Personal Plotting

Somewhere in between the opening of presents and pushing yourself away from the table almost too stuffed to move, don't forget to plot a romantic rendezvous with your secret love.

Slip away to a bedroom, bathroom ... a closet if there's no other alternative ...

Now, whatever were you thinking? This blog is for SWEETER Romantic notions!

Your secret love isn't just some handsome hunk on the cover of a romance novel. It's WRITING.

No matter how busy you are, no matter how surrounded you are by the warmth/love of family/friends, don't forget to make time for your passion too!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

LATE Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been VERY good this year.

Every single day, I've put on my big girl panties and shown up to work. Must confess I haven't met every single self-imposed deadline, but I think that's because I bit off a few more opportunities than I could realistically expect to "chew."

I know even you must be feeling the pinch of this tight economy so I'll keep my list short.

Please bring me (and all the other good writers out there) the gift of TIME, the ability to juggle work/family/life, and a few new paying markets with wonderful editors.

Thanks, Santa. I'll TRY to get around to baking your cookies before Christmas Eve (if I can finish these deadline projects!)

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Meet prize-winning author Liana Laverentz

Today we welcome Liana Laverentz to the Sweeter Romantic Notions blog.
Liana Laverentz is the author of two contemporary romances with The Wild Rose Press, Thin Ice and Jake’s Return. Thin Ice is a 2007 New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Award winner, a 2008 EPPIE winner for best contemporary romance, and was a nominee for Best Romance of 2007 at Long and Short Reviews. Jake’s Return is a 2008 NJRW Golden Leaf winner. Her next release, Ashton’s Secret, a murder mystery romance, will be available from The Wild Rose Press June 26, 2009.
Liana is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Washington Romance Writers, and Pennwriters, Inc. In 1998, she won the Pennwriters Meritorious Service Award. Liana also hosts a monthly chat on the Long and Short Reviews Yahoo Group the first Thursday of each month, where we discuss ways to find our balance between writing and Life, which tends to get in the way of our writing more often than not. For more information, go to http://www.lianalaverentz.com/.
We would love to get to know you.
Thank you. And thank you for having me here today. I’m very happy to be here.
If you could be one of your characters – Who would you be? And why?
I’d be Rebecca from Jake’s Return. She knows who she is and what she wants, and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in or for those she loves. But she does it with a quiet grace that I find very appealing. Rebecca is a lady, through and through, but nobody’s fool. She’s also a homebody, like me.
What's your favorite genre to read?
Romantic Suspense.
Who or what influences you when you write?
Life.
What do you do on a typical writing day?
Every day is different for me, but the ideal day would be: Wake up really early in the morning. Write until my son needs to get up for school. Make breakfast, tidy up the house and send him off to school. Write until I need a break. Go to the Y, come home, shower, have lunch. Write until my son comes home. Spend time with him, asking about his day. Post promo before dinner. Sometimes I take a nap, doze while he uses the computer. Then I get up, make dinner, eat dinner, clean up after dinner. (Sometimes, if I’m on a roll though, I skip this whole nap and dinner thing and tell him he’s on his own…Dinner is from the red box tonight…go to the freezer and pick one.) Then I do odds and ends on the computer or around the house until eight or so. Watch a DVD with my son to unwind. We like Scrubs, and are currently re-watching it from the beginning. Bedtime is at 10:00 if I haven’t already crashed. Weekends and holidays and summers are a different story. Then it’s catch as catch can. I kind of go with the flow. The same goes for errand day. I bundle my errands and run all over town, and don’t plan on getting any writing in on those days.When you have writer's block how do you break free?
Work on something else that has nothing to do with what I’m stuck on. Invariably it frees up my mind to sort out exactly what I need. Or I read something totally unrelated to what I’m working on. It has the same effect. I never try to force myself through it. The sooner I let it go, the sooner the problem is resolved.
Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?
My next release is Ashton’s Secret, and that’s more than six months away, so I’m going to offer you a peek at Jake’s Return, which just won a Golden Leaf award, and this month is a featured romance at The Wild Rose Press.
EXCERPT:

