Flip the Page

I know what makes me race to flip the page. Usually it's some kind of cliffhanger. The middle of a battle that makes me wonder what happens next, the moment before a sex scene when I've been waiting for 3/4 of the novel for the couple to knock boots, and heck even a wise crack that I know deep down is about to turn into a bomb works too.


So do these things make you flip? Or do you prefer for a chapter to wrap up like a little package without a cliffhanger? I know ending in an exciting moment is now a must-do, but is it something you like? I know when I started writing, I always summed up the chapter and them moved on. Most of the time because I wanted to go to another POV or have a change of time. Now I've learned to break at intense moments that make people want to read on...and I think I've gotten better at setting up that break. You know how writers build to that Big Black Moment? Well imagine a mini version of that BBM at each chapter's end. Can you say conflict, which breeds a quicker pace!

Do you think those cliffhangers are more like real life? We want our characters to be real, so why shouldn't the events of their lives imitate life? Imagine you're driving down the road and you catch a yelled phrase, what do you do? You instantly flip your head towards the sound to see what's going on, right? What do you do after that? I happen to think I got my nosy nature from my grandparents. If I figured something bad was about to go down, I'd circle back around. Then again I'm also a people watcher and am amazed daily to what people will do in public. How about you?

Another thing I think is a catch 22 is a moment of rest. You know that chapter that give you a moment to catch your breathe to get ready for an even bigger problem/challenge/battle ahead. I think they are a must do. I think too much action can have the same effect as too many blah moments. You don't want everything to be bland as beige on beige, or hyper as a kid off his ADHD meds who's eaten sugar. Just like you need good with bad, you also need energetic versus staid.

So tell us, what do you prefer in your fiction?

_________________________________
In other news, I won BIGgest Loser again at work! Woot woot! It came down to a nail bitter where the top three were within pounds of each other. We ended up having to re-weigh today due to timing, and I ended up pulling ahead. Though I do have to wonder if I'd have taken top prize if one of my competitors hadn't punctured her leg during Memorial weekend, and if the other hadn't had back-to-back business trips. Though a week of working out with blisters for an hour and a half a day wasn't a picnic. But sometimes that what you have to do to burn those calories!

And flipping the page to tomorrow...some of you might remember I mentioned a family friend, Amy Adams, who died last year as "A Woman Dedicated to Inspiration". I'll be doing a Dream Walk/Run to honor her memory along with friends. I'll tape my feet, get through like a champ (after walking 10 hours almost non-stop, 3 miles will be a cake walk) and afterwards, I'll be happy to take a rest! See there's that little break in the action! :0)


Technorati Tags:
BBM, cliffhanger, battle, POV, Biggest Loser, race, miles
Flickr Tags:
BBM, cliffhanger, battle, POV, Biggest Loser, race, miles
Del.icio.us Tags:
BBM, cliffhanger, battle, POV, Biggest Loser, race, miles
Furl Tags:
BBM, cliffhanger, battle, POV, Biggest Loser, race, miles

Star Light, Star Bright...Interstellar Interview with Lisa Shearin

Lisa Shearin is the National Bestselling Author of the Raine Benares’ fantasy adventure series about a sorceress and seeker of things lost and people missing.

One thing Lisa doesn’t have to find is work. Contrary to the public’s image of writers, she does have a day job as an editor/proofreader at an advertising agency. Before that she was a magazine editor, an advertising copywriter, and a writer of corporate marketing materials of every description. Writing is what she does and she knows she’s blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to get paid for doing what she loves.

When she’s not at her desk pecking away on her laptop, brainstorming with pen in hand or running her Yahoo Group Fan Club called Raine’s Rangers, Lisa likes to find the time to read and sing in her church choir. She’s also met some of her closest friends over crossed blades (of the Olympic style), and believes a rapier and dagger duel is fun! In fact, Lisa and her husband have spent some great times with their fencing club doing demos at museums, schools, movie premieres, the Biltmore House, and Renaissance faires.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa once at a booksigning in my hometown. It was the bookstore’s first attempt to draw in Sci-fi and fantasy readers. I got to listen to the Q&A for a little bit, but then I had to run…it was my anniversary and I had dinner plans. I hope Lisa forgave me! I’m also pleased to call her a fellow chaptermate of HCRW!

