The Writers Vineyard

Anchors

2009-11-06T01:29:00.000-05:00

Michael W. Davis

No matter who we are, man or woman, each of us has family members that are anchors in our life. These individuals, in some form or manner, provided mentorship and examples of what it meant to be a responsible caring adult. They also formed the foundation that gave us strength in times of weakness, and love during days of darkness. I just lost my last anchor on my dads side, his sister, Aunt Mary, or as I called her AM.

I felt compiled to share a little of why she was such an anchor in my world, but in a few paragraphs I can't do justice to the sweet memories she leaves behind. The picture on the right was my father during WWII with my AM. She was the younger of two sisters, but according to dad, they both bossed him around all the time and had to approve all his dates. I do remember AM as leaning toward the bossy side, and with that gravelly voice, we kids had a tendency to listen. Course all my southern aunts and cousins on both sides of the family have always watched over us Davis men with a hawk's eye. The uniform was from the Army Air Corp. He was an air crew chief on a B29 bomber flying in the Pacific. If I recall correctly, Aunt Mary and my mother were friends before she knew dad.

The picture to the left are my mother and AM during that same period heading off to work at the Ammunition plant near where they lived. They were two fine looking women. They would save up for a month so they could take my cousin Ronnie and I with them to get an ice cream at the fountain in town (the pharmacy).

They would alternate caring for my cousin Ronnie and I sometimes so they could work overtime. The picture to the right is one Aunt Mary will make me pay for eventually, given she's in curlers. Its one of those times AM was watching over her nephew. The little guy, that's me. I never remember her without a cig in her hand. Like my mother, they loved the cancer rods. And crabs, lord those women loved Maryland blue claw crabs. My favorite picture was Mom, Dad, Aunt Mary, and Uncle Reggie at a dance after the war drinking beer and eating crabs. I would share it, but I gave it to my kids so they could remember all of them.

Regardless of our age, when the anchors disappear we are moved, our pillars shaken,our eyes turned blurry, as if our world is not the same, because in truth, its not. They were there in the difficult moments, gave us laughter and direction. With all her eccentricities, AM was one of the angels that watched over me. When my son was born, and I nearly lost him and my wife. AM was there in the hospital beside me, and I've never forgotten those tough moments, with her hugs and kisses. Lord did I love that woman.

I'm sure AM, Mom, Dad and Uncle Reg are again together eating crabs and drinking beer, looking beautiful, young and vibrant as before. Maybe even the real big guy has pulled up a chair. Love you AM, kiss them all for me.

Mike

Who Writes Short Shorts?

2009-11-05T06:08:00.002-05:00

When I wrote Flawless, Tavos' romance (out in February 2010), I met Alvar, one of the secondary characters. Alvar is an ex-con hired by Tavos as a bodyguard. Tavos tends to give deserving people a second chance in life. He has a weakness for people accused or convicted of crimes they didn't commit.

So why did Alvar go to jail for a crime he didn't commit? Why was he working for Tavos and not out finding the real baddie?

I had to know. I had to write his story. The thing is… Alvar's story, because we learn so much about him in Flawless, wasn't big enough for a 70,000 word novel. It wasn't even big enough for a 25,000 word novella.

It was perfect for a 10,000 word short.

I had so much fun writing Released, Alvar's story. It happens at the same time as Flawless which made it even more interesting. Readers, when they read both stories, will better understand both Tavos and Alvar.

I have three more shorts written for next year. One will add more context to Flawless (focusing on another secondary character). One will be the sequel to Released. One will set up the next full length novel. From now on, I plan to have that publishing schedule. I'll have three shorts and one full length novel.

The benefits of shorts are numerous. They allow authors to explore secondary characters in more detail. They give readers a low cost 'sampling' option (right now, Released is $0.70, that is less than a convenience store chocolate bar). For slower writing authors, such as myself, they give readers a story to read while they wait for the next full novel.

I love writing shorts. Writers, do you write shorts and why? Readers, do you read shorts?

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Every month, Kimber Chin gives away her favorite romance eBook read the month before. To enter, visit http://businessromance.com/

SECOND THOUCHTS

2009-11-04T10:18:00.002-05:00

How often second thoughts overwhelm me is about average for a human female, I suppose. But they are extremely annoying when they occur to an author after a book has been edited and published and it's too late to do anything about what you now feel should have gone into the story that you didn't think of while writing it. I've learned over time to send such thoughts to the recycle bin and then delete them from there. But they do annoy me until then. Still, the pubished books sell, so maybe I was right in the first place.
Consider this scenario, which is not about a book, but a house.
I grew up in a small village on the south shore of Lake Superior before I became an adult and ventured into the wider world of Texas, California, Upstate New York and Nevada. Somewhere along the line my brother,twenty years older than I, convinced me I should purchase two lots on the south shore of Lake Superior that were in the village to "keep in touch with my roots." So, okay, I thought, since the lots were $500 each I could afford that, plus the taxes were minimal.
Years passed. My parents are now dead, and so is my brother and his wife. I've been married twice and am now with my Life Partner, the man I should have married in the first place, someone I grew up with. My second thoughts came extremely late here, but have worked very well indeed.
Not too long after we got together, we came back to the village to visit my oldest niece and her husband, plus my LP's favorite brother and his family. My niece tells me the high school didn't get a bid from anyone this year for the shop class to build a house on whatever lots people might own within the village limits. Why not put in a bid to have them build us a vacation cottage on my lots?
When I agreed, she called the shop teacher and he came over to talk to us and he suggested a house rather than a cottage for its eventual sale value. So, okay.
Now we needed instant house plans. It happened we loved the design of our house in Carson City, and the plans had been left in the basement. Why not a smaller house, based on those plans?
In case anyone ever tries something like this--never have a house built when you're living across the country from where this is taking place. Phone calls, no matter how many, are not a good substitute for being at the location and able to monitor the entire process.
Well, now we live in our house the year round. Essentially, we love it, but there are quite a few things we would have had done differently. Some we've been able to correct. Others, we live with. Fortunately, the worksmanship is excellent since the shop teacher is a builder himself. Plus we never could have built a house like we have for the same price, since almost all of the labor was at no cost to us. In any case it's far too late for second thoughts, just like with a published book. So they've gone into the recycle bin and been deleted.
Now that I've gotten the rights back on many of my old books, do I plan to add any second thoughts to them if I intend to republish? Nope. As I said, those thoughts have been deleted long ago.
But I have to say not all second thoughs need deleting. Sometimes, no matter how belated, second thoughts do work perfectly. Or may it's just that old saying--the third time's the charm.
Incidentally, the shop teacher is now the school superintendent.