He offered lemonade, she accepted. Their fingers brushed when he handed hers over, and Jake felt a damning jolt of sexual heat. He looked up and caught a faint flush in Rebecca’s cheeks. Their eyes locked. Apparently she’d felt something, too.
Great, Jake thought. Just great. If he thought for one second she’d go for some hot, no-strings-attached sex, they’d be halfway upstairs already.
But that wasn’t Rebecca, and never had been. Rebecca came with all kinds of strings.
“The yard looks nice,” she said.
“Thanks.” He’d spent most of the afternoon working on it. “It’d look better with some grass instead of these ratty clumps of weeds, though. I’ll have to look into seeding it.”
“I thought you were leaving right away.”
“Can’t hurt to fix the place up a bit before I unload it.”
Strong emotion flashed in Rebecca’s eyes, startling him. The unexpected flare-up passed too quickly for him to be sure, but Jake would have put his money on anger—or maybe bitterness.
Bitterness? Over his selling the house?
Maybe she expects you to stay.
She couldn’t. If she knew him at all, she couldn’t.
Please tell us what you have planned next?
I’m working on a new romantic suspense novel, Justice is a Lady, about Samantha Dallas, an ambitious assistant DA determined to prosecute every gang-related case she can in response to her cop husband’s gang-related murder. She ends up on the run with undercover FBI agent Alexander Caldwell when she gets framed for killing a park ranger while on a camping trip she’s practically forced into going on by her loving family to escape job burnout. Alex is investigating a car theft ring and chop shop run by the same people who are after Samantha, only neither of them know it. Samantha also doesn’t know that her uncle, Alex’s boss, has asked Alex to keep a discreet eye on her. All Samantha knows is someone is out to get her, and this entirely too compelling criminal seems to be the only person who will help her. Her attraction to him makes her wonder if she’s lost her mind.
In 5 years, where do you see yourself? -In general and in you're writing career
Sitting right here in this chair and writing. Making people laugh, and cry, and sigh in happy satisfaction at the end of my stories. Lots of people J.
Who is your perfect hero? And why?
Eric Cameron from Thin Ice is my perfect hero, because I created him just the way I thought a hero should be J. I adore that man. And since he’s based on a real person, I know men like Eric do exist.
What do you do for inspiration?
Read. People watch. Eavesdrop. Watch movies. Go for walks. Talk to people. I love to ask people about themselves.
Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?
I would love to write a medieval romance, or even a time travel back to that period.
What type of book have you always wanted to write?
Books about real people facing real challenges, portrayed as realistically as possible. Stories with layers and layers of emotional depth about characters who grow and change without even realizing that’s what they are doing. Because they do it for love. They find themselves unexpectedly involved in something bigger than themselves that they come to realize is worth holding on to and fighting for—even if it means fighting the person they are falling in love with. Because inevitably you have that black moment in the book where they both think all is lost, and in that moment, one of them has to step up to the plate and say, “This separation is wrong. We belong together.” One of them has to care more about the relationship than “being right.” One of them has to move past their hurt feelings and dented pride, and open the door for the other person to join them. In real life, this happens over and over again, in all our relationships, and I think that’s why romance readers can relate.
What kind of research do you do for your books? Do you enjoy the research process?
I love the research process, and I do ten times more research than ever shows up in the books, but then I love to learn, so none of it is wasted.
Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?
Deadlines hinder me, period. I resist any kind of deadline, although I usually meet them. I’ve got a strong sense of commitment and responsibility, but am also a free spirit. It’s a constant struggle, getting my go-with-the-flow self to conform to any kind of expectations. If I commit to doing something, I’ll do it, and do it 100% to the best of my ability…but not without some vestige of inner resistance. I’m never late deliberately, I don’t rebel like that, but inside there is definite resistance to being controlled by a clock.
When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.
I submitted Thin Ice to The Wild Rose Press the day Rhonda Penders and RJ Morris opened for business. My best friend Louis (the inspiration for all my heroes) and I had been having a disagreement. After him nudging and prodding me to re-write Thin Ice and send it out again for well over a year (it had already made the rounds of the traditional publishing houses twice), and me nudging and prodding him to do something equally big for himself (we tend to do that, bring out the best in each other), he said, “If positive thinking is all it takes, why aren’t you published again?”
So I submitted Thin Ice with the attitude of “I’ll show you,” and that was that. Rhonda snatched it up and the rest is history.
What would you like to tell your readers?
That I really appreciate your encouragement and support and all the emails you send letting me know how much you enjoy my books. Thank you so much, and please keep in touch J.
Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I outline. I use the outline as a map. It doesn’t mean I stick to it 100%, but if I get stuck in the writing, I then go back to the outline to figure out where I’m supposed to be in the story. And if I find a better direction to go in, I’ll revise the outline to reflect the change.
What was your first published work and when was it published?
My first published work was Ashton’s Secret, a Meteor/Kismet romance, in 1993. I had my son in 1994 and went off in another direction for a while. In 2002 I started writing again. Just this year I revised Ashton’s Secret for The Wild Rose Press, and although the basic story structure is the same, the writing is completely different.
I loved revising Ashton’s Secret because it taught me a lot about the difference between then and now, both in my world perspective, and my writing. When I first submitted it to The Wild Rose Press, it was rejected, because it was out of date regarding the writing, the relationship dynamics between the hero and heroine (me man, you woman), and a few modern conveniences, like video games and cellphones. At the time, I really didn’t know how to fix it, but once I got into the story, I saw all sorts of room for improvement and expansion, since I was no longer limited to a certain word count. This allowed me to play with the characters and develop them more fully within the existing structure of the story.
One main difference between the first version and this new, much improved version (I am so excited about this…it was a real eye-opener to see how much I had grown and changed as a writer) is the hero’s occupation, which is another secret (one of many) in the story and is not revealed to the heroine the end of the book. Astute readers, I am sure, will catch on quickly. His former occupation is now his hobby.
But his new occupation makes much more sense and adds a lot of tension to the story. She knows he has secrets, but he’s not saying, and that makes it hard to establish trust between them, which heightens the conflict. I also changed the ending. Not the happily ever after part, but how they got to it, and a glimpse of their future through their dialogue. The story will be released on June 26, 2009.
What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?
Worst advice…that category romance was the only romance worth writing. I was never going to fit into the category romance mold. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and I lost a lot of years trying to write something I wasn’t suited for.
Best advice…never give up. If you don’t write the books in your heart, no one will. No one will even know they exist except you, and they will die when you do, never having been released into the world. Never having even had a chance.
What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?
liana@lianalaverentz.com
http://www.lianalaverentz.com/http://www.polkadotbanner.com/

http://lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/www.myspace.com/authorlianalaverentz

Here’s a taste of one of Liana’s great, great romance novels, JAKE’S RETURN, available through The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

The last person small town bad boy Jacob Donovan expects to find when he returns home in disgrace after serving time is Rebecca Reed, head librarian. Rebecca had always had much bigger ambitions. Jake hadn’t wanted to stand in her way, so after one night of passion with his former best friend, he’d hit the open road.
Rebecca refuses to believe Jake is guilty of murder. The boy who’d been her friend and protector when they were town outcasts together could never have killed a woman. Not to mention the tender, loving man who’d given her their daughter, Katie.
But who is Jake now? That’s what everyone wants to know, including the town council chairman, who is determined to send Jake back to prison, by any means available.
Jake’s been running from love for all of his life. Will he find the courage to defeat his demons and stay this time?
Excerpt:
Rebecca Reed would never forget the sound of Jacob Donovan walking back into her life. The sharp hiss of startled gasps that suddenly swept across the town library’s main reading room was enough to grab anyone’s attention. She frowned and straightened from where she was shelving books in the children’s section, looked to see what had happened, and felt her heart stop.
Omigod, she thought. He’s here. He’s really here. In Warner.
Her heart jerked to a start again, and she was sure every soul in the building could hear its wild, erratic beat in the shocked silence that had settled over the room.
Jake stood at the front desk, his left profile turned toward her and the rest of the main reading room. He looked tall, dark and rangy in faded denims and a black T-shirt that matched his windswept hair. The clerk behind the desk finished checking out a patron with two small children. A short, stout, no-nonsense woman who had never married, Eunice Lee Larmer had been with the library for as long as most of the town could remember. She looked up at Jake and froze, her eyes rounding with recognition. Her face two shades paler, she stepped back carefully.
The sight of Eunice’s fear sparked a surge of protective anger in Rebecca, taking her by surprise. Damn. She’d thought she was prepared for this.
Obviously not. Telling herself she was rescuing the situation—not Jake—Rebecca started forward just as Jake turned her way. His expression stopped Rebecca in her tracks. He looked completely out of place. Completely unapproachable. A lone wolf barely tolerating the trappings of civilization.
An eternity passed as she bore the weight of his sharp scrutiny from across the now suffocatingly silent room. Rebecca would have sworn she actually felt his cold, dark gaze move from the top of her French twist to the tips of her navy pumps.
She shivered.
Sounding as if it were right next door instead of three blocks away, the daily noon wail of the firehouse siren pierced the unnatural silence. The familiar sound seemed to nudge everyone back to life. Rebecca swallowed hard and braced herself to meet Jake again, to speak with him for the first time in eight years.
The first time since the night he’d given her Katie.
Amid a rising tide of rustles and scandalized whispers, Jake seemed to recall why he’d come to the library. As he slowly wended his way across the crowded reading room to where Rebecca stood, neither of them smiling, a paralyzing thought struck her.
What if he still doesn’t want anything to do with us?
She beat back her own wave of fear, and focused on Jake. He was leaner now, harder and tougher-looking than she remembered. True, he’d always looked tough, but his toughness as a teenager had been a façade. One she’d seen through from the start. But this was different. This was no small town bad boy trying to make the best of his messed-up life alone. This was a grown man who’d spend most of his adult life in hell.
With a sinking sense of dread Rebecca realized she’d made a mistake. She was staring into the face of a stranger.
“Hello, Rebecca.”
His voice was rougher, deeper than she remembered. Deep enough to send a shot of awareness down her spine. “Jake.”
“Been a long time.”
Rebecca knew exactly how long it had been. Counting Jake’s four-year stint in the army, with the exception of those few unforgettable hours they’d shared in Pittsburgh eight years ago, they’d been apart for almost twelve years.
Before that, they’d been the town outcasts together.
“You’re looking good,” he said quietly.
“Thank you. You look...fit.”
He arched a dark brow. “Considering I spent the last eight years locked up, you mean?”
Rebecca flushed. A nearby cough reminded her everyone within earshot would shamelessly repeat anything she or Jake said, first chance they got. A town like Warner had precious few secrets, and Jake obviously didn’t intend to play down his recent parole from prison.
She squared her shoulders and offered Jake her most professional smile. “Would you like a cup of coffee? My office is right behind the desk.”
“Your office?” He looked blank, then over his shoulder at the checkout desk, the open door that led to the tiny office behind it. The eavesdroppers’ expressions ranged from indignant to shocked. Frowning, Jake turned back to Rebecca. “You’re head librarian?”
She understood his confusion. She wasn’t even supposed to be in Warner, much less working at the library. The last time he’d seen her, she’d had much bigger plans. “For three years now.”
Jake stared at her a moment longer, then ran a slow, speculative gaze over her short-skirted navy summer suit and heels. Just as slowly, he smiled. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Rebecca’s knees nearly buckled. His smile was vintage Jake. Reckless, unrepentant, and sexier than black satin sheets. Her heartbeat soared, her palms broke into a sweat. With what she considered an amazing amount of grace, given the state of her nerves, she managed to smile back neutrally and avoid tripping over anything as she led Jake past their astonished audience, and into her office.
Once inside, she made a beeline for the coffee pot, then forced herself to take a deep breath before she handed Jake a steaming mug of coffee. “Black still okay?” Her hand only trembled a little.
His slow half-smile hovered between some private amusement and pleasant surprise. “You remembered.”

