Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC

The first of our fun character interviews - Welcome Rae Kerrigan!

2012-02-21T06:12:00.001-08:00

Today, I am lucky enough to interview the protagonist who shares her life through the pen of one of our agency author's, Wanita May. Rae of Hope is a YA novel that Wanita has worked tirelessly to promote and a book for which I have complete cover envy!

Let's find out more about Rae...

Who are you and why are you here?

Ha ha. That sounds like some question you’d ask an alien visiting earth. My name’s Rae Kerrigan. I’m the main character in the Chronicles of Kerrigan series. I’m here on WJ May’s request (she’s telling my story so I kinda owe her.)

Nice to have you here, Rae. Let me try and rephrase what I meant. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m sixteen and attend Guilder Boarding School in south England. When I’m not at school, I live with my aunt and uncle in NYC.

Where do your parents live?

They passed away when I was a kid.

My apologies. I noticed when you came in that you’ve got a tattoo on your back. What is it?

Uh…well, it’s, um… It’s a tatù of a fairy.

I didn’t see the entire thing, but it the detail looks stunning.

Thanks.

Can you tell us a bit about your roommate? I hear she is here, with you today.

Molly’s great. She’s from Wales and is a very bubbly, hyper person. She’s got great taste and has taught me a thing or two about fashion. Between you and me, she’s a really softy, a sweetheart. She’s my best friend.

Alright, time for a few silly questions.

How do you fall in love? At first sight? Over a long period?

I’ve never been in love but I’m guessing it would be over a long period. There’s no such thing as love at first sight, right?

When you walk into a room, what do you notice first? Second?

If people are looking or watching me. Then I look for another exit.

What do you wish your special talent was?

Laughs. I wish I had the power to do anything I wanted. Or to fly – flying would be cool. Or to erase my past.

What three things would you take to a Desert Island?

Devon, Molly and Jullian. They’re my best buds. We’d have a party there.

If you mean physical non-human things: My iPod, laptop and a beach towel.

WJ May is writing your story. Do you think she’s found your voice?

She’s working hard and doing a pretty good job. I’m noticing that as we spend more time talking or sharing stories that she’s getting to figure me out. She’s new but I really like her. She’s got a great sense of humor.

Rae of Hope, the first book in the series The Chronicles of Kerrigan was released at the end of 2011. Do you have plans to share more of your life?

I do. WJ May and I have just finished the second book and I think she said it’s coming out this summer – in August of something. Then I have another story or two to share.

*chuckles* Life is never boring… at least not for me.

Thanks for stopping by Rae. I know you have a plane to catch back to England. Have a safe flight and good luck with your final year of high school.

Find me:

On facebook: Rae Kerrigan

On Twitter via: @wanitajump

Website: www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

Rae of Hope Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iauHkcm6UQo

Getting to know Kathleen Delaney!

2012-02-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to being interviewing Kathleen Delaney today for the blog as Kathleen is yet another one of the Agency's authors I do not know very well - we are all so busying tapping away at our keyboards or scribbling in our notebooks to even chat to one another - it's just not good enough! ;)

What book do you wish you’d written?

That’s a hard one, but on the whole I’d have to say “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The story seems so simple, the characters so straight forward, but there is nothing simple about this book. The characters are multi-layed in a way that makes each one unforgettable. It’s a masterpiece.

Favorite authors and books.

This one is even harder. So many good ones, I’m not sure where to start. For just good fun, I love Elizabeth’s Amelia Peabody series. Such tongue in cheek humor, such improbable characters, yet a lot of underlying truth in these books. I loved all of Josephine Tey’s books, and was in love with Lord Peter Wimsey from about twelve. Am currently reading Sarah’s Key, excellent book, but heartbreaking without one trace of sentimentality. I love mysteries, and that’s what I write, but I read a wide veriaty of things.

When did you consider yourself an author?

When I sold my first article to Family Fun, the Disney magazine. It was entitled 4H Blues and it was a humorous piece about my oldest four kids and our family adventures in 4 H. They loved it, paid me actual money, and from that moment on I considered myself a real writer.

How many books have you written?

Five. Four of them, Dying for a Change, Give First Place to Murder, And Murder for Dessert and Murder Half-Baked, are in print or up on the Ebook sites. The first two have been purchased by Harlequin for re-printing and will soon be available through their web site and through their book clubs. The fifth one is the beginning of a new series. It’s with Dawn now and is making the rounds. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. It’s a little different, although still a “cozy” or traditional mystery. The protagonist is a woman in her seventies, although she doesn’t sit and knit or grow geraniums. She doesn’t do much sitting at all. I really like her.

Favorite genre

That would have to be mysteries, but I don’t confine that to just cozies. I read a large selection of mysteries.

Advice to new comers

Never give up. That’s first.

If you haven’t finished a book, don’t quit. Also, don’t worry about making every page, every sentence perfect. Get your story down. Know your characters. Make sure your plot is clear, follows a straight line, from a logical beginning to a logical close. You can polish later. You’ll need to.

But write. Everyday. Put down something. If you’re stuck, go back and take a look at your characters. One of them isn’t following your game plan. Once you get them back on track, you’ll come unstuck. DON’T quit.

And one more thing. You’ve finished your novel, polished it as much as you think you can, but you get rejected time after time. Read the comments of anyone who has made one, and think about it. Go to creative writers classes at your local community college or join a writers group. There are several good ones. Guppies, a Sinc group, is excellent.

Listen to your critique partners. Then go back and writ it again. A wise man once said, “books are not written, they are rewritten.” Or maybe it was some wise woman. Whoever said it knew what they were talking about. Don’t give up. Keep writing. You’ll get there. Good luck.

Have you met Karla??

2012-01-24T03:50:00.000-08:00

Today's featured Blue Ridge author is murder mystery writer, Karla Stover - I know Dawn is particularly fond of murder mysteries as are most of us! It was Agatha Christie (along with Enid Blyton!) who started me on the writing path. Looking forward to finding out more about Karla and her work...

(I am now down to just one author interview on my dwindling list so PLEASE, any authors I haven't interviewed, email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail. I promise the procedure is painless in every way :) )

1) Did you set any goals for 2011? Yes, find an agent for my murder mystery series. Readers may not know how hard finding an agent is.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you? The escape into another life, the make believe, getting to be younger and have the occasional clever repartee, and researching, if necessary.

3) The worst part? Finding new ways to write descriptions.

4) What is the book you wish you’d written? It’s not so much a particular book; it’s having the knowledge or back ground to do something really unique, such as the Vish Puri mysteries or the Peculiar Crimes mysteries.

5) Favourite author/s & book/s? I love Betty MacDonald’s books. She wrote four memoirs of which The Egg and I was the most famous. But Anybody Can Do Anything is my favorite—a single mom with no work skills, raising two little girls during the Depression, and having to move back home. It could have been what the British call an American’s misery memoir; instead it’s just plain funny. All her books are. I also like Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody—a non-fiction book that could have been written by one of the maids in The Help. For fiction, I love Virginia Lanier’s series about mysteries, bloodhounds and the Okefenokee Swamp, and Sarah Rayne’s wonderfully noir books that take place in Great Britain.

6) What’s next for you? I worked for many years at a brokerage house, and I want to set a mystery within the financial world. Fill or Kill is a stock market term meaning execute this order immediately or forget it. That’s my working title. I had so many different jobs with the company, and saw so many changes that I have two problems: the danger of including too many anecdotes, and deciding who the victim and culprit will be, and the motive. There are just too many choices.

7) Tell me where you write? We have a large family room that would never pass muster on the TV show, Design on a Dime. The television and two easy chairs are on my right. There are three large windows, and my desk is positioned so I can watch the news and/or the bird feeders Along the walls are several bookcases, a large file cabinet full of newspaper clippings that I refer to when doing my radio show, a pellet stove which generally has a cat sleeping on it, and an old stereo which plays classic 33s, 45s and 78s, and on which I have plants. Framed vintage comic books, advertising labels, a 1940s railroad clock, and my husband’s hunting trophies are on the walls.

8) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years? With Oprah’s book list gone, what’s left? Ha Ha! I want my books published and read and enjoyed. I’d like emails commenting on them and knowing my family and friends are proud of my accomplishments and of me.

9. How many books have your written? Which is your favourite? Four, and my favorite isn’t finished yet. It’s a YA book called A Feather for a Fan, and takes place in Tacoma ,Washington circa 1870-1880. I aim for an Anne of Green Gables book - - might as well aim high.

Nice to meet you, Michael!

2012-01-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

The agency author I've interviewed this time around is Michael Murphy, author of mystery novel, Scorpion Bay and others. I hope everyone is enjoying these interviews as much as I am and you are visiting the blog as a chance to get to know each other better.

I am running low on interviews so if you'd like to be featured please email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com and I'll add you to the list. Dawn has a LOT on authors of her list and I know I've only interviewed a handful. So, come on, don't be shy! ;)

Rachel x

1) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

The part of writing I enjoy most is letting the subconscious mind work on plot and characterization. It’s the creative part. Sometimes it’s dreaming and sometimes the process occurs when I’m driving or on the treadmill. If I really let my mind take over, then putting the scene down on paper is just mechanical.

2) Favourite author/s & book/s?

I mostly writing the kind of books I enjoy reading, mystery and suspense. Nelson DeMille inspires me by his ability to weave humorous characters into the action and suspense and Dennis Lehane inspires me with his intricate plot twists. My favorite book is Plum Island, by DeMille.

3) What’s next for you?

I’m awaiting word on the sale of the best book I’ve ever written, Good-bye, Emily. I ventured far from mystery and suspense with a character driven novel about a man who just turned sixty. Determined to scatter his wife’s ashes, he recreates a roadtrip with his two buddies from high school. They head back to where he met Emily, Woodstock. It’s funny, touching and full of music and memories of that era.

4) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

Sometime in the next five years, I’d like to enter a Starbucks and see someone reading my best seller.

5) What comes first, plot or characters?

My answer to this question has changed over the years. When I started writing novels, I thought it was plot, but now I strive to create memorable characters. I have fun challenging them with plot, but at the end of the day, or the end of the novel, it’s the events’ impact on the characters that matter the most.

6) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Urban chicken farming. Really.

Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/mmurfy68

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/mmurfy68

Website http://www.mjmurphy.com/

Chatting with the lovely and generous, Vonnie Davis!

2011-12-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

Onwards and upwards with the author interviews! Thank you so much for everyone who contacted me over the last couple of weeks wanting to be added to my list of author appearances. I am really enjoying getting to know you all and sure everyone else feels the same.

Anyone else wanting to be interviewed can email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com

Okay, over to my fabulous online friend and Blue Ridge author, Vonnie Davis...

A warm Virginia shout-out to all you Blue Ridge Literary writers. As country comedian and singer, Minnie Pearl, used to say, “I’m just pleased as punch to be here.”

Did you set any goals for 2111?

