Where's your writing time and energy going? Some tips from author Kristen Lamb, courtesy of friend Judy Stone, editor.
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/enemies-of-the-art-part-2-psychic-vampires/
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/do-you-have-a-psychic-vampire-critique-partner-2/
My Author Tool Bag features sites I use in writing, editing, and marketing. It's
stuff I've found online. The usual caveats apply--no recommendations either
expressed or implied, don't click on blind links, have a good antivirus, etc.
You know the drill.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Cover Reveal! Murder at Chipmunk Lake (A Nixie and Julian Story)
Looking forward to next week's visit from debut author Roxy Mews!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
My Author Toolbag
What's writing all about? How could an author launch a career today? What is "voice", really? Joyce Carol Oates opened my eyes with this post.
http://justinemusk.com/2012/05/09/how-joyce-carol-oates-would-launch-a-writing-career-today/
My Author Tool Bag features sites I use in writing, editing, and marketing. It's stuff I've found online. The usual caveats apply--no recommendations either expressed or implied, don't click on blind links, have a good antivirus, etc. You know the drill.
http://justinemusk.com/2012/05/09/how-joyce-carol-oates-would-launch-a-writing-career-today/
My Author Tool Bag features sites I use in writing, editing, and marketing. It's stuff I've found online. The usual caveats apply--no recommendations either expressed or implied, don't click on blind links, have a good antivirus, etc. You know the drill.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
3T Writing Tidbit
Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.
Setting is one of my "opportunities". Here are a few things I've learned regarding setting.
- Setting is not backstory. It is necessary. Set your scene with a word or two even if that setting is inside the character's head.
- The easiest way to think of setting (for me) is the brief pan of The House, or The City's Skyline that introduces a TV scene. Pick your favorite show and watch for the establishing shot--you'll see what I mean.
- Setting questions you can ask yourself: What's the climate for this time of year? What's the quality of light? What kind of buildings are there? Terrain? What are ordinary people wearing? Are there a lot of people or none? What are the ambient smells? What feelings does the place evoke (e.g. graveyard=scared; beach=fun; dark alley=isolated) (note: you can flip or skew these expected feelings for some fun, scary beach, fun dark alley).
- I've said this before but it has even more application with settings: use contrast and concrete images to evoke immediate, strong images. A graveyard can be described as "desolate, wind-swept, haunting and gray" but it can also be described as "A pale girl in a gray, old-fashioned coat standing over a new grave, tears scoured away by the wind".
- In an action scene, sprinkle appropriate setting words through character interaction. For example, "She ran through the dry fallen leaves, dodging gravestones thrust up by roots."
Thursday, September 12, 2013
My Author Tool Bag
I got this from writer/director/producer Mae South.
Find an icon for your website or blog. Here's a search for Facebook icons. Search by price/free, size, and license.
My Author Tool Bag features sites I use in writing, editing, and marketing. It's stuff I've found online. The usual caveats apply--no recommendations either expressed or implied, don't click on blind links, have a good antivirus, etc. You know the drill.
Find an icon for your website or blog. Here's a search for Facebook icons. Search by price/free, size, and license.
My Author Tool Bag features sites I use in writing, editing, and marketing. It's stuff I've found online. The usual caveats apply--no recommendations either expressed or implied, don't click on blind links, have a good antivirus, etc. You know the drill.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Veiled Passions--Guest Tish Westwood!
Tish Westwood is a fellow Samhain author who writes historical romance with fire and passion. Her debut novel Scarlet Kisses is now in paperback. Please welcome Tish!
When you walk on the wild side of society, the greatest danger could be to your own heart.
Passions Unveiled, Book 1
Alyssum Rosewood has just come to a shocking realization. Her life is boring. Visions of spinsterhood dancing in her head, she dons a dramatic red gown and sneaks out to attend Lady Brook’s infamous masquerade ball, where a gentleman sweeps her into his arms and steals a kiss that reveals a passion she never dreamed existed. But then she learns his identity—the reckless and improper Viscount Lambert, her overprotective brother’s best friend.
