writing

Calling All Critiques: Submit Your First 500 Words Tomorrow

May 23, 2014 |

Quick reminder: Tomorrow (Saturday, May 24) starting at 6 a.m. EDT, we’re accepting entries to the Calling All Critiques event. Next week, we’re doing critiques of your first 500 words.

How to Enter

Submit your entry to Critiques@Saboviec.com. Cut and paste the following template into your email and fill it in.

Your name/pseudonym:
Your website (optional):
Title:
Genre (include audience, such as YA/Adult, and category):
Entry:

Your first 500 words may run slightly over in order to finish at the end of a sentence.

Acceptance of entries closes on Sunday, May 25, at 5 p.m. EDT.

More Details

Questions? Check out some of the earlier blog posts or leave a comment below:

Less than 24 hours before we begin accepting critiques!

While you wait, check out all the participating blogs and bloggers:

We look forward to seeing you back here soon!

Meet Author Charlie Moore

May 14, 2014 |

Action, danger, political corruption – you can’t find a better book with all these things than Charlie Moore’s Against The Clock. It gives the TV series 24 a run for its money. You won’t be able to stop reading it. You’ll find yourself sneaking in a few pages before your meeting starts and even at stoplights. I wouldn’t be surprised if you faked a sick day just because the suspense is killing you.

Much like the book itself, I’ll get to the point. Charlie Moore took some time out of his busy writing schedule to answer a few interview questions. I hope you enjoy “meeting” this outstanding author.

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Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Yes, this is my first feature novel. As you know I had been ghostwriting for a while before writing this book, and the whole time I had the intention of writing my own novel and releasing it. I just didn’t know when. In the beginning Against The Clock was meant to be a short novella, just a warm up and a bit of fun before I started a nonfiction drama story I had wanted to write about for a while. But as I started fleshing out the story, the characters started to grow, and before I knew it, it became something so much more. From conception to getting words on the page was only a few weeks. A lot of the research for the characters and the scenarios they were thrust into was already done through life experiences, and those that weren’t, I dived into it while I was writing. That made the process interesting and organic.

 

This book is the first in a series. When can we look forward to the next book being published?

Without giving away any spoilers 😉 this book is the first in a series. I have four books for Shirin Reyes conceptualized, with the next two at different stages of planning and mapping. It was my intention to release the next Shirin adventure in March of 2015, but as a result of such great feedback and pressure from fans of Against The Clock, I’m doing my best to have the next book released before Christmas this year. Fingers crossed!

 

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

As a ghostwriter I wrote primarily in nonfiction. And there are a few nonfiction stories I really want to tell, but my passion is definitely wild, crazy action thrillers!

 

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

There are so many great writers in this genre! Standing out in such great company isn’t easy. I’ve tried to give the reader a lightning fast, slightly crazy thrill ride, and I’m hoping the pace of the book and the characters in it are enough to excite my readers to keep coming back for more.

 

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

For sure! I’ve kind of pilfered my experiences and the people I know for all the best and worst things about them, thrown them into a tumbler of scotch, added some ice, a vigorous stir, and gulped it down. One thing is certain, I’ve never knowingly met anyone like the character Smith. I probably wouldn’t be alive if I had…he is one scary dude!

 

Do your friends and family know you’re a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

All my family have known for a long time that I was determined to be a professional writer. It’s been a burning need for over twenty years. It was the reason and motivator for many of the life decisions I’d made; travelling, becoming a Private Investigator, learning and competing in martial arts, learning how to use a gun and different weapons training and so on. It was very hard to hide that kind of enthusiasm! So while my closest friends and family knew, it’s not something I had actively talked about throughout all my other professions. So even now when I bump into old friends or colleagues, they’re shocked when I tell them what I’m doing now.

 

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

Inside my head is like a weird Scrubs episode. Out of nowhere a full scene or daydream just hits me, and it’s like I’m watching a movie, the details are so vivid. And that’s just how it is. Actually that reminds me of the movie with Ben Stiller, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It’s kind of like that. And incorporating these moments into what I write is just so much fun!

