Chatting with Anna Kathryn

Second book jitters

2012-02-27T00:05:00.003-06:00

By: Jennifer Ann Coffeen

When I first began writing the goal was always on finishing the novel. I was told (rightly so) to keep my eye on the prize, and did this through countless revisions, edits, critiques, and writing days. There were times when I thought it would never be done and then suddenly – it was finished!

Next came all the polishing, querying, and more editing. Then, after Priceless Deception was accepted by Wild Rose Press I was engulfed by marketing, promoting, and selling. It’s been a crazy ride since August (did I forget to mention I also had a baby last year?) But the time has finally arrived when I had to get back to the writing desk for….the second novel. (Cue scary music here.)

60,000 words in, Novel #2 is proving to be just as challenging as the first. One main difference is that I am both more confident and more terrified. When I started writing Priceless Deception I felt free to write anything I wanted. Why not? I didn’t really think anyone was going to read it. With this novel every kiss that turns just a little too hot becomes a potential embarrassment when I imagine my mom, my friends, even my neighbors reading it! So how to combat those second book jitters? Here are a couple of suggestions.

Go back to the basics. The second book must be easier to write than the first, right? WRONG. I still struggle over plot, word choice, and structure, not to mention forcing myself to sit in the chair every day. Instead of fighting it, I decided to go back to square one. I set a daily word count, created a sacred writing time, asked for feedback and all those little tricks that got Priceless Deception finished.
Change up your story. If you find yourself paralyzed, try writing a contemporary or paranormal romance instead. It just might be the jolt you need to get the creativity flowing. I decided to write a couple of regency short stories last year. It was fun and gave me a little writing distance from a full length novel.
Block out the world. You can worry about your 2nd grade teacher reading that scandalous wine cellar scene later. Don’t think about pleasing agents, editors, or fans. Write the book you want to write and the rest will fall into place.

Of course all this is much easier said than done! I would love to hear from other writers. How do you combat second (or third, or eighth) book jitters?

Jennifer Ann Coffeen is a published author currently living in Chicago. Her novel Priceless Deception and novella Lover's Gamble are both available now from The Wild Rose Press. Her work has been featured regularly at the kates, a group of women solo performers who perform the last Saturday of every month at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Jennifer is a founding member of the kates, and has also written and performed original work as part of Numbskull, the Human Blockhead; The Muffin Basket Cases; and Beastwomen Female Cabaret. She is a graduate of Columbia College, and has studied at Story Studio Chicago, where she also works as part of the Chicago Literary Alliance.

“The French Blue diamond must be destroyed.”

Haunted by the words of her dying father, Lady Madeline Sinclair arrives for the London Season with more than parties and the latest fashion on her mind. She has sworn a vow, and the beautifully headstrong and fearless Madeline will allow nothing to distract her…until she meets the infamous Lord Colin, Duke of Douglas, a man known for his scandalous past engagement. With a dark grin and stormy eyes, he threatens to make her forget her duty, along with her manners.

Bound together by the mysterious diamond, Madeline and Colin soon succumb to the passion raging between them, even as the diamond eludes their grasp. But the true threat lies in the hands of an enemy whose dangerous obsession with the past has the power to destroy them both.

Priceless Deception available at The Wild Rose Press.
Visit Jennifer online at JenniferAnnCoffeen.com, and www.facebook.com/JenniferAnnCoffeen.

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions: Contemporary Romances

2012-02-25T00:01:00.002-06:00

Got a contemporary romance you want to share? Here's your chance. Just post your blurb and buy links in the comments sections, then promote this blog. Any and all contemporary romances are welcomed.

Here's the coming attractions for Saturday's Salacious Suggestions:

Mar. 3 - Young Adult

Mar. 10 - Historical Western

Mar. 17 - Regency

Mar. 24 - Sci-Fi

Mar. 31 - Erotica (historical or contemporary)

Wednesday's Chow - Cheese Puff Appetizer

2012-02-21T23:34:00.000-06:00

Once again, my guest for the week has come through with a delicious-looking recipe. Chris Redding shares an appetizer with us today. If you haven't stopped by Chris's blog post on Story Structure, be sure to do so today. It's a wonderful synopsis on how to plan out your story.

I'm going to make these Cheese Puffs soon!

Cheese Puff Appetizer

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese

2 cups shredded low-fat Cheddar Cheese

1 cup melted butter

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 dashes either Worcestershire Sauce or Chipotle Tabasco Sauce

1 jar of olives or about a cup of Kalamata olives (or your favorite)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

In a small bowl, mix together cheese, butter, four and Worcestershire (or Chipotle) sauce. Knead the dough. Roll and pinch the dough into small balls, flatten them in the palm of your hand, then roll each circle of dough around one olive. Arrange the wrapped olvies on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly brown.

I take these everywhere and am always asked for the recipe. I find using full-fat and low-fat cheese makes the best texture. If you have a gluten problem, you can use quinoa flour. I’ve also stuffed them with sun-dried tomatoes instead of olives.

Chris Redding
Incendiary 2010 A View to a Kilt 2011
Blonde Demolition 2011
www.chrisreddingauthor.com
http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/

Story Structure

2012-02-20T00:09:00.001-06:00

STORY STRUCTURE

by Chris Redding

The structure is how it all fits together. This includes the different parts of a story including the characters, the story world and the events. I’m going to talk about several ways to structure your story. This way you can choose which one you want or make a hybrid of your own. One method is outlined by Jule Selbo in his book Gardner's Guide to Screenplay. He maps out an eleven step story structure which will be a strong skeleton for your story.