CHEERS!

2009-11-03T02:01:00.002-05:00

Have a glass of the bubbly with me. It’s time to celebrate! I’m doing a bit of a Tigger impersonation, bouncing in celebration! Why? Noella’s Gift has been released! WOOHOO!!! Best of all it’s on sale at a special LOW price $1.40! You can’t beat that with a stick!

Noella’s Gift is a holiday themed novella that was a pure joy to write.
A disillusioned cop, and a bitter woman. Can a little girl take the bah humbug out of their holiday?

Holly Harper has hated Christmas for years. The season full of commercialism has left her feeling cold and bitter. When she finds a little girl freezing and alone a spark warms her heart. She's determined to keep the child until Christmas is over.
Jaxon Cole is a police detective whose Christmas spirit left a long time ago. He knows the season brings an increase in drunk driving accidents and suicides. But when a dark haired woman shows up in his office with a little waif in tow he sees that there is some good in the holiday.

Will they find joy in the season or will their hearts be as cold as the winter winds?

I’m also pretty excited because of the reviews I’ve been getting for Betraying Chase. The high ratings have pushed me back into Hunting Mickey and I’m falling for Mickey and Terese all over again. Here’s hoping I have the book finished by the end of the year!

I’ve been distracted from writing over the last week. I must be one of the last humans on the planet who never read the Twilight series books. I remedied that last week. Sunday last I watched the movie for the first time and was completely entranced. So Tuesday I read the book, Wednesday I read New Moon, Thursday I read Eclipse and Friday I read Breaking Dawn. I LOVE the characters and storyline. But now my fun, break time is over and it’s back to work for me. I have 7.5 weeks to finish Hunting Mickey and get it into my editors in box. I gotta get busy!

I’ll see y’all in December. Hope your Thanksgiving ROCKS!

Hugz
Donica

Halloween - what is it?

2009-10-31T11:43:00.004-04:00

What does Halloween mean to you?

I've been pondering this for some time. For everyone its different - in fact if you ask the kids its about getting free candy. But what was it to begin with? Where did this tradition come from? I'm still looking around for answers, but I did find some interesting tidbits from the Ancient Celtic religion.

I do know that Halloween used to be - in old ancient times, a celebration of the fall's harvest. It was the end of one soltace and the beginning of another. There are many different beliefs but for the most part, Hallow's Eve has its roots in the Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was in fact the beginning of the Celtic New Year, the end of the light half and the beginning of the dark half.

Hallow's Even became a time to celebrate the passing of loved ones. During hallow's eve good and bad spirits were released fromthe Otherworld and allowed free roam. Those of the family, friends were welcomed within homes while the bad spirits were warded off - thus began the ritual of wearing costumes.

There is some belief that it goes back to a Roman celebration, to Briton, and many other places. I however, haven't done a lot of research in that direction - simply because I'm knee deep in a new Celtic novel, but it's definitely something to look into.

So I'll leave you with this simple question: What does Halloween mean to you? All comments are welcome!

Amulet of Fate

2009-10-30T07:50:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd share a little about my debut novel, AMULET OF FATE:

Complicated by betrayal and murder, can two star-crossed lovers unveil the secret of a 14th century curse to be reunited and rekindle a love only found in fairytales?

Can she free the familiar Scot that haunts her dreams before it's too late?

Scottish legend tells of a fourteenth century chieftain cursed by a remorseful sorceress in order to escape certain death at the hands of his lover's English husband. While visiting her native Scotland, Alicia Cameron stumbles upon the secrets of the old MacKintosh castle, and the truth of her own tragic past…

Enslaved by a cursed amulet, Zachariah MacKintosh has roamed the remains of his castle for six centuries. Guided by fate, he’s reunited with the woman linked to his misfortune…the sole key to delivering him from his immortal hell. He realizes he must find a way to jog her buried memories, for if he should fail in this quest, the horrid curse would bind him for all eternity.
There is just one problem… The curse has left him in the form of his clan motto: a cat.

Excerpt from Amulet of Fate:
"Now ye see a staircase. Climb the stairs until ye reach the top." He paused. "At the top of the staircase is a tunnel." He paused again. "At the end of the tunnel, there is a door. Go inside and look around. Are ye alone? What are ye wearing? Do ye know the date?" Marcus hesitated briefly between each question allowing her subconscious to take note of her surroundings.
Ali followed his instructions to the letter. She looked around after entering the room at the end of the tunnel. The fog grew thicker and Marcus’s voice faded farther into the distance with each step she took. Straining her eyes, her heart began to pound rapidly. A panicked strangling sensation consumed her as the fog began to clear.

What was happening?

Peering about wild-eyed, she looked down at herself. She was wearing a long, dirty white shirt of some sort, with a torn sleeve that flapped softly in the breeze from the opened door. She could taste a foul dread in the air, feel doom dance along her spine as it wafted in with the wind. Some blood spilled onto the sleeve from a gash on her arm.
She was in what appeared to be an old abandoned cottage. The door lay on the ground in the entry, as though it had been deliberately placed there. A fire burned in the stone fireplace. She could hear it sizzle and crack, could smell the burning embers.

And, God help her, she was not alone.