Adding a Bit of Sanity to This Crazy Season

As Adele pointed out, it IS that crazy time of year. Families gather, thoughts scatter, and writing is often shoved to the bottom of the much too long To Do List.

Here are a couple of suggestions to add a bit of sanity (and productivity) to this challenging season.

Try to beg, borrow, or steal a bit of time to flex your writing muscles every day. Otherwise, it's going to be very difficult to get back to your work routine after the holidays. You obviously won't be able to get the usual amount of writing done, but DO try to string some words together.

No time to write? "Sketch" instead. Use the original word processor (a notebook and pen/pencil) to jot down holiday story ideas. Capture the sensory details (sights/sounds/smells/tastes) that will add richness to your work when you finally have time to sit down at the computer keyboard. Don't forget to do some character sketching too by making the most of people watching around that extended family dinner table or at those holiday parties you simply must attend.

Whatever holidays you celebrate, do hope they're filled with loads of love, laughter, and wonderful surprises!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

The Lost Week

Sometimes, real life takes precedence over the author's life. That's what happened that made me miss a weekly posting date. Not that anybody noticed I'm sure.

Family responsibilities topped the list. Once those were taken care of, must confess I didn't do much more than the most pressing deadline projects and quickly checking e-mail in case an editor needed something urgently.

I slept late, lingered over coffee and conversation with a visiting relative.
Getting back to the regular routine is more than just a little bit difficult. Hope things are going more smoothly for you.

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Quotes on Writing

1- It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them. ~Anne Tyler

2- It is not a bad idea to get in the habit of writing down one's thoughts. It saves one having to bother anyone else with them.
~Isabel Colegate

3- You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist, you are learning your craft—then you can add all the genius you like.
~Phyllis Whitney

4- Writing is the only thing that...when I'm doing it, I don't feel that I should be doing something else instead.
~Gloria Steinem

5- I always try to write on the principle of the iceberg. There is seven-eighths of it underwater for every part that shows.
~Ernest Hemingway

6- Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple reason; they made no such demand upon those who wrote them.
~Charles Caleb Colton

7- Success is a finished book, a stack of pages each of which is filled with words. If you reach that point, you have won a victory over yourself no less impressive than sailing single-handed around the world.
~Tom Clancy

8- There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.
~Red Smith

9- If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.
~Emile Zola

10- Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then write. If all feels hopeless, if that famous 'inspiration' will not come, write. If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and the odds are against it - go to your desk no matter what your mood, face the icy challenge of the paper - write.
~J. B. Priestly

11- If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good.
~Steven Galloway

12- Your stuff starts out being just for you… but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right - as right as you can, anyway - it belongs to anyone who wants to read it, or criticize it.
~ Stephen King

13- The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof shit detector.
~Ernst Hemingway

Io, Saturnalia!

It may not have been Christmas exactly, but the ancient Roman Saturnalia (17th-23rd. December) was certainly an opportunity for feasting and gift-giving. Over the years, this time of merry-making, sacrifices and gift-giving expanded to a week and the poet Catullus - who knew a thing or two about parties - called it 'the best of days'.

In many ways this ancient festival was rather like Christmas:

Schools were on holiday.

Gambling was allowed.

Shopping at special markets was encouraged.

Holiday clothes were worn - the informal, colourful 'dining clothes' instead of the plain, bulky toga.

Presents were given - parrots, wax candles, dice, combs, perfumes, little pottery dolls.

Feasting was indulged, with Saturn himself in charge as Lord of Misrule.

People wished each other a merry Saturnalia with the evocation, 'io Saturnalia!' ('Yo Saturnalia!')

My ancient Roman historical romance Flavia's Secret has its climax and ending during the Saturnalia - have you entered my competition yet, by the way? If not, see my previous post for details.

The Pompeiian partygoers in the picture come from the BBC's Ancient Rome pages.

One Touch, One Glance.

Since I didn't see anyone scheduled to post today, I thought I'd take a second to pimp the incredible anthology I am priviledged to be a part of with 18 other talented authors.

One Touch, One Glance

A Sweet Romance Anthology

True Romance is back, Baby!

Blurb:

Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned romance? Remember reading about a man’s clothed physique, or how a fellow admired a woman in a pretty red dress? How about stories where couples fall in love with just one glance or that first gentle touch? Then open this anthology and enjoy 18 beautiful stories of love lost, love found, intrigue, heartache healed, the miracles of life, passionate admissions, and tearjerkers that make one sigh with longing. From best friends who find romance to time travel to a bit of Christmas magic, step into the realm of hearts on fire and love everlasting.

COMING December 9th to Freyas Bower

PURCHASE LINK (goes live Dec 9th)

Here's an early review!

Cocktail Reviews HERE

Hurry Up ... And WAIT!

My one day 3,000+ word project got accepted ... I think. The editor asked for some additions which I completed and returned. Haven't heard if they worked for her.

Then, responded to another emergency call, this one for 4,000+ words. Finished and submitted before the tight deadline, but don't know if my story made the cut.

The week felt like a jumble of hurry up and wait.

