I woke up this morning to a wonderful email - an acceptance from Pill Hill Press for a short (A New Magical Earth) in their Daily Flash anthology. It's a for the love of market but the exposure has to be good. Plus the flash piece only took me about a half hour to submit, edit down to under 500 words, and submit.
Other than that flash piece, my muse has been on vacation. Which is fine with me, after all I wrote 56k in 6 weeks to finish up Torn Between Murder and Love. But June it'll be back to the grind, I have several ideas that I want to get started on.
In the mean time, I'm getting ready for the Lori Foster Reader and Writer Get Together. I have so much to do yet and the conference is next week already! I'm really excited about going.
How are you all doing with your writing? Is your muse cooperating or giving you a hard time? I would love to hear about your latest WIP!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Guest Blog: Jean Hart Stewart - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Decisions, decisions, decisions !!
Do you remember the decisions that shaped your life? The decisions you yourself made, not the ones fate forced on you? Sometimes they stick in your memory forever, and often you don’t even notice their importance at the time.
I made one when I was sixteen, in high school and thrilled to pieces when a handsome hunk (hereafter known as HH) asked me to a school dance. You don’t really want to know how long ago that was, do you? I’d secretly drooled for weeks over this guy, and could hardly believe my good luck. Then, only a week before the big dance, my very favorite aunt died suddenly. She’d always been the mainstay of our small, fatherless family, coming to visit whenever her teaching job allowed her to help out. I quite simply adored her.
On top of the sorrow of her death, I learned her funeral would be the weekend of the prom. Services were to be in another part of the state, and in order to attend, you guessed it, I would miss the dance. My mother, bless her, left it entirely up to me. So I had to decide on my own what to do.
You can imagine how I was pulled in opposite directions. Finally, after much agonizing, I chose to attend the last services for Aunt Ella. HH took the news with polite acceptance, and you guessed it, I never heard from him again, except to pass him in the school corridors.
Was I surprised? No. Was I devastated? Pretty much. Although even underneath my regret I was proud I’d made the right and hard decision. Ella had changed my life for the better in so many small ways. I do think that decision helped shape me for the better. I’m so glad I didn’t go the selfish route, although at the time it was hard, hard, hard.
Now I’d love to have you tell me if you can remember your first difficult decision. How you responded? How old were you? Did you make the same choice you’d make today?
Come on, I’ve told all, now you tell me about yourself.
Do you remember the decisions that shaped your life? The decisions you yourself made, not the ones fate forced on you? Sometimes they stick in your memory forever, and often you don’t even notice their importance at the time.
I made one when I was sixteen, in high school and thrilled to pieces when a handsome hunk (hereafter known as HH) asked me to a school dance. You don’t really want to know how long ago that was, do you? I’d secretly drooled for weeks over this guy, and could hardly believe my good luck. Then, only a week before the big dance, my very favorite aunt died suddenly. She’d always been the mainstay of our small, fatherless family, coming to visit whenever her teaching job allowed her to help out. I quite simply adored her.
On top of the sorrow of her death, I learned her funeral would be the weekend of the prom. Services were to be in another part of the state, and in order to attend, you guessed it, I would miss the dance. My mother, bless her, left it entirely up to me. So I had to decide on my own what to do.
You can imagine how I was pulled in opposite directions. Finally, after much agonizing, I chose to attend the last services for Aunt Ella. HH took the news with polite acceptance, and you guessed it, I never heard from him again, except to pass him in the school corridors.
Was I surprised? No. Was I devastated? Pretty much. Although even underneath my regret I was proud I’d made the right and hard decision. Ella had changed my life for the better in so many small ways. I do think that decision helped shape me for the better. I’m so glad I didn’t go the selfish route, although at the time it was hard, hard, hard.
Now I’d love to have you tell me if you can remember your first difficult decision. How you responded? How old were you? Did you make the same choice you’d make today?
Come on, I’ve told all, now you tell me about yourself.
Blurb for The Third Rose:
When Sara Coverly hides in Lord Wolverton’s bedroom to avenge him for the rape of her friend, she is determined to shoot him so he can never ruin another female. Instead she finds herself wondering if she’s picked the wrong man! Wolf decides he needs a token fiancée to cover his tracks as he searches for a spy, and soon Sara finds herself helping him. And falling deeply in love.
Wolf’s espionage duties bring danger to them both. When he decodes a message threatening the assassination of Wellington at Waterloo, they both set out for Brussels to catch the villain.
Can their growing love endure through war, a desperate villain who is out to stop them, and Wolf’s determination to save Wellington at any cost?
