Jacqueline Bach

Pitchwars 2017

2017-07-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

Hi there, and thank you for visiting my page. My name is Jackie, and this is my third year entering Pitch Wars. I am entering the first book in my YA trilogy. It is time travel + real world based fantasy + lots of family drama and complicated character relationships. My favorite types of things to read and write are character relationships, no matter what the backdrop is, give me good, deep, characters, and that is where I want to be.

As you can probably tell, I have taken quite a hiatus from my website, and mostly from everything else. Sometimes life gets away from us, but thankfully it's Pitch Wars time again. Stepping away from my MS for a while has definitely helped give perspective. Hooray for fresh eyes!

As this it my third year, I debated for a while whether or not I should even do a pimpmybio this year, but figured meh, why not? Here are the three main reasons why life has gotten away from me since Pitch Wars 2016.

Reason #1

The Puppy aka, demon monster, aka, little angel baby, aka, dragon shark, aka, cuddle bug, aka my life now. Her name is Lily.

The day I got Lily and my
parents got her brother.

In the midst of last year's Pitch Wars, our beloved family dog, Cooper, got very sick, it was his gal bladder. There was an awesome supportive outpouring of Pitch Wars family members who tried to keep my spirits high during the surgery, who messaged me personally to check-in periodically, offered condolences, and just virtually took care of me and helped more than they knew. Unfortunately, he did not make it, and after that, my heart was no longer able to keep up with the fun of Pitch Wars, and I sort of went off the grid. I've sort of been off the grid ever since.

Anyway, raising Lily can, at times, be all consuming, but she's such a good little girl, and I am so happy we have each other!

Reason #2

The Pony aka my princess. Her name is Sierra.

Photo opp with the pony :)

Shortly after I graduated from my Masters program (I have a Masters in Writing fiction from Johns Hopkins - just wanted to throw that in there ;)), Sierra became my new love. She was out of work and somewhat green when I started working with her, but thanks to my awesome trainer, in the past couple of months, she has become very ride-able. Everyday after my 9-5 job, I go right to the farm (with Lily) and lunge/ride the pony for 15-30 minutes. It is my time to clear my head, and it is our bonding time. Having a horse is an amazing experience, full of insane ups and downs, but I am so thankful for her every day. If you're a Pitch Wars horse girl or guy, please tweet me! I am always looking for more writer-horse friends!

Reason #3

The Renovation aka the bane of my existence for the last year. Okay, so maybe that is a bit harsh.

Kitchen before/after

But, last year, I put an offer on a condo and was so excited. At the home inspection I started to get sick (stuffed up, itchy, rash), and realized I was allergic to the place. I have severe dust and cat allergies. Sigh.

So, I had to basically gut the home and replace everything which required saving funds, lots of time I didn't have with work, the pony, and the puppy, and the limited ability for me to stay in the home for extended amounts of time before I started getting sick. It took over a year to get to a move-in point, and it's still not done, but I am taking a bit of a break for the time being to just have some down time that doesn't involve painting floors or walls every night.

Unfortunately, writing had to take a back seat to this, but now I have that slot opened back up!

So, now that I've shared this, Mentors, please don't read this and think I have no time for revisions. Trust me, I can handle a lot, and I can always make it work. Example, while getting my Masters, I worked full time, continued riding lessons, wrote my novel, went to the shore almost every weekend, and still had time to be social and spend time with my family and pups....

Okay, now for more Pitch Wars and book-related stuff.

As I mentioned earlier, this is my third time entering pitchwars, hoping *maybe* the third time is the charm.

My book is a trilogy (more threes), and it's something that means much more to me than just a book.

The idea originated between me and my best friend back in the mid 2000s. We would write together everyday via the phone and AOL Instant Messenger. We had a canon cast of characters, and one evening, she decided to throw a curve ball.

"I have a weird idea, but it will take us in a new direction for a little bit, just trust me?" she said.

So I went with it.

She started the scene by having one of the future kids (her character) of our current cast walk into the room of a sibling (my character). Brother hands sister a photo. "What is this?"

"It's a photo of the man who killed dad."

So of course, I am dumbfounded at this. I want to buck back and say nope! What do you mean you've killed off one of our best characters?! I made the rule, no killing characters off for a reason!

"Just trust me, okay?" she tells me. "If we don't like it, we can scrap it."

So I keep reading.

"I'm not playing this game," says sister. "You know they have no idea who did it, or even when or how he died!"

"Well, I have a photo, it's a place to start. And I've figured out a way we can go back in time and save him."

Welp......as soon as you add time travel, you've got me hooked. So I rolled with it. It wasn't a death sentence to her character, we were basically growing up the kids and bringing them into our current world. And it was fun. It refreshed our writing, gave us a new angle to work with, and a fun mystery to create and solve together.

We eventually moved on to other stories, and other characters, and that storyline took a backseat.

But then, one morning in April of 2009, I woke up to 'hang up' voicemail from her.
I called her back.
Her brother answered.
She died overnight from an asthma attack.

It took a long time for me to come back from that. And one of the ways I came back was to take one of our old story lines (I revisited the time travel one), and start writing every night, the same time I would have been working with her, and I wrote it into a book.

I ended up changing many aspects of the book, moving the setting, changing the rules of magic, adding characters she never knew, and killing off (literally) characters she likely would have beat me up for ever even suggesting they be knocked off. The result is what I'm entering into Pitch Wars.

When I said this is much more to me than just a book, it is my way of honoring her memory. I was lost without her for a long time. Losing her changed me forever, and pushed me to do something I thought I could never really do, write a book completely on my own. I've since written other (almost finished) books, and have another one I'm in the midst of planning now. I always consider entering one of the other projects, but this one is the most important to me, and right now the only one that really matters. I want it published for her.

The first chunk of this book has been through the Johns Hopkins Writing Program (I went to school to try to get the tools needed to get this book written), and used this book as my thesis. By no means is it perfect, and at this point, it's been almost ten years that I have been beating this thing to death. What it needs is fresh eyes, a fresh take, and some help. I know I need a lot of help with the end, and a few points that drag. I need to get Book One to a point where it can "stand alone," in that we've got a clear resolution to this first chapter -- but the next book picks up right where the first ends. I am open to whatever you have to offer. I have a thick skin when it comes to writing, and while there are few things I am not willing to compromise (the main one being, it is a long story to be told, and I can't/don't want to condense it down into one book. I've gotten this first installment down from almost 130K to around 96K, but it is a "to be continued..." sort of series). I am not opposed to trying new things to make this work. It's something that's always an "almost" and never a "yes." I need an awesome teammate, someone who believes in this story as much as I do, and can help finally help us change the perpetual "almost" to a "yes."

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Good luck to all Pitch Wars entrants, and teams!!

Happy Derby Day!

2016-05-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I know I've been neglecting this blog quite a bit lately, and for that I apologize. My current focus has been on The Process Project (which you can visit here: The Process Project) and on an all new project that I'm hoping to launch *very soon*! What I'll say about the new project is it combines my two favorite things....writing and horses! I will keep you guys updated! Until then, enjoy Derby Day and keep writing!

So excited, Michelle's book is finally out! My review!

2016-02-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

My friend, Michelle Madow, released a new YA Urban Fantasy book back at the end of January. I'm so proud of her for all the hard work she puts into not only writing her books, but marketing, and connecting with her fans. If you're looking to self publish, Michelle is definitely a great role model, as she also found success with her first series, Remembrance, which is now FREE FOREVER on Amazon Kindle!!! You should DEFINITELY hop over there and get your copies today! And then download the first book in her new series while you're at it!

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

My all-time favorite book series is Harry Potter, and I have always loved Greek Mythology, so I was so excited when I saw that this book combined mythology and witches. While this book is told from one girl’s (Nicole), point of view, though there are really five main characters in my eyes: Blake, Danielle, Kate, and Chris. These five are a group of kids that wouldn’t likely be friends at school, but a magical incident that happens one night on a school field trip bonds them together. Together these five are one super-hero team, The Elementals. The main action of the book is a scavenger hunt, which is a neat way to build this world of magic. This first book really helps to lay the groundwork for what I hope is a super fun series to come.