I set a two-pronged goal for myself. First, I wanted to improve at my craft. Second, I wanted to write two more books. I have one book and a novella under contract and am working furiously to finish book two.

Which is your favorite genre to read? To write?

I mainly read the genre in which I write. I’d be foolish not to. Right? How could I write a romance if all I’m reading are books on gardening and knitting? I also read political intrigue and spy thrillers, since I’m currently writing a romantic suspense series involving terrorists and governmental corruption.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

No. I suffer from writer’s fear. I can always write something. There are so many storylines bouncing around in my head that when I reach a difficult section in my current WIP, I can yank something else from my mental closet and work on it.

For example, I currently have three historical romances and several romances involving older heroines nagging for my attention. A lovely gentleman in my writers’ group, who also happens to be a BRLA author—“Hi Jim!”—once asked me if I ever finish anything. I may have a touch of attention deficit disorder. Voices in my head? (gentle laughter) Oh, yeah.

Getting back to that writer’s fear I mentioned. I will picture a scene in my mind for weeks. It plays out like a movie in slow motion. I can hear the dialog, see the characters, smell the aromas of the scene. I set up the scene chapters in advance with little tidbits of information dribbled in. Yet, when I am ready to begin writing it, fear steps in. What if I lack the ability to transfer the scene from my mind to the computer screen? What if I’m unable to get my reader to see and hear it the way I do?

I tell myself to write one paragraph and then another; bare bones writing of just the dialog and action. Then I go back and layer in emotions and internal dialog. Then another layer of description needed to involve the senses. What are my characters hearing in the background (an old song on the radio, perhaps), touching (the velvety petals of a rose), smelling (beans burning on the stove), or seeing (passersby talking as they hurry along). Adding the senses to a scene strengthens it and draws our readers further into the story. They feel as if they’re there.

What is the best part of the writing process for you?

I love what I do. For years and years I dreamed of writing, yet lacked the self-confidence to actually work at it. There were many half-hearted attempts to put storylines to paper. It wasn’t until I met and married Calvin, who is also a writer, that I had someone to encourage me to write. He is my hero, and I put a part of his personality into ever romantic hero I create so they have a touch of his sterling character.

I enjoy creating quirky characters who add a special dimension to a story. I like to write about families and all the dynamics within them. So I have several secondary characters who often add a comedic relief to the plot.

What is the worst part of the writing process for you?

Writing sex. The intimacy between two people is such a lovely part of one’s life, but writing about it is very difficult. I tend to focus on the emotions the characters are feeling rather than the mechanics. Still, how many times can you write about sex and make it sound different? If I’ve spend two-thirds of the book developing their relationship and showing the sexual tension, then I need to also write intimacy in a dynamic way that doesn’t let the reader down after pages and pages of building up to that point. I struggle big time with this.

What is your biggest piece of advice to emerging novelists?

Learn the power of point of view. Study the novels that have sucked you into the storyline. How did the writer achieve that? Read books on the topic and take online workshops on deep point of view. This will strengthen your writing. Your book will become a page turner—and isn’t that what we all want as writers? To have someone tell us they couldn’t put our book down? That is the highest compliment. To that end, friends, write on!

Vonnie’s debut book, Storm’s Interlude, was named Best Read by Long and Short Reviews and garnered the Book of the Week award. It was also accepted into the Best 100 Romances Project of smaller publishers as well as eBook publishers.

To buy Storm’s Interlude from Amazon: http://amzn.to/pkkcLq

** Vonnie blogs the 2^nd of every month at RWA’s Voices of the Heart. http://bit.ly/vRAisZ

** On the 12^th and 27^th, she blogs at the Roses of Prose, a group of international romance writers. http://bit.ly/mX7EXF

** You’ll find her at Seven Night Writers on the 14^th and 29^th of every month, giving words of encouragement to other writers. http://bit.ly/vRAisZ

** And her personal blog, Vintage Vonnie -- http://bit.ly/nrwpPx

** Follow me on Twitter @VonnieWrites.

Time to talk with Paul McNabb...

2011-12-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

The next Agency author to be subjected to my questions is Paul McNabb. I must just say before we get to Paul's interview how jealous I am looking at the background in his picture when I am sitting in dreary, rainy England. It looks fabulous!

Rachel

Okay, over to you...

1) Did you set any goals for 2011?

I am definitely a goal setter. I was a high school wrestling coach for 8 years after I graduated from Oklahoma State University. I learned early to set goals and most importantly, to map out a plan to achieve those goals.

My goal for 2011 was the same as it had been for several years: Get my book, The Jaguar Conspiracy, published. The difference was early in the year Dawn called to say we had an offer from kNight Romance Publishing. It turned out to be a three book deal.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

My favorite writers, Ian Fleming and Michael Connelly, wrote a series of stories about a main character. Of course Michael Connelly’s stories continue and he actually has four main characters. The stories were in real time, ie, as the stories progressed, the character got older. I am in the process of actually fulfilling my dream to create the same kind of character.

The reader will travel through time with him and enjoy the adventures as they occur. I know the story line of the first three books although I haven’t done much on the third book yet. I just had a fantastic idea for the fourth book. I really enjoy the whole experience of creating a character who travels to specific places and events.

3) The worst part?

Sometimes I spend days thinking about a difficult part of a story. The challenge for me is making the discoveries of the solution to a case realistic. I also think one of the most difficult parts of writing mysteries is giving readers misinformation, steering them in the wrong direction with facts that have multiple meanings.

4) What’s next for you?

In 2012 my first two mysteries will be published, The Jaguar Conspiracy in May and Hope Against Hope in July. I will start the editing process with the publisher soon so I anticipate I will be busy. I must deliver the manuscript for Hope Against Hope at year end so I have a few more rewrites to go. As my books are published I will be spending a lot of time marketing them.

I must execute the third book, Deadly Contract, during the course of 2012 and produce a finished manuscript by the end of the year. I know the story of the third book already but I haven’t even blocked it out yet so I have a long way to go on that project.

I plan to write a screen play for The Jaguar Conspiracy during 2012 because I think it would be an excellent movie. I also write three monthly columns in classic car magazines so that keeps me busy attending events, doing interviews and meeting deadlines.

5) Tell us where you write?

My wife and I own a townhouse on the central coast of California. I have a small loft office upstairs by a balcony. I have a comfortable chair and my laptop. I’ve surrounded myself with die cast model cars, a Maltese Falcon replica, automobile posters and some music pictures. It’s a comfortable place.

6) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

I want to write a book a year and build a following for my main character and the series. I want to write a screenplay a year, too. I want to be economically successful as a writer, ie, earning a good living from my books.

Sites:

Paul McNabb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1143271497

The Jaguar Conspiracy Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1143271497#!/pages/The-Jaguar-Conspiracy/110152315733185

Hope Against Hope Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-Against-Hope/180147062057995?ref=ts#!/pages/Hope-Against-Hope/180147062057995?sk=wall

Deadly Contract Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deadly-Contract/137833346309882?ref=ts#!/pages/Deadly-Contract/137833346309882?sk=wall

The McNabb Report E-type Magazine www.e-typeclub.com

Letter from America XK Gazette www.xkclub.com

According to Lucille Jaguar Owners Club of Los Angeles newsletter

Jaguar Tales http://jcna.com/php/clubdisplay.php?club=sw04#newsletter

kNight Romance Publishing www.knightromancepublishing.com

Meet Blue Ridge Agency author, Phyllis Humphrey!

2011-11-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

This time around, the agency fortnightly author visit features Phyllis Humphrey. Phyllis was one of the very first people I spoke to via the agency yahoo group when I was fortunate for Dawn to take me on back in March. I am very grateful for such a warm welcome and very much look forward to getting to know Phyllis a little better.

Please remember to email me if you'd like an interview at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com - I am getting VERY low on interviews and I know there are still many, many of you lovely authors who haven't appeared on the blog yet. I'd love to hear from you!

Okay, over to Phyllis...

1. Goals for 2011?

I never give myself a goal of "selling" a book, because I have no control over when--if--an editor will offer a contract. My goal for 2010 was to try to promote COLD APRIL, released in December, 2010. Thanks to my hours of research about the Titanic, I’ve been able to post some blogs (www.phyllishumphrey.com) with information I think others will find as fascinating as I did.

5. Favorite author & book?

REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier has always been my favorite book, and, judging by how many of her books I’ve purchased, I guess Sue Grafton is my favorite author these days.

7. Where do you write?

I have my very own ten-by-ten office, which overflows with paper. It has two doors: one inside and one to the garage so I can sneak out if necessary.

11. How many books have you written?

Nineteen complete, plus four incomplete. I’ve sold thirteen, and two of my backlist will now be indie published too.

12. Which comes first, plot or character?

In the case of COLD APRIL, the plot, because Titanic sank, and I had to save my hero and heroine. Usually, I think of them together: that is, a character with a problem or a goal and I want to show her solve that.

13. Do you ever suffer from writers block?

Not really. I’ve had my share of crappy days, but I remind myself that a famous writer once said, "Just keep writing. When you read it later, you won’t be able to tell which came when you were feeling inspired."

14. What do you like to do when not writing?

We’re all social animals, and mustn’t sit at a computer all the time, so I joined a Performing Arts Club and I act in their plays and sing in their musicals. I love it.

17. How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

Rejection is a given in this business, and I try to learn from criticism. Sometimes, a comment from a contest judge has alerted me to a way to improve and I ended up with a better book.

10. Your biggest piece of advice for beginning novelists?

Persistence. Never give up. I sent out one book nineteen times before it sold, and another 27 times before getting a contract. (Of course, I tried to improve the book in between.)

Time to get to know JoAnn!

2011-11-15T04:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, this time the spotlight is on Blue Ridge Agency author, JoAnn Smith Ainsworth. I haven't spoken to JoAnn much since I joined the agency so I am looking forward to getting to know her better.

Please remember to email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com if you'd like the chance to be a featured author and I can add you to the list.

Best

Rachel x

Welcome, JoAnn!

1) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?

Never give up. Stay optimistic.

When I speak to readers, I often have people come up to me to say that I’m an inspiration because I changed the direction of my life as I approached retirement and because I persisted until I succeeded. They become inspired to follow through on their dreams.

During this life journey, I learned to stay true to myself, stay focused on my goal and keep walking step by step toward that goal.

2) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As I approached retirement age, I looked for a way to supplement my social security income. Since I have my B.A. and M.A.T. in English and my MBA studies, I decided to go into the business of writing novels. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with my characters and with the process. Now, I’d keep writing even if I never sold another novel.

I considered myself a writer from the time I made my decision to write. I considered myself an author when I got my first manuscript done.

Published author came ten years later. I spent many of those years studying the craft of writing so that I can produce the best possible story to enchant a reader.

3) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

I enjoy editing. As I peal off excess words, I feel like a sculptor who chips away stone to get to the image inside. Or, in my case, the story inside.

4) The worst part?

Facing a blank page is the hardest.

