Sandra Sookoo shows us how to create romance in a paranormal world

Most of us like to mix-it-up when it comes to writing. I caught up with author Sandra Sookoo and asked her to tell us a little about the trouble she put  her characters in for her new book, Vegetarian at Midnight:
"Let’s talk romance but not just any kind of romance. I like to drop a poor, unsuspecting couple into a paranormal setting, give ‘em a few problems and watch the sparks (and the fangs and fur as the case may be) fly.
Read More

Look at Pitching as a Job Interview Part II

Pitching is part of the writers life. But, how do we learn the best way to go about it? Personally, I have heard hundreds of different tips!
Jennifer Bray-Weber thinks one way is to look at it like a job interview:
"Scott Eagan of the Greyhaus Literary Agency came to my “home” Romance Writers of America chapter, Northwest Houston RWA, gave us an eye-opening quirky presentation on submitting and pitching.
This week, I’ll share with you the scoop on pitching pointers à la Scott.
Read More

Jennifer Bray-Weber speaks on pitching: Tell them what they want to hear

Most writers have pitched. It's part of the process to find that perfect person to buy our masterpiece! With the National RWA conference this week, some will hone their skills. But what is the best way to go about it?
Jennifer Bray-Weber says, Tell them they want to hear!
This is what you’ve been waiting for. The nugget of information that will make pitching to an editor or agent a piece of cake. The magical words of wisdom that will surely chase away the butterflies and all but guarantee you a four book deal.
Okay, maybe not that last part. You’re stomach will still flip-flop and you’ll probably not get signed before your ten minutes is up. But you’ll be armed with knowledge to get you that much closer to fulfilling your publishing dreams.
Read More

Turning up the summer heat!

It's summertime! That is everywhere but in Seattle. I've heard rumors that the rest of the world is having the hottest summer on record. Here it feels like Fall. But, for erotic writers the heat is always turned up.
I caught up with Delilah Dawson and asked:
What do you like best about summer?

Read More

Love and Death: Would you like a little romance with your action?

Many times we are told to not cross genres, but is this rule written in stone? Can our writing be stronger if we add a little of this and a little of that? I heard local author, Jayne Ann Krentz aka. Jayne Castle, aka Amanda Quick speak. She wanted write across genres and now publishes under all three names. A little of this and a little of that.
Author, Deborah J. Ross tells us to put a little romance in our action:
"Crossing genres is hot business these days: science fiction mysteries, paranormal romance, romantic thrillers, Jane Austen with horror, steampunk love stories, you name it. A certain amount of this mixing-and-matching is marketing. Publishers are always looking for something that is both new and "just like the last bestseller." An easy way to do this is to take standard elements from successful genres and combine them.
As a reader, I've always enjoyed a little tenderness and a tantalizing hint of erotic attraction in even the most technologically-based space fiction. For me, fantasy cries out for a love story, a meeting of hearts as well as passion. As a writer, however, it behooves me to understand why romance enhances the overall story so that I can use it to its best advantage.
Read More

Finishing up and some thoughts on publishing by Timothy Hallinan Part 5

Now, we've finally finished our masterpiece novel. What's the next step?
Timothy Hallinan shares his final thoughts in Part 5 on Finish your Novel:

Part 5: Finishing up and some thoughts on publishing
1. Finishing Up
As many people have said, writing a book is like having a child. You give birth to it, nurture it through its infancy, nurse it when it's sick. You pour yourself into it without robbing it of its individuality. You let it delight you. You let it break your heart. You give it every single thing you have, and then you go find something more to give it.
Then comes the hard part. You have to release it, let it go wander the world among strangers. Strangers who might not understand it. Who might not like it. Who might even think it's ugly.
In a word: Eeeeeeeeeeeeek.
Read More

Tips to Help Finish Your Novel 3.2

Part 2 continues on how to follow the line and start writing your novel. I love this quote below, "Don't write the parts the readers skip." How do we do this? Timothy Hallinan shared tips on how to finish your novel:

5. What we leave out
“Don't write the parts readers skip.”-- Elmore Leonard
"All writing is a process of selection. What is left out is often as important to the flow of the story as what is left in.
Read More

Timothy Hallinan tells us how to finish your novel: Part 1

As writers, (I speak for myself) we usually have a MILLION ideas bouncing around in heads, but once we start... then we get another idea.... that seems better. We stop that story, and move to the next. It's like a quilt, we have a box of pieces, but nothing put together.