 

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

No, I’m not part of any official group. I am friends with a lot of writers, and we talk over coffee or on Facebook, for example, and share some of the experiences we’ve had. Having a sense of community and support is very important for anyone, and I definitely appreciate the community I have growing around me.

 

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

That’s a really good question. You’ve got me reflecting… For Against The Clock I used a combination of everything you can think of. I started off using a great mind map app on my iPhone, and later purchased it for my PC. Using that I mapped out the bulk of the book. But then there were moments where the story or the characters just took the book in a new direction, or when the direction I had mapped out just seemed to suck and I had to wing it and write as it came to me. I think with the complexity and pace of my book there had to be a clear theme, continuity of events, characters and storyline, or the reader would disconnect from it. For me it worked perfectly to have it mapped out and then sprinkled with spontaneity every so often.

 

Have you done any research on police and their procedures (or any government factions) for your books?

I have. As a Private Investigator I had a lot of interactions with police officers of varying position, and with a lot of other Private Investigators. It was such a rich world of experience for me! I had to follow people and learn how to do it without being spotted. I got to learn how to investigate a crime, even worked on a homicide case (later identified as accidental), I was involved in car chases, and one day when I got lazy, the person I was charged with following spotted me and chased me with a baseball bat. I’ve had a knife pulled on me, been forced to defend myself, and even ran like hell when I had to! In my line of work as a thriller action writer, where else could you get resources to work with like that?! For Against The Clock, though, there was a lot of other research I had to do, like the holding cell and interview room scenes, etc. I really wanted to get these things right! I wanted the fight scenes to be real, the speed and ferocity of them to be like it really happens, and the same for the gunplay. I also wanted there to be legitimacy to police procedures and spy craft portrayed throughout the book. Readers are intelligent, especially those that read my genre, and for them I made sure to get it right. I worked closely with police consultants throughout the book, and I’d like to think that rings true throughout the pages. And now that I’m working on the next book in the Shirin series, I find myself diving even more vigorously into the research.

 

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing? This is especially interesting since your book is comparable with the extremely popular TV show 24.

Definitely! I write the kind of book that I love to read, and love to watch. It’s a passion for me. Hopefully that comes through in the gusto that I write my thrillers with. And the likeness to 24 is incredibly flattering. I love the show! To be honest, I’ve been so busy the last few years, I haven’t seen the last two seasons, but I’m keen to square away some time and have a 24-a-thon. Speaking of 24, I understand that one of my favorite writers of all time, Vince Flynn, was involved with a number of the seasons creatively. Vince Flynn has sadly passed, but there are talks of his books being translated into films. That would be a dream for me one day. I’m told Against The Clock is easily visualized as an awesome movie – I’ve even had a screenwriter approach me to discuss reworking it… I won’t hold my breath, but I am crossing my fingers and toes.

 

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or non-fiction place, where would you write?

Hmm… In my mind I keep escaping to an old farmhouse-style cottage in the middle of the European alps, white snow as far as the eye can see, a fire burning, my feet up, and a laptop being tapped away at on my lap… Ahhh the dream…

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Connect with Charlie Moore:

Website
Facebook
Amazon
Twitter
YouTube
Goodreads

Be sure to check out Against the Clock – you won’t be disappointed:

Against The Clock cover

Calling All Critiques: A Cross-Blog Event

May 12, 2014 |

We can all use a little help once in a while, can’t we? I’m excited to announce that my blog will be part of an upcoming event, Calling All Critiques, a cross-blog critique event open to self-published, traditionally published, and unpublished authors (that would be everyone!). The event will start the weekend of May 24 and run until June 13, adding up to three weeks of critiques of different aspects of novel writing and marketing.

Three weeks of critiques

The schedule for the weekly critiques is as follows:

  • Week of May 26: First 500 word critique
  • Week of June 2: Cover art critique
  • Week of June 9: Book blurb or query letter critique

Entries will be accepted the weekend before the week’s critiques, with a cutoff of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. We have a total of 35 slots, 5 on each of the 7 participating blogs, and the entries will be accepted in the order they were received. The posts will go up throughout the week, 7 each Monday through Friday, one on each blog each day, for a total of 5 per blog. All blogs will link to each other so that critters can easily find the other entries.

