Magic City Writing

Romance Writer?

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Lexi George: My Road to Publication and What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

2012-01-29T14:45:00.000-08:00

Running to Stand Still

2012-01-07T15:04:00.000-08:00

Can't Fake This: Casey Crow

2011-12-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

(This interview is being published simultaneously on this blog and the Romance Magicians blog. Please leave any comments on the Romance Magicians blog).

Tell us about Can’t Fake This.

Casey: CAN’T FAKE THIS started out on a whim. At the last minute, I decided to enter this 10,000 word contest. I’d written spicy mainstream, but this was my first dive into erotic waters. I didn’t win the contest, but after having what I thought was a good start, I added some more words and low and behold, this erotic became the first manuscript I sold.

The story is about a divorcee ready to reenter the dating world. Anna Ryan is determined to be the best “product on the market,” which requires a lot more experience so she propositions sexy police officer Chase Harris to teach her how to make hot, passionate love as opposed to just having sex. He takes it a step further, instructing each lesson based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I love that you incorporated the 12 Days of Christmas into this story! Is there a favorite "day" in your story that you'd like to share?

Casey: Chase gives Anna two Dove chocolate candies to symbolize Two Turtle Doves. This is my favorite day because it’s so different from the rest. It’s the only day they don’t make out. Anna would definitely disagree with me, and in fact gets in a huff because Chase makes her talk when she wants much more than that!

What was the most challenging part?

Casey: By far the most difficult part was coming up with so many detailed sex scenes and making each one fresh and unique. It sounds funny saying that because really there are worse things to have to write about than sex, you know? But twelve days equates to a lot of stripping down, and there are only so many ways you can take off your clothes. LOL

Since CAN'T FAKE THIS is a holiday-themed story, I'm curious...at what time of the year did you write the story? And if you wrote it in say June or March, how did you get yourself in the holiday spirit?

Casey: I wish I had a better story, but I didn’t have to break out the Christmas CDs in the middle of July. I wrote the original 10,000 words (for the contest) for a few weeks in October so as luck would have it, it was late November, early December when I decided to add more to the story. I do think writing CAN’T FAKE THIS added to my Christmas spirit. It’s such a fun story.

Describe your writing process.

Casey: I’m a plotter for sure, but the outline is very vague so if my characters want to take a detour, I’m okay with that. I’m also linear. As for as my schedule goes, after taking the children to school, I go to the gym (because if it doesn't happen in the a.m., it's not going to happen) then write until it's time to return to "mom" mode. I usually squeeze in some time late at night, too.

What is the best writing advice you received?

Casey: I’ve been fortunate to have tremendous support, especially from my mentor, the fabulous RITA nominated Cynthia Eden, whom I bug all the time with questions. I’m pretty sure along my journey since joining RWA in 2009, Cynthia said, “Don’t give up.” Rejections are to be expected. Keep writing through them, and your writing will only get better.

What is the worst writing advice you received?

My writing is southern and sassy. Down-to-earth. I try to write like folks actually talk so those no-no’s you’ve heard about “was” and adverbs, I’ve learned to take in stride. You can’t let rules overrule your voice.

What are you currently reading?

On my nightstand this week is Tangled up in Love by Heidi Betts.

You’ve long been a fan of romance novels. What prompted you to cross over to the writing side of things?

Casey: In high school and college, I only read text books. I was a bit of a nerd. Okay, that's a lie. I was a huge nerd so I didn’t even get started on romance until I was twenty-five. Oddly enough, my mom, an avid reader of all romance genres first encouraged me to write. About the time I started thinking, “I could do this,” she said, “You can.” Thank goodness too, because I love it and turned the hobby turned into a career when I joined Romance Writers of America in 2009.

You spent some time in pageant life. What was that like?

Casey: As a dancer and gymnast, I was on stage my whole life, but I began competing in pageants at fifteen to prepare for Jr. Miss (now Distinguished Young Woman). I’ve done everything from glitz to natural. I prefer youth development programs where talent is the primary focus. I’ve competed in the Miss America and Miss Universe systems. I have to say it was pretty cool being Miss University of Alabama, but my most memorable reign was Miss Motorsports, where I got to be a NASCAR spokesmodel and hang out with all the famous drivers.

Pageants typically have a negative connotation, but the friendships, public speaking skills, and confidence I gained make me a firm believer in the many positive aspects they provide. My eight-year-old daughter now competes and likes the fact that she has more nationals titles than me. She has sung in Branson, MO and opened a concert for CMA artist Ashton Shepherd. None of that would have been possible without her pageant experience. As a pageant coach for over twenty years, and I still get such an adrenaline rush teaching modeling and interview to girls of all ages. It’s incredibly rewarding to see one’s self-confidence grow with each lesson.

If you cook, do crafty stuff, or have a hobby, please share the details with readers.

Casey: I do cook and love crafts, but considering I’m about four years behind on scrapbooking, I don’t think it counts if it stays in a box under the bed. The one thing I truly do for just me is take a dance class. I used to own a dance studio so this is a great way for me to keep in shape and up-to-date for when I choreograph for my pageant students. I’m in a class with a bunch of other teachers and former dance competitors. It’s not easy by any means. The best part is that we rock the house during recital time. Old ladies, apparently, still have it.

Is there a genre you’d like to write?

Casey: I’d love to write YA. Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of teenagers either as a dance instructor or pageant coach, and it fascinates me how they flip flop between still being kids and being incredibly mature.

Any upcoming conferences?

Casey: I’m presenting my PITCH PERFECT workshop at Silken Sands, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA, the sister chapter to Southern Magic. You can register at http://www.gccrwa.com/silkensands/ and enjoy March 16-18 on Pensacola Beach! Plus, the So. Magic contest winners will be announced there!

I’ll also be hanging out with the cover hotties at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in April in Chicago. I’ll present the same workshop and they have asked me to be a “Pitch Doctor” in the pitch room to help writers right before the pitch to editors and agents.

What's next for Casey Crow?

Casey: Thanks for asking! I have two other manuscripts on submission right now with various agents and editors. HUSTLER’S DREAM is about a southern socialite pool shark who hustles the wrong guy, or is he? FEELS SO RIGHT is about a country music agent and her ex-boyfriend songwriter. I’m also half way finished with FAST DREAM, the sequel to HUSTLER’S DREAM, about a female NASCAR tire changer in love with the driver.

I just signed with Siren Publishing for DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE, which features a ballerina. It will be out in e-book in March 2012 and print in July. This one, like my other works aside from CAN’T FAKE THIS, are spicy mainstream.

I swear they’re not autobiographical! But, I’m passionate about the things I enjoy, and they invariably make their way into my writing. My tagline is “Sexy, Sass & Southern” and all my heroines are just that.

Buy Kindle version on Amazon

Buy all versions at Loose, Id.

Visit Casey at http://www.caseycrow.com

CAN’T FAKE THIS Excerpt

See the CAN’T FAKE THIS book trailer

Follow on Twitter @caseyecrow and Facebook Casey Crow

Casey Crow is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama with degrees in Business Management and Dance. She received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Mobile. Casey resides in south Alabama where she stays busy running her two young children to way too many activities. She also works as a dance choreographer, pageant coach of twenty years, professional emcee and model, and certified Miss America preliminary judge. In fact, she is a former Miss University of Alabama and NASCAR spokesmodel. She is addicted to CASTLE & REVENGE and works out constantly to compensate for her addiction to Barq's root beer. She enjoys playing pool, tennis & golf, but never has the time and is therefore, pitiful at all three. Casey writes erotic and spicy contemporary romances with the tagline “Sexy, Southern & Sassy.”

A little inspiration

2011-12-17T18:02:00.001-08:00

Tis the Season (to be writing)

2011-12-03T18:40:00.001-08:00

After a long hiatus from writing due to a booger of a trial, I was able to enjoy some holiday cheer at the Southern Magic (Birmingham RWA chapter) Christmas party. It was just what I needed to inspire a little BICHOK action!

E-readers Killed My Gift List

2011-09-21T06:45:00.001-07:00

Giving books as gifts used to be my thing. I loved finding a book for a friend or family member as a Christmas or birthday present that would introduce them to a new friend or world. I would spend the year trying to get signed books for a gift basket. It was my quest. My mission.

Then came the Kindle, the Nook, the iPad and the digital revolution. It swept me away. I'll knife you if you lay a finger on my Nook Color. All my books are in one place. No piles toppling off the nightstand. No lost paperbacks on trips. Everyone in my family is on board. You know the revolution is in full swing when my mother and mother-in-law both have e-readers.

But what can I get people for presents if they are going to electronic books? Gift cards? I can hear my grandmother tisk-tisking at that idea right now. It feels like cheating. Maybe I could wrap the card in a suggested reading list.

I can't be alone in this dilemma. How do you plan on adapting to the digital revolution when it comes to sharing your favorite authors and stories?

A Perfect Fit by Naima Simone

2011-09-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Check out this trailer for Naima Simone's A PERFECT FIT. It looks fantastic.

Adventures with an International Flair: Jillian Chantal

2011-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

Jillian Chantal is both a lawyer and a writer of romantic fiction (also, she's a super cool lady). Most often she can be found either at her keyboard banging out words, working on a legal issue or just surfing the web and calling it research. Her other guilty pleasure is her one-sided love affair with the actor Alan Rickman. She owns all his movies and would probably give away her cat for a chance to meet him (oh Snape, you handsome devil, you).

Jillian is a member of the Gulf Coast RWA chapter. Her third novel, Redemption for the Devil, was released by Desert Breeze Publishing in July 2011. She graciously agreed to sit down and tell us a little about it.

***

In Redemption for the Devil, your heroine Mary Margaret Kincade undergoes a dramatic career change before being blind-sided by a man who is the opposite of everything she thought she needed/wanted. Tell us about her journey.

Peg’s journey is two part, really. One is a physical journey that starts with her accepting the fact that her father is lost at sea and probably never coming home. She decides to make a new life for herself as she can’t bear staying in Cork where her odious cousin has taken over the family business as well as the home she’s always known. She musters her courage and sets off on a voyage first to England and then across the ocean.

The second part of her journey is a journey of emotion/growth as a person. Peg always thought she’d live in her hometown of Cork, but when she leaves the safety of her known environment, she has to accept lots of new people with different beliefs into her life. She makes friends with a girl from Southampton who is a Protestant and a bit of a wild child. Peg finds that she can love her friend anyway despite her own strict Catholic upbringing and her belief that pre-marital sex is not acceptable. Peg eventually finds that she has grown and changed in her own beliefs as well as her ability to accept people who are not the same as her and don’t necessarily have the same moral code as she does.

Your hero, Liam Cormac, a member of the Irish Republican Army, is torn between duty and his heart. How does he handle struggling with this conflict?

I don’t want to give away any plot points but suffice it to say he has a lot of angst. He’s been beating himself up for years over an incident that happened when he was a teen that hardened his heart. This story is about that frozen heart. Not only is Peg’s dad lost in the Arctic ocean, she meets a man who’s heart is as hard and cold as an iceberg. Her journey ties into both these men and what she has learned from one and will learn from the other.

Your story is set in the 1920s. What were some of the fun things you gleaned from your research that you worked into Redemption for the Devil?

I really didn’t do new research for this story other than to check dates and historical detail on buildings. I love this era of history and have Irish/English ancestry so I’ve always been interested in the facts and fashions of the time period. The story was quite easy to write since I had all this info already in my head. Seances were all the rage in the late 1800s and early 1900s so I really wanted to work that in.

One funny thing I did was write the story with Liam as the bartender and Peg as the lounge singer. They crossed the ocean and I’m writing merrily along, sometimes even humming. Then, the big moment: I’ll never forget my thought (and I won’t type it verbatim as it was not a nice word) when I pulled the Mauretania into port in New York City. It was along the lines of, “Oh, pickle juice, the Volstead Act. Now what?”

The Volstead Act is Prohibition- the Eighteenth Amendment of the US Constitution. DUH. No liquor sales by law. What was I going to do with a bartender and lounge singer? My knowledge of the era surfaced from my little pea brain and thus, I was not going to be embarrassed and hauled off by the historical police. I was gonna solve this issue, by golly and I did. I decided to send Peg to a speakeasy! Chicago! Gangsters!

I wiped my brow in relief and kept on going with the story.

Describe your writing process.

Usually the first thing I get is the hero’s name. Then the idea of the basic story comes. I make a sound track of songs that I think relate to where I think the story is going. I’m a complete pantser and have written many manuscripts with a one sentence premise.

Once I have the soundtrack, I immerse myself in the songs. I play them in the car and at my desk. Then I start to write. I usually get five to six chapters in and then the ending comes to me and I’ll write the last two chapters. Then I go back and weave it together in the middle.

What is the best writing advice you received?

Don’t try to use someone else’s process. I did try to change my process twice when friends told me how they write. I was stymied and all the joy was sucked out of the process for me. I told my friend, Cynthia Eden, about the new process making me freeze up and have no creativity and she looked at me and said, “then stop.”