1. What are your hero’s overall wants and needs.

The more the character wants or needs something the better the story. The hero should be consumed by his desire. The immediate goals the hero sets are part of the plot.

2. The hero attempts to get what he wants and needs.

This needs to be done logically or in character. If you want to win the lottery, you must first buy a ticket. The hero must pull out all the stops and have them fail before he can make a decision to do something he’s never done before this.

3. The hero is denied it.

So our hero took logical steps to gain what he wants, but he is denied. This denial is an obstacle and will now set the hero on a new path to get what he wants.

4. The hero gets a second chance to get what he wants and needs.

After the hero is denied, another method for getting what he wants opens up. Most of this time this opportunity does not look like a good idea, but our hero is running out of options.

5. The hero encounters conflict surrounding going for what he wants and needs.

The hero realizes that if he takes this second opportunity, it isn’t necessarily what he wants or he has to pay a price to get what he wants. More conflict here. More is at stake here. You have to build and build the stakes. The more conflict, the better the story.

6. The hero decides to go for it anyway.

The hero decides the cost of getting what he wants is worth it.

7. Everything goes as planned (for a bit).

Let your hero have a taste of success.

8. Everything falls apart.

Your hero will now be severely tested. This usually a series of incidents that shows more obstacles in the hero’s way.

9. There is a crisis.

The hero is now questioning his abilities. This is his black moment. Will he be able to move forward to get what he wants?

10. There is the climax.

The hero digs deep and realizes he can reach his goal. He has the fortitude.

11. The truth is revealed to make everything right.

In Cinderella, she had to reveal she went to the ball against her step-mother’s wishes or she won’t be able to try on the glass slipper. The truth comes out and reveals a new ordinary world.

(This is an excerpt from my workshop Lights! Camera! Bestseller! which I will be offering March 26 at www.savvyauthors.com and October 1 at www.writersonlineclasses.com)

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog, and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn't writing or teaching workshops, she works part time for her local hospital. She had three novels published in 2011.

You just can't hide from the past...

Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.

Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.

Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/7olwvhs

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104247

Amazon in print: http://tinyurl.com/87qdaam

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions - Historicals

2012-02-18T00:08:00.001-06:00

Got a historical you want to share? Here's your chance. Just post your blurb and buy links in the comments sections, then promote this blog. Any and all historicals, including time-travel or paranormal elements, are welcomed.

Traveling Through Time

Here's the coming attractions for Saturday's Salacious Suggestions:

Feb. 25 - Contemporary
Mar. 3 - Young Adult
Mar. 10 - Historical Western
Mar. 17 - Regency
Mar. 24 - Sci-Fi
Mar. 31 - Erotica (historical or contemporary)

Romance Through the Ages Writing Contest

2012-02-17T00:15:00.002-06:00

The love of story runs deep in our souls. From tales around the campfire to a great book that makes us stay up all night, we long for narrative that makes us laugh and cry, that makes us believe and hope,that makes us eager for the resolution and yet dread we never want to reach the end.

A story is greater than the sum of its parts. A story that sweeps us along is what editors and agents look for; it's what readers crave.

Hearts through History, a Special Interest Chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) is focusing on story for its 2012 Romance Through The Ages (RTTA) contest.

The contest is open to both published and unpublished writers. Entries will be accepted today through the deadline and must be original works of Historical Romance or Romantic Historical Fiction not contracted for publication by the contest deadline of March 15, 2012. Entrants do not need to be members of Hearts Through History or RWA. Check guidelines on the website for full entry criteria. Entry categories:

Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance
Georgian/Regency/Victorian
Colonial/Western/Civil War
Post-Victorian/World War 2
Time Travel/Historical Paranormal
Historical Erotic

All entries must be submitted electronically and cannot exceed 30 pages. Entries must include a one- or two-page synopsis, which will not be judged. Entry fee is $20 for HHRW chapter members and $25 for all others.

Winners will be announced during RWA's annual conference, July 25-28 in Anaheim, CA, during the Hearts Through History's Annual General Meeting.

For more information or to enter, go to: http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/rtta-contest/

Wednesday's Chow: Individual Frittatas

2012-02-15T00:55:00.001-06:00

Oh, what a yummy looking recipe! Thanks to this week's guest, Tara Manderino (More Than Cowboys), for sharing her Individual Frittatas recipe with us:

I started making these several years ago for Easter brunch, then other brunches, but they are great to make ahead and keep in the fridge. Just grab one or two on your way out in the morning. You can wrap them in a paper towel and heat in the microwave for a minute. (Heating is optional.) Aside from the grab and go aspect, I love this recipe for it’s flexibility. Mix what you want into the batter. It all tastes great.

Individual Frittatas

12 eggs (or 1 1/2 cups egg substitute, such as Egg Beaters)

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage

1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach

3/4 cup of shredded cheese

1 cup jarred roasted red / yellow bell peppers, chopped

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

· Crumble the sausage and brown it.

· Drain off any fat left in the pan.

· If you haven't defrosted the spinach, place it in a mesh colander and run hot water over it; drain well, pressing out excess liquid. I add the flour if the mixture seems more watery than usual. You can omit it.

· Beat the eggs and add the rest of the ingredients.

· Bake in greased silicone muffin pans at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or in a 9 x 13 inch greased/no-stick spray prepared pan.

· Variations: use ham, bacon (or real bacon bits), or vegetarian sausage. Substitute canned asparagus for the chopped spinach.

· Add chopped mushrooms, peppers, chopped, drained tomatoes.

You can also bake this in a baking dish and cut it up into individual squares once it's cooled.

This recipe can be made in a regular muffin tin, one ideally lined with parchment paper. This is one instance where a silicone muffin pan is best.

