Do you make friends with fictional characters?

So if you’ve been reading my blog posts for awhile, you’ll know I’m a little wacky. One day I hope the term to be “eccentric,” but that’s a financial threshold I have yet to cross. Case in point, I have a beaver mascot who lives to insult me, and I often wonder around singing to myself or conversing with make believe people.

My quirks aren’t a gimmick or false front—I’ve been borderline looney toons as far back as I can remember. My best friends growing up were the gang from Mystery Inc. especially shaggy and Scooby Doo. We’d have adventures that led nowhere and solved nothing and I was often heard muttering the phrase “if it weren’t for you meddling kids….”

At 8, it was cute. At 31, just plain strange.

Some other favorite fictional characters that I’ve been obsessed with.

1) The crew from Star Trek: the Next Generation. I watched the shows, devoured the books (the ones by Peter David are the absolute best, especially if you are a Riker/Troi fan) and even had a game boy video cartridge. And I won’t apologize for it.

2) Suzanne Brockmann’s troublershooters. Of course, I prefer the ones that focused on the Navy SEALs, having an inside track to the navy lifestyle and having heard first hand the reverent tones in which the SEAL teams are described. Something about Brockmann’s guys in particular is timelessly appealing. The tortured heroes to the nth degree.

3) The Charmed ones. Though I didn’t get cozy with this uber popular TV series from the beginning, I was no less a fangirl once hooked. Julian McMahon as the half demon Balthazar. Oh yeah.

4) J.R. Ward’s Blackdagger Brotherhood. Another master of torture. By the time you get to the end of one of Ward’s books, you know those characters have truly earned their HEA.

5) Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series. Nuff said.

6) The Gilmore Girls. The speed of snark in this show mesmerized me. This and Farscape is what got me through 2004 in my money-pit, bug-infested ranch house, two children under the age of four and a husband on 6 month deployment.

7) Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. Are you getting the impression that my tastes in entertainment are a little disparate? The common thread is quality. I leaned on this fantasy epic while pregnant with my first son, and took me about nine months to read the first eight books, as I had to keep switching back to What to Expect While Your Expecting. (Talk about disparate.;-))

8) Maggie and Neil. He’s been with me since 2006 and I’ll never grow tired of him. I’ve said it before and I will gain, Neil is my ultimate hero, I can’t create any better than him. Maggie’s voice is so interwoven with my own I have a hard time figuring out where she ends and I begin. We have a great love-hate bond going. Other characters come and go, but these two will be with me forever.

So what about you? Do you ever obsess over characters, well after the show has ended or the final page of the book has been read? I’ve aired my dirty laundry and there’s plenty of room on the line for yours!

Writing Again: Return of Creativity

Tambra Kendall for Writers Gone Wild




My Muse has finally come out of hiding.

After a few months sabbatical I'm finally starting to write again. Not as much as I'd like but I'm getting some words on the page. I won't be picky. Some is better than none.

Pushing to write when I'm like this makes everything worse. I've done other things to try and fill the creative well. In my case, lots of singing and playing around with story ideas. Music is a large part of my life. Okay, I listen to Keith Urban. Every day. This has helped me heal. His lyrics speak to me what can I say?

Writing bits and pieces of stories here and there, then leaving them to smolder until I feel the need to re-examine them. No stress, no worries. Part of regaining creativity is having fun and inspiration. Inspiration is important.

I've been re-reading one of my favorite books, Jane's Warlord by Angela Knight. Nothing like a favorite author to help inspire and kick my butt-in-gear. I've tossed the oh-I've-never-written-that-before out the window. I'm writing my first M/F/M menage. Just what my Muses needed to stir the excitement. LOL

My favorite authos play a large part in reminding me of my goals and why I love to write so much. I want to make my readers smile and sigh in contentment as they do for me.

No telling how the story will turn out but the fact that I'm getting something on the page is a good start. As professinals we can't let writer's block stay for too long. Developing methods to combat this problem in our writer's tookit is paranomount.

Life tosses ugly things our way. How we choose to deal with it is the key and knowing how to choose the best path to get us back on track. In my case, I had a series of major stresses to deal with one after another. A little time and care is all I've needed to come back and start back on a daily writing schedule to get me back to where I need to be with the goals I've set.

Hopefully, all will go according to schedule and this short erotic romance will be finished Oct. 1.