My favorite character in this series is Blake because he feels really well developed through his actions and the things he says to Nicole. He’s her forbidden love interest. Blake and Danielle are going out (even though Blake keeps saying he’s going to break up with her!), but he says he’s drawn to Nicole, just as Nicole is to him. Nicole knows nothing can happen, because she is not the kind of girl who is going to be a party to cheating – well, that, and she doesn’t want bad blood, especially amongst their group who may very well be destined to save the world together. Though I’m hoping there is more to their relationship that will play out in the next couple of books!

What I like about this book is the magic is based in mythology and it’s not really heavy high fantasy, which I tend to get lost in – this is based in our world. It takes place in a regular suburban town in New England, and makes it feel like you could almost have this secret world of magical people in your high school too. I know that people say this is like Percy Jackson, but I’ve never read those books before. If you loved Talia Vance’s BANDIA books, then I think you will like ELEMENTALS. Both are based in mythology (Greek vs Irish), and take place in a regular high school. Also, it made me think about Hercules and there was definitely a moment when I nostalgically started singing “The Gospel Truth” from Disney’s Hercules in my head ;)

If you’re looking for a fast paced urban fantasy book that has to do with prophecies, Greek Gods, witches and magic, then this is the book for you! Looking forward to April to see what's in store for book two!

Purchase your copy today!

[ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBookstore | Kobo ]

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Please also check out some of my interviews with her here....!!

The Process Project: Michelle Madow
Interview with Michelle Madow from 2014

Also check out my Diamonds in the Rough Release Party Pics!

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Visit Michelle online: www.michellemadow.com, and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Amazon for instant updates on her books!

Follow her on:

Facebook: /MichelleMadow

Twitter: @MichelleMadow

Instagram: @MichelleMadow

Snapchat: MichLMadow

HOORAY! Spartagus has a new book out -- The Wolves of Dynamo

2016-02-18T12:30:00.002-05:00

I am so proud of and excited for my friend, Gareth Young, aka Spartagus. He has just released a new book!

THE WOLVES OF DYNAMO

Check out all the details below!

THE WOLVES OF DYNAMO

By Gareth S. Young

Thirteen-year-old Eileen MacCormick has always called Dynamo City home. Its bustling streets, imposing Cathedral, and enveloping forest fascinate her, giving her solace after the death of her father. But after moving closer to the forest she finds so comforting, she discovers that it hides a dark, magical world.

Eileen's life changes irrevocably when she crosses paths with a murderer who is terrorizing the city. Heartsick, she finds herself drawn back to the forest where an enclave of mysterious wolves reveal themselves to her. Eileen is shocked to learn she can communicate with the wolves and outraged when the ancient animals demand she lure the murderer to the forest.

How can these creatures ask this of her? How can a thirteen-year-old possibly catch a killer?

Bewildered by her role in this new magical world, and by the wolves' extraordinary request, Eileen must battle her sorrow and find courage as she begins the most dangerous and incredible adventure of her life.

GET YOUR COPY HERE!

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BO2NLT4

Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Dynamo-City/dp/1523714999

Gareth S. Young

And follow SpartaGus on the web!

Our Friend Pippa Jay's Release Day is here!

2015-12-07T17:51:00.003-05:00

Pippa Jay is one of our lovely Process Project interviewees, and today is her release day for book two!! Check out all of the information below!

Check out her interview here: Pippa Jay's Writing Process

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A seductive tyrant. A lost hero. And a galaxy about to fall...

It’s been a year in paradise for Keir and Quin, but now the idyll is over. After Quin falls sick, they return to the hidden sanctuary of Lyagnius, and what she learns there will not only change their lives, but set them on a journey that could separate them forever.

When Keir falls victim to a ruthless Nercaandi Empress bent on conquering the galaxy with her cybernetic army, it will take all Quin’s diminishing powers and the help of her son to find him. But what waits for her aboard the tyrant’s ship will test her strength and the limits of their love, and put everything she cares about at risk. Including Keir.

With the galaxy itself about to fall, will she be able to save him?

Book Two of the Redemption series and part of the Travellers Universe.

Please add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE, or sign up HERE for my no-spam newsletter for special previews on cover reveals, new releases, the latest giveaways and discounts, and upcoming news. Or click Follow on my Amazon author page.

Buy Keir's Fall at these links below!!

Amazon http://mybook.to/keirsfall

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/597197

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/keir-s-fall

All Romance eBooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-keir039sfall-1937657-343.html

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940152694246

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1064961664

Print to follow. Visit the webpage at http://www.pippajay.co.uk/#!keirs-fall-redemption-2/c1ju0

Book One - Keir - is available for just 99 cents/Euros/pence until the end of December. http://www.pippajay.co.uk/#!keir/c187d

More about Pippa Jay!

After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 22 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the 2015 EPIC eBook awards, the 2015 RWA LERA Rebecca (2nd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).

You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.

Pippa Jay's Website

Pippa Jay's Blog

@pippajaygreen on Twitter

Goodreads: Pippa Jay

Amazon Author Page: Pippa Jay

Finally a Member of Scbwi!

2015-11-16T12:14:00.004-05:00

So happy to finally be a member!!

NaNoWriMo 2015

2015-11-15T21:41:00.002-05:00

By the way, guys, I am doing NaNoWriMo 2015, in case you want to follow my progress...

Check out my page and buddy up with me here!

Jacqueline Bach's NaNoWriMo Stats

Michelle Madow's Cover Reveal for Elementals #1!

2015-11-08T10:09:00.001-05:00

So proud to announce that my friend, Michelle Madow, is releasing a new book this January!

ELEMENTALS: THE PROPHECY OF SHADOWS is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love! While the book won't be available until January 26, 2016 -- today, she reveals the cover! Check it out below!

ELEMENTALS: THE PROPHECY OF SHADOWS

Click to zoom in

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

***Michelle is offering one lucky winner a signed paperback ARC of Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter here: Click HERE!!!***

About Michelle Madow

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, join Michelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

- - - - -

.....and we're live!!!!

2015-10-21T17:01:00.001-04:00

And just like that, the Process Project is reborn!

Giphy

Check out our new direct link:

http://processproject.jacquelinebach.com

Process Project: Meet Ami Hendrickson

2015-10-21T17:00:00.000-04:00

MEET AMI HENDRICKSON!!

Ami Hendrickson writes books, screenplays, poetry, songs, manuals, and to–do lists that grow faster than Jack’s beanstalk. She also writes for famous horse people. On occasion, she has been so immersed in polishing plot points that she walked out of a store, leaving her purchases behind. She is represented by AKA Literary Management.

She fuels her muse with coffee and Earl Grey tea. While she has a longstanding love affair with chocolate, her obsession with cinnamon red hots borders on the pathological.

In addition to writing, some of Ami’s favorite pastimes involve riding her Percheron, playing with her dogs, teaching writers workshops, smooching her husband or snuggling her daughter during a movie. And eating the aforementioned red hots. There is always room at her table for one more plate; always room in her heart for one more critter. Ami and her family live with their “vast menagerie” on a 100+ year–old farm in southwest Michigan.

[Please note: In the event that science succeeds in creating a working holodeck, Ami will no longer be available to speak at conferences, as she will be… otherwise engaged. You have been warned.]

Click here to read about Ami Hendrickson's writing process!

Writer's Digest Contest - Dear Lucky Agent

2015-10-19T23:00:00.002-04:00

Two quick notes!

DEAR LUCKY AGENT CONTEST!
First, be sure to check out this contest! It is free to enter! Judged by Eric Smith and hosted by Chuck Sambuchino. Read about the Dear Lucky Agent contest here!

PROCESS PROJECT UPDATE
Second, the Process Project is back, this Wednesday. Be sure to tune in for a link to the new website reveal and our latest interview with Ami Hendrickson!

Process Project Unveiling... Wednesday Oct 21!

2015-10-16T17:12:00.001-04:00

I am so excited to announce that The Process Project is back, with a brand new website of its own and a massive schedule of amazing interviews coming up! Be sure to check back on Wednesday, October 21st at 5pm to see the new website and read my latest interview with the amazing Ami Hendrickson - she has been such a great online friend and I am so excited to share some insight into her writing process with you.