Adventurous heroes. Audacious heroines.
Tara Manderino books.
http://tjmanderino.webs.com/

More Than Cowboys

2012-02-13T00:11:00.000-06:00

by Tara Manderino

The west was more than cowboys.

I love cowboys. But there are more people who lived in the west than the men who ran the ranches and kept the herds in line. I admit I am one of the people who used to watch Big Valley, not just to see Nick and Heath. My favorite episodes featured Jarrod, the lawyer. I have been totally fascinated with the life of the school teacher, the shopkeeper, the lawyer, the preacher --everyone in the town. What made the mail order brides come west? What about the sheriff? The Civil War heroes? The newspaper man? The banker?

The openness of the western territories drew many types of people, not just cowboys. For many, it was a chance to start a new life, to leave their old ways behind and reinvent themselves. Some went because they craved a challenge, some for the cheap land, and others because they simply had nowhere else to go.

The first two titles in my series, Presidents Orders, takes place in the west -- Oklahoma Territory and Colorado. As agents for the relatively new Secret Service Agency, Simon Barr and Luke Hayden travel across the country, wherever they are needed, solving crimes that could affect national security, and dealing with their respective love interests. Think Wild Wild West meets Romancing the Stone.

The Secret Service was the last act signed into effect by President Lincoln, hours before he left for the Ford Theater, although it did not officially receive its first commission until 1865. Interestingly enough, the Secret Service was not originally created to protect the President, but rather to investigate counterfeit currency. Later, it was expanded to include any issue threatening national security. The first book in the Presidents Orders,False Notes, deals with counterfeiting, while the second, Heart Quest, has the men searching for a stolen stone from the Heart of Egypt, and returning it to its rightful owner before an international incident occurs.

As partners, the men rely heavily on each other, in turn, giving strength to others around them. Both men have a deep sense of integrity and wide moral streak, making them among the best at what they do. Simon is definitely a man of action, quite happy to ask questions later, whereas Luke tends to think things through, often providing a voice of reason, at least when his hearts not involved.

Here is a brief excerpt of the beginning of False Notes, giving you an idea of Simon's opinion on the west.

The night was clear; he swore the stars were only inches from his head and he only had to reach out a finger to touch them. It was one of the things he so enjoyed about the territories. He had no complaints when assignments took him this far west, although he knew a lot of the other government agents didnt care for the area, or the people. They werent civilized enough, he often heard.

He snorted aloud at that; the people he had encountered were a lot more civilized than their eastern counterparts. And that included the Indians. When his horse snorted

back, he chuckled and reached over to pat the horses neck. You agree, I see.

He put one booted foot in the stirrup, started to heave himself into the saddle, and then stopped, his right foot still touching the ground. He cocked his head to the side,

listening again for the sound, and sure enough, it camea slight scraping noise. When Pride turned his head, as if questioning just what Simon intended to do, he pushed aside the big horse's head and removed his left foot, then quickly and quietly looped Pride's reins around the nearby hitching post. Rubbing the horses nose, indicating that he should be quiet, he swiftly pressed himself up against the wooden wall of the building and into the shadows, trying to gauge the direction of the sound. There was nothing sinister about it, but it was out of place. Finding what didnt belong was part of his job.

False Notes is available on Amazon , Barnes and Noble and other premium distribution sites.

In Heart Quest, Maj, Lukes love interest, tries to calm a young students fear of moving west:

Uncle Albert said I have to leave here. I have to go west.

And Maj couldnt wait to go back. Tamping down her excitement, she waited to hear the girls concerns.

All of those savages live out west, Deidre said from her lofty age of ten years. Since her easel was next to Annabelles there was no chance the child wouldnt have heard her.

Annabelle cried harder and Maj sighed. Standing, Maj reached in her pocket for a freshly laundered handkerchief. Taking Annabelles chin in her hand, she turned the childs face toward her as she dabbed at the girls tears. Putting both hands on Annabelles shoulders she made sure she had the childs complete attention before speaking.

Annabelle, did you know I am going to go with you?

The girl stopped crying for a moment and stared at her.

Really? Youre coming with me?

Not for always, but I will be with you on the train out west and stay with you at your aunts for a few days.

Arent you afraid of the Indians? Deidre asked.

Maj refrained from scowling at the girl. Not at all. No need for the girl to know that was a lie. Some of the tribes terrified her. I know a lot of Indians, she said not quite truthfully. Leaving her hand on Annabelles shoulder, she stood and realized she had a little audience, mostly made up of girls ten and under. She suspected the older ones were listening but wouldnt be caught dead admitting to it.

I used to live out west, you know. In Oklahoma. Its really not too different from the east, she told them.

I heard houses had dirt floors.

True, some of them do. The house she had shared with her sister in Minnesota when they were children was one of them. But there are also grand houses as fine as any Ive seen here. A lot of people who live in the west used to live back here, so theyve brought their ways with them. And now that the railroad goes across the country, Im sure people will be visiting more and more.

Do you really think so?

Yes, I do. In spite of the harum-scarum way she had traveled east, it had still been relatively easy. Certainly much quicker than her trip from Minnesota to Oklahoma when her uncle had come for them. He hadnt been one to spend any extra money; they traveled by wagon despite the fact they had few possessions to bring with them.

But what about the Indians?

Maj tried not to heave too loud a sigh. What about them, Deidre? Some of them go to school back here, you know. Some even go to other countries for schooling.

My father said the savages dont have any schooling, Deidre sniffed and turned back to her painting.

Maj refrained from commenting. It wasnt her place to get into an argument with the students, and she certainly didnt intend to negate what the girls father said, but as far as she was concerned, some of those savages were much more polite than Deidre.