There will be prizes

What’s an event without prizes? We have two categories of prizes: One lucky winner each week from the entrants and one lucky winner from a Rafflecopter giveaway, chosen by random draw. Each winning entrant will have his or her choice of the following prizes:

Each Rafflecopter winner will win this package:

  • An electronic copy of Guarding Angel by S. L. Saboviec
  • An electronic copy of It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy by Quanie Miller
  • $10 gift certificate from Amazon

Interested in having your work critiqued?

Each week, entrants will have two days to submit their work for critique. When the submission window opens, you (that’s right, you) may submit to an email address that will be provided. You will need to provide the following information: Your name/pseudonym: Title: Genre (include audience, such as YA/Adult, and category): Entry: Your email will be kept confidential. What you submit is what will be posted, so double- and triple-check your spelling and grammar. (We may correct crazy formatting errors as a result of email quirks, but still, make sure it’s clean before you press send.) You may resubmit an entry, but it goes to the end of the queue: if you submit it past the 35 entry cutoff, you’ll have lost your spot. If you’re nervous about participating because you aren’t sure what comments you’re going to get, rest assured that we bloggers are committed to making this a positive event for everyone. Mean-spirited or trolling comments will be deleted. We’ve participated in these events in the past, and for the most part, everyone is helpful and kind. That being said, if you don’t want feedback on your entry, don’t submit. Critiques are provided to help you improve your writing. Along with “this worked great for me,” you will get “this didn’t work so great for me” comments. If you don’t want that kind of feedback, please don’t participate.

Interested in critiquing?

Yay! Critters are the lifeblood of this event. As the posts go live, one each weekday over the three weeks of the event, please feel free to critique as many or as few as you want. You may want to follow all the participating blogs to get up-to-the-minute information, or we will be tweeting under the hashtag #CACrits. The only rule we have is to be constructive. You can say you dislike something, but give reasons why. In fact, you can say you like something, but give reasons why for that, too. Although it’s ultimately up to the author to determine whether to take feedback or not, we grow the most when we understand why something does or doesn’t work. Posts will go up in the morning at each of our blogs. We’d love it if you could visit all of us throughout the week:

Thanks for stopping by!

We look forward to seeing you back here in a couple weeks. Any questions? Leave them in the comments!

Meet Author Dahlia Savage

Jan 21, 2014 |

The popular TV show Scandal is nothing compared to Dahlia Savage’s new book, Indiscretion. Just published today, Indiscretion is Dahlia’s premier novella, and what a dramatic, absorbing piece of fiction it is! I read this in just a couple of hours – and then reread it more than once. Once you start this book, you just won’t be able to stop.

Without further ado, meet Dahlia Savage, suspense and drama extraordinaire.

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Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Yes, Indiscretion will be my first published book. Key word being published! The story didn’t take long to plan out; it was originally the result of a writing prompt from a creative writing professor. When we received the assignment, it took me a few weeks to plot out what I wanted to do with it.

Did you plan on writing a novella, or did the book just come to you in that form?

The first version I did for my creative writing class was a two-page short story. However, from the moment I wrote the two-page version, I wanted it to be longer and I knew I had enough of a storyline to make it a novella.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

I think I’m a mash-up of genres. I enjoy writing light-hearted, fun stories that would fall into chick lit, but I also enjoy the more dramatic fiction of this story. I recently had another idea that was a bit more suspenseful, so I’m interested to see where that one goes when I do sit down to write it. However, regardless of the genre, at the core of every story I write, is the relationship. That relationship can be romantic (or friends with benefits, whatever floats the character’s boat), friendship, siblings, parent/child, or even the relationship with self. It all comes down to the relationship.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

That’s a really good question. I would say it’s the dialogue. Though I’ve learned to be mindful to not rely so much on dialogue, I feel that what the characters are saying and thinking is what drives the story forward.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life? 