Process Project Update - Preview on what's to come!

2015-09-27T16:03:00.002-04:00

Hi, guys! I just wanted to let you know we're still working on getting things together for the revamped Process Project. Just wait until you see some of the interviews coming up. We have a slew of wonderful writers, published and unpublished. If you think you might have any interest in participating in the project, please send me a tweet (@jacquelinebach) and we can talk!

As a teaser, here are just a few of some of the many great authors we have lined up....
(meaning....this is not even close to all of the AMAZING interviews I have sitting in my inbox!)

Kelly Ann Jacobson, Published Poet and Author of both Adult and Young Adult novels.

Ami Hendrickson, Writes children's books, novels for adults, screenplays, poetry, songs, manuals and to-do lists, as well as books for famous horse people!

Joanna Ruth Meyer, Writes Young Adult Literary Fantasy and also is a pianist!

Nicole S. Chung, Managing editor at The Toast, featured in several magazines including Slate, Salon, TheAtlantic.com, Bitch Magazine, and The New York Times

Mark Farrington, Assistant Director and Fiction Advisor in the Johns Hopkins M.A. in Writing program and award winning author with stories that have been anthologized in several anthologies.

And FYI -- We're also looking at possibly adding a new video feature, more on that to come.

I can't wait to get things rolling...please tune back in soon!

Vanessa Kinzey's "Home is Where the Horse Is"

2015-09-20T15:23:00.003-04:00

Sierra after her bath!

So the lovely Vanessa Kinzey, blog owner of On The Jazz, shared a very heart warming story about my pony, Sierra! I just wanted to re-post this here and send you guys that way! Just click the link below, and thanks for reading!

Check Out:
On The Jazz: Home is Where the Horse Is, by Vanessa Kinzey

I'm finally doing the 7/7/7 Challenge!

2015-09-05T14:38:00.001-04:00

I have been nominated a few times, thank you to these three lovely ladies who nominated me!

Michelle Guerrero -- Whose 7/7/7 reminds us that the Internet knows all.
Andrea Contos -- Whose 7/7/7 makes me want to know so much more about Dreaming.
and Linda Simoni-Wastila -- Whose 7/7/7 is quite intense!

First of all, I wanted to tag twenty-one people, because ...don't I get to do that if I was nominated three times? Right? ....I guess not.....but a lot of my nominees have already been scooped up. Though, I still can't fit everyone in just seven *cry.* So, I hope those I've tagged can all play along :)

So, what is this 7/7/7 challenge, you ask? (Or don't ask, because you've already been tagged a bunch of times and done it, and you're like, c'mon, Jackie, get with the program...you shoulda done this a week ago...!)

When you're tagged you do the following.

1) Go to page seven on a WIP*
2) Go to line seven on that page.
3) Copy the next seven lines and paste them onto a blog entry.
4) Then tag seven more people!

Easy right? So here it goes!

*(I say "a WIP" because I am not sure how this works, but if your current WIP is agented and you can't post from it -- maybe post something else you have in the works!)

....

Actually, I am okay with what this landed on, and I was very nervous about sharing anything from my book.. But it's sort of the heart of the opening that people would know from the get-go, well, in terms of plot at least. P.S. Note, I changed one word (him to dad) in order to give it context for you guys!

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If she continued to protest, Tim would use it as an excuse to call her a drama-queen She dropped her hands into her lap and sighed. “Fine.”

“This man told me he knew a way we would be able to save dad.” He paused. “He said there’s a way to travel in time.”

Daisy laughed.

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And, in words stolen from Michelle Guerrero....I throw down the gauntlet to.....

1) Casie Bazay - My new awesome CP! Thanks #Pitchwars!
2) Michelle Madow - A great listener when I need to vent about writing problems.
3) Joanna Meyer - A twitter friend who I just LOVE and she sent me an awesome interview for the Process Project, coming soon!
4) Brighton Walsh - Quite possibly THE most entertaining and funny #Pitchwars twitter feed alive.
5) Sara Mariah - One of my new writer-horsie-twitter friends!
6) Virginia McClain - Because we bonded over her name and chow-mixes :)
7) and last, but not least, Monica M. Hoffman -- because she is now a mentee and she's also awesome!

Alright, go forth and post and please let me know when you do so that I can read!

---Also, I decided because *technically* I should have 21...I want some alternates....one for each of my nominations....:-P Sorry, this is just fun.
1) Ashlynn
2) Karen Y Bynum
3) Gareth S. Young

Process Project Update!

2015-07-22T23:18:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know that the Process Project is currently on a little summer vacation now....

What to look forward to? We have a whole line-up of great writers coming very soon! Great names, great advice, and I can't wait to share them with you!

We'll have a revamp of our site design, as well as a brand new logo!

Thanks for checking back, and in the meantime, please spread the word! Do you have any writer friends that might be interested? Please tweet me! @JacquelineBach

The Process Project: Rhiannon Paille

2015-07-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Rhiannon Paille!

Rhiannon is a Booksmith from the middle of nowhere, Canada. She holds a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology, which is to say she happens to know a lot about what goes bump in the night. When she's not writing she's singing karaoke, burning dinner, and hiding her superhero identity. She'd like to own a unicorn one day, as long as it doesn't eat her. You'll find her sipping iced cappuccino despite her allergy to coffee at yafantasyauthor.com

And now, for the questions...

What is/are your main genre/field of writing?

Young Adult and Non Fiction

Do you think your genre of writing informs your process?

No, I think while there are different plot formulas for different genres (like the Hero's Journey for fantasy) I also believe that your voice can only come from you, and your process of getting words down on paper isn't necessarily connected to your genre. For instance, just because you write fantasy does not mean your process will be like George R.R. Martin who releases a book once in a century or something.

What is your writing routine? Do you have any writing rituals?

I suppose my routine is that I wait. I wait a long time until all the ideas in my head have hit a braying so loud I can't ignore them anymore. I outline in a frantic rush to get ideas to paper and then I wait some more. I wait until there is beauty and silence and until all the words have found their way to the surface and in a frenzy of skill, focus and dedication I chain myself to the computer, shut up my windows and doors and barely see the light of day until every last scene in the outline is written, and until every heart stopping moment has happened on paper.

Sometimes it takes six weeks, sometimes I do it in intervals, two weeks and 75,000 words, or five weeks and 133,000 words, my record is 91,000 words in ten days. It made me sick, but the book is amazing.

I always listen to music, often songs on repeat as they keep me in the mood of the scene and the story. I never write until my whole mind is focused on it, and even then, I only focus my whole mind on it for a short time until it's done, and then I relax.

When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?

For Young Adult it's always a simple spark that ignites a story. I find I'm not one that can force my writing, so it might take me a long time but it's worth it in the end because when the iron strikes, that's when I write down the ideas.

I can sometimes take months or even years for the greatest ideas to come to me, and that's because I write when I have a story to tell, not just to put words to paper and make up whatever crap my dull brain can come up with. I wait until I have something truly original and unique and then I let it loose onto the pages.

Once the ideas have formed and I'm satisfied enough with those unique and original elements, I outline the book, adding in the mundane elements, the logistics and sometimes little details that sweeten the already original and unique ideas that made me want to write the book in the first place.

When it comes to non fiction however, I am equally as slow because the type of non fiction I write is within an industry that has a lot of controversy surrounding it to begin with and I'm trying to put standards and commonalities into the community. So I mostly toil over lessons to teach and which personal antidotes to tell before I compile the best lesson plan I can.

I'm also at a point in my non fiction where I'm writing things at an advanced level that won't appeal to the general public. My latest non fiction book is equivalent to a Masters level course in my industry and the next will be a Doctorate's level.

So in some ways these are technical manuals that will not appeal to the general public, and equally be misunderstood, and sometimes insulted or criticized for its boldness in belief, technique and validity.

In other words, when it comes to non fiction, I expect to bathe in blood when the reviews come in.

When do your best ideas come to you?

Usually when I'm driving.