Heart Quest is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other premium distribution sites.

Adventurous heroes. Audacious heroines.

Tara Manderino books.
http://tjmanderino.webs.com/

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions-Paranormal Romance

2012-02-11T16:13:00.001-06:00

Starting this month, I'm going to do genres on my Saturday's Salacious Suggestions. This week is Paranormal Romance...it does need romance in it. Just post your blurb and buy links in the comments section.

Here's the coming attractions:

Feb. 18 - Historical
Feb. 25 - Contemporary
Mar. 3 - Young Adult
Mar. 10 - Historical Western
Mar. 17 - Regency
Mar. 24 - Sci-Fi
Mar. 31 - Erotica (historical or contemporary)

The Hero's Journey and the Mythological Woods Workshop

2012-02-10T00:28:00.005-06:00

COMING SOON - a month-long online class on THE HERO'S JOURNEY AND THE MYTHOLOGICAL WOODS. March 5-31, 2012.
Presented by Anna Kathryn Lanier

Hearts Through History RWA Chapter Campus

But, wait, you can also take THE HERO'S JOURNEY AND THE MYTHOLOGICAL WOODS at Yellow Rose Romance Writers RWA meeting on April 14th. In person and only 60-90 minutes long!

THE HERO'S JOURNEY AND THE MYTHOLOGICAL WOODS
Online Workshop and In Person

Whether you’re a plotter or a panster, knowing The Hero’s Journey will help you with your story’s plot. Using Joseph Campbell’s guideline, Anna Kathryn will lead you through a month-long journey of your own online. Lectures, discussions and homework on The Hero’s Journey and The Mythological Woods that your hero and heroine should take during your book.

To better participate in the class, students should watch James Cameron’s TITANIC. Also watching THE LION KING, and if possible STAR WARS IV, will help the student with understanding The Hero’s Journey, as these movies will be discussed.

Join this month-long class at Hearts Through History’s online campus March 5-31^st. Click HERE to register. OR join me at Yellow Rose Romance Writer's monthly meeting on April 14, 2012. Click HERE for information on Yellow Rose RWA.

Wednesday's Chow Irish Potato Soup

2012-02-08T00:35:00.003-06:00

This week's guest, J. D. Faver (My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys) is sharing an old family recipe. As she says, "this is the recipe for potato soup that came over on the boat from Ireland. I seriously updated it when the kids were little. It's a sure cure for what ails you. We call it Irish penicillin."

Family Recipe Irish Potato Soup

The Irish version of chicken soup came over on the boat with ancestors during the Potato Famine. I updated it as I rarely have time to milk the cow and skim the cream off the morning's milk.

Ingredients:

3 pounds peeled russet potatoes cut into chunks

1 medium onion, diced

3 stalks celery with leaves, chopped

3 cans chicken stock or water with chicken bouillon cubes

Salt

White pepper

1 tall can evaporated milk

1 stick butter or margarine

Place potatoes, celery and onion in a large stockpot. Add enough chicken stock or water (with bouillon cubes) to generously cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and mash the vegetables, slightly. I just use a potato masher or a fork against the side of the pan. You still want it to be chunky, but mashing part of it makes it rich and creamy. Add entire stick of butter and can of evaporated milk. Add white pepper and salt to taste.

J.D. Faver

Bad Girls Need Love Too....

www.jdfaver.com

MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS

2012-02-06T00:38:00.000-06:00

by J.D. Faver

If my title brings to mind a Willie Nelson song, then you might be a redneck, a country girl or a cowboy. I was raised on a farm in southwestern Oklahoma and moved to Texas as a teen. When I say a farm, I'm talking four sections of land on which my family farmed and ran beef cattle. For those not in the know, a section of land is 640 acres, so this was a sizable farm. In Texas however, the preferred term is "ranch", even if it's just a few acres.

Of course, as a writer I call on every mega-byte of early memory to write about ranches, horses, and farming. The smell of horses, hay and fresh turned dirt is unforgettable. The taste of home-made biscuits with clover honey is not the same as those that come in a tube and have something out of a plastic bear squirted on them. Not the same. Likewise, the guys who go to the western wear store to get duded up for rodeo once a year are as close to real cowboys as the little plastic bear.

Yep, I'm quite fond of cowboys. They don't gush out flowery speeches. They play the cards close to their vests, but the real cowboy is a rare breed and definitely worth cultivating. Who do you picture in your mind when you think of a cowboy? John Wayne? Clint Eastwood? Tough guys with a tiny little soft core and a set of staunch values they would rather die than sacrifice. And if you're lucky enough to be the wife or sweetheart of one of those cowboys, you have yourself a real prize.

One of my favorite movies is Legends of the Fall, with Brad Pitt as Tristan, the younger brother who crossed the line and paid for it by banishing himself to a life of loneliness, living out in the wilderness. What a waste!

One of my first novels to be released was BADLANDS, which is set in the Texas panhandle not too far across the state line from my Oklahoma roots. I like lots of conflict in my novels, and one of my favorite themes is opposites attract. My heroine, Cameron Carmichael, is a doctor from Houston with a new license who inherits her great-aunt's humongous cattle ranch. The hero, Breckenridge T. Ryan, is a neighboring rancher who happens to also be the small town lawyer. So he's handling the estate and has the task of telling the heroine that she has to live on the ranch for a year to inherit. The following is a short excerpt in which Breck converses with his father after he has finagled an invitation to supper at the heroine's home.

~*~

Breck was grinning when he got back to his ranch that afternoon.

His father was leaning back in his recliner, his usual position. “What’s going on, son? How come you’re smiling from ear to ear?”