Excerpt:
At last. The bastard had come home. He must have lit more candles, as the room became brighter. She could see a large man, elegantly dressed, stride across the room. Double drat! He moved out of her vision, and she did not dare part the draperies any further. She waited, breath suspended, as he re-appeared and sat on the bed. He arched one long muscled leg, bending over to tug at his boot. His face was in shadow, but his build was powerful, that of a more than adequate sportsman. His size didn’t worry her. A gun was a great equalizer.
He meant to take his boots off himself? She was surprised he didn’t require his valet to wait up for him. An unusual bit of consideration for a servant, one she’d not expected. She’d thought she’d have to stay hidden until the valet had come and gone. Perhaps this was better, since at least he was decently clothed. Not that she’d let any missish tendencies deter her. Actually seeing a large nude male might be educational.
Now was the time.
She cocked the gun and stepped out in front of him, the barrel pointed directly at him.
“You will please rise, my lord. I do not intend to shoot a seated villain.” She felt pride in the composure of her voice. She’d worried a little about that.
Wolverton did not appear unduly upset, although his eyebrows arched upward. He bent the long leg stretched on the bed and clasped both hands around his knee.
“A woman. How interesting. I admit you make a very fetching young man dressed in those breeches, but your voice is definitely female. Might I inquire why you have your gun pointed at me?”
She had to give him his due. His tone seemed as cool as hers, and she certainly must have been a nasty surprise. Although come to think of it, he probably often found women accosting him in his bedchamber. But surely for more pleasurable purposes, cad that he was.
“Stand up, my lord.”
Neither her voice nor the hand holding the gun on him wavered, as Joshua Sinclair, Earl of Wolverton, slowly placed both his boots on the luxurious Aubusson carpet and rose to his feet.
“Is there anything I can do for you, madam?” he inquired, as politely as if he were asking her if she took milk with her tea.
She shook her head slowly, carefully lowering the gun a trifle. What a shame he was such a handsome devil, but then she should have expected no less from a despoiler of virgins.
She was pleased to see him blanch a little as he realized where she aimed.
“Can I persuade you to raise your gun a little? I don’t mind being shot in the chest nearly as much as if you hit the most valued part of my anatomy.”
Accolades for Jean's previous work:
Druid Redeemed. Fallen Angel Reviews. Five angels: A fantastic novel. Stewart deserves praise for delivering this superb treasure.
Kiss of a Druid Bard. Love Romances. Five hearts: Another great story, full of adventure and emotion. This reviewer will be first in line to get Stewart’s books.
Damien’s Destiny. The Romance Studio. Five hearts: Ms. Stewart weaves bits of history to help keep us interested. Fascinating and well-crafted. Her word power in building pictures of places and characters is exceptional.
Druid in Flight. Love Romances and More…4.5 hearts: A fabulous story, interwoven with adventure and a sensual love story. Characters leap from the pages…the story had me captivated until the last page.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
More on Edits
Each writer has there own distinct style. I'm sure there are a few (whom I utterly despise) that can sell their first draft. Few and far between. Most authors have to revise and edit and polish their stories several times before they send their babies to editors at publishing houses and/or agents.
For me, my rough draft is the meat and potatoes of the story: the dialogue and the action. Some emotions. But I tend to gloss over the descriptive parts of the story, the garnishes, the loaded aspect of the potatoes, the marinade.
Right now, I'm just editing Torn Between Murder and Love for content errors. Then I'll go back through it again and add in more descriptive passages and more emotion. The main character, Lorna, undergoes a big character change, and I have to make certain its believable, otherwise the story will fall flat.
I think some of the reason why I had a hard time adding description into my stories from the start comes from my tendency to gloss over the big paragraphs of setting and description in books. I love my imagination and I like to see the characters and the buildings as I want to see them, and since it doesn't always mash up with what the author says, I ignore the author. LOL Wow, does that sound narcissistic. But I honestly think that's where my problem comes from.
What about you? Is there any part of your writing that you have to go back and add? Or do you just tighten up and fix grammar when you edit?
For me, my rough draft is the meat and potatoes of the story: the dialogue and the action. Some emotions. But I tend to gloss over the descriptive parts of the story, the garnishes, the loaded aspect of the potatoes, the marinade.
Right now, I'm just editing Torn Between Murder and Love for content errors. Then I'll go back through it again and add in more descriptive passages and more emotion. The main character, Lorna, undergoes a big character change, and I have to make certain its believable, otherwise the story will fall flat.
I think some of the reason why I had a hard time adding description into my stories from the start comes from my tendency to gloss over the big paragraphs of setting and description in books. I love my imagination and I like to see the characters and the buildings as I want to see them, and since it doesn't always mash up with what the author says, I ignore the author. LOL Wow, does that sound narcissistic. But I honestly think that's where my problem comes from.