When our paths crossed for the first time, Lisa had just sold MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND. Now she’s on a locked down deadline for book four (BEWITCHED & BETRAYED)! She’s living her dream and making a name for herself with a set of characters and a world that are all her own…which is what every author strives for. With a wildly popular series to her name and her star shooting up amid a group of established constellations, I’m sure we’ll be hear more about Lisa Shearin for a long time to come!

What prompted you to pen Raine Benares’ adventures in lieu of sticking with your day job as an editor/proofreader?

Actually, I still have my day job at the advertising agency. Contrary to popular belief, most authors don’t make enough money from their books to be able to quit their day jobs. So it’s like I have two full-time jobs. Oh, and one part-time job. I was recently thrilled to be offered my own column in The Writer magazine. The editor there really liked my blog where I essentially give insight into the publishing industry from a new author’s point of view. Kind of a “things I know, stuff I learned, and crap I found out the hard way.”

How has being handy with a blade (like your favorite foil and epee’) helped enhance Raine’s exploits?

I think it’s helped me make any sword fighting scenes more realistic, because I know what can and can’t be done with a blade. And I took private rapier & dagger lessons for almost a year (in addition to my five years of fencing experience) specifically to prepare me to choreograph fight scenes in my books and make them as realistic as possible.

Like other writers, did you use a bit of yourself in Raine, or is she an entity all to herself?

My husband says that I am Raine. ; ) And I will admit that there’s a lot of Raine in me. Though she immediately has the snappy comebacks that I only think of after the opportunity to say them has long gone.

What has been your crowning moment as an author? And what pitfall have you crossed that you’d like to warn other writers about?

Other than getting that first book contract, my crowning moment was Armed & Magical becoming a national bestseller. So on The Trouble with Demons cover “National Bestselling Author” is under my name. I gotta say, that puts a grin on my face. And I’m happy to say that I haven’t had any pitfalls that I can recall. Which means if I did, they must not have been that bad.

Since “Magic” is a big factor in the series, is there a reason books three and four veered from that title path and the covers and content got edgier?

The titles just came to me, so there wasn’t a conscious effort to “veer from the title path.” And as Raine’s troubles compound, the content naturally gets edgier. But with my most recent book (THE TROUBLE WITH DEMONS), my publisher wanted to attract more readers from the contemporary and urban fantasy market, so they went with a different model and a darker color palette.

Will you be among the authors that descend on Washington DC for RWA Nationals? Are there any other dates fans need to mark on their calendars?

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make Nationals this year. However, if any of your readers are going to be in the Cary, NC area on Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00, I’ll be doing a book signing/discussion with local fantasy and Sci-fi authors James Maxey, Mark Van Name, and the legendary David Drake. We’ll be at the Barnes & Noble in Cary; see my website’s Events page for all the details. http://lisashearin.com/events.cfm I’ve become author buddies with “the boys” and we always have a great time at our events.

Remember one lucky person who posts a comment below will win Lisa's first three books in the Raine Benares’ series!

Technorati Tags:Lisa Shearin, fantasy, sci-fi, fencing, Sword, magic, contest romance,

Technorati Tags:Lisa Shearin, fantasy, sci-fi, fencing, Sword, magic, contest romance,

Del.icio.us Tags:Lisa Shearin, fantasy, sci-fi, fencing, Sword, magic, contest romance,

Technorati Tags:Lisa Shearin, fantasy, sci-fi, fencing, Sword, magic, contest romance,

Guest - Elizabeth Delisi

Good morning, everyone! Today's guest, author Elizabeth Delisi, and I share a probably common to all writers trait - she wanted to be a writer from a very early age.

In fact, Elizabeth wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn't always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter.

Elizabeth is a multi-published, award-winning author of romance, mystery and suspense.. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth edits for several small publishers and individuals, and teaches online writing courses for Writer's Digest.

Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire with her husband, dog and cat. She enjoys hearing from her readers at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com and invites everyone to visit her website at www.elizabethdelisi.com. Or, check out her blog: http://www.elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com/ .

Read all the way to the -- Lynda Again section to see how you can win one of Elizabeth's books.

********************************************************************************

USE YOUR WORDS TO ENHANCE YOUR ATMOSPHERE AND MOOD
By Elizabeth Delisi

Atmosphere, or mood, is a very important aspect of your story, but one that's often overlooked by new writers. Atmosphere signals to the reader what kind of story you've written, sets the scene, contributes to the tension and suspense, and can help advance the plot. One of the easiest ways to make atmosphere work for you is with the proper choice of words for your book.

