Good Morning, on Food for Thought thursday I'd like to talk about how much of you goes into your novels.
For those of us who write fiction, how much fact do you think creeps into your books? It could be in the guise of a characters actions, or the fact they start to resemble someone you know. An opportunity that was missed for one of your characters, is it really emphasising what you missed?
Picture this scene. You have had a huge argument with someone and now you are at your computer writing a scene with your character. Suddenly your calm, reasonable hero turns into the man from hell. All your anger had suddenly gone into your character and you can make him do what really you would like to do. lol
Has this ever happened to anyone and didi you have to rewrite or didi you leave it in?
Looking back at my novels see a lot of myself and people I know in them. Did I do this purpose? God, no! It’s an unconscious action, but it just goes to show how our perception of things can be altered by our emotions. Our imagination can be manipulated folks, and the culprit is ourselves.
So today, I’d like to know who has written a manuscript/published novel and suddenly realised that you know your villain, hero or heroine? The best comment wins a prize from me.
Toni LoTempio is quite an accomplished author of paranormal/urban fantasy romance/suspense, having written over nine books and received many awards and bestseller status.
Notably, her book EBONY was #2 on Fictionwise bestseller list for e-books for the month of July 2007, beating out Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story. That's fairly impressive. But I'm more impressed that her cat, Rocco, writes his own blog Toni sent a request in, for the Six of A Story interview to be on her new release, but I was more fascinated by NO REST FOR THE WICCA, which Toni self-published and has been on Amazon's list of top one hundred in Occult since March 2011. That's pretty good company for your self-published novel to be in, but I was more impressed that Toni agreed to being interviewed around a different book than the one she requested.
Its not uncommon for me to suggest another book for the Six of A Story (it either holds my interest longer or its something unique for the blog, or it just has a good story behind it) however, it is common for authors to tell me, never mind.
I had a blast learning about Toni and her work.
NO REST FOR THE WICCA
Communing with the dead is an everyday occurrence for PI Morgan Hawkes. A half-Wiccan witch who can commune with spirits of those caught between worlds, Morgan uses her talents to exorcise the trapped ghost or demon as part of the Paranormal Investigation Squad – until a string of murders with a voodoo slant prompts the Special Forces Agency to ask for her assistance. Someone’s killing pureblood witches- and the SFA’s convinced Morgan’s heritage (her father was a voodoo priest) could be instrumental in solving the mystery. Teamed with dashing SF agent Cole St. John – an Inheritor Vampire that sets her blood racing – the two of them fight their attraction for each other as they race to stop a madman from unleashing a demonic force upon the world.
1. PI Morgan Hawkes, is a half-wiccan and her talents are exorcising and communing with spirits. Does she have any other talents? And will she have other stories?
Morgan will definitely have other stories – I just need to find the time to write them LOL. Morgan does have other, voodoo related talents that I plan to explore in upcoming adventures.
2. If Morgan were to plan an "All girls night", where would she take us?
Probably to the University for a lecture on voodoo and hoodoo, or some other related topic, or else on a “haunt” to talk to some ghosts. Up for grabs, really. Morgan’s not a braid your hair-talk about guys kinda gal. She likes her action!
3. Tell me more about this school with magic classes?
The University is a school with courses in witchcraft, wizardry, and the occult – but it should not be confused with the wizard school from Harry Potter. It’s way different. People can take single classes (as Xia did) or go for an entire degree in one or more occult practices.
4. What is the Special Forces Agency? It sounds sort of military to me.
Not particularly military, but think CIA with lots of Others in charge J Cole might be considered its “James Bond”.
5. Why team your character up with a half vampire?
Why Not?
What makes Cole St. John stand out from all the other vampires?
His heritage, and the fact he has a lot of human characteristics – he’s not your typical bloodsucking vamp – he’s more sophisticated. Plus, he’s got a lot of patience (especially with Morgan) 6. What will readers find surprising about NO REST FOR THE WICCA, related to the characters?
I think the ending might surprise many, and the revelations at the end. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say sometimes the most obvious answer isn’t always the right one.
Thanks to Toni for sharing her work with us today!