What about you? Is there any part of your writing that you have to go back and add? Or do you just tighten up and fix grammar when you edit?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Editing
I'm working hard on editing Torn Between Murder and Love.
It's amazing, I can type for hours and it doesn't bother me, but when I'm editing, I have to take breaks for my eyes and I almost always develop a headache. Maybe because I'm working too hard.
So far, I've cut out nearly 1K tightening up the story. There are parts, especially toward the end, where I'll need to add in more descriptions, so hopefully it'll round out to about 100K. It's at 96K right now.
What's your self-editing process? Have any helpful hints/tips/suggestions? Anyone might want to critique it once I'm done editing it?
It's amazing, I can type for hours and it doesn't bother me, but when I'm editing, I have to take breaks for my eyes and I almost always develop a headache. Maybe because I'm working too hard.
So far, I've cut out nearly 1K tightening up the story. There are parts, especially toward the end, where I'll need to add in more descriptions, so hopefully it'll round out to about 100K. It's at 96K right now.
What's your self-editing process? Have any helpful hints/tips/suggestions? Anyone might want to critique it once I'm done editing it?
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Writing Update
Last night, I finished my assassin WIP. Woot! It's called Torn Between Murder and Love.
Lorna McCloud likes to think she's an assassin for the money and because she's good at it. But the real reason, because she was traumatized after witnessing her father's murder, is one she longs to keep buried. However a fresh lead in the cold case brings her closer to discovering her father's murderer.
Along the way, Lorna is captured by the Paranormal Intelligence Agency (PIA) and learns she is a paranorm with the ability of shadow manipulation. She flees to Creigh, where the country's king, Alaric, has an enormous bounty on his head.
Instead of killing Alaric, Lorna falls for him. When he learns that she is the assassin, he wants nothing to do with her. However they are linked -- there is some evidence suggesting her father and his killer had been on Creigh before the island had been discovered. Furthering digging reveals that the island's original inhabitants had been killed, most likely by the same man who later killed Lorna's father.
Will Lorna ever have her revenge? Has her assassin lifestyle doomed her to a life without love? And the PIA -- what do they want from Lorna?
Okay, that pitch is awful but it gives you a general idea what the story is about. I'll definitely have to work on it and polish the pitch as well as the story before the conference in June!
Lorna McCloud likes to think she's an assassin for the money and because she's good at it. But the real reason, because she was traumatized after witnessing her father's murder, is one she longs to keep buried. However a fresh lead in the cold case brings her closer to discovering her father's murderer.
Along the way, Lorna is captured by the Paranormal Intelligence Agency (PIA) and learns she is a paranorm with the ability of shadow manipulation. She flees to Creigh, where the country's king, Alaric, has an enormous bounty on his head.
Instead of killing Alaric, Lorna falls for him. When he learns that she is the assassin, he wants nothing to do with her. However they are linked -- there is some evidence suggesting her father and his killer had been on Creigh before the island had been discovered. Furthering digging reveals that the island's original inhabitants had been killed, most likely by the same man who later killed Lorna's father.
Will Lorna ever have her revenge? Has her assassin lifestyle doomed her to a life without love? And the PIA -- what do they want from Lorna?
Okay, that pitch is awful but it gives you a general idea what the story is about. I'll definitely have to work on it and polish the pitch as well as the story before the conference in June!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
''Dear Lucky Agent'' Contest: Fantasy and Sci-Fi
HOW TO SUBMIT
E-mail entries to fifthagentcontest@gmail.com. Please paste everything. No attachments.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
The first 150-200 words of your unpublished, book-length work of fantasy or science fiction (adult fiction and/or YA fiction; no MG please). You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also, submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with your entry.
Please note: To be eligible to submit, I ask that you do one of two things: 1) Mention and link to this contest twice through your social media—blogs, Twitter, Facebook; or 2) just mention this contest once and also add Guide to Literary Agents Blog (www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog) to your blogroll. Please provide link(s) so the judge and I can verify eligibility!
CONTEST DETAILS
1. This contest will be live for approximately fourteen days—from May 12 through the end of Wednesday, May 26, EST. Winners notified by e-mail within 7 days of end of contest. Winners announced on the blog thereafter.
2. To enter, submit the first 150-200 words of your book. Shorter or longer entries will not be considered. Keep it within word count range please.
3. This contest is solely for completed book-length works of fantasy and science fiction (both YA and adult novels are accepted; no MG).
4. You can submit as many times as you wish. You can submit even if you submitted to other contests in the past, but please note that past winners cannot win again.