“I’ve got a date, Dad.”

“A date?” Zachery Ryan drew back in mock amazement. “Who’d of thought? Is this someone I know?”

“I don’t think so. I’m going to dinner at Silky Carmichael’s house and I’m taking her great-niece to the Eagle’s hall for a little opportunity to polish my belt buckle.”

The elder Ryan raised his brows. “I think I met her one summer when she was a teenager. Pretty little thing, but shy. She wouldn’t say a word.” He pushed his glasses up on top of his head. “As I remember she was a mite skinny.”

Breck considered. “She may have filled out a bit since then, Dad. She’s slim, but she’s got some nice curves going for her now...How come I didn’t meet Silky’s niece before?”

Zachery frowned in recollection. “I think that was your freshman year at The University of Texas. You were doing two-a-days at that time.”

Breck ran his fingers through his hair. “I wouldn’t have noticed a teen-age girl back then anyway. My head was into football and making the grades.”

Zachery shook his head. “I think even you might have noticed this little one. She had the prettiest blue eyes, but she always looked so sad and lonely. Quiet as a mouse. Kind of tugged at my heart. Silky told me the girl’s parents had been killed in a car wreck and that she was seeing to the girl. I remember thinking, ‘What does a wild woman like Silky Carmichael know about raising a young girl?’”

Breck felt a pang of sympathy for Cami. Silky was a dear friend, an astute rancher and a local charmer, but he didn’t think her character was filled with warmth and compassion. She’d probably have done better fostering a boy. He figured the shy, sensitive girl left in her care hadn’t experienced much in the way of motherly love.

He headed for the shower, thinking that his imposed invitation to dinner hadn’t been exactly the smoothest thing he’d ever wrangled, but the important thing was that he’d have a good reason to be holding the enigmatic Cami Carmichael in his arms all night long.

~*~

And here's a little peek at the couple after dinner when Breck is driving her in his pick up through the small town to the Eagle's Hall where a live band will be performing.

~*~

Cami stared out the windshield, admiring the million stars flung across the black velvet sky. She realized how rare it was to see stars in Houston where the city lights outshone any display the heavens might offer.

The town of Langston had closed up for the night. Only a convenience store, the Mexican restaurant and a steak house stayed open until ten. Otherwise, the businesses were darkened.

The Eagle’s Hall was located on the far edge of town. When they pulled up, Cami saw that the unpaved parking area was filled with row after row of pickup trucks.

“I’ll let you out in front.” Breck idled by the wooden double doors at the entrance.

He leaned over her to swing her door open and she felt a surge of desire as his muscular torso pressed momentarily against her thighs. A rush of cold air gave her a much needed reality check. “Go on inside where it's warm,” he said.

Watching the truck drive away, she felt bereft. Suddenly shy, she was loath to walk inside by herself. They weren’t dating. They weren’t a couple. She shouldn’t have any attachment to Breckinridge T. Ryan at all.

“Hey, Miss Cami.”

She spun around to find Frank trudging toward her across the gravel parking lot.

“Frank! I didn’t know you’d be here.”

He flashed his dimpled grin. “I told you this was the place to be. Can I walk you inside?” He held out his arm to her.

She glanced around, but didn’t see Breck and decided not to brave the elements any longer. Taking Frank’s arm, she felt steely muscles under his jacket. She realized the brown-eyed boy escorting her was a full grown man of approximately her same age.

Entering the hall, she encountered a blast of heated air by the front door. She hurried inside and looked around. The lights were low and the band hadn’t yet mounted the raised stage. She was aware of a room full of people. Most were sitting at long tables ringing the dance floor. Others milled about visiting from group to group.

A small table was set up close to the entrance and Delta Ruth Peabody sat behind it with a roll of tickets in her hand. “Come right on in here, Doctor Carmichael,” she said. “Frank, are you dancing with your boss tonight?”

The door opened again with a rush of cold air and Breck appeared by her side.

“This one is mine.” He slapped some cash on the table and received two tickets in return.

Cami raised her eyebrows, meeting Frank’s amused expression with one of her own. She wasn’t sure if this was the time to remind Breck that she was most definitely not his.

~*~

BADLANDS is available on Kindle http://amzn.com/B005341WX2

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/badlands-jd-faver/1102634332?ean=2940012591364&itm=5&usri=jd+faver and other premium distribution sites.

J.D. Faver

Bad Girls Need Love Too....

www.jdfaver.com

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions: Western Romances

2012-02-04T00:14:00.000-06:00

Starting this month, I'm going to do genres on my Saturday's Salacious Suggestions. This week, just cause it's what I write, we'll do Westerns, historical or Contemporary.

Let's see, let me make a schedule right fast:

Feb. 11 - Paranormal
Feb. 18 - Historical
Feb. 25 - Contemporary
Mar. 3 - Young Adult
Mar. 10 - Historical Western
Mar. 17 - Regency
Mar. 24 - Sci-Fi
Mar. 31 - Erotica (historical or contemporary)

Wednesday's Chow - Bacon Pinwheels

2012-02-01T07:29:00.000-06:00

Well, the Super Bowl is just a few days away, so I decided a 'snack food' for the big day would be good. Since none of the teams I was really rooting for made it all the way, I'm undecided for who I want to win. Good luck to both the Giants and the Patriots.

Bacon Pinwheels

Ingredients:

6 strips bacon, diced

6 oz cream cheese, softened

½ cup mayonnaise

1 can (4 oz) mushrooms, steams and pieces, drained

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions:

Heat oven 375⁰.