Nope. Believe it or not, all the characters in this story are the result of my overactive and twisted imagination.

Do your friends and family know you’re a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

My family knows that I’m a writer, however only my closest friends knew, and I purposely did that because I wanted to have a finished product before I made any announcements. Now that Indiscretion is done, I’ve shared it with my extended friends, family, and network.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

All of the above. I may hear a song lyric, a random one-liner during a conversation, or recall a recent event, and from there, the imagination takes off. My imagination is definitely overactive and just a tad bit twisted.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

I’m not part of any face-to-face writers’ groups at the moment. I have recently started navigating through Goodreads and the various groups on that site. From what I’ve seen so far, they could most definitely be helpful to any author. I’ve also been participating in the monthly Insecure Writers Support Group (http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com). I love how other writers are so supportive of each other and how we all basically have the same challenges when it comes to our writing and balancing our craft with the other moving parts of our lives.

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

When I write, I do create a basic outline as I always have an ending in mind, but once I get started, I’ve learned to be flexible to deviate from the outline if it’s better for the story. Basically, my characters take over and I just go with it.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

Yes and yes! I love humor and chick lit. I also enjoy drama as long as it’s not too over the top. Some of my favorite movies are Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and Coming to America.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or non-fiction place, where would you write?

When it comes to getting into a peaceful space in order to write, I would say anywhere that has a beach. I’ve lived in Florida for almost six years, but it wasn’t until recently that I’ve come to really appreciate and enjoy the serenity of the beach, especially early in the morning.

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Connect with Dahlia Savage:

Website: http://dahliasavage.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DahliaSavageWIB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DahliaSavage
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dahliasavage
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7571341.Dahlia_Savage

Check out Indiscretion on Smashwords:

Indiscretion cover

How (Not) to Write a Novel

Jan 16, 2014 |

I always sing author Quanie Miller‘s praises because she’s such an outstanding writer. In fact, I did a fun and interesting interview with her in 2013 about her premier book It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy. As the owner of Proof Positive, I am proud to be featured on her blog with my guest post, “How (Not) to Write a Novel”. I’d love it if you comment and ask questions – I will answer every single one. Take advantage of some free advice from an expert editor!

Meet Author Hanna Peach

Jan 3, 2014 |

Have you ever read a book you just couldn’t put down? One in which there is so much action and tangled-up relationships that you end up reading it in no time at all? Mix that with warrior angels, demons wearing human skins, and Earth as we think we know it, and you’ve got Hanna Peach’s Dark Angel series. So far three books from the series have been published and every single one has been unique and exciting.

Between writing the fourth book in her series, Angelblood, and starting a brand new, completely different series, Bound, Hanna took the time to answer a few questions about her writing, her sudden move to Europe, and her memorable characters.

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Have you planned out each of the books in your Dark Angel series? If so, do you have an outline for the entire series and where it’s going? Or do you plan each book individually without the next one in mind?

Yes, I have planned out the whole series. Not every little nuance and there is always flexibility for the story to take a different turn, but I do have an outline for each book and I know how it ends.

How many books are you planning in the Dark Angel series?

Six books. However, I have been getting some questions about other secondary characters such as Vix and Symon. I admit I have roughly written out their backstories during a character development exercise I did a while ago, so these might end up being standalones. Maybe.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

I used to label myself as a “fantasy author”, but I have since let go of this limiting label and now I just write wherever the ideas take me. My next book release, for example, is an adult romantic suspense called Bound by Lies. A far cry from Dark Angel which is young adult urban fantasy. It’s about the story first. Genre is an afterthought merely to help readers (and retailers) categorize the book.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

I have seen my stories described as a “tapestry”. My urban fantasy series has web-like plots and multiple points-of-view which you don’t usually get in urban fantasy, this being more of an epic/high fantasy trait. I like this element of high fantasy, but I personally like the faster pace of urban fantasy. I guess this is why I have combined them in my stories. I write what I want to read.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

Ha ha, of course. Art imitates life. Most notably, the men I have cared for throughout my life make up the pieces of Israel and Jordan – snippets of the romance have been taken from my past. I gave Alyx a few issues that I personally struggle with, specifically her fear of rejection and her thinking that she needs to do everything by herself. And Tobias has been taken from my very dear writing mentor Bryce Courtenay (RIP). His very first words to Alyx are the very first words Bryce said to me: “Come now. I know we are going to be great friends, so why not start now.”