5. The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA's publisher, F+W Media.
6. By e-mailing your entry, you are submitting an entry for consideration in this contest and thereby agreeing to the terms written here as well as any terms possibly added by me in the "Comments" section of this blog post. (If you have questions or concerns, write me personally at literaryagent@fwmedia.com. The Gmail account above is for submissions, not questions.)
2. To enter, submit the first 150-200 words of your book. Shorter or longer entries will not be considered. Keep it within word count range please.
3. This contest is solely for completed book-length works of fantasy and science fiction (both YA and adult novels are accepted; no MG).
4. You can submit as many times as you wish. You can submit even if you submitted to other contests in the past, but please note that past winners cannot win again.
5. The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA's publisher, F+W Media.
6. By e-mailing your entry, you are submitting an entry for consideration in this contest and thereby agreeing to the terms written here as well as any terms possibly added by me in the "Comments" section of this blog post. (If you have questions or concerns, write me personally at literaryagent@fwmedia.com. The Gmail account above is for submissions, not questions.)
PRIZES!!!
Top 3 winners all get: 1) A critique of the first 10 pages of your work, by your agent judge. 2) A free one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.
MEET YOUR (AWESOME) JUDGE!
Roseanne Wells is a literary agent at the Marianne Strong Literary Agency.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Guest Blog: Allie Boniface
Allie Boniface – Blog Tour – One Night in Memphis Audio Book Release
But I’m not often asked “what’s the theme?” which is why I was so tickled by today’s blog host when she wanted to know that. So…what’s the theme of One Night in Memphis? Pretty simple, actually: that second love is possible.
Dakota, the heroine, deliberately leaves her hometown in rural New Hampshire for a whirlwind weekend with her best friend in Memphis, Tennessee. All she wants is to get away from the man who broke her heart. She doesn’t think she’ll ever find a guy she can trust, but that’s OK. She needs to figure out who she really is and what she wants from a relationship, anyway. And she needs to know that it’s OK to be by herself for a while.
Ethan, the hero, is mourning the end of a marriage. He’s spent the last year trying to pick up the pieces and go through his daily routine, but his heart isn’t in it. Deep down, he doesn’t think he’ll ever find anyone to replace his former wife – and that’s OK too. Some people are meant to fall in love just once, and that’s that.
But as Fate will have it, Dakota and Ethan meet on the first sunny afternoon she’s in town. And though they exchange only a few words, when they meet again that night (coincidence? Karma?), both feel a powerful stirring of kinship and attraction.
The theme of this story is really that love can bloom again, even when your heart is broken and even when you’ve sworn off relationships indefinitely. It can happen when you least expect it to, and in the places you least expect it to – but if you are open to it, it can also work miracles.
Thank you so much for having me here today! And if you’d like to hear the story of Dakota and Ethan’s newfound love for yourself, check out One Night in Memphis at www.audiolark.com.
The blurb for “One Night in Memphis”:
- What if a woman, tired of broken hearts and bad choices, traveled a thousand miles to the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, and spent a night forgetting her past in the blues clubs of Beale Street? What if a man who lost his wife to cancer ventured to Beale Street's social scene for the first time in over a year? And what if they met and realized love was still possible for them both? Dakota James and Ethan Meriweather have both given up on finding happiness in a relationship. When they meet in downtown Memphis, at a crowded nightclub, neither has romance on the brain. But as the evening unfolds, and small talk turns to the stuff of hopes, dreams, and shared loss, a kinship grows that surprises them. Before the night is over, though, Dakota's past will catch up with her in the form of a violent ex-boyfriend. As dawn approaches, and tragedy threatens to tear Dakota and Ethan apart, both will have to make a decision that could change their lives forever. Is new love worth putting your life on the line for someone you've just met?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Guest Blog from Steph Burkhart - "The Hungarian" Blog Tour
I'm excited to be here at Nicole's blog, the sixth and last stop on my blog tour for "The Hungarian." My thanks to Nicole for having me today.
"The Hungarian" is set in 1901 in England and Hungary. So, what was life like in 1901? It was an interesting blend of old and new and a time of quick change.
AUTOSMotor cars, or autos, as I refer them to them in novel, were beginning to make an impact, but most of the transport on the roads were horse and buggy. Mercedes was a popular model of car. Daimler and Benz each built autos in the mid 1880's. The Benz Velo and Mercedes became popular European model cars. During this time, it was usually the nobility who had motor cars, and those who couldn't afford it used the horse and buggy.
In London, 1901, all bus services were provided by horse and it led to a lot of congestion. Contemporaries at the time thought motor transport would help.
WOMEN
Married women stayed at home with their families. It was acceptable for single women to work. Poor married women usually worked. Households that could afford employed domestic servants, even a modest household, had a maid.