Author, Timothy Hallinan, has written a great article on how to help us finish our novels.
Part 1:
This article is for you if:
You’ve started a novel but are having trouble finishing it, or
You want to start a novel but aren’t sure you’ll be able to finish it.
Read More:

Why use a pseudonym? Who are you by Wendy Delaney

There are many reasons people write under a pseudonym. You want to write something different than what you've been writing and create a new you. Many times people want to keep their real world separate from your writer's life. Good plan. I've lost a job over my website...gesh...
Seattle author, Wendy Delaney, shares why she thinks you might want to consider it:
"Roger Daltrey of the Who belts out a good question every opening episode of CSI—“Who are you?”
 Read More:

Why I write erotic regency romance by Brita Addams

I haven't settled on one genre yet, but this is a great question. How do you start writing what you're writing? I caught up with author, Brita Addams, and asked
Tell us how you got into writing erotic Regency romance?
"I am writing this strictly as an author who prayed fervently for publisher recognition and finally found it. As a person who doesn't 'jump the gun' as my mother used to say, I did my homework before deciding to write something I hoped one day would find its way into a reader's hands that didn't belong to someone I was related to.

Much like the experience our parents were always talking about us getting, in order to write anything, it had to be something I knew something about. I love romance and I also love history, particularly American and British. Reading Regency romance was almost a given, a perfect fit. The Regency was a time of social strictures and mores the like of which we, in our times, have never seen. As an author, I enjoy putting my characters into situations that are contrary to social expectations. When I can take an aristocrat and reduce him to mush with one look or touch from a feisty, independent lady, I am a happy camper."
Read More

How to use your blog as a promotional tool

We've written the book, but there's more to it than that. When we get published, we need people to READ it! What can we do to get people to LOVE us, and want to run out and buy our books!

I asked Author, Libby Sternberg, what do you think about writing blogs?
"Readers now expect authors to have websites, but many authors also maintain blogs. Are blogs worth the time and effort? Do they help authors attract readers?
I'm slowly learning how to make blogging worthwhile, not just for my readers but for me, as an author.
Read More

Patricia Mason tells us to always look on the quirky side of life for story ideas

As authors, it helps to look outside the box. Many times we think we have to color inside the lines. Is this true? What if we want to make the tree orange and the sky green?
Patricia Mason broke out of her box and finished her novel:
"For many years—I’m embarrassed to say exactly how many—the completion of a novel seemed to elude me. I would work on something for a few weeks but then interest would wane and the first three chapters ended up under my bed or taking space in some storage tub full of memorabilia. They say to “write what you know.” For me that didn’t seem to work. I didn’t want to write about my real life. Real life is sometimes depressing and always boring to anyone but me. So what is an aspiring novelist to do?

Read More...

Economical ways to do promotion

We all strugle with ideas for promotion. You can drop a pretty penny on it. Local author, Delle Jacobs, shares a few idea on how to create your own bookmarks on the cheap:
"Now that I've got a cover for LADY WICKED, my coming-soon release from The Wild Rose Press, I just had to do a bookmark. A little re-positioning, fine-tuning, and some blurbs and addresses. And a new design on the backside. Add a subtle color gradient for spice. (Oh yeah, I put a dress on her. Just because I could.)
For those of you who have a thing for RT cover models, and you know Jimmy Thomas, you may recognize him in the embrace silhouette. He's got some fabulous photos I'd love to use on covers, and they're not all that expensive- and pretty cheap for the e-book or bookmark size- $5.
Read More

How writing short stories can help promote your fiction

There are a few reasons I've been writing short stories. My first ebook, Ignite Me, was a great learning curve. It helped to polish my skills as a writer, it's helped me with the experience of working with an editor, and it helped get my name out there as a published author. It's not usually for the fame and fortune, but there are benefits!
I asked Seattle author, Gina Robinson,
What do you think some of the pros are for writing a short story?
"Last fall the editor of a popular series of romance short story anthologies approached me about contributing a story to an upcoming anthology. The offer came out of the blue. I write in the subgenre that she was going to feature in this particular anthology. The deadline was short—just three weeks. Was writing a story for it worth my while or not? Can a short story be an effective way to promote a novel or a novelist’s career?
Read More

What are our duties as writers? Is it more than just the story?