To learn more about Toni LoTempio visit her website and her new release, RAVEN's KISS can be found here:
Raven Grace was a college senior with ambitions of a career in law enforcement when she met the demon Aega, whose bite turned her from mortal to Shapeshifter. Now a member of the Recovery Organization, Raven keeps the peace between humans and errant Hellhounds, trolls, wizards and the like – but her secret ambition is to track down Aega and bring him to justice. A chance encounter gives her the opportunity she seeks – in a universe that exists parallel to her own!
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Leave a comment on this post and throughout the week of July 25th, for a chance to win a weekend spot on the APA Blog.
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Would you like to be interviewed for Six of A Story? Please send all requests to cschamberlain2010@gmail.com with "Six of a Story" in the subject line. Include your website, book blurb and a quirky fact, open to all genres but Christian fiction.
Christine DePetrillo has had her book, ALASKA HEART, featured on Authors Promoting Authors. To read about that book and further tidbits about Christine, see this post.
We are thrilled to have Christine back, talking to us about The Author Experience.
Christine, thanks so much for sharing your work with us!
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I was once accused of being too happy in my stories. Everybody was always smiling, the sun was always shining, puppies and kittens aplenty. I couldn’t help it. Creating love stories made me happy, and I wanted my characters to have everything good in the world.
But that’s not very interesting now, is it?
Characters need conflict in order to change and grow and realize what it is they really want out of life. Readers need a reason to turn the page. If everything always works out in every single scene, there’s no chance to hold your breath, to wonder, to worry, to rejoice. Reading should be this kind of journey.
After receiving the feedback that maybe I had too much positive energy going on in my writing, I challenged myself to create something dark. This was really challenging me to be dark, which is not in my nature at all. I do smile a great deal. I like smiling. Smiling is good. Even if things are not going my way, a smile sometimes gets me through it. How was I going to keep the smiling to a minimum in my writing?
Start with death, a voice not unlike the Grim Reaper’s rasped in my head.
Sure, okay. I could try that. And so I did. My novel ABRA CADAVER is the result of my experiment with the Dark Side. A book with a synonym for corpse in it has to be dark, right? My main character, Holly Brimmer, dies in a car accident. Her flesh has been torn away. She coughs up blood. Her heart ceases to beat. Breath no longer fills her lungs. Until Keane Malson comes along and gives her a second chance.
Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Hold on. Wait a second. She dies, but gets to live again? Isn’t that a glass-half-full scenario, Christine? Isn’t that a lucky break?” It would be, except that in order for Holly to stay alive, Keane has to kill others and give their life energy to her. That’s kind of dark, right? Not to mention the fact that poor Keane is a cursed Celtic warrior and has been wandering the planet for centuries, unable to go in the sunlight, unable to choose his own path, always getting called to save someone from death’s grip. The dude has no life of his own. I’m getting all choked up for him all over again.
Don’t worry. Although I did take a trip to a dark place, it’s still a romance novel and there’s still a guaranteed happily ever after in the end. There are laughs along the way too, but not a ton of smiling. Honest.
ABRA CADAVER will be released soon from The Wild Rose Press. This book taught me that it’s okay to try things outside of my comfort zone. Characters can have some darkness, but still find contentment and love. Authors can beat their characters up and still feel as if they’ve written something worth reading. Readers can shed a few tears as they turn the pages and still enjoy a book.
So if you’re looking for a way to cut back on the daisies and rainbows in your writing or limit the pink bunnies and butterflies in your reading, start with death, I say. It worked for me.
We receive all kinds of requests, here at Authors Promoting Authors and even in my short time doing Six of A Story, I have had tons of authors asking for interviews.
My guest today, Brian Thompson has the honour of sending me the best email ever, asking for an interview. He was personable and sincere, witty and interesting. He dropped by my blog, but didn't parrot back to me a title of my post or make some inane comment. He took time to read and commented in his email and Brian offered information about his book and himself.
I really enjoy interviewing authors about their work but it can be hard if I am offered no information to start with. There are some books, I've turned down or suggested another feature for, because the author had too little information or offered no information about themselves.
If you want to be interviewed for Six of a Story, the best thing to do is actually drop by my blog (wouldn't you want to know a bit about who is interviewing you and their style?) and be interesting. Interviews are conversations, so be conversational.
Anyways, I was impressed with Brian Thompson and its not easy to impress me—I spend my working days around people who think they are super important and have egos the size of the moon.