The decision on where to start the novel is crucial to the novel’s success. Capturing a reader’s attention with the first words on the page requires refining the thoughts by choosing or eliminating possibilities. It takes significant decision making to begin a novel. Those choices affect everything that follows.

5) What comes first, plot or characters?

I write in historical settings so I choose my setting/time period first. I ask myself: What story problem can arise because of this time and place? Then I ask myself what type of characters are best suited to resolve the story question? From there I create at least five major crises the characters must face. Those crisis points are the story plot. As you can see, the plot comes last.

6) What surprised you the most when you became published?

I was surprised by how I suddenly became an expert on writing and marketing a novel. I knew the same amount of information on the day before publication, but afterward people in audiences looked to me as an expert to give them guidance on writing and marketing their own books.

Enjoy reading!

JoAnn Ainsworth

www.joannsmithainsworth.com

Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter here:

http://www.facebook.com/joann.ainsworth

http://twitter.com/#!/JoAnnAinsworth

Welcome the lovely Valerie Haight...

2011-11-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

Rachel, first let me thank you for the opportunity to interview on the BRLA blog! I’m so excited to be here and to meet all my fellow BRLA authors! *smiling and waving* Hello! Please connect with me, I love to meet new friends.

1) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

Those times when my characters are fired up and it’s all I can do to catch everything as it happens. Pandora’s rocking, coffee’s flowing, and the characters are moving. Keeping up without leaving anything out feels amazing and on slothish days? They sometimes wait for me to catch up, but not without giving me grief.

2) The worst part?

Editing! Yeesh!

Did I just write that? Yes, I’ll admit it. I love to write and hate to edit. Then again, I’ve not met many writers who adore editing. This is not to say I don’t adore my crit group. The hard part of editing for me is recognizing my own mistakes. It always catches me off guard when someone points out gaps. Oh, right! You aren’t in my head so you probably wouldn’t know what I thought but neglected to write. My crit partners make revisions much easier and I am so lucky to have them.

3) What’s next for you?

I am currently working with Dawn to edit my suspense novel, currently titled HALLO, and I look forward to learning through experience about pitches, the pub biz, and all the legal jazz that comes with a contract.

I was also landed a contract with Turquoise Morning Press for Happenstance, a romance novella for their After Happily Ever signature line. A year ago, I struggled to write a novel. Today, I celebrate the signing of my second contract! This makes me extremely happy.

I plan to develop a second suspense novel in November via NaNoWriMo and I also have a romantic mystery waiting in the wings that will be set in my hometown. This story will be rich with local history and culture and I’m really excited to get it on paper.

4) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I began researching online, in the library, on Twitter and blogs, and partaking in conferences, I knew I’d been bitten. I also knew I stunk at writing. I was a purple proser…BAD. I worked in the corporate world with a bunch of construction guys. Every document was skeletal and manly so I worked to add fluff. A bit of an overachiever, I went a little…*ahem* overboard. However, I did discover my interest in writing and from the looks of my first blogging days…I’ve come a long way, baby.

5) What comes first, plot or characters?

For me, plot always comes first. I have a dream or I wonder, what would happen if…

I get an idea and roll with it, twisting and turning down all sorts of possible paths and avenues. While strolling down these junctures, I’m subconsciously being introduced to my characters. It’s at this point I make a few notes and if I have enough of the story in mind, an outline.

6) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

I researched a colossal amount of information about criticism from agent blogs. I learned early how to write with “thick skin” etched in my brain. Deep down, I knew that ANY word of advice-positive or negative-would further me on this path I longed for. I sent out forty queries with thirty-nine rejections. I’m still alive and writing, so I think that’s saying something. My critty girls frequently offer comments such as “random”, “Were u conscious when u wrote this?” and my favorite, “What century are you from?” when I wrote knit stocking cap instead of beanie. Thanks, Julie for NOT letting me keep that! They made my writing better and I’d much rather them be honest than have my smoking hot hero wearing a knit stocking cap! Ewww.

LOL! Great sentiment, Valerie. Comments?

Welcome fellow Blue Ridge Author, Wanita May!

2011-10-19T04:50:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to be interviewing and posting my fellow authors words on the agency blog! I really feel as though we are getting to know each other and with the added Twitter and Facebook links, it's great to follow each others day to day lives too. Before we get started on Wanita's interview, I have to say how much complete and utter 'cover envy' I have - The cover for 'Rae of Hope' is gorgeous.

(Please contact me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com if you'd like to be interviewed - I am getting low)

Rachel

Over to you, Wanita...

1) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

- I’d love to be writing full time. Or simply just have more time to write J I have just signed a four book contract and there is interest in several other manuscripts I have with Dawn. I can’t wait to see where the Chronicles of Kerrigan are – all four books will be published so I’m excited to see how the series does.

2) What are you reading now?

- Just purchased the POWER OF SEVEN for my kindle. Love, love loved the first book. Movie was good, but nothing like the book (isn’t is ALWAYS like that!)

3) What comes first, plot or characters?

- It all depends. Sometimes a character shows up and is so charismatic I have to write them down, sometimes plot or a specific part of the story comes knocking on my door. The first book I ever wrote started from start to finish, everything else has jumped around… Wait a minute, even if I’ve written start to finish, the editing changed everything and the story still got moved around J

4) Which is your favorite genre to read? To write?

- Favourite genre to read: YA, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery… pretty much anything that can capture my attention and keep me in another persons world for a short space of time.

5) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

- There’s a big difference between positive and negative criticism. Positive criticism is where someone is trying to help you improve what you are doing, negative may not always be nice to hear, but turning it into something you can learn from and brushing off the rest is key (to me). At the end of the day, rejection or negative criticism usually comes from someone who doesn’t know me personally so I believe I don’t need to take it personally. It only takes one compliment or gesture to brighten your day (or get that agent, or get the publishing contract) … a hundred no’s won’t mean anything then J

6) What do you expect from an editor?

- I think an editor needs to “get” your main character and love your story. I got very lucky with The Chronicles of Kerrigan. My publishing editor immediately fell in love with the story and understood Rae’s voice exactly the same way I did. It was awesome!

7) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?

- Write, have fun and ignore the no’s. It only takes one yes. Join a critique group – you can learn so much. Ask questions, and write, write, write.

Fifteen year-old Rae Kerrigan is used to being invisible. Living in New York with her aunt and uncle after having been orphaned at a young age by a terrible fire, her life has been quiet, filled with excellent grades and not much else. Then came the letter from Guilder Boarding School, a mysterious place Rae had never heard of which will change her life. She crosses the ocean to enter a world she's never known existed, one where she's center stage and has a very important role to play.

Will the sins of a father choose her path? Or will she have the courage to change her fate? The decision will be made, by fate or teen, in the Rae of Hope.

The question is, as hero or villain? It seems most of Guilder is voting the later, and it's up to Rae to prove everyone wrong and bring hope to her world. But will she succeed, or will the shadows draw her in and swallow her whole?

Facebook: Wanita May

Twitter: @wanitajump

Website: www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

blog (which I hardly use) www.wanitajump.wordpress.com

New Interview with Julie A Lindsey

2011-10-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

So pleased to be posting an interview with fellow agency author, Julie A Lindsey who over the few months I have known her has become a fabulous online friend to me! Make sure you track Julie on Twitter, she is one funny lady...

Rachel

Over to you Julie...

1) When did you first consider yourself a writer? I smiled when I saw this question. I think I still struggle with this concept. About three years ago I got the idea I would write a novel and started writing. Last year I met Dawn at Write On Con and started thinking I might have a chance in this impossible industry. Still, every time someone asks what I “do,” I tell them I stay home with the kids. To say “I’m a writer,” feels very “dreamy.” I’ve considering turning back to my original dream job of space cowboy. I’d probably get less odd looks.

2) What are you reading now? Oh boy. At the moment, I’m reading Kill the Cat an INCREDIBLE book on screenplay writing. I’m finishing up the latest Janet Evanovich novel Smoking Seventeen and I’ve cracked open the latest in Maggie Steifvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Forever. Thanks to the local Borders closing, I now have a pile of must-reads taller than two of my children that’s beckoning me away from my manuscript too!

3) Which is your favorite genre to read? To write? I. Love. YA. OMG I am the biggest YA addict! I typically read a new YA every day or two. I can’t get enough. They make me so very happy. No ex-husbands, pervy bosses, empty bank accounts and foreclosure notices. In YA, the MC still believes she can do anything she sets her mind to and still falls in love passionately. No reserve. No holding back. In YA, the hero or heroine will gladly, nobly, lay down their life to save their true love. Oh…and the kisssssing. I love the kissing! The longing looks and tingling touches. *Sigh*

My life’s goal is to write a YA that makes people laugh and swoon. If I accomplish that, I will put it on a t-shirt. “My life is now complete.”

4) What’s next for you?

Everything. 2012 will be an exciting time. I signed several contracts in 2011. The releases are slated for 2012.

I’ve written and contracted a series of sweet romance novellas which will release every few months next year. The series is titled Seeds of Love and my debut title, Bloom, will launch a new imprint with the Turquoise Morning Press.

Thanks to our amazing agent, I also signed a contract with kNight Romance Publishing for a three book series of humorous women’s fiction. The Killer Confections Saga will begin summer 2012 with Death by Chocolate. Meanwhile, I’m binge reading and working up more antics for the sequel, Drop Dead Delicious.

5) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

1. Shrug.

2. State aloud, “Oh well.”

3. MOVE OOOON.

I also ask myself, “Have you liked every book you’ve ever read?” No. “Have you ever wanted to throw a book at the wall and scream of disappointment?” Yes. Readers are as different as writers. There IS something for everyone and not every book suits every reader. Think over their words, if they have a point, keep it in mind for your next manuscript. If you disagree completely, then forget about it. Literally.

6) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists? Network. This industry is tough to say it nicely. Industry professionals don’t always behave as professionals and it can hurt. I recommend an outlet. Get involved in social media. Join a critique group. Make some other bookish friends who can encourage and support you as well as direct and teach you. Having friends who understand what you’re going through is priceless. I never would’ve stuck with this industry before Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook gave me access to thousands of writers every day. Networking is priceless. It’s also free so take advantage J

Short BIO

As an only child I always had plenty of time to people watch and make things up. When I didn‟t think I could make a living at the latter, my love of people led me to a BA in Psychology instead. A few years and three kids later, I discovered the thrill of writing. Writing lets me harness my seemingly endless supply of energy and enthusiasm and create something of value in the wake.

Wifey, Mama, author, blogger, friend…I am YA obsessed, addicted to social media, caffeine and Poptarts. You can find me anytime lurking around the Internet, amped up on sugar and wielding a book. I blog at http://blog.juliealindsey.com and Tweet @JulieALindsey Say “Hi!”

Our fortnightly interview is with Blue Ridge Agency author J M Stewart...