Could we postpone Thanksgiving a bit? Don't think I can possibly get ready by next Thursday!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Meet Diana Castilleja

Diana, good morning.
We would love to get to know you. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, I'm a SAHM, been married almost 10 years, with one son and have lived in Texas most of my life. I've been writing since 2004, in several romance genres. I've written some 25 different stories from 8K shorts to 85K length novels. The majority of what I've written have been novel length. I'm currently with three publishers.
What's your favorite genre to read?

Hands down this would be paranormal. Any kind of shifter, vampire, demon, dragon, fantasy laden story and I'm all over it. I read on average a book a day when I am reading. Some of who I read are Christine Feehan, Jacquelyn Frank, Vicki Lewis-Thompson and Mary Janice Davidson. Very small section of the TBR pile there.
Who or what influences you when you write?

Usually a lot of what I'm reading influences me, but I rely on my own imagination a lot. Scary, ain't it? LOL

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

My upcoming book is a shifter book, the first of my Aiza Wolf shifters, a four book series. It should be out in early '09.
Roman Aiza is the second son born into a set of quadruplets. All four share a unique family secret: they are the last known bloodline of an ancient family, one that gives them the ability to shapeshift at will into the form of a wolf. Roman has his hands full when he follows a trespasser into the depths of the Cassel residence, on the night of Cindy Cassel's eighteenth birthday party.
The trespasser ends up being a woman who shows no fear and tells him absolutely nothing before she manages to walk right out of his hands. After a week of trying to uncover who the mysterious woman could be, Cindy is kidnapped and he must trust the very woman he has no reason to trust at all.
Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?

A little bit of both. My muse can be hard on me but I make her work too. I just finished a 15K novella for an anthology in four days. I usually get my own way.
Who is your target audience? And what motivated you to start writing for this audience?

I would say my target audience is the 30-50 something crowd, well read, with a little free money, most likely enthusiastic readers. I started writing for myself to begin with and as I kept writing, my writing evolved and seemed to fit well with that demographic group.
What are the biggest challenges that you face? And, how do you deal with these challenges? Honestly, garnering readers. Starting in epublishing is a hard, hard road to take. Even being in print is no guarantee. For me, every book, any format counts. Any person who has something with my name on is a potential reader and that's how I work my career. I'm earning readers a book at a time. I market myself a lot. I actively promote my releases and attend book signings. Yes it takes away from writing the next book or story, but only a fraction of writers today and in the future will have the powerhouse marketing of the SuperHouses behind them. To earn readers, it's up to the author.
Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult? Keeping the story and characters from sounding like each other, or everything else I've done. There's nuances in each story that help to keep them separate but sometimes it's just hard in my mind to hear them. It's caused a fair share of problems for me.
What do you do for inspiration?

I read. A lot.
What type of book have you always wanted to write?

If it's a book I wanted to write, then I have already. I think I've hit on everything I've had an eye on so far.
When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

I actually submitted after I'd finished several stories. I had the idea that if I was going to write, I should know "how" to write better, if not well. LOL I joined a critique group then submitted my first book to Forbidden Publications. The whole process for that first book took about eight months from the crit group to several agent queries to finally trying my hand at an epublisher. My mother was actually one of the first to tell me I needed to try to get published. Even when it was bad.
Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I'm a total pantser, a point to point writer. I get (if I'm lucky) the characters, a scenario or scene location, and a conflict.
Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you? I'm part of the Royal Blush Authors, a group of critters and mentors who work on bettering the writer's stories, plus I have a couple of people that can do reads for me. The only draw back is I'm obnoxiously slow to do the same, and I know it.
What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?
This is the easy one. I have my websites, myspace, facebook, and several blogs that I'm on, or write with, as well as a few writing groups that I'm partnered with. Most links can be found on either website as well as an appearances page that I keep up to date with what's happening. Here's a just a few quick links:

http://www.myspace.com/dianacastilleja

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=668022595&ref=profile

http://www.freewebs.com/royalblush/index.htm

And I'm available through my website or by email.

And here's a taste of The Eternal Kiss

Blurb:
Diego Viteri has lived for centuries with only one real goal, to avenge himself against the one who destroyed the man that he was and created the creature he is now. He is suffering a growing loneliness that is becoming impossible to ignore. His only reason for not ending his life is to see that Brakka is served his justice and then, Diego can rest.
The last thing he is expecting is to have an encounter with a human woman who is willing to jump between himself and Brakka during a harsh and bloody battle. Their one meeting changes everything for Diego, bringing to life emotions and wants that he has long believed to be as dead as he is.
As he follows Titania and her band, his needs reshape into something that he can't ignore. Before he knows what he has done, he bonds with her and sets into motion the very thing he swore he would never do to another person. He has shared his curse and in the process may have very well killed her. And there is only one choice to be made to try to save her.
Excerpt:

Titania gripped the knob of her dressing room door, and made one more cursory look before meeting her band on stage. Without warning, an undulating wave of anger and hatred slammed into her, and she staggered backward with a cried squeal of alarm.Her first terrified thought was someone had discovered her and she yanked in her mental barriers to block the waves of emotion. She forced air in and out of her lungs. Bowing her head, she let her eyes drift closed as the onslaught continued without mercy. Sparks scattered in front of her vision as she stilled, completely frozen, and fought for control. She concentrated, forming a solid wall between herself and whoever was out there. She knew without a doubt it was a man, close, at the bar by the stage. It took work to be able to breathe normally, keeping the pressure of his emotions at bay.He had come to kill, she knew that with a certainty that chilled her to the quick. His hatred pulsed, feeling thick around her. There was a tang of insolence in his hatred, a sense of omnipotence. She studied the waves, unraveling them, and found…emptiness. A dark chasm where his soul had once been.She shuddered with a convulsive shake, ripping her thoughts back to her own mind. Her eyes snapped open, her entire being feeling colder than she'd ever felt in her life. Her arms wrapped around her body, and she rubbed herself in reaction. She took a deep breath, feeling relief blossom inside her when she focused and found herself still ensconced in her dressing room.She had touched death, and was still living.Thank you for reading!Full chapters to all my stories are available on my website!

All Romance
http://tinyurl.com/3o45sy
Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/4exo5z
Barnes N Noble
http://tinyurl.com/42vcgx
Fictionwise
http://tinyurl.com/68d9tw
And coming in early 2009..... Trusting Delilah Book 1 Aiza Clan.

So Many Words ... So Little Time

Have you ever tackled NaNoWriMo, the event where you write a novel in November?

I haven't, BUT sure feel like I got a taste of the pressure. Responded to an urgent call for submissions that meant creating at least 3,000 words of polished ready to submit story in less than a day!

Whatever the work in progress on your desk happens to be, hope it's going well.

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Tis the Season ... to be FRAZZLED!

It's that time of year again, the season when what has to be done to prepare for the holidays and all that you want to do to savor every sweet moment conflicts with the work that needs to be completed.

This year, give yourself the most important gift of all ... a bit more time.

That might mean bribing an older child to keep the smaller ones quietly occupied so you can accomplish your tasks quicker. It might mean redeeming an assortment of take-out food coupons instead of cooking a few nights each week. Record rather than watch your favorite TV programs and get some extra writing done so you can "bank" your usual working hours to spend on holiday fun.