Brian Thompson's quirky fact, “I'm double-jointed in my thumbs. I'm not sure if you were looking for a personal quirky fact or a literary quirky fact. If you needed a literary quirky fact, I find inspiration in the writing advice of Ernest Hemingway, but I drink a lot less than he did and I don't own a shotgun.” He has a wonderful author website, so please go visit him here:
When I was reading through Brian's website and book blurbs, I noticed he considered his work Christian fiction, curious because it just didn't scream “Christian Fiction”, I asked him about it.
Brian said,“I consider it Christian fiction because essentially, it's a Biblical allegory with redemptive themes of salvation, forgiveness, unconditional love, and sacrifice. All of the characters, one way or another, embody them, and there are Biblical references throughout the book. Not scripture and text, per se, but for example the Uche do not eat at the same table as the Sangue, which is similar to the Biblical relationship between Jews and Gentiles.”
The Revelation Gate is three unconventional love stories set in the background of a Saharan country on the brink of war. A young slave woman with an incurable blood disease finds herself cured and pregnant – thanks to a mysterious phenomenon called “holy rain.” Though the law forbids it, she gives birth and immediately goes into hiding to save her son, who is destined one day to enter The Revelation Gate to free his people.
When the boy returns home years later after being presumed dead, a childhood friend falls in love with him – though he is forbidden to reciprocate it. And the liberation of his people depends on his devotion and willingness to sacrifice for them. At the point where his people need him most, he suddenly disappears.
1. When Isoke takes Chimelu (the Mkombozi) into hiding right after he is born, how does he end up having a childhood friend? Was he raised in safety in another place that knew nothing of his birth?
Isoke's husband (Aitan) sends her, Chimelu, his second wife and their daughter Lusala into another land. Bimnono is from that area and has family there, so she is able to conceal their whereabouts. There, Chimelu and Lusala spend their first two years growing up together.
2. The boy is a sort of supernatural being, someone who should be heralded and held in wonder, yet, he and his mother are ostracized. One would even think that the two would face death. How does she manage to escape, let alone survive?
At first, she escapes death due to the neglect of her captors. She is safe for two years until someone, or something, attacks her. She barely gets away and flees back to her homeland, where the original ruler who wanted to kill them has died. By then, Chimelu is no longer sought after.
3. The brink of war that the country is upon - is it a civil war, or perhaps an uprising in the planning by the Uche peoples? One where the Mkombozi would turn the tide?
It's a combination of the two. The two sides have been at odds for more than 800 years. A few events in the second half of the novel "break the camel's back," so to speak, and starts the events leading up to the war.
4. It seems that the love stories are between Chimelu and Lusala, and Isoke and Aitan. Who are involved in the third of these unconventional love stories?
Well, they are love stories, but only one is romantic -- Chimelu and Lusala. The other two are between Isoke and Chimelu -- a mother's love for a son she barely knows -- and Chimelu's love for the Uche -- a man for his nation. They're all powerful in their own way, and drive the characters to do some pretty interesting things.
5. Is the Revelation Gate an actual physical structure? Or is it metaphorical? If it is physical, is it guarded? Considering that the laws forebade Isoke from giving birth to Chimelu because of the Holy rain, it would stand to reason that Sangue set those laws to keep the Uche as slaves.
Good question! I wish I could answer it without giving it all away! Let's see. . .the Uche prophecies allude to Mkombozi, or the "Deliverer" entering the Revelation Gate, so they believe it's a physical structure. It has a metaphorical meaning too. It is guarded . . in a way. And yes, the Oti set the laws to keep the Deliverer from being born. It was a type of population control since the other methods caused too many problems.
6. What other effects does the Holy rain have on the Uche? Does it only happen at key moments - like the solstice?
Well, Isoke's father got cured of his drunkenness. Her mother received the gift of foreknowledge. It could heal, restore -- whatever the person who needed it believed that it could do, it did. It's effects were only limited by a lack of belief. As it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, it only happened a few times over the course of history.
My thanks to Brian Thompson for sharing his work with us on Six of A Story.
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Would you like to be interviewed for Six of A Story? Please send all requests to cschamberlain2010@gmail.com with "Six of a Story" in the subject line. Include your website, book blurb and a quirky fact.
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Leave a comment on this post-all comments from the week of July 18th 2011, will be entered to win a weekend spot on the APA Blog. Its part of our 4th Year Celebration! Today is the last day to enter for this comment contest and a winner will be announced, tomorrow.