Here are a couple of reviews of which I was ecstatic to receive:

http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2007/jun07/AF_AA.html

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2006/December/Heidi-AmuletOfFate.htm

Hope you enjoyed. If you'd like to read more, you can purchase the book in paperback or e-book at http://www.champagnebooks.com/; http://www.amazon.com/; etc.

Until next time, have a great Halloween!
Angie

http://www.angelaashtonbooks.com/

Other titles I have currently available via Champagne Books are:

Once A Rebel (Book 1 in the Orphan Train series)
Corsair Cove

How I'm Spending My Fall Staycation

2009-10-28T12:32:00.003-04:00

I scheduled a week's holiday and whaddaya know, the kids have their Reading Week break on the same week. Oh, well... we're having fun anyway!

We rented Beatles Rock Band and my arms are sore from being Ringo. My son forgot the microphone at college so I can't sing. Darn.

I installed a security strap on our green recycling bin. So far, it's working. The critters haven't managed to open it and spread coffee grounds and eggshells all over the driveway. Suck it, raccoons!

Tuesday night we had the opportunity to attend Standup For Kids at Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. It featured a great lineup of comics - some you know and some were new to me: Mike Wilmot, Lewis Black, Seth Meyers, Irwin Barker, Kate Davis, Nikki Payne & Rob Pue.

I was pissing-my-pants laughing throughout the whole thing. They ran the gamut of motherhood to geriatric sex. Definitely for adult ears, but I sure got a great sense of what is funny these days.

I think Lewis Black is currently the Sage of stand-up comedy. He's developed a professional routine that presses every button. Out of the lineup, I enjoyed Irwin Barker's diffident delivery that reminded me of Bob Newhart.

Seth seemed to have a sore throat, but he was a trooper. My kids knew his whole routine by heart, bless them.

The Wintergarden Theatre was beautiful. It's on the upper level, above the Elgin. Seating is intimate with a capacity of around 1000 and the ceiling is covered with golden grape leaves and little lights. There isn't a bad seat in the house except perhaps for the one behind the tree trunk.

Yesterday we went to the mall so I can spend no money. Okay, I bought Halloween candy and the kids have already reduced it by one-third. We'll pick up a couple of pumpkins so my artist daughter can do her handiwork. I don't expect anyone will actually see them, since last year we had a total of zero-point-zero-zero trick or treaters. Thus, we can eat the other two-thirds of the candy.

I plan to convince my hubby to fire up the reciprocating saw he bought last week. No, not to film our own Halloween horror but to tear out and replace the horrible faucet in the basement powder room. If he gets carried away and takes out the whole bathroom, I won't mind in the least.

Last but far from least, I reached THE END on my WIP of The Yearbook. Now all I have to do is dive back in and add some spit & polish.

Hmmmm

2009-10-24T15:47:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those weeks when things went well, life is good and you have nothing to say? There were a few things in my life this week that were eventful for me but they weren't even a blip on the radar for anyone else. Just life moving along. Life is good.

That would be me this week.

Tomorrow does kick off some good "stuff" though. I'll be chatting with my fellow Vixens at Night Owl Romance (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nightowlromance/join?yguid=73632744&finish=sub) and we will be having a really fun annoucement. Come by, check us out and see what's up..

Next week is my last 5 day work week till the last ween in January...with holidays and furloughs state workers won't have a 5 day week till January 22. Before you get jealous or say we have it is remember we are losing 3 days pay every week we work one less day. Not our choice. Many of my fellow workers have had to file bankruptcy and lost their homes. For me it means time to write.

And, next Sunday, November 1, Nanowrite 2009 kicks off. I'll be digging in and writing With All Dispatch -- anyone else joining in?
Regan Taylor www.ReganTaylor.com

YIN AND YANG

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

While at the airport one of the eastern religious sects whose doctrine and tenet had roots in reincarnation approached and solicited a donation. I smiled and stated, "Sorry... I gave in a previous life."

To continue, a door-to-door religious peddler once told me that if I became one of the army we could save a million souls from going to hell. I retorted without a moment of hesitation and possibly stunning conviction, "No thanks... I shan't give a cent... not enough go there already."

The afore humor that we shared, shows that religion is a very risky place to play. Whereas, we are both spiritual, we have made a sincere effort to not allow it to overtly infest our work. Preachy is left to the pulpit, altar, soapbox, hilltop, and mom when a teen is caught sneaking in way over curfew. Yes, spiritually is a covert agent and it does touch our work on occasion with a timid stroke of a thin artistic brush, but we try to make our pieces more neutral. There are far more superior authors who understand these subjects and can do a good job. We on the other hand do what we think we can do well... that is dance with the draws of love and lust from the everyman and everywoman point of view.

In KILLER DOLLS our heroine is so much the everywoman, in that she delayed making that relationship choice, because Mister Right had not arrived and she was not about to settle for Mister Right-now. We wanted her to find love... and with that... lust... and with that... every possibility of that yin and yang where the two compliment the life of the other. Happy ending stuff... We just adore it.

EXCERPT SEVEN
Tease v. Concern

Taut was quite aware of the danger that was just unvialed and reacted with quick and keen moves. Approaching her from her rear, he placed one huge powerful hand over her mouth so she would not inhale any toxins and his other arm about her waist. Lifting her from the floor, he retreated from the danger. He kept focus. Reviewing what he had memorized from Charles Gallagher's e-mail.

Letti gasped at the unexpected behavior but she wasn't adverse to it. After all, he did something similar when he had kissed her so suddenly in her apartment. It felt like
one of those fantasy moments, something right out of an old-fashioned bodice ripper. Yet, the moment wasn't quite right. There were those guys. Shouldn't they be a bit prudent, or did the possibility of danger turn Taut…well…taut.

She struggled but he refused to release her. He couldn't let her do anything that might spread the ricin. Gallagher had provided photos of ricin victims. He would not allow this to harm Letti. No one was to be hurt. Not again. Not on his watch. That imperative directed his next decisions.