I looked at her, light dawning and said, “I can do that?” LOL!

What is the worst writing advice you received?

That whole rule about not using adverbs and gerunds. Sometimes, they have to be used. People talk that way and you have to use them in dialogue and sometimes even in the narrative. (Gasp) They are parts of the English language for a reason.

What are you currently reading?

I’m a reviewer for the Season for Romance and I’m reading an ARC of A Vampire Christmas Carol; Ebenezer Scrooge, Vampire Slayer. It’s pretty good. The author has a good grasp of Dickens’ voice.

Are there any writing conferences in 2012 that you would recommend, and why?

The Silken Sands Conference sponsored by the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA is my chapter’s conference and I somehow got roped into, oops, I mean nominated for, chairman. We have an exciting line up of editors and agents as well as some cool workshops. And besides, who doesn’t love the beach? It’s in Pensacola and is March 16-18, 2012. Registration is open now. http://www.gccrwa.com/silkensands/ Another reason to come is that the winners of your very own chapters’ contest will be announced at ours. FUN!

Thanks for having me Heather. It was fun even though you asked me some tough questions there at the beginning. I hope to see a bunch of you at the conference.

You can find Jillian at her website, Twitter, and Facebook. Be sure to register for the Silken Sands Conference so you can meet her in person!

Enjoy this trailer for Redemption for the Devil.

So I Married a Dalvahni Warrior

2011-08-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

The weather may be cooling down, but the heat is ratcheting up in a new anthology from Angie Fox, Kathy Love and Lexi George. I am pleased to have a guest interview with Lexi George, one of the three authors who contributed to the soon to be released So I Married a Demon Slayer. Lexi's debut novel, Demon Hunting in Dixie, came out earlier this year and features the so-hot-they'll-make-your-teeth-sweat Dalvahni warriors. We see the return of the Dalvahni in Lexi's story The Bride Wore Demon Dust.

*****

Tell me about your hero? I’ve always wanted to know more about demon slayers.

Rafe is a Dalvahni warrior, an emotionless, impassive race of inter-dimensional bounty hunters created to hunt down and capture rogue demons before they wreak havoc on other worlds. The Dalvahni are matchless in battle, but a teensy bit lacking in the self-awareness department.

As in totally clueless. They feel battle rage and lust, but little else in the way of emotion.

Oh, yeah, and the Dalvahni happen to be hot-tays, tall, broad-shouldered, heavily muscled and drop dead good looking.

Rafe Dalvahni is no exception, with his garnet red hair and piercing green eyes. He considers Brand, his fellow warrior, beneath contempt after Brand falls in love with a Southern girl. The Dalvahni do not love. Such a thing is unheard of.

Rafe regards Brand’s peculiar affliction as an anomaly among the Dalvahni, a freak occurrence that will never be repeated. Certainly, nothing of the sort will ever happen to him.

And then he meets Bunny Raines, the Hannah, Alabama librarian, and Rafe Dalvahni super stud falls in love. It takes him a while to glom onto the fact thought. Like I said, the dude is clueless.

Who is your heroine, and how is she dealing with her new hubby?

Bunny Nicole Raines is a small town librarian with a double stripper name. (She will never forgive her parents for not naming her Emma or Jane.) She meets Rafe Dalvahni one night when he saves her from a mugger, and falls completely and totally in love with the gorgeous Mr. Dalvahni. Everything is perfect, buttercups and roses, until after the wedding, when she finds out that her new husband is (a) not human; (b) an immortal demon slayer; (c) she was really attacked by a demon, not a mugger; and, (d) she is no longer human, because Rafe changed her when he saved her from certain death after the demon attack.

Bunny is not a happy camper. To top it all off, she is pregnant, although she hasn’t told Rafe. So, not only is she married to a stranger and no longer human, she’s pregnant with ET.

How does she handle it? Like most of us would, I suspect. She runs, away from the wedding and away from Rafe. He follows her, of course. There’s a demon on her trail, although she doesn’t know it.

What was the inspiration for your novella?

Megan Records, my editor, asked me to participate in the anthology. I was thrilled, especially when I found out that Angie Fox and Kathy Love had also been asked to participate, but I was a little nervous, too. I’d never written a novella. Megan told me the theme—So I Married A Demon Slayer— and left the rest up to me. Since I already had my small-Southern-town-gets-invaded-by-demons-and-hunky-demon-hunters thing going with the first book, I decided to go with that.

How different was the process for writing your novella as opposed to one of your novels?

My process is pretty much the same every time: organized chaos. I’m a pantser with plotter envy. I figure out who my hero and heroine are going to be and come up with an idea for the story and start writing. After I’ve written a few chapters and gotten to know my characters a little, I make a list of plot points and try to connect the dots.

What is your next project?

Right now I’m working on book three of the demon hunter series, DEMON HUNTING IN A DIVE BAR. New characters and new story, so it’s going a little slow, but that’s typical for me.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series and I’m reading SIZZLING SIXTEEN by Janet Evanovich. Love me some Sookie and Stephanie!

*****

Thanks to Lexi for agreeing to this interview. Please leave a comment to win a copy of So I Married a Demon Slayer. You must live in the U.S. to win. A winner will be announced in the comment thread on September 2, 2011.

You can follow Lexi on Twitter at @LexiGeorge12 or you can like her fan page on Facebook.

Book Publicity: An Interview with Maryglenn McCombs

2011-08-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Whether you are published or pre-published, book publicity is something you must be mindful of. The amazing Maryglenn McCombs has graciously agreed to endure an interview with me in order to share some of her knowledge on the subject. Maryglenn has actively been working in the book publishing industry for nearly 20 years. She has served as a guest lecturer for publishing workshops, conferences and events, including serving as a panelist for the Southern Festival of Books. She is a member of the Publishers Association of the South (PAS) and Publishers Marketing Association (PMA).

*****

. What are the reasons an author should consider using apublicist?

I think there are twomain reasons authors should consider hiring a publicist. First, it makes a hugedifference to have someone who is familiar with the media, understands thetiming of when (and when not) to pitch a book, how to pitch a book, knows whatreviewers and journalists are looking for, and knows the ins and outs of how toget a book reviewed, covered, or featured. Second, I think it would beextremely hard to try to promote my own book—assuming I had a book to promote.I would definitely want to hire a go-between to do the promoting for me. Thatisn’t to say that there aren’t a multitude of great authors who also happen tobe great self-promoters, but I would definitely want to have someone doing thatwork on my behalf as opposed to trying to do it myself. I have reviewercontacts who’ve told me they prefer working with publicists and while they lovehearing from authors, don’t necessarily want to be pitched by the authorsthemselves. Sometimes that can get a little tricky, I’m told.

With social media becoming more and more prevalent, how have youseen your job as a publicist change?

Social media hasdefinitely had an impact on my job. Journalists—especially those who have asocial media presence—seem to be more accessible (and it doesn’t hurt to beable to know what they’re thinking, blogging, tweeting, or Facebook-ing about).Social media, in some ways, has exponentially increased the value and scope ofgood reviews. I encourage all of my authors to share good reviews and coveragevia social media. Having an outstanding quote or review to share with yoursocial network can be a wonderful way to get people excited about your book—andbuild momentum.

3 Is there a timeline that an author should consider when it comesto publicity and/or contacting a publicist, and if so, what is it?

In a perfect world,all authors would contact me about 6 months in advance of publication. In thereal world, I’m happy to have a little advance notice (at least a month) but dooccasionally take on books that are already released. Having lots of lead timecan help, but there are ways to promote books past their release dates. Infact, I tend to tell authors that it is really never too late to promote abook. I recommend starting early, though—or at least that authors startthinking about PR early.

4 You have a reputation for “thinking outside the book” when itcomes to publicizing your clients and their books. What are some of yourfavorite things you have done to promote a client/book?

Thanks for asking thatquestion. I have some good stories but my favorite has to be one that happenedlast December. I’ve worked with mystery writer Don Bruns for years—Ithink we’ve done 7 or 8 books together now. I begged him for years to includemy Old English Sheepdog, Garcia, as a character in one of his books. (On a sadnote, I should mention that we lost our Sweet Garcia in June after 11 wonderfuland glorious years.)

Garcia

I finally wore Dondown and he made Garcia a character in Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, amystery novel that came out last December.

I had heard throughthe grapevine that Rush Limbaugh was a proud Old English Sheepdog owner so Isent his dogs (Abby and Wellesley) a pitch letter from my dog, Garcia, tellingthem about the book and how great it would be if the dogs could convince their“dad” (Rush Limbaugh) to talk about the book –and Garcia, of course—on hisshow.

And he did! Sonow I have the distinction of telling people that I was successful at gettingmy dog (and Don’s book) on the Rush Limbaugh Show. Don and I still getquite a chuckle over that story. Our phones rang off the hook for days…I had noidea just how many loyal Rush Limbaugh listeners there were!

5 In a challenging economy such as this one, each dollarcounts. For a pre-published author who has to decide between spendingmoney on conferences, memberships in writing organizations, websites, etc.,what advice do you have for the not-yet-published author in terms of where todirect their resources?

Conferences,conferences, conferences. So valuable—and the networking opportunitiesalone far exceed the price of admission. I’m a big fan of genre-specificconferences and recommend them highly to both published authors and thoselooking to be published.

6 What book(s) are you currently reading?

I am reading anincredible November mystery, Fever Dream by Dennis Palumbo (Poisoned PenPress) which I’ll be representing. It is so good it is almost criminal that Iget to call this “work." I am trying—trying—toconvince myself to pick up The Art of Racing in the Rain but I’m notquite there—yet. In time!

Thank you so much,Heather; I appreciate the fun questions!
Maryglenn

Maryglenn's website is http://maryglenn.com/index.html

September 24 Writing Workshop: Law and Order for the Writer

2011-08-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

SOUTHERN MAGIC PRESENTS: LAW AND ORDER FOR THE WRITER - FULL DAY WORKSHOP - Members of the law enforcement and legal community will present workshops on issues relevant to writers.

September 24, 2011 from 9:30 to 3:00 at the Homewood Public Library (Birmingham, AL)

The schedule will be:

9:00 - 9:30 Registration
9:30 - 10:30 Getting the Crime Scene Right - Law enforcement professionals will discuss how to secure a crime scene.

10:30 - 11:30 Interrogation Techniques - Law enforcement professionals will walk attendees through what can and can't be done to interrogate a witness, and if we're lucky, they may share a few tricks of the trade for securing a confession.

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 Surveillance - Who Has the Eyeball? Sheila Stephens, retired ATF agent and police officer, discusses the techniques and technology used by private investigators as well as the new technology being used by law enforcement.

2:00 - 3:00 What Dick Wolfe Got Right and Wrong - A first hand look at how the legal system is depicted in fiction by legal professionals. Their panel will include a general overview of the legal profession as well as the errors Hollywood continues to make about how judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys do their jobs.

Location: Homewood Public Library; 1721 Oxmoor Road; Homewood, AL 35209

Admission:Pre-registration closes on September 16
Southern Magic Members: $20.00
Mystery Writers of America Members: $20.00
Sisters in Crime Members: $20.00
Non-Southern Magic/MWA/SinC Members: $25.00
At the Door (regardless of membership) $30.00

To Register:Email your name, preferred email address, and payment method (check or PayPal) toHNLeonard@gmail.com . Please use "September Workshop" as your subject line.

You can pay for your registration via PayPal by sending funds to treasurer@southernmagic.org (Please note in the comment section for your payment the funds are for the September workshop)

Or mailing your check to Southern Magic RWA
c/o Laura Hayden, Treasurer
P.O. Box 241312
Montgomery, AL 36124

(Please note in the comment section for your payment the funds are for the September workshop).

For more information, go to www.SouthernMagic.org

Doing the Happy Dance

2011-08-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

For those days when you just need to do the happy dance, Les Grossman can oblige.

Haunted Sloss Furnace

2011-07-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Call me chicken, but I am too spineless to haul my happy rear out to Sloss Furnace alone to do some research for a scene, so I've been watching Ghost Adventures to work up my nerve. Has anyone done the ghost tour at Sloss? Want to? I need someone to keep me company that is corporeal!

What Are You Reading?

2011-07-24T05:19:00.001-07:00

I had to box up my books to prepare our house for "The Re-Do" (or as my husband calls it, Homageddon) . Every time I taped up one of the many boxes, regret over the books I hadn't read (yet) added a weight to muscles already tight with worry that I would never find the time to enjoy the untouched tomes.

Do not fear. I'm not going to do something as silly as swearing off buying any more books until I've finished the ones I have. That's crazy talk. (I'm pretty sure Amazon or Barnes and Noble would send out search parties for me if I didn't place an order at least once a week).

Instead, I'm making a commitment to find time to read each day, just like bathing, exercising (I hear you snickering, and I am not amused), writing, working and sleeping. To make myself feel more productive, I plan on referring to my reading time as "market research."