INVENTIONS
Interestingly, a lot of people did have indoor plumbing. Flush toilets had been invented in the 1880's, but most people did not have adequate drainage, and outdoor facilities were still popular.
Electric lights and telephones were also available, but not everyone had them. In fact, only two percent of homes had electricity. Usually the nobility did and those who made a modest living. There were phonographs, but there were no airplanes, radios, or washing machines.
MOVIES
The movies were in their infancy. Usually the films were short and silent. Berlin, Germany had a burgeoning film industry, as did Hungary.
MEDICINE
Over the counter remedies were popular in 1901. They included laudanum, which was opium based. In fact, there were a lot of opiate based pain killers, much more so than there are today. Working people relied on herbs and roots to help them.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
This was a monarchic union between the crowns of Austria and Hungary. It was formed in 1867 and lasted until the end of World War I. There were two capitols, Vienna and Budapest. The two nations maintained separate parliaments with their own prime ministers.
He was a Hungarian pianist who lived between 1811-1886. He was well known for his skill and his contemporizes thought he was a technically advanced pianist. In "The Hungarian," Matthias admires his skill.
In the story, you'll see Matthias use an auto, the telephone, and Resa using herbs and roots in a medicinal setting. You'll see electricity and central heating used in the story as well as trains.
This reference link, has a video of a London street in 1902. Note the mix of autos and horse and buggys.
We've come a long way since 1901, haven't we?
Matthias gave her a quick tour around the castle. It had been fitted with electricity, plumbing, and central heating. Her husband was very proud of his upgrades. He had never been one to brag, but she could tell from the tone in his voice that he was proud of his home. Then they went to eat dinner.
Sofia was just as good a cook as János. As Matthias, Emily, and Katherine finished their meal, Lazlo approached, holding a letter.
"It's for you, My Lady."
"Oh?" She raised a curious eyebrow.
Lazlo handed it to her. She opened it up and read it out loud. "Dear Lady Duma, Please forgive the sudden arrival of this correspondence, but your sister, Lady Seston, has sent me a letter asking me to expect your arrival in Budapest. I don't know if you remember me -- I was Amelia Gentry, your sister's piano teacher. I'm now Amelia Andrássy, Archduchess of Györ. My husband and I have a residence here in Budapest,
and if you would like to call, I've enclosed my contact information. Welcome to Hungary. Signed, Amelia."
Matthias smiled. "You have a friend already, Kate."
"Liz arranged it."
"It's good that your sister did that. I know the Archduchess's husband, Mikel Andrássy. We share similar views on many topics, including politics. You should call on her tomorrow."
"I will."
After their meal, Lazlo herded Matthias into his study to discuss business, leaving Katherine with Emily. Katherine stayed in the kitchen for a while getting to know Sofia. János helped as well. Like her husband, he had a look of contentment about him. Katherine could tell he was happy to be home.
Josef was a rambunctious little boy full of energy and needing direction. He played well with Emily. Katherine would have to ask Matthias if it would be appropriate to arrange for schooling with him as well as Emily. When it was time for Emily to go to bed, Katherine went through her routines. Emily's sweet smile of satisfaction warmed Katherine's heart.
It was the first time Katherine was alone in the castle. Unsure of what to do or where to go, she went to her new bedroom. The room was encompassed in dark shadows from the setting sun. There were three windows facing west, the curtains half- opened. The bed was against the north wall, made of maple wood with a headboard and a sturdy footboard. There were two matching bureaus and nightstands. A small bath area was off to the side, easily accessible. On Matthias's bureau rested a mirror as wide as the bureau, giving the observer a wide view of the room. Katherine ran her hand over her dresser. It was free of dust. The servants had done well cleaning, but where were the maids? She hadn't met any. Was there a butler? Katherine still had a lot to learn about her new home.
Matthias swung the door open, making her startle, and walked in. He wore a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. His sensual smile made her body tense up.
"Ah, there you are. I was in the study with Lazlo. I didn't mean to miss Emily's routine, but I had some pressing matters that I had to attend to."
"I understand."
He stopped directly in front of her, taking her hand in his. "Can you be patient with me? My affairs have been neglected. I'll need to spend several days on them to put them in order."
"Of course."
"Thank you. I want to show you something."
"Oh? What?"
"Follow me."
He led her down the stairs to his study. It was on the east side of the castle, near the main entrance. Several candles were lit, placed strategically to provide just enough light to see and the furniture was dark. It was hard to make out the style or the wood. He escorted her up to the bay window and motioned for her to look out of it.