Even though authors have to be magicians in terms of multi-tasking, we can't actually manufacture extra hours in the day or days in the week.

With a bit of creative ingenuity, we CAN stretch the hours we have to include lots of guilt-free holiday fun!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

A first look at 'A Knight's Captive'

My next Kensington book doesn't appear until the spring, but I've just been sent the cover and I can't wait to share it with you!

The story is set in 1066 and I'll tell you more later about the Breton warrior Marc de Sens and his young lady Sunniva, their pilgrimage to Durham, a set of juggler's knives and a little matter of the Norman invasion of England.

Right now I'll just say that A Knight's Captive is due from Kensington Zebra in April 2009 and you can pre-order it now from Amazon, Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Lindsay
lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com

Happy Halloween!

Free Read!

I've updated my website and put up a short story called, Shedding Skin, for people to read.
I wrote it about five, maybe six, years ago and it was listed at a romance website to read for a long time, I'm not sure if it's still there.
Anyway, I thought I might as well add it to my website!
http://www.annewhitfield.com

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is Editor Appreciation Day at The Wild Rose Press.

I would have selected Valentine's Day to honor the hard working editors at this romantic fiction publisher, but nobody asked me to help make the decision.

Regardless of the specific day/publisher, there's probably a special editor who helped you polish your work until it glittered like a diamond.

An e-mail or snail mail thank you is guaranteed to brighten that editor's BUSY day.

Wishing you lots of chocolate treats and no tricks on Halloween!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Did You Ever Notice How Time Flies ...

. . . even when you're not having fun?

. . . especially when you're not having fun!

I swear the hands of the clock set all-time speed records when you're tap dancing as fast as you can to finish an impossible amount of work.

And . . . have you ever noticed how additional projects and time-sensitive tasks pop up as if by magic?

Hope things are far less hectic in your author's life than in mine this week!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Editor's "Throne" Not So Comfortable After All

This week has been a blur of activity. I did a live online writers conference chat (and am still doing the follow-up week long forum.)

Judging a writer's guild competition in my "spare" time made me feel like I'd suddenly switched places with an editor.

Instead of waiting on pins and needles to see if my "masterpiece" made its way to the top of the slush pile and actually got accepted, I had to fill out individual evaluation sheets and make comments directly on the manuscripts.

My first impression of the entries was NOT positive. I set them aside to start fresh the next morning. Knowing what it feels like to be a writer who has tried to send her very best work, I wanted to give other writers every possible advantage.

Unfortunately, the entries didn't look any better the second time through. Or the third.

Most of the stories didn't get started until the third or fourth page. Dialogue was stiff and didn't seem age appropriate. There were way too many spelling and punctuation errors to dismiss as the two or three even the most careful of writers may miss.

I finally forced myself to complete the task. It couldn't have been mere coincidence that I got a brutal headache when it was time to pick the "winners."

Even though it's plenty tough to occupy a writer's chair, I've decided it's more comfortable than an editor's.

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Let’s welcome today’s special guest, Stacy Dawn.

A mother of two young boys, and married to her first love, Stacy Dawn lives and works in a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada. Writing for many years, she is multi-published in both long and short romantic fiction. With a background in graphic arts and children’s photography, she has recently added a children’s ebook series to her portfolio as both author and illustrator of Harriet, the Half-pint Holstein.

Stacy, we’d love to We would love to get to know you. Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?
I’m a proud Canadian, living in a small town on the shore of Lake Ontario. I write to steal girl-time from my sportsaholic, male dominated family. The good thing is that they are so busy either playing or watching sports that I get some decent writing time in LOL. Like many writers that I know, I’m a mother and wife, work outside the home as well as in and write around a busy life in general. Along with romance, I also write and illustrate a children’s ebook series, The Adventures of Harriet, the Half-pint Holstein (http://www.harrietholstein.com/)

What's your favorite genre to read?
Romantic Comedy. I LOVE humor in books and especially romances. That’s probably why I like to write them too.

What was your first published work and when was it published?
My first published work was a short romance story in Star Magazine. The funny part about it was that about a month after I sent it off, I met my future husband. By the time it was printed, we’d been dating a few months and everyone in his store who read it thought I’d written it about him so he got teased a lot.

What do you do on a typical writing day?
I don’t really have a typical writing day anymore. Fits and spurts is more like it, done around family and work. I do try for at least an hour a day—that could either be very early in the morning, mid afternoon, or evenings. Ideally, when I get a good day to write, I am most productive in the mornings.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?
I find that working in a different creative medium helps unblock creative writing. I love to sketch and paint as well as do beading and needlework. Usually when I’m blocked in one area, I’ll take up another for a few days to let the creative ideas form in a different way.
Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?
I have two upcoming books. One is the third in my Noelle Christmas series, A Cinderella Christmas. This one takes the reader back to the loveably eccentric town of Noelle, Alberta where the local baker is about to get the Christmas present that doesn’t end. My second release comes this January in the first of a new short story series about a karaoke bar. Karaoke Cowgirl find one singer who, in trying to impress her cowboy, goes a little overboard and may just ruin her chances of singing him anymore love songs.

In 5 years, where do you see yourself? -In general and in you're writing career
Actually, this is an interesting question because I just celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary and my husband and I discussed this. We are pretty much where we wanted to be now—our own house with land, children, food on the table etc and my working on my writing. So, five years from now, I guess I’d like to see us a bit more financially stable and me with a few more novels under my belt as well as continuing in my short stories.

Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?
Historical. I’d love to do a Regency and have ideas for one but part of a good historical is accuracy and I just haven’t had time to do enough research yet to feel comfortable with the era.

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.
I actually have my first rejection letter—I was nine and submitted to Highlights Magazine. For the most part, it was in my teens that I decided on romance. I was probably about twenty when I submitted my first short story in romance and I believe twenty-three when I got my first story published (after numerous rejections LOL) Each rejection though depressed me but at the same time taught me more or gave me a direction to learn from. My sister would have been my biggest aid in encouragement. Though my family is very supportive in general, no one thought my writing more than just a fancy. She was the only one who kept telling me that I could do it and to just go for it.
Now, I add my husband with her. He never once thought of my writing as just a hobby. He’s been one hundred percent behind me right from day one.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?
A bit of both. I give each story it’s own notebook and jot down the ideas as they come. This means that they are not necessarily in order but overall, if I write something down, I remember it better. When I feel I have most of the story somewhere in those notes—or at least a good first half, then I will start writing. From there, I have a gist of what to follow but a lot of the surprises and twists come out as I write—things that I didn’t even know would happen until I see them on paper LOL

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?
I belong to a wonderful critique group. We call ourselves the Princesses of the Pen—our tiaras are a little crooked but then so is our outlook on writing, love, and life. We’ve been together a couple years now and they have been my rock in the publishing world (and life) in both support and encouragement. They don’t let me get away with anything, but have my back in whatever manuscript I’m working on. We are very honest with each other, which I think is the most important thing to have in critique partners. You need encouragement but you also need that someone to tell you when things aren’t working—there really are nice ways to say something stinks (chocolate usually helps) and they know most of them—yet, at the same time, will be the first to shout out praise when things work. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
One thing I will say about critique partners is finding them is like finding a man to marry. You’re lucky if the first one fits, but often you have to go through a number of them to find the right one. Same with critique partners. Not everyone’s personality will mesh. But once you find the right one—be good to them, and let them know often how much you appreciate their help.
How can readers find out more about you and your books?