2011-09-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

It's my pleasure to introduce J M Stewart today! We have been good online friends for months now, having met through The Wild Rose Press. Both lovers of romance and all things romantic, J M writes series contemporary romance. I'll leave her to tell you more...

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I finished my first book and a million other ideas backed up behind it. I was hooked.

How many books have your written? Which is your favourite?

oh geez. I think I’ve written seven or eight now? But picking a favorite would be really hard. I like them all. Every character is unique, so every story has its own merits. So far The Playboy’s Baby and A Second Chance at Forever are the ones I’m the most fond of. The heroes in those two are my favorites. I hope The Playboy’s Baby gets published soon. I can’t wait to share Dillon with the world. ;)

What comes first, plot or characters?

Characters, always. Then it’s a matter of getting to know them and getting them to tell me their story. Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth. Some liked to be wooed, you see. ;)

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Read, veg out in front of the TV, clean my house. Well, okay I don’t actually like cleaning my house, but when I get into a book, I can get rather obsessive/compulsive. Lol I also play a lot of games on the computer. They’re mind numbing for me, very good at getting my mind to focus on something other than the current WIP. Which in the end, usually solves whatever problem I’m having.

How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

Well, it depends. What kind of criticism, how harsh it was. If it’s a cruel statement that amounts to nothing more than an expressed opinion, then I disregard it (I’ve actually had this happen from critique partners—one gal actually spent an entire chapter cussing out my hero). If it’s constructive, then I look at what the person is saying. If I think it has merit, I change it. If I don’t agree, I don’t. I think that’s the way it ought to be. It’s your story. Take what you agree with, toss the rest. If it’s someone I trust, though, then I give the criticism extra consideration. I’ve been known to change things according to the criticism just to see how I like the change. Cause I write by feel.

Rejections are another story completely. Of course, they always sting and I have a process I go through with anything emotional. I allow myself to wallow in my self pity for a while, then I get over it and move on. It stinks, but it’s not the end of the world. There’s always another publisher to send it to.

What surprised you the most when you became a published?

How much self promotion I’m going to have to do. And that it really can affect your sales. It’s very difficult for me. Finding topics for my blog, for example, is almost excruciating. I’m a huge introvert. I keep to myself and I don’t tend to talk much in general unless I have something to say. I also am not fond of tooting my own horn. So I’m finding I’m having to learn how to be someone else for a while. Lol

Interview with Rhiannon Ellis!!

2011-09-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

This fortnightly author interview from our ever-growing list of fantastic authors is with the lovely Rhiannon Ellis, who always makes me feel about 84 years old whenever I look at her lovely Facebook pictures... ;) Only joking!

Great to see you here, Rhiannon - can't wait to hear more about you and your work! Over to you...

(Don't forget any other authors who would like to be interviewed, just email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com)

1) Did you set any goals for 2011?

I certainly did! I’m forever making goals, which sometimes change. Goal-setting is a fluid thing, you know? However, I achieved my original goals for 2011—securing two publishing contracts! The first was secured on January 1^st, so I took that as a good sign.

Dark Wolf Protector received a contract in January and was published in March. Harvesting the Heart recently got contracted with kRP and will be released next summer.

2) Tell me where you write?

I write in the midst of chaos! My 3-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter make sure Mommy isn’t overcome by dreaded, deafening silence,—bless their hearts!—and Mommy (that’s me) has learned the fine art of ignoring anything that doesn’t sound like an emergency.

I wouldn’t have it any other way. I embrace a challenge, and writing books whilst posing as a human jungle gym definitely tests my resolve. It keeps me on my toes. If what’s going on in my manuscript isn’t half as exciting as the hyperactivity, squabbles and all-around bedlam of my children, it’s time to rewrite and/or revise!

3) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

This is the perfect example of a goal that continues to change. I’m a realist, but a passionate one. Success as a writer is important to me, but my personal definition of success is tri-fold. My goal, in its simplest form is this: Continue to earn good reviews, garner more readers/sales, and scramble up that steep publishing-industry ladder, one slippery rung at a time—although I wouldn’t mind skipping a few along the way.

4) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Landing a contract with Dawn was a pivotal moment for me. To have an industry “professional” recognize my potential as a writer made me actually feel like one. This very thing fueled my determination and my confidence in myself. I hope agents and editors realize how important their affirmation of belief is to their writers. It’s not just the wheeling and dealing that we appreciate; their faith in our work truly makes or breaks us, uplifts us when we’re weary and further urges us to trudge onward and upward, despite our heavy doubts.

5) What are you reading now?

Open on my Kindle now is Jane Eyre. Tucked under my pillow is Harry Potter; I’m reading the series with my daughter. I haven’t read a lot this summer. Reading inspires me to write, which is wonderful, however I took a brief sabbatical to enjoy the summer with my kids so I’ve been avoiding inspiration as much as possible.

6) How many books have your written? Which is your favourite?

I’ve written four books, three of which have been published/contracted. My first novel, despite having an agent, hasn’t quite made the cut with editors. I decided to do a start-from-scratch rewrite. I’m at around 6,000 words and plan to fervently get back at it this fall. If I manage to pull off what I’m wanting to do with this story, it will be my favorite.

Of the other three books, it’s tough to choose. I do think my to-be-released sequel to Bonded in Brazil wins if I have to choose, though. I amped up the complexities of my heroine and anticipate that readers will connect with her on a deep emotional level. I look forward to my readers’ reactions to her.

author of Bonded in Brazil & Dark Wolf Protector

Website: www.RhiannonEllis.com

Blog: www.rhiannonellis.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Rhiannon_Ellis

Three cheers for Blue Ridge Agency author, Jennifer Estes!!

2011-08-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Today, I am kicking off what I hope will be a successful run of interviews from all the fantastic authors Dawn has chosen to represent at The Blue Ridge Literacy Agency. I came up with this idea after being with the agency awhile and feeling as though I didn't know my fellow authors as well as I should. If I feel that way, I'm sure you guys do from time to time too!

At the end of each interview will be the author's contacts and links so feel free to follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

Our first author to be grilled (only joking!) is Jennifer Estes - welcome, Jennifer!

Did you set any goals for 2011?

To get a contract for the first book in my mystery series, Big Leagues. I'm happy to say I was able to put a big checkmark next to that in July.

What’s next for you?

I'm currently polishing the next book in the Foul Ball series, Curveball. It's been a lot of fun to continue with the same characters.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I know that the answer to this should be when I typed the first keystroke but truthfully, I didn't really feel like a real writer until I was made an offer. After that, I ordered business cards.

Tell me where you write?

In the butt, Bob? Oh sorry, wrong show. My laptop, cat and I are a traveling act. On any given day, we've been at my desk, kicked back in the loveseat, squished into the couch, sat at the dining room table, hopped up on the kitchen counter and wrote in bed.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Not really and I think this is due to my method. Some writers use outlines, others do the snowflake, but I call mine the regurgitation method. I just throw every idea on a Word doc. I don’t worry about formatting, grammar, spelling or any fine points yet. I put "qqq" as a substitute for names and details because it's quick and easy to find, plus it keeps anything I don't want from slipping through the spellcheck. If I'm stuck on a section, I just type "qqq" and move to another. After I'm done, I go through repeated cycles of cleaning up every "qqq" and expanding a little more each time through.

Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

I would be honored to still be cranking out my series for eager readers. I grew up on Babysitter Clubs and Sweet Valley Highs. To this day, I still love a good series: be it book, television or film. There's something special about connecting to characters and being able to grow with them over time.

My links are:

Web: www.jenestes.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jenestesdotcom

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jen-Estes/222133257827836

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jenestesbooks?feature=mhee

Welcome the lovely Julie to the blog!!

2011-08-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

So happy to have the lovely and generous writer, Julie A Lindsey here for the next two weeks talking about the aspect of writing we all love...WAITING!!

What? Don't you love it? I do... ; )

** Before I pass the floor to Julie, can I just take this opportunity to let you all know that I am now offering interviews to everyone who'd like to appear on the agency blog. I thought this would be a great way for us to get to know each other a little better. If anyone would like a featured interview, just email me at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com and I'll send you the questions **

Okay, over to Lindsey!

The Writing Life: AKA The Waiting Game

Julie Anne Lindsey

What many writers don’t realize is waiting is a part of the writer life. It’s frustrating, but it is part of the deal and it doesn’t change. Writing the novel is a task in itself, but it’s also the only part without the wait, so relish it. Once you type those two final words, the game changes and the waiting begins.

Writers wait while critique partners and beta readers read their words. We wait for their feedback and we wait all over again when we make their changes and resubmit. Then comes the querying, and we wait. Partial requests? Wait. Full requests? (Squee!!) Wait.

Here’s where I once misunderstood the complete situation. You see, once you find an agent and sign that contract, the waiting doesn’t end. Your agent needs time to get to your manuscript and time to make suggestions and changes. Then you update and resubmit. The process continues. Even when it’s perfect, your agent still must submit to editors. That means more waiting and the waiting at that point in the game can be six months or more, so patience really is a necessity. Once you find a publisher the waiting ends, right? Not even close. Writers must wait to work with editors and for cover art and release dates. It’s simply part of the deal. Because I believe most writers are compelled to write and cannot walk away, we have to learn to wait gracefully – or at least productively.

Every writer is in the same boat to some extent. We’re all waiting on something. It’s what we signed up for, or at least it was in the invisible ink.

So the question becomes, what to do while we wait? I’ve tried everything from yoga to archery to gourmet baking. All were fun, but here’s the thing…writers write. We must. Writers who don’t write, make me nervous. I am of the opinion the very best thing we can do while we wait is write some more. Every word counts, every sentence created enhances your skill and improves your craft. You don’t need to start another novel. Start a blog, maybe just guest blog for a friend, or submit an article to an online magazine. Try your hand at flash fiction or look for an upcoming anthology.

Writing passes the time while you wait, improves your craft and once you have enough irons in the fire, the wait time is shorter. Someone is sure to get back with you on a regular basis if you have enough submissions going. It breaks up all the waiting and brings some good news along the way. Fabulous sites like Wow! Women on Writing feature a different writer every Friday. It feels good to get your name out there and it boosts your confidence.

Another great way to pass the time while you wait is to embrace social media. Networking is a great way to establish a name for yourself in the writing community, build a Web presence and drive traffic to your blog. Twitter is a great place to start. I’ve met some of my closest writer friends, beta readers and favorite authors through Twitter. It’s a huge resource that’s greatly underestimated.

In the end, waiting won’t change, but you can embrace the challenge. Be productive. Enjoy the time away from your manuscript and test your chops. Waiting might be just what you need to discover a whole new part of your writing self. Enjoy!

Another great post by Phyllis Humphrey...