During my last research session, I devoured Love Story by Jennifer Echols (a book more awesome than cookies). Next, I plan on tacklingThe Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville. What can I say? I like to mix it up (my husband jokes I'll read anything but a cookbook - let's not tell him he's right).

How about you? Do you make time to read? What book are you dying to lose yourself in? I may need a few suggestions to add to my

Experience The Vampire Empire Trilogy by Clay and Susan Griffith

2011-07-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

The first book in the trilogy, The Greyfriar, transports the reader into a stunning alternate history that provides a fresh and adventurous take on vampires. This is one of those books you should start in the morning with your coffee because you won't put it down until you have reached the last page. Check out the trailer for the first book (below), and while you are waiting for the second installment, The Rift Walker, to come out in September, you can catch up with the authors at the Romance Magicians' blog: It's a Relationship Thing by Clay and Susan Griffith.

Social Netiquette

2011-07-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

    While these didn’t come from a burning bush, these social networking commandments were the result of several online flame wars. Social media can be an effective way to reach your audience to promote yourself and your work, but it can be an equally destructive means of burning bridges and soiling your reputation. It is way too easy to send a tweet out to all your followers when you meant to send a direct message. Who hasn’t had a freak-out over the “reply to all” button on an email. Multiply that by infinity and you have the power to create and destroy granted by social media.

    Remember the permanent record everyone told us about when we were growing up? Well, thanks to the internet, that record will live on forever electronically. Follow these ten rules for social media etiquette, and your record will not be blemished by a message sent too soon or without thought.

1.    Thou shalt not be a jerk (normally, I would be more colorful in expressing the first, and most important guiding rule, but I plan on practicing what I preach). Never forget how public a place the internet can be. If you complain about agents, editors, critics, or even readers, online, THEY WILL HEAR YOU, and there is no taking it back. Once you let a tweet loose on the world, it is out there even when you delete it.

2.    Thou shalt not spam. This really shouldn’t require explanation. Go check your in-box, Twitter feed and Facebook wall and you will understand the wisdom of this commandment. Say it once. Nuff said. As a rule of thumb, you may want to have a self-imposed limit of tweets, Facebook posts, etc. a day.

3.     Thou shalt not post when you are at emotional high or low point. This is a rule I use in my daily life as a lawyer, and it has saved my derriere more times than I can count. When I get miffed (again, I would be more colorful . . . ) and whip together a hot email to opposing counsel, I let it sit for 24 hours before sending it. Nine times out of ten, I delete that bad boy the next day without sending it. The same is true for social media posts. Give your emotions time to level out before making a post. It will help you avoid a lot of regret the next day (the same goes for posting after a cocktail or three).

4.    Thou shalt not be a cyber-mooch. If all you are using social media for is to promote yourself without giving back, you will alienate your followers quickly. Plugging your book, blog, appearance or whatever is fine, but you don’t want your social media presence to be a commercial. What do we all do when commercials come on? We find something else to do, be it change channels, get a snack or take care of other business. Why would social media be any different? Give your social media presence value by giving back to your audience; don’t just focus on self-promotion. Expose your audience to new authors, quotes from your WIP, etc. You are limited only by your creativity. On that same note, if you are on list servs or email loops, don’t be the person whose only posts are “please come see my blog.” It is okay to promote your blog, but do so in a way that will also engender discussion on the loop (and not just the comment section on your blog) so that you are giving back to that cyber-community.

5.    Thou shalt not let social media interfere with your writing. Hopefully, people are following you because they like what you write in places other than blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Don’t let social media keep you from delivering the product your audience craves. An aside on this rule is to avoid posting you don’t have time to write. If you have time to tweet, you have time to write. Get on it! If I see you posting you don’t have time to write, I will remind you the blank page in your word processor will not magically fill itself while you are playing on the internet. You have been warned (maybe I need to re-read rule one again).

6.    Thou shalt have a purpose. There is a lot of noise on the internet. Don’t contribute to it. Make sure you have a reason for following people or sending a friend request. Start first with people you know, then expand your network from there. When you post, make sure your posts have a point beyond sharing the line at Starbucks is infuriatingly long or that your queso dip is colder than the heart of an IRS agent. The fastest way to get defriended, unfollowed, or blocked is to clog someone’s feed with garbage that means nothing to them. If you are going to participate in social media, have a purpose.

7.    Thou shalt listen. Don’t just count the number of replies to your blog. Hear what your followers have to say and respond. Their feedback is invaluable. If someone took the time to comment or respond to you, you owe it to them to listen.

8.    Thou shalt engage your followers. Ask questions of people who follow you. Write blog posts that engender discussion. Don’t treat your social media presence as a billboard. The internet allows you to interact immediately with your audience. Don’t ignore them by lecturing to them; engage them in a dialogue and conversation.

9.    Thou shalt use proper grammar and spelling. I am going to H-E-Double Hockey Sticks for this one. I freely admit this is a "do as I say, not as I do moment." That being disclaimed, come on people. We are writers. This is self explanatory. Don’t force me to dust off my soap box and explode into my rant about text speak, either. Seriously, numbers are numbers; they are not substitutes for letters.

10.    Thou shalt establish relationships with people. This is the point of social media. Use your presence to help others and get to know them. This means responding to direct messages, tweets that mention you and participating in the list servs/loops to which you subscribe.

Did I leave anything out? What are your thoughts social networking etiquette?

Meet a Living Myth

2011-06-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

This is being posted contemporaneously on this site and the Romance Magicians blog. Please post any comments on the Romance Magicians blog.

The Romance Magicians blog has been honored with a rare look into the world of the Latter Day-Olympians. Normally the Goddities website (a scandal sheet of the modern day doings of Greek gods) is closed to mere mortals, such as ourselves. However, since some of their secrets are going to be made public on June 28 in Lucienne Diver's new release Bad Blood, the Goddities web-mistress, Yiayia, has graciously agreed to share her interview with her granddaughter Tori, the heroine of Bad Blood. I want to thank Yiayia (and Lucienne Diver who brokered the deal) for sharing this interview.

***

Today I’m talking with my granddaughter, who has recently been linked to certain strange events in L.A. She’s asked me to keep her name out of this and, as you know, I am ever discreet. (But if you read the Hollywood rags, I’m sure you can glean a thing or two.) Without further ado, I’m pleased to introduce my highly successful, very beautiful granddaughter, who is absolutely the first person you’ll want to call for all your private investigation needs.

Anipsi, thank you for talking with us today. (Anipsi means niece for those of you playing along at home. See, already I am protecting her identity.)

You blackmailed me into it.

Nonetheless, you agreed, and I thank you.

Don’t mention it. I mean that really and truly.

So, it is my understanding that you didn’t believe the family stories about how our line descended from the god Pan beer-goggling one of the gorgons.

Well, can you blame me?

Would you please tell me how all of that changed?

In retrospect, your beard should have been a dead giveaway. And cousin Tina’s really aggressive underbite. Anyway, you know all this, but for your readers, it all changed the day I actually witnessed someone being torn apart by a thing that looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. And lest you think I was just on a bad trip or had wandered onto a film set—hey, this is L.A.—the police found piscine D&A in her wounds. I’m saying…something was definitely fishy.

And you are on the case, consulting with the police?

Some would call it consulting. Others might say “brought in for questioning.”

Psshaw, as if that hot cop you’ve been mooning over would let anything happen to you. I bet he just wanted to get you alone in an interrogation room.

Yiayia!

Okay, okay, I move on. Is there any truth to the rumors that you and a certain Greek god turned Hollywood hottie have been burning up the sheets.

Yiayia!

What? I was married. I know all about the sex. And your grandfather wasn’t the only wild oat I had to sow.

That’s it, I’m out. I am not talking about my love life.

Such as it is.

Well, there you have it folks, it’s a story as classic as the ages…murder, mayhem, sex and scandal in La La Land. Tune in next week when we’ve got an actual demi-god here to talk about the rumored rise of the the old gods. What will it mean for you?

Read more about Yiayia and her niece Tori Karacis in:

Bad Blood, first novel of the Latter-Day Olympians

Available digitally June 28, 2011, print in 2012

Facebook fan page

Twitter

www.luciennediver.com

Nook v. Kindle

2011-06-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Consumer Reports announced that the Nook has taken over the Kindle in the reader ratings (here is the link to the story: http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/06/in-a-first-nook-beats-kindle-in-our-e-book-ratings.html). As an owner of a Nook Color and Kindle, it is a hard call between the two. I love the battery life of my Kindle, but the color screen and browsing functions of my Nook Color make it my most used e-reader. While Amazon offers more books for the Kindle, the Free Fridays for the Nook have stolen my heart.

Web Resources for Showing Emotion in Your Writing

2011-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I blogged about bruises on my forehead resulting from my frustration over how to show the emotions of my characters. In response, I received several emails suggesting great resources, and I wanted to share those here:

Samantha Grace had a fantastic blog post on the LadyScribes blog on techniques to show emotion
The Nonverbal Dictionary
The Emotion Thesaurus
Body Language Cues to Emotion

Do you have any great sites or blog posts I should add to this list?

Also, for anyone within driving distance of Birmingham, Alabama who has an interest in working on showing emotion in their writing, Margie Lawson will be conducting a one day workshop sponsored by the Southern Magic RWA chapter at the Homewood Public Library on July 23. For more information, go to Southern Magic's website.

It's Only Funny Because It's True

2011-05-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the fabulous Lou Anders spoke to my local RWA chapter about the editorial process and publishing in general. It was one of the best presentations I have seen in a long time. If you ever have a chance to see him speak, DO IT! He shared this You Tube video that I have been watching on a continuous loop.

Meet Lou Anders!

2011-05-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to tomorrow's Southern Magic meeting. Lou Anders, four-time Hugo Award nominated editorial director and Chesley Award winning art director, will discuss the editorial/publishing process as well new releases from Pyr Books. His presentation will be followed by Q and A on writing and publishing.

Poker Face

2011-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

While I am loathe to admit it, when I go to court, I am usually humming Lady Gaga's Poker Face. I know how to maintain a stoic expression in the craziest of circumstances (I didn't flinch when I had a client rip off her wig during a deposition and shake her tresses at opposing counsel; I continued to sip my Pumpkin Spice Latte and look bored). While this mad skill helps me tremendously in the legal profession, it has worked against me in my writing.

I have a quest; I must find a better way to show the emotions my characters are experiencing. Trust me, as a Southerner, my first inclination is not to tell you how they feel. Southerners bury our emotions in a deep dark pit that makes the abyss look homey, but that is an entirely different blog post. So, my professional experience leaves me void of ways to show emotion, as does my upbringing. I need to find a muse to help with this, because my current efforts are, well . . . lacking in style.

My current techniques involve a lot of things going on with the eyes. They squint, glare, and avoid glances. I've also invited appendages to the party. I have shoulders slouching, hands balling into fists, and feet shuffling. But none of this seems to express the sentiment my characters are feeling. I would love new ways to show emotion for my characters.

Maybe Lady Gaga can help (but in case she can't, I'd love to hear your suggestions).

Why Wine Is An Unlimited Good

2011-05-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Loved, loved, loved SNL with Justin Timerberlake and Lady Gaga, so I had to post this.

Guilty Pleasures

2011-04-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

This is being posted simultaneously here and on Romance Magicians. Please leave any comments on the post at Romance Magicians.

This last weekend, Southern Magic had an exhibitor booth at the Alabama Book Festival. The foot traffic at our table was heavier than I expected. Most of the people smiled and shared with us their favorite romance novels and asked about our chapter’s authors.

A few joyless souls wrinkled their noses, said something snotty about romance, and skulked off into their miserable existence to absorb books about death, misery, or some other boring and depressing topic. Their reaction didn’t bother me too much. If they don’t like what we write, oh well.

It was the third category that rubbed me the wrong way. The people who leaned forward and whispered romance novels were their guilty, secret pleasure. What the what? Guilty, secret pleasure? Like Easy Cheese on crackers? Reruns of Saved by the Bell? Lady Gaga? I own my guilty pleasures, thank you very much.

We like what we like. Why keep it a secret? Or feel guilt? I make no bones about the fact that I like to read urban fantasy and paranormal romance (or that I write both – for a funny story, ask me about opposing counsel’s reaction earlier this week when I explained why we couldn’t schedule depositions in late June). Believe it or not, one of my lawyer friends and I continue to exchange recommendations on paranormal romance reads. We are currently in the middle of a race/challenge to see who can finish all of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. (tee hee – what my friend doesn’t know is the fabulous SK writes much faster than we read – we’ll never be done! Muahaha!).

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Don’t keep it a secret. Tell us what it is. You may be surprised how much company you have.

A Demonically Good Time

2011-04-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

Even though Alabama author Lexi George's debut novel, Demon Hunting in Dixie, doesn't come out until April 26, it is already generating fantastic reviews. Publisher's Weekly wrote, "George's rip-snorting Southern-fried paranormal debut delivers hilarious one-liners, sexy alpha males, and plenty of mayhem." Manic Readers called the book "flat out fun."

