My lovely fellow Mavens felt as if I was getting the short shrift because they each had an individual day to post while I only posted the T13. I thought that very sweet of them to think of me. The only trouble is I have enough trouble coming up with my own blog posts so what can I do to keep them separate topics?
I admit I’m totally, terrifyingly stumped. Do I post about writing tips? Books that I’ve read? (Okay that one is probably out since I barely have time to read the stuff that I write.) Do I blog about my personal life? My likes, my dislikes, things that I absolutely hate and have no tolerance for? How about a mindless rambling post covering absolutely nothing? (Gee, isn’t that what I’ve done so far?)
I think I’ll try some writing tips.
A few years ago I offered a “class” to a writing group I was a member of. There had been an RWA conference coming up and many of us were going to be left behind so I organized a virtual conference and had classes taught by some amazing “teachers” (I like to think I qualify to fit into my own column of amazing. Don’t deflate my ego too much, please?)
The classes I taught were Cracking Openings, Writing Suspense, and Promoting Yourself. So I think I’ll just spent the next few weeks offering you a variety of tips and yes folks this IS interactive. Any comments you wish to make. Any answers you choose to give are ALL welcomed. Simply post a comment! (I'm also availble for on line classes, kids parties and stag parties. All thought make sure I have the correct information noted. It would be embarrassing if I popped out of a cake at little Johnny’s sixth birthday party...)
On with the show…
Hooking. (No, not that kind!) It’s what you want to do to the reader. You want an opening tht will grab them tight and never let them go. How does one do that? I’ll be using my own works as examples. (How’s that for shameless plugging?)
I have scoured the Internet looking for wonderful writing tips and the main thing that has stuck with me is that you only have 10 seconds, (10 seconds!)to grab an editors attention.
Your opening lines have to be compelling. In that mere 10 seconds you should make the editor want to read more. Any openings that are overused will most likely be deleted from memory. The two most overused are: waking up in bed and traveling to the location of the story. There are editors who will see this as the author’s inability to be original. (There are ways of doing so; it’s all in the execution. We’ll discuss executions later.)
First the usual: all materials presented in this blog are copyrighted. All excerpts and ideas noted herein fall under this copyright umbrella. All pirates will be court-martialed at dawn and required to walk the plank in minutes upon being judged guilty. Thank you.
Okay here is the opening of Gateway Guardians Book One: Callye’s Justice.
“Where the hell is that ambulance?” Justice Bernard shouted again above the wailing of the sirens. In the flashing strobe lights around him, he looked down into Cas’s pale face. “Don’t you dare leave me, you hear me, Callye Ann Simone? I need you, damn it.”
The blood was pooling beneath his arms as it seeped from the many cuts slashing her small frame. Bruising in colors ranging from violet to angry black and green dotted her face and arms. His stomach clenched in fear.
“We need the medics now," he shouted again. Was anyone even hearing him? Why the hell didn’t someone come for her?
Uniforms raced around him, but all he could see was Cas. “Damn it, Cas, please hang on.” Her pulse was so weak. They couldn’t be too late. This just couldn’t be happening. He’d just gotten her back. He couldn’t lose her now.
“The ambulance just arrived, sir.”
“‘Bout damn time,” he growled as the paramedics rolled the stretcher up to them. The flashing lights of the emergency vehicles cast strange shadows on the faces of the medics seemed to wear masks of death. He pressed the morbid thought from his mind.
They pushed him to the side while they assessed the damage done to Cas. Justice battled the tears that pricked his eyes. All his fault. How the hell could he let this happen to her?
You put up such a hell of a fight, don’t give up now. The tears slid down his cheek and he gave them a hard brush. “Please baby, hang on.”
Were you able to read that in 10 seconds? Did it make you want to know what happened? The opening hook should leave you asking questions. Those questions should be able to drive the reader on, wanting to know what was coming next.
Here are a few more openings. (Here's where the interactive part comes in!) Read them and decide for yourself which ones are hookers and which ones are tossers.
This is taken from a book in progress, Nursery Crimes:
The hand encased in the black leather glove clutched the photograph convulsively. Slowly the gun was raised, target spotted and a shot squeezed off. The hunter watched as the bullet hit its mark between the eyes of the man and the body crumpled to the ground. Walking over to the body, the hunter touched a flame to the photograph and dropped the burning picture onto the groin of the dead man. Smiling, the hunter turned and walked away.
Here is a second one from my soon to be submitted Save the Last Song for Me:
The pretty little brunette slumped in front of him. Her molasses brown hair mated to her face. Blood oozed from the places her hands and feet had once been attached to her body. Her body was slit from her throat to her groin. The skin, bone and muscle peeled back exposing the mass of internal organs. Her brown eyes slid open and blood bubbled from her lips. “Save me,” Minnie Winsten begged.
Dax Stone jerked out of bed, sweat sheeting his body, expelling hard panting breaths. God would it never end? The string of dead bodies left in the wake of the mad man who made Jack the Ripper look like the Santa Claus was enough to make the most seasoned hard asses on the department unable to get the images from their minds.
Here is your third offering from A Love for All Ages:
Roberta Little Deer stood on the balcony. Church was over and people mingled with each other on their way out the doors. The man below her looked so familiar. He had graying blond hair and was tall. He was wearing a brown suit. He stood shifting from foot to foot while he spoke to the minister. She squeezed her bible. She was breathless. She could only stare.
And number four Heart of the Jungle:
Larkin Davis flew to Kenya. She had lost her parents when she was only a teenager and had bounced from foster care to foster care until the system kicked her out at eighteen. Life had been hard and she’d had to scrimp and save every dime. She took dozens of lousy jobs, jobs that she hated, jobs she wasn’t proud of, but she’d finally made it out to school, and when she’d purchased her first camera she felt the bug bite. The shutterbug had left its mark and she went from place to place searching for the job that would pay her to take pictures.
Which ones made you want to know more? Were there any that left you flat? You have to leave the editors/readers asking questions, looking for more, more and still more. One word of note: NEVER answer a question without asking another one. You give it all away and they’ll stop reading before they’ve hit the end.
So I would love to see some interaction. Also opinions would be GREAT! Do want to see more of these lesson like tips? If you don’t run screaming “NO! PLEASE NO!” I’ll assume you want these to continue.
Come join all four of us Monday when we chat about anything and everything on the Far loop. Yep, Fallen Angel Review Chatters is hosting a loop chat for all of the Champagne authors and well, luckily for the Magic Mavens, we all have at least one book published or soon to be published by Champagne Books. So mark your calendars. It should be an exciting day. Oh, and I plan to pick three winners from among those that participate to recieve a package of stationary with my artwork on the front. I'll even let the lucky winners pick the image of their choice.
As many of you know, I love to write historicals; Victorians / Westerns / Colonial. I have also written a few books that are comtemporary / romantic comedy. I also have a few stories in the works that are paranormal / time-travel. This is fine and dandy if I stick with electronic companies or small presses...so I've been told. But I want a variety. Not only do I want to be with the small presses, I want to shoot for the big guys.
However, I was told that to make it with the big guys, I have to stick to one genre. Well, since my favorite is historical, I'm definitely going to stick to that. But what about the others I have? Will the big editors / agents even look at me if I write other genres? Then, the other day, I heard about a brand new author who has a historical with AVON, and then just recently contracted a two-book deal for her spicy contemporaries. Hmmmm... Are things changing, or did I just get the wrong information?
Everyone has characters from the past, both distant and not so distant, that we admire. People who we’d love to meet. Here are a few of our choices:
Jami: 1. Betsy Ross 2. Helen Keller 3. Walt Disney 4. King Author
Becka 5. Jane Austin—Writer 6. Emily Dickenson—Writer 7. Louisa May Alcott—Writer
Donica 8. Chief Joseph (In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat (Thunder coming up over the land from the water) (Nez Pierce Indian) 9. Levin Covey (an ancestor of mine. He was a very colorful character. From what I remember he and his brother seperated ang each joined the confederate army. They faught, lived moved on and years later they each thought the other was dead until they went to a veteren’s reunion. They saw each other for the first time in 50 years. That must’ve been a hell of a shock. 10. Jimmy Driftwood. Yet another relative. Jimmy was a song writer/singer. An Ozark man. There is a place in Mountain View Arkansas called the Jimmy Driftwood Barn.
Phyllis 11. Lady Godiva (believe it or not I’m releated to her!) 12. Betsy Ross (I always wanted to learn to sew…) 13. Annie Oakley (Love those tough heroines)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Did you know that we had a solar eclipse today? Of course, you had to live in South America, Antarctica or the South Atlantic to see it, but still . . . .