His hold was an aphrodisiac, animalistic, driven, homogeneous with her want, placated only by submission to it, and her body began to respond. Shallow short breaths followed the intense heat smoldering in her groin, incinerating any resistance, and guaranteeing conflagration of raging flames of lust. The tight, pucker of her nipples signaled her growing arousal, and heaviness attached itself to her breasts, having that need to be touched. She surrendered to his authority, submitted, and urged him with her acquiesces to take more.

KILLER DOLLS IS AVAILABLE: Unaware that bio-terrorist are using her handcrafted dolls to attack the innocent, Letti Noel finds herself falling for Taut Johnson, an undercover FBI agent. Even as deceit is a growing barrier to their love, it's the stalking terrorists that are a threat to their lives.

We'd love to hear from anyone interested in what we do. Anyone who writes us at angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com and leaves an s-mail address, we will send you a GIFT and add you to any future mailings.

Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS ~ September 2009
SNAKE DANCE ~ February 2010
CHASING GRAVITAS ~ July 2010
angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com
angelicahartandzi.com

KILLER DOLLS can be purchased at
Champagne Books
http://www.champagnebooks.com/

Nudging your Muse

2009-10-22T08:03:00.003-04:00

What a glorious morn. The cats woke me at 5:13 Am this morning for no reason other than to be ornary. And I so wanted to sleep. It's raining. Has been all night and we have a metal roof. I love the sound.

Most of you know I teach art. The most daunting thing you can do to a student is hand them a blank piece of paper and tell them to draw. Most will just stare at that paper for a week before attempting a solution. Writing is no different. Blank white paper is down right scary.

With art, I always give my students a prompt. It relieves some of the pressure to produce. I have to rely on my muse for that prompt, that spark of an idea. I also take my cues from real life. We just returned from visiting family and I'm still tickled over my dumpster-diving relatives. I have to use them in a scene somewhere but later.

But what happens when the muse is on vacation or that blank paper stares you in the face for days? I drafted a worksheet I call the idea generator for my art students and I'm thinking it would also work great for stimulating words as well.

Make up a phrase that includes totally unrelated words. For example, Pencil Train en route to Gatty Town or Fly House in Hand. The images from this exercise are crazy and fun. So for writing, perhaps fix three small containers. Make a list of professions, unique places, and an action verb. Cut it up and place all the professions in one, places in another and verbs in the third. When stuck, draw one of each and you have the makings of one character.
Similies are great for sparking an idea. Comparing two unlike ideas can often lead to a plot idea.
Brainstorming with the spider. Start with one word and let that word lead to the next and so on. Example. If I start with shoe, that idea leads me to feet, feet to ruler, ruler to king, king to chess, chess to pawn, pawn to shop, shop to ..... and so forth. Now I have a king in need of special shoes and a cobbler who becomes a pawn in a game to overthrow the current regime. Wicked ugh?

I'm sure their are more ways to give your muse a nudge. Does anyone else have something they'd like to share?

Different publishers...different opinions...

2009-10-21T18:19:00.002-04:00

Isn't it funny how one person thinks your stories are well written, believable, and historical accurate...when someone else will pick the thing nearly to death?

I have been with several publishers over the years, and I must say I have really been amazed how different one publisher is from another. Or is it the editors who are different? In either case, I'm going through edits right now with a story that's coming out in December. This book had been previously pubbed before, so I figured it was pretty dang good. Nope. Apparently, the new editor has found lots of plot holes - or at least the timeline part of the story. Also, this new editor has marked up my document like a Christmas tree. lol So what's up with that? Does that mean all the 5-star reviews and Recommended Reads I'd gotten for this story are all lies? Hmmmm...

It sure makes one wonder, doesn't it? But in the end I'll do the edits and change those timeline spots, and hopefully I can change those 5-stars to ALL Recommended Reads. Yeah, that is what I'll do. heehee

Think positive!

~Phyllis~

What I should be doing - and why I'm not!

2009-10-20T07:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, I should be writing. Oh, yeh! Haven't we all said that before?
I'm not, but I don't feel bad at all.
So, why?

I got any interesting tidbit from a friend. We both started publishing with
epubs at the same time, and although I've written a lot more books than my
friend, she's getting bigger royalty checks. Yes, we do share information
in a general sense - things like "I could buy a decent meal with this check,
or I made more so far this year than all of last year." She made some very
interesting comments about her royalties, adding some suggestions that I
spent some time analyzing.

After I thought about it, I agreed - completely.

So, what was her sage advise? Only this. So the viewer to your web site
reads all about your book. They like the cover, they like the excerpt and
they are ready to buy. Then, most of us fall flat - or at least my friend
and I both did. We made it difficult if not impossible for them to buy
the book when their interest was peaked.

I never thought about it, but I think she's a hundred percent right.
People see my marvelous covers, and if they don't know where to go to
buy the book, it slips their mind. So, I've been missing the boat.
The question now is, what am I going to do about it?

Simple! I'm going to do what my friend did. At least for me, because I
control my own web site. I designed it and I put on it what I want.
Today, instead of tackling the scene I should have been writing, I'm
working on my web page. I'm adding a 'buy now' link to every one of my
ebooks. So when my readers see my beautiful Champagne covers, the link
to buy the book will be right there beside the cover or the blurb.

If you've already got buy links on your page, then I wish someone had
insisted I do it too. If you don't - maybe you should think about it.
I feel it's worth the time it takes to add the links. And if the reader
likes one book, possibly they will like another of my books. We'll see.