2011-07-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

BLOOPERS, BLUNDERS AND BOO-BOOS

Phyllis Humphrey

As a former proofreader for a national magazine, I’m perhaps more aware of literary blunders than your casual reader. In these difficult days of getting published, writers need to be more scrupulous than ever so an editor won’t find her “pet peeve” of author mistakes in your manuscript. If I were an editor, my Top Ten list of No-Nos would be the following because of how often I’ve seen them:

1. could’ve - could of. There is no legitimate reason to use “could of.” I’ve seen it in printed books and it apparently stems from the author missing an English class. He/she means “could’ve” which is a contraction of the two words “could” and “have.” Example: “I could’ve been a contender.” or “I could have danced all night.”

2. It’s - Its. “It’s” with an apostrophe is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” Example: “It’s in your best interest to stop doing that now.” “Its” without an apostrophe is a possessive. Example: “The book, even with its tattered cover belongs in your library.”

3. doctors - apple's. While we’re on the subject of apostrophes, please never put an apostrophe before the “s” when you turn a singular word into a plural. Example: “The apples were ripe and the doctors ate them.” If you put an apostrophe before the “s” you have turned the word into a possessive. Example: “The doctor’s time was limited.”

4. Nauseated - nauseous. Nauseated is how you feel when something makes you ill. Example: “I was nauseated by the odor coming from the landfill.” Nauseous is an adjective describing the thing that makes you ill. Example: “The landfill gave off a nauseous odor.”

5. Try to - try and. Technically there is no “try and” (or almost none.) If your character is going to try to do something, use “try to,” not “try and.” Example: “I will try to help you.” After all, if you say “try and” you imply you’ll succeed. But what if you don’t succeed? You’ve told a lie.

6. I couldn’t care less - I could care less. Once again, the second construction should never be used. After all, if you could care less, then you must care somewhat. But you’re trying to say that you care so little that it would be impossible for you to care any less than you do.

7. lose - loose. Look them up in the dictionary. To lose something is to no longer have it. Example: “I don’t want to lose the lovely watch you gave me.” Something which is loose is not lost but of an unstable consistency. Example: “The watch slipped off my wrist, because the band was too loose.”

8. incidents - incidentses. The latter is not a word. One event is an “incident.” Two or more events are “Incidents (add an “s” to make a plural)” There is no such word as “incidentses.”

9. roll - role. As a noun, a roll can be a small pastry you eat. As a verb, it means moving or turning over or around. Example. “He let the car roll down the incline into the ditch.” Role is a noun which describes a part you might play in a film or in life. Example: “The role required him to exit the stage.” or “I’m tired of playing the role of your wicked stepmother.”

10. titled - entitled. When you give a book a title, you have titled it. Example: “I titled my novel MASQUERADE.” Entitled means something is owed or expected. Example. “As the eldest, I felt entitled to the extra piece of pie.”

11. I hope I don’t have to tell you that unless you’re writing dialogue in the voice of an illiterate character - you should never write, “Me and my brother,” “Her and I,” “we was,” or “She don’t.” And I often see “myself” instead of “me.” Don’t try to get fancy. Wrong: “She gave the book to John and myself.” Right: “She gave the book to John and me.”

12. farther - further. Generally, farther refers to physical distances. Example: “The house we sought was farther away down the road.” You use further to indicate figurative distances. Example: “We had to look further among the possible suspects in the murder.”

13. breath - breathe. Breath is a noun. Example: “He took my breath away.” Breathe is a verb. Example: “It’s so hot, I can hardly breathe.”

Well, I see my Top Ten list turned into a Baker’s Dozen, but I found it hard to choose a mere thirteen. Writers seem to invent more blunders every year. There are three excellent (and inexpensive) books on this subject by June Casagrande. Her Web site, grammarsnobs.com, contains her wonderful and witty advice. For punctuation, I recommend EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES by Lynne Truss.

Great post, Phyllis! Hands up who is guilty of one of these? For me, it is the "entitled" "titled" - Whoops!!

Comments?

Today I am posting a great blog from Nathan Gottlieb...

2011-07-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this post from Nathan because it's not too different from how I write myself - get those words on the page and let the editing to the talking...

Rachel

(My supply of blogs is running low so please email me anytime with posts and pics - rachelbrimble@googlemail.com)

Welcome to the Void

I called this blog “Visions in the Void” because that is what it’s like trying to write a novel, especially the first draft. No matter how well you wrote yesterday, today the screen is blank, waiting like a hungry beast for you to feed it. That is the Void. Often I will sit at the computer and stare off for long stretches into the Void, waiting for ideas to come. I have no clue where they arrive from. I often think I am merely a channel for something out there in the Void. I dread and love the Void at the same time.

When I am intensely involved in the writing of a book, it is there with me all day and night, inhabiting me. I get messages from the Void in the shower and often when I first open my eyes in bed. The bed visions are the weirdest, because I am not even thinking about the novel when I wake up. Adjustments to scenes, errors of logic and ideas for new scenes all come in a flash. The experience both stuns and humbles me.

Many times when I edit my books I say, “How did you think of that?” Unlike memories in your personal life, visions cannot be placed in time, as say a high school prom can. They have no past, no future; they just exist in the moment they come. It is all very strange and yet very beautiful, larger than me, more inspired and important than me.

My method of writing has evolved over the years. In the beginning I did very long outlines, often scene by scene structuring. The weakness in that system is you become locked into a plot/structure too early, and your characters have no room to expand and act on their own.

Then one day I read an interview with one of my favorite mystery genre writers, Michael Connelly. I was stunned to learn he did not do elaborate prep work for a novel. He knew who the characters where, what the bare bones story was and then just sat down and winged it.

So I tried his method. Structure came organically; it was not imposed from an outline. My characters would tell me after each scene what had to come next. It was their book. I listened to them because they were living it, not me. The most planning I do is to write full biographies of my characters, from birth to the present. Good actors always do that. A character did not begin in the present. He came from a history of experiences and memories. Until you know what they’ve been through, you cannot write about them with any authority in the present. Actors call these histories sense memories. For example, if my character bio says he had an authoritarian father, then I can predictably say he will dislike someone like that when he encounters them in a scene.

Most writers say the fun is in the writing, and then the grind begins: the editing. I LOVE editing and rewrites. The pressure you felt in the first draft from being constantly faced with the Void is gone. You have something down on the page. Now the job is just to make it better. I love watching my book grow and evolve over the course of multiple drafts; sort of like having a child and watching them blossom into an adult.

The key to editing is focus, focus and more focus. The worst thing you can do when editing is to fall in love with your words and get caught up in the rhythmic flow of sentences. What I do is read in a form of slow motion, like in a cinema. In slow motion every sentence, every word is there for me. In this state of mind I can see all kinds of changes that need to be made. The trick in achieving this sense of reading in slow motion is repetitive drafts. The more drafts I do, the more detached I get, to the point where I don’t know who wrote the book, my job is just to edit this person’s work.

In the end it is you who shapes the vision you received from the Void, and you can take pride in your contribution.

Comments?

Kathleen Delaney - The Power of Storytelling

2011-06-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

Kathleen has sent me this lovely, nostalgic post on the power of storytelling and the importance of passing them on to further generations - enjoy. Please remember to email Rachel Brimble any new posts you might have along with accompanying pictures at rachelbrimble@googlemail.com.

Over to you, Kathleen!

Some thoughts on the power of storytelling

The other day I picked up a copy of a volume of short stories by Sharon McCrumb. In the preface, she writes about growing up in a family of storytellers. Her father, her grandmother, everyone would gather around the porch or table, and tell stories about the family’s adventures in settling in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They would talk about the funny things that happened, about the struggles to carve out a life there, about the deaths and the births. She talks about what an impression those stories made on her and how these were the times that evoked her love of storytelling.

I know listening to my father tell his stories was where my love began. He was a great storyteller, and oh, how we loved to listen to him! He grew up in Pipestone, MN, and moved to Lemon, SD, when he was a young man. He made those years alive for my brother and me. His family had two ponies, Barney and Dick. Those horses pulled the carriage, took my father and his brother into town and to school and helped my grandfather plow. The stories were so real that, although I never met those horses, I felt as if I had. Other stories weren’t so happy. My heart still stops when I think of how Dad lost his dog, Shep.

They were making the move to SD and Dad was to ride in a boxcar with some of the livestock. He broke his leg right before the move and was on crutches. The dog jumped out of the car during a brief stop and Dad couldn’t jump out after him. The train started to move and although Dad frantically called to him out the open boxcar door, the dog couldn’t catch up. The last he ever saw of him, the dog was chasing the train and losing ground. They advertised all up and down the tracks, but the dog was never found. I heard that story over sixty years ago and it still brings tears to my eyes.

The stories we loved weren’t all family tales. The Saturday Evening Post came to our house, full of all kinds of stories but not too many my brother and I were interested in. At least not when we were really young. There was one series we loved and reading those stories became a beloved ritual. I don’t remember who wrote them, but they were the Babe and Joe stories. Babe and Little Joe were children about our age who lived with their father and their uncle Pete on a ranch somewhere in the Midwest during the depression. Uncle Pete wasn’t very respectable…he drank. Their mother had died and their father was having a hard time hanging onto his land, but somehow they all made it through each story. My brother and I loved them and each week we searched the pages for a new Babe and Joe story. If one appeared, the ritual began.

The magazine was carefully put on the table beside the chair where my father sat. One of the best parts of the stories was Dad reading them aloud. We waited impatiently for him to get home from work, then leapt on him with the joyful news. Another Babe and Joe story had come and he needed to read it aloud to all of us, right now. But, of course, we had to wait. There were clothes to be changed, dinner to eat and dishes to do. Those were probably the only nights my mother got help with the dishes with absolutely no fussing from us.

When all was ready, my father would take his chair, my mother would settle in on the sofa and my brother and I would sit cross-legged on the floor. Dad picked up the Post, carefully found the page and began to read.

I know we’ve all seen the atrocities captured by cell phone cameras and those impressions certainly last. Stories take us all over the world. They take us back in time and they take us into the lives of others. They let us experience adventures we might never have otherwise, and they make us care about people we would never otherwise have met. By doing that, hopefully they give us greater insight into our own lives and relationships. Best of all, stories are about sharing. Whether it’s your father telling you about his growing up or Dick Francis taking you over fences in a steeplechase in England, you are sharing; both experiences and emotions.

So get to the library, the bookstore or just sit down and talk to your grandma, your elderly aunt, your mom or dad or your kids and really listen. You might just learn something about one of them you never knew before, something about your family that makes you laugh. Or cry. You might even find yourself saying to someone you love—“Let me tell you a story.”

Kathleen Delaney

Today fellow BRLA author, Cathy Kennedy is sharing her writing wisdom!

2011-06-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

What I’ve learned: Seven Points to Ponder

Cathy Kennedy

http://cathykennedystories.blogspot.com

When I was in junior high school, a few of my friends and I decided to compose our own little stories to circulate amongst ourselves. We didn’t write our manuscripts in a polished format. In fact, I recall our writing style was more like a screen play because we didn’t know how to insert dialogue. Nonetheless, I personally had a blast creating scenes and conversations out of thin air, as I jotted down my stories on lined notebook paper.