What made you decide to pack your bags, move to Europe, and become a writer? That’s a huge risk to take!

From my perspective, the risk was in staying.

Moving overseas and travelling was always something I knew I would do. But my plans were never concrete. The final decision of when and where, I felt, was made for me. Within a 48-hour period just before Christmas 2012 I found out that I was being made redundant from my job, I got a notice that the lease on my flat was ending, and I received a call from my father to tell me that he was getting re-married and would I come to the wedding in Berlin.

That said, I wasn’t silly or unrealistic about things. My first book had been released and I was already working on my second. I had been saving and building up equity in investments for years, so I knew I had a financial buffer to support me until I made it work. Everything just felt right. So by early February I was all packed up and on a plane.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

I see two elements to that question.

The writing side of things for me is like a hunger, so it doesn’t take inspiration for me to sit down and tap away. I need to write like I need to eat.

But as for what inspires my ideas … I don’t know. Sometimes the ideas just come (like Bound by Lies). Sometimes the ideas build from a really intriguing “what if” (like Dark Angel – what if angels lived among us?). Whatever I write, I write because I am compelled to do so. I can’t answer why.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

Yes, I am part of a group called The Sunflowers. We are made up of some of Bryce Courtenay’s ex-students. I love the support and togetherness that comes with being part of this group. Writing is a solitary business, but in having The Sunflowers, I know I am never alone. If I ever get stuck I can ask for help or advice from these guys and within hours I get such love and support back. They especially helped me through writing Dark Angel Book 3 – I had a moment when I thought that everything I wrote was horrible and laughable and I just wanted to quit. These guys helped pull me out of my “pit of angst” and I love them dearly for it.

There is some political edge to the names you’ve chosen for your main characters (i.e. Alyx, Israel, and Jordan) and their relationships to each other. Was your intent to make a political commentary?

Would you believe me if I said I liked the names and they seemed right? Perhaps subconsciously there was a reason I chose those names. I will admit that there is a great deal of symbolism in the books. It saddens me that there are people who will tarnish an entire race with a single brush. The angel/demon good/evil mythology is a representation of this. But the story comes first. Always first. Readers don’t want to be lectured, they want to be entertained. Bryce taught me that.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

Yes, I write the kinds of books that I like to read, the kinds of stories I like to read, in the style that I like to read. I’m quite selfish in that regard, haha. Movies, not so much. I prefer books.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or non-fiction place, where would you write?

So there are two answers to this question for me.

Romantically speaking, I would want to write on top of Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree, so I could watch different worlds and people and things travel past me. Or on the balcony of a remote rainforest retreat, perhaps in the Peruvian jungles. It sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? But I wouldn’t get any writing done!

Realistically, if I want to be productive I need to write in a comfortable chair with an ergonomically setup table and desktop computer in a room with no windows but with good lighting. A writing cave. The more exciting and interesting my location is, the less I will be inclined to use my imagination. The space needs to be a blank canvas for my ideas to project onto. This sounds boring, but it works best.

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Connect with Hanna Peach:

Website: www.hannapeach.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AngelfireBooks
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Peach/e/B00ACCHF1S/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1388719454&sr=8-2-ent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/hannapeach

Check out the teaser for Bound by Lies on Hanna’s website:

Bound by Lies covers://www.goodreads.com/hannapeach

End It Like an Olympian

Nov 2, 2013 |

Strong endings are even more important than strong beginnings. Does that statement sound crazy to you? Especially since we’re constantly told that we need to grab readers in the first paragraph or two of the book in order to turn browsers into buyers?