In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Using slotted spoon, remove to paper towel to drain. In a small bowl combine cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Add mushrooms, garlic powder and bacon.

Separate crescent dough into four rectangles, seal the perforations. Spread cream cheese mixture over each rectangle to within ¼-inch of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Pinch seams to seal. Cut each roll into six slices.

Place side down on greased baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions

2012-01-28T09:34:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. It is Saturday and time for Saturday's Salacious Suggestions. Authors are welcome to post their blurb and buy links and readers are welcomed to find a new romance to read.

Starting next week, I'm going to do genre specific blurbs each week, but for today, it's a free for all, any genre, any heat index.

Wednesday's Chow - Red Pepper Soup

2012-01-25T00:10:00.002-06:00

Here's a yummy looking recipe, great for a cold winter day, from this week's guest author, Toni V. Sweeny. If you haven't checked out her blog from Monday, be sure and stop by for Carrying a Theme through Several Generations.

Here’s my famous prize-winning (Beta Sigma Phi Cookbook, 1999) Red Pepper Soup, which was probably dreamed up by some chuck wagon cook on a trail drive who found himself with nothing left but a handful of peppers and garlic. It's perfect for the holidays, because of its bright color, as well as its zippy taste.

4 medium red Bell Peppers

1 medium yellow Bell pepper

2 small red Serrano peppers (other mild hot pepper such as Hungarian can be substituted)

3 gloves garlic

1 tbsp olive oil

1 14.5 oz can chicken broth

1/2 C whipped cream (optional)

Fresh basil leaves (optional)

Salt/pepper to taste

Remove seeds, stems, and membranes from peppers. Chop into squares. Slice garlic. Boil all until tender. Run through blender until pureed. Pour into large saucepan and add salt and pepper to taste and olive oil. Add chicken broth, stir until well-blended. Cook until heated throughout and ladle into soup bowls. May be garnished with a fresh basil leaf and a dollop of whipped cream (optional).

This makes 4 servings. 195 calories per serving.

Carrying a Theme through Several Generations

2012-01-23T00:13:00.001-06:00

by Toni V. Sweeney

Thanks for inviting me, Anna Kathryn. Wish I had more of my new WIP done. It’d be a little more in tune with your Western theme. It’s called (tentatively) The Lily and the Shamrock and is set in Nebraska. However, I’ve only gotten through Chapter One, so guess I’d better concentrate on my latest release and talk about it.

So, here goes. Ahem…

One thing about writing about a dynasty--it covers a lot of territory and a whole lot of people...centuries of events...millennia of generations... I took the easy way out. I decided to write about the beginning and the end of a dynasty--the rule of the kan Ingans of the Emeraunt Galaxy. My series, The Chronicles of Riven the Heretic (Bloodseek, Blood Curse, A Singing in the Blood, and Barbarian Blood Royal, and soon to come, The Man from Cymene) told the kan Ingans' origins. My series, The kan Ingan Archives, told of their inglorious end thirty-one hundred years later. The series didn't start out that way, but--as usual with characters with which I have more than one dealing, familiarity bred contempt—and Aric kan Ingan and his Black Shield friends yanked the book out of my hot little hands, and, in their superiorly militant way, took over. If they'd let me handle things, the story might have ended differently; then again, knowing my penchant for Unhappily-Ever-After endings, it might have been worse! As it stands now…

Family sagas are a lot of work because you have to keep track not only of the characters' names and physical appearances, but also of their ages, especially if each novel encompasses a number of years. Sometimes it's easier to make a tangible chart, a family tree or spreadsheet with all the relationships, ages, etc., so it can be referred to from time to time. In Sinner, the main character, Aric, goes from age twenty to thirty; the second novel (tentatively titles Exile) opens ten years later and covers five years of his life. In the third novel, at the age of 46, Aric returns to his home. When Aric left, the woman he will eventually wed was six-years-old. When he meets her again in the third book, she's twenty-two, and his decision to marry her scandalizes his best friend because he's now twice her age. To add insult to injury, she’s also the best friend’s niece and he’s only five years older than she though he’s fifteen years younger than Aric! Confused yet? Age plays a very important part in these stories so I had to keep close tabs on how old everyone was and when.

So…

What is all this leading to? To the promo for my new book. Sinner, the story of a man who falls in love with the wrong woman. (Don't they all?) A man who was destined to be the most powerful person in the galaxy until Cupid skewered him with one of those little darts. A man accused of committing a crime and unable to prove himself innocent because to do so would reveal he's committed an ever greater crime. It's got plenty of love, sex, and violence. A real winner!

Check it out.

Blood Sin is available from Double Dragon Publishing. Buy it now HERE.

Toni V. Sweeney

The Amazing Author Event continues with Barbara Edwards. Read the Blogs ~ Win the Prizes

Anna Katherine's Amazing Author Event

2012-01-22T00:08:00.003-06:00

A few years ago, I attended the Northwest Houston RWA’s two-day Lone Star Conference featuring Todd Stone, author of the NOVELIST’S BOOT CAMP. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone wishing to improve writing and editing skills. If you’re unable to attend a workshop, at the very least, purchase his book. Though at first glance it may look intimidating, it is really a very simple to follow, matter-of-fact and easy-to-understand guide.

Today, I’m going to discuss Drill 42 – Take Three Steps to Story Line, page 121.

I’m a panster, so plotting out a story is very hard for me, no matter how much I want to do so. Drill 42 is more or less a lesson on plotting your story in three easy steps. I don’t see myself really doing this for an entire novel. Still, the ideas presented in Drill 42 are worth going over, because if you get yourself stuck on a scene, this may help you get past the problem.