After last week, where so many authors put themselves out to participate on the blog, I thought today, I'd delve into their souls. As readers visit here too, I think it is nice for them to see that an author isn’t just a novel churning machine. lol Before we start, are you follower? In the next week or so there will be a huge event. If you miss it, because you are not keeping up with whats happening, boy, will you regret it.
Firstly, congratulations to Sally Odger, who won my little pressie for the best comment. It was very hard to choose I can tell you.
Also, a big whoop whoop, to Louise Wise who won the free proof read from All Write
So today’s topic is Being Thankful. A subject from an author friend’s blog not so long ago. Lets face it, we all have a moan about life, people and circumstances. I mean, come on, life is so stressful. But, be honest, who stopped today to actual think about what is good in their life?
Today, is a day for sharing what you are really thankful for.
The present for the most insightful comment is something very special. Only the winner will know what it is.
Yesterday I spoke to a woman who is terminally ill. That’s one of my jobs. Helping those who feel lost, alone and afraid. But on this day her words helped me instead. How? She reminded me that however fragile life is, we should be thankful we were given the chance to live it. She said, I am thankful to have been given the chance to know all the people in my life. A simple statement, with a huge message. Instead of floundering under the pressure of an illness that will take her life, she was happy and laughing with her family. Just thankful to be able to share her life with them.
So, to start the ball rolling, here are the things I am thankful for; That my son came back from the Iraq war, when so many mothers’ sons did not. For my daughter who survived a nervous breakdown and now lives a full and happy life. For my husband who survived two heart attacks and is battling a devastating illness, yet still puts himself out to help others. Last, but never least, I am thankful for my friends, faceless ones on the internet included, who never fail to cheer me up.
August 1940 He wasn't supposed to be on the plane. Now Major Faust is a prisoner of the English and he must escape before they break him. But every time he gets away, a woman is raped and murdered. The English need someone to hang. He's the hot suspect. He's got to catch the killer, even though he's helping the enemy. It's collaboration. Almost treason. It's making a Deal with the Devil.
J. Gunnar Grey asks: "Is the World War II combat novel now a cliche, or are there still stories to be told? Not talking about tales from the home front, or which are merely set during the war, but actual war stories, with soldiers and spies and sabotage."
Leave a comment on this post and all week--all comments from the week of July 18th 2011, will be entered to win a weekend spot on the APA Blog. Its part of our 4th Year Celebration!
One of the reasons I like this stint on the APA Blog, is because I get to meet authors who are passionate about what the stories they've created. My guest today, is Kay Springsteen and even a curorsay glance at her website, will tell you that she is a romance writer. Kay has many titles but Elusive Echoes is the second book in the Echoes of Orson's Folly series and has recently been released and it was the book we chatted about for Six of A Story.
Kay's quirky fact made me look twice:
"I write best when my muse spins her web outside my window. Argiope aurantia, commonly known as the "black and yellow garden spider", or "writing spider." " but when she sent me beautiful pictures she had taken herself, I began to understand.
They’re two people caught between friendship and something more; they can’t move forward, and they can’t let go.
Drawn together from early childhood, Sean McGee and Melanie Mitchell seemed destined for each other. But at age thirteen, Melanie was wrenched from the people she loved and forced onto a path she loathed. Sean was no stranger to people leaving, but losing Melanie devastated him. When she suddenly reappeared in Orson’s Folly, Sean was overjoyed. The Melanie who came home, though, wasn’t the same girl. She’s got a harder edge and she’s obviously hiding something, but Sean no longer knows how to reach her.
Returning to Orson’s Folly as an adult, all Melanie wanted to do was forget the years she spent away. But she soon learned that going home didn’t mean she could return to her old life—or her childhood sweetheart, Sean. Even their mutual attraction to one another hasn’t rebuilt the bond of trust and closeness they once shared. It’s been seven years since she returned and now everything Melanie wants to forget has broadsided her. She must confront her demons and relive her past in an unexpected way or risk losing the only man she’s ever loved. But even if she succeeds, Sean might be lost to her anyway.
1. In the book blurb, it is hinted that something happened to Melanie. Can you tell us something about what has happened to this girl to change her? Some insight into her life away from idyll?
During her time away, she became embroiled in the work of the grift - con games.
2. During the time that Melanie was away from Sean's life, did he try to find her?
He tried to figure out how to find her but he was only 14 and soon after Mel left, Sean's family life took a dramatic turn itself.