Robert Lambert finds the lady in red captivating. Her kiss quickens his heart and her innocent yet wicked touch sets his body on fire. But she slips from his grasp and flees before he can remove her mask. Come hell or high scandal, he will find his fiery little temptress.
Certain Robert will be horrified to learn she is the woman whose shocking behavior aroused his lust, Alyssum desperately tries to hide the truth deep in her heart. But with every look, every touch, every kiss, she comes ever closer to throwing caution to the wind…
“Robert, are you all right?” Harry asked as he and Duke appeared beside him.
“I’m fine.” He took a sip of his drink. “Boring night, is it not?”
“I’ve found it quite eventful,” Duke replied.
“Robert, Lisa Knight is here tonight,” Harry informed him.
“Great. Just what I needed.” He looked over to the doorway in time to see Alyssum leaving the room, probably on her way to view Lord Avery’s art collection. He drank the rest of the brandy in one gulp and set the empty glass on the table. “Excuse me,” he muttered and stalked away.
Robert’s boots thudded over the floor as he made his way to the cause of his anger. Alyssum stood smiling beside Violet and Jackson in Avery’s gallery. Jackson’s gaze caught his as he approached and his friend frowned, obviously noticing the anger in Robert’s gaze. He stepped forward, leaving the girls to stand before Robert.
“What are you doing?” he muttered, but Robert ignored him, stepped around him and stood before Alyssum.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
Alyssum’s smile slipped as she looked up at Robert. “It’s a nice evening, yes.”
Violet and Jackson both watched them carefully.
“Enjoy speaking with Duke?”
A crease furrowed Alyssum’s brow as she answered. “Yes.”
“It seemed you did.”
“What are you getting at?” She took an angry step forward, tilting her head back to look at him.
“Nothing. You just seemed quite a natural at flirting with Duke.”
Jackson groaned behind him, while Violet’s eyes widened as she watched intently.
“Excuse me?” Alyssum whispered with wrath and took another step forward. “I was doing what?”
“Flirting.” He nodded with a tight smile. “You did it quite well. Looking to become a duchess?”
“Oh.” Alyssum breathed deeply and shook her head. “You’re one to talk. How many women have you flirted with?”
“Lost count.” Robert shrugged.
“How many women have you snuck out onto the terrace with during dinners, luncheons, balls?”
“Why do you ask?” He took a step forward, almost brushing her chest with his. “Would you like to join me on the terrace?” he spoke quietly to her.
“Oh, no,” Violet whispered and looked around to check that no one else was in gallery.
Alyssum, no longer able to speak in her rage, raised her foot and brought it down hard on Robert’s boot. She smiled as Robert cringed and groaned.
“Anything else you would like to say?” she demanded.
Available at Barnes and Noble, Samhain, Amazon, Kobo, All Romance Ebooks
Tish Westwood has been writing short tales since a young age. She once wrote about monsters hiding under the bed but when her sister placed a romance novel into her hand those stories swiftly became about two people falling in love and living happily ever after. When she's not writing romance novels she's usually reading one.
Scarlet Kisses is her debut novel. She lives in Australia with her family and two cats that like to walk along her laptop while she's working.
She loves to hear from her readers at tishbook@hotmail.com or you can visit her blog www.romanceonfire.blogspot.com
Passions Unveiled, Book 1
Alyssum Rosewood has just come to a shocking realization. Her life is boring. Visions of spinsterhood dancing in her head, she dons a dramatic red gown and sneaks out to attend Lady Brook’s infamous masquerade ball, where a gentleman sweeps her into his arms and steals a kiss that reveals a passion she never dreamed existed. But then she learns his identity—the reckless and improper Viscount Lambert, her overprotective brother’s best friend.
Robert Lambert finds the lady in red captivating. Her kiss quickens his heart and her innocent yet wicked touch sets his body on fire. But she slips from his grasp and flees before he can remove her mask. Come hell or high scandal, he will find his fiery little temptress.