When you’re on the road and ideas come to you, what do you usually do?

I have a great memory so I often experience my ideas in full and I store them in my mind the way we do memories. I simply tag them so I can go back to them later.

While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?

When I first began outlining I did it in a paper notebook with a pencil. When I later wrote the book I had my notes beside the computer and used them as cues.

During some of my time as a writer however I developed some tendinitis and I couldn't create the handwritten versions the way I used to. My hands would cramp up. So I began outlining on the computer, which doesn't help me think much better, but was faster.

My outlines alone were 25k words long.

I've since for my latest book gone back to the pencil and paper method, but it's allowed me to outline the book slowly, and with more deliberate thought to what happens to my characters. I liked that it wasn't like wild fire and that I had to get everything in my head onto paper immediately. I was a lot more leisurely than it's ever been before.

When it's time to revise/edit your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process?

I wait. I write the first draft and I wait until I'm ready to go through a first pass. I often go through four passes of revising and editing before handing it over to alpha readers. I do a fifth pass to correct and revise anything I hadn't already revised before sending it to alpha readers. I then send it to beta readers and hear their feedback before doing round six and then one of my betas usually copy edits it a second time from a reader's perspective, and then I do my seventh pass to make sure I catch all of those mistakes.

Still after all of those passes, the editors at my publishing house go over it again for potential corrections. The latest novel I gave them had three that were missed, and one of those three were a matter of opinion. I shared my reasoning for my word choice and I hope it suffices.

So I'd say my process is thorough if not a bit overdone.

And most importantly: why do you write?

I write because I have a story to tell. Without stories to tell I wouldn't be writing. What keeps me motivated are my fans and my love of stories. I believe certain stories have a kind of reality to them, like they are their own reality and I want to give readers an opportunity to live in the worlds I create inside my head.

Is there any advice you can give to writers struggling to get the words flowing?

Honestly, deal with your life. Sometimes it's hard to write when your life is getting in the way and stressing you out. It's hard to be good at something when you don't have the time to think. Meditate and get back on the horse.

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I want to give Rhiannon a big giant THANK YOU! This interview was so interesting and I've been dying to share it with all of you! Thank you again!!!

Need more Rhiannon?? Check her out on the web!
YAFantasyAuthor.com | Twitter @rhipaille | Facebook | Deviant Art | Kasamba | Author Central

And read her books here!
SURRENDER: Paperback | Kindle | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo
JUSTICE: Paperback | Kindle | B&N | Kobo
VULTURE: Paperback | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo
VILLAINS: Paperback | Kindle | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo
INTEGRATED INTUITION: Paperback | Kindle

The Process Project: Gillian Felix

2015-06-24T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Gillian Felix!

Gillian Felix was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. She grew up watching night time soap operas by Aaron Spelling with her mother. That’s where her obsession with rich, powerful and devious characters were born. After repeatedly seeing Mr. Spelling’s name on the screen night after night, Gillian knew she wanted to be an Aaron Spelling, before she knew that Aaron Spelling was actually a person.

Gillian pursued drama in high school although it was not taught as a “serious subject”. When asked what career she wanted to pursue after graduation, she told her guidance counselor that she wanted to be an actress, and was told that acting is not a “real job”.

When Gillian moved to the US in 1998, she landed an internship with Spotlight On Theater in New York City, where she learned stage managing, casting and the technical aspect of running a production. Later she branched out into film, and fell in love with the behind the scenes action of film and theatre production. She traded acting and her “real job” for a career in film and theater production. Gillian continued writing novels and scripts but kept them to herself.

When not writing, Gillian can be found volunteering at the New Mexico Children’s Grief Center or hiking the many mountains that surround New Mexico. Gillian can easily get lost in a parking lot and considers herself directionally challenged. She is always grateful for the people she hikes with, because without them she’d be left roaming the mountains like a lost mountain goat.

And now for the questions....

What is/are your main genre/field of writing? (ie: Literary Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Horror, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, etc.)

My genre would be New Adult, fiction, drama. Because of the content of my series, even though the main characters are fifteen-year-old girls, they deal with very grown up issues and the people around them are also highly featured. It is not a light and fluffy series… it ranges from dark to funny.

What is your writing routine? Do you have any writing rituals?

I’ve found my writing sweet spot is around 9pm – 11pm on weekdays and 6pm – 10pm on weekends. Although I can write anytime the ideas hit, but mostly that’s my writing schedule. I usually write in my little desk in the corner of my bedroom. I also hand write scenes at work during my down time if I get an idea for a scene. I get ideas for scenes usually while I’m hiking, out in nature or sometimes if I am listening to music while doing chores, or just before bed.

When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?

Family Portrait was originally written as a television series in script format in Celtix software. I rewrote it book form. It is kind of tricky because writing for television and for readers is completely different. I found that I have to arc the stories differently to make it easier for readers to follow, since they are not seeing the characters on screen every week. I had to combine at least 3 or more episodes into one book. The thing with that is, if not done correctly, it could affect story-lines further down the series. To keep track of story-lines, I have a five section notebook with tabs (*the Bible). Before I start a new book I refer to the “bible” to see what story I could tell and which I could wrap up. Then I take to my white board and put the chapters down in points.
*In show running everything about the show is kept in a document called the show Bible.

When it's time to revise/edit your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process? 

My first draft is always the sloppiest. I just write things as they come. Then during the second draft, I ponder what could be expanded upon. I take it chapter by chapter and analyze it to make sure there is enough drama, if the story-line works or if the character is true to their personality. When I am finished with the second draft I send it to my story editor for her to analyze and let me know if everything is clear. I’ve found that it’s always good to get a second eye when it comes to the way the story flows… it may make complete sense to me, but to someone else, it may be confusing. The third draft is what I send to my proofreader, who then edits for grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling and continuity.

Is there any advice you can give to writers struggling to get the words flowing?

When I’m stuck I usually do a few things:

I go for a hike. Nature always replenishes me
Listen to music
Read a book in another genre. It takes my mind away off of my writing and opens me up to new ideas.

And most importantly: why do you write?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to write and tell stories. I am truly passionate about my writing career. I’ve walked away from it many times in the past and it has always come back to me. This time I am not letting it go. Whether I make a living off of it or not, I’ll be doing it till my fingers fall off. That’s what keeps me motivated.

Thank you very much for all you do to support fellow authors. I think that is very important. I would like to let aspiring authors know that they are not alone, and other authors are not your enemy, there is no competition, just run your own race and help people along the way. Most importantly, if you are not passionate about the craft then move on to something that you are passionate about :)

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I want to thank Gillian so much for participating in the Process Project! I hope you loved her answers as much as I did. Thank you, Gillian!!!

Want to read from Gillian?

“I see a huge following for this new series! I know I'm going to watch for more!” Di Bylo – Amazon Top Reviewer

“Gillian Felix is truly wonderful in the way she writes and captivates her readers. She has a true gift and I guess anyone who reads her books will be waiting for the next book as eagerly as I am." Namrata Ganti - Red Pillows

“There are love, lies, secrets, and desires that rival any soap opera out there.” Karen-Anne Stewart, Author

“This series is like the Sopranos meets Nashville. It was gritty and realistic whilst entertaining and dark.” Rachel P

The Process Project: Tyrese L. Coleman!

2015-06-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Tyrese L. Coleman!

Tyrese L. Coleman is a writer, wife, mother, and lawyer. She is also a master's student with the Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University. Her writing has appeared, or is forthcoming, in the Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review, PANK Magazine Online, the Tahoma Literary Review, Quaint Magazine, and elsewhere. Follow on Twitter @tylachelleco or her blog, Clever Title Pending, at www.tyresecoleman.blogspot.com.

And now, for the questions...

What is your main genre of writing?

I spend most of my time drafting what I like to consider "literary fiction." I have dabbled in young adult, even wrote a whole YA novel before I started graduate school. But, as anyone who has written anything and then gone to a Master's program afterwards, you realize that how you wrote before "learning how to write" is nothing like how you write once you've "learned" how to do it. So, my YA novel is sitting on an electronic MS Word shelf collecting imaginary dust. I tend to write short stories now, however, it appears that what I am most successful at getting published are my pieces of creative non-fiction.