In those days, there was no harsh criticism. There was only applaud of encouragement from my peers. It seemed my imagination somehow captured the hearts of this close knit circle and before long, other girls in my class wanted a glimpse of the my story. I often wonder if the attention created from my story was generated by the blissful daydreams of my fellow classmates who wanted to be a part of something extraordinary. For us, this was amazing. Whatever the reasons for that frozen moment in time, it spurred enough emotional charge to boost my confidence to keep writing over the years.

Writing creatively didn’t seriously rear itself in my life for more than two decades after junior high. At the time of my first daughter’s birth, I felt a sudden yearning to write a children’s story for my little princess. I wrote from my heart with no worries. There was no pressure of scrutinizing eyes to fall upon my work. When my fancy for writing turned from fun to something more, then my perspective quickly changed as I began crafting my art with more style.

These are things I’ve learned in my own personal writing experience as brief as it is.

v Criticism – I don’t let it beat me up. I take the words of others as a guide and build on it. Sometimes, I’m surprised at how someone else’s insight can branch my writing into a new direction.

Write to learn and learn to write and nothing more than practice, practice and more practice is aiding me in the success as a writer.

Read – I discovered reading lots of stories written by other children’s authors very useful. This was an easy task for me. We’ve spent a small fortune on children’s literature and I read aloud daily two or three times to my children. During this process of reading kiddie lit, it helped me to fine tune my writing technique and know what I wanted in my stories.

v Write – I started off writing fantasy, kind of like Lord of the Rings. Although, I see some merit in this manuscript, it needed proper massaging to be a substantial literary art. This taught me I needed to write things I knew about firsthand. Using everyday circumstances or the people in my life for inspiration soon became the cornerstone of all my manuscripts.

Memory – As a mother, I have slipped under the spell of Mommy Amnesia and things constantly get misplaced in my mind’s dreaded “File 13.” Whenever I get an idea, I do not rely on remembering it for later because I know 5 minutes afterwards it’ll be out of my head completely. Since that time, I have learned it’s best to write down a brief description of my idea or to dictate my thoughts onto a digital recorder. Now, my ideas aren’t lost forever.

Feedback – Criticism and feedback can be one in the same, but feedback somehow is more comforting. Finding a group to get input about what I write is priceless. It’s easy to get a friend to read my work and more times than not, they will like it but finding an unbiased few who will tell me want they like or don’t like about my manuscript is instrumental in shaping my manuscript.

Networking – Admittedly Facebook was the only social network I was familiar with prior to going through my POD, but after gleaning some valuable information from 1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer, I knew blogging was the inevitable next step. I had to build my web presence. Through my personal blog, I can introduce others to my writing style and get comments. This is a great learning tool. Some blog authors I’ve found choose to pitch pieces of their manuscript, or to provide writing tips, or to blog about daily life. Then there are a host of other bloggers who are not authors but have a tremendous audience providing reviews on products, recipes, giveaways, or discount savings . In essence they are writers, too. I encourage you to start a blog and to be active daily, blogging. It helps to keep you on your toes and at the same time, gives you some exposure. You never know who might be reading.

Relationships – This is a bit different from what I get in my feedback group and has ultimately stemmed from my networking experience. Building a relationship isn’t an area that’s new to me, like it isn’t to you, but an author-to-author relationship is different. I have in recent months begun to build a circle of friends who are writers. We are all different, but I found the warm support of others outside my family is something needed and I cherish this sort of camaraderie. If nothing else, these ladies are rooting for me, which is awesome. Find your circle of writing buddies to help cheer you on and vice-versa.

These are only a few things I’ve picked up over the years and I’m certain I will continue to learn more with Dawn and her authors at BRLA Through the things I’ve scraped together along the way, I move toward a new place in my career. My tenacity to hang in this profession makes each positive step forward an inescapable triumph. Will I become the next Beatrix Potter? I can’t predict that, but I plan to make each moment memorable and available to share with other follower writers as encouragement for their future endeavors.

Comments??

Still catching up with your posts...

2011-05-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hello again, everyone!

I am still catching up with your posts so please bear with me...here is the second post-Christmas offering from Kathleen Delaney. Over to you, Kathleen!

Kathy Delaney talks storytelling - regardless of the season!

2011-05-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hellooo!

I am logging in as Dawn but as you all know from her recent post to the Blue Ridge Agency yahoo group, I volunteered to look after the Blue Ridge blog from now on. Dawn sent me her backlog of posts and I will endeavor to post them every other Tuesday so PLEASE keep them coming!

My email is rachelbrimble@googlemail.com - send your posts and accompanying pics whenever you want and I'll add them to my database to post in date order.

Okay, so I'm starting with a fabulous post from the equally fabulous Kathleen Delaney who sent this to Dawn before Christmas but I think it is relevant whatever the season!

Over to you, Kathleen!

Tell Me A Story

My Christmas Tree is up. So are the lights, and there’s garland on the mantle. I don’t usually decorate this early, but two of my grandchildren were here over Thanksgiving and they wanted to decorate “their” trees. Two years ago, I bought two of those little fake trees that come with lights for the front porch. Things didn’t go quite the way I had planned that year. I made it home for Christmas, but after a month in the hospital and minus one leg. Those trees were the only ones we had, the lots had all sold out. The kids claimed them and decorated them. For some reason they didn’t make the cover of Southern Living, but the kids loved them and so did I.

They’ve become a tradition, so this year we dragged them out again and also made it to the Christmas tree lot. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew, we were Christmased.

It seems that decorating for Christmas requires more than ornaments and bows. Hot chocolate and stories are an integral part of the ritual. Family stories mostly, and their favorites are stories about their mother and their aunts and uncles. One story in particular is required telling. When their Uncle David was about eight he ventured into forbidden territory, the main street a few blocks from where we lived to buy me a Christmas present. How he ended up at the florist I don’t remember, and maybe never knew but he came home with a small ceramic Santa’s boot, and in the boot was a fat red candle and fresh holly. My first thought was to ground him for life for scaring me half to death and my second was-where did he get the money? It seems he had saved his allowance, which couldn’t have been very much, and I believe he did some special chores for his father. David didn’t get grounded and the boot, now somewhat battered, comes out every Christmas. I still have the candle, but it gets fresh holly and the story gets a little better. David is now almost fifty-two, so that story has grown quite a bit.

This year we had a few new stories. Dalia, who is now nine took on the chore of story teller. The characters were familiar, but the story line—well, lets just say there were events I didn’t recognize, and I’m fairly happy about that. The child has a very vivid imagination.

It occurred to me, while we were retelling favorite stories and making up new ones, how important story telling is. We don’t often sit down and record our family history, it comes down to us through stories and it is through stories we really learn about the people that shaped our past world, and who influence who we are today. George Washington may not have really cut down the cherry tree, but that story tells us what kind of person he was and serves to teach us the value of honesty.

The stories about my Aunt Frank are true. She really did put on her hat and coat every time she opened the refrigerator. She was afraid she might catch cold. I dearly loved Frankie and spent many happy hours with her, listening to some pretty odd ideas and learning that all people, even those that are a bit peculiar, have great value.

And that’s what story telling, or writing fiction is all about. Stories about ordinary people and extraordinary people. Stories that make us laugh with someone, cry with someone else and ones that make the hairs on the backs of our necks stand up.

The stories I like to write put ordinary people in traumatic circumstances and then I can sit back and see how they handle whatever it is I throw at them. Mostly, its murder. Such fun.

. We have to care about the characters. Peculiar people can’t be just peculiar, heroines can’t be just pretty faces. They have to anguish over something and grow through whatever trials and tribulations we put in front of them and villains can’t be all evil. Unless you’re determined to do Hanibel Lector one better, of course. But you don’t usually want to read about pure evil and it’s pretty hard to write about it. Humans are complex. Sometimes mean, sometimes generous to a fault, sometimes happy, sometimes in agony. So are the characters in your story, or they should be. Don’t fail them. Breathe life into them. Remember, action springs out of character. So, don’t be afraid to give your characters a little—well—character.

Dalia has it right. Her characters live and breathe. Of course, her stories are mostly about a nine year old girl, her seven year old brother, their mother, and sometimes their grandmother.

The stuff about the grandmother isn’t true.

Comments?

Writing Process

2011-05-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

"Be open and free for the first draft, be ruthless with the structure for the second, and fanatical about the words for the third."

I ran across this writing advice recently and it struck a chord with me. With my third book in progress, I can look back and see the changes I've made in the process since I first began novel writing. I wrote my first two books in order and tried desperately to perfect each word I wrote, as I wrote it. This time around, I'm taking a much different approach, one that captures the essence of the above advice.

My first draft is all about getting the story out. I don't have to be in love with everything I type because I know I'll come back to it later. Everything is temporary. This is the time to rack up the words and tell the entire story. I'm finding this to be a faster approach, which means my word count is growing at a rate that excites me.

Once the first draft is completed and my story is told, I'll then comb the manuscript for major issues--plot holes, contradictions, scenes that need to be added, scenes that need deleting, etc. I'll also make sure each scene flows into the next so it doesn't read like a wrongly-cut puzzle--you know, a bunch of random pieces shoved together. It should be seamless.

For the next step, I'll challenge every word, replace every weak verb, rewrite the passive sentences and deepen my POV. I'll run a search for semicolons to make sure they're used appropriately. I'll remove phrases like "she thought" or "he wondered." I'll eliminate as many dialogue tags as I can (because I know my agent will make me do this anyway). Most importantly, I'll examine my dialogue to make sure it's natural and not stilted or contrived.

Then, I'll e-mail the entire manuscript to my Kindle and just read. Seeing the words on another canvas, so to speak, allows me to pick up on mistakes I missed on the computer. At this point, there shouldn't be many, I hope, and it will be ready for my beta reader(s).

What process do you use to write?

Rhiannon Ellis

http://rhiannonellis.blogspot.com

Research

2011-03-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Research? Really? You call THAT research? Let me tell you what research really is!

When I was a young whipper-snapper (I know you’ve heard that line before) life was tough. There was this thing called the: Dewey Decimal System! Yes, there was a name that went along with those zillions of cards in the card catalogues you had to go to every time you went to the library to look for a book.

Fiction-you got lucky!

One of the few things nice about the system is all the fiction books were in alphabetical order. Since I love Nancy Drew and Phyllis Whitney, I pretty much knew my way around the fiction books.

Non-fiction?

First you had to look up the author, but if you didn’t know who that was, then you had to remember the title. If you weren’t really clear about that, you had to guess. If you couldn’t find the book you wanted by combing through the card catalogue, then you’d go to the shelves and walk up and down them.

When I started researching for my historical novels twenty years ago, computers were just coming into service. I did crash the system once at the university library, but don’t tell anyone that because it wasn’t one of my shining moments. But, from the computers, eventually I learned what point and click meant and what a mouse was. I also began to enjoy the ease of locating needed material without spending oodles of time in the card catalogue. Things were getting better.