In my quest to be a better blogger, I posted my doubts and frustrations on my spot at the Coffeetime Forum. I had some wonderful folks post comments and I visited some fun blogs. For those of you curious as to my journey into the world of blogging, here are the sites I went to:
The last one led me to the solar eclipse discovery. Gincat had posted about astrology and moon signs. Wow, it's been a long time since I did any astrological research, but the subject always fascinates me. I even use astrology to help mold my characters. I used to have a great CD that would generate a basic chart for each of my characters. All I had to do was give my character a birthday. It was a great way to give my characters the very basics of their personalities.
Okay, so I got off track. Back to the solar eclipse. In my search for another copy of this CD since it no longer works, I stumbled across this site: http://astrology-source.com/solar.htm Basically, the solar eclipse will have a major impact on my life because I'm a Pisces. I dunno, maybe it was the power of suggestion, but oh my goodness, I felt very rejuvinated tonight. I critiqued a chapter for one of my crit partners, I finished writing a chapter for one of my new stories and I answered tons of e-mail. It's 12:29 AM and I'm still going. Tonight I'm an everready. I just keep on ticking.
Check out this map of the eclipse. So - how will the eclipse affect you? Check out http://astrology-source.com/solar.htm to find out. And while your cruising the internet, be sure to stop in and post a comment or two to the above mentioned bloggers.
When did this happen? I'm usually a chatty person. I don't want to post about the obvious today. Too damned depressing, and I'll start crying. Which reminds me, I'm going to go fly my flag today. Hang on...
Back.
Okay, where was I? Hmm... Can you believe I have three books I need to finish before the end of the year?? I'm less than 5K away from finishing NATURE OF THE B*E*A*S*T*. YAY! I also have to finish ONCE A DREAMER, the first book in the Orphan Train series coming to Champagne Books next year, AND I've got to do the Vampire Chronicles book TOMB. I've been thinking about doing the vampy book for NaNoWriMo, since it's only about 20K, so it should be easy peasy. :)
However, it's already almost mid-September. ACK! I gotta get movin!
Show of hands... How many people are anxiously awaiting Wade's story? And which is your favorite shifter? Noah? Rogan? Wade? Someone else? :P Answer today in the comments, and your name will go into a random drawing for a PDF download of the BEAST book you want, either the first, THE B*E*A*S*T* WITHIN, or the second, B*E*A*S*T* OF BURDEN. Mavens are excluded from the contest. :)
Post your comment before 3pm PST / 6pm EST to enter! Woohoo!!
Good morning! I hope your weekend was better than mine. SIGH. But I'm not here to post about THAT.
Today, I want to talk about romance in general. Why do you read it? Why do you write it? DH has frequently asked me that question, and he just doesn't understand how I don't get bored with the genre. How many times can you read about two people falling in love?
But honestly, you could say that about any genre. How many mysteries can you possibly solve before you get bored? How many horrors can you possibly devour before you're drooling in your chair? lol
For me, I love reading about the power of love and how it prevails over all other trials and tribulations. I love reading about the budding relationship, and feeling that joy and wonder along with the characters. Sometimes, "old" love doesn't have the excitement that new love has, and I think that's part of what endures people to the genre. "Old" love is comfortable. When you've been married for years and years, you might not be jumping for joy when the ol' DH comes home from work. You might not have wild, freaky monkey sex any more. You get into a pattern, you become comfortable, relaxed, like a long, lazy stroll down the beach.
But we remember how things used to be, the excitement of when your honey calls you on the phone (remember the way your heart leapt when the phone rang?) The way they would gaze at you during a night out at a restaurant, as if he couldn't wait to get you home and devour YOU for dessert... The way you'd get freaky in any room in the house whenever the mood struck (probably before kids).
These are the feelings we want to "get back", if only for a few hours. So we read romance in order to sigh at the shiny newness of it all. That's my theory, anyhow.
Recently, I just received my very first HUNK book cover. Of course, I'm thrilled to death to have a mouth-watering man on the front of my book. But today as I was thinking about what to blog, I wondered what the rest of you think about these types of book covers.
We all have heard SEX SELLS...which means the spicier the story, the more it's going to sell. But does having a sexy cover sell your story?
HER KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION was published once before under the name, MY KNIGHT, MY ROGUE. I liked the book cover for MY KNIGHT, MY ROGUE, because it was simple and eye-catching. But there was no hunk. I'm anxious to see how well my book will sell now using a different title and with a hunk on the cover. Will it be a best-seller like it was when it was with the first publisher? Not only was my story a best seller, it broke record sales for my publisher. It will be interesting to see what my HUNK will do for my story.
Now...what are your thoughts / comments? Come on, don't be shy... Let me know.
Many of us have done things in our lives that can be considered reckless, wild, maybe even a touch dangerous—not that *I* have done anything wild mind you. Nope not the least little bit. I decided to prove that point by putting my list first this week~~Donica
Donica
1. I was riding my horse and I decided to try some of the stunts I’d seen in the movies. I stood up on the saddle and tried to immitate that ride. My mare had a soft mouth and I jerked the reins when I was just getting in position. Because I’d pulled the reins slight she thought I meant stop…she did I didn’t.
2. I raced my motorcycle against this boy I was mad at (he liked my cousin more than he liked me) So I called him a candy a$$ and challenged him to a race. I left him in the dirt, was doing great until I came up on a hairpin turn. Gravel got up in my handle somehow and I couldn’t turn so I dropped it to the side and skidded across the gravel road, from one side clear to other and I kept sliding until I hit a tree with my head. Did I mention I was wearing cut offs a tank, and no helmet?
3. At a friend’s graduation party I discovered a fabulous combination of Zima (Do they even make that anymore?) and watermelon schnapps. I was standing on the garage roof laughing with my friends and a limo pulled up. As the kids got out I was shouting about drinks being on the house. The roof had that normal roof pitch, you know the ^ type? Well I was balancing on this and dancing and all. Someone said something I laughed and was shouting at the next group of kids. I jumped up and when I landed I found a soft spot. My left leg went through the roof, my right didn’t. I didn’t feel the pain until the next day and let me tell you it was BAD. I had bruises; scrapes and raw spots all up my thigh.
4. Some friends and I were hanging out. There were so many of us that it took two cars. We had coolers of soda, snacks and that sort of thing. We had the sodas in one car and my best friend was in the other. So we pulled up along side by side and I passed her a can while we drove down the highway. We’ve also done this whikle driving backward. (Mom, if you’re reading, don’t freak okay?!)
5. I had this really great friend when I was a kid. She was a year younger than I. I taught her to ride motorcycles and horses. She tried to teach me to drive stick—not good. Anyway. I wasn’t really able to swim so she was teasing me about being older and not being able to swim out like she did. I got gutsy. I had figured out that if I happened to sink a little I could push off rocks, ot stumps or logs in the water. I could see the bottom so I wasn’t worried. I swam out and was having a grand time. I sank, oushed up. Sank. Pushed up. Sank…
Becka 6. I tried to ride a bike with one hand through gravel. Not the smartest of ideas. Long story short, I fell, and broke my wrist in three places.
7. I got my ankle tangled in the seatbelt in the rear of my aunt’s car. Fell out backwards into the parking lot, and I know damn well I cracked my tailbone. I couldn’t sit in one position for about 9 months afterward.
8. I went hiking up King’s Canyon in Nevada with my boyfriend (soon to be DH) and fell on the mountain. You guessed it, I broke my ankle. Nothing funnier than two boys trying to carry an overweight girl down the side of a mountain.
9. When walking to my van in the morning to grab the diaper bag I’d left in there the night before, I slipped on the dewey grass and landed on my knee, sliding down the incline of my front yard a few feet. My knee was on fire, but I found out after the fact that I’d broken my big toe. See a trend here?? LOL
Jami 10. Hmm, do I have to include the fender bender I had yesterday? Yep, I hit a car that was sitting at a stop sign because I thought she was going to go. My bad.
11. I was in the art room unpacking supplies and pulled out a sheet of bubble wrap. Of course, popping the bubbles is an addictive sport. Well, genius that I am, I think, what will happen if I jump on the bubble wrap? Well, I’m alive to tell you that it was not a smart idea. I jumped, the plastic slid out, taking my feet with it and I landed flat on my back in front of students. Alas, it took a while to live that one down.
12. In high school, CB radios were the craze and we use them to meet boys. Yes, we were smart enough to pick public places, but I can remember a few scary incidents.