Words can be used in many ways to build atmosphere. For example, flowery words might evoke a lush romantic mood, whereas sparse, clipped words may bring to mind a hardboiled mystery. Exaggeration and understatement each suggest a particular type of work, as does repetition. Some words can be used to create a mood based on their sound as well as their dictionary definitions, so check your synonyms carefully and choose the perfect one to suit your purpose.

In using words to create atmosphere, the thesaurus is your best friend. Look up your nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives, to make sure you're using the one that works best for your story. Word choice can become part of your style. You may be writing in the same genre as other writers, but the words you choose will differentiate you from them. Below are passages from two books in the same genre, written by two different writers. See if you can identify who wrote each:

========

For people like us, little people who went scurrying through the world like mice in a cartoon, sometimes laughing at the assholes was the only revenge you could ever get. Her working all those jobs and taking the overtime and taping her ankles when they swelled and putting her tips away in a jar marked ALAN'S COLLEGE FUND–just like one of those dopey rags-to-riches stories, yeah, yeah–and telling me again and again that I had to work hard, other kids could maybe afford to play Freddy Fuckaround in school but I couldn't because she could put away her tips until doomsday cracked and there still wouldn't be enough; in the end it was going to come down to scholarships and loans if I was going to go to college and I had to go to college because it was the only way out for me...and for her.

========

For an instant, in the girl's lustrous blue eyes, behind the twin mirror images of the window and its burden of smoldering summer-evening light, behind the smoky reflections of the layered kitchen shadows, something seemed to turn with horrid laziness, like a body twisting slowly, slowly back and forth at the end of a hangman's noose. Leilani looked away almost at once, and yet on the strength of a single Budweiser, Micky imagined that she had glimpsed a soul suspended over an abyss.

========

Did you guess the authors? The first example is from RIDING THE BULLET by Stephen King, Scribner/Philtrum Press, 2000, ISBN# 0-7432-0467-0. The second example is from ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN by Dean Koontz, Bantam Books, 2001, ISBN# 0-533-80137-6.

King and Koontz both write in the same genre, horror–but the mood they set with their word choices can be very different. King's style is forthright, earthy, and outspoken, and his word choice is what achieves this mood. Suppose he had worded this sentence: "For people like us, little people who went scurrying through the world like mice in a cartoon, sometimes laughing at the assholes was the only revenge you could ever get" in this way: "For some of us, humble people who hasten through the world like a briefly-felt vagrant breeze, smiling at the fools was the only retribution you might obtain."

You'll notice the meaning remains the same, but the atmosphere created by the sentence changes. In King's original sentence, the impression is given of a character who is perhaps uneducated, certainly someone who grew up in difficult circumstances and as a consequence is bitter. In the reworded sentence, you get the feeling that the character is a bit more educated, perhaps down on his luck but more wistful or ironic than bitter.

In contrast to King's style, Koontz's is leisurely, elegant, and refined. Yet if he had worded this sentence: "Leilani looked away almost at once, and yet on the strength of a single Budweiser, Micky imagined that she had glimpsed a soul suspended over an abyss" this way: "Leilani swiveled her head, but with the Bud cruising through her veins, Micky reckoned she'd seen the kid's spirit swinging over some deep, dank pit," the mood is different though the actions remain the same.

Koontz's original sentence makes the reader feel that Micky has a poetic soul and feels great empathy for Leilani, while the reworded sentence makes Micky sound like a cowgirl with her booted feet on the table, observing Leilani's plight in a sympathetic but detached manner.

In both examples, the original sentence gives the reader a feeling for the narrator's character, and the changed sentence changes the impression the reader gets of that person. Vocabulary tells your reader a lot about your characters–their education, their background, the area of the country they're from, their mood, their beliefs. Characters and their actions, in turn, help to set the mood of the book.

Virtually every word in your story should work for you to set the mood, advance the plot, and describe your characters and settings. So, choose them with care!

Elizabeth

**********************************************************************************



LADY OF THE TWO LANDS
by Elizabeth Delisi

One minute, Hattie Williams is in a museum, sketching a gold necklace that belonged to Hatshepsut, first female Pharaoh of Egypt; and the next, she's lying in a room too archaic to be the museum, with a breathtakingly handsome, half-naked man named Senemut bending over her.

Hattie soon discovers she's been thrust into the body and life of Hatshepsut, with no way back to her own time. Tuthmosis, the heir to the throne, hates her; the High Priest of Amun and the commander of the army want to kill her and Tuthmosis; and the best bathroom facilities in the country are the equivalent of a cat-box.