3. From the excerpt, it seems that Sean is rather guarded. Why?
Family history and a lot of time spent talking only to horses made him a tad awkward and when Mel returned she wasn't the same girl. She was probably a little intimidating considering she wasn't talking about what had happened to her.
4. Both of these characters, read with a lot of depth. Who would you say is the stronger of the two?
They have about equal strength, but Sean's is quiet strength. He's used to being the pillar that holds up the roof. He's strong because in a lot of instances, there was no one else to fill the role. Mel has a hard survivor's edge to her (now) and she's strong and tough because she had to be as well.
5. Can you tell us more about Sean? If we were to all hang out with him, what would he want us to go do?
Sean's a quiet man. The only reason he likes to hang at the bar is that's where he sees Mel. Give him a horse and a long ride in the country and he's a happy man.
6. Is there a message in this novel you'd like readers to come away with?
Love will find a way. In the end, love will win if it's meant to be.
Leave a comment on this post and all week--all comments from the week of July 18th 2011, will be entered to win a weekend spot on the APA Blog. Its part of our 4th Year Celebration!
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Would you like to be interviewed for Six of A Story? Please send all requests to cschamberlain2010@gmail.com with "Six of a Story" in the subject line. Include your website, book blurb and a quirky fact. Learn more about be by visiting my blog.
Call it what you will, but Authors Promoting Authors has been around for four years and we thought we should celebrate.
Over the next few weeks, we will have Birthday Posts, Anniversary Specials, and lots of give-a-ways.
We are passionate about helping authors succeed, and over the four years, APA has grown into a huge and far-reaching network. Behind the scenes, we answer questions from authors, we do our best to ask around and provide references or thoughts on publishers, services and even agents. We have inspired other blogs to work in the same vein and have brought hundreds of writers together, most importantly, given authors an innovative way to promote their work.
We were the first blog of our kind, open to all genres, all authors, everywhere.
As part of our 4th Year Celebration, we'd like to run a feature called "Remember When..."
If you have been on the APA Blog, especially during the early years, we'd like to have you back, to talk about the book of yours that appeared here and your current or recent release. If you're interested, drop us a line here: apasuggestions@gmail.com
Thank-You! Thank-You! Thank-You!
To all the authors who have participated, to all the contributors who have been on over the years and to our many friends and readers. Thank-you!
In the next few weeks, we will be celebrating our Birthblogversary, with lots of prizes, contests, events and giveaways but it is our Birthday! Blogverisary! Anniversary! 4th Year! And we thought we should take this opportunity to ask for presents.
Our Present List
Many, Many, Many Followers
Last year, due to the changeover of our template, we removed the Follow button and were just a little bit slow on re-adding. Followers of the APA Blog get perks and at least one of us tries to follow you back.
A New Look
Each year around our anniversary-during the summer-we improve the elements to the blog and slightly change the look. If you are a blog/template/graphic person out there and would like to do this for us, drop us a line here: apasuggestions@gmail.com
A Brazen Contributor
We are the only blog of our kind. We were the first blog to be open to all genres, including erotica and in part in was due to those erotica authors why we quickly gained interest and following. We'd like to give back and are seeking a contributor to have a weekly "Erotica Corner" on the APA Blog. You could talk about all things that have to do with erotica writing, interview writers, artists, those who publish erotica books and anything else in between.
Non-Published Writers
APA is open to all writers or readers. If you are an expert in your field, filled with knowledge and wisdom that you think our readers will appreciate, then we'd love for you to write a guest post and be Our Guest.
Love Us!
We greatly appreciate our contributors and encourage you to show them some love.
Margaret West's new feature "Food for Thought" in a short time, has grown hugely popular. If,you are an expert or person with knowledge in the book-world and feel that you'd make a good guest for her, please contact her directly at: margaretwest@hotmail.com And give Margaret a follow here: http://margaret-paranormalromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
Dorica Nevin, pops in on Sundays with her soul-awakening feature, Sunday's Stillpoint. Check out Dorica's labor of love, "Psyche's Journey" http://www.psychesjourney.org/
C.S. Chamberlain interviews authors, with six questions that center on your characters and on your story, with her feature "Six of A Story" .