13. Also in high school, we enjoyed off-campus lunch, but it wasn’t a long lunch, so speeding was a must. There was a specific curve and each day, my girl friend and I would add 5 more miles per hour to see how fast we could take it. On the day it was my turn, I took that curve doing 50 and ended up on two wheels. Needless to say, we slowed it down after that.
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
"Read?" I'm staring at the e-mail with a belly full of jitterbugs. "How will I read a whole chapter out loud without sounding really foolish?" Okay, I can do this. No worries. I'll just pick a short scene and not a whole chapter. I'll be selling Celestial Dragon, btw.
Anyone else get all jittery before booksignings? Well, I guess I kinda have cause. My first two booksignings occured bookless. I'll liken that experience to showing up for your wedding nude. I had a nice turn out too. Eveyone was very understanding. I took names and promised to contact them when the books did come in.
Once I got over the fact Iwas having a booksigning with no books, I relaxed and enjoyed the afternoon. This weekend, I get to experience a signing with books! Wow. That's kinda exciting. What a novel idea. LOL. But alas, I may scare off my readers if I have to read aloud. Off to practice, that's for sure.
So - for those of you that just happen to be in the vicinity of Austin, Texas, I'll be at the Borders at 9500 South IH 35. I'll be there with about 8 other authors. Too fun! Come see us between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. I would sure love to see my friends there.
I think my muse went on summer vacation. The last book I finished in a timely manner would be THE WOLVERINE AND THE FLAME, and that book is already available for purchase! So you know it's been awhile...
I've been feeling guilty lately, because everytime I try to write something, the words just don't come. I end up promoting or playing all day on the 'Net, and never getting anything done. What the heck was wrong with me?
My muse decided to take a vacation.
She must have gone somewhere cool, like the tropics or Fiji. Because she seems to be back and recharged. Thank GAWD.
My deadline for NATURE OF THE B*E*A*S*T*, Wade's story, was April 1st. Here it is, after Sept. 1st, and I still don't have it in!! Of course, I only have about 7500 words left before I reach my goal, so the muse has FINALLY been getting her ass in gear. The beeyotch. Thankfully, my publisher has allowed me some "lax" time to get it done, and I honestly think I haven't finished it due to real life pressures, and the pressure of writing a kick-ass book.
I've never had a series do as well as BEAST, and knowing I have rabid fans out there anxiously awaiting the third story, it can be daunting. I don't even want to think about the pressure someone like JK Rowling must have been under. ACK!
But I'm not going to question the return of my muse. I'm going to use her and abuse her until she decides to leave me again. Hopefully, it won't be too long next time... :P
What are you doing today for Labor Day? I don't expect much discussion on this post, as all y'all are probably out and about at BBQ's and family outings. I've been writing a LOT this weekend, thank goodness. It's about time my Muse makes a re-appearance. We've had our friends over yesterday and the day before... I'm not so sure they'll come over again today. We shall see. :)
This seems to be the phrase on most writers’ lips nowadays…especially once school begins in the fall. When my girls were very young, I wasn’t a writer, but an avid reader. It wasn’t until my youngest was in Kindergarten / First Grade, when I decided to try my hand at writing. Luckily, I only worked part time then so I had the time to write a lot (4-5 books per year). But when my girls got older, it seemed there was less and less time. Then I started working full time when youngest was in Junior High. I was very upset because I worried I wouldn’t find any time to write.
Does this sound familiar to any of you?
Now, both my girls are grown up, and one is moved out of the house. I still work full time. Plus…I’ve added on another task. I’m helping raise my 16-month-old grandson. My daughter is a very young single mother who is still trying to figure out how to be a mother. She has a full time job, working from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm five days a week. Which means, I have to work my full time job, get off at 5:00 pm, pick up grandson from the day care and watch him until 8-8:30 that night until time for bed. It also means I probably won’t have those wonderful weekends I have looked forward to for all these years.
I’m worried now that I won’t find time to write. How can I with a toddler? I’ve raised my kids, I should be able to do whatever I want now. Right?
But this change in my life has made me buckle down and actually WORK. Before, I would get on the Internet and play on my email loops for a while. Then I’d get to one of my books and switch back and forth between writing / editing / Internet. Now I know I have to write. Nothing but write! If I don’t, I’m never going to have time.
So for those who are in the same boat as me, you need to find a time – even if it’s a ½ hour, or 15 minutes, when you can write. Do nothing else but write!
Remember...we’re doing this because we love it. We owe it to ourselves to find time!!
Jami: 1. I love the myth about leprechauns, but then I love all things Irish. 2. Faeries and faery rings fascinate me, so much so that I have faeries and elves in one of my unpubbed books as main characters. This is a book I hope to eventually sale to a NY publisher, but later. 3. A fond childhood memory is playing “bloody Mary.” Do you remember that game? Supposedly, if you stared at your image in the mirror in a dark room with no light, you would eventually see the ghost of “bloody Mary.” I could never stare long enough to get results. It would freak me out too bad. 4. Merlin the magician comes to mind when I think of myths. I based a hero after Merlin and had a blast doing research on this particular wizard. Too fun.
Becka 1. Hmm…I love the myth of Atlantis. Because whether or not there really was a lost continent, it made for a terrific TV show. LOL 2. I love the myth of Santa Claus, for obvious reasons. But mostly because my children think Christmas is magical, even though they know he doesn’t really exist. 3. And then there is the myth that having more money solves all your money problems. ACK! However, I can’t seem to bring myself to believe those Hollywood stars are living paycheck to paycheck… 4. And my personal fave: the myth of sex after marriage. Ain’t that one a hoot??
Donica 1. Selene and Endymion 2. Psyche and Eros/Cupid 3. Hades and Persephone 4. Isis and Osiris
Marie 1. Mermaids 2. Unicorns 3. Vampires 4. Werewolves
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Well, I had high plans for posting something really relevant to writing or publishing, but alas, my other job, the 8 - 5 job, got in the way.
Most readers already know that I also teach. This was the first week back and oh man, my poor puppies (feet) are feeling it. When I teach, I never sit and my floors are just concrete. I did break down and buy arch supports.
Hmm, to make this more relative to writing, I'm going to give everyone a glimpse into my day as a teacher. That might help someone who wants to use a teacher for one of their characters.
I arrive at 7:45 and grab the handout for the day so that I can make enlarged copies for one on my students. That takes about ten minutes as I have to hunt down the large paper for the copier. At least there was no line. At 8:00 AM, I'm choosing slides for the slide projector, putting out materials for the lesson and doing a very quick recording of grades for yesterday's assignment. The bell rings at 8:20 and we say the pledge followed by a moment of silence. I pass out a short assignment for them while I finish recording grades. After passing back the graded work, I begin the lesson. The lesson consists of about 4 different activities, but amazingly, I manage to organize and multi-task until it's all done. And that was only 1st period. Four different preps and by the end of the day, I'm ready to collapse.
Fourth period rolls around and one of my sweethearts decides to get lunch early and bring it to class. Grrrr. So after dealing with him, we begin class. They are already on a long project, so I don't have to present new material. When the bell rings again, it's advocate period which is a thirty minute period whereby students can just study. Then it's lunch time. By 12:30, we're all starving. After a thirty minute lunch, I have a conference period.
I spend my conference period counting money that was collected for fees and turning it into the office, then making xerox copies for the next lesson. I finished a PO for supplies, answered e-mail and drafted a grading paper for another project I worked on this past summer. This period is too short for all that I need to do, but . . . the bell rings and I have two more periods to go.
My classes are big this year. 31 in all my classes except 4th and it only has 20. My daughter shows up between 4th and 5th complaining about the treatment she recieved from her teacher and then the teacher e-mails complaining about my daughter. Ugh. Not fun to be caught in the middle.
Tomorrow I get to monitor tardies which makes me feel like the bad guy, but I know I'm only doing my job. If the child didn't want detention, they should not have been tardy. And of course there is the endless checking for dress code violation and lack of ID.
Well, that's a glimpse. Being that busy makes the day go by fast and by next week I'll be aclimated to my routine.
Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you'll know that TODAY is the day the third book in my Legends of Mynos trilogy is released from Samhain Publishing! THE WOLVERINE AND THE FLAME follows the story of Sir Ethan of Krey, who, you might remember, made a promise to his closest friend to watch out for his friend's sister. He didn't think he'd begin to have tender feelings toward her...
When an evil red ruby known as the Dragon's Flame is unearthed, they must destroy it at all costs. But when Mynos himself cannot withstand the taint of the gem, do they have any hope at all against a dragon hell-bent on destruction?