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t write and polish your book’s opening so that it gleams with captivating rays of temptation. You should, of course. But your ending needs to be at least as powerful, satisfying, and memorable as that beginning, or else your readers’ lasting impression – which turns into word of mouth – will result in a loss of future book sales.

Think about it – there’s a big difference in your enthusiasm when you say:

“The book started off well, but it kinda fizzled and left me hanging at the end. It seemed like the author lost interest and just ended it.”

As opposed to when you say:

“Well the book started off a little slow, but it picked up quickly and ended up being really good.”

You KNOW the disappointment a book makes you feel in the first scenario above. No one will interpret that first statement as a recommendation. It’s the last impression that leaves a lasting impression of the author.

On the other hand, the second statement is usually said with a positive tone and enthusiasm, and the listener’s eyebrows usually perk up as they make a mental note of the title. (Though ultimately you’d want to rev up that slower start.)

Scientific studies have backed up the importance of a last impression. One study was done with kids on Halloween: one large group of kids was given a single full-sized candy bar only, while the second group of kids was given the same full-sized candy bar followed by a piece of bubble gum.candy bar

You’d think getting two pieces of candy would make kids happier, but it didn’t – surprisingly, the kids in the first group were more enthusiastic about their candy bar than those whose final impression was of a piece of bubble gum, even though it followed the same candy bar. That speaks volumes.

Other similar studies were done with adults, including a medical study involving patients getting colonoscopies. The patients whose exam lasted longer but had less pain and discomfort in the final extended minutes of the exam were more likely to return for a follow-up than those whose exam was shorter but ended during a period of discomfort.

And so it should be with your book. Leave your readers contented, enthusiastic, and with the satisfaction of getting a full-sized candy bar.

Author Chat: Donna Hatch

Oct 21, 2013 |

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing historical romance and fantasy author, Donna Hatch. You may know her from her Rogue Hearts series, including The Stranger She Married and The Guise of a Gentleman, the latter of which was recently released (check it out here!). If you’ve ever doubted that happily ever after exists in real life, Donna’s books are perfect for you. Even the most unlikely characters can find each other and fall in love, not just in lust.

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It seems that most (if not all) of your books have a main female character who defies society’s norms romantically. Would you describe yourself the same way? What attracts you to writing this kind of female character?

I guess I’ve always felt like a fish out of water. To say I was shy and geeky in my school days would have been an understatement. I still am, but not as shy. I do have a strong rebellious streak and tend to balk at rules but I also have very “old fashioned” ideals so I often end up feeling like I don’t really belong anywhere. I suppose a lot of that comes through my characters. But I also write heroines this way because I think most of us have felt alone in a crowd at one time and if my heroines feel that same way, readers relate to them. My goal is to write a heroine that readers relate to and heroes that readers fall in love with. If I have accomplished that, then I am successful.

What first sparked your interest in writing novels? Was there a particular story or point you wanted to get across?

Writing seems to be some kind of sickness and there are times when I wish I could be cured! Seriously, though, I’ve been writing since I was about 8. At first, it was just something fun to do. Later it became somewhat therapeutic. Occasionally it was an attitude of “I can do better than this book” My fantasy was a story that just wouldn’t leave me alone, and it went through many revisions before I decided to really try to publish it. It took years because I lacked confidence and know-how, both writing skills and how to find a publisher. My first Regency, The Stranger She Married, evolved from a desire to tell a kind of beauty and the beast story with a twist. That story, too, underwent many revisions before I landed on the current plot. By the way, I have about ten completed manuscripts that I wrote which are so bad that they will never see the light of day, so I had a lot of practice before I did it for real.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

I belong to a local chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) as well as an online chapter of RWA specifically for Georgian and Regency authors called The Beau Monde. I also belong to American Night Writers Association and LDS Story Makers. I love having the support of like-minded people who know what I mean when I say wacky things like a secondary character keeps trying to take over, or the hero is being a jerk and won’t do what I want him to do. It also helps to complain to a group of writers who get it when I’m having a bad day such as a rejection or a less than perfect review, and who also get it when I have a triumph, like finding an agent, or getting a fabulous review, because they understand how much goes into a writing career. When I share in their woes and triumphs, it reminds me that I’m not alone and that other writers experience the same highs and lows. Writers groups are also great if I want to know anything about a particular publishing house or editor or agent, because odds are excellent someone in my group has dealt with them, so writers groups are a great network. My Beaumonde group is great because we help each other find reliable sources for research specifically for the era in which we write. Another benefit of belonging to writers group is that authors are readers, so we often read each others’ books and host each other on our blogs to help announce new releases.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