Check out her blog here: http://cschamberlain.blogspot.com/
Christopher Chamberlain is an artist and firmly in the APA Family. If you need cover art or other drawings, see his work here: http://manyfacesart.blogspot.com/
Join In!
This blog does not exist without authors who want to participate. Check out features to see where your book could fit. Want us to help or have an idea for a post that you don't see listed? Drop us a line here: apasuggestions@gmail.com It never hurts to ask and if we can, we will accommodate.
Continue On
In connection with APA, C.S. Chamberlain is starting a new collective blog. Looking for six other women, to take part and post one day a week on this new blog. Preference will be given to those writers who are unpublished and are working on a WIP, have interesting things to say, and more than anything else, want to land that elusive literary agent.
If interested: cschamberlain2010@gmail.com
Hire Me! In celebration of our fourth year, check out this promotional package
Tell Us What You Want... Is there something you wish we had on this blog? Is there something you'd like to see? Would you like to host us for our anniversary? Do you have ideas of how to celebrate? As usual, we'd love your thoughts and suggestions.
Can't Say Thank-you Enough!
A thousand thank-yous' to everyone, past and present who has helped build this blog and the behind the scenes network. We wouldn't be celebrating out 4th year without you! Leave a comment on this post and all week--all comments from the week of July 18th 2011, will be entered to win a weekend spot on the APA Blog.
Good Morning and welcome back to Food for Thought. Today we have a star guest. All Write Proofreading Service. The founder and owner is offering a spectacular prize today. She will personaly proofread three pages from your ms. All you have to do is comment. The best one will win.
The question today is do authors really need a proofreader? I hear authors saying all the time, no I don’t. It is far too expensive. But can you put a price tag on your manuscript?
'Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that the first and last ltteer be at the rghit pclae.The rset can be a tatol mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is beuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istelf, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?'
If you can read this, then you just might need a proofreader!
Did you know the human eye only really looks at the first letter and last letter of a word. If it’s right, it will assume the rest of the letters are correct as well. That’s why fresh eyes are always invaluable when it comes to proofreading.
Today I’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you use a proofreader? If not, why?
Have you used a proofreader and what did you think?
First of all, let’s have a quick chat to Sharon, the founder/owner of All Write Proofreading Services.
Sharon, can you tell me what are the most common mistakes made in text?
Hello Margaret, and thanks for having me on your Thursday Food for Thought blog today! I’d say that often it’s the small words that are regularly missed – teh instead of the, your instead of you’re, their instead of their, or they’re instead of there! Why do you need a proofreader?
As Margaret said, no-one should proofread their own work, because you know what should be on the page, that’s what you see, even if there is an obvious error present. A fresh eye will not see the same pattern as you do, and will pick up the mistakes. A professional proofreader is also trained to keep changes from causing expensive alterations to page layout, so saving you and your company money. Another good example is that Margaret sent me these questions, and in my business name at the top, it initially said ‘Poofreading’ – see? Easy to miss…!
What is the difference between proofreading & copy-editing?
Proofreaders check for many of the same things copyeditors do, but in general terms, proofreading checks for errors in spelling, basic grammar, punctuation, capitalisation, font and formatting. Copy-editing looks at the overall picture of grammar, fact, clarity, structure and style of document.
Why use a proofreader when there are spelling/grammar checkers on PC’s?
What a spelling/grammar cannot detect is the phonetically similar words, for example - where or wear, site or sight, enquiry or inquiry, compliment or complement. A poorly presented document or website containing misspellings and grammatical errors can give the wrong image of you or your business.
How long would it take to proofread my whole book?
A basic rule of thumb for a straightforward publication is a proofreading rate of about 10 pages per hour with about 300 words per page. However, more complicated texts, or ones that have been inadequately prepared, could take twice or three times as long.
I don’t know the proofreading symbols, so how else can you edit my document?
Thanks to technology, it’s not often that I actually proofread on paper and use the BSI symbols anymore, unless I’m working with a big publisher. Electronically, I can use the ’Track Changes’ feature in Microsoft Word (.doc’s) or the ‘Text Edits’ in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf’s). Track Changes enables me to indicate suggested changes and then enables you to accept or reject my suggestions. Text Edits allows me to indicate text that should be inserted, deleted or replaced. I can also use the ‘sticky notes’ feature in Adobe.
Alternatively, I am also happy to just write any of my corrections in a different colour to make them stand out. It all depends on the preference of the author, I’m here to help after all!