You should also know I got my author copies of THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE. :D Ever wonder what a "dream come true" looks like?
Holding that book in my hand gave me chills. It may not be the Greatest Book on Planet Earth, but it's special to me, and a turning point for me. NOW I've "made it". Now, I can sit back and truly tell my kids to believe in their dreams. Do you know how powerful that can be for a child? My kids literally look at me with big ol' eyes and mouths wide open when I tell them how long that story spark has been with me.
The first book is dedicated to myself, to give the little girl I once was validation. :P
The second book is dedicated to my children, to prove to them that sometimes dreams do come true.
The third book is dedicated to the fantasy authors I used to read as a child, because without them, I would have never *dared* to dream. :)
So give The Legends of Mynos a try. If you love fantasy and you love romance, chances are, you'll love my series. I hope. LOL
Today is normally Becka's day to post but she's got a sick DH so I'm going to pop in for her. So lets get down to brass tacks shall we?
First off, Becka received her newest cover over the weekend. This is the cover for her next installment of the B*E*A*S*T series. Check it out!
Now what shall we discuss today? Becka said something about doing a recipe so how about we discuss our favorite recipes and then maybe we can collect the actual recipes and send a copy to everyone who is interested?
I'll begin and let me tell you this isn't an easy one for me. I love to eat, I love to cook/bake and I love to eat what I cook/bake LOL
I think I'd have to say my favorite thing is a cake I make called a chocolate covered cherry cake. Moist, rich, cherry topped and filled. This is so rich if you could deposit it you'd never have to work again :)
(don't you just love this pic of me? Very close to the real thing, I think... ROFL!)
Reprints... What do you think about reprints? After a story has been published and available for readers, do you think the author should send it to another publisher after she's gotten her rights back? I published my Victorian-set, MY KNIGHT, MY ROGUE two years ago, but at the first of the year, my contract ran out. The publisher I had my story with at the time did not put my story in paperback and available at the bookstores. Now, all of my publishers provide this for me, and it saddens me that my first stories were never put to print.
I've revamped my original version and titled it HER KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION. The Wild Rose Press is republishing it for me, which is thrilling! Yesterday I got my cover and release date. My story will be released Sept. 21st!! I haven't been able to get my new cover on my website yet (still working with web designer...) but you can go to my Bebo page and check it out. www.phylliscampbell.bebo.com
Lady Megan Saxton will do anything—naughty if necessary—not to marry the drunken lord her grandmother selected. But when she thinks she’s trapped herself a duke, will a mistake in identity have her falling in love with the man who put her family in financial ruins?
Clever Scoundrel, Edmund Knight will stop at nothing to take back the deed to his goldmine that has been stolen from him. When his enemy’s daughter mistakes him for someone else, his plans change. Now he’s after her virginity.
**excerpt**
Edmund settled in his chair and picked up the deck of cards. Everything was falling perfectly into place. Surprisingly, she hadn’t noticed his cheating, but that, too, was part of his seduction. Now as the game was almost finished, it was his turn to win. Once she forfeited, he’d have her soft body against his as he lavished her mouth with kisses.
She wouldn’t fight. The way she’d ogled his body let him know she thought about touching it, almost as much as he wanted to touch hers. She was a well-trained seductress. Well skilled at playing the innocent.
He shuffled and dealt out the correct amount of cards, making certain she couldn’t win. Megan looked at her cards. By her sorrowful expression, the realization of having a bad hand was starting to settle in.
The firelight behind her tinted the red in her auburn hair, which contrasted her pale face. Yes, she definitely didn’t have the impassive countenance required for gambling. She wasn’t gifted at deceit, at least at cards. So different from her father. But in time, Saxton’s bad seed would rub off on his daughter.
For a moment, a pang of guilt pierced his chest. Perhaps he should have given her a full house. But when he imagined her soft hands upon his bare chest, he dismissed the idea.
She lifted her gaze and smiled through her saddened expression. “I would like three cards, please.” She slid the three she wanted to exchange across the table.
He nodded and gave her three. “And I’ll take one.” He lay his cards face up on the table. “I have four Jacks. What do you have?”
She sighed with a frown, her shoulders wilting as she placed her cards on the table. “I have two eights and two sixes and a King.”
He chuckled. “I’m relieved to see you’re off your winning streak.” He widened his grin. “What will you forfeit?”
She tapped her fingernail on the table for a moment, before her face brightened and she reached to her lap, pulling up his shirt.
“I’ll give you back your shirt.”
He didn’t know whether to get upset or laugh. The little minx had tricked him, but she was correct in assuming she could return his clothes.
He took the shirt and smiled. “Thank you.”
He realized how clever she was. Now he knew her game. She intended to return his clothes, forcing him to redress, but that wasn’t his plan. Would he ever get the kiss he so desperately sought? Strong desire mingled with his need for revenge.
“Are you going to put it on?” She gave him an expectant look.
He nodded, slipping his arms through the sleeves, but he didn’t button it. Dealing the next hand, he put the higher cards in his favor. The game was called, and she had a small straight. He held four Queens.
Just as before, she handed over his waist-coat and he slipped it on. The next game, she handed over his cravat, and he hung it around his neck. Now he had her. This time when she lost, she’d have to give him a kiss. He dealt the cards again, purposely giving her the lower hand. She held two Jacks, a ten and two fives. He had a full house.
He grinned. “It appears you have no more clothes to return to me.”
She nodded without answering.
“So I assume a kiss is in order. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you would like to take off your robe?”
Her face flamed a brilliant red. He held back the laughter readying to erupt from his throat.
“No. I will forfeit a kiss.”
Her tongue glided out to moisten her lips, causing his immediate arousal. She looked so provocative. Did she know what lustful thoughts flew through his head—fantasies he wanted to act upon? Of course she did. She couldn’t possibly be the innocent girl she portrayed.
He stood and moved to her side. Her gaze had dropped to her lap as her fingers twisted together.
“My lady?” He reached down to take a cold hand in his, the soft whiteness contrasting against his dark tan. He pulled her to her feet, her reluctance showed through her stiff limbs. He would change that soon. She was good at this game, but he was better.
Welcome to the new and improved Magic Mavens blog. I have a question for you all. Do have movies you enjoy watching. You knw the ones I mean? The movies that you can watch over and over and over again and each time they can still make you laugh, or cry or scare the bloody bajeebers out of you. This is the Mavens’ first T13 and its movies that we can watch over and over and over again. As the saying goes, the show must go on and so we’re gone like the wind
Donica’s top list: 1. Last Holiday 2. Harvey 3. Banger Sisters 4. Robin Hood (Errol Flynn/Olivia de Havelin) 5. Bringing Up Baby Ciara’s top four: 6. A Knight’s Tale 7.Scorpion King (The Rock is to die for in this movie, jmo) 8. Captain Ron 9. Dirty Dancing Becka’s top Four 10. EVER AFTER I really like Drew Barrymore, and even though this movie is cheesy, I still love it. 11. DRAGON HEART I based Mynos off of Draco years ago. This movie definitely shaped my fantasy books. 12. LABYRINTH~How can you go wrong with David Bowie’s codpiece?? LOL 13. THE WEDDING SINGER~ Again, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. I love Adam Sandler, and this movie in particular makes me giggle when I remember the 80’s. EXCELLENT soundtrack, too. J
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thanks to Becka, the mavens have some really cool graphics to go along with our new look. Whoo hoo! Check me out. I finally have blonde hair. Ha ha. Okay, but seriously, today is officially "hump day." So, what does hump day really mean? Getting over the hump, making it half way through the 8 - 5 day. Appropriate since I started back to work today.
From the Urban dictionary; The middle of a work week (Wednesday); used in the context of climbing a proverbial hill to get through a tough week. After hump day, the weekend gets closer. Well, it doesn't feel closer, but . . . it will once I get acclaimated to relax mode.
According to Wikipedia, Wednesday comes from the Old English word, Wēdnes dæg, meaning the day of the Germanic God, Wodan or Woden. Until about the 7th century, he was the Anglo Saxon God who in folklore was the leader of the Wild Hunt. A way to explain thunderstorms, the wild hunt was a mad pursuit across the skies. Woden also led dead souls to the underworld.
According to the Thai solar calenday, the color associated with Wednesday is green. Hmm, I like green. And it makes sense. Green has a midrange intensity about it. And Wednesday is the middle of the week.
So - just for grins, heres a fun photo I found to get us over that hump. Enjoy.