Todd says, “Your concept of operation—called story line—recounts the major actions and events that occur as your protagonist pursues her objective.” The easiest way to build your story line, accordingly, are in the following three steps:

1. Add one of the four D’s: Does, Discovers, Decides or Deals with. They don’t have to be done in this particular order, but all four should be included in your story and at the very least one should start the story journey.

a. Does: In order to attain her goal, the protagonist does something. In my story SALVATION BRIDE, Laure does something by traveling West as a mail order bride. Every does, Todd says, has a consequence. Her actions to marry a stranger, David, results in the consequence of having to give up her career as a doctor as well as having a marriage of love.

b. Discover: The protagonist discovers new information that impacts her quest for her objective. In Laura’s case, she wants a secure, loving home life. She hopes to find that with David. However, she discovers David still loves his dead wife. Now she must deal with a new situation—she must do something so she can still obtain her objective, a secure marriage.

c. Decide: Your protagonist decides to try something new to reach her objective. A decision is NOT an action, it is a conclusion. For the moment, Laura decides that though the situation is not what she hoped for, she at least has a family (in David and his young daughter) and a home to take care of. She won’t rock the boat and end their arrangement. Odd as it seems, doing nothing is the right decision. Quietly caring for his home and young daughter endears Laura to David in a way she didn’t expect.

d. Deals With: Your antagonist takes action, or an event happens and your protagonist responds or deals with it. Laura witnesses a woman being abused by her husband and steps between the man and his wife. This action causes conflict between Laura and David, the town’s sheriff. It is also a turning point in their relationship.

2. Follow with an and so: When you add a D, insert an and so behind it. Doing this should lead you to another D, after which you insert another and so. This sequence helps build a sense of cause and effect, keeps your characters focused on their objectives and keeps your story in motion. You may also use terms like and, then and but.

3. Expand, refine and cross-check. You need to expand and refine your D’s to get to the level of detail necessary to develop your scenes. You will then cross-check the believability and necessity of each detail:

a. Against research for accuracy.
b. Against your protagonist’s objectives, to ensure her actions are focused on achieving those goals.
c. Against the opponent’s objectives, to see what actions the opponent’s might take.

Then expand and refine the D’s to ensure you can insert and so to connect one series of actions with the next. Also important: the protagonist is doing most of the doing. If someone else is doing it, you may need to look over the scene and make changes. The protagonist needs to be active, not passive.

Following is an example of the opening scenes in my novella SALVATION BRIDE.

Laura Ashton needs the security a husband will give her, and so decides to travel west as a mail order bride. She then discovers that the preacher came to town early, forcing her to deal with an unexpected situation and so she marries David Slade hours after meeting him, when the plan had been to marry a month or so later. She does not tell him she is a trained doctor until after the marriage and so must deal with his refusal to let her practice. She soon discovers that he still loves his dead wife and must deal with knowing her husband will never love her as a man should love his wife. And so, she decides that the security of marriage, family and home are worth a loveless marriage.

I'll give away one copy of SALVATION BRIDE to someone who leaves a comment.

Are you a pasnter or a plotter? Leave a comment on this lesson and how it might help you and you could win.

Click HERE for more information on SALVATION BRIDE.

Tomorrow's Amazing Author is Barbara Edward at http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions

2012-01-21T00:55:00.001-06:00

Another week, another Saturday. I'm going to start something new here soon...specific genres per Saturday, but not yet. I'll actually be out of town, at a casino....whoot!...Saturday, so it's a 'free-for-all.'

Post your blurb, and buy links in the comments sections, then tweet about the blog spot.....send people to check out our stories.

Have a great weekend.

Anna Kathryn
www.annakathrynlanier.com

Theodora from Whore to Empress

2012-01-19T00:15:00.001-06:00

That's a really good title, but I didn't use it on the blog I just posted at Hearts Through History....mmmm, maybe I should go change it...but, well, that's too much trouble. Still, why don't you pop in and read about a woman who came from next to nothing to be one of the most powerful women in the world. Maybe the movie Pretty Woman isn't as much of a fantasy as we all think it is.....

Empress Theodora

The Amazing Author Event: Read the Blogs -Win the Prizes
Jan. 19. Linda LaRogue - http://lindalarogueauthor.blogspot.com

Anna Kathryn

Wednesday's Chow - Jake’s Fried Rice

2012-01-18T00:24:00.005-06:00

This week's guest, Amber Leigh Williams (Rogue Secondary Characters) shares a special recipe from her husband. Enjoy.

Anyone who knows us as a couple is aware that my husband is the cook in the marriage. He even works in the restaurant business! One day out of the blue, he created this amazing fried rice recipe. We have shared it with both sides of our family and everyone loves it. We’ve never shared it with anyone outside of the family – this is a first so we hope you enjoy Jake’s Fried Rice….

Jake’s Fried Rice

Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

1 8-oz. box Zatarans® New Orleans Style Yellow Rice

1 pkg. smoked Conecuh Sausage

6-7 extra-lg. eggs

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

Vegetable oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a medium pot, begin boiling water for Zatarans® yellow rice (NOTE: Use ½ cup less water than the box recommends). While waiting for water to boil, begin chopping bell peppers and sausage into small bites. When water boils, let rice simmer covered for 25 minutes, stirring often. At the same time rice begins to simmer, begin cooking sausage in a separate pan. In another pan, use vegetable oil to begin cooking bell peppers. Stir both pans often to keep sausage and peppers from burning. Take peppers off heat and drain when they become soft. Brown sausage to your preference before taking off heat and draining until non-greasy. Set sausage and peppers aside. When rice has 15 minutes left to cook, whisk eggs together, pour into a large pan and scramble them, seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste.