Rewriting

2009-10-17T21:53:00.001-04:00

By Jen Bokal
For the past few weeks, my writing life has centered around one dreaded word: rewriting. I have been rewriting the beginning of my newest work (which also doubles as my Master’s Thesis) to include only to exciting parts.
One might ask, as I have asked myself, how can the writer tell if something is dull? Wasn’t I the one who created this work? And by creating and including certain scenes I have deemed them to be, if not exciting, then at least necessary? The answer is, “yes”. AND the answer is, “no”.
It is, “yes” because as a writer, there is much of the story that we need to understand. Take the story I am working on as an example. It is set in the early days of the American Revolution. And one of the most contentious questions of the day was if people bough English goods or not. So, as an author, who is trying to recreate the 18th century world for the reader, I need to include something about the boycotts and probably the most famous boycott is that of drinking tea. So as I am writing the story, I can include all the trivia I have learned about tea drinking, tea serving, what the Colonists drank instead of tea, other items that were considered taboo. The list can go on and on.
Is this exciting? For me it is. For me to understand the story it is not only exciting, but necessary. But what about the reader, the person I want to pick up the book and join me on this adventure? Some of the details are necessary, others exciting and even a few interesting. And as a writer who wants readers, it is up to me to discover what those are and how best to present them. It sounds hard. Believe me; it’s harder than that.
I suppose this is why we all dread the rewrite.

Book Review Bloggers Beware - New FTC Regulations

2009-10-16T11:49:00.000-04:00

Have you heard the recent buzz lately about the FTC and blogs that review books? If you perform and publish book reviews you need to know that recent regulations have changed. Anyone who receives a book from a publisher for review is considered to endorse that product and any relationship between the two entities must be clearly disclosed. If you keep the book, this is considered compensation. In other words, book reviews are now considered paid endorsements.

Obviously this does not take into account that reputable sites will not automatically give a good review to an undeserving book. And compensation? Really, is the cost of a book considered adequate compensation for all the work that goes into reading, writing the review, and maintaining a blog?

In an interview with Richard Cleland of the FTC, Edward Champion asks the question of whether or not returning the book after the review would alleviate part of the problem. He replied affirmatively but also stated that anyone who reviews similar products from a single source (like a review site that covers books published by Champagne) would be under scrutiny. What is likely to raise eyebrows is whether or not the review site is an affiliate marketer for the publisher or sales site and whether the blog contains an advertisement for the same product.

To me this whole policy raises a whole lot more questions than it answers. For one, would a publisher like Champagne be affected since the company is located in Canada and this is a United States federal ruling? Would the blog owner be penalized for reviewing several books from a single publisher? Richard Cleland states that at this point, there are no particular fines that would be levied on someone not conforming to the regulation and that the FTC would be focusing more on the publisher than the reviewer. But – could the FTC ultimately shut down your blog if you are non-compliant?

Another question is why bloggers are being targeted, as opposed to other forms of media, such as newspapers or magazines that publish book reviews. Cleland’s answer to this concern was that the reader of a newspaper expects the reviewer is compensated. Sounds like a pretty fine line to me.

While I have to disagree overall with the intent of this FTC regulation, part of me thinks there may be some actual merit to it. Anyone who knows me knows my stance on book reviews and that is that far too many of them are simply endorsements and not true, honest representations of the reviewer’s opinion. I may be ruffling some feathers here, but I have run across an instance where I was asked to write a review for a book I felt was completely “unreadable”. After expressing my concerns – which mirrored those of another reviewer who refused to write it up for the same reason – the review site owner contacted the author to let her know we couldn’t review it because we couldn’t give it anything more than a really bad review (we don’t use a rating system). I did a bit of investigation on my own and lo and behold, this book had received a rave review elsewhere. I can’t even begin to tell you how bad it was, from the over-the-top characters, to a completely implausible story line, to the very creative (i.e. totally outside the industry standard) POV switches.

I know many sites are like this. They may have a review rating system of say, one to five stars, but very, very few will ever post a one or two star review – anything less than three is just not listed. Obviously this is not exactly fair. As an author or publisher, you could send the book to several sites until you found one that would give it at least their minimum publishable rating. Is this really honest?

I’d love to hear the opinion of others regarding this new regulation – which goes into effect December 1st of this year, BTW – and your thoughts regarding the current online book review system.

“Literature is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none.”

– Jules Renard

Candace Morehouse
www.CandaceMorehouse.com

A series is born

2009-10-15T04:20:00.001-04:00

Have you ever held tight to a long-running day-dream? Let time run its course? If so, then you can understand how a series might form in an author's head. Such is the case with what now I term my "Dancer" series - a story about a character on an alien world where both she and her culture come of age. In truth, Blade Dancer, my first novel, was simply the tip of a much larger story. One which spans a lifetime. Like a novel, a series can have a beginning, middle, and finally an end. The problem is in the telling.

My first challenge was one of common sense - a series is only as good as its pilot. So, I watched to see if Blade Dancer would be well received. Out the door, it became an EPPIE finalist, and did fine in e-book sales. People are still purchasing it. That was my green light to begin telling the entire story. Rogue Dancer is the next installment in the life of Mikial Haran - an angst-ridden young lady bound for greatness whether she is prepared or not.

A series must obviously deal with continuity in such a fashion as to lead the reader gracefully from one book to another. For me, this means a continuation of relationships begun in Blade Dancer. Mikial is now looked upon as a hero by some, and a threat by others. This becomes quite apparent as Rogue Dancer explores the wrenching birth of a savior, and the impact it has on a person's life as well as the lives around them. Mikial is not an island - not the stereotypical hero with no discernable past. She has friends and family, and they too will feel the burden Mikial endures.

Rogue Dancer also expands my perspective on our own human condition. We do not have to look too far back in our history to realize that we are the predators, and it is not a comfortable thing to admit to. It would be easy for another race to look at us with horror, and believe themselves morally superior. This attitude is established in Blade Dancer, and leads to a very bitter lesson in self-realization for my main character.

Like any good series, the reader should be taken deeper into the world, see new things, and solve fresh problems. They should expect the characters to evolve and mature, otherwise the book becomes a stale copy of its predecessor. As an individual book has a story arc, a series will also be held up by its own plot line. I think, from the cover art alone (thank you, Amanda Kesley) you can see that the venue is changing.