To make matters more difficult, she's falling helplessly in love with Senemut, and soon, she's not sure she even wants to return home. To protect Tuthmosis from assassination, the lovers arrange to put Hattie on the throne. But, what should she do when she suddenly finds herself, an obscure artist from Chicago, crowned ruler of all Egypt?


I'd love to have your readers check out all my books listed here: http://www.bookswelove.net/Delisi.html


Elizabeth Delisi
Fiction With Flair!
www.elizabethdelisi.com

*********************************************************************************

-- Lynda Again. Elizabeth has graciously offered a free copy of the e-book version of her novel SINCE ALL IS PASSING. She'll select one lucky person from those who leave a comment from now until Friday so make sure you check back to see if YOU'VE won :-D

Have a great week, everyone!

Awesome Announcement!

Since we've had an extra Friday this month, the Star Light, Star Bright...Interstellar Interview with Lisa Shearin will be here next Friday, May 22nd!
_______________________________________
Today I get to announce some awesome news! As you may or may not know RWA National's newsletter contest was canceled last year. Supposedly it was to regroup and come back with a better, and some say more fair, contest. This year was it's first year back and by the guidelines all RWA Chapter Newsletters were eligible, if the editor or chapter president submitted the February 2008 edition (since the current year's contest asks for the previous year's issue).

This past Monday, the Carolina Romance Writers Chapter President received the announcement of finalists. Our chapter was among the names for Document Style, those newsletters submitted via PDF or similar document version to members. I'm proud to say I'm the current and past editor!

I always try to make a great issue, but the February issue is special. It's the month of love, and romance's big moment--Valentine's Day! So I try to pull out any stops in this special issue. I never expected to be a finalist, since I've seen a couple other chapters' examples. I'm ecstatic to know that our newsletter stacks up with those across the US!

While I do deserve kudos for my part, I must also step back and say a big thanks to all the members who submitted for that edition. Along with me they helped make The Final Draft stand out from the pack.


Technorati Tags:
smiley, newsletters, RWA, editor, February, Valentine's Day,
Flickr Tags:
smiley, newsletters, RWA, editor, February, Valentine's Day,
Del.icio.us Tags:
smiley, newsletters, RWA, editor, February, Valentine's Day,
Furl Tags:
smiley, newsletters, RWA, editor, February, Valentine's Day,

Guest - Eilis Flynn

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and for the Mom's, I hope you had a great, relaxing day yesterday.

Today we have the multi-talented Eilis Flynn visiting. She'll be talking about a somewhat unique approach to writing that I'm sure you'll find as interesting as I did.

************************************************************************************

Eilis Flynn has worked at a comic book company, a couple of Wall Street
brokerage firms, a wire service, and a magazine for futurists. She’s written a
variety of things that don’t seem to belong together, but they do: comic
book stories both online and in print, scholarly works in a previous life as a
scholar, book reviews and interviews, and articles about finance (at odds
with her anthropology background), before settling down to write romantic
fantasies about the reality beyond what we can see. She can be reached at
eilisflynn@aol.com, at www.eilisflynn.com, or at myspace.com/eilisflynn. ECHOES OF PASSION will be on sale at www.cerridwenpress.com on July 2, 2009.

********************************************************************************

The Smallest Thing

How often do we really look at the world around us? The veins on the leaves
on the trees … the stamens and pistils of the flowers (if you’re not
allergic; if you are, sneezing as you look too closely) … even the most mundane
items in your home. In my latest book, ECHOES OF PASSION, coming out in July, I decided to take a commonplace item and work it into the plot. And considering the book’s about a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away, in a time long in the future, it made for an interesting challenge.

What kind of commonplace items? Think, for instance, about your keys.

Whether it’s a house key or an apartment key or a car key, they’re unique,
they’re unmistakable (as keys, at least), and they even stand for something: entry. Or a pot: it stands for food, for nourishment, or even a weapon (depending on the kind of cook you are, maybe all three at once!). And think of what your shoes could stand for – travel, or protection, or even completeness (what’s an outfit without shoes, after all?). Now think about writing a story using that commonplace item. It could be fun – or it could be daunting.

As it turned out, I really enjoyed the challenge of incorporating a commonplace item in my story. I had been nervous about writing a sci-fi romance; fantasy I had written before (high fantasy with THE SLEEPER AWAKES, super-hero fantasy with INTRODUCING SONIKA, and reworking a Japanese fairy tale with FESTIVAL OF STARS), but space opera sci-fi was new to me – but once I got it through my head that a story was a story, no matter the trappings, it all made so much sense. And a love story is a love story, no matter what -- and that's what ECHOES OF PASSION is.