A quick way to find all my titles with excerpts and links is at http://www.stacydawnebooks.blogspot.com/.

I just set that up recently.
You are also all more than welcome to visit my website at http://www.stacydawn.com/.
I post at least biweekly on my blog at http://www.stacydawn.blogspot.com/, and Mondays at http://www.princessesofthepen.blogspot.com/ .
I’m one of the hostesses at the Romance Bistro (http://www.yahoogroups.r/ )
And you can also find out more about my children’s ebook series at http://www.harrietholstein.com/ and http://www.harrietholstein.blogspot.com/

What would you like to tell your readers?
Thank you. Though I initially write each story for my own amusement, when I hit that submission button, I can only hope that the editors and then the readers will have as much fun with it as I did. As I said, I enjoy romantic comedy and my goals for my readers is to make them smile and hopefully even laugh out loud.
Thank you so much for having me here today!
To readers, thank you for just being who you are, lovers of a good story. And to writers, thank you for being who you are, a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and friendship!

And here’s a little taste of one of Stacy’s releases, Wanna Make a Bet?
Blurb:
When aspiring artist and purposefully single Sophie Montgomery mutters those four fateful words, her sexy neighbor, Jay Coltrane, pounces on the opportunity to prove she's not as immune to him as she thinks. Before she knows it, Sophie finds herself not only betting against a seduction, she's betting against her own ability to keep her dreams intact and a certain luscious landscaper out of them.
Excerpt:
Entering the small hallway connecting their two apartments, Sophie made a strategic mistake. She looked at Jay. The blue depths of his eyes instantly deepened to a rich sapphire.Uh oh.She backed up the two steps to her door, turned and fidgeted with the lock. Sophie desperately wanted to go right in, more to the truth, run right in and hide. Unfortunately, ingrained manners forced her to turn before entering.Jay stood close behind her, his moon-enhanced cologne teasing her senses. With a single breath, the temperature rose by degrees."Yes, well, I had a great time. Thank you." Sophie hated how her lip trembled when she offered him a smile.The first two kisses came as a surprise. This one she saw coming a mile away yet the hand she held to block his way seemed to be the only part of her body currently connected to her brain. Every other part leaned forward wanting to bury themselves deep within him. Her lips practically screamed to be touched by his.The pressure of his chest beneath her hand inched it back towards her. It took Herculean effort to hold him at bay and wrap a cloak of indifference around her. Sophie prayed her knees would stay strong long enough to finish this."You didn't think it would be that easy now did you, Slick? You're good—I'll give you that. But I have plans for my winnings." She forced an extra emphasis on the word my."Stella?" Jay guffawed, not a little in surprise. "You'd pick a car over a nice warm body like mine?" He sighed dejectedly, humor lighting his handsome face."I'm not looking for any warm body right now." She held up a finger in anticipation of his protest."And I don't ever plan to be someone's girl d'jouer. Not even for a little fun."For half a second, Sophie could've sworn his smiled faltered then it was back brighter than ever."How about a simple good-night kiss then. Between friends." He spoke to her lips as if he knew they wanted it bad.Sophie took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and grinned. "Sure." She eyed the stout bulldog waiting patiently at their feet. "Go ahead, Harvey. Give him a kiss."Obediently, the bulldog stuck his tongue out in a drool-fest pant. Sophie stole the moment of Jay's distraction to slip inside and close the door.Wooshing out a lung-full of air, she leaned back on the door. That was way too close.Jay's muffled, "Spoil sport," sifted through the door on a rich, deep chuckle. Beatrice's earlier question suddenly popped into her head. Who's winning?Available now from The Wild Rose Press

The leaves are falling...

It's autumn, so I just thought I'd treat you to a few pictures from the garden here in Yorkshire. The weather's been lovely for a few days, but there's sometimes a wintry nip in the air in the mornings now.

The roses are starting to go a bit quiet, but 'Shropshire Lad' is still going strong. There's a small chrysanthemum finally doing its thing after surviving as a sickly cutting on the bedroom windowsill over winter and battling the slugs all year.

The grass doesn't need mowing so often, the buddleias have been cut back for the winter and before too many more weeks the geraniums and pots of herbs will have to be brought under cover - but I noticed the other day that there's a primrose flowering! That's global warming for you.

Late For An Important Date

I didn't forget our weekly date. Just ran out of time on a couple of projects that couldn't possibly be postponed any longer.

Anybody have any bright ideas for stretching days and weeks a bit?

Given the financial crisis, we're already doing our best to stretch our money.

Next week is the Muse Online Writers Conference. If you registered, I'm looking forward to seeing you there.

If you missed this year's event, registration for next year starts in November.

May the Muse be kind!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Introducing Lindsay

Hi, I'm Lindsay Townsend. Since this is my first post to SRNWrites, I'll tell you a bit about myself. I'm English, living in Yorkshire with a husband and a degree in history. I write medieval romance and ancient world romance mostly, though when I first started I wrote modern romantic suspense.

Currently I have two publishers. Kensington Zebra do my medievals, which are all set in England so far - A Knight's Vow, which came out in the spring, A Knight's Captive, which appears next spring, and two more to follow. Bookstrand have taken some ancient world books - Flavia's Secret, set in Roman Britain, is the first to appear - and a revised version of a short romantic suspense book, A Secret Treasure, set on the Greek island of Rhodes in the 1930s.

Details of my books are on my own blog at http://lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com, if you'd like to visit sometime.

Although I'm a romantic at heart, I'm also keen to create as realistic a feel of the history as I can, which keeps my characters grounded. I'm also no fan of the lantern-jawed, self-obsessed alpha male, so my knights, centurions or what-have-you all have quirks and weaknesses. My heroines tend to be gentle but determined and good in a crisis. The one I'm writing right now, however - for the third knight book - is fairly spiky and I'm enjoying writing her because of the humour in the relationship between her and the hero - I'm not giving anything else away just yet!

Meeting Myself Coming & Going

I'm obviously not the only author doing the Quick Step around here. Looks like nobody had a chance to post since I dropped by last Thursday.

Shall I tell the polite fib and say that I'm getting caught up or tell the truth?

Always the truth ... no such luck!

The good news is that I finished all my Sept. 30th deadline projects (at least the ones I remembered.)

Still wish somebody could build some more hours into the day (a few extra days in the week would help too!)

Hope the week is productive for you (and for me too.)

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Stop the Clock & the Calendar PLEASE

There's a little insanity in my family ... me!

Crazy is the only possible explanation for agreeing to judge a writing competition, take an on-line course, prepare for a live chat/all-week workshop, AND complete the usual assortment of writing projects at the same time!