What is your writing routine like?

Before I can get into the answer to this question, let me explain a few details of my life -- paint a picture, so to speak. I am a licensed attorney who does not practice, but works full-time for the federal government. I am married to a Historian. We have twin soon-to-be two-year old boys. And I have a four-year old Bassador (Basset Hound and Labrador) named Luna. I am also currently a student with the Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.

Here is an example of my day-to-day schedule and when I find a time and place to write:

6-9am: shower, get kids up and down for breakfast, take care of dog, drop off kids, and get to work
9am-5:30pm: BS with co-workers, eat breakfast, surf internet, turn up PANDORA (usually listening to Sam Cooke or some other soul station) and in between working on what I get paid to work on, I dip into the always-active open screen to my short story/personal essay/workshop critique/online journal/blog/duotrope/etc etc
5:30-7pm: grab kids, make dinner, feed kids, put them to bed (oh, and maybe say hello to my husband...can't forget him)
7pm-10pm: write and/or read, homework, and sometimes, very rarely, watch TV.

I think the above is evidence of my adult ADHD and short attention span than anything else, but it is also evidence that you can fit time to write into any schedule, no matter how tiring it is. Writing is my default, it is what I am doing when I am not doing anything else.

When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?

Recently, I've been seeing success in my works of creative non-fiction and have decided to continue using my past real-life experiences as impetuous for new material, whether it be fiction or more non-fiction. This could change, but its what I am up to right now.

When I start any new piece, whether it is fiction or non-fiction, I generally focus on a particular memory or sensation, not so much an event. For example, the feeling of having an aunt comb your hair or riding on the handlebars of a bike. I find sensory details much more interesting than actual events. I write down what is happening in that moment, how the character or myself felt, and then proceed with "what happens next." Sometimes that intro is kept in the story, but often times it is taken out because it doesn't fit with the final piece, but it always leads somewhere.

Where the process differs between fiction and non-fiction, for me, is the pace in which I then proceed to work. With my non-fiction, I find that I can complete a first draft in one sitting. This is because the "story" has already happened, I am just documenting it.

However, it can take weeks for me to finish a short story draft. In some instances, I know exactly what I want to do with a story, but because of a lack of writing time, I may not be able to finish it all within a reasonable amount of time. So, I will go through and bullet point the main plot points and then write everything out as I go along. Other times, I may draft it out on a piece of paper, making notes and corrections.

Other times, I brainstorm. The best thing about working in an office are co-workers. When I am stumped on what should happen next in a story, I confer with one of my co-workers and talk about the story out loud with her. She gives me her opinions and thoughts, but mostly, the exercise allows me to let out what I've had boxed up in my brain since I first got the idea. It really helps to think about a story, characters, plot, theme, etc., out loud in able to voice what the story really is about.

While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?

As I mention above, if it is fiction, I will bullet point plot points or major thematic elements that I definitely want to include or I will write them down on a piece of paper and keep it with me, often going back and making more notes. I find that when I start writing with no idea as to what I want to have happen, i.e. "letting the story figure itself out," I end up not finishing. So, I am now trying to employ some of type of methodology where I determine at least one major plot and/or thematic point that holds the whole piece together. Then I write on through to those particular "scenes." Sometimes, those ideas change as I write. The story may have started off as one thing, but the characters I have written have taken it off somewhere else. At some point, I reevaluate and determine if what I've written is consistent with what I want to have happen.

I keep everything in Dropbox so that I can access my documents anywhere. Because I often write at work, at home and over and across several different computers, I find Dropbox to be one of the best ways to get to my work whenever I feel like working on it. Inside Dropbox, I have several different folders for the different types of writing I do. And, I save drafts with a date at the end so that I can see which one is the latest right away.

When it's time to revise your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process? 

Revision...oh boy.

So, I like to revise first by printing off a draft and line editing. I will shred my draft to bits and question as much as I can via that printed document. Then I go back, make the edits, and repeat. I cannot "revise" on a computer screen. Revising on a computer screen is what I consider drafting the story, as I tend to revise what I previously wrote in a draft over and over again until the draft is complete. I print the draft only when its complete, never before. I don't know why...probably for similar reasons sports players grow mustaches during play-offs, superstition, I guess.

After that point, and especially since I started the program, the story gets workshopped or read by someone else before I move on. After workshop, generally there is a larger revision that may include cutting and adding significant portions of the story and reevaluating what is working and what isn't. Again, the printer is cut off. It is not until I address these issues that I start the second revision process. After that, I print and go through line by line, word by word until my eyes bleed or I start dreaming about my characters trying to attack me with Elmo shaped forks and then realize those aren't my characters, but my children instead.

And most importantly: why do you write?

I write because it makes me happy. Simple as that. It is the one indulgence in my life that I allow myself to obsess over. I don't want to call it a "hobby," because the word "hobby" does not connote the seriousness in which I take my writing. However, I cannot call it "work" because, to me, "work" involves getting paid, and there isn't too much of that happening.

But, writing is my way of life -- getting life, seeing life, enjoying life, loving life, understanding life, making it through life. When I write, I feel the most like "me." Not Tyrese the employee, the wife, the mother, the fur-mom, the friend. I am just me, enjoying life, when I write. That's why I do it. Simple.

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I want to thank Tyrese for the wonderful answers and inspiration! We are so happy she was able to add to the Process Project,. I loved seeing the life of a real-life writer who does it all! Thanks, Tyrese!!!

Check out some of her work here!

I am Karintha [Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review]

How to Sit [PANK] and her PANK Interview

http://www.divergentvoices.com/ ("A Caged Bird")

Follow her on Twitter at @tylachelleco

And read her blog at www.tyresecoleman.blogspot.com.

The Process Project: Meet Pippa Jay!

2015-06-03T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Pippa Jay!

After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes sci-fi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade and Broad Universe, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of sub-genres from sci-fi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the EPIC eBook awards, and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).

You can find all of her titles on her Amazon page or on her website.

And now for the questions...!

What is your main genre?
I write speculative fiction, with or without romance, and for adults and young adults.

Do you think your genre of writing informs your process?
I don't think the genres I write have a huge influence over my writing process. I know lots of authors who write in my genres, and we all have different systems. I know plotters and pantsers, devotees of Scrivener or the Three Act Structure, authors who wake up and decide what genre they're going to write that day and have a year's schedule planned out by lunchtime, and those who write whatever comes to mind. Those who live NaNoWriMo, and those who loathe it.

What is your writing routine? Do you have any writing rituals?
In summer I love nothing better than sitting out in our summerhouse with the laptop to work. But I tend not to get so much done. During winter I'll either curl up on the sofa with the laptop, or better still on my bed where we get the best of the sun. Morning is usually the best time to write, while I save editing for later in the day when I'm more awake and focused, and more likely to spot mistakes. Most of my stories have their own playlists, albums or tracks I listened to while writing, but lately I've been on a long Linkin Park binge, and have just started listening to Starset. I love alternative rock, or sci-fi-y sounding music (Linkin Park did tracks for Transformers and The Matrix, for example). I also drink waaaay too much coffee and have to keep careful count.

What inspires you?
Everything. That's not a joke. I've had inspiration for a space battle from a piece of paper hitting my car window. A new piece of tech or something one of my kids has said. I came up with an entire YA dystopian short story while taking my daughter to her first music concert simply because I was watching people filter in to this huge concrete bowl of a building, and wondered what would happen if they were pursued by zombies. Music, dreams, and images are my main inspiration though.

When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?
I often make a bunch of notes and/or bookmark sites for research long before I might start on the story itself. I even have a file called Plot Bunny Storage Facility for random ideas that aren't quite a story in their own right, or for names, bits of technology, even things my kids say that I think might make for a humorous bit of dialogue. If I'm writing SciFi, I'll often research the technology beforehand, or come back to it afterward to fine tune details. For my UF/paranormal, it depends, but quite often I'll just write the story and look up the details later. A first draft will often be dotted with things in brackets such as [research dead bodies in vacuum here] and other gems like that. Getting the basic story down first is the important part.