What about you? Look around you. What commonplace item would you work into your own writing?




ECHOES OF PASSION

Secrets can destroy, but they can also liberate

Neotia Prime...

The home world of the Neoti and the Vozuans was destroyed by a doomsday
device twenty years ago, but the troubles and the unrest that led to the event
still plague those who resettled on the twin planet. When Daegon Bosaru
arrives there, determined to find out who is out to smear his dying father’s
good name, he discovers that the tragedies of that civil war still haunt those
who remain. Not only that, the mysterious, beautiful woman he’s been seeing
in his dreams over the past twenty years may have information he needs, but
when he finally meets Imreen Dal in the flesh, she seems not to know him—and
further, she runs from him every time she encounters him. Why?

And rumors persist that the crazed dictator who set off the doomsday device
may still be alive…with fresh plans for conquest. Bosaru needs to find out
how his father, the mysterious Imreen Dal, and the madman are related…and
stop another world from being destroyed.


Eilis Flynn

ECHOES OF PASSION, on sale on July 2, 2009

INTRODUCING SONIKA, on sale now at CerridwenPress.com

www.eilisflynn.com, eilisflynn.blogspot.com, www.myspace.com/eilisflynn

*********************************************************************************

-- Lynda Again. I actually wrote a short story based on a dust bunny (kind of a humorous SF story) that was published...a whole bunch of time ago :-D

Hope you've enjoyed today's guest. Leave her a comment to let her know what you think of her idea.

Technorati Tags:
Eilis Flynn, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, space opera
Flickr Tags:
Eilis Flynn, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, space opera
Del.icio.us Tags:
Eilis Flynn, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, space opera
Furl Tags:
Eilis Flynn, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, space opera

What's the Deal?

Why is it that most men don't plan ahead? Are they afraid of commitment or afraid of making a decision at all, lest it be the wrong one?

Sure I know women who are carefree and go with the flow, but even those ladies plan for something important. Say a wedding, a prom, a book convention or...Mother's Day! I mean there are some things that are a given (unless the child isn't on speaking terms with their mom) like a small gift, possibly a meal together and at the very least a card or phone call.

Honestly, I don't know how I'd get through life sometimes without my mom. True, she can punch my buttons like no other, but all in all her unconditional love is worth the less than stellar times.


So why am I harping on the guys? I've noticed that when I'm doing my shopping at any of the department stores or pharmacies the majority of shoppers in the card section the day before and the day of Mother's Day will be men. In fact, this morning we had a Fed Ex delivery man come to the company I work at full-time. The receptionist asked him if he was ready for Mother's Day.
He said, "Nah."
She said, "Give me your hand."
He said, "I have two days."
She said "Give me your hand."
When he finally offered it, she tapped the back like he was a naughty boy. She told him, "Now you make sure to do something good." He said he'd try to pull a rabbit out of his hat as he exited the building.

My fiance isn't off the hook. I asked him if he'd decided on a gift for his mom and he said no. I know I haven't seen him pick up a card, especially when he was moping around Wal-mart during our last visit for cat supplies. But hopefully he and the other men out there will get a clue (like a pat on the hand) and do the right thing.


Because if they've ever really loved a woman (one of my mom's favorite songs) then they should atleast acknowledge their mother. Her kind of love is unlike any they'll find elsewhere. And most mom's never let them forget the hours of labor they went through to birth them, or what kind of trouble they got into as a child. I think most guys still have a soft spot for their moms, just like us girl's, and even if they're labeled "mama's boys" they should hold their heads high. The people tossing around that label are probably jealous :0)

Chances are they can patch things up with their mom using a little bit of attention that includes a good conversation. Ditto that for the mother's of their children. Loving a woman, especially a mom in this busy life, can be difficult, but it doesn't have to cost much. Pick some flowers or scribble out a card with crayons and you can still win her heart with a little extra time.

So guys, get on the move and do the right thing. Show those mom's they're special!!


Technorati Tags:
Mother's Day, crayons, flowers, song
Flickr Tags:
Mother's Day, crayons, flowers, song
Del.icio.us Tags:
Mother's Day, crayons, flowers, song
Furl Tags:
Mother's Day, crayons, flowers, song

Guest - Tabitha Shay

Good morning everyone! Today's guest is Tabitha Shay, author of Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Heart and Witch‘s Moon. Tabitha is offering a prize to one lucky reader so read all the way to the end to find out how you can be that lucky winner :-D

And read the -- Lynda Again section to see who won my reader's birthday gift.