Certain Robert will be horrified to learn she is the woman whose shocking behavior aroused his lust, Alyssum desperately tries to hide the truth deep in her heart. But with every look, every touch, every kiss, she comes ever closer to throwing caution to the wind…
This book contains a hidden love, a possessive brother, scoundrels and fistfights. A scarlet gown, ladies sneaking into taverns and a heroine who has just been awakened into the world of pleasure.
As Robert took the brandy from the tray, he tried to dull out his sudden anger at seeing Alyssum flirting with Duke. He had never seen her like that, smiling, grinning at another man. He now wondered how many men she had flirted with when he never even thought about Alyssum with men. She had always just been Alyssum to him. Simple, infuriating, beautiful Alyssum.
“Robert, are you all right?” Harry asked as he and Duke appeared beside him.
“I’m fine.” He took a sip of his drink. “Boring night, is it not?”
“I’ve found it quite eventful,” Duke replied.
“Robert, Lisa Knight is here tonight,” Harry informed him.
“Great. Just what I needed.” He looked over to the doorway in time to see Alyssum leaving the room, probably on her way to view Lord Avery’s art collection. He drank the rest of the brandy in one gulp and set the empty glass on the table. “Excuse me,” he muttered and stalked away.
Robert’s boots thudded over the floor as he made his way to the cause of his anger. Alyssum stood smiling beside Violet and Jackson in Avery’s gallery. Jackson’s gaze caught his as he approached and his friend frowned, obviously noticing the anger in Robert’s gaze. He stepped forward, leaving the girls to stand before Robert.
“What are you doing?” he muttered, but Robert ignored him, stepped around him and stood before Alyssum.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
Alyssum’s smile slipped as she looked up at Robert. “It’s a nice evening, yes.”
Violet and Jackson both watched them carefully.
“Enjoy speaking with Duke?”
A crease furrowed Alyssum’s brow as she answered. “Yes.”
“It seemed you did.”
“What are you getting at?” She took an angry step forward, tilting her head back to look at him.
“Nothing. You just seemed quite a natural at flirting with Duke.”
Jackson groaned behind him, while Violet’s eyes widened as she watched intently.
“Excuse me?” Alyssum whispered with wrath and took another step forward. “I was doing what?”
“Flirting.” He nodded with a tight smile. “You did it quite well. Looking to become a duchess?”
“Oh.” Alyssum breathed deeply and shook her head. “You’re one to talk. How many women have you flirted with?”
“Lost count.” Robert shrugged.
“How many women have you snuck out onto the terrace with during dinners, luncheons, balls?”
“Why do you ask?” He took a step forward, almost brushing her chest with his. “Would you like to join me on the terrace?” he spoke quietly to her.
“Oh, no,” Violet whispered and looked around to check that no one else was in gallery.
Alyssum, no longer able to speak in her rage, raised her foot and brought it down hard on Robert’s boot. She smiled as Robert cringed and groaned.
“Anything else you would like to say?” she demanded.
Available at Barnes and Noble, Samhain, Amazon, Kobo, All Romance Ebooks
Tish Westwood has been writing short tales since a young age. She once wrote about monsters hiding under the bed but when her sister placed a romance novel into her hand those stories swiftly became about two people falling in love and living happily ever after. When she's not writing romance novels she's usually reading one.
Scarlet Kisses is her debut novel. She lives in Australia with her family and two cats that like to walk along her laptop while she's working.
She loves to hear from her readers at tishbook@hotmail.com or you can visit her blog www.romanceonfire.blogspot.com
Monday, September 2, 2013
Want to win a Kindle/Nook?
9/2/2013
Manic Readers Guest Author Blog
We Love Kink (review)
Blackraven’s Erotic Café (interview)
9/3/2013
The Muse Unleashed
Rachel Brimble Romance (interview)
Book-A-Holic Anon (review)
9/4/2013
deal sharing aunt
Scorching Book Reviews
Blackraven’s Reviews (review)
9/5/2013
Ali’s Bookshelf Not posted yet (guest post, review)
Simply Ali
My Life Beyond Labels Not posted yet (review)
9/6/2013
Harlie’s Books (review)
Love N. Books (review)
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews (guest post)
Week #1 Links: http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/want-to-win-kindlenook.html
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