So, what do you do to get over the hump? To make it through the week? Me? I come home after work, take off my shoes, turn on the computer and write for an hour. Then I have to go to work for the family. Ah yes, the first job (the 8 - 5 being the second job) and cook, help with homework and run errands. At 9ish, I get to sit down and write again. Writing relaxes me. It takes me far away to all sorts of fantasies. (Thursdays are reserved for dancing but the rest of the week looks pretty much like what I described here.) Now, it's your turn. What do you do to get over the hump and deal with everday, work-related stress?
Today is a very special day for me. I believe it to be a turning point in my career. One of my books has been released today in print, one of my favorites, one close to my heart; THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE.
This is the first in my Legends of Mynos series, the book that's been with me forever, the one I struggled with in the early years of my marriage. It was with THIS very book I used to dream of being published nearly 20 years ago.
It all began after my parents' divorce. I was a sad, lonely child, who frequently played with my dogs. And one day, I told them a story about a magical talisman and the elves who protect it. That day in the mid 80's, the Crystal of Mynos was born.
Knowing I had a cool idea for a story, I jotted down notes and wrote three stories long-hand. I shared them with my classmates who would threaten me with pain of death should I decide to come to school the next day without the next chapter. I loved fantasy. I cut my teeth on C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings. But they didn't have enough romance to satisfy. I decided to rectify that.
My love for romance probably stems from my parents' divorce, as I was desperate to read stories of happy endings and couples who stayed together--despite the odds. So perhaps I should thank my parents for weaning a romance author. But back in the day, I would literally sit on my bed, a starry-eyed 13 year old, dreaming of being published and seeing Mynos's Crystal in bookstores nationwide.
Of course, that was a pipe dream, right?
Over the years, those stories were tucked away and I only dusted them off every now and again to remember those fond dreams of "some day". It wasn't until I married my hubby who was very into Dungeons and Dragons (a fantasy role-playing game) that my love of fantasy was rekindled. Couple that with a movie that came out in 1996 entitled "Dragonheart", one of the only movies I've seen with an intelligent dragon, I decided I *had* to write my fantasy opus.
And so, on the ratty old couch of our studio apartment in the backyard of our landlords' house, THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSEbegan. But I didn't start it with any kind of direction. I began with a simple idea. What would happen if a mysterious man gave a young farmgirl a blank scroll in the middle of a crowded marketplace? The Legends of Mynos snowballed from there.
When this series was contracted with Samhain, I danced in the streets (figuratively, not literally, folks. lol) Now that it's going to print nationwide, I am finally seeing a dream that's been with me for most of my life come to fruition. My humble thanks to Samhain Publishing, as well as to the readers, who've made this series a success, and thanks to that little girl, alone in her room, staring out her window, dreaming big dreams. :)
Good morning, everyone! As you can see, our Mavens' blog has had quite the transformation this weekend. We want to make this blog better than ever with a new feature, called "Mavens Monday". Each Monday, we will chit-chat about different subjects, all kinds of things under the sun. This week's topic is our new look and what to expect from the Mavens in the future.
YOU are invited to join in the conversation, no matter the topic! So come on in and join the fun on Mavens Mondays! :D Not to mention every other day of the week, each of us will be blogging about a topic of our own choosing. In fact my day (Becka's) is Tuesday, tomorrow, so be on the look out for my next blog! :D
It took me forever to find a suitable blogger template. I tried looking for something magical, mystical, flowery, colorful, white, garden-y... But they all just didn't "do it" for me. They were too pink, or looked like a 14 y/o's blog or waaay too many swirlies, or too magical. I didn't want people to think we were all a bunch of fantasy writers, as not all of us write fantasy.
However, I *do* know that all of us ADORE the color purple. And when I found this template, I HAD to have it. The moon background is mysterious and mystical in and of itself; the template is feminine without being overpoweringly womanly, and it's very classy. Not to mention it looks awesome with a splash of color. Scroll down a bit to see my Cobblestone Press cover and you'll see what I mean. :D
I think this template will work out WONDERFULLY, and I'm sure my Maven sisters will agree with me. Don't you think so, ladies?
Hey all. Come join us for a beach party with other Champagne authors. We'll be chatting about this and that, posting excerpts and our publisher is even offering special discounts during certain times, but you gotta tune in to see when and where.
You can find us at the Coffeetime Loop until tomorrow at 5:00 PM. Bring your beach towel and sunscreen and prepare to have a blast!
Sorry Becka. I don't mean to rain on your parade. Your news is awesome indeed but I've gotten the okay to share my cover and I intend to show it off with pride! Isn't it AMAZING?!?!??!!?
Justice Bernard, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency, has devoted years to stopping—or at least slowing down—the flow of drugs entering and leaving St. Louis. He’s seen a lot of messed up things in his line of work, but he never thought the woman he loved would become a target.
Since accepting Justice’s marriage proposal, Callye Ann Simone’s spent most of her time in a state of bliss. But when she’s kidnapped and left alone, tied up and in the dark, her dreams for the future turn into one long nightmare that never seems to end.
When Justice realizes Callye’s been kidnapped by the very men he’s shaken down for drug trafficking, his heart shatters. He vows to save her no matter what the cost, and now he’s on the hunt for his beloved, and hell-bent on revenge…
This book comes out October 9 published by Samhain Publishing.
I'm so stoked! The edits made it seem sortof real for me. Seeing the information up on the coming soon page helped it feel even more real and now that I've got this amazing cover i can't WAIT to see this one released!
Woohoo! I submitted a novella idea to Cobblestone Press for their Vampire Oracle continuity series. I wanted the TOMB theme. Well, they recently contacted me and now I'm one of their newest authors! :D Yay!
I'm very excited to write this story, as this will be my first vampire hero. I've written a vamp before in HEARTS ETERNAL, but he was the villain, so this will be quite the change for me, I'm thinking. And I've had my eye on Cobblestone for quite awhile now, because I love their website and their book covers, not to mention the quality of their books is outstanding. I even talked to a few authors over there to get a feel for the company.
Oh yes, I did my homework before submitting to them, have no doubt. LOL I don't have a release date, but I do know the books will be released sometime next year AND will be going to PRINT! :D All *25* of them.
Anyhow, check out my new cover, isn't it awesome?? Here is the blurb as well. Enjoy!
Douglas McCarthy is a vampire haunted by the screams of his victims. After killing a woman accidentally, he vows he will never kill again, and entombs himself within the walls of his own cellar.
Diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, Holly Cartwright knows she only has months to live. Buying the Whispering Pines Plantation with her life savings was,perhaps, the best thing she ever did. But Holly doesn't care that the manor appears to be haunted, as she'll soon be joining the "ghosts" herself.
But what she discovers behind the walls is more than she ever dreamed possible...
I've caught it! I'm doing an entire menu of crock-pot recipes. Why? Because it's too dang hot to really cook. So I've posted an appetizer recipe here. Over on the Belfry Collective blog I posted a death by chocolate cake dessert. Yes it really is a crock-pot recipe. And on Donica's Daily I have a main course recipe. So make sure you hit each site!
Chicken Wings in Honey Sauce
3 lbs Chicken wings Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups honey 1-cup soy sauce ½ cup ketchup ¼ cup oil 2 cloves garlic (optional) Sesame Seeds (optional)
Rinse chicken and pat dry. Cut off and discard wing tips. Cut each wing at joints to make 2 pieces. Sprinkle wing parts with salt and pepper. Place wings on broiler pan. Broil 4-5 inches from heat for 20 minutes, 10 minutes each side until brown. Transfer to crock-pot.
For sauce combine honey, soy sauce, oil, ketchup and garlic in bowl. Pour over wings, cover and cook on low 4-5 hours or high for 2-2 ½ hours. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Let me know how you enjoyed these recipes. I'm very interested in hearing from you so leave me a message at any of the blogs and let me know.
Pretend I’m Yours by Phyllis Campbell is a wonderful historical intrigue which winds its way through a complex set of circumstances and emotions. The tale evades an easy label, but certainly includes a compelling romance. Deception is also a large part of this wonderful saga. All things are not as they seem in this tale, as the reader suspects at once.
An unexpected and clever twist sets wheels in motion the main character - as well as the reader - could never have foreseen. Lady Mercedes Maxwell, a widow, steps into her twin sister's life, determined to help her by whatever means necessary. If that means an arduous journey to the colonies while pretending to be Katherine and committing acts of theft, so be it. Lady Maxwell's suspicions are aroused almost from the start, but soon, those very suspicions turn on her, as she doubts, again and again, what truth to believe. As her doubts grow, so does her frustration- and she is not the only one!