**********************************************************************************
‘The Witchy Woman In Me’
(The Beginning)

Good Morning, Readers,

Thank you, Lynda, for inviting me to be your guest author today.

I’m paranormal romance author, Tabitha Shay, author of Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Heart and Witch’s Moon. Yes, there are more books to come in the Winslow witches of Salem series.



Bitten By Books gives Witch’s Brew a 4.5 tombstone review!

BLURB: WITCH’S BREW/BOOK ONE

Witches, wizards and magic!

Saylym Winslow regains forgotten magical powers, but is determined to ignore them. No way is she a witch; magic brings nothing but trouble. But when Talon, Waken Prince and assassin of witches is assigned to terminate Saylym by stealing her soul, she discovers being a real, spell-casting witch is only the beginning of her problems.

Talon is enchanted by Saylym's beauty and charm and refuses to do his duty. He is given a choice by the powerful Waken Guild: Handfast with the trouble making witch to keep her in line or they will send Drayke, the most ruthless waken assassin, to hunt her down.

Sparks fly in this bewitching, sexy battle of the sexes-witch-style.


EXCERPT /WITCH’S BREW/BOOK ONE

The hairbrush in Saylym Winslow's hand came alive, wiggling worse than a worm on a hook. With an earsplitting scream, she flung the brush across the bathroom and pressed a hand against her run-away heart.

Unfortunately, the brush landed in the commode with a distinctive plop. Water slapped over the sides of the porcelain rim, splattering onto the worn tiled floor.

Biting her lip, Saylym tiptoed to the toilet bowl and peered over the edge, then jumped back. Her breathing rattled to a dead stop in her chest. "Ohmigod! I don't believe it!"

The brush had inched its way up the side of the white porcelain as if it had suddenly sprouted hands and feet to pull itself up the wet surface. It reached the top, tottered for a second, then toppled over onto the floor and flopped like a fish out of water.

"No more," Saylym moaned. "Please. I can't stand one more inanimate thing coming to life."

There are nine more books planned for the series, with Witch’s Magic next in line, with a Sept. release date planned from Eternal Press.

Quite often I’m asked where I got the idea for Witch’s Brew, book one. Honestly, it just popped into my head one morning while I was going to pick up my son from work. Listening to my CD by The Eagles, I was jamming to their song, Witchy Woman. Spssst, I really get into the drums of that song and of course, I’m an avid sing-along-person.

But that morning, I was listening, instead of singing, and it suddenly hit me, Hmm, I could write a book about a witch.

Now anyone who knows me at all knows this would be a big leap for me. I’ve written romances for years, but I tended to stick to contemporary western romances. The truth is, deciding I could write about a witch never even hit me that I was switching genres in mid-stream.

Now I have to wonder, with the world in the shape it is today, if I was suffering a mid-life crisis. (Laughs) Probably.

Mulling the idea over, the thought struck me if I was going to write about a witch, then she had to be different. Not just any old regular witch would do.

So how could she be different?

Okay, I had to think about that. What if she’s a witch who doesn’t know she’s a witch? Yeah! That sounded like a good start. Okay, problem. Why doesn’t she know she’s a witch? It’s not like using magic is something one can hide forever.



Coffee Time Romance gives Witch’s Heart a five cup review!

BLURB: WITCH’S HEART/BOOK TWO

Journey into a world where magic rules and death is the penalty for mistakes-return to the kingdom of Ru-Noc, where witches, wizards, and warlocks dwell. . .

Hannah Miller is starting over-new life, new location, and the grand opening of the Sugar 'N' Spice bakery with her best friend, Kirrah Walker. But Hannah soon discovers Sanctuary is not small town America. Trapped in a world of magic where humans are considered aliens-Hannah soon becomes the target of a waken assassin.

The male witch, Sage, is sent to terminate Hannah, the impertinent human who has dared to enter their sacred realm. Sage usually complies with the guild's orders, but he faces this assignment with dread. He hasn't forgotten what took place at the Salem witch trials in 1692 and has vowed to avoid all mortals-until he sees Hannah for the first time.

Caught up in the immortal conflict sweeping across Ru-Noc, the star-crossed lovers wage a different kind of war that set off more sparks than a witch's wand. . .