I think our writing is more of a big picture thing. I don't want to write or read books where, especially the heroines, are abused or made to do things against their will.  It's not good... it's not sexy. Is this just my opinion?
I caught up with local author, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and asked her opinion
Is it our job to give women more than just a light read?
"Awhile back I went to the Rose City Reader’s Luncheon in Portland. It was my first unofficial function as a published writer, although I attended as a reader because, well, because by the time I registered that’s all that was left. I won a basket of historical books, which I don’t really read, but I like winning and there were some other cool trinkets and bobbles. Yay me!
Jane Porter was the featured speaker at the luncheon. I don’t guess I need to explain who she is. I’ve never read her work, but I saw the movie Flirting with Forty, and now I have the book and I will read it. I found her to be a great and inspirational speaker. She talked about some bad reviews she’d received as a new author, which came at an ideal time for me as my fear of reviews had grabbed me in a strangle hold. She gave me permission to not be loved by one and all. Some day I will give myself permission.
Read More

Bronwyn Green shares how writers can decrease stress and increase productivity

We all face stress each and every day. We try to deal with it, and if not, we drink coffee because we live in Seattle the coffee capital of the world!...
Keep Reading »

Daring to Believe: Hitting that “send” button by Dana Marie Bell

I know I speak for myself, but I have hold the fear of hitting the send button. I spend sleepless nights, reading my first three chapter and synopsis...
Keep Reading »

Ellery Adams tells us to beware! A mystery writer may be watching you

Is there truth in the old writer's joke 'Be careful or you'll end up in my next book'? Isn't there always someone that you fantasize about getting...

Is there truth in the old writer's joke 'Be careful or you'll end up in my next book'? Isn't there always someone that you fantasize about getting...
Keep Reading »

Lisa Harris shows us how to set the scene for your book

I think, setting the scene is everything for authors. Whether your book's a historical or contemporary, you have to take the reader there and put them...
Keep Reading »

Everyone loves a cowboy, especially Carolyn Brown

I recently had a funny conversation about cowboys. One of my critique partners, Darlene Panzera, has Washington State cowboys in her books. A friend from Texas said, "there are no cowboys in Washington!" Well, maybe not too many in Western Washington, but as soon as you get over the mountain pass, that's all there is for 250 miles is cowboys and country music on the radio. So, even though we ain't Texas, we know about the hats and tight Levi's :)

Carolyn Brown has a new series that revolve around cowboys.

What's fun about writing cowboy

"Put on your dancin’ boots, grab a long neck bottle of beer and a handsome cowboy to do a little two steppin’ with and come on over to Mingus, Texas, to the Honky Tonk to have some fun. Get to know Daisy and Jarod a little better once the embarrassment is over and they fight against their feelings for each other. Meet Chigger, Emmett, the red haired Walker triplets and Merle. Giggle when you read about how Chigger plays matchmaker and cry at the sad parts. Did I forget to tell you to bring a tissue or two?

Read More...

Thoughts on Choosing an Agent--or The Great Agent Hunt by Sally MacKenzie

We've been told a million different opinions. Have one. Don't have one. Need one. Don't need one.

I asked multi-published author, Sally MacKenzie, when is the right time to find an agent?

"In a perfect world, I suppose I’d have had an agent when I made my first sale, but things didn’t work out that way. When I signed with Jessica Faust of Bookends, LLC, I had my second two-book contract on the table–and in some ways this was a good thing. I wasn’t focused on selling, but on finding a person to help me manage my career, and I’d spent a year working with a New York publisher and observing with keen interest–since I knew I would need an agent soon–how my newly and not so newly published pals interacted with their agents.

Read More...

To action or not to action that is the question

I have taken some great classes at the Emerald City Writers Conference. I've heard over and over, start your book with action, but is this always the only answer?

I asked Sherry Thomas

How do you open your books?

"Last summer, at the Romance Writers of America’s national conference, I participated on a panel with two agents and three other writers of historical romance. The topic was about debut historical romances that had caught publishing houses’ attention, and sold either at auction or in a pre-empt.

At one point, my agent, Kristin Nelson, read the opening paragraphs of my debut novel PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS to the audience:

Read More