I’d check out a zillion books and lug them home or else go and make needed copies of certain pages. I read and reread and made notes. My back and arms were killing me from carrying around all those books.

Enter the Internet

In some ways, the Internet has been a godsend. I can research from home and only have to know a little bit about only a few things and don’t have to commit so much to memory. Or don’t I? The more I research about the First Ladies and learn about their famous husbands, etc., the more I want to learn about the situation or topic. I think the Internet has awakened our curiosity and made us want to know more, whether it’s bits and pieces or the whole thing! I think it’s a plus. I also think our youth is becoming smarter at an earlier age because of it. It’s a great educational resource.

When I first started researching, I had to focus on one topic and now I don’t have to. One site will lead me to another, and I find that very exciting.

By Barb Schlichting

Some thoughts on the power of storytelling

2011-02-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

The other day I picked up a copy of a volume of short stories by Sharon McCrumb. In the preface, she writes about growing up in a family of storytellers. Her father, her grandmother, everyone would gather around the porch, or table, and tell stories about the family’s adventures in settling in the Blue Ridge mountains, about the funny things that happened, about the struggles to carve out a life there, about the deaths and the births. She talks about what an impression those stories made on her. She says that is where she got her love of stories, and it most likely is.

I know that’s where I got my love of them. My father was also a great storyteller, and oh how we loved to listen to him He grew up in Pipestone, MN, and moved to Lemon, SD, when he was a young man, and he made those years alive for my brother and me. They had two ponies, Barney and Dick. Those horses pulled the carriage, took my father and his brother into town and to school, and helped my grandfather plow. The stories were so real, that although I never met those horses, I feel as if I had. Other stories weren’t so happy. My heart still stands still when I think of how Dad lost his dog, Shep. They were making the move to SD, and Dad was to ride in a boxcar with some of the livestock. He’d broken his leg right before the move and was on crutches. The dog jumped out of the car during a brief stop, and Dad couldn’t jump out after him. The train started to move and, although Dad frantically called to him out the open boxcar door, the dog couldn’t catch up. The last he ever saw of him, the dog was chasing the train and losing ground. They advertised all up and down the tracks, but the dog was never found. I heard that story over sixty years ago and it still brings tears to my eyes.

The stories we loved weren’t all family tales. The Saturday Evening Post came to our house, full of all kinds of stories, but not too many my brother and I were interested in, at least not when we were really young. There was one series we loved, and reading those stories became a beloved ritual. I don’t remember who wrote them, maybe I never knew, and don’t remember even one title, but to us, they were the Babe and Joe stories. Babe and Little Joe were children about our ages who lived with their father and their uncle Pete on a ranch somewhere in the Midwest, I think, during the depression. Uncle Pete wasn’t very respectable; to be honest, he—drank. Their mother had died and their father was having a hard time hanging onto his land, but somehow they all made it through each story. My brother and I loved them, and each week we searched the pages for a new Babe and Joe story. If one appeared, the ritual began. The magazine was carefully put on the table beside the chair where my father sat, for one of the best parts of the stories was Dad reading them aloud. We waited impatiently for him to get home from work, then attacked him with the joyful news. Another Babe and Joe story had come and he needed to read it aloud to all of us, right now. But, of course, we had to wait. There were clothes to be changed, dinner to eat and dishes to do. Those were probably the only nights my mother got help with the dishes with absolutely no fussing from us. When all was ready, my father would take his chair, my mother would settle in on the sofa and my brother and I would sit cross-legged on the floor. Dad would pick up the Post, carefully find the page and begin.

I’ve wondered if the stories were really that good, or if it was the ritual we made of the reading of them that made them so special. We don’t seem to do that anymore, have those kinds of family rituals. It’s hard to gather the family around the computer, and somehow even congregating around the TV doesn’t quite make those kinds of memories. And today, there is so much out there, we are bombarded with information, social networking, twittering, texting, all kinds of things. They’re not stories. Really good stories, about people we like and have learned to care for, will never be replaced with a twit. At least, I don’t think so. Short blurbs on Facebook will never reduce you to tears, ones that you remember for years, and those blurbs will never make you rejoice for someone you’ve never met when they finally achieve the goal they’ve been striving for. I know, we’ve all seen the atrocities captured by cell phone cameras, and those impressions certainly last. Stories take us all over the world. They take us back in time, and they take us into the lives of others. They let us experience adventures we might never have otherwise, and they make us care about people we would never otherwise have met. By doing that, hopefully they give us greater insight into our own lives and relationships. Best of all, stories are about sharing. Whether it’s your father telling you about his growing up or Dick Francis taking you over fences in a steeplechase in England, you are sharing; both experiences and emotions.

So, get to the library, the bookstore or just sit down and talk to your grandma, your elderly aunt, your mom or dad or your kids and really listen. You might just learn something about one of them you never knew before, something about your family that makes you laugh. Or cry. You might even find yourself saying to someone you love—“Let me tell you a story.”

Kathleen Delaney

Writing A Book Is Like...

2011-01-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

Having spent a year researching, planning, writing, revising, rewriting and editing my first novel, expending no small amount of time, energy, blood, sweat and tears, one would think that the hard part was over. Au contraire, mon frère.

The actual writing of a novel is the fun part, the "easy" part; what comes after is the "not-so-easy" part: finding an agent. If you're of the squeamish ilk, then you'd better grow a thick skin--fast. Nothing can be so discouraging as the consistent chime of your "new e-mail" alert nonchalantly apprising you of the form rejections dropping callously into your Inbox:

"Please be assured that we have given your project careful consideration. Unfortunately we don't feel the manuscript is right for us at this time."
Etcetera.

Then it's back to more agent research (GLA, online agent sites, the Jeff Herman Guide), putting together and shipping out Query packages, and waiting for more (most likely) rejections.
Etcetera.

But then one day it happens: an agent offers to sign you. Glory be! Now you're on easy street, right? Not by a long shot. Now comes more revisions and editing, until both you and your agent are satisfied. Only after that does the agent begin trying to sell your manuscript to an editor at a publishing house (hopefully one of the big six). And IF (notice that's a big "if") an editor offers to buy? Then comes even more revision and editing, more back and forth...
Etcetera.

Do you get the impression there exists a great deal of these "etceteras"? Uh huh. But hey, whoever said getting a novel published was easy? Probably the same folks who tell you that you can get rich quick in Multi-Level Marketing schemes.

No matter. If your passion is to write, then write is what you'll continue to do, whether you get paid for it or not. Of course, we all dream of having our words reach multitudes of readers with the hope that maybe--just maybe--we can touch those readers with the magic of our stories. Until then, we dangle an enticing carrot in front of ourselves and stretch for all we're worth.

And of course, we diligently put our butts in our chairs every day, and we write. And write. And...
Etcetera.

John Capraro

No More Rose Colored Glasses

2010-12-06T04:59:00.000-08:00

I really didn’t think my manuscript could get much better after sending it in to be edited. I thought of editing as more of a formality. I wasn’t necessarily arrogant, but instead, I was naïve about what an editor is looking for. Consequently, when it was completely slaughtered, a little piece of my heart died, too. The seemingly unprecedented amount of problems to fix was, at first, overwhelming. My sweet, little rose colored glasses were abruptly ripped from my face.

However, once I bit the bullet and dove in, the story that began unraveling was and continues to be amazingly better than the original. Who knew? I certainly didn’t. What I also didn’t count on, was just how little I understood about point of view, tenses, showing not telling and the list goes on and on.

Frankly, in life I can often be intimidated by the unknown. I need to remember we are all students despite our age, and there is always so much more to learn. The process of editing can be a long, tedious journey. However, after my recent blossoming experience, I will no longer shy away from it. Instead, I will embrace it, continuing full steam ahead.

Krissy Clowe

MLM, Basketball and Publishing, Oh my!

2010-11-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

Warning: This post will sound like a downer, but it's really not; I try to uplift when I can.

Research has revealed an interesting fact: people pursuing multi-level marketing careers have a higher rate of success than those pursuing publication.

MLM: 3%

Getting published: 1-2%

Yes, that's a very sad little number, but is it really that surprising? I mean, how many of your neighbors, friends, family members, co-workers have written/queried/published a book? Not many, right? Perhaps none. How many of those same people have tried some sort of multi-level marketing gig, like Avon, Amway, or Mary Kay? Quite a few, I'd bet.

None of us truly thought this path to publication was going to be a smooth one. If you did, I'm sure those fairy tale, pie-in-the-sky daydreams were dashed after your 10th or 15th form rejection letter.

I promised this post wasn't going to be a downer, so brace yourself for the silver lining.

Being amongst that fortunate 1-2% is an incredible feat and deserves a pat on the back. Most of us will not get picked up by one of the "BIG 6" houses, but so what? Getting contracted by a teeny tiny house is quite the accomplishment when you consider 98-99% of writers in the WORLD will not achieve even that much.

If you're not a basketball fan, this one might fly over your head, but not everybody can be a superstar like Kobe Bryant. But even Kobe (despite what SOME might say) cannot win games on his own. There are a dozen other players--some great, some good--who do their part, no matter how small or unrecognized, to bring home championships. Some guys rarely make it out onto the court, but I bet they like the view better from the bench than from their home television sets.

Writing is not (usually) a team sport like basketball. However, it takes all types--some great, some good--to make up the literary world. Being a part of it is something to be proud of, whether you're in the starting lineup or on the bench.

So if you find yourself feeling bummed because your book didn't make the "BIG 6" cut, stop being such a crybaby. Walk it off. Rub some dirt in it. You've done something relatively rare. You've contributed to the literary world, and how many people can say that?

Rhiannon Ellis

http://www.rhiannonellis.blogspot.com

From The Brain to Paper—sounds like a title to a book?

2010-11-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

The brain is a strange place when searching for the right word, sentence, and paragraph. Words that can come out of it can amaze everyone—including the author. But to this writer, words mean something special. It’s a time—not only to express myself—of peace within, a time to say hey…I think I can actually do this. When I get an idea, it leads to a word, and that first word sets me in a direction I have never been, an adventure like no other in my life. Words are not the only thing coming from the brain. Vision also creeps out along with the words, sentences and paragraphs, to make the story complete.

Some say children’s books are easy—not much to them. I personally disagree, after writing my stories titled Paddle Tail and Paddle Tail’s First Winter Adventure—the stories about the adorable little beaver born without a tail. For one it took me six years to find a publisher, and search I did to get that one. Once published came the advertising and promotion. Luckily, my mother was good with sewing. I came up with the idea to have a costume made of a beaver. The costume worked quite well at schools—after figuring out an assembly I could present, with Paddle Tail by my side—usually my wife, when I could talk her into climbing inside the costume.