All it takes is spending five minutes with the author to understand why everyone who reads this book will love it. Not only is she she sassy and creative, she is incredibly generous with her time. Despite being busy writing and promoting her novel, she found the time in an over-crowded schedule to do an interview with me. For that, I am honored and grateful.

Demon Hunting in Dixie's heroine is Addy Corwin . Other than talking dog, what troubles plague her?

Addy hates dead people, which is unfortunate since her mother and older brother run the local funeral home. Addy escaped Dead Central, as she calls it, in high school by going to work in her great aunt’s flower shop, a treachery her mother has yet to forgive. And that’s another problem of Addy’s: her mama. Addy, a natural rule breaker, has spent her life trying to please her mama, but she draws the line at marrying to please her mother, no matter how many times Mama gives her the wilting ovaries speech. Until Brand Dalvahni comes along, that is, making Addy’s hormones run amok and her determined avoidance of marriage a thing of the past.

Brand Dalvahni, confirmed warrior and (Heaven forbid) suspected Yankee (by Addy's mother) takes the reader's breath away in Demon Hunting in Dixie. What sets him apart from the heroes we’ve met in other stories?

Brand Dalvahni is a demon hunter. That’s what he does, what he is. He is single minded in his pursuit of his quarry, unsurpassed in fighting skills. Brand has never been in love, never felt fear, never smiled or laughed or joked, never wavered in his dedication to the hunt. Until he meets Addy Corwin and she rocks his world. He is totally bewildered by this strange, wisecracking girl and flummoxed by his feelings for her. He is stern and serious, ruthless in his determination to protect Addy from the demon that has marked her, and unhinged by the passion she evokes in him. In short, he’s an alpha male who is undone by love. You gotta love it when the big guys fall, and fall hard!

What is your favorite part about writing Demon Hunting in Dixie?

I love the juxtaposition of our Southern culture with all its richness, our penchant for exaggeration and euphemism, against the totally humorless, absolutely literal Dalvahni. Imagine a medieval knight landing in today’s Deep South and falling in love with a small town Southern girl and you get the picture. Talk about your culture clashes. And it was fun to write, because I got to be smartass and modern with Addy and more formal and flowery when I was in Brand’s POV. And the weenie in the bag chapter was a hoot to write, too!

Paranormal romances pose unique world building concerns. What was your process for creating the world in which Demon Hunting in Dixie is set?

Well, really, the world was already there: our world. It’s set in the South and the demon hunters come here and the story is about what happens when a demon hunter falls in love for the first time. I didn’t spend a lot of time describing the Dalvahni’s world because, really, they don’t have a world to speak of. They were created to track down rogue demons and that’s their existence. They hang out in the Great Hall of Warriors and train or pay a visit to the House of Thralls (concubines to the Dalvahni) in between jobs. So, I kind of slid by on that one!

Demon Hunting in Dixie has some steamy scenes. How did you prepare your friends and family for what they were going to read?

Oh, brother. My friends can tell you how I hairballed over that one. I’m a grown woman with two children and a husband and I still agonized over the sex scenes, especially when I had to type that first ‘c’ word in my book—the male one, not the female one. I kept seeing the face of the old maid librarian from my grammar school days and envisioning the expression on my Aunt Gail’s face. (She’s married to a Baptist preacher). But Addy and Brand wouldn’t let me cheat them, so I had to man up, so to speak and be true to the characters. By and large, I let people find out for themselves, and I tried to write the kind of sex scene I like to read, hot but romantic

How do you manage to balance humor, a great mystery, and sizzling romance in the same story?

I will tell you the truth, I never tried to write funny until this book and the humor was as big a surprise to me as it was to anybody. When I started writing it I thought it was going to be this dark, dramatic story. It even had a dark, dramatic title: Dark Encounter. But, almost from the first page, the story took a humorous turn. Addy is one of those characters who takes over. She deals with trauma and fright by being a smartass. It’s her nature. I tried to remember, though, that no matter how crazy the story got, to keep the focus on the romance. That’s what I was aiming for, anyway!

What is your writing process? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Tough question. I am, by and large, a pantser with plotter envy. I usually have a very rough idea what the story is going to be about. Small town florist meets inter-dimensional demon hunter: chaos to follow. Then I try to figure out how and where to start the story. Beginnings are tough and essential. After that, I pants it for a while, maybe 50 pages and then I get nervous. Where’s this story going? What the heck am I doing? So, then I sit down and make a list of plot points, things I know I want to be in the story, things that have to happen. No idea about order, but I have my list. Every so often, I will stop and try to sketch an outline of the rest of the story, so I don’t get sidetracked or bogged down. Basically, it’s organized chaos. I actually wrote a synopsis for Demon Hunting in Dixie at the beginning of the manuscript, but only because I had to have one for a writing contest! I hate writing a synopsis!

I write every day, or try to. It’s the way I keep in shape, writing wise. And I set goals for myself to keep on track. Doesn’t always work, but it keeps me focused. And I think about the darn story all the time. It consumes me. I think about it in the car, during church (I am so going to heck!), at meetings. Pretty much all the time. I keep note cards with me in case I get an idea or hear something funny I want to use.

What is the worst writing advice you received?

I once attended a workshop on writing by a formula. Totally freaked me out and shut me down. I can’t write that way. If I listen to someone talk about how they write, I panic and think I’ve done everything wrong, because we all approach the craft differently. What works for one person may not work for another. I can’t dissect it too much. I have to leave a little mystery in the process. The rules are there, in the back of my mind, talking to me, but if I dwell on the mechanics of writing too much, the notion that the arc of the story has to be by such and such page, etc., it derails me. Every story is different. I know, I sound like a total, metaphysical flake, but there you are.

What is the best writing advice you received?

Write what you know. It took me YEARS to figure that one out. I thought it meant I had to write about law because I’m a lawyer. Yuck. It wasn’t until Demon Hunting in Dixie that the light bulb went off. Write what you know, for me, meant small towns, small town characters, and zaniness. It has been such a huge joy to discover this voice inside of me that I never dreamed existed!

What is your next book, and when can we expect to see it?

I have a novella coming out from Kensington in August as part of a Halloween anthology called So I Married A Demon Slayer. My novella, The Bride Wore Demon Dust, is set in Hannah, the same town as Demon Hunting in Dixie. My next full length book, Demon Hunting in the Deep South, will be out next year.

You can check out Lexi on her website, Twitter, and Facebook. If you are looking for a great time, order your copy of Demon Hunting in Dixie today. I want to thank the fabulous Lexi George again for the generosity of her time. Please leave comments so that when she stops by the blog, she knows her time was well spent!

If you want to meet Lexi, she will be at the Southern Magic Annual Readers Luncheon on November 5, 2011, in Birmingham, Alabama. The talented and funny Victoria Dahl will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon, and the delightful Jennifer Echols will be Southern Magic's welcome speaker. Tickets are on sale now!

A Great Time at the Alabama Book Festival

2011-04-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

Lexi George's First Signing

A great time was had by all at the Alabama Book Festival on April 16 in Old Alabama Town in Montgomery. I was able to spend the day with authors Lexi George, Laura Hayden, and Louisa Cornell. Being the only person at our table without a name starting with an L, I felt a little left out. However, the exceptional company helped me rebound quickly.

The quality of authors at the festival was fantastic, and the weather couldn't have been better. If anyone is looking for a fun, free event, the Alabama Book Festival promises a great time.

An added bonus was I was present for Lexi George's first book signing. Her eager fan grinned from ear to ear in anticipation of reading Demon Hunting in Dixie. Check back on April 19 to find out why!

An eager reader about to devour Demon Hunting in Dixie.

"Getting It" in Less than 140 Characters

2011-04-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Twitter, you internet Siren. Throughout the day, in five minute intervals, you draw me to your black hole of productivity and smash my well planned work day against your rocky shores of 140 characters or less. You are less threatening than the abyss that swallows my "outside of work" time, Facebook, but just as lethal.

But I get it. Just as the Sirens were the muses of the underworld, given wings by Demeter, Twitter has sparked my inspiration. I justify my time spent in non-writing pursuits as "research," but the excuse has become the reality. #askagent #askeditor Both pierce through the Twitter noise and set me on the right course. I get the utility of 140 character posts beyond informing people how long a line might be or what is in your wine glass.

The Sirens' song promised mantic truths with a false promise that their victims would live to share them. Twitter makes a similar promise: truth about the writing industry from those who live it. Now, if I could get my rear off the internet, I might live to share them with you. Is that a rock ahead?

The Winchester Mystery House

2011-04-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sarah Winchester built a home that was never finished: The Winchester Mystery House. From beyond the grave, her late husband communicated to her, "You can never stop building the house. If you continue building, you will live. Stop and you will die."

The last few weeks, I've been working on revisions and edits to (what I thought was) my completed manuscript. I am starting to worry Sarah and I are kindred spirits. When do you say when? How do you know when you are done? I'm waiting for the soft music to swell or balloons to fall from the ceiling, but neither has happened yet. Maybe a little more construction is necessary . . .

Check out the Romance Magicians Blog on March 16

2011-03-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

I will be interviewing Rebecca Zanetti, author of Fated, on March 16. Check out the trailer for her book:

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day, I am giving myself a treat - an afternoon to write. Much better than chocolates, perfume or jewelry (okay, maybe not jewelry, but work with me on this). It is a special day, and I deserve a treat. My wonderful husband is obliging by giving me the evening to myself to write while he plays trivia.

Good Writing is Good Writing

2011-01-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

I heart Aaron Sorkin. Don't worry, my husband is aware of my border-line obsession. Why do I adore Aaron Sorkin? Because I love his writing.

The Social Network. Charlie Wilson's War. The West Wing. A Few Good Men. I could go on. If Aaron Sorkin wrote a screenplay based on the Birmingham, Alabama phone book, not only would I buy tickets for the film now, I would be absolutely confident it would be fantastic.

In analyzing the weaknesses in my writing, I've been trying to study the writers who hook me immediately. I realized in doing this, my favorite writer isn't a novelist. It's Aaron Sorkin. His gift for characterization through dialogue is stunning. It takes me pages, on my best day, to develop a character and give him/her a distinctive voice. The more I break down scenes written by Aaron Sorkin, the more I'm in awe. Drama. Humor. Humanity. All come through in each line. His characters are living, breathing, and multi-dimensional - all from the moment they utter their first word. Damn good writing.

Good writing is good writing, whether it is a script, a novel, or a press release. Write on Mr. Sorkin, and please make it fast. I'm nearing the end of my quarterly West Wing marathon, and my Gilbert & Sullivan CD is almost worn out.

Chasing Rainbows

2011-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley

It is Saturday. I have a lot to do. I need to write at least 3,000 words on my WIP, do a final pass to catch any lurking type-os that have escaped me during the last thousand proofs of my completed manuscript, wash underwear, scoop cat litter, and begin working on two briefs for work.

So what am I doing? I'll give you a hint. It isn't any of the things I just mentioned. However, I can assure you, all is well on Facebook and Twitter, and I'm up to date on returning emails.

This is the weekend. A no excuses zone. Here I go. My molecules are starting to move. Lets hope I can remain in motion. Maybe I can catch that rainbow.

Furry Friday Fun

2011-01-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

E-Readers (Or, Why I Love My Nook Color)

2011-01-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Before December 25, 2010, I was a skeptic. I didn't get e-readers. I loved paper. I needed my books in hard form.

It has all changed. I totally get e-readers now. It took a few pages of the first book I purchased for my Nook Color to get used to the screen, but now I don't want to go back. The convenience, ease and accessibility of reading books in electronic format surpassed my expectations. I love being able to change the font size (since I'm about half-blind), make notes on what I'm reading, and look up words that befuddle me (and there are plenty of those). I still love books, but I'm a convert.

Like an obsessive shopper, I purchased several novels (the Fever series) I already owned in hard form so that they would be on my Nook if needed when I travel. I am looking forward to trips so I can take my Nook with me.

I would love to hear everyone's experiences with e-readers.

RWA Nationals!

2011-01-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Whoo hoo! I am registered for RWA Nationals! This will be my first time attending, and I am unbelievably excited. I needed something bright and shiny on my calendar as a reward. Now I have it. I. CANNOT. WAIT.

"Time is what we want most, but... what we use worst." -- William Penn

2011-01-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

I would blame my several month hiatus from posting on this blog on a lack of time. I never have enough time. I've become accepting of levels of incompleteness. And I hate it.

How do these perfect women around me balance children, a spouse, a clean home, meals, work, volunteer work, fixing their hair, applying makeup flawlessly, dressing like a super-model, exercise, and a partridge in a pear tree? I feel like I've accomplished world peace when I walk out of my house with wet hair and my car keys. Those women must have one of those time-turner things from the Harry Potter books. It is the only explanation that makes sense.

Time management. That is my new goal. For the month of February, I am going to track how and where I spend my time. Hopefully, I can capture those lost moments. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Lost time is never found again." At the end of February, I'll let you know what I've lost or gained.