I love historical books and movies, and I admit I tend to focus more on historical novels than other genres, but I like fantasy, science fiction, action/adventure, thriller, young adult/teen, paranormal, inspirational, biographies. I don’t like horror or erotica, but I’m open to most genres.

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming fantasy genre writings?

I wrote a new fantasy about five years ago, but the computer crashed, and I lost my thumb drive where I had it backed up, so my entire book was lost. I tried to have it recovered, but the file was too corrupted. After a mourning period, I started trying to rewrite it, but I never re-captured the story so I set it aside. I have others in mind, but my agent is encouraging me to build a strong following in Regency before I branch out and try to juggle two genres. Incidentally, I now back up every manuscript in four places 🙂

~~~

If you’re not familiar with Donna’s latest book, The Guise of a Gentleman, make sure you check it out.

The Guise of a Gentleman book cover

Title: The Guise Of A Gentleman
Author: Donna Hatch
Release date: August, 2013
Genre: Historical Romance
Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours

 Book Description:

The widowed Elise is a perfect English lady living within the confines of society for the sake of her impressionable young son. Her quiet world is shattered when she meets the impulsive and scandalous Jared Amesbury. His roguish charm awakens her yearning for freedom and adventure. But his irrepressible grin and sea-green eyes hide a secret. A gentleman by day, a pirate by night, Jared accepts one last assignment before he can be truly free. Elise gives him hope that he, too, can find love and belonging. His hopes are crushed when his best laid plans go awry and Elise is dragged into his world of violence and deceit. She may not survive the revelation of Jared’s past…or still love him when the truth is revealed.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7920381-the-guise-of-a-gentleman?ac=1

~~~

About the Author:

Donna Hatch authorI’ve had a passion for writing since the age of 8 when I wrote my first short story. During my sophomore year in high school, I wrote my first full-length novel, a science fiction romance. I wrote my second novel during my senior year, a fantasy romance. Needless to say, English and Creative Writing were always my favorite subjects. Yes, I’m a total grammar geek! In between caring for six children (7 counting my husband), I manage to carve out time to indulge in my writing obsession, with varying degrees of success, although I write most often late at night instead of sleeping. And yes, all of my heroes are patterned after my husband of 21 years, who continues to prove that there really is a happily ever after.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanceAuthorDonnaHatch
Official Website: http://donnahatch.com/

Meet Author Quanie Miller

Oct 16, 2013 |

Humor isn’t easy to write. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things to write because of how easily the punch line can be blown. Predictability will kill anything funny and at the same time, what you write should be as universally funny as possible, not only appealing to a few people who will know what you’re talking about.

Meet the master.

Quanie Miller’s first book, It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy, hardly seems like her first. Her natural writing style makes you think she’s a seasoned pro. You won’t be able to help laughing out loud, and I mean that quite literally.