Thanks Sharon for popping in today. Please check out All Write and see what you think for yourself.
After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it? When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being? Werewolves…
The youngest of four children, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires, she devoured every book, featuring those blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find.
It was only natural that a love of reading vampire stories, turned into a love to write them.
Katie is also a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin. She loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories.
My guest today on Six of A Story, is romance author, Lee Ann Sontheimer. Lee Ann is a very accomplished writer with many titles currently out for your reading pleasure and going through her blog, it was hard to choose which one to ask about. There was something about KINFOLK, that made me keep coming back to it, so I decided to ask Lee Ann all about this new romantic suspense release. A quirky fact about Lee Ann "I'm more at home out in the rugged Ozark woods hiking along a narrow trail, skipping over the snakes than in any shopping mall".
1. Can you please tell us a little about your main character, Katherine Vaughn? What is she like?
Katherine is a very talented writer and she's also very domestic, something that didn't always mesh with her late husband's lifestyle. She's happy writing but she is also very content to be in the kitchen, cooking. At heart, she's more traditional than probably even she realized until she came back to her native Arkansas. She is also very loyal and she can be headstrong, a quality that sometimes gets her into trouble.
2. Other than the obvious (that Katherine is fleeing from someone or something) what is one obstacle she faces?
She's Arkansas born but she's lived away for most of her life. Until she comes home, in fear for her life, she has not accepted or understood her own past completely.Until she does, she can't really be comfortable in her own skin so her homecoming, although it is for a different reason, actually helps her to come to terms with who she really is and more importantly who she can become.
3. If we were playing, "Truth or Dare", with Ben Hatfield, what would he dare us to do?
As a former Navy SEAL, Ben is a very serious-minded, focused individual. He loves his family, his country, and his way of life enough to protect any of the above using any means necessary but he's just the kind of man you'd find playing "Truth or Dare".
4. Katherine comes back to her family farm. Are there any memorable pets on this farm?
No, no memorable pets.
5. What makes KINFOLK unique, from other romantic suspense novels? And though I realize most authors are weary of making comparisons, is there a mainstream romantic suspense author you'd say, "My book is like....theirs?"
One thing that I think sets Kinfolk apart is the rural northwest Arkansas setting, not one often encountered in romance fiction of any kind. The fact that although Ben Hatfield is a former Navy SEAL, he works in the local poultry processing plant, is different.That's a personal quirk - I like heroes who have ordinary, everyday occupations. Billionaires, CEOs, royalty, and movie stars as the hero usually turn me off quickly in a romantic suspense novel.
I'm an avid reader of Sandra Brown's romantic suspense novels and I would like to hope that some readers might see some similarity in the kind of romance.Other than that, I like to think that my novels have some unique qualities.
6. Is there a message you hope readers will take away from KINFOLK?
Yes. Something that I have learned, especially over the past few years, is that the family bonds that we make early in life are the bonds, the ties that remain with us forever.Those early common bonds are stronger than we often may think. Although I have many cousins, there are just a few that I am very close with as an adult.Those are the ones that I had a close, bonded relationship with as a child. The same goes with aunts, uncles, and other relatives. In writing Kinfolk I drew on that experience, that the oldest bonds are the strongest, so that Katherine's ties with her family, especially Ruby remain powerful despite her long absence. The same applies to Ben and his relationship with Pop, with his cousin Kenny.
Thanks to Lee Ann for sharing her work with us today! KINFOLK can be purchased here
Here is more about Lee Ann:
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is a full-time romance author. A native of the old historic city of St. Joseph, Missouri, one time home to both Jesse James and the Pony Express, she now lives and writes in the beautiful Missouri Ozark region. Her romance novels include Wolfe’s Lady (December 2010 Evernight Publishing), Love Tattoo, (March 2011, Evernight), Love Scars (June 2011, Evernight), Love Never Fails (May 2011, Rebel Ink Press), Kinfolk (July 2011, Champagne Books) Witness Protection Program (Rebel Ink Press), and The Marriage Cure (Astraea Press). Other works scheduled for upcoming publication include four other novels, short fiction in several anthologies and more.
Her work also appears in nine anthologies to date. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Missouri Writers Guild, EPIC, The Ozark Writers League and Paranormal Authors Guild. She earned a BA degree in both English and History from Missouri Southern State University as well as an AA Degree in Journalism from Crowder College. She worked in broadcast media for a decade and has also worked in the education field.