Fall under the spell of Witch's Heart-where Sage and Hannah discover love has a magic all its own . . .

EXCERPT: WITCH’S HEART/BOOK TWO

"I know a lot more about you than your name, Hannah Miller."

His voice was pure silk. It wrapped around her like a fur coat, warm, sensual and smooth as honey.

For the life of her, she couldn't keep the curiosity from her voice. "Oh? What do you know? Exactly?"

"I know you're human, a frail illumrof whose life span is but a twinkle, then gone. I know you should have remained in your own dimension. And I know it's impossible to mate with you."

"Mate with me?" Hannah gulped and put her hand on the rolling pin she'd left on the counter earlier. If she was no use to him, then what did that mean? He was going to kill her? Crap! They were back to the slice and dice. She tightened her grip on the rolling pin. "Over my dead body!" she said under her breath.

Bad choice of words, Hannah. Really bad.

Right. So…Saylym fell and hit her head? Has a bad case of amnesia? For how long? Three hundred years? Because right away I decided she had to be three hundred years old, or in that neighborhood.

Three hundred years of amnesia? Nope, don’t think so.

Why don’t I let someone erase her memory? Totally wipe away everything about her past. What would happen? How would she cope if one day her magic started to return, and she had no idea what was happening? So, dear readers, Saylym Winslow was conceived and born.



Coffee Time Romance gives Witch’s Moon a five cup review!

BLURB: WITCH’S MOON/BOOK THREE

Ru-Noc: A magical world teetering on the edge of destruction.

Excited about her first Beltane, the feisty and strong-willed Princess of Ru-Noc makes plans to find her ideal mate. But Princess Kali's world is turned upside down when finds herself whisked away and trapped in the mortal realm of vampires.

Captain Koran T knows he's in serious trouble when the King of Ru-Noc orders him to kidnap Princess Kali. He's no different than any other male of his species at mating time, so the urge to breed Kali is strong. But Koran T has a dark secret of his own, one that could have him banished from the coven.

Fall under the spell of a Witch's Moon-when dark forces gather to threaten the very existence of Ru-Noc-and Princess Kali and Captain Koran cross swords in a fierce battle only a witch can win!

EXCERPT: WITCH’S MOON: BOOK THREE

Ah, but the novel appearance of a male witch popping in at the all girls’ academy had them all atwitter, all—but one.

Abrupt silence filled the halls and avid gazes shot to Princess Kali as she marched down the hall like a stiff-backed soldier. Fury etched the aristocratic lines of her face. Her topaz eyes blazed with gold flames. Her heart-shaped lips were tight with displeasure and color stained her noble cheekbones.

What would the princess do? Say?

Money exchanged hands as bets were quickly made on the outcome of the battle that brewed. Who would win, Captain Koran T or Princess Kali?

Oh, but this was going to be an entertaining moment for all of them.
No doubt about it, the reckless and hot-tempered Princess was in a bit of a snit. In a swish and swirl of red silk, she left a heady cloud of jasmine and oleander perfume in her wake.

Necks craned and eyes widened as everyone watched the Princess storm down the corridor to Principal Wing’s office.

“What’s she doing now?” someone asked. “I can’t see her anymore.”

“Who cares what she’s doing? My heart’s still pounding from catching a glimpse of the Captain,” one young lady commented. “Did you see how handsome he is? The excitement is almost too much to bear.”

Now, I don’t want to reveal all Saylym’s secrets or the problems she faces when her magic starts to return, but obviously, the fun doesn‘t end with Saylym‘s story. No. Saylym has two sisters, Kirrah, whose tale in Witch’s Fire, will be released late in 2009 and Nyra, who tangles with Death in Witch‘s Touch, in 2010, so be watching for them.

I’m so thrilled to announce that all my books are now available in print from Amazon.com

Anyone leaving a comment today has a chance to win an E-copy of one of my witchy books or a signed print copy, which ever you prefer. Be sure we have a way to contact you if your name is drawn or be certain to check back about 8p.m. CST., when the winner’s name will be announced. Until the next time, scope out my website at http://www.tabithashay.com

I can also be found at Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/tabithashay
Pay a visit to my publishers at http://www.eternalpress.ca
One more tidbit of information: I also write contemporary western romances under the pen name-Jaydyn Chelcee. You’ll find her at the same website Tabitha Shay hangs around at.

See you soon.

Tabs

*****************************************************************

Tabitha Shay, is the author of paranormal romances, Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Heart and Witch‘s Moon.