You'll notice I didn't even mention silly little things like eating and sleeping.

I've tried prioritizing (i.e. tackling the projects with the shortest deadlines first.) I've tried nibbling on the elephant (my neighbor's eloquent way of saying do a little bit at a time and hope you eventually muck your way through.)

Maybe I could have a complete and total meltdown ... collapse in a heap on the floor and cry.

NO! I forgot. I don't have time!!

If you registered for The Muse Online Writers Conference, remember to sign up for BURN THOSE BUNNY SLIPPERS AND BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL WRITER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ... Chat Monday, Oct. 13 9 a.m. EST and all-week workshop. It will be my pleasure to "meet" you and work with you!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Writing and procrastination

by Maggie Toussaint

Have you ever noticed that if you have a chore you don't particularly want to do that you procrastinate? Back when I had to iron my husband's dress shirts for his job, he'd get down to the last one before I broke out the ironing board. And I never actually hated ironing; it is restful in a busy sort of way. What I hated was getting out all the stuff, taking ten minutes on each shirt and losing an hour or two of my day on something that I had to repeat over and over again.

Dusting falls in that category for me. In fact, I'd rather clean the bathroom than dust. There have been many times that you could practically eat off my bathroom fixtures but draw your name in the dust on my bedside table. My point in mentioning this is that I never dreamed those wacky attitudes would spill into my writing.

I love writing. But there are parts of writing that require more effort from me, and I find myself backing off from the challenges when I'm pressed for time. Does this happen to you?

Now that I have writing projects in all stages of completion, I find myself spread thin. I'm still getting stuff written, but there's a sense I have of operating in crisis management mode, and as a result, the hard parts keep slipping by.

Multi-tasking works for some people. It works for me on everything but creative processes. I need chunks of morning time to be satisfyingly creative. I can't create with two loads of laundry going, phone calls from friends and bosses coming in, the TV blaring, and competing nonfiction stories from my day job dancing around in my head.

What to do? Protect your writing time like a precious newborn baby. Turn off the cell phone. Turn off the ringer in your office landline. Turn the internet off (oh no, not the internet!!!). Park yourself in the chair and get it done. The rest of the world can wait an hour or two.

Don't let busy-ness disrupt your writing time. It's still procrastination, no matter how you look at it. Make writing your priority, and even the hard parts will get done.

Happy writing!

Maggie Toussaint
Writer Wednesday with Maggie at the Spa
www.maggietoussaint.com

Tap Dancing as Fast as I Can

The check is in the mail. I know; that's what they all say, but this is the first time in the LONG process of trying to get a publisher to replace the spring check that never arrived that I heard those beautiful words.

I'll believe them when I hold the check in my greedy little hands.

Till then, I'm tap dancing as fast as I can tying to clear my desk to make room for contest entries I promised to judge and work related to the online writers conference.

What's on your desk?

If you registered for The Muse Online Writers Conference, remember to sign up for BURN THOSE BUNNY SLIPPERS AND BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL WRITER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ... Chat Monday, Oct. 13 9 a.m. EST and all-week workshop. It will be my pleasure to "meet" you and work with you!

May the Muse be kind!!

Susanne Rose

http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne RosetteKeep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette

Let's give a big SRN welcome to Denise Patrick

Hi! Welcome to our monthly interview at SRN. Today's guest is Denise Patrick.

I'm Denise and I was an army brat. Although I haven't lived in Utah my entire life, as of now I have lived here longer than any other place in my life time (18 years). I'm going to date myself by telling you that I started reading romances when I was in my very early teens. My mother was hooked on Barbara Cartland and I read what she read. From that I developed a love of Traditional Regencies - my favorite genre to write.I've always loved to write and wrote many stories during my teenage years, but I never really thought about publication. My Aunt (Mom's sister) and I used to read romances and joke that we should write one someday, because some of them were so over the top or lame that we just laughed at them. Then she died in 2002 and I realized that "someday" would never come. As a form of therapy, I started writing again. By 2004 I had four complete 100k novels sitting in my computer and had no idea what to do with them. I stumbled on the eHarlequin website and the rest, as they say, is history.Interestingly enough, my first published book was an Inspirational - a genre that I rarely ever read and certainly never thought I could write. But, I had an idea for a story and a friend who encouraged me to write it down.I write for two publishers, By Grace (http://www.bygracepublishing.com/) and Samhain (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/), and currently have five books out. I'm still learning the ropes and everyday I find something new and interesting about this business that I didn't know before.-----------------------------------

Thanks for the opportunity.

What do you do on a typical writing day?
I don’t know that I have a typical writing day. I work full time outside the home, so my writing is confined to the evenings. But, I am also active in my church and other groups that sometimes take up my evenings with meetings. I probably only get two good evenings a week to write, but I try to spend most of my Saturdays on the computer, too. There is no real routine beyond sitting down, spending a short time reviewing where I stopped, then plunging in.

What do you do for inspiration?
I read. Before I start a new historical, I immerse myself in a specific period of history. If I want to include references to actual events and people, I read up on them. Then I also read other historical romances. I have favorite authors that can immerse me in the period so thoroughly that when I start writing the settings and dialogue just emerge.
I also write inspirationals. When I start one of those, I usually pick out a song with the theme I’m exploring and listen to that. Thank goodness for mp3 players and headphones, or my family would be heartily sick of specific songs by the time I finish a book. Not me, though. The song usually is a favorite to start with and writing a book based on it only makes it moreso.

Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?
I love light paranormals, but I’m not sure I have one in me. The idea of giving someone a special power or talent that no one else has and seeing what they do with it has always intrigued me. I’m not into world-building, though. And, I’m not very fond of vampires, so my idea of a “light” paranormal would be more like “Bewitched” with specific constraints on the power.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I’m a pantster through and through. When I start something new, I open a file and jot down a few ideas. Usually that consists on the characters names and any secondary characters that I can think of. There’s a setting, and the beginning of some sort of conflict. Then I start writing and flesh everything else out as I go. Of course, this causes lots of re-writing because sometimes I get to Chapter 10 and decide that I want my heroine to do something that I said in Chapter 4 she couldn’t do – or had written another chapter in such a way that for her to take that action would ruin the book. Or, sometimes the characters just decide to go off on their own and take me along. (For which I am extremely thankful.)

How can readers find out more about you and your books?
I’m not very good a keeping up on the web, but I just recently put up an experimental (read, free) website. I have a blog that I add to at least once a week, sometimes more, and I have a forum on Coffee Time Romance where I discuss my books and give the readers insights and background into my writing. The Forum currently has a running background thread for my current series, Gypsy Legacy, in which readers can find out more about the history of the characters in the series. I also have MySpace page, a page on Authors Den, Goodreads, and Historical Fiction books. My website has the entire first chapters of all my books. Links to all of my pages on the web can be found on my blog.

Website: http://www.freewebs.com/denisepatrick
Blog: http://denisesden.blogspot.com/
Coffee Time Forum: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=296

In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you most?