I worked with a very talented illustrator—explaining exactly what the characters, their clothes and scenes should look like, the rough draft of the front and back cover and the book in general. Many hours went into the making of my book, but to see it take form—along with the characters—and published in paperback was something I never dreamed I’d do—and still don’t. Writing is now in my blood. I have since written Toboggan Wax, Little Moe’s Christmas, Under the Wishing Well, Emma May’s Sandbox and my first young/adult novel titled Rampage—a story of first love, fear and survival, with a western style theme.

I want to thank Dawn for seeing something in my writing, and for taking me on. Agents are harder to get than some publishers. We should all feel so lucky to have her, and one that treats authors with such patience and understanding. This writing business is a two-way street, but if one lane is closed, the other soon follows. Thanks again, Dawn, and keep up the hard work of trying to make us…famous? Your writers will one day make it all worth your while.

Take care,

Hank LeGrand lll

hjlmbl@zoominternet.net

http://www.authorsden.com/hanklegrandlll

P.S. I was told years ago that you haven’t tried hard enough, unless you have at least 50 rejection letters. Well, after I received my 150th rejection I knew I had to be getting close…

THE MAGICAL METAPHOR

2010-11-09T06:27:00.001-08:00

Looking for tips and techniques that will enhance your skills? Me, too.

A few weeks ago, my Sisters in Crime Newsletter arrived with a cover article by Elizabeth Lyon, an independent book editor since 1988. She has authored six books for writers with more than 65,000 sold. Two of her guides are dedicated to writing and revising fiction: A Writer’s Guide to Fiction and Manuscript Makeover. The December issue of The Writer magazine selected Manuscript Makeover as one of the “10 Great Writing Books in 2008.”

Her recent article in SinC regarding metaphors, caught my attention. As you know, a metaphor can be defined as: “A figure of speech in which a term is transferred from the object it ordinarily designates to an object it may designate only by implicit comparison or analogy.”

Elizabeth points out that we use metaphors all the time, i.e. dog days of summer; a mountain of mail; or perhaps, turned a deaf ear. Her advice was to find those metaphors that work in particular for your character(s). Referring to children, a farmer might say, “a hard crop to grow.” A cook might say, “a new baby adds more spice to the family stew.” An OB/GYN or a Vet might say, “this is the last of the litter.”

Elizabeth suggests you do a computer search to find fresh words and phrases. If your character is a fireman, you could enter “fire fighting terminology” and see what you get. Then, create a word list for your specific character and refer to it often. It will become your tool for more original characterization. It will help when writing in this character’s POV, in narration and in dialogue.

I tried it and found it was not easy at first but with a little determination I got the hang of it. (Oh! is that a metaphor??) Caution: watch out for those that are trite – don’t fall into that trap – be original.

The challenge was fun. It was entertaining trying to work the “special” words into my story in such a way that the reader would “sense” more about the character than the impressions they pick up by simply reading the words we use normally. With my more colorful, secondary characters, it was easier. Their dialogue was more inclined to make my feedback group smile more often. Once I got going with it, I had to actually back off a little so as not to lose the tone I wanted to establish. Like everything, less can be more.

Merle McCann

Are You a Plotter or a Pantser?

2010-10-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

If you’ve been part of the writing culture long, you’ve probably heard these terms. Plotter and Pantser are categories used to describe a writers approach to their craft. Plotters plot. Pantsers fly by the seat of theirs.

Plotters are methodical and intensely bent on the layout of their story. Some plotters have told me that they will not begin a story unless they already know how it ends. These writers get a solid concept in mind and begin to lay it out. They chose the characters who will tell their story, both main and minor. They round and develop them until they can tell you every character’s favorite color, meal and song. It’s a long and involved process to be a plotter.

Next, plotters begin to wind the characters into their story. Outlining begins. A rough schedule of events will become a tentative table of contents with chapter summaries, and subplots. Emotional arcs, story arcs and pacing are all etched in stone before the opening line is ever crafted.

The result is a stunning work of highly detailed art. The story is well planned, the plot is well developed, and the characters are well behaved. It is one very popular way to create a manuscript.

There are also a whole lot of pantsers out there. Pantsers are the wide-eyed, discipline deficient, idea attackers. A pantser will often write chapter after chapter, in a complete frenzy, having no idea where the story is headed. Once an intriguing idea flits into a pantsers stream of consciousness, they will begin to scribble it onto anything, sales receipts, napkins, arms, doesn’t matter. Pantsers do not plan. They allow the characters to evolve and reveal themselves. The plot unfolds to the pantser as they tell the story. The ending is a surprise. This is another fully effective way to tell your story.

I am a pantser. I have been known to write 85,000 words based upon a 750 word maximum contest entry. My last novel came after a funny thought hit me in the shower. For this reason, I normally have several manuscripts going at once, and I tend to the one whose characters pester me the loudest, and yes, I do hear voices. To me they are practically tangible beings. I love them all, even those I just love to hate. My characters are wild and unruly, somewhat unpredictable, but always interesting. You see plotting, to me, would steal the fun. My writing process feels like reading a fabulous book, and I don’t want to put it down. I fall asleep and I wake up thinking about it, while coffee and adrenaline carry me through to the end, and then the editing begins. Editing is a lot less fun, but the ride is well worth the work. Meanwhile, I have to tell new ideas to wait their turn, and I pass on contests and online article submission more than I want to, but even an over-caffeinated, under-disciplined pantser needs a little limitation.

Now that I’ve confessed my maniacal approach to the craft, I have to wonder… Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Julie Anne Lindsey
http://blog.juliealindsey.com

What's your genre?

2010-10-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

What's your genre?

That is the question of the day...maybe the year.

You've written the Top Selling MS. Ok, so it might not be the top seller, but it sure is agent worthy. It's finished.

All one hundred thousand words, give or take a few thousand. It's been edited, revised and revised and edited again -- and again. You're getting ready to start the agent hunting, or publisher push, and it's time to choose the book's category.

Now you're stumped. All those words and not a moment of writer's block. Now your fingers hover over the keyboard as your brain tries to pick and decipher this moment of unclarity.

Originally, you believed it was YA, but the main character is a bit too old. Still too young for Adult. So, you hum and ha over trying to invent a different category or wonder if that other category, New Adult, really exists.

Or, your book has a bit of history, a bit of romance and a touch of paranormal. What about the Manuscript with fantasy and romance? Can you choose just one or how do you sell all the genres at once?

Cross-over fiction is actually easier to sell than you think. Agents and publishers prefer to have books that don't stay inside one genre's walls. They reach a wider audience which makes a book more sell-able and, at the same time, can draw readers into new genres they haven't read before (which in turn, sells more books).

As long as the MS is well-written (which it is, of course) with a great plot (the best, or course), and interesting characters (that are not necessarily likable). You can let the story's genre speak for itself. Stop worrying.

Good luck with your words. May they be well written -- and sellable :)

Wanita Dykstra-May

Getting Started by Kathleen Delaney

2010-10-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone has an idea for a book, fiction or non-fiction. But, how on earth do you get started?

It’s not easy. If you have fiction in mind, you need a plot, characters, setting, in other words a story. A whole story, with a beginning, middle and a smashing ending.

Today, I don’t want to talk so much about the process of constructing a story, and it is a process, but about authors. What makes an author? A burning desire to tell a story, a love of reading and the knowledge, deep down inside somewhere, you also can tell that story. The ability to spend long hours by yourself, staring at your computer screen, thinking, plotting, writing. And discipline. What, you say? Discipline? What for? All an author does is just sit down, turn on the computer, wait for the muse to strike and write down what she dictates. Right? Wrong. I’ve been doing this for some time now, and I have yet to meet the muse. I’m beginning to get a complex.

Someone, I forget who, said writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. They were right. As in any craft, and writing is a craft, you have to learn how to do it. Just like the carpenter has to learn how to work a saw and hammer in a nail without it going through his finger, the author has to learn how a good sentence is structured, how to build suspense in the story, when to end a chapter, how to make a character come alive. How do you do that? By writing

So, if you want to write a book, this is the way to do it. Make time every day, let me repeat, every day, to write something. You budget your money and, for the most part, your time. Trips to the gym, grocery shopping, soccer practice or ballet lessons for the kids, and, of course, your day job. You make time for all of them. So carve out a little time each day to write. Do NOT think you will take the Thanksgiving weekend and sit down and knock out the first one hundred pages of that novel that’s been kicking around in the back of your head for a while. You won’t. You’ll be so overwhelmed you’ll put it off one more time and instead make that recipe for leftover turkey you’ve been meaning to try for—how many years? Or you’ll get the garden mulched. That always needs doing. You’ll never go back to that story. So, set goals for yourself, realistic ones, and write every day. Something. Anything. It doesn’t matter. You’re going to rewrite it anyway. Anne Lemont said, “All first drafts are—.” I say, that’s why the delete key is so easy to get to. Give yourself a chance. That sentence is going to get better and the plot really will come together if you keep at it. Remember, all of us write stuff that makes us shudder the next morning. So, here’s another little platitude to remember. Books aren’t written, they’re rewritten.

Now, go crank up that computer and put down something, what your great Aunt Lucille said when she caught you smoking out behind the hay pile, what happened to your kids their first year in 4H, or—you get the idea. See if it works in the story you are trying to wrestle to the ground, then delete all that stuff and try again. But, keep at it. Everyday, one more little piece, a couple more pages, one more tweak of that sentence that just never reads right, and finally, one day you’ll read it through, sit back and smile. You just wrote a book.

I have the soul of a writer...

2010-10-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

I love Aretha Franklin’s song, Respect. Perhaps, because as an unpublished writer, I get so little respect. “Oh, you write? Are you published?” When I reply that I’m not, the inquiring person smirks or raises his or her eyebrows or simpers, “Oh, really….” In some cases, the person does all three. Every time that happens, I squirm and simmer.

Being published does not make one a writer. If you write, either by putting pen to paper or kissing the computer keys with your fingertips, you are a writer, a storyteller, a conduit of information and an artist of words. Take pride in your craft.

Does a student need to be graduated before his or her instructor is called a teacher? Does a politician need to pass a bill before he or she is truly a politician? In like manner, a writer does not need to publish before he or she is a writer.

What makes us writers? For many of us, writing is something we need to do. The process beguiles us, compels us, niggles at our guts and invades our dreams. Quite simply, we enjoy it. Granted, writing frays our nerves at times when we can’t find the right words to convey what is playing out in our minds or when our characters suddenly behave contrary to how we’d envisioned. But the creative energy that dwells within our souls hungers to produce characters, to design worlds and to craft stories. In so doing, we write.

Last night I had the pleasure of e-mailing my 87,000 word contemporary romance manuscript to my agent, Dawn Dowdle. I’d e-mailed her a query and first chapter in July. She responded with a contract of representation. I am entering the next phase of my life as a writer. No, I am not published, but have no doubt about it, I am a writer—and damned proud of it.

Write on!! Vonnie Davis

You may visit me at my blog: http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com