There was a small walkway next to a steep cliff and then the land dropped off. The Danube was several hundred feet below them. On the other side of the river, the city was aglow in lights, but there was one building beaming like a rare diamond through the blackness of the night. It was tall, with long steeples and spires placed in proportionate distances from the center. In the center was a raised golden dome.
"Our Parliament building," said Matthias. He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "It was just recently finished and is the jewel of our country."
"It's mesmerizing."
"As are you."
Check out "The Hungarian's" Book Trailer
Goodie Time:
I'll pick two winners out of those who post on today's blog to receive an autographed postcard of "The Hungarian's" Cover.
To qualify for the GRAND prize: You have to post on every blog in the tour. I'll put your name into the "hat." Then I'll pick the Grand Prize Winner's name out of the
The GRAND prize: A coffee mug with "The Hungarian's" cover, a mousepad with the cover, magnets, and a set of autographed postcards.
The Hungarian is available 1 MAY 2010 with Desert Breeze Publishing.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Interview with the lovely Shawna Williams
I love Shawna, and I swear that has nothing to do with her (and her daughters and niece) loving my books. She a kind-hearted soul, and a wonderful person. I can't wait to read her new book, No Other, available today from Desert Breeze Publishing.
And now, onto the interview!
First, Shawna, could tell my blog readers a little about yourself?
I'm pretty ordinary. I'm a mom of three wonderful kids, and I've been married to their dad for 18 and a half yrs. We live on a ranch in Mena, AR, where we raise cattle, horses, goats and rabbits. My interests vary a bit. Apart from writing I also design jewelry, review books, try to keep up with a blog, and look after my family. I'm nerdy in that I think it's fun to study geology and ancient cultures. I'm sentimental in that I can never pass up an abandoned ruin of a house without snapping a picture, and at least trying to convince my family that I'll only be a minute in exploring if they want to wait in the car. My sense of adventure is motivated by curiosity as opposed to the adrenaline rush, and while I love people, I'm an introvert who needs her alone time to recharge. This is when my muse gets a hold of me and fills my head with ideas. I'm also a dog lover. LOVE DOGS!
You make awesome jewelry that I've won in prizes. I love the earrings! And I tend to be an introvert too, although I'm try hard at conferences to put myself out there and establish connections. What us writers will do for our craft! When did you start writing? And why?
I started writing eight years ago after I had a really bizarre dream. The dream was like a story, and it came in "scenes," if you will, with me sometimes observing and sometimes as one of the characters (that's how I've come to think of the people in this dream). The whole thing made so much sense that I found myself thinking about it, all of the time, for about six months as I tried to fill in the periods between "scenes". It finally became so complicated that I had to start writing it out. It eventually turned into a very long and horrible book that sat as a file in my computer for a few years. Every so often I'd get the urge to revise it and attempt to make it better, and while doing that I'd think, "Maybe I'll try to get it published," but then I'd chicken out. This went on for six years, and then two years ago I decided to get serious. I started with books about writing, and then critique groups (Yeouch!), more books, more critiques. Finally, I started submitting short stories and did pretty well with the few I wrote, getting published fairly quick. This gave me the encouragement to keep after the book.
In essence, that dream is now two books. The first, No Other, has just released, and In All Things comes out in November of this year.
While my writing started because of that dream, I now have a head full of ideas. I also have a third book, not related to the dream, which will be published in December of this year.
I get story ideas from dreams all the times. And I write a lot of fantasy so that tells you something about my dreams, lol Where else do you find inspiration? And in particular, No Other?
I'm inspired by those moments we all have in life, in which something profound hits us and we're changed forever. It might be something totally obvious, like finding love, but sometimes it's something so simple, and I like to try and draw that out, define it and give it meaning, and hopefully touch the reader in an unexpected way.
I've already said quite a bit about how and why I wrote No Other. The inspiration for it morphed over the years. Initially it was like a puzzle, piecing things together until they made sense. Over the course of the years though, the characters in this book and its sequel, have themselves become the inspiration. I know them intimately, and I feel compelled to share their journey. I'm just so grateful to have the opportunity.
Taking inspiration from our own lives makes our writing more real, at least I think so.
I love the title, No Other. It's so sweet. How did you come up with it?
The title came from the Bible verse, Isaiah 45:6 "So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other."
The underlying theme of the book is God's sovereignty. But I wanted to write a book that had a good story with complex characters to capture a reader's attention whether they enjoyed reading Christian fiction or not. Weaving in the faith element was easy once I knew the story and characters. What I wanted to avoid was preachiness. Nothing turns a reader off faster, and I didn't want to preach anyway. This was meant to be Jakob's story, about a young man who is a Christian, and how he views his faith and his choices in light of that faith. He's not perfect -- far from it actually, which is where -- to me -- the heart of the story is. Stories with perfect people are boring. I can't relate to any of them so I never feel engaged.