When do your best ideas come to you? What are your best brainstorming times?
First thing in the morning or last thing at night. I often find if I go to sleep thinking about an issue with my story, sometimes I have a solution when I wake up. Or I do housework. It lets your mind work over while keeping your hands busy, plus I hate doing it so often it gives muse a poke to come up with something.

When you’re on the road and ideas come to you, what do you usually do?

I always have my smartphone with me, so as soon as we stop I'll make notes on it. In the past I've resorted to crayons or eyeliner on a scrap of paper when stuck for something to write on, or I used to send myself text messages in the days before my smartphone. Otherwise I just keep repeating it in my head until I can get to something to write it on.

While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?
Because I often write on my phone, stories generally start out as bits and pieces in OneNote. As they get longer and more complex, I'll transfer them to Word. I don't outline at all, just write it as it comes (and I often don't write linearly either), but in the recent Camp NaNoWriMo piece I tried something new. Someone suggested leaving your MS on a bit of a cliff hanger or mid scene rather than at the end of a completed scene so it gives you a kick-start. It worked quite well (I hit my word target of 20K 17 days in!).

When it's time to revise/edit your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process? 
First up, I set the MS aside for a while, unless I'm on a deadline. Then I do what I call my 'slash and burn' revision, chopping out any dead or redundant areas. Next I go back through and make sure there are no gaps or sudden scene jumps. Then I go through again and smooth it all out. At this stage I often send out to beta readers for a general opinion, to catch any plot holes, inconsistencies or anything that jars. Lastly I go through and check for repetitions, overused words, filtering, passive voice. I use Spellchecker and EditMinion for an additional check, but don't rely on them alone.

And most importantly: why do you write?
I write because I can't NOT write. I didn't write much for nearly two decades, and when I went back to it, I went a bit crazy. The words just poured out and I realised how badly I'd missed it and how much I loved it.

Is there any advice you can give to writers struggling to get the words flowing?

Housework! Go for a walk, listen to music, or watch a film. Do something else (I love to sew - I've just learned how to make wrist-warmers, and I've started customizing some dolls to look like my book characters to take to conventions). Sometimes it's best to just go off and do something physical, or maybe just try some free writing on something totally unrelated. Maybe a blog post. Don't let it become a chore.

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I want to say a big THANK YOU to Pippa Jay for participating in The Process Project!! Need more Pippa Jay? See below!

You can stalk her at her website, Pippajay.co.uk or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.

Want to check out some of Pippa Jay's work? Links below!

Gethyon (YA scifi)
Hallow's Eve (paranormal romance short)
Terms & Conditions Apply (scifi romance short)
Reboot (cyberpunk short)
The Bones of the Sea (free scifi short)
Tales from the SFR Brigade (free scifi romance anthology)
Keir (scifi romance novel, book one of a series)

The Process Project: Meet Kara Jorgensen!

2015-05-27T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

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Meet Kara Jorgensen!

Kara Jorgensen is an author and professional student from New Jersey who will probably die slumped over a Victorian novel. An anachronistic oddball from birth, she has always had an obsession with the Victorian era, especially the 1890s. Midway through a dissection in a college anatomy class, Kara realized her true passion was writing and decided to marry her love of literature and science through science fiction or, more specifically, steampunk. When she is not writing, she is watching period dramas, going to museums, or babying her beloved dogs.

And now, for the questions...

JB: What is your genre?

KJ: My main genre currently is historical fantasy or more specifically steampunk, but my work tends to have a literary fiction edge. I have another series on the backburner that I will be working on soon that is fantasy.

JB: Do you think your genre of writing informs your process?

KJ: For sure! Because I’m writing historical fantasy, I’m constantly stopping to do research. Sometimes I wonder how much quicker I would write a book if I didn’t need to constantly stop looking up trivial facts that I wanted to confirm.

JB: Who/what inspires you?

KJ: Some of the writers who have inspired me are: Anne Rice, Oscar Wilde, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gail Carriger, Charlotte Bronte, Sarah Waters, and Iris Murdoch. Apart from other writers, I’m definitely inspired by art and science. I have a bachelors degree in biology, so my brain automatically latches onto science. Both books incorporate scientific processes, odd contraptions, or medical scenes. I love being a doctor vicariously through my characters. The reason I tend to favor scifi or fantasy is to deal with the what-ifs of science.

JB: What is your writing routine like?

KJ: I don’t know if I have a routine. I’m still figuring that out, I think. When it’s time to get down to business, I’ll brew myself a cup of coffee and settle in. I like the ritualistic aspect of preparing a cup of coffee. My best writing period tends to be in the evening, but my I often have highly productive writing sprints right before bed. By then, my guard is down and the words flow, but it often needs twice as much editing because it’s obvious I was half asleep. Sometimes, if I’m in a bit of a writing slump, I need to ditch the laptop and write with a pen and paper, preferably a purple or pink pen.

JB: When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?

KJ: A lot of times ideas will come to me while I’m working on something else. It can be hard for me to juggle more than one project during the semester, so I tend to make a Word document where I jot down bullet points of ideas. When I’m in the brainstorming process, I usually make a Pinterest board where I can collect visual inspiration as well as websites that could help me with the story later.

JB: While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?

KJ: In the beginning, I start off with an idea of what the major events in the story will be, but I try to let it unfold organically. Once I’m a few chapters in and feel that the foundation is settling, I begin to outline the major events for the next few chapters. I don’t like to plan too many at one time because it often changes as my characters lead me elsewhere. When I’m unsure of how events should play out, I’ll make index cards and post-its to figure out in what order things should happen (this works well for figuring out where to weave subplots).

JB: When it's time to revise/edit your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process? 

KJ: Pen and paper. I’ve always found I did a more thorough job when I printed my entire manuscript out and attacked it with a brightly colored pen. I write all over my work, crossing out words, writing new chunks in the margins. Being away from the computer allows me to stay focused for an extended period of time (which is tough for me), but I also try to break my story down into smaller chunks and only tackle a few chapters at a time. If I try to edit too much, I find I’m not paying close attention. Typically, I do 3-5 rounds of editing, not including proof-reading.

JB: And most importantly: why do you write?

KJ: I write because there are books that I want to read that don’t exist yet. When I write, I write first and foremost for myself. I try not to think too much about my audience until I’m in the editing stage. Sometimes my characters inspire me as well. I get an idea for a certain person in an odd situation and feel compelled to bring them to life. I want readers and sales, but I care more about pleasing myself. If I’m not proud of my work and don’t enjoy the story, there is no point in sharing it with others.

JB: Before we go, is there any advice you can give to writers struggling to get the words flowing? 

When I’m stuck, I feel like nothing helps, but here are some tricks I have learned along the way: get up and move around, go for a walk to take in some new scenery, take a shower (we all know how ideas pop up there), read a book (especially by an author you enjoy), look at some art, hit up Pinterest for visual inspiration, do some free-writing, try deleting the last chunk of your work and see if you can go from there.

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Thank you so much, Kara, for participating in the Process Project!

Did you get any new ideas from Kara's interview? Let us know! Are you going to try editing by hand? Taking walk when you get stuck? Trying Pinterest for inspiration? Need more Kara? Follow her online or read her books! Links below...

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The Process Project: Meet Gareth S. Young!

2015-05-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Gareth S. Young!

This week I am proud to introduce my friend who I call Spartagus :) I met Gareth on Twitter and read his book Monsters (which you should get your copy of asap!) and we became fast friends!

Gareth S. Young was born and raised in Scotland, but has now lived for more than 15 years in the American Midwest. This has played havoc with his accent. In 2010, he published his first full length story, a mystery/suspense novel called Monsters In April 2013, his short story "The Orange-headed Serpent" was published in the Orange Karen Anthology. 2015 will see the release of Dynamo City: The Wolves of Dynamo, part one of an audacious YA urban fantasy series. Other upcoming works include Persephone, the much anticipated follow up to Monsters and part two of the Dynamo City saga.

And now for the questions....

JB: What is your main genre of writing?