Rogue Dancer will be the second in what I expect to be four books. It was going to be a nicely rounded three-some, but the lives of my characters demanded more. As I said, continuity is important, and there are life events that cannot be rushed through quickly in narration. Readers tend to develop an affinity with characters, and would feel cheated if they missed out. Of course, the drama must still be there, but I've a ready group of adversaries - both home-grown and off planet, to provide action and pacing. So, another book was both called for and workable, and I am currently on its third revision.

So what is Rogue Dancer?

For those reading this blog, allow me to give you a special preview ahead of the grand opening of Rogue Dancer's web page in November. Click here. The book itself will be on sale in December.

Kerry

The house on Belmont Street--You can't go back.

2009-10-14T10:33:00.005-04:00

In 1956 my family moved to a house that we loved and where we shared many happy times. Then my parents divorced and my mother had to sell the house. For some reason, as an adult I've dreamed of moving back into that house and making it my own.

The people who bought the house have lived there for fifty years and sold it last week. I was able to connect with the new owners and go through the house. It was indeed a sad tour. The beautiful wood floors have been covered in carpet and the wall between the eating area and formal dining area was removed to enlarge the kitchen. Some of the rooms now have heavy drapes, not the open airy ones my mother had on the windows to let in the light.

The new owners plan to restore the wood floors and make many changes that will bring the house back to how I remember it. In the 1970s everyone who had wood floors wanted carpet. Now we want the wood again. As with clothes, home decorating ideas come and go only to come around again.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to see inside the house but it might have been best to just hang on to the memories.

Thanks for Reading!

Linda

Linda LaRoque ~Western Romance with a Twist in Time~ Forever Faithful, Investment of the Heart, When the Ocotillo Bloom, A Law of Her Own, Desires of the Heart, My Heart Will Find Yours, Flames on the Sky10-9 www.lindalaroque.com/ http://wwww.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/

Visual stimulus

2009-10-09T01:49:00.002-04:00

Michael W. Davis

Davisstories.com

I'm extremely visual. Yeah, I know as a guy by nature we react to visual stimulus, but when it comes to information exchange, I adsorb the most by video format. When I read text I retain 10% but when I watch a video I'll hold 50% to 70% of the material. That’s why when I saw my first video trailer for a friend’s book, my first thought was "How cool" (I still use that word from my days as a hippie in the sixties).

I watched about a dozen book videos and noticed many focused on text about the storyline or provided an audio overlay where the author read a blurb or short excerpt. I decided to take a different approach. I asked myself, "What would I like to know about some of my favorite books?" and it hit me. I've always wondered where in the world the authors come up with the story itself. It had to come from somewhere, how did he or she create the scenes? I decided to take the tact of conveying the Story behind the Story for my novels accompanied by photographs I used during writing the novel to form the images in mind. Here's an example of where the story FORGOTTEN CHILDREN came from. See what you think. I'll share two more video trailers on other books in the near future. Enjoy.

Big Mike
Michael W. Davis (Davisstories.com)
Author of the year, 2008

Blind Consent, “The answers are buried in the secrets of the past.”
Forgotten Children, “Only Sara knows the truth.”
Tainted Hero, “Sometimes good people do bad things.”
The Treasure, “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.”
Veil of Deception, “Sometimes the truth cuts deeper than a lie.”

Working Hard Vs Natural Talent

2009-10-08T04:00:00.001-04:00

A decade ago, a loved one and I decided to become professional writers (we were already amateur writers). My loved one had a tremendous natural ability. The plots he thought of, the words that came out of his brain, wow, they were something. I, although I can tell a half decent story, wasn't as blessed. I didn't have his vocabulary. I was overly realistic (why I write contemporary romance). It took me longer to think of storylines.

I got serious. I joined my local chapter of Romance Writers Of America, attended their monthly seminars, took additional courses, applying the lessons I learned, had critiques done of my writing, entered contests for the feedback, and paid professional editors to look at my manuscripts. I wrote every day, even if only 100 words. About four years ago, I started writing full time during the summers. I worked my butt off.

My buddy wrote every day also but he didn't take any courses. He didn't put his stories out to be critiqued (admittedly a tough and extremely painful process). He worked his butt off but with no feedback. He still writes wonderful stories with wonderful characters, that hasn't changed. Nothing has changed. His writing is the same as it was a decade ago.

The difference is… my stories and characters are as good as his.

And I suspect that if the trend continues, in a decade from now, my stories will be better, better than my stories are now (I have SUCH room for improvement) and better than his stories will be then (if he doesn't change).

Natural ability is needed. I think you need at least a sliver of natural talent to be truly great. But it is not enough. It is only the base to build off of.

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Every month, Kimber Chin gives away her favorite romance eBook read the month before. To enter, visit http://businessromance.com/

Wheel of Fortune

2009-10-07T09:40:00.005-04:00

I took a photo of the Wheel of Fortune Tarot card against my gargoyle who is reading a book, held up in his taloned hands, Came out fine. But because it's in the computer from the camera, it comes up as a file instead of a picture. Sigh. So you'll just have to imagine the Wheel Of Fortune Card.

Have you ever organized a project with more than several others involved? While this can be profitable for all involved, think again if you’ll have to do most of the work. Not because the others aren’t willing to help, but because you have this fanatic need to have everything work out right. If you’re not picky this way—go ahead and farm out everything that needs to be done. But if you have a unreasonable need for everything to be just right—don’t do this! Put your head under cold running water until the very notion of it is frozen out.

I know this about myself, but in a mood of “being helpful” I offered to coordinate not one but two possible series. Since one of these is probably going to be published by Champagne Books, that’s the one I’ll discuss.

I belong to an online group of writers called the Grande Dames because we’re all females of a certain age. We successfully sold two anthologies about older women romances—-no, none of them were cougars. As most of us know by now, anthologies don’t sell as well as series, so, though we had a theme for another anthology where a single Tarot card impacted the lives of our characters, we hesitated. Then I got the bright idea of converting to a series instead.