She is married to Roy W. Murphy and the couple has three children, Emily, Megan, and Patrick Murphy.
If Lee Ann – or Lee as many of her writing friends know her – isn’t writing, she’s reading or spending time outdoors.
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Would you like to be interviewed for Six of A Story? Please send all requests to cschamberlain2010@gmail.com with "Six of a Story" in the subject line. Include your website, book blurb and a quirky fact.
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Good Morning. Today on Food for Thought, I'd like to discuss agents.
Sometimes it feels like they are in the secret service. You never know exactly how to approach them or where to find them. We all would like one, it would make our writers life so much simpler. But did you know that Literary agents are not regulated by licensing or certification? Just like everything else in this world, there are good and bad ones.
Agents usually join an organization called the Association of Authors Representatives. But in saying that, still check credentials as good literary agents are not always members of this group.
I know it's hard for most authors to attend writers conferences. Most of us have full time jobs as well as our writing agendas, but it is a good idea to meet literary agents before you submit to them. T o find out what's happening near you, go here.
Good literary agents are highly specialized because they are extremely knowledgeable about every category of publishing. So how do you snare one? The right agent needs to specialise in your genre of writing. He/She knows how to evaluate the marketability of your manuscripts and knows specifically which publishers might be interested. My advice, for what it’s worth, is to look for agents who represent the fewest number of genres. As some spread themselves too thin over a broad range of categories, and you want them to focus and be an expert in yours.
When you are lucky enough to grab an agents attention, help them evaluate you by giving honest information. Keep it brief. Tell them your publishing credits to date. Please do not expect your agent to be an editor. Think of them as just sellers of your work. NEVER pay an agent for editorial advice and, beyond general impressions of your work, your agent shouldn't offer any.
So here is what you need to send to an agent. For Nonfiction your proposal package should include: Table of Contents Overview of the book Chapter by chapter outline, brief descriptions for each Chapter 1-3 sample chapters (up to about 50 pages) Description of the market your aiming for Your bio, including your credentials for writing the book, and any promotional support you can provide
For Fiction: A Brief synopsis 1-3 sample chapters (typically 10-50 pages) Then be ready to send the whole manuscript on request.
Here are some links I think you will find helpful. http://www.writers.net/agents.html http://www.firstwriter.com/Agents/ http://www.literaryagent.co.uk/ My question today is for authors really. Do you feel you could do better with an agent, or are you doing doing just fine on your own? Have you had any dodgy experiences with an agent. Please share and you could win a fab prize for the best comment.
As I delight with the requisite "oohs" and "aahs" tomorrow night, witnessing the eruption of colors on the black night sky, I will also begin a new tradition. I am going to celebrate my own independence! Finding inner independence comes from years of disentangling myself from the collective's values, opinions and beliefs about what is truly my own life! Conscious awareness of what has been laid upon me by my family, my education, my training, my job, even my friends and partners grows a little deeper each time I find a new thread to the past. I can more clearly see when I am and when I am not being true to myself. Using a "sharp sword of discrimination," (words of my mentor, Marion Woodman,) I will continue to sever the binding, the emotional tethers that keep me from fully developing my unique potential. This is a life's work!
So beginning tomorrow night, as I see the symbolic "bombs bursting in air," I will imagine each beautiful color as an expression of the ongoing liberation of my soul. These colorful emblems will tell the new story of my authentic independence: red for the rootedness in my own true nature, blue for voicing the truth of my being, white swirling ribbons for the light that emanates within me, orange and yellow for the passionate, creative child I still am. Gold and silver tears trickling down are my favorite. They are the tears of love and joy for the woman I am becoming.
How do you discriminate between your own soul's expression and those of your upbringing? How does this impact your art? I'd love to hear your stories! Happy Independence Day!
For those of us who write fiction, how much fact do you think creeps into your books? It could be in the guise of a characters actions, or the fact they start to resemble someone you know. An opportunity that was missed for one of your characters, is it really emphasising what you missed? 
Looking back at my novels see a lot of myself and people I know in them. Did I do this purpose? God, no! It’s an unconscious action, but it just goes to show how our perception of things can be altered by our emotions. Our imagination can be manipulated folks, and the culprit is ourselves.