GY: Mystery/thriller, although I'm currently working on a series of Young Adult Urban Fantasy books.

JB: What is your writing routine?

GY: I usually write at my desk on the PC or on the couch with the laptop. Invariably I find myself writing at night, since I work second shift and get home late. I have found that my inability to sleep and my imagination intersect perfectly in the evening time. When I'm writing, I often use music to set the general mood, to influence pace, or to focus on a specific emotion. I tend towards music without lyrics, to avoid getting too caught up in the words, and that means I have several movie soundtracks in constant rotation. There's no special food I like to eat. In fact, I prefer not to eat when I'm writing to avoid greasy fingers, interruptions in my typing and, I really need to watch my weight. Plenty of liquids, though.

JB: When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques or methods do you use to organize your ideas?

GY: I always try to write down ideas--on bits of paper if I'm not at home, or on the computer if I am. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to write before I really get stuck into it, just playing ideas out in my head until something feels good. I'll run scenes that will mark the path to the end, although I leave a lot of room for the characters to lead me off in different directions. I like to build the characters from the ground up, giving them a deep history, even if I never use it, and figure out character traits and dynamics between characters. That way, I will be able to write in different voices without feeling all my characters sound the same.

JB: While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?
GY: I tend not to get stuck too much in one format, but I like to make sure there's a certain symmetry to my stories. I love the idea of fractals -- a never ending pattern on any scale. You can zoom in and see the same image as if you zoom out. In stories I like the idea that the broad theme of the story can be seen whether you look at the story as a whole or if you're looking at only one character. Sort of like a fractal.

Also, you have to understand the arc of your main character, your character has to "change" in some way, so it's important you know how to affect that change. Sometimes this means breaking down the most important scenes, figuring out where they go in the story, and connecting the dots between. Sometimes it means writing yourself into a corner to see if your character can get out of it. I write important dialogue heavy scenes first as pure dialogue, no description or direction, just to get the beats of the conversation. With action, I do a rough outline to be fine tuned later. I find opening chapters difficult. The first half-dozen are often the most re-written in my stories. Once I get going, though, I am usually able to see the map in my head and I write to that. I'll write down details, dates, times, and all the character information for reference, but my stories sometimes have little shape until I've gone through them once. I actually broke Monsters into three sections/parts/acts to pace it out better. For my urban fantasy I just wrote and the rhythm came naturally.

JB: When it's time to revise/edit your work, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process?

GY: Yes, I use an editor. lol. My first release of Monsters was riddled with mistakes despite the fact I went through it a dozen times. I think after a while, you become blind to your own mistakes, so it's always better to get some fresh eyes on it. I pulled the book and enlisted the editorial services of Gina Hylton (a.k.a. author Regina West), who whipped it into fighting shape. I re-released it, feeling much better about it. Being self-published puts you under a little more scrutiny, and I've learned there's no reason to settle for second best just because you put the book out yourself. Work hard, get help, hire an editor and probably someone to do your cover. The dollars might add up, but its worth it to put out the best book you can.

JB: And most importantly: why do you write?

GY: I write because I remember what it was like sitting in a movie theater as the Imperial Star Destroyer chased the rebel transport through space...and remember watching Bruce Willis realize he was a ghost. I remember racing through the words as Boo Radley rescued Jem...and being shocked to discover the man from The Scythe wasn't just cutting wheat, he was doing the work of Death...and stunned as the hunters returned from the past in A Sound of Thunder to find their own time had changed because one of them had strayed from the artificial path and crushed a butterfly. It is so much fun to be caught up in a make-believe world to the point you are invested in a make-believe character. I don't know why we care about these things, but we do, and the excitement, terror, and satisfaction we can feel from stories is something I want to recreate and share.

* Imperial Star Destroyer chasing Rebel transport? Star Wars of course. A ghostly Bruce Willis? The Sixth Sense. Boo Radley and Jem are from To Kill a Mockingbird. The Scythe and A Sound of Thunder are two classic short stories by Ray Bradbury.

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Thank you so much, Gareth, for participating in the Process Project!

Monsters (available as paperback and Kindle ebook)

The Process Project: Meet Talia Vance!

2015-05-13T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you're not yet familiar with the Process Project, check us out here!

Meet Talia Vance!

This week I am so incredibly excited to share my interview with Talia Vance. Last summer I read Talia's Silver (ripe with Irish lore and handsome boys and tons of drama to boot....I am holding off reading the sequel, Gold, until this summer).

Talia Vance is a practicing litigation attorney living in Northern California with her real life love interest, two-point-five kids, and a needy Saint Bernard named Huckleberry. Talia has been writing since she could talk, making up stories for every doll, stuffed animal and action figure she could get her hands on. She grew up hoping to write the great American novel, but her life ran more along the lines of tortured romance and fast paced thrillers, so that's what she writes. (From TaliaVance.com)

And now, onto the juicy stuff....!

JB: What is your main genre?

TV: I write Young Adult novels, both contemporary and fantasy, but all of them have a touch of romance to them.

JB: What is your writing routine like? Do you have any writing rituals?

Talia: Since I work during the week, my writing time falls on the weekends. I spend most Saturday and Sunday afternoons curled up on my couch with my laptop and a latte (or two). I’ll write for hours at a time, shooting for 2500-4000 words a session if I’m working on a first draft. If I’m revising, I don’t have specific word count goals, but I do try to set a goal, such as finishing a new plot outline, or working setting details into the scenes.

I often listen to music while I write, creating a playlist for each manuscript. Once I find a song that fits a character or mood I’m trying to create, I listen to it while brainstorming or editing, although I don’t really “hear” it unless I stop to think.

JB: When you are preparing to write a new story, what kinds of techniques do you use to organize your ideas?

Talia: My pre-writing process has always been short, because I love to discover characters and plot points while I write the first draft. However, this leads to a lot of stops and starts (and LOTS of revision), so I’ve expanded it for recent books, taking a couple of days to formulate scenes and plot points, so that I have a fairly complete outline of the story before I start.

I use a corkboard and stack of index cards to brainstorm ideas for scenes. There are usually four or five big scenes that I already have in mind, so I start with those, and then fill in the scenes that happen in between. Once I have the scenes in an order that makes sense, I start to write.

I’ve noticed that I almost never go back and look at my corkboard once the work is done, but doing the work ahead of time helps me to keep the entire plot trajectory in mind while I’m writing, so that even when the story deviates from the initial plan there is a structure there.

JB: While you are working on a piece, do you have any particular way that you structure your work?

Talia: Every book has been a little different, but I usually start one Word document and write scenes in chronological order. I don’t outline scenes in advance, and often have only a vague idea of what happens. The scene prompt might be as simple as “A and B go out on a date.” I let the scene unfold as I’m writing, and often the characters and situation will supply the conflict without my having to think about it too much about it. Since I’ve already done my plot outline, I know where the scene fits into the overall story structure. This helps with making sure the scene moves the story forward, but I don’t worry about that while I’m writing. That is something that can always be fixed in revision.

My favorite scenes are usually the ones that surprise me while I’m writing them, when a character does something that reveals a layer I wasn’t aware of, or the story takes a compelling turn I hadn’t yet thought about. One of my favorite plot lines in the BANDIA series is Brianna’s time travel scenes with Austin and the way those scenes bring us full circle. Those scenes weren’t in my outline, but flowed organically during the writing.

JB: When it's time to revise, do you have any particular methods that you use to help you through the process? 

Talia: My revision process works from the outside in. I start with a big picture plot overview. After the first draft is done, I take down my corkboard and create a new one, using cards for each chapter in the book and pinning them to the board to give me a visual representation of the novel. Recently, I’ve added a calendar, which I create from a Word template, which gives me a visual representation of the story’s plot points in relation to each other on a timeline. From there, I figure out where there are gaps in the plot (scenes that need to be added) and scenes that aren’t serving the story (things that need to be cut). I’ll also move scenes around on the board, experimenting with different plot structure before making any changes in the manuscript. Once I’ve determined what to cut, add and move, I create a third corkboard, which serves as the outline for the next revision. Then I go into the manuscript and cut, add and move as needed.