Revist the Void in ReVamped

2010-09-24T11:53:00.001-07:00

I cannot express my gratitude to author J.F. Lewis for agreeing to be the first interview for the ImagiCon blog. The mass market paperback release of his second book, ReVamped, is scheduled for September 28. Author, Author! is offering an advanced taste of ImagiCon 2011 by offering 20% off ReVamped. The mass market paperback includes a teaser chapter from the third book in the Void City series, Crossed.

J.F. Lewis lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his patient wife, two adorable sons, an ornery Akita, and a very hyper Labrador-mix puppy. He decided that he wanted to be a writer when a supposed creative writing teacher questioned his sanity and suggested therapy. An avid reader, J also enjoys sushi, popcorn, lukewarm sodas, and old black and white movies. His two favorite activities are singing lullabies to his kids at bedtime and typing into the wee hours of the morning. Fortunately, like the protagonist of his Void City novels, the author takes very little sleep.

In Staked, we travel to Void City to meet Eric, a vampire with a short term memory problem and a volatile temper. Who is Eric, and what furry problems come his way?

I tend to think of Eric as kind of a vampire John McClane gone terribly wrong. He didn’t want to be a vampire, but now that he’s spent forty years as one, he’s not the kind of guy who would whine about it. He tries to keep to his own little area of Void City, but that doesn’t ever seem to work out for him. In the first book, he runs afoul of some evangelical werewolves from the Lycan Diocese. They think he’s killed the son of the local Alpha. Eric honestly isn’t sure whether he has or not, but it certainly seems like something he might have done, so he’s not trying to protest his possible innocence too loudly. That’s a big part of the mystery in Staked. Is Eric being set up? And if so, by whom?

In ReVamped, life for the undead gets even more complicated. What trouble finds Eric?

Heh. In ReVamped I got to write an evil undead flesh-eating classic American pony car. What more is there to say? The second book pits Eric up against two things he really hates: Demons and High Society Vampires. Eric is strictly a working man’s vampire, so the more… elite… vampires really piss him off. But he winds up having to try to work with them (some of them anyway) in order to get back a soul the demons have stolen. It’s the soul of someone very close to Eric but I can’t really say much more without spoiling the ending for Staked.

Crossed, which is coming out in January, takes Eric from Void City to Paris. Can you give us a hint at what adventures and disasters await?

Wedding bells and a honeymoon gone wrong. By book three, Eric has a good idea what is really going on with his wonky powers. He is also finally figuring out how he became a vampire in the first place and what his family curse entails. I went a little crazy with the third book and used Greta’s point of view for part of the novel. She’s way more terrifying than Eric.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, or are you a pantser?

I start with a character and a situation then go from there. So… pantser. Sometimes I have scenes in mind that I want to get to, and I might have an idea of how I want a story arc to end or issues I want to explore, but for me, writing is pretty much a case of everything flowing from that first scene. Then I have to go back through everything and make sure there is a coherent plot, even if it takes an extra draft or two to get it just right.

What is the worst writing advice you've received?

One of my college creative writing instructors told me to stop wasting my time on genre fiction, because, according to him, it’s a “masturbatory effort”. His comments made me mad enough to write a novel, though…

Many thanks again to J.F. Lewis for agreeing to be the guinea pig for this first interview. Please visit his website. You can also follow him on Facebook and/or on his blog.

Be sure to mark your calendar for ImagiCon 2011 where you can see J.F. Lewis and many other fantastic authors who we will be featuring on this blog in upcoming weeks.

Don't forget to check out Author, Author! for its special offer of 20% off ReVamped.

Contests: Testing the Waters

2010-09-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

October 11 is the deadline to enter the Linda Howard Award of Excellence. Last year, I entered. It was my first contest, and it was a fantastic experience. The entry fee was reasonable, and I received constructive, but supportive feedback. Not only did I receive great critiques, but also I earned an opportunity to have my manuscript reviewed by an editor for one of my dream publishers. I cannot encourage people enough to participate in this contest.

As a result of the positive experience I had with the Linda Howard Award of Excellence, I started looking at other contests. But there are so many. How do I know which ones to enter? I'm tight with a dollar, and it is difficult to know which of the dozens and dozens contests are right for me. This could easily turn expensive. My primary criteria have been the final round judges and cost. If the judge is an agent or editor who I would love to place eyeballs on my writing, I am much more likely to enter the contest. However, I'm not willing to pay $75 for the chance. Call me cheap. I won't deny it.

I would love to hear everyone's contest opinions, pro and con, as well as recommendations of contests where they've have positive experiences.

Oh, and if I forgot to mention it, the deadline to enter the Linda Howard Award of Excellence (http://www.southernmagic.org/lindahowardcontest.html) is October 11. Why are you reading this blog? Shouldn't you be getting your entry ready? Go on now . . . get to entering!

Linda Howard Award of Excellence - Enter Now!

2010-09-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Linda Howard Award of Excellence

Southern Magic’s 2011 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for unpublished writers

No synopsis needed for first round judging.
Discounts for entering early and/or for judging other categories.
Early bird deadline October 1, 2010
Entry deadline October 11, 2010
Finalists can revised their entry before going to final judge.

We are now taking entries!

For rules and entry form, check it out at http://www.southernmagic.org/lindahowardcontest.html

FINAL JUDGES

Series/Short & Long Contemporary - Susan Litman, Editor, Harlequin

Single Title - Latoya Smith, Editor, Grand Central Publishers

Romantic Suspense - Kate Collins, Senior Editor, Ballantine

Historical - Margo Lipschultz, Associate Editor

Unique Genres (Paranormal, Futuristic, Fantasy, Time Travel) - Melissa Frain, Editor, Tor

Young Adult - Alicia Condon, Editorial Director, Kensington

The Write Magic - For Southern Magic members only - Sara Megibow, Associate Agent, Nelson Literary Agency

Be sure to tell everyone about it. Go the website (link above) and check out the details.

The Promise of a Long Weekend

2010-09-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend, hello old friend.

I love the freedom of looking ahead three days and not seeing any appointments, depositions, or office hours. I've been on the road and in depositions a lot lately. A LOT. Too much, in all candor. I am relishing the idea of staying put in one place for more than a day.

Then the guilt hits. Yep. I feel it starting to nag me. Right now it is whispering. Somewhere around halftime of the Alabama game tomorrow, it will be yelling. "Why aren't you making the most of this time?" "Do you really need to be on the internet? Facebook will be there tomorrow." "Hasn't it been a while since you mopped?' Buzz off guilt, it's my long weekend.

The promise of this long block of time is amazing. I can finally get the things done that are on my "to do" list, and have been there since likely March. Fall starts on Tuesday, as far as I am concerned. That is the busiest time of year for my practice. If I want to get any writing done, this is my last shot until November (NaNoWriMo you will not beat me this year!).

So here I go . . . Scrivener is open . . . Hands are on the keyboard . . . Butt is in the chair . . . Time to write.

E-Readers

2010-08-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

Too much travel makes a girl weary. And I am beat. But I finally came to the realization as to why I need to get a Nook or Kindle.

Last week I flew to Rhode Island for a deposition. The flights weren't too long, but the layovers were. I packed three books to take with me (I'm a fast reader). I polished off two books with the flight up and first night in the hotel. Work occupied enough of my time, that I didn't crack open the third book until I arrived at the airport for the flight home.

Did I mention I arrived at the airport about five hours before my flight was scheduled to leave? (Work was done, and I hoped I could charm my way onto an earlier flight). I tore through book three, polishing it off before I hit my three hour layover in Charlotte. I needed another book. I really didn't want to offer up my kidney to the airport bookstore in exchange for more reading material seeing as how I'd given them other organs for a Diet Coke and Twizzlers.

I totally understand the wisdom behind an E-reader now. If I'd had a Nook or Kindle, I would have had a huge library at my disposal and/or could have quickly bought another book. No, this is not a commercial (although if the good people at Amazon or Barnes and Noble want to send me anything, I wouldn't refuse it), just an observation based on my personal experience.

So, in an effort to procrastinate starting on the book I just outlined, I will be doing internet research today comparing the Nook and Kindle. All input and comments are welcome!

Home Again

2010-08-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am back from Killer Nashville in time to change out my suitcase and fly to Rhode Island to take a deposition. Fun, fun, fun. More about the conference later!

Deborah Sharp Interview

2010-07-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled that Deborah Sharp agreed to an interview for our blog. As a reporter for USA Today for nearly two decades, she wrote about killer sharks, rampaging alligators, and human evil-doers. Now, she entertains her readers with the ''Mace Bauer Mystery'' series, set in a sweet-tea-and-barbecue slice of her native Florida. The series debuted with ''Mama Does Time'' (Midnight Ink, 2008). Mama's out of the slammer and into the saddle in ''Mama Rides Shotgun''(July 2009.) In 2010's ''Mama Gets Hitched,'' Mama ties the sacred knot of matrimony . . . for the fifth time.

You can check out her website or become a fan of Mama on Facebook.

Who is your heroine, Mace Bauer?

Mace is an outdoorsy, independent Florida native who works at a nature park and traps nuisance critters on the side. She's a middle sister, and Mama's last unmarried daughter. Mama never misses a chance to remind Mace of that particular fact. Mace is tough enough to rescue Mama from an alligator, but she can't manage to wrestle her love life into submission.

Who is Mama?

Mama is the much-married Rosalee Deveraux (soon to be Mrs. Sal Provenza), a Southern belle with a taste for sherbet-colored pantsuits, sweet pink wine, and gambling with the Seminoles.

In your first book, Mama Does Time, we first meet Mace and Mama. What sort of troubles do they encounter?

The first book really sets the tone for the whole series: Mama has a penchant for landing in trouble; Mace will always have to to haul her butt out of it.

Mama's on the way home from gambling at the Seminole casino, when she gets a hankering for a butterscotch dipped ice cream cone. She pulls into the Dairy Queen in little Himmarshee, Fla, where a fender-bender reveals a body stuffed into the trunk of her turquoise convertible. The police wind up thinking she's the killer. It's up to Mace and her sisters to find the real culprit. If they can't, Mama goes to prison-- just like an embarrassing lyric in a country western song.

In your second book, Mama Rides Shotgun, Mama convinces Mace to hit the Florida Cracker Trail. How do they fare on this trip?

Badly, as you might expect. The week-long horseback ride across Florida gets off to a nice start, despite Mama trying to lasso every available cowboy she sees for the still-single Mace. The trail soon turns to murder, though, when one of the wealthy cattle ranchers hosting the riders keels over dead in his Cowhunter Chili. Threatened by everything from rattlesnakes to runaway horses, Mace must corral a killer before the low-down varmint can strike again.

Your third book, Mama Gets Hitched, was just released on July 1. Publishers Weekly described the book in its review as ''charming.'' The review said: “Sibling rivalry, steamy romance, a surprising killer, and plenty of catfish and hush puppies make this Southern cozy a winner.” What can you tell us about Mace’s newest mystery?

Who doesn't love a wedding? Mama loves them so much, she's fixin' to tie the sacred knot for the fifth time. Just because she's a serial bride, she sees no reason to tastefully scale back. She’s planning the Wedding of the Century – complete with a “Gone With the Wind’’ theme, her daughters in Scarlett O'Hara dresses, and a ring-bearing Pomeranian sporting a satin vest and top hat. What’s a Bridezilla to do, though, when her caterer turns up dead in the kitchen at the VFW, even before the first pig-in-a-blanket is passed? Mace must find the killer, or Mama’s Special Day could turn especially deadly.

What is your writing process?

Not as disciplined as I wish it was! I do slack off a bit, but in my defense, I was tied to daily deadlines for 20-some years as a news reporter. When I left the news biz to pursue mystery-writing, I welcomed the chance to have a little more freedom. I was thrilled I wouldn't be a prisoner of the ticking clock, like I used to be. I do try to write a little bit every day. The upside is that I write quickly, so if I fall behind I can usually catch up.

I also write my first draft in long-hand (dinosaur-like!). I love the fact I can stick my cheapo spiral notebook in my backpack and go for a walk or a bike ride to the beach, to a coffee shop, to a bench along the New River in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, and get some writing done.

Today, I wrote while sitting on a marble bench in a cemetery, one of my favorite spots. Great atmosphere for a mystery writer, and very quiet!

What is the worst writing advice that you received?

This bit of advice was actually good for newspaper writing, but very bad for mystery writing. I learned to write in the style of the inverted pyramid, which basically means you load the top of your story with all the pertinent facts (the broad base of the pyramid). That way, the newspaper copy desk can cut the story from the bottom if space is tight, and only miss the less important stuff (the narrow point of the pyramid).

Because of the inverted pyramid, it took me a long time to learn how NOT to reveal my whole mystery in the first paragraph.

What is the best writing advice you received?

Another newspaper habit I had was telling readers what I was going to tell them, then telling them, then summing up what I'd just told them. A great writing coach in Ft. Lauderdale, Joyce Sweeney, told me that mystery readers are very smart. They don't need to be hit over the head by the author. The pace of my fiction-writing improved a lot once I learned not to repeat myself.