I can't stand stories about perfect characters! You're completely right, they're boring. And don't get me started on Mary Sues. I have a tendency to not finish those kinds of books.
Speaking of books, what books are you currently reading?
I read just about every genre. I love fantasy (ahem...your books). I love suspense and scifi. I haven't read many paranormals, but that's just because my 'to read' list is so long. I've got quite a few waiting on my Kindle. I, of course, love romance, but it has to have a strong, character-driven story. Romance is the story of emotion, and it doesn't mean much to me if I'm not attached to the characters.
Recently I've read K. Dawn Byrd's suspense, Queen of Hearts (very good). I'm currently reading a contemporary romance called The Heart's Journey Home. It's by Jen Stevens, and is her debut novel, and so far it's very touching. I love Francine Rivers, Nicholas Sparks, and Tess Gerritsen. I also enjoy Tom Clancy and his political thrillers. Read most of the books, and saw all the movies, and Harrison Ford is the best Jack Ryan in my opinion. And yes, Love me some J.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings.
You sound like me, I'll read anything! :)
Do you have any advice to offer writers?
Persistence! Be true to yourself. Study, study more, critiques, more study, repeat this process forever. Last, chin up, it'll happen.
Sage advice! Now for some more fun questions: how would you describe yourself in three words?
I. Don't. Know.
In you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
Oooo...now we're talking! Okay, any super power I want. I want to read minds. Do you know how many heartaches I could've saved myself if only I could read minds? Communication would be so much more efficient.
If you could be a paranormal creature, which would you be and why?
A paranormal critter, huh? Hmm...well, since I'm a dog lover, I guess I'll go with werewolf, as long as I don't have to shave in between full moons.
LOL I love the responses to that question, but yours was definitely one of the funnier answers.
Anything else you would like to add, Shawna?
Nicole, I'd like to give away a pair of freshwater pearl earrings, a pdf copy of my book, and signed postcards today on your blog.
Wow, that's some wonderful prizes. Blog readers, be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win.
Also, on the last day of May I'm doing a drawing for three prizes. The first includes:
The question for the extra entry today is, "What is Jakob burning in the first chapter of the book?" You can read the first chapter on my blog, click the coverart and it will take you there. A sample can be downloaded for free on Kindle and you can also read the first 4 chapters on Freado.
Nicole, Thank you for hosting me today. I enjoyed this very much.
For more about me
http://shawnakwilliams.com/
http://shawnawilliams-
http://twitter.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/
Thank you so much for joining us today, Shawna, I had a great time. And your contests are lovely. Be sure to leave a comment, guys!
And now, onto the interview!
First, Shawna, could tell my blog readers a little about yourself?
I'm pretty ordinary. I'm a mom of three wonderful kids, and I've been married to their dad for 18 and a half yrs. We live on a ranch in Mena, AR, where we raise cattle, horses, goats and rabbits. My interests vary a bit. Apart from writing I also design jewelry, review books, try to keep up with a blog, and look after my family. I'm nerdy in that I think it's fun to study geology and ancient cultures. I'm sentimental in that I can never pass up an abandoned ruin of a house without snapping a picture, and at least trying to convince my family that I'll only be a minute in exploring if they want to wait in the car. My sense of adventure is motivated by curiosity as opposed to the adrenaline rush, and while I love people, I'm an introvert who needs her alone time to recharge. This is when my muse gets a hold of me and fills my head with ideas. I'm also a dog lover. LOVE DOGS!
You make awesome jewelry that I've won in prizes. I love the earrings! And I tend to be an introvert too, although I'm try hard at conferences to put myself out there and establish connections. What us writers will do for our craft! When did you start writing? And why?
I started writing eight years ago after I had a really bizarre dream. The dream was like a story, and it came in "scenes," if you will, with me sometimes observing and sometimes as one of the characters (that's how I've come to think of the people in this dream). The whole thing made so much sense that I found myself thinking about it, all of the time, for about six months as I tried to fill in the periods between "scenes". It finally became so complicated that I had to start writing it out. It eventually turned into a very long and horrible book that sat as a file in my computer for a few years. Every so often I'd get the urge to revise it and attempt to make it better, and while doing that I'd think, "Maybe I'll try to get it published," but then I'd chicken out. This went on for six years, and then two years ago I decided to get serious. I started with books about writing, and then critique groups (Yeouch!), more books, more critiques. Finally, I started submitting short stories and did pretty well with the few I wrote, getting published fairly quick. This gave me the encouragement to keep after the book.