Once I have the plot where I feel comfortable with it, I will start working on the scenes within the story. First, I’ll go through and note where certain plot points need to be expanded or dropped within the scenes themselves. Once this is done, I’ll do a revision where I focus on conflict within scenes, then one pass for setting, one pass for dialogue and one for voice. Once those are done, I’ll send the word document to my Kindle and do a read through. This is my favorite part, because the manuscript looks like a real book, and both the parts that are working and the parts that still need work are easier to spot.

JB: And most importantly....why do you write?

Talia: I love to discover characters and stories. There is nothing like the excitement the comes with an idea you can’t shake, the need to get it all down and see where it leads, and the satisfaction of watching something rough develop into something you love.

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I want to extend a big giant THANK YOU to Talia for participating in the Process Project. I hope you enjoyed her interview as much as I did. You should go out and get a copy of her books now! You can purchase Talia's books on Amazon. And you can check her out on the web in these spots!

TaliaVance.com | Twitter @TaliaVance | YAMuses | Goodreads

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Read more about her books below!!!

SILVER

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."

Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party when Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her that she's been hiding even from herself. Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both. Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.

Read SILVER: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kindle | Nook

GOLD

Descended from an Irish demigod, Brianna has fled to Ireland to escape destruction at the hands of her sworn enemies, the Sons of Killian. Taking refuge at the estate of her former nemesis, Austin Montgomery, Brianna discovers a rift in time that opens to an era before the feud began.

Wrestling with her newfound feelings for the more innocent Austin, Brianna begins to wonder if she can alter the past. But when Brianna and Austin learn that the Sons are raising an army of mythical beasts, the pair will need to use their magical strength in the present to avoid a tragic end.

Read GOLD: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kindle | Nook

SPIES AND PREJUDICE

Fields' Rule #1: Don't fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She's busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she's sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her "nothing amazing," it's no loss for Berry. She'll forget him in no time. She's more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother's death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can't Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

Read SPIES AND PREJUDICE : Amazon | B&N | BAM

Michelle Madow's Diamonds Are Forever Cover Reveal!!

2015-05-05T22:06:00.004-04:00

It's May fifth! You know what that means...no, I'm not talking about Cinco de Mayo....today is Michelle Madow's Diamonds are Forever cover reveal!

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas … but that doesn’t matter when you live there. Sisterhood, first crushes and scandalous secrets explode in book three of Michelle Madow’s The Secret Diamond Sisters."

Needless to say, I am so excited to be a part of today's cover reveal!!! The official reveal happened earlier today on USA Today's Happily Ever After blog. AHHH. USA TODAY?! Words cannot express how proud I am of Michelle. If you haven't read the first two books in The Secret Diamond Sisters series, please do. They are super fun and addictive. I love all of her characters and their individual stories...and book two (Diamonds in the Rough) leaves readers wanting more. I can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy, though I must admit it's a melancholy moment -- been waiting to find out what happens next, but knowing every word you read gets you closer to the end -- will definitely have to saver this one!

Michelle started off by self-publishing her first trilogy, the Transcend Time Saga, and then, through hard work and perseverance, Michelle got a three book deal with Harlequin Teen! I'm not sure what she's got up her sleeve next, but I have no doubts it's going to be amazing!

And now....here is the BEAUTIFUL cover......!!!!

It's cold outside, but the drama is hot!

The Diamond sisters jet to the mountains for spring break, and Savannah's flirt-mance with international pop star Perry Myles continues as her pursuit of stardom succeeds. But is it "meant to be" with Perry, or has the right guy been in front of her eyes this entire time? Meanwhile, Courtney takes the next step with her secret boyfriend -- and future stepbrother -- Brett…and with Adrian and Rebecca's wedding approaching, they feel more pressure than ever to reveal their relationship. Peyton might be figuring out a direction for her future, but she feels responsible for her bodyguard Jackson being fired, and wonders if the best way to find solace for her guilt is in the arms of someone else. But the biggest bombshell will change everything once again, because Madison's ready to tell the Diamond sisters the truth about the huge secret she's uncovered. And with Oliver, the boy who betrayed her but who could be the love of her life, in the hospital fighting for his own life, she might need the Diamonds more than ever.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books A Million | Goodreads

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Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in The Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's latest YA series, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner, was published in March 2014 by Harlequin Teen. The second book in the series, Diamonds in the Rough, released in November 2014, and the third book, Diamonds are Forever, will be coming out in November 2015. Michelle is active on social media networks and has toured across America to promote her books and encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing.

Michelle lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, shopping, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and loves talking with fans on Facebook (/MichelleMadow), Twitter (@MichelleMadow), and Instagram (@MichelleMadow).

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, join Michelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

The Process Project: Meet Dale Rogers

2015-04-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to week eleven of the Process Project!! If you don’t know about us already, you can find out more here and read about other authors’ processes: The Process Project.

This week I am so excited to bring to you an interview for one of my long-time twitter friends, Dale Rogers!

Meet Dale Rogers!

Dale Rogers lives in North Carolina with her husband, Rick, and two Siamese cats. A South Carolina native, she holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina, and she has published articles and poetry, as well as a Post Script in The Saturday Evening Post. An amateur photographer, she has a photo on the inside back cover of Sandlapper, the South Carolina state magazine, and she writes fiction for all ages. (She's even taken a stab at a couple of television scripts.)

And now, for the questions!

JB: What is your main genre?

DR: Right now it seems to be Middle Grade, since I've written four of those, although I've also dabbled in romance and adventures for adults.

JB: What is your favorite place to write?

DR: My favorite place to write is outdoors on a nice day, but that's not always possible, so I'll settle for a cozy room, sometimes late at night. I'm super bad about thinking about something I'm working on after I get in bed, then I have to keep getting up to jot down ideas.

JB: Do you have a writing routine?

DR: I don't really have a routine, but I need music to block out traffic or other distracting noises. The only problem with that is sometimes the music is so good, I have to stop and listen!

JB: How do you prepare your ideas for writing?

DR: I'm afraid I'm not as organized as some writers, but when I start getting ideas, I try to keep good notes. I outline the story loosely, then add details later on. I've been adding to a list of interesting names for years, including foreign ones, and I refer to it when I can't readily think of just the right name for a character.

JB: How do you organize as you write?

DR: I basically write scenes as they come, but anytime I think of a better way to write a thought or action anywhere in the manuscript (sometimes late at night) I make a note to change it later. I pick up descriptive words and phrases here and there, and I keep them in a document which I skim occasionally to find inspiration.

JB: When you get stuck, what do you do?

DR: Sometimes, when I have trouble working through a scene or finding a way to express something, it helps me to do a menial chore such as dishes or laundry. The answer seems to come more easily while I'm doing physical work than when I'm at the computer.

JB: Can you talk a little about your revision process?

DR: I research links for good writing advice, and try to incorporate it into my work. My early edits are mostly for content--being sure the story makes sense and is interesting and intriguing--and my later edits are concentrated more on grammar, sentence structure, and typos. Something that really helps is a word search. I use “Ctrl + F” to locate words I use too often, such as quickly, just, and some. I have an article in Literary Rambles' “Tip Tuesday” listing the ones I have the most trouble with: http://www.literaryrambles.com/search?q=dale+s.rogers

JB: And last, but definitely not least, why do you write?

DR: Writing is in my blood--literally. My mother and sister both have taught English and worked for newspapers, and words have always been important to me. I was taught correct grammar and sentence structure more than housekeeping skills (which is evident by the state of my house), and I feel a need to express my thoughts in writing, even when I'm not in a talkative mood. I believe writing also helps to keep me sane.

Thank you so much, Dale, for participating in the Process Project! If you have any questions for Dale, please leave them below!

Want to read more by Dale? Check out her out on the web at the links below!

Her Blog can be found at: DaleSittonRogers.wordpress.com

Follow her on Twitter: @DaleSRogers

Excerpt from her unpublished MG Adventure novel, The Legend of Feather Lake

Short stories and poetry: QuarterReads Magazine

"New to New York City" Travel Origins Magazine--Eye & Pen

A few of her poems: http://wp.me/P1Nylx-6H