Her motivation, all too clear at the start, undergoes a change. It is a change easy to believe, once she comes to know the dashing Mr. William Braxton, Katherine's husband. However, she has her own goals to pursue, regardless of this dreadfully handsome but plainly not-what-he seems man.
Still, questions about trust and truth weave a clever web that the reader feels she can almost see through. Loyalty is called into question, and with it, all too soon, patriotism. Further complications soon arise, offering us a fresh perspective on the personal impact of the revolution.
The settings in this tale are delightful. Descriptions in no way intrude, but provide just enough background for the story to have a genuine, authentic feel. The horses and carriages, the minor details of passage by boat, even the look inside the hospital for the insane all are thorough and credible. From household extravagances like the polished cherry-wood doors, hand-painted silk screens and the plush velvet of gowns, precise descriptions offer a wonderful vision of the time and place.
The exact truth of the situation is revealed only slowly. There are many reminders of this other time, almost another world - where women were always subservient to the men of the family, and yet, were not powerless.
This is a delightful historical novel and romance. Pretend I’m Yours by Phyllis Campbell is sure to please a wide range of readers, its complexity, characters, and daring make for a stunning read. http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/
I just mailed off the ARC with corrections to my publisher so everythings a go for it's release. Whoop! Julia's Golden Eagle should be available Aug 1 or very close to that date. I really love the characters and I hope you do also.
Oh, and Romance Junkies awarded the Magic Maven some free banner space. How cool is that? Of course, my animated skills are a bit rusty and it took me forever to figure things out. Gotta luv the learning curve.
I've been hearing that our old font was too hard to read. I have to admit I agree. So I've made a few changes. For some the only change visible is an increase in the font size. It will be huge to those of you who do not have the new font avaiable on your computer. For this I'm sorry. I truly hope you can view the new one as it is one of my favorites.
New month: It's almost August. For many it is back to school. I hear the groans from teachers and students alike. My baby will be a sophomore this year. Yeah that doesn't depress me. (Can you FEEL the sarcasm there?) Back to school shopping (Mom I'm too old to have you go shopping with me. I want to take my paycheck and head out to the mall with mipsi. bipsi, bopsi or whatever their names are.) color me disappointed. I know one day she'll come back to me. I just don't want to be old and grey when she does.
Gee talk about a downer. How about we get on with some GOOD news???
I am still waiting to hear the verdict on Betraying Chase but I'm very hopefull. Please send me some good juju everyone! I did submit my fantasy Dragon's Angel and IT SOLD!! WAHOOO. I loved being in my own little world--yeah, yeah get it over with "But you've ALWAYS lived in your own little world". Thank you--But DA means alot to me in several ways. I had never written a fantasy romance. To make up new creatures, new worlds, new languages, I have been blessed with the chance to feel a little of what Tolkein must have felt when he wrote his hobbits. I spread my wings and took a leap and it was amazing to learn that I could write fantasy and it was GOOD. I can't wait for you to read it.
Here is my release schedule (dates ARE subject to change) Gateway Guardians: Callye's Justice--October 2007 Elemental Desires: Tides of Maryna's Love--July 2008 Dragon's Angel--October 2008
I only have three slated upcoming releases but if Betraying Chase is picked up (keep that good juju coming!) I'm sure the release will also be in 2008.
3 possibly 4 releases *thud* I can't beleive it. I have dreamed of having to work like a fiend, to be getting my books out there, and now I'm on the road to that dream! YAY!!!
Yes, it's all out of my system now...wait, here's another one YAHOOO!!! okay, think I'm good.
I'll be posting videos of my releases listed above before long.
I thought I would share with you a little endeavor I'm starting. A lot of my author friends have come to me for banner ads, and I thought I would share the wealth! But I should get something out of the deal too... :P So here's some more info on my open offer to any and all authors who want a cheap, professional-looking static banner (one that does NOT rotate) for promo. You can have one for yourself, your website, or your books. I have examples of the banners I've made for myself as well as others up on my website.
Yes. That's me. Wild and crazy. Why you may ask? Even if you didn't here is my answer.
In the last two weeks count that up, 14 days, okay minus weekends is 10. Minus Fridays, is 9. SO 9 days...I've completed and submitted my manuscript for my second Gateway Guardians series, Betraying Chase, to my editor.
I've sold The Tides of Maryna's Love, one of my Elemental Desires series books, to Champagne Books. I've completed all the required forms for Maryna including marketing form, cover art suggestions, blurb and tag line.
I completed the novel Dragon's Angel, polished, write the long synopsis, wrote the short synopsis, wrote the blurb and sent it all to the editor at Champagne Books.
Now all I've got left to do is taglines for Chase and Dragon's Angel. What? Did you ask what a tag line was? You did? Cool. A tag line is the one line that hooks you into the book. Its found on the back cover of the book and on the websites.
Take for example my tagline for Maryna: One Water Witch, one Marine Biologist—will it be a cruise on the Love Boat or the Titanic?
Now to come up with tag lines for Dragon's Angel and Chase. Any suggestions? to learn about these books go to my website and check out the videos. Or you can visit my YouTube channel
Any suggestions for possible tag lines would be appreciated. Drop them into the comment section here. I'll be checking for them. Hope to hear from you soon!
First: The second book in my Gateway Guardians series is finished and sitting in my editor's in box.
Second: The second round of edits for Callye's Justice will be coming before long. I'm ready to get them done and out of the way so that I can get a release date approximation.
Third: Dragon's Angel, the fantasy romance I've been working on is almost finished. I've got a few loose ends to tie up, then it will be time for the clean up process and finally submitting somewhere.
Oh yeah! Remember the series about the Elemental witches I was so excited about. well if you will remember, I pulled them before they were previously published due to creative differences with the publisher. WELL I SOLD MARYNA!!!!! HEHEHE I've got high hopes that they will love the other three sisters and contract them as well! If things keep on schedule The Tides Of Maryna's Love will be released in July of 2008!!!! I'm so excited! Champagne Books, the publisher who picked it up, has a firm reputation and known for their quality books. IF I generate enough sales there is a chance I could go to PRINT!!! This would mean you could go into Barnes and Noble, Borders Books or any other fine book seller and order the book in paperback! There is no guarantee but it is a possibility!
Phyllis and Ciara are at the national conference. (No I'm not a bit jealous) Maybe when they get back they'll have some interesting news to pass along.
Well it's the weekend and getting close to time for me to wrap up my computer time. I'll see you all again soon.
Okay, I have to admit that my space is growing on me. Big time. I was a skeptic, but now. . . it's getting almost addictive which isn't great for the writing time. Oh well. One of the fun things is the bulletin board where your friends can post fun messages. Some are games intended to help you get to know folks better. Anyway, a friend posted - One question. Anyone reading the message could ask one question and receive one honest answer. "1 question. 1 chance. 1 honest answer. That's all you get." The trick was then to post to the bulletin this same challenge, which I did. Here are some of the questions that were asked of me:
Linda Mooney, author of AEQUANA asked: What is the one thing in your life you would change if you had the power to go back and change it? And here's my answer:
Ugh. That's a very difficult one. Funny, but it's almost the same question we're asking/answering on our newsletter. Except that question has a patriotic twist. So - I would try to change the way in which society accepted new technology, so that there was greater awareness at the onset of the consequences for our luxuries. Sure, I could try and stop a war, but that would probably only prolong the inevitable and war would happen anyway. I think something like this would be a more widespread fix.
Erin Moore, author of The Game, All I Ever Wanted and Flame asked: Hey lady, I've got a pretty simple question for ya, although it's something I've been wondering. Where did you come up with Ciara Gold as a name? I love it, and it's perfect for the type of books you write. And here's my answer:
That's a fun question. I wanted something that was a family name and Gold is my great, great grandmother's name. Then gold made me think of the sierras under a blazing sun, and my daughter had a friend whose name was Ciara, so voila! Ciara Gold. I thought too, that it would be a name easily remembered.
Little Sunshine asked: Do you remember you first kiss? And here's my answer:
Too funny. Yes. Now I suppose you want the details. LOL. But hey, I'm only supposed to give you one answer. Silly me, okay, the details. I was a late bloomer. I got sent to church camp for a week and didn't know a soul, but this one guy, Greg R. (the son of a preacher - I kid you not) took a liking to me. He had the most gorgeous red hair and lots of freckles and he was sooo sweet. We'd go on long walks and he started holding my hand. The next night, when he walked me back to my cabin, he asked if he could kiss me. Oh yeah, I felt it clear to my toes. I was 14. He kissed me a lot that week and that's as far as it went, but to me, it was incredible.