From idea to working things out came quickly. Though determined to let everyone involved do their own thing, before I knew it I’d offered to look at the synopses as they were finished. In effect, sort of editing them. These published writers are my friends and I do trust them, but I’m a Capricorn. Can’t do anything to change my birth date. Actually, I’ve had very little editing to do, other than reminding about the theme, so the synopses clearly show the card’s impact. Which, of course, helped my own synopsis. And my story, Lady Luck. I also discovered all our stories are delightfully different, which I figure is a plus. “In The Cards” promises to be a good series.

So why am I complaining? Because I swore I’d never coordinate anything again and I broke my promise to myself not once, but twice. Why do we do that? Because we’re born interferers? I don’t like to think I am, but...

I now have a sign up in my writing room that says, in bright red, “Do NOT volunteer to coordinate anything ever again!”

But my Tarot Card for the series is the Wheel of Fortune, which turns so randomly I can’t be sure of keeping my mouth shut the next time I see the chance.

The gargoyle you didn't get to see just growled a message for y'all, "Have a spooky Halloween--or else."

What do you believe?

2009-10-06T05:01:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite time of the year. Haunted houses are erected, horror movies are released and classics are played on the thirteen days of Halloween.

In my family, I’m the odd man out. I believe in ghosts, I truly think that a location can be haunted. I don’t believe in demonic possession, I don’t believe a ghost can step in and take over your spirit. I don’t know how much interaction I believe the spirit world has with our world. I’ve had some very freaky experiences in my life that made me a believer.

When I was growing up the house my parents live in had a ghost. My family was very religious and didn’t believe in “such nonsense” however over the years, I think even my parents began to see things differently.

I remember one incident I was about thirteen. My dad finished our basement and we had a full sized pool table. I used to love going down and playing pool. I’d set up my transistor radio—always tuned to KSHE 95—and listen to my favorite rock bands while shooting the cue ball into the pyramid.

One evening was having a high old time. The transistor sitting on the antique table under that creepy picture of some ancestor. Mom called me up for supper. I turned off the radio, put it back down on the little table headed upstairs and had dinner.

After supper, I headed for the basement. I opened the door and was on the first step when I heard the music. Odd, thought I. I know I turned it off. I was sure I did….

After stepping into the basement, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end and I was absolutely terrified. I KNEW I’d turned off the radio and left it on the little table. Yet here it was lying on the floor by the steps turned on, volume up.

I rushed back up the steps and refused to go to the basement for many months. Over time I realized George, as I came to call him, was perfectly harmless. He enjoyed playing tricks once and while but he was ultimately unable to do me any actual harm.

My son, his wife and baby girl live in an apartment they created out of this basement and from time to time, our little Alyx will stand up and just start “talking” to no one. She laughs, dances, giggles and plays with a friend only she can see.

A few years back I went to a cemetery I have often visited. There is an unmarked grave in the cemetery. It’s a rather odd grave to be certain. It’s not an actual mausoleum, it looks more like your standard grave, except that it is lined with concrete and has a plain concrete slab that lies over the top of it.

As I was meandering through the resting place of so many of my family members the wind shifted slightly. The animals in the pasture just beyond the cemetery fence became agitated. The horses tossed their heads, nickered wildly their ears and tails were rigid.

Suddenly they took off, ears flattened and raced away from the cemetery. All the birds, the breeze, everything went instantly still.

I glanced down at the unmarked grave and I saw “her”. A lovely blond woman lying with her hands cross her chest, her eyes closed in eternal sleep. The scene shifted and I saw her once more alive. She was smiling, glowing and happy as she descended old wooden steps. Her happiness changed to a mask of horror as she suddenly plummeted down the steps, and came to a stop, her neck broken…

When my great grandmother had died, I was so sad by her leaving. She wasn’t the most easy person in the world to get along with, but out of everyone, she treated me like a princess. She went out of her way to make me feel loved and special. (Of course the rest of the family weren’t treated half as nicely by this woman) She loved me and I knew it.

Then she was put into a nursing home. The years rolled by and I didn’t get to see Granny nearly as often as I had wanted. I married, had a brand new baby and when my son was nearly ten months old Granny died. I was devastated. I had loved her so much, missed her terribly and now she was gone.

During a deep, dark period of grief, I was cuddling my infant son, sad that he would never know his g .g. great grandmother. As I lay in the dark room, granny came, sat beside me, stroked my son’s head, kissed my cheek. She was happy. Her confused mind was now clear. Pain, illness was gone and best of all she was with grandpa. She didn’t want me to grieve, she wanted me to rejoice that she was now reunited with the man she loved. Now, she could see me and know who I was rather than have to be constantly reminded that I was her granddaughter. She reminded me that she might be dead but she would always be with me, in my heart.

Then, just this past Wednesday I was lying in the hotel bed in Jeff City when I heard a man say Boo. Not the hair raising elongated BOOOOOO that someone who was trying to frighten you would say. No, this was a simple, matter of fact book. My initial reaction was to tell my husband that he wasn’t funny. But realization that DH was at home and I wasn’t made me sit straight up in the bed.

A man with dark brown hair, brown eyes, dressed in blue stood beside my bed. While watching him, I reached for the phone to call for help. Then I wondered how he had gotten in, hadn’t I secured all the locks on the door? I looked over and the locks were still as I had put them before going to sleep. I looked back and the man was gone. After twenty minutes of shaking, shivering and feeling almost ill from being so scared, I calmed myself. I had been asleep. That’s all there was to it. I had been asleep…hadn’t I?

Is it writer’s imagination over drive?

Was it the deep feeling of loss when my great grandma died and my mind invented a way to comfort me?

Was it my brain playing tricks on me?

I know what I believe it was—what do you believe?

Keeping Historicals period aware or dumb them down?

2009-10-02T23:54:00.003-04:00

I recently joined a critique group -and I value their feedback. I really do because unlike family or close friends who have no grasp on what I'm trying to do but support me they're prepared to ask me the hard questions.

