less clients. Unfortunatly, as they are small, they have less to offer you in the way of advances and money that goes into marketing.

Medium companies are great because they usually have a moderate amount of money to offer an author, and they also have some time to give personalized attention to an author. Some of these companies only take agented submissions, though.

Large companies are good because they have a bigger amount of money to invest in their authors. They will be more likely to offer a sizable advance; furthermore, they carry a certain prestige to being published by them. After all, Scholastic and Harper Collins are expected to produce great books. Because they are large and have so many clients, however, they are less likely to have a lot of time to work with their authors that aren't already big sellers. You will also need an agent--or a handy connection--to get you in the door here.

Vanity publishing companies are self-publishers. You pay them to make your book for you. Usually, if you want to make your book do well, then this adds up to a hefty amount. They can produce a book quickly, and they let you choose what you want.

University presses are companies that sell your books and have you pay for part of the costs. It is a cross between self and traditional publishing.

Now that you know about the industry a bit more, you should be more aware of who you want to approach. Normally, you would search for an agent before a publishing company, but it really depends on your book. In the next section I will discuss proper manuscript formatting and perfecting that query letter.

Just for fun:

So you're done with the novel...Now, what?

2011-04-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

So you've just finished your great book. First off, congratulations...sort of. While doing the writing is an amazing thing that many people don't have the attention span for, it is also the easiest part. I hate to break it to you, but one quote sums it up: "There is a word for writers that never give up...published." Great writers were turned down time and time again. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter was rejected by nine agents, Dr. Seuss was turned down by many publishers, and John Grisham's first novel was sold to a small company because no larger company or agency would accept him. (Boy, are they sorry now.)

I'm not trying to make you lose hope. You've come this far, so you shouldn't give up. It's just that this is the part of publishing that separates the men from the boys. Before you even begin tackling the scary world of the publishing industry, you must make sure that your book is polished. Now, it really isn't necessary to go to an editor. In fact, my publishing companies have all edited my books for me, but that is after I cleaned my manuscipts four times.

Now, you may be saying to yourself: "I know nothing about grammer." Well, if you want to be a writer, it's a good thing to learn. Don't despair. There are some great resources. I personally love Prentice-Hall Handbook for Writers. It has great facts about grammatical errors and other such thing. Here is also a good sight: http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/

Now, don't get fruhstrated...Just edit that book until you feel like you're about to bang your head against the wall. If you don't understand something, then look it up.

After that, you may even consider a Beta Reader, which is a person that will swap manuscripts with you for free and edit it. Places like Absolute Write Water Cooler offer this in their forums. It's a great place to begin.

Also, one great tip is to read your book out loud!

Best of luck!

Beginning the Process

2011-04-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Now, a great deal of people have an idea for a story, but for a first time writer getting it down on paper can be a difficult task. Whether you plan on sharing the story with the world or you are merely writing to get it down, there are some great ways to begin. I find that having a "general writing time" is important, even if you have a very hectic schedule. If you truly want to write a novel, then getting started and keeping going is important; otherwise, the story is choppy and hectic.

Remember, ten minutes a night can be the difference between a finished novel and a book inside of your head. It doesn't matter whether you have to write at 2 AM with your spouse's snoring in the background--just get to it.

One general writing tip: Show don't tell. Every writing conference will tell you this.

Now, for those of you that have sat down and have stared blankly into space, there are some creative games that may help you get into a writing rythmn. You can find them at places like this:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/

This forum has great, fun games to begin the writing process. I must warn you about the potential addiction, however. I spend far too much time in the Office Party section, an area dedicated to slacking off.

This place is great for posting a free portfolio:

http://www.writing.com/?rfrc=stories.com&rfrt=www

These sights also offer great, wonderful things called Beta Readers. Never heard of them? Well, they might help you. A Beta Reader is a writer like yourself that will read and edit your book for free. After all, writing the book is 15% of the journey. You have to polish the manuscript, usually at least three or four times, before even thinking about approaching agents and publishers. Beta Readers can help you by offering you advice as you go along.

Also, joining a writing community may help you get a story going.

Happy writing, everyone! And yes, for those other people who are saying, "But I already know how to write!" I will get to the business side of the process soon. Stick with me.

Just for fun:

Understanding Basic Terms

2011-04-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

There are many different theories around regarding whether a writer is born or made. I think that it can be taken both ways. Either way, the most talented writer in the world would have to crack the business lingo first. Remember that publishers and agents are business people. They live to sell your books, but they also need an idea that pays off. That's why it's always good to understand the basics first.

For example, the genre types. It's always a good idea to know who you plan to write for. Is it Fiction or Non-Fiction? (Simple enough.) Is it a fantasy, science fiction, mystery, or romance? (There are much more.) Is it written for adults, children, or young adults?

How long do you plan to make it? Regardless of the "brilliant idea," if you make a novel that is 200,000 words long, it won't sell. A 70,000 word novel usually is about 250 pages. Now, I don't think that it's necessary to plan that out before writing, but it never hurts to know what the acceptable range is. Most agents and publishers aim for books that are 70,000-120,000 words. (Of course, children's literature is a different story.)

What is your target audience? Is it big or small? Depending on who you write for, you may have to change your idea of who you approach to sell the manuscript. For example, a three-hundred-page novel based on the history of mushroom picking isn't going to sell at Scholastic.

Do you have a plot plan? Some of the best writers in the world don't plan their plot, but many more do. It always helps to have at least the general idea down. After all, a twist or two is good, but you don't want your readers to get "sick."

What is your goal as a writer? Do you want to write something that will sell well, or is it something more family based?

These are all good questions to ask yourself before and after a manuscript is finished. If you want your book to sell, then knowing what the business people want is always a good key.

So you want to be a writer!?

2011-04-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the techonological era. A great deal of human interaction is via the written word: texting, emailing...blogging. It really is no wonder that so many people are interested in publication. The problem is, many writers don't know what they're in for--and some don't even know where to begin.

If you are one of these writers that doesn't quite know where to start, then you are in the right place. Over the next few months, I plan on writing about subjects that I wish I had known myself in the beginning. For example, how do I get started? What is the proper way to format a manuscript?

After the manuscript is done, how does the publication happen? Who do I contact? How do I make myself more presentable? Is my work REALLY done?

I plan on addressing the following issuses:

A) Getting started--an introduction to the writing process and the psychological mindset.
B) Am I really done? Welcome to the wonderful world of the Writer's Editing Handbook.
C) Deciding a publication game plan. Do I want a literary agent? Vanity verus traditional press? What are the differences and why do they matter?
D) I signed my contract!...Now what?
E) The best methods for marketing.

I have made some pretty big "Oh, no. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that!" errors along the way. I don't regret a single one of them, though. "Failure teaches success," after all. Now, I hope to share my "Oops!" moments and "That agent probably hates me now!" memories so that you, as a writer, won't make the same errors.

Until next time! Happy writing and reading!