She also write contemporary western romances under a second pen name, Jaydyn Chelcee. Her Chelcee contemporary western romances, In the Arms of Danger and No Holds Barred, are the first two books from the Montana Men series.

Ms. Shay lives at the foot of the world’s highest hill in Poteau, Oklahoma and shares her home with her husband, Earl, a poodle named, Snuggles, and a shih tzu named, Buttons. When she’s not immersed in the pages of a good book or writing, she loves to collect coins. She spends as much time as she can haunting pawn shops and other avenues in which to find coins.

Coming soon: Witch‘s Magic, book four and Witch’s Fire, book five. Also watch for the next book in the Montana Men series, Too Close To The Fire, all coming in 2009. Visit my web and blog site at http://www.tabithashay.com
Publisher: http://www.eternalpress.ca

Tabitha adores hearing from her fans, and answers every letter herself, so feel free to email her. tabshay@gmail.com

********************************************************************************

-- Lynda Again

First I want to remind all our readers to leave a comment for Tabitha so you can become eligible for her drawing. These books sound terrific, don't they?

Second, I'd like to welcome all the new members of my reader's group. If you aren't yet a member, do think about joining (instructions are below). It's a low volume group offering only my newsletter and announcements about this blog (typically once a week). And, because I do a number of reviews, I'll pass on some of the reviewed books to you, my readers (Unfortunately, I have to limit that to USA residents).

But for now, our April Birthday winner is...roll of drums.....Tlyn (I've already sent you an email, please respond as soon as you can)

Wookie, my big old fluffy kitten, likes to select the winners of all my contests (and she's very good at it too, lol). She urges you to join the group.

Hope to see you there!

My Website: http://www.lyndakscott.com
My Blog: http://www.lyndakscott.blogspot.com
Tweet me: http://www.twitter.com/lyndakscott
Be My Friend on:
Bebo: http://www.bebo.com/lyndakscott
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyndakscott
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lyndakscott
To join my newsletter, send a blank email to:
LyndaKScott-Newsgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Technorati Tags:
Tabitha Shay, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, witch series,
Flickr Tags:
Tabitha Shay, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, witch series,
Del.icio.us Tags:
Tabitha Shay, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, witch series,
Furl Tags:
Tabitha Shay, Lynda K. Scott, paranormal romance, witch series,

What Would You Enter For?

I'm resting up from a 5K race this morning to support Young Life campers. I'd never heard of the organization, but I saw the poster for the May Day race at the newest shopping mall in our area. I figured it was worth a shot to enter, eventhough I knew I wouldn't win. Quick, I'm not. Persistent, I am. In fact the Road ID I picked up to wear while I train out on the road says Winners Never Give Up. That motto is also a good one to have in writing, which is very similar to a race. You want to start out quick, peak the others interest, settle into a good rhythm with some ups and downs, then finish strong with a kick. I didn't have much kick left this morning in my first race back after a hip injury, but I did snag my fastest time yet. So I still have hope in doing the same with my next WIP.

But my real topic today isn't running, racing, or writing...it's contests. We've seen a myriad of contests over the years with an equally vast amount of swag to win. I know I've put up movies, candles, soap and even socks with some bigger prizes on peak months when I had an article or something cool on my website. One of the most interesting things I've won was a golden Rubik's Cube, and one of the coolest was a mini critique from an agent. I believe one of the most popular giveaways is books. Do you agree?

Or are you tired of books? Would you prefer something like sci fi movies, a great tie-in like a t-shirt? I know authors usually have to pay out of pocket for anything they offer up in a contest, so it would have to be something that wouldn't make them broke. That's one of the reasons I usually had a star theme to my gift bags. Because the symbol is popular, I could always find something new to keep things fresh. But I did wonder if the giveaways were worth my time. I know that I had several loyal visitors of my website, but wondered if there was a better way to branch out.

What do you think? Are contests worth the effort? Or should authors cut their contests for promo only to big moments and offer better prizes?

I always get a thrill when I get to tell a reader they've won...not to mention when I see an e-mail that says I'm a winner. (It's almost as awesome to get bags of swag at the races I've run for Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Arthritis, and Mebane on the Move.)



Technorati Tags:
5K, race, writer, contests, books, giveaways
Flickr Tags:
5K, race, writer, contests, books, giveaways
Del.icio.us Tags:
5K, race, writer, contests, books, giveaways
Furl Tags:
5K, race, writer, contests, books, giveaways