I'm currently working on a major project (over 70K) that's a prequel to Master's Mistress. It focuses more on the Celtic aspect of my heroine's parents and heritage. In an attempt to keep to the time and 'feel' of the era I've been using Gaelic words/phrases and period names. The names I selected are quite common today - but I used the non-Englishenized version to give them a bit more lore.

What I've been hearing is that for the most part readers want something dumbed down. They don't want to look beyond the words to see the definition, the meaning behind a word. I can understand this, I mean the point of reading is to escape. What I can't understand is why if you're reading a historical you want a more modern spin on it.

Perhaps its mearly my confused brain - but I like to write in the period use the correct terms, ideals, culture. So in an attempt to start a discussion and get the juices flowing, I'm going to ask you what you think. Keep a historical period aware or more modernized and dumbed down?

Thanks so much and have a great weekend.

Ambiance and writing

2009-10-02T07:00:00.003-04:00

Happy (early) Halloween! Hard to believe it's that time of year again...seems to come around quicker each year. How time does fly.

I'm going to keep this short as I'm busy working on my latest WIP...

I love the spicy scents of autumn...pumpkin and cinnamon that roll into the holiday festivities. I am one of those writers that like to 'set the mood' when I sit down to write. Depending on the season/setting to which I'm writing, I choose an appropriately scented candle...i.e.: heather, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, honeysuckle, etc.; maybe put on some music and/or, if I'm working on a story from a certain time period, I might pop in a DVD and listen to the dialogue to get the brain waves flowing. Pictures, etc. are also very helpful.

The more I'm able to escape to that other world, the more life I can breathe into my tale--and characters. If you haven't tried this, you should. ...Any props you have that you'd like to share to get those creative thoughts flowing?!?

Until next time, happy reading/writing.

Angie

http://www.angelaashtonbooks.com/

http://www.champagnebooks.com/

Amulet of Fate

Once A Rebel

Corsair Cove

The Other Side of Silence

2009-10-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

My newest release, The Toast Bitches now available in paperback

Nancy's post made me thing of silence, but from a different angle. Since Labour Day the sounds in our house have changed. I no longer hear the inane chatter of my two kids drifting from the basement. Video games and DVDs of 30 Rock are playing in Oakville, too far away for me to hear.

When I arrive home for my lunch break, the dog and cat stand at the top of the stairs, alone. I don't hear the television blaring nor plaintive cries of, "There's nothing here to eat," from my daughter. She'll have to raid her own fridge.

I don't have to drive to the mall with my kids in tow. Nobody needs jeans "right now." The fridge isn't stuffed with Pizza Pops and Diet Coke. The kitchen sink is almost empty - only two plates, two coffee cups and a few forks to wash at the end of the day.

Do I have to mention a single roll of toilet paper lasting more than a week? Thought so.

A hundred kilometres south my son and daughter do their own dishes, play their games, watch their DVDs and hopefully do their homework. They are at the same college and share a basement apartment across from their school.

"Great," everyone says. "You have more time to write!"

Sure, it's quiet. Too quiet. I can't concentrate!!!

--Sandra Cormier, author of Bad Ice from Champagne Books

Silence

2009-09-28T06:17:00.001-04:00

Silence. I never really thought about it. The quiet of the clock ticking when there’s no one in the house. The stillness outside while walking to the mailbox. The blank void while driving without turning on the radio. Silence. It was always there, but I never noticed.

Until it went away.

When did life get so crazy? Is it just me, or does the world seem to be on overdrive? Cell phones, computers. Suddenly asap isn’t fast enough.

I’m spinning my wheels trying to keep up, and the treadmill seems to be speeding up. Suddenly I’ve become so busy I don’t even have time to visit the salon to get my hair done.

What’s the point of this post? Well, I’ve made a decision, and I’m shouting it from the rooftop. I’m welcoming back the silence. I need it to write, to sustain my health, my sanity, my happiness. I’m learning to say no, and I will actually practise it. It’s Friday night as I write this, and for the first time in months, I have no weekend obligations. Starting tomorrow, I will sleep late. Savor a large cup of coffee and think about my new novel while relaxing in my jammie pants.

What about you? Do you covet silence? How do you achieve it?

Regan's Turn at Bat! Why I like Time Travels

2009-09-26T15:10:00.003-04:00

At least I think it is. I don't know where time manages to flitter and frittter off to. One moment it's 9:00 a.m. on the first of the month and suddenly it is midnight on the last day of the month. Where did those hours and minutes go?

At the grade year I stopped at the end of my last class and for some odd reason started to cry. I couldn't stand the teacher; none of us could. But for some reason I felt like I had to talk to her. I told her I was lost trying to figure out where the year had gone. What she told me wasn't all that happy, but it was definitely insightful. She said that from there on out time would seem to pass faster and faster. What was once a year would be a month, a month now a week and days would speed by. She was right. This is also the one teacher who's jaw would drop if she knew I was a multi-published author -- I was THAT bad in English class.

As I said, she was right. Time does seem to speed by more and more and I think that is why I not only enjoy reading, but writing time travels. It gives me a chance to see time stopped in its tracks and the chance to go back and do it right or better or more to my liking. The first I ever read was H.G. Wells The Time Machine and it's still a favorite. I also totally enjoyed the movie Time After Time with Malcom McDowell and Mary Steenbergen (I think that's how you spell it) which is about, essentially, H.G. Wells and the speculation he had his own time machine. My other favorites are the Lives of Jenny Logan (I own one of the rare copies ), Final Countdown, The Philadelphia Experiment and of course, Somewhere in Time. Even the Final Countdown and the The Philadelphia Experiment have happy, romantic endings. In the Final Countdown Katherine Ross gets her man and who can forget the final scene of The Philadelphia Experiment when Michael Pare walks through the fog to return to the future to be with woman he loves?

If you could travel to any place in time, where would you go?