When rice is done cooking, use a strainer to drain all excess fluids. Using a large pan or wok (usually the same pan eggs are cooked in), combine the scrambled eggs and rice. Stirring often, let rice cook a bit longer. Add bell peppers and sausage and mix well. Serve in bowls and enjoy!

www.amberleighwilliams.com

Amazing Author Event - Read the Blogs - Win the Prizes

Jan. 18. SG Rogers - http://childofyden.wordpress.com

Rogue Secondary Characters

2012-01-16T01:00:00.001-06:00

by Amber Leigh Williams

Don’t you just love rogue secondary characters? While writing my first western romance, Blackest Heart, I thought I had secondary characters under control. That is until my critique partner practically begged me to write the story of at least one of the heroine’s older brothers. I’m a firm believer in giving strong secondary characters a satisfactory story of their own. The whole western romance venture had been somewhat of a writing experiment. Not only had I never written a western, I had never written a novella. Stepping out of my comfort zone paid off. Blackest Heart was quickly contracted by my publisher for their new western line, the 1^st Place Novella in the 2009 More Than Magic Contest, and the subject of most of my fan mail. Writing against the western backdrop with characters as rich as the Ridge family siblings was also sinfully fun. I decided my CP was right and a short jaunt back to West Texas through the eyes of my muse and western characters was in order.

My CP dropped heavy hints that she wanted to see Stella’s “good boy” brother Casey find love. Probably because I drop not-so-subtle hints in Blackest Heart that he has a thing for the “bad girl” of Wayback, Josie Brusky. Writing Casey’s story (Bluest Heart) taught me a lesson about writing the so-called “bad” character. Josie saunters into Blackest Heart with a reputation. Confronting that in Bluest Heart was a daunting process. None of my previous heroes or heroines came into their respective stories in a negative light. The contrasts between Josie and Casey, however, fell to the wayside within the first few chapters of the first draft. On the page, they automatically clicked despite the conflict surrounding them. Much of it has to do with their tender backstory and underneath the reputation Wayback has built around Josie and her family lies a heroine readers sympathize with.

When my western editor contracted Bluest Heart, I found it increasingly hard to sleep at night knowing that the oldest Ridge brother, Keefe, was the only one of his siblings who didn’t have a story of his own. The process of converting him from the “playboy of Wayback” to hero material was a challenge, one that I couldn’t resist. While Josie’s like tendencies were a struggle to morph into the role of heroine, Keefe turned out to be a blast—probably because I threw the bad boy a curveball in the form of Stella’s Yankee talent agent, Calli Morlani. Keefe, the bronc-busting cowpoke, allowed me to explore the sexy cowboy hero one more rip-roarin’ time from a fresh angle, rounding out the Ridge trilogy in an exciting way with Bet it on my Heart!

I do miss spending writing time with those Ridges, but they are available as both ebook and audio books from The Wild Rose Press, Kindle, Nook and AudioLark. Blackest Heart is also featured in the paperback anthology, The Way Back Home, along with two other western romance novellas….

Thank you for hosting me and the Ridges here, Anna Kathryn! Looking forward to sharing a western-themed recipe on Wednesday. Until then, I’ll leave you with the book trailer for Bet it on my Heart. For more on the Ridge trilogy, including bonus material and book trailers, visit me on the web at www.amberleighwilliams.com! Enjoy....

The Amazing Author Event: Read the Blogs - Win the Prizes

Jan. 16. Maggie Toussaint - http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions

2012-01-14T00:27:00.001-06:00

Okay, it's time to post your blurbs again! Last week we had over 30 great books promoted. I sure hope y'all got some readers from that.

Just leave a comment with your blurb and links to buy the book!

Don't forget about THE AMAZING AUTHOR EVENT.

Roseanne Dowell - http://roseannedowellauthor.blogspot.com is today's author!

AMAZING AUTHOR EVENT Starts Jan. 12

2012-01-12T00:15:00.001-06:00

Starting Jan. 12, thirteen AMAZING AUTHORS will host a blog tour. Visit each author's blog and read through their post carefully. At the end of the tour there will be a test - but instead earning an A or, gasp, an F, you can earn PRIZES: amazing stories by these AMAZING AUTHORS, as well as some other cool giveaways.

Caroline Clemmons starts the Amazing Event today. http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com

Wednesday's Chow - Potato Chip Bake

2012-01-11T00:25:00.002-06:00

This week's guest, Katherine Grey shares a family favorite for Wednesday's Chow. Check out Katherine's Monday blog, Anti-New Year's Resolutions, too.

Potato Chip Bake

1 cup of water

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or cooking spray

1 white onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 green pepper, diced

*1 pound bacon, sausage, or ham (If using bacon or ham, dice it. If using sausage, crumble it.)

12 large eggs

1 8.5 ounce bag of kettle cooked potato chips (I use Lay’s brand.)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil or use cooking spray in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper, and your choice of meat from above, season with salt and pepper. Cook until onions and green pepper are soft and meat is done, stirring occasionally.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and 1 cup of water together. Lightly crush the potato chips into the egg mixture and let stand, stirring occasionally until the chips are soft, about 10 minutes.

Prepare a 12 x 9 x 2 pan with cooking spray or 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Combine egg and chip mixture with the meat mixture and pour into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until eggs are firm and top is golden and slightly crisp. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings

*If using bacon, precook the bacon a bit before adding the onion and green pepper.

**I’ve also added sliced or quartered baby cremini or button mushrooms.

Katherine Grey
IMPETUOUS available now
THE MUSE coming 2012
http://katherinegrey.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Grey/265375626827267?sk=wall