I interviewed Quanie recently about writing, her novel, and her hilarious yet relatable characters.

~~~

Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Yes, this is my first book! It probably took me about 3 months of planning before I started writing.

Do you plan your writing with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

I definitely have to outline when I write. I think of outlines as a roadmap. Sometimes I follow it or sometimes I veer off course a bit, but I always need to know where the story is headed.

What drew you to this genre?

I’ve just always loved writing funny stories with over the top characters who are always getting themselves into these hilarious situations. It’s a lot of fun. Sometimes they do or say things that I hadn’t anticipated. I laugh out loud a lot while writing.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you write in other genres too? If so, which ones?

I also write paranormal novels. In fact, I was trying to write a paranormal novel when I sat down to write It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy.  The novel was supposed to be about a woman who accidentally gets a job as a nanny and later discovers that the children’s new stepmother has mystic powers. So I start the story with the main character getting a flat tire in this affluent neighborhood and cursing her GPS for getting her lost. I was going to have her ring one of the door bells and get mistaken for an interviewee by the woman of the house. But when I started writing, she never made it to the house. She called her best friend to get directions and the banter between those two had me laughing out loud. I stopped and thought, “But wait a minute. This isn’t supposed to be funny!” So I had to take a step back and decide if I wanted to scrap what I had and rewrite it to make the tone consistent with a paranormal story or go in a completely different direction and write the funny story. I decided to write the funny story and I’m so glad I did because Jazzy and her family were a hoot to write (I later ended up writing the paranormal story. It’s called The New Mrs. Collins and will be out next year).

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

Well, Jazzy is a Louisiana girl living in San Jose, California. She’s hilarious and she’s also got this southern sass about her, so when she meets all of these really quirky characters in Silicon Valley, some really funny situations occur that I think readers will enjoy.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life? I’m especially interested in Aunt Cleotha with this question!

I think that all of my characters are some variation of me, my family and friends. I grew up around really funny and sassy women who didn’t mind telling you about yourself! You wouldn’t believe how many real life Aunt Cleothas I know!

Who’s your favorite character and why?

Definitely Aunt Cleotha. I cried laughing while writing her. She’s so funny and gives it to you straight no matter who you are.

Are you planning on writing a sequel? When can we look forward to it being published?

I am! I’m actually in the outline phase right now and hope to have it out within the next year.

Do your friends and family know you’re a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

Oh, yes. It’s all I talk about so I’m sure I drive them crazy!

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

I’m especially inspired by dialogue. The things that people say during conversation! It’s a goldmine for stories. Little quirks that people have also give me ideas for characters or sometimes I’m sitting there doing nothing and I’ll get this visual of a character doing something intriguing and I’ll go, “Whoa! Who are you?” I also get ideas by just watching people. For instance, my husband and I went out to dinner the other night and there was this seemingly nice couple a few feet away from us. I thought to myself, “They seem nice enough. But what if they’re over there plotting a murder?” And just like that the wheels start spinning.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Find your voice as a writer. Don’t try and be like anyone else and don’t worry if your book isn’t like another author’s. You are unique and your story will reflect that, so don’t try and be like somebody else. Let your voice be heard!

~~~~

Connect with Quanie Miller:

Website: http://quaniemiller.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuanieMiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuanieMillerAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7218800.Quanie_Miller

Check out It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy on Amazon:

It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy - Ebook Cover

How Do You Name Your Characters?

Sep 10, 2013 |

The names you give your characters are more important than you may realize, but how easy is it to choose a name which creates the right impression of your character? Not so easy! Everyone has a different impression of common names because most readers have met Sarahs and Matts and Jennas throughout their lives. As you read those names, did particular pictures or emotions flash through your mind? They will flash through your readers’ minds. So how can you pick a name that gives the right impression? Here are a few things to consider:

  • Extremely common names can cause readers to picture someone they strongly relate to that name, which can fight against your own description of the character. 
  • Names that are spelled in an unusual way which may be hard to pronounce can cause readers to stumble over them whenever they appear in your text. Readers may even end up skipping over those kinds of names. For example, unless you’re writing a book which takes place in or around Wales or is historical fiction having to do with that area, you might want to reconsider names like Angharad or Ercwlff. Owain or Davydd might be better choices.
  • Names commonly related to something like religion will predispose your character to a biblical or innocent impression.
  • Most importantly – and this overrules everything – no matter what you name your character, whether it’s Ashley, Angharad, or Mary, strong character descriptions throughout your book will make or break not only the general impression the reader gets of the character, but to what depth the reader understands your characters. Light description of the character’s looks and traits will lead the reader to picture whatever they want. Well thought out descriptions peppered throughout the book with consistent traits and mannerisms will give the reader a clear idea of what YOU want them to imagine.

How do you choose names for your characters? What kinds of names are most common in your books?

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