Hi everyone! I wanted to jump in and say hello to all of you. I'm very excited to be a new author with The Wild Rose Press. I've heard so many wonderful things about this company, and I know I'll be very happy here. TWRP has contracted my Victorian-Set, Her Knight Of Seduction. Here's the blurb...
Lady Megan will do anything not to marry the drunken lord her grandmother selected for her. Edmund Knight will reclaim his goldmine – using any means, including seducing his enemy’s daughter.
Forced to play the strumpet-- Lady Megan never expected her own mother to encourage her to play the part of harlot, but it’s preferable than marrying the drunken lord her grandmother has selected for her husband. When she mistakenly enters into a compromising position with a man other than the duke her parents wanted her to seduce, will her body be the worst traitor of all?
Known scoundrel-- Edmund Knight lost everything at the hands of Lord Saxton. Edmund will use every weapon at his disposal, including the nobleman’s daughter, Lady Megan, to reclaim that which is rightfully his. But, he never expected to want the lady more than his gold.
For more information about my books, please visit my website - www.phyllismariecampbell.com
Whoo hoo! I'm at camp. It's beautiful here, more wild flowers than I've seen in a long time. Five hours in the car and I already have a lot of new ideas. Of course, getting them to paper will be a trick. I'm on the camp puter, a real dionosaur. The right shift key won't work, so I keep having to retype stuff. Oh well, that is a small price to pay for rejuvinating the muse. I am soooo looking forward to this week.
Off to try a different computer. Not all the keys work on this one. hmmm. Camp life.
Geez, can you beleive its already June? (okay in two days) but still! Summer is here, kids are out of school for summer break and vacations are right around the corner. I've been trying to get some writing done in between trips to the country to get my "summer" place in order. In three weeks from yesterday I leave for a week. I'm dragging my best friend, and her two boys (12 and 11) with. A friend of ours from highschool is going to drive down for the weekend. I'm so excited I can't wait.
This vacation is also a little sad for me though. My daughter (will be sweet sixteen in February) opted to not go with us this year. She's decided to stay and work. I'm sad to see the end of an era come. The time when my little girl wanted to be with mommy every second of the day. The time when she promised me "never to grow up and go away" is long past. Now I'm the old woman taxi driver.
I guess life is just hitting hard. My son turned 19, too old for me to hold and cuddle any more. He's moving on with his liofe, searching for his own way in the world, leaving me and our home behind. Now my daughter is on her way toward making her own life as well. Call me melancholy baby I guess.
I've been trying to dive into my writing as an escape but it hasn't been easy. my concentration, my focus is all gone. The voices in my head scream one story today and a different on tomorrow. I have gotten to the point I can't just sit down and finish one book. Maybe it will help me get more books written? Hopping from book to book. Will it work for me or will they all read choppy? Time will only tell.
I have made a video for a book I'm working on now. The videos seem to help me get a little more into focus, well most of the time. Anyway, here it is. ENJOY!!!
Well must be off to try and get some more work done. To keep pace with all my news, you can always join the Maven's newsletter loop, my personal newsletter loop, visit my blog or my website. The links to all these places are listed at the sides of this blog.
I received my second review for my Colonial, PRETEND I'M YOURS, and I thought I'd share it on my blog. Romance Junkies gave my story 4.5 Blue Ribbons.
Mercedes Maxwell is a charming woman who has led a quiet life since the passing of her husband and father. Until one night she gets a call from the insane asylum that her twin sister has been admitted. She vows to take revenge on her sister’s husband. She sets sail for America and intends to extract as much coin as she can from William to pay for her sister’s care. What she did not plan on was the intense ardor that William elicits from her and the horrible guilt that is eating at her heart for a secret that she harbors. Will Mercedes be able to deny the passion and love that is blossoming in her chest for William? Or will her need for revenge cause her to walk away with a broken heart?
William Braxton is a successful business owner who uses his wealth secretly to help fund the Sons of Liberty. He feels very passionately for the group that has vowed to rid Philadelphia of the British tyranny. However, his biggest threat to his family is the cruel woman he has married. He thought his wish had come true when his wife disappeared, only to have her reappear as a different woman. Although he still does not trust her, he finds it more difficult to keep his heart closed to the woman she has changed into. Will William fall head over heels for his wife, only to learn that she is not the person he thought she had become? Or will he discover the truth about her betrayal before it is too late for him and his children?
Within the pages of PRETEND I’M YOURS, you will be pulled into a world of betrayal, treachery, mystery and a love triangle that will have you turning the pages swiftly to learn how it will all play out. Ms. Campbell writes a rich historical with delightful characters woven into a fascinating plot. Just when you think you have the perpetrator figured out, Ms. Campbell throws another twist into the plot.
Mercedes and William are remarkable characters that you cannot help but cheer for throughout this mysterious tale. Mercedes is a delightful woman who is torn between family and a man she has fallen in love with. She is strong, sassy and cares very deeply for people. William is a sexy hero who loves his children very much and believes whole-heartedly in his cause. The romance that shines through Mercedes and William is breath-taking and will leave your heart fluttering from the intensity of it.
PRETEND I’M YOURS is another award-winning tale penned by a talented author. I look forward to reading more of Phyllis Campbell’s marvelous tales.
Hey all. Some great news! My historical western, that is due to be released May 30th in print, is now at Fictionwise!! YIPPEEEEEEE!! http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook46146.htm?cached
Can a woman battle through secrets to win the love of the man who just might take away her home?
Dr. Cecilia Ashby is forced to disguise herself as a man in order to practice medicine in a small southern town after the Civil War. When she stumbles across an injured gambler in an alley one night, will her ruse get the better of them both? Especially when she finds herself attracted to him.
Gambler, James Lawrence has played his last hand and finally has enough cash to buy back his family plantation the carpetbaggers had taken from him…until he’s blindsided, robbed and left for dead. After an interesting stay with the town doctor, he finds his stolen earnings in the hands of the young thief and his sister, Cecilia Ashby, who now reside in his plantation.
James and Cecilia both want the plantation, but do they want a long lasting love even more? Battling deceit, betrayal, and disguises, the two must confront their biggest challenge yet – themselves.
Also...my very first review for this story has come through. THANK YOU COFFEE TIME ROMANCE!!
5-Cups!!! Queen of Hearts is a mesmerizing read and captivated me as soon as Cecilia entered the picture. I absolutely loved the theme of this book. The story had me on the edge of my seat until all the loose ends were tied up. Phyllis Campbell encapsulates the sensations of her characters, and the soothing chemistry she creates between James and Cecilia, is like slow moving lava, it really simmers. James certainly showed that chivalry is not dead and exhibits a true gentleman in all areas. This extraordinary book reads like a vintage wine, excellent. ~~Cherokee / Coffee Time Romance
I got tagged by Mary Martinez. She writes romantic suspense. So now, I have to think of 8 things to say about myself and then tag 8 more folks. Dang, do I know 8 more folks? Big cheesy grin.
1. I don't smoke. 2. I play girl scout chords on the guitar. 3. I sing alto or second soprano or at least I did in high school. (Now the frogs probably won't even sing with me.) 4. I make a killer mousse (as in chocolate.) 5. I'm an artist and my favorite medium is watercolor. 6. I didn't shave my legs last night, but you probably didn't want to know that. 7. I'm the proud mother of two teenagers. 8. I'm married to the love of my life.
Well, hmmm, that wasn't quite as painful as I thought. Oh, and I'll be a guest on the Coffeetime Forums in June with a lot of other great authors. So sue me. I just gave you 9 things about me. Oh wait, here's ten. I stay up really late to write.
So, let's see. Who should I tag? Hopefully these authors all blog.
Have you read dedications in novels and thought "gee, that would be so kewl to see my name there"? or read a character and know their name and some of their personality traits were based on you?
Well now is your chance!
My current work in process is my very first fantasy and I'm stumped. I need to create some fictional creatures but the ones I have so far are based on myths. You know, vampires, werewolves, that sort of thing. I need some creatures that can be villians but the criteria are: there must be a specific way to kill them (i.e. stake through vampire heart, silver bullet werewolf etc.) They need to have some nasty personal habits, (blood suckers, tazor sharp clawa they love to slash victims with). I have looked up mythological creatures and have found a few, but none that completely work for me. So I want you to come up with an obscure legend, a myth, or even pull something out of the air! And if you can't name it, as long as I have a character I can find a name. The best entry will see their name in the dedication AND I will name a character (good or evil if you prefer) in my book after you. I want all entries sent to donica_covey@sbcglobal.net In the entry put your name, email addy, your creatures description and the name of the creature. In my novel creatures that have already been used are: Dragons, Unicorns, Windigos, men eating plants, flesh eating rats, mannanggallas, so anything else is pretty much fair game!