Your books are humorous while delivering great tension and mystery. How do you manage to balance the elements to deliver such an entertaining read while keeping the reader on the edge of his/her seat?

Well, thanks for saying that. I'm flattered! I attempt to take the advice of the great Elmore Leonard, who said: ''Try to leave out the part that readers skip.''

Not only was Deborah gracious enough to share time to be interviewed for our blog, but also the fabulous Rosalee Deveraux Provenza (akak Mama) of Himmarshee, Florida, also agreed to answer a few questions for us. She has her own blog, Ask Mama, and would love for you to visit and read Deborah's books following the adventure's of Rosalee's daughter, Mace.

What role do you play in assisting Ms. Sharp in documenting the mysteries encountered by your daughter, Mace?

Assisting??? Honey, those stories are all mine. That's my life. All that gal does is write it down the way I tell her it happened. You'll notice all the books have ''Mama'' right there in the titles, right? Mama Does Time; Mama Rides Shotgun; Mama Gets Hitched. Next year, in 2011, we'll have Mama Sees Stars.

She may take the credit for being the author, but the titles don't say DEBORAH did any of those things, do they?

What are your views on romance and romance novels?

Oh, honey, I love romance! (Now, I can just picture Mace and her sisters rolling their eyes over my multiple marriages, saying maybe I love romance a little too much!) I also love a nice romance novel, but not those ones with the heavy breathing and graphic sex scenes. You do know I teach Sunday School in Himmarshee, Fla., right? All I need is for some of my little lambs to spot me reading one of those heaving-bosomed, hoochie-coochie books. It 'd be a bigger scandal than when the choir's soprano ran off with the church organist.

What is your favorite book?

You mean after ''Gone With the Wind,'' right? Well, I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging, but I have to pick one of the MAMA books. Don't ask me which one though. That's like asking me which one of my three daughters I love the best.

Thanks again to both Deborah and Mama for taking the time to share a little of their magic with us!

Ouch, my tush!

2010-07-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Work is killing me. I have hit a great groove in writing and revising. My ideas are really coming together and the writing is going so well. You would think this would be bliss.

HA!

Work, you vile devil. You interfere with my progress and keep me hostage long hours at the office writing briefs. Not even fun briefs. Really boring and frustrating briefs that make me mad at the lawyers who filed them.

Heat

2010-07-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

It's hot. Really hot. Well, everywhere except in the THE scene I've been avoiding writing. Yikes. I'm jumping in with both feet. Hopefully I'll hit hot coals!

Pondering Podcasts

2010-06-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

I adore podcasts. Love them. Can’t get enough of them. Next to books, they are my favorite form of entertainment. What is a podcast you ask? One of the greatest things to be invented since chocolate chip cookies, I respond. But, if you want the boring definition, Wikipedia defines podcasts as “a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication.” Oh, yes, that was helpful. Let me try. Basically, podcasts are audio (or video) broadcasts that have been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player and/or your computer.

There are great podcasts on every topic you could imagine. I gravitate toward podcasts on writing. Whenever I have a long drive (or some crazy urge to exercise grips me - trust me, that is rare), I load up my iPod with several podcasts to pass the time.

My favorite podcasts on writing are:

I Should Be Writing - Mur Lafferty, author, podcast pioneer and producer and general director of Escape Pod, puts out a regular podcast on the craft of writing. It is excellent. No, it is better than excellent. No, it is better than better than excellent. Each episode is about an hour and typically includes interviews with authors, agents, and editors as well as a feedback section. She has recently started a "Good Cop/Bad Cop" segment where she and another author provide feedback (supportive and harsh) in response to listener questions. This is a fantastic resource. If you aren't a follower, stop reading this, go to the website, and start listening (and then come back and comment, please :)). You will be happy you did.

Writing Excuses - Authors Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells and Howard Tayler put out weekly fifteen minute podcasts (their motto is "Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart") focused on specific topics relating to writing. This is a great resource. They have covered everything from conference etiquette to the use of violence in telling a story. With humor and intelligence, they deliver three rich view points on the various aspects of writing. I run through these podcasts faster than a bag of Cheetos (and if you know me, I LOVE my Cheetos).

Southern Voices - Southern Voices, a four-day conference sponsored by the Hoover Public Library exploring Southern culture in contemporary arts, make available the video and audio podcasts of the panels and presentations from the writers, editors, musicians, performers and public figures featured at the conference.

Odyssey - The Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop podcast features excerpts from lectures by writers, editors and agents during the Odyssey Writing Workshop. New podcasts are updated every month or two.

If you are a fan of audio books, many authors are beginning to serialize their novels, making parts (and sometimes even the entire work) available in podcast format. New York Times bestselling author Scott Sigler gained so many followers for his novels through making them available on the internet as podcasts, he caught the attention of his publisher and the rest is history.

The potential use for podcasts is limitless. They are great tools for education, marketing and entertainment. I would love to hear what everyone’s experience with podcasts has been. If you have a favorite, please share!

World Building - Getting Started with the Physical Attributes of Your World - Part One

2010-06-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

Is the world you are creating the only world where your story can be told? If it isn’t, ask yourself why you want to create the world if it isn’t an essential part of the story. World building shouldn’t be a gimmick. Readers won’t appreciate it, and will see it as nothing more than clear Pepsi. If you are world building, your world is as much of a main character as your protagonist.

Poor lost soul, once you realize you have to build your world, you need to decide where to start. The physical attributes of the world need to work with the culture and politics. Welcome to the chicken v. egg debate. In my opinion, you need to begin with the physical attributes of the world first.

If you are writing an urban fantasy or paranormal story set in a setting that already exists, this step is pretty easy. If you don't live in the location and/or can't visit it, everyone’s best friend, the internet, waits with the information you need.

Not only do you want to know what the location looks like by getting maps and pictures for your key location, but you also need to know what your location feels like. Be sure to check out traffic patterns, local news, weather and sunrise/sunset times. If your urban fantasy is set in Atlanta in July, you will need to know that there is daylight until the late evening, and that the humidity is so heavy and thick it can be suffocating. These details will drive the culture (when do people eat meals, where do they spend their time - inside with glorious air conditioning or outside in oppressive heat, etc.). Be sure to get these details right. People who are familiar with the setting will spot the errors immediately, undermining your story.

Next week - building a new world from the ground up!

World Building Wednesday

2010-05-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

One of the first computer games I bought (showing my age) was SimCity. I loved building the city from the ground up. I branched out into the other simulations games, becoming more and more engrossed in creating new worlds.

When I started writing fiction (I say with a sage voice implying that this was long, long ago at a desk far, far away - in reality, it was in the last few years), I enjoyed the world building component the most (almost too much). I spent months researching details to include in my world, creating the mythology, and developing my setting. Some might call it procrastination, but I prefer to call it “work.”

So I found myself with this really cool world in which to set my story. Now, transporting the reader to that world was a horse of a different color. Building the world was fun. Having my characters live in that world wasn’t a problem. Educating the reader on the world without an info dump? Brutal.

Hence, World Building Wednesdays where I document my world building efforts. Each week I will try to blog about world building issues and questions. Please comment below if there is a topic you want me to cover.

Podcasts

2010-05-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

I had depositions out of town yesterday. I used to hate traveling for work, but now I love it. I load up my iPod with my favorite writing podcasts, and actually find a productive way to use the driving time. The two podcasts I never miss are I Should Be Writing and Writing Excuses. I depleted my reserves yesterday, and now I am looking for more!

I am going to try to blog once a week about a featured podcast. If you guys have any suggestions, let me know. Next week will be Writing Excuses. There likely won't be a new I Should Be Writing up until June, so I want to wait to blog about it until the newest podcast goes up.

Less is More

2010-05-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

(This interview was done for the Romance Magicians' blog for the Southern Magic Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Southern Magic has graciously allowed it to be posted contemporaneously here. Please leave any comments for this post at theRomance Magician's blog)

Speechless. That is the best word to describe how I felt when New York Times bestselling author, archaeologist, and tea expert, Gail Carriger, agreed to an interview. After reading her debut novel, Soulless, she quickly joined the list of my favorite authors. Her website best describes her novels. The “Parasol Protectorate Series books are comedies of manners set in Victorian London: full of vampires, dirigibles, and tea.” Whether you like romances, urban fantasies, comedies, mysteries, or alternative histories, you are sure to find yourself swept away in a delightful time once you open her books.

Ms. Carriger's obligatory biography reads: Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported directly from London. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit. The Parasol Protectorate books are: Soulless (Oct. 2009), Changeless (March 2010), and Blameless (September 2010). Soulless won the ALA's Alex Award.

I cannot express my gratitude to Ms. Carriger for agreeing to this interview. Please be sure to leave a comment at http://romancemagicians.blogspot.com/ for a chance to win a copy of Soulless or Changeless along with some Twinings Tea!

1. Who is your heroine, Alexia Tarabotti?

Alexia is a soulless parasol-wielding spinster with a head for trouble, a gay vampire best friend, and a werewolf problem.

2. Who is Lord Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey?

Alexia's werewolf problem. The head of BUR (Queen Victoria's Bureau of Unnatural Registry), alpha of the London werewolf pack, and big fuzzy tempest in the teapot of Alexia's quiet well-ordered life (so to speak).

3. What problems does Alexia face in Soulless, the first book in the Parasol Protectorate Series?

Alexia accidentally kills an unexpected vampire and gets embroiled in London politics, local scientific societies, and some very suspicious octopuses .

4. Changeless, the second book in the series, was just recently released and takes Alexia to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats. What sort of creatures and challenges does she find there?

Aside from the waistcoats? Well there is a good deal of ghostly interaction, some very bad weather, more octopuses, and an unanticipated love of haggis.

5. When is Blameless going to come out, and can you give us a hint at where Alexia's adventures may take her?

Blameless is out September 1 and Alexia is off in pursuit of Important Stuff traveling through Europe and into the company of a Frenchman with a very large beard, a German with a very small dog, and Italians wearing embroidered nightgowns.

6. What is steampunk, and what attracted you to writing in this genre?

Steampunk is the love child of a BBC costume drama and Hot Topic. What attracted me? Isn't that self explanatory? (Seriously though, if you're super interested visit the steampunk page on my website ~ it's far more exciting and in-depth. http://www.gailcarriger.com/steampunk.php )

7. What is your writing process?

Generally speaking it involves sitting down in a chair, raising my hands to a keyboard, and pressing down on one key after another in succession. There is also usually a large quantity of tea involved, a few notebooks, and some general attempts at procrastination involving podcasts, blogging, and (erm) interviews.

8. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Editing! Especially the first "red pen" pass when I really get to eviscerate everything I've just written. It's immensely satisfying much in the same way as weeding.

9. Would you share any writing advice you received that you found to be completely worthless or just flat-out wrong?

"Write what you know." Pah. Seriously, for fiction? If you don't know it, just make it up, it's probably more exciting that way. Still not happy? There's always actual non-fiction books or, horror of horrors, wikipedia.

10. What advice do you have for pre-published authors?

Sit down, write the book, the whole book. Send it out. Forget about it. Then sit your arse back down and write something completely different.

11. What is your favorite tea?

Twinings English Breakfast gold label from England (not the red box found in the US)

You can friend or follow Gail on Twitter, Facebook, Livejournal, or Blogspot. Or join The Parasol Protectorate Facebook Group and take over the world one sip of tea at a time. You can also play the Alexia paper-doll dress up game.

Thank you, again, to the ever gracious Gail Carriger - I've already pre-ordered Blameless. Until September, I will have to be content re-reading my copies of Soulless and Changeless.

All comments through Friday, May 14 at 7:00 PM (it's my birthday - I have to have cake and ice cream sometime!) will be entered to win a copy of Soulless an or Changeless accompanied with Twinings English Breakfast tea (unfortunately, it will be the red box found in the U.S.).

When Justice is Due

2010-05-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

I'm a trial lawyer. Yep, the maligned evil being from political ads. It's okay. You can shudder and hide your children. I own my profession. I know what I am. I help people. If television ads want to vilify what I do, I'm happy to spend a little time examining the truth that can be summed up in a ten word tagline or ten second soundbite, if you are happy to oblige me the time.

That being said, the law is a bitch. That's right, I said that as well. You can never do enough. One of my professors advised that you have to accept varying levels of incompleteness. I have problems doing that, though. Maybe it is because I am an only child. Maybe it is because I am a spotlight junkie. Maybe it is because I am a little nutty. Who knows, but I am a slave to perfectionism.

Other than the obvious problem associated with this personality quirk, never being satisfied, I have found a new, and wonderful stresser. I can feel unsatisfied and frantic on two fronts! The joy!

I'm starting to worry my first book is becoming the Winchester Mystery house, always under constant renovation and revision. Add to that my shredding trial schedule, and I really don't know how I can get anything done. Oh, and did I mention I need to get the house painted, new carpets installed, and septic tank fixed?

I'm out of town for depositions right now, and likely won't be able to look at writing until this weekend. I'll also need to do laundry, and check emails. Oh, and then there is the brief I need to write. I almost forgot the 3,000 documents produced by a defendant in a case that I need to review. I also imagine some people will want me to return their calls.