A good question. I suspect my inspiration has come from a variety of people and places. I can’t talk about favorite authors without starting with Barbara Cartland. Hers were the first historical romances I read in my early teens. My Mom was absolutely addicted to them and since we read a lot of the same books, I read what she read. By my late teens, we’d moved on to Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers and many more in between, but I never stopped reading Dame Barbara. Her syrupy sweet and innocent Regency heroines fed an imagination raised on fairy tales. Much of what I write is that, but not quite so sweet. My interest in history was also fueled by her after I read one of her historical biographies.

Strikes Don't Matter
by Denise Patrick
By Grace Publishing
© January 2008

Excerpt:


Gina stared critically at herself in the mirror. Her dress was a pale blue cotton eyelet. The simple lines were smooth, hugging her curves comfortably before flaring out into a full skirt that ended just below her knees. A heart-shaped pendant on a gold chain drew attention to the small amount of cleavage showing above the sweetheart neckline. With it she wore matching strappy sandals with wedge heels. Even with the extra three inches, she knew Adam would still top her by at least three or four more. Tortoiseshell combs pulled her hair back from her face and allowed the heavy auburn curls to tumble down her back. She’d given up on make-up in the last few years, but tonight warranted the application of clear lip gloss and a small amount of mascara, purchased during the afternoon’s outing at the mall.
What would Adam think? Would he find her attractive? She hadn’t dressed to impress anyone in a long time, preferring comfort over show. Tonight, however, she wanted him to look at her with more than casual interest.
A knock on her bedroom door drew her from her thoughts. It was Sara.
“That’s a lovely dress. A good color on you.”
“Thanks. Are you all done?”
“Yes. I’ve tortured him enough tonight,” she laughed. “Not that he was concentrating very well in the first place. So you might as well go and put him out of his misery.”
Gina blushed at Sara’s intimation that Adam's inattention had anything to do with her, but picked up her purse, slung it over her shoulder, and followed Sara from the room.
Adam and Craig were standing near the front door. The two were laughing at a shared joke. When Adam turned to look at her, those firm lips curved in a devastating smile, that traitorous organ in her chest nearly stopped beating. He wore dark slacks topped by a long-sleeved button-down shirt and dark tie. Muscular forearms lightly dusted with fine, dark hair were exposed beneath sleeves rolled back nearly to his elbows.
Oh lordy. If all it took for her heart to react was a smile, she was in serious trouble – and they hadn’t even left the house yet.
Craig turned and she hoped, for once, he would remain quiet. She loved her brother dearly, but there were times when he said the oddest things. She was nervous enough as it was; she didn’t need him to play the part of a big brother, as if she was a teenager going on her first date. Luck was on her side tonight, for Craig only winked at her and turned to Adam, “Looks like Gina’s ready, so I won’t keep you. Have a good time.”
She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Shall we go?” Adam’s rich voice tugged at her.
Unable to find her own, she nodded and preceded him out the door.
Once on their way, he glanced over at her. “Do you mind if we make a quick stop before dinner? Our reservations aren’t until seven-thirty.”
“No.”
“I need to check on my grandparents. My grandfather sprained his ankle today. He’s a bear when laid up. I just want to make sure my grandmother hasn’t poisoned him.”
She chuckled. “Is she likely to have?”
“Not really. Although, I wouldn’t put it past her to slip him a sleeping pill with his pain pill.”
As she stepped out of the car at his grandparents', the scent of roses reached her on the warm breeze and she noticed the colorful profusion of flowers clustered at the front of the house. Their visit was short. His grandmother met them with a speculative gleam in her eyes, causing her stomach to contract. It was his grandfather, however, who made her blush hot enough to need a fire extinguisher when he called her over and whispered to her, “No further than first base. And, you make him work for that, you hear?”
Her choked laughter drew Adam’s eyes, and she tried extremely hard, without success, to smother her giggles. When they left, she knew Adam expected her to share the joke, but she couldn’t. Not without turning crimson all over again. The anticipation generated by his grandfather's comment sent her imagination into overdrive.
“Has your grandfather always been such a curmudgeon?”
“He’s always been a bit of a jokester, but lately I think his age is getting to him. He’ll be eighty in October, and all of these little mishaps remind him he’s not as young as he used to be.”
She smiled. “My father always says, if you don’t like birthdays, consider the alternative.”
He hooted with laughter, his deep voice raising goosebumps on her skin.
“I have to meet your father one of these days.”
Butterflies exploded in her stomach. Did he mean that? Her mouth went dry at the thought; the possibilities.
Unaware of the turmoil he was causing, Adam continued. “Perhaps the next time I come to Salt Lake.”

Characters Part 2

The last time I wrote on the craft, I described how to bring characters more to life by giving them desires. But even simple, one-dimensional characters have desires. The villain wants the money at any cost. The baker must deliver his delectable creation to the wedding on time. They have desires just as much as any other character you’ve ever seen. What makes yours unique, different, and yet real to life?

Let’s go a step further. Once you’ve set up the desires, next you need to add some layers. Just like an onion, we humans are more than what appears on the surface. We have different facets to our person which make up who we are as a whole. In that same fashion, fictional characters should emulate people in the real world. They should have some of those same traits, likes, habits and even annoyances that we see day in and day out.

I’m currently writing my third NovelTea book. As I’m writing this one as a cozy mystery, I had the opportunity to create several secondary characters…ahem…suspects. Now, they could come across as merely archetypes if I didn’t add some human layers and complexity to them. Every character has a history and that history affects who they are and how they behave. The reader will never know all of their past but you, the all-knowing author, do. Armed with that knowledge, you can make your characters deeper and more interesting.

The heroine in my NovelTea books (Juliet Truesdale) is a bored bookseller who at the onset of the series yearns for more excitement in her life until the entrance of a handsome, mysterious stranger turns her world upside down. The idea has possibilities (right?) but what makes Juliet different from any other heroine in that position? First of all, Juliet is an Everyman character. She lacks the experience of navigating in this world of intrigue and spies. In the first book, especially, we the readers are along for the ride as Juliet fumbles around trying to figure out her way. People relate to her because they feel for her predicament and believe they might react similarly. She isn't a superhero and she even brings up that point to herself. Juliet is an enigma especially to the hero, Grant. She is sweet and naïve yet at times incredibly wry and suspicious. The best part of Juliet, at least to me the author, is that she is a dynamic character. Throughout the whole of the series, we will see her grow and become something completely different from where she started in book 1 and yet still resemble that bored bookseller at the beginning.

So as you sit down to continue work on characterization, find ways to make your characters distinctive from any other. Add those layers. Think about real people that you know. They have characteristics that at times may even be in direct opposition. They might love classical music and yet play professional football. It appears in opposition and yet it gives them depth and makes them appealing. Bringing in these facets, develops your character more fully into something memorable and realistic—something to stay with your reader long after they’ve closed the book.

Read more about my best-selling NovelTea books at the NovelTea Blog. A Night of NovelTea and NovelTea Next Door are both available at The Wild Rose Press.

Thanks for reading--Now get writing!

Cindy

www.cindykgreen.com