I hope there will be a ton of entries! Thanks y'all! Donica
I'm so very excited to tell you I'M GOING TO DALLAS TEXAS in July!!! Now, so you all know, I'm a woman who never goes anywhere. It's not because I don't want to, but because I am dirt poor. I've been married for almost 22 years, and the first ever trip my husband and I took out of state was last year when we went to South Carolina. It was so much fun. Anyway, thanks to my friend in Texas whose husband doesn't use his earned free flyer miles, I have my flight taken care of. WOO-HOO! Of course, I'm still scraping the bottom of the barrel to save for my hotel room. I'll be rooming with another lady in my RWA Chapter, but it's still going to cost me $500 just for the room (for 5 nights).
Here's my question. Since I'm dirt poor (and yes, very cheap) what can I buy to help with my meals? The luncheons are paid for by the conference, but I still have to eat breakfast and dinner. My roomie and I will be getting a small fridge to go in our room, which will help, but I'm trying to think of what cheap items we could buy for our meals (my roomie is cheap, too). Any suggestions?
I am digging through my many unpublished manuscripts to see whichs ones I can tweak and polish to get them ready for publication. I want to pitch to a Harlequin editor, but at the same time, I REALLY want to get with an Avon editor, too.
Decisions...decisions...
Also, I get an agent appointment, but that's not as hard as picking the editor. Now...I just have to decide which story to pitch to whom.
I know the conference isn't until July, but these thoughts have been plauging me lately. Plus the fact that I'll be traveling on an airplane BY MYSELF!!! Like I mentioned before, I usually don't go anywhere. LOL
Whoo Hoo! The Mavens rock. Three of us have work published by Champagne Books. Phyllis Campbell, Becka Goings and I were all nominated for numerous awards. It's a huge honor just to be nominated so that was exciting in itself. Here's the line-up for nominations:
Novel Of The Year
Celestial Dragon
Dawn of Love
Braless in the Buick
Holding Out For A Hero
Author Of The Year
Phyllis Campbell
Rebecca Goings
Jenna Leigh
Lori Derby Bingley
Bestselling Novel of the Year
Mine For Keeps
Celestial Dragon
Braless in the Buick
The B*E*A*S*T* Within
Bestselling Author of the Year
Ciara Gold
Rebecca Goings
Jenna Leigh
Sara Fitzgerald
I won in two of the three that I was nominated for. I was bestselling author of the year and Celestial Dragon was the bestselling novel of the year. Becka won Author of the year! So - here's a round of applause to all those that were nominated and those that won. Champagne all around!
The golden Rose award winners were announced today. If you will remember each Maven was nominated for Golden Rose Awards. Today we learned that Rebecca received Honorable Mention for her book The B*E*A*S*T Within and I received Honorable Mention for her Inspirational novella Do Overs. Pardon me while I congratulate both of us! Next year we'll all get the gold!
So far, you can buy your copy through Coffeetime Romance Bookstore or MobiPocket. Fictionwise should have it loaded to the their site sometime this week. Way cool!
To help celebrate, I've got a contest running on the Champagne Toast Loop. Just come chat and from April 1 - April 14, I'll draw a number from all of the posts and the winner will receive a free download of ANS. And - you don't even have to talk to me. Just chat with whomever happens to be around. Here's how to join if you aren't already a member; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/achampagnetoast/join
And mark your calendar for April 10. The coffeetime chatroom will host a birthday party for Champagne Books at 9:00 EST (I think that's the right time).
Blurb:
Can a stranger from a distant planet breach Yalfar’s strict laws to save a nation from doom and rescue one lone woman from the errors of her way?
Fen Tared Charst has betrayed his brother, and his people. To right the wrongs he’s done, he suffers the horrors of the zeel pits only to find himself a captive of the Temi tribe. In Yalfar, he discovers that leading the Temi princess and her warriors from their dying world is the key to his redemption. But losing his heart to Princess Joyella will be the key to saving his soul.
Princess Joyella Denue has broken a sacred law and for that, she is exiled from Yalfar. To regain her honor, she agrees to lead a convoy topside to escape the collapsing city, but she can’t make the journey alone. She needs Tared, but can she overlook her convictions to accept a man not of her tribe?
http://www.ciaragold.com/ Available now, A Noble Sacrifice Available now in print, Best selling Celestial Dragon Available now, CAPA nominated Sarah's Brass Token
I couldn't be more happy with this cover. A Noble Sacrifice is a sequel to Celestial Dragon and releases very, very soon. Though at present, I don't have exact date, I'm hoping it will go live on the Champagne site this coming week. Everything is done, edits, cover, everything.
Blurb: Can a stranger from a distant planet breach Yalfar’s strict laws to save a nation from doom and rescue one lone woman from the errors of her way?
Fen Tared Charst has betrayed his brother, and his people. To right the wrongs he’s done, he suffers the horrors of the zeel pits only to find himself a captive of the Temi tribe. In Yalfar, he discovers that leading the Temi princess and her warriors from their dying world is the key to his redemption. But losing his heart to Princess Joyella will be the key to saving his soul.
Princess Joyella Denue has broken a sacred law and for that, she is exiled from Yalfar. To regain her honor, she agrees to lead a convoy topside to escape the collapsing city, but she can’t make the journey alone. She needs Tared, but can she overlook her convictions to accept a man not of her tribe?
Have you signed up for your newsletter yet? Each month the Mavens send out a newsletter to update our readers on all of the latest news. What happened the month past and what to look forward to in the upcoming month.
This next month promises to be very busy for me. I've got my first round of edits for Callye's Justice that will roll in early April. I'll work on those diligently and send htem back with the expectation of receiving another round and possibly a third. Rebecka has reased me on the three rounds because one of her books went through eight (or was it nine?) rounds of edits. I hope I don't have that many!
I learned that Callye's Justice isn't up to the word count limit for the print program at Samhain. I was very disappointed but there is still a chance for me to make it. As soon as I get the edits in I'll be able to better gauge where I can make additions and what needs to be cut. Please keep your fingers crossed that I make it!
Betraying Chase was causing me fits of lexiconstipation but a good dose of muselax hit me last week and I added almost 20K to the manuscript! YAY ME! LOL I'm just hoping that I can continue the flow.
I also sent in the proposal for my Elemental Desires series and the complete manuscript of The Tides of Maryna's Love to my new editor. I'm not sure when she'll have time to get to it, but I know it's on her list. As soon as I know I'll be announcing it. If its a yes you'll hear my happy shouting echoing off every mountain and in each valley. If its a no the cries will be heard in space!
It may seem like a long while since anyone has posted on this blog but be assured we're all still alive and kicking! Each Maven has been busy writing their next great masterpiece, promoting all their currently available works and enjoying contest nomination announcements.
There have been no results entered at this time for the EcataRomance Reader's Choice awards. And in Predators and editors poll the standings were not as wonderful as we'd imagined, but being nominated is always an honor!
The standings for the Predators/Editors Poll was:
Romance Category: Celestial Dragon by Ciara Gold made it to Number 17 The B*E*A*S*T Within reached number 24
Short Story Romance: Dear Micah was 21
So yes the Mavens were a little depressed with those ratings but to be fair, there is a MASSIVELY large writing community out there and the romance genre is one of the biggest so to place as well as they did is an AWESOME achievement. Make sure to give them a hand for their work, okay?
There is another annual Readers Choice Award, from Love Romances and More, called The Golden Rose. Authors who win this award are again nominated and voted on for their particular books. This year Rebecca was nominated for her FABULOUS book THE B*E*A*S*T WITHIN in the best paranormal romance category, and Donica was nominated in the inspirational category for her novella DO OVERS. To vote for these ladies please go to http://www.loveromancesandmore.com/goldenrosevoting.htm and for those not familiar with the voting procedure please see the next paragraph.
Click on the link provided and you will see an opening page that has two buttons in the middle. One is cast your vote and one is a Bravenet vote caster. (This is for people with bravenet accounts.) Select the cast your vote button and scroll through the list. The Inspirational Category is near the bottom of the page. Every vote counts and you may only vote once but maybe you’ll fond a couple of other favorites on there. The B*E*A*S*T Within is in the third category down, BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE. Then towards the bottom of the page is the INSPIRATIONAL category where DO OVERS is listed.
Hopefully the Mavens won’t be gone so long at a time! See you soon!
They shattered his world by kidnapping his fiancée—now, paybacks are a bitch.