I've got all of the balls in the air right now. Let's hope none bonk me in the head.

Perpetually Thursday

2010-04-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

I am not complaining, but it always feels like it is Thursday. The beginning of the week if frenzied in terms of my day job, so there is no time for writing Monday - Wednesday. Thursdays are when my life slows down a little - I don't have evening commitments and work tends to ease up a bit. I starting getting psyched about writing on Thursdays, and try to put my energy to use Friday - Sunday. I guess there are worse days that you could be perpetually stuck in!

The Calm Before the Storm

2010-04-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Listening to the news this morning, it sounds like I either need to get ready to visit some Munchkins or start building an Ark. It's hard to believe with the beautiful blue sky overhead that thunderstorms of Biblical proportions are supposed to hit the area tomorrow (I also love that the majority of the weather coverage is focusing on the effects at the Talladega Motor Speedway - you have to have priorities, right?).

Tomorrow is the day I look forward to all month, though. There is a writing club which meets in the morning at one local library, and my RWA chapter meets later in the day at another library. This is usually the best day of the entire month. I spend the entire day in libraries talking about writing. And it looks like stinking rain, wind, hail and weather baddies are going to keep me at home.

So what am I doing during the calm before the storm? Charging up the battery on my laptop (because you know I will lose power tomorrow; I always lose power), printing everything I might need off of the internet today, and trying to find the silver lining by rejoicing that I will have nothing to do but write tomorrow.

Oh yes, it is going to rain tomorrow. Rain words!!!

Planning to Plan

2010-04-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning determined to get things done. I'm doing okay at the moment. My stack of "work" papers is manageable and has dwindled to the point I am contemplating calling it a day so I can focus on writing. This is where I always get myself in trouble.

I look forward at the rest of the day and weekend savoring the hours I can fill with productive writing. The delicious anticipation allows me to sneak a peek at Facebook or Twitter or my email, or heck, why not all of them? I have the time. That is how it always begins.

How does it end? Somewhere around 5:00 on Sunday when I've done very little and decide to throw in the towel for the weekend and plan to do better next week. Trust me, you don't have to sing this song twice. I know the words.

Maybe I need a better plan. I am contemplating making myself prepare a schedule for tomorrow and Sunday, posting the sucker everywhere I can see it, and giving my husband the ability to punish me by depriving me of my remote control rights if he finds that I am not sticking to the schedule.

Then again, I did miss Vampire Diaries and V last night. I could watch them on the internet and then put together my schedule. After all, I do have time. And so it begins . . .

Treasure Hunts

2010-04-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island . . . and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day.

- Walt Disney

Yesterday I received a box, a BIG box, from Amazon (ok, lets not go into any Amazon hate here. I understand many people feel Amazon needs to call a whaaaambulance over the entire Macmillan kerfuffle. I hear you, and I understand. But I love my packages. I need my packages. There is no rush like seeing that box waiting at your door, but I digress). I’d had pretty crummy day, and I was sitting in bed with my head bent over my laptop feigning an attempt at writing. God bless the saint to whom I am married. He came in with a glass of wine in one hand and my box in the other.

“Sweetie, this should brighten your day,” he said as he handed me the box first. He was right. I needed my mail order booty. My treasure would cheer me up.

Some ladies are addicted to buying shoes or purses. Not me. My addiction is books. I get light-headed and giddy in a bookstore. There is nothing that smells better than a bookstore. The only reason that I enjoy Christmas shopping is that it gives me a legitimate excuse to lose hours, and I mean HOURS, in bookstores. Couple that with the ease of online shopping (Amazon super-saver shipping and its simple challenge to put together an order of $25 or more is my downfall), and it is easy to understand why my fashion style is stuck in 1998, but I am up to date on the most recent paperback releases.

My reading choices are pretty eclectic. I would love to sound all intellectual and rattle off a bunch of literary fiction I’d finished, but I can’t. God would strike me dead with a bolt of lightening for attempting to tell such a whopper. However, with the exception of the books reserved for the smarties of the world, I’ll read just about anything you put in front of me. This always leads to the burning question - what should I read next?

My favorite moment is when I find a new author. I have several “go to” authors that I love, but in trying to fill the time in between releases, I get to go on a treasure hunt. First, I will seek out books by authors I have met.

Meeting an author (and having the chance to get a book signed) is a huge thing for me. I feel more tied to the story and root for the author’s success due to the personal connection. I keep a list of authors I meet at signings and conventions so I can search for their treasures when I am book shopping. This last Christmas, I put together of basket of books from authors I’d met for my mother-in-law. She devoured them. I overheard her telling the ladies in her bridge group, “Oh, you must read x. Heather met the author, you know.” There is something electrifying and contagious about that brush with fame!

Word of mouth is invaluable. I’ve yet to have a friend steer me wrong. But this feels like cheating. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to read the book you suggested to me. I hop onto too many bandwagons to be left behind. However, the egoist in me likes to be the one to find the diamond in the rough.

The internet is another great resource for finding that hidden treasure of a great book. To this day, I am not sure how I came across Kimberly Frost’s website, but I am glad that I did. I had not heard of her or her books, but her website was great and it drew me in. A few clicks later, I’d ordered her debut book from Amazon. A week later, after finishing the book, I was pre-ordering her second book. I am now biting my nails waiting for her third book. I’ve found several books I love by following links on my favorite authors’ websites to new worlds.

What treasure maps do you use to find your next read?

Seeing the Forest Despite the Trees

2010-04-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm lost in the woods. Seriously lost. I am at that point in the WIP that I have gotten in so deep in the story that I know where I need to go, but my path is obscured due to all the damn trees. I've laid out my clues, and know the backstory for all of my characters. The problem is, I may be losing sight of my story. I am trying so hard to tie up the threads I've started and make my characters motivations believable that the big picture is starting to look more like a Monet painting than a crisp, digital photograph. I need to find a way to see the forest despite the trees. Help!

Words from Which to Draw Inspiration

2010-04-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt

Rabbit Rabbit!

2010-03-31T06:25:00.000-07:00

I loved to read Trixie Belden books when I was in elementary school. I still remember the first chapter of "The Mystery of the Emeralds" where Trixie woke up on the first day of the new month, yelled "Rabbit Rabbit" and bounded out of bed. When her brothers reacted in a way that expressed they thought she had lost her mind, she explained her behavior. If you say "Rabbit Rabbit" and make a wish just before going to sleep on the last night of the month, and say it again in the morning before you've said another word, your wish should come true.

I read that book when I was eight. I have tried to remember to say "Rabbit Rabbit" before going to bed and when I woke up ever since. I haven't been able to do it yet, and quite a few years have passed since I was eight. But I still keep trying. The promise of my wish coming true drives me to keep trying.

The same is true of my writing. I keep trying to write a good story. I'm not sure I've gotten it, but I keep trying because one day, it will happen and my wish will come true.

Today is the last day of the month. I think I am going to take a trick out of Trixie's book and tape a sign at the foot of the bed to remind me to make a wish and say the magic words. You think that you know what they will be? I'll give you a hint - "Sleep is for wimps - get your fanny out of bed and start writing."

Rabbit Rabbit - may your wish come true.

Somebody's Got a Case of the Mondays

2010-03-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

I truly wish I was one of those chipper, optimistic, bubbly people who bound out of bed on Monday morning excited to embrace the week's challenges. Instead, I am the person that greets them at work, growling over a cup of coffee while calculating the hours, minutes, and seconds until the work week is over.

I'm not sure why I am this way. My job isn't horrible. I am my own boss, and I generally like the work I do. Don't get me wrong, there isn't a day that passes where I don't want to smash my mouse against the wall or shred the phone cord to threads. I have only myself to blame for that one - it wasn't exactly a well guarded secret that the legal profession was stressful and involved conflict.

I think the problem is that I would rather be writing. I feel anxious all day until I can get home and write. I live for the long weekends when I get that precious weekday to include in my writing routine. This should have been one of those weeks except, being the dunderhead that I am, I forgot about Good Friday when scheduling a meeting OUT OF TOWN for Friday. I'd thought I was being sneaky - schedule the out of town meeting in hopes of it ending early so that I could scoot straight home. Yep, I just outsmarted myself out of a long weekend. Way to go genius.

So, I have a case of the Mondays. I look ahead at the long week that will end with a two hour drive to Auburn for a not so fun meeting that will likely end with a lot of screaming to be followed by a two hour drive back. I need to make sure Memorial Day is circled on my calendar so I don't do this to myself again.

Silken Sands Conference - A Must Go for 2012

2010-03-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had one of the best experiences that I can remember. I attended the Silken Sands Writers' Conference hosted by the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. It was incredibly well run (great workshops!), and the people were amazing. If you are able to go in 2012, I cannot encourage you enough to do so.

An added bonus was the new friends that I made the Southern Sizzlers. They are some fun and classy ladies. Between Moondays and Wet Wednesdays, I think I have found the motivation to make it through the week!

Inspiration from International Women’s Day

2010-03-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Annually on March 8, the world celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women. When I found out that my first blog post for Romance Magicians fell on International Women’s Day, I was elated. I just knew that I would write an inspiring piece about the contributions of great women in literature, and the accolades would flow like a keg at a frat party. All I needed to put my plan in motion was a little research.

    Research, sweet research. As a lawyer, research is the life’s blood of my profession. I have to research the facts of a case, the applicable law, opposing counsel and the judge - and that is just the beginning! High school and college debate taught me how to research efficiently and effectively. I’m like a mole; I can find anything.   My head (and ego) swell with the praise I’ve received about my ability to research a legal issue and crank out a well-reasoned and precise argument quickly. I thought those skills would transfer well to my non-legal writing efforts.

    Starting early last week, I began planning this post. My first post had to great. No, it had to be better than great. People were actually going to read what I wrote. I needed to create Pulitzer quality material. Did I start writing and revising to get myself to that goal? Heck no! I needed to research! And what has that research accomplished? My blog post is due, and I have a huge folder busting with articles and notes about the history of International Women’s Day and countless women whose achievements deserve recognition. The word count? Oh, that is precious. The word count, you ask again? Um, well, how would you like to talk about something else.

    I am going to let you in on a dirty little secret - research is my greatest procrastination tool This experience highlighted what I already knew about myself, but wanted to deny. I use research to delay writing. Several years ago, I realized that it was time to tinkle or get off the pot with respect to my aspirations to write. Laptop in hand, I used a week’s vacation at the beach to try to live the dream. I wrote a little, but nothing significant. Something hindered my progress. I knew what it was! My problem was that I hadn’t educated myself enough on how to write. That was easy enough to fix. Surely I could find a good book or two on writing.

    I used to joke when I was in law school that if you could lose weight and get in shape by owning exercise videos, I would be an Olympic contender. The same goes for books on writing. I’m ashamed to admit that I spent the better part of a year reading book after book on how to write. Repeatedly, I told myself I wasn’t ready to start writing. I just needed to finish the book on plotting. I couldn’t be expected to write until I’d read enough on how to develop my characters. Somewhere around the time that the books I’d bought on how to write were equaling the books I’d bought to read for pleasure, I realized that instead of researching how to write, I needed to write.

    Phase two of the procrastination process wasn’t much better. The notebook of story ideas on my desk demanded that I engage in substantive research. Oh internet, you are a seductive tool ready to steal minutes, hours, days and weeks from me. A few notebooks (and months) of research later, I realized that my obsession with substantive research was, once again, keeping me from doing what I needed to do - write. I vowed that I would have to be satisfied with a level of incompleteness in my research and start writing.

    Good fortune should come to the person who designed the button on my laptop that lets me disable the internet. Feeling empowered, I hit that button and started my outline (how outlining is a procrastination tool is a post for another day). From there, I moved on to writing. But wait! I needed more research - I needed to find the perfect name for a character and the precise word for description. Convinced I had my addiction under control, I hit the internet button. I would only take a few minutes. A little necessary research won’t hurt. I think we all know how that turned out.

    Hello, my name is Heather, and I am a researchaholic. To combat my addiction, I’ve developed the following steps:

Write what you know. This keeps the temptation to research at a minimum. It is probably best that I not write a book about an astrophysicist. I’m not even sure I can spell astrophysicist without a little research, let alone write a story about one.
Make a list of what you need and do your research in your down time. I keep a notebook and a chart next to my writing desk. The notebook contains a list of substantive research which I need to complete (history of a building, mythology, pictures of a location, etc.). The notebook also contains “lemon drop” research. (I was once in a deposition where periodically, opposing counsel would say “lemon drop.” I thought he had confectioner’s tourettes. When I asked him about it, he shared that it was his way of marking the transcript. If there was something he knew he needed to research after the deposition, he would use the index of the transcript to find all of the “lemon drop” moments.) Similarly, in my writing when I need to find a better name or word than what I have used, I insert “lemon drop” before whatever I will want to replace so I can use “find and replace” to locate the spot in the manuscript easier. I keep my notebook in my purse when I’m not writing. When I find myself with down time when I can’t write, I try to use that time to finish my research.
Research as part of your revision process. This isn’t really a step which I developed, but a strategy I hope to employ. A friend who has published three books shared with me that she does some big picture research that would relate to plot points before she writes, but that she saves most of her detail oriented research for the revision process. I haven’t tried this, but it makes sense. She explained that this method allows her to focus on the story through the first draft. After she constructs the skeleton of her novel, she bulks up the muscle and tissue with research. I’m seriously contemplating using this method for my next book because I want to write the darn thing, not just research what goes into it.