While my writing started because of that dream, I now have a head full of ideas. I also have a third book, not related to the dream, which will be published in December of this year.
I get story ideas from dreams all the times. And I write a lot of fantasy so that tells you something about my dreams, lol Where else do you find inspiration? And in particular, No Other?
I'm inspired by those moments we all have in life, in which something profound hits us and we're changed forever. It might be something totally obvious, like finding love, but sometimes it's something so simple, and I like to try and draw that out, define it and give it meaning, and hopefully touch the reader in an unexpected way.
I've already said quite a bit about how and why I wrote No Other. The inspiration for it morphed over the years. Initially it was like a puzzle, piecing things together until they made sense. Over the course of the years though, the characters in this book and its sequel, have themselves become the inspiration. I know them intimately, and I feel compelled to share their journey. I'm just so grateful to have the opportunity.
Taking inspiration from our own lives makes our writing more real, at least I think so.
I love the title, No Other. It's so sweet. How did you come up with it?
The title came from the Bible verse, Isaiah 45:6 "So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other."
The underlying theme of the book is God's sovereignty. But I wanted to write a book that had a good story with complex characters to capture a reader's attention whether they enjoyed reading Christian fiction or not. Weaving in the faith element was easy once I knew the story and characters. What I wanted to avoid was preachiness. Nothing turns a reader off faster, and I didn't want to preach anyway. This was meant to be Jakob's story, about a young man who is a Christian, and how he views his faith and his choices in light of that faith. He's not perfect -- far from it actually, which is where -- to me -- the heart of the story is. Stories with perfect people are boring. I can't relate to any of them so I never feel engaged.
I can't stand stories about perfect characters! You're completely right, they're boring. And don't get me started on Mary Sues. I have a tendency to not finish those kinds of books.
Speaking of books, what books are you currently reading?
I read just about every genre. I love fantasy (ahem...your books). I love suspense and scifi. I haven't read many paranormals, but that's just because my 'to read' list is so long. I've got quite a few waiting on my Kindle. I, of course, love romance, but it has to have a strong, character-driven story. Romance is the story of emotion, and it doesn't mean much to me if I'm not attached to the characters.
Recently I've read K. Dawn Byrd's suspense, Queen of Hearts (very good). I'm currently reading a contemporary romance called The Heart's Journey Home. It's by Jen Stevens, and is her debut novel, and so far it's very touching. I love Francine Rivers, Nicholas Sparks, and Tess Gerritsen. I also enjoy Tom Clancy and his political thrillers. Read most of the books, and saw all the movies, and Harrison Ford is the best Jack Ryan in my opinion. And yes, Love me some J.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings.
You sound like me, I'll read anything! :)
Do you have any advice to offer writers?
Persistence! Be true to yourself. Study, study more, critiques, more study, repeat this process forever. Last, chin up, it'll happen.
Sage advice! Now for some more fun questions: how would you describe yourself in three words?
I. Don't. Know.
In you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
Oooo...now we're talking! Okay, any super power I want. I want to read minds. Do you know how many heartaches I could've saved myself if only I could read minds? Communication would be so much more efficient.
If you could be a paranormal creature, which would you be and why?
A paranormal critter, huh? Hmm...well, since I'm a dog lover, I guess I'll go with werewolf, as long as I don't have to shave in between full moons.
LOL I love the responses to that question, but yours was definitely one of the funnier answers.
Anything else you would like to add, Shawna?
Nicole, I'd like to give away a pair of freshwater pearl earrings, a pdf copy of my book, and signed postcards today on your blog.
Wow, that's some wonderful prizes. Blog readers, be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win.
Also, on the last day of May I'm doing a drawing for three prizes. The first includes:
- Grand prize
- Book, Poster, Notebook, Sterling silver-gold overlay Locket, Goat's milk Soap & lotion, Postcards, $10 Amazon Gift certificate, Pearl bracelet and earrings.
- 2nd Place
- Book, Poster, Notebook, Postcards, Pearl bracelet and earrings, Honey Soap. $5 Amazon Gift certificate
- 3rd Place
- Book, Notebook, Postcards, Pearl bracelet and earrings, $5 Amazon Gift Certificate
The question for the extra entry today is, "What is Jakob burning in the first chapter of the book?" You can read the first chapter on my blog, click the coverart and it will take you there. A sample can be downloaded for free on Kindle and you can also read the first 4 chapters on Freado.
Nicole, Thank you for hosting me today. I enjoyed this very much.
For more about me
http://shawnakwilliams.com/
http://shawnawilliams-
http://twitter.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/
Thank you so much for joining us today, Shawna, I had a great time. And your contests are lovely. Be sure to leave a comment, guys!