And so I return to the writing of this blog post. I wish I’d been able to provide you with the dissertation on great women in history, but I think I need to do a little more research. The women whose accomplishments are honored on International Women’s Day didn’t simply research the world around them. They were women of action. So, in that spirit, I need to take action. No more research. It is time to write.

"Dear Lucky Agent" Contest: Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance

2010-02-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog is holding its third "Dear Lucky Agent" content for urban fantasy and paranormal romance. First place gets a 20 page critique and a one year subscription to Writer's Market. The link to the contest for more information is: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog

Bringing the Funny

2010-02-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”

--Bill Cosby

My motto when it comes to movies is that I either want to laugh until I cry or be amazed by a special effects department. I have no need for tear jerkers - if I want that, there are plenty of cable news networks which can oblige me. To this day, I have not seen The English Patient, Brian's Song or Love Story (also, I refuse to watch animal movies - they always involve Kleenex - fool me once Old Yeller, shame on you, fool me twice Where the Red Fern Grows . . .) My tastes are similar when I read. I would love to sound intellectual and rattle off several literary books that are my favorites. However, I fear the lightening bolt from above that would strike me dead.

I love fantasy and humor (The Great Brain series and Superfudge are among my all time favorites). I used to read voraciously, then . . . I went to law school. For years and years, the only reading material I consumed involved cases and controversies. High on conflict, low on wit and imagination (with some exceptions - I do have a file of my favorite opinions if anyone is looking for a good giggle). Then a good friend (I am talking about you, Joe Musso) changed things.

It was a chilly November 2001 afternoon. I needed to schedule a deposition for sometime within the next two weeks, but opposing counsel was dodging me in terms of committing to a date. Finally, he broke down and admitted that the date I wanted to use would not do. He and his wife had already bought tickets to Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone. I revealed a deep dark secret - I had never read the Harry Potter books. After a few minutes of stunned silence, he insisted I had to read the books, and do so immediately. I protested. They were children's books. I was an adult. I was a professional. I did not read fairy tales (with the exception of a few interesting law review articles).

So, at his urging, I asked my brother-in-law's bitchy ass Swiss girlfriend (a blog post for another occasion) if I could borrow her copy of the first Harry Potter book. She obliged by loaning me her UK copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (again, another blog post for my initial reaction being that it must have been the Dollar Store version since I initially was unaware of the difference in the UK and USA titles). Crack. It was verbal crack, I tell you.

I ran to Barnes and Noble and bought the first four HP books. I read the first three (Prisoner of Azkaban remains my favorite) in a weekend. Then I re-read them. Then I read them again. I saved the fourth book until I knew the fifth would be released. I became an addict. I needed to feed my addiction. I started consuming all fantasy that I could. I noted that a lot came up lacking. Why?

Humor. I loved the humor of the Harry Potter series. I noticed the same in my television viewing. I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer (no heckling, please - watch it - it is very well written) and the West Wing (Aaron Sorkin, please return to the small screen - you are missed). I needed humor in my entertainment. If the author/artist didn't bring the funny, they lost me immediately.

So I find myself at a loss. I need to bring the funny. Without it, I can't bear to write or read what I write. However, I tend to be on the dry side. I spend all day talking about the right way to interpret federal regulations and statutes (let me tell you, you haven't had a good time until you try to wrangle with the language of the Family and Medical Leave Act). By the time I find enough levity in my mood to write, it is bed time. There are a few things about which I am serious: bed time, cheese, and very large televisions. My positions on all three are inflexible (all three are unlimited goods). So I need to find a way to find the humor in what I want to write.

The Best Laid Plans

2010-02-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

Robert Burns wrote the "best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." I am finding this to be true with respect to my writing. Specifically, I am referring to the futile efforts to adhere to my outline.

My outline. My dear outline, painstakingly crafted over several weekends. I think its best use at this point may be toilet paper. I read books upon books all advising that when writing a story with mystery elements, an outline is essential. I had a long outline, a short outline, a fluid outline, and an outline of the outline. Worthless, all of them.

When I sit at my keyboard, eager to write the scene I carefully outlined, I find myself trying to force things that don't feel natural. The scene felt natural when I outlined it. Now that I am writing, the story I outlined won't work. The scenes, plot and dialogue all seem stilted and awkward. My fingers fly typing strange remarks and actions which I had not anticipated. I'm getting pretty scared.

An aside - I don't hear my characters talking to me. Conference after conference I have heard authors say that their characters talk to them and whisper (or shout), "no, that is not what I would do." Not so much as a peep from any of my characters. Their voices are not what is derailing my outline.

The problem with my outline is that I feel that story has been written. Now, my short attention span and flying thoughts are taking the story to places I hadn't anticipated. I am terrified. What if, by abandoning my outline, I write myself into a corner.

I am a planner. I love plans, lists and organization (pipe down anyone who has seen my house). Writing by the seat of my pants is terrifying. Horrifying. Mortifying. Yet, I think I have to fly blind for a little while. Hopefully, the time spent in the outline will not go to waste. At least I have a lot of extra scratch paper on my desk!

Technology, Thou Art a Witch

2010-02-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

I admit it. The internet is much smarter than me.

I cannot say how honored I was to be asked by Lee Lofland to write a column for his blog, The Graveyard Shift. If you haven't been to his site, it is fantastic (www.leelofland.com). My column went up today (http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/?p=6109).

I thought it would be fun to put a widget on this blog to have a link to his site as well as to Romance Magicians (http://romancemagicians.blogspot.com/) another wonderful blog which is put out by the Southern Magic chapter of the RWA. I am now experiencing the adage that the road to Hell is paved with the best of intentions. Trying to get the darn widget to work is something that Dante couldn't have envisioned. If you see me later sporting horns, a swishy tail and a pitchfork (but the link works), you likely know what happened . . .

Weekend or Weak-end?

2010-01-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Friday, my good friend. You have come to test me once again.

You offer me the promise of two days where I can write. I know that I should begin tonight.

However, chores and off-put work also need to be done. And, I can easily be distracted with the promise of a little fun.

Will I find the work ethic to keep my end in a chair? Or for another weekend, will my word count be bare?

(I apologize to all of the poets in the world for this entry).

Trials and Tribulations

2010-01-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

It's that time again. I have trial. Why is it that every time I get seriously deep into my writing, a trial pops up demanding that I keep unconscionable hours at the office? Are the writing muses testing my patience by throwing these obsticles in my way? Are the legal gods telling me to hang up my pen and paper because my only talent is being a royal pain in the patoot?

I need at least forty-eight hours in a day to get done everything on my "to do" list. Laundry calls (or I could just go buy new underwear), floors need to be mopped (then again, there are throw rugs), calls beckon to be returned (if they really want to speak with me, they will call back, right?), and I have the glaring word count to be met each day. Oh, and I think I need to eat a meal or two (worry not - if you have seen me, you know I can find my way to food).

I know the adage that if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Well, I am the busy person. Please, don't give me anymore. My plate is full. Seriously. It looks like I hit a workload buffet. I am good. I don't need another serving. Really.

So, as the clock ticks closer to midnight, I contemplate the need to write while working. I love to write. It is fun. The escape is far more enjoyable, for me, than going out to a movie where I am limited to someone else's imagination. But work keeps the lights on and food on the table. Why do I write? Is it because of the trials and tribulations at work, or despite of them? You tell me.

So It Shall Be Written, So It Shall Be Done

2010-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

I love making lists. When I sit down, pen in hand (because a list can only be properly made with a pen in one hand and notepad in the other), the rush and excitement of the list take me away. Actually following the lists is a horse of a different color. Once the list is made, it loses its luster. Rather than being the certification of my ambition and responsibility, it taunts me and acts as an albatross hanging on my refrigerator.

For this reason, I have vowed that any lists from this point will consist of short term, attainable goals. The biggies won't make it into writing, at least not yet. I need the rush that comes with marking things off the list. Am I settling for mediocrity to have the highest goals on my list be "write 100 words each day" and "do two loads of laundry a week?" If so, at least the list won't wind up in a crumpled ball sometime around March.

So, in the spirit of setting attainable goals, this is my "to do" list for 2010:

1. Write 100 words a day for 100 days

2. Do 2 loads of laundry a week

3. Keep a list of everything I eat

4. Read at least one book a month

5. Post on this blog at least once a month.

It is now written. Will it be done?

I'm a Mac

2009-12-27T17:34:00.001-08:00

I did it. I switched. I am now a Volvo driving, Starbucks drinking, Mac user.

My PC flashes at me in a guilty tone of green. Are the crashes behind me? Will my internet browser remain thawed, never to freeze again?

Having the Stones to Write

2009-11-01T16:40:00.000-08:00

I normally don't have much time to write. It really stinks, actually. I have a demanding day job that I WISH could be nine to five. It is more like nine to midnight, if I am lucky. I made a promise to myself to shlog through November and finish my two works in progress. I had a plan. It was a good plan. Somewhere around 3:10 a.m last Thursday, the plan went to hell.

I woke with a pain in my central rib cage and shortness of breath. After a hearty meal at the Cheesecake Factory (what could be healthier), my first thought was that I had heartburn. A few Tums later, nothing changed. I woke my husband and made him drive me to the hospital. I felt like a total hypochondriac in the ER admitting area (although, I must say, the lack of a sense of urgency with the triage nurse perturbed me to no end).

I know I need to eat better and exercise, but I love gooey, cheesy, flavorful foods and sitting on my big fat keister. Simple pleasures - when you find them you have to savor them. However, fearfully I gave my me eculpa to the ER doc, promised to put myself on the straight and narrow, and begged him to make the blasted pain go away.

Several hours later, after an ultrasound, x-ray and blood work, I got the verdict. Gall stones. I had gall stones. I am only 36. This guy must be kidding me. And his delivery, oh it was priceless.

"You have gall stones. Your gall bladder needs to come out. Here is a list of two surgeons. Do you want us to call one for you, or do you have your own?" Like I keep a surgeon on speed dial.

I find myself now trying to rearrange a work schedule, sneak in the much needed house repairs in the next two weeks, and schedule a surgery. My poor plan was the first casualty. I had a color coded calendar and everything.

The question remains, during my downtime following surgery when I am confined to my bed, will I have the stones to write?

Countdown has begun!

2009-10-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

The countdown has begun. I will win at NaNoWriMo this year. To quote Yosemite Sam, "Dagnabit!" A little motivation surfaced this week when someone emailed me this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G84wr7nP7ck) - I am motivated to write (and lose weight - need to trim down the derriere if we are going to appear in videos)

The Stuff in the Middle

2009-10-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

The best part of an Oreo is the stuff in the middle. It holds the yummy chocolate cookies together. I love the stuff in the middle. Until now.

I am stuck in the middle of outlining my story. I know where I want to end. I like where I have started. The blasted stuff in the middle is driving me crazy. There are too many paths to take. It's worse than going to an all you can eat gourmet buffet on a full stomach. Lots of great choices, but you have to pick one.

Blasted stuff in the middle.

NaNoWriMo and the Snowflake Method

2009-10-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

OK - I have a PLAN. You now I am serious because I capitalized it.

THE PLAN is this - use the Snowflake method to prepare for NaNoWriMO in October, write like a crazy person in November, and celebrate with a finished first draft in December. The underpants gnomes have nothing on me when it comes to planning! What could possibly go wrong?

Phase one is in motion - I am working on step 3 of the snowflake method (character summaries) today. If I can match my ambition with hard work this weekend, I might make it to step five. Lets keep our fingers crossed and see what happens . . .

Killer Nashville

2009-08-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Killer Nashville, and I can't sing its praises enough. I had a great time, and feel inspired to write (OK - I get that I am procrastinating by blogging as opposed to hitting my draft, but I AM typing - that should count for something). Guilt is now setting in. I am off to my manuscript. Until next time . . .

I'm stuck

2009-07-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

I am in process of writing an urban-fantasy mystery, and I am horribly stuck. I have lots of ideas, and I have created characters I love. I am having a hard time, though, communicating both. In trying to develop the story, when I focus on the characters, the action and story lag. When I focus on the story, I feel like I am moving my characters around a Candy Land board rather than letting events unfold truly to them.

OK, back to writing. I think I started this blog as a distraction from the doing the hard work I need to do. I have successfully parlayed research into a weekend project, I need to finish the working outline (it is at 15 pages currently; 6 chapters. I know how I want to end, I am just trying to beef up the middle with all the good stuff).