If you've been at the same barren writing space as I've been, please know you can move back into the well of creativity. You must refill the well and take care of yourself while doing it. I've started working out everyday and changed my diet. (Ovo-lacto vegetarian.) If I need to make adjustments, I will. I want to be the best writer I can be, to give my readers the story that will stay with them long after they've reached The End.

Hugs to all,
Tambra Kendall/Keelia Greer

Shifting Priorities - the Collection

Wow- I almost fogot to post this! Sometimes the days just seem to get away from me. This week was one of those where you start on Monday and blink - and it's Friday.

I have a new release to tell you about. Well sort of new. Shifting Priorities is a collection of all four of the original Imperial Were-Panthers books released as a collection. If you missed these the first time around, it's a great deal.

Shifting Priorities (Collection)
ISBN : 978-1-60521-446-7
Genres: Futuristic, Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi
Themes: Shape shifters, Legends

Author: Anne Kane
http://www.annekane.com/

Publisher URL Changeling Press - Erotic Fiction

BUY NOW!




Book Summary:

Mating Ritual: When Jexx finds out the man she's just had fantastic sex with is one of the legendary Imperial were-panthers, she's impressed, but they've got more than technical problems to work out...

Mating Dance: Jakeb wants an heir, not a mate. When he rescues Kaitlyn, he proposes a deal -- her freedom for his heir. But they soon discover power isn't only about strength...

Mating Call: Cali uses her innocent face to con a living from gullible males. But when she decides to charm her way onto Darien's shuttle, pirates, an old acquaintance and an irresistibly sexy Imperial were-panther make for a voyage she'll never forget.

Mating Frenzy: Mykael knows that his co-pilot is also his bond-mate, but she refuses him, and his patience is running out. When they're forced to land on a primitive planet, they find themselves exploring more than the unique landscape.

This collection contains four previously released novellas in the Shifting Priorities series.

The Aftermath

THE AFTERMATH by Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

Sorry, no conference photos yet! Still haven't gotten round to seeing whether the piccies I took on my iPhone are any good. Yes, I forgot to take my camera. Doh!

Let's see, what else happened. Oh yeah: No pink wig, either. It was too darned hot in the hotel to even consider wearing a wig at the awards dinner. No one wants to risk dripping perspiration into her food, okay? It's bad enough seeing it happen on a particular cooking show that shall remain nameless. Eeeew.

However, the sparkly full-length evening dress did get an outing, as did the fire-engine red halter for the cocktail party. And hey, that red dress is now my lucky dress because, for the first time ever at a conference, I won a raffle. Specifically, the cocktail party raffle donated by the convenor of our RWNZ Auckland chapter, Frances Housden. So, among other delights, now I have chocolates, French champers--and goblets to drink it from-- crackers and fancy cheeses, and a huuuuge pile of books to keep me happy. Believe me, the basket was so darned heavy I could hardly lift it. Woot!

And now I must relate a cautionary tale for anyone staying in a hotel.

Woke up on Friday morning with my alarm. Headed for my lovely hotel bathroom with the intention of having somewhat more than a five minute shower. I'd allowed time to wallow, and wallow, I was darn well gonna do! So I stripped off and turned on the shower tap.... only to be confronted with a jet of icy cold water that pretty much smacked me right in the face and drenched me from head to toe.

Talk about a wake-up call.

As you can imagine, the shrieks and imprecations were rather loud and rather unladylike. And continued while I quickly shut off the tap, and mopped up the bathroom floor, and found a place to hang the dripping wet towel.

Only plus? At least I was now very wide awake. Awake enough, in fact, to figure out how in the hell that jet of cold water could have achieved such a wondrous feat.

Seems whoever cleaned the shower, had directed the shower rose straight out--probably to rinse off the tiles. And, you guessed it, she--or he--had left it in that position. Pointing straight out, directed at the next unsuspecting guest. I remember my cleaner doing that a couple of times in the kids' shower, and the kids copping a faceful of water. It's. Not. Fun.

Moral: always check the position of the shower rose, so that you're not treated to a chilly wake-up call.

Oh, and I have one more pearl of wisdom to impart. This one specifically geared toward conferences.

Be prepared. Like, for anything!

I sooo wasn't, BTW. I stepped straight from a pitch and into an improptu TV interview. Yikes. 'Nuff said. You never know when a camera crew might be lurking, ready to pounce upon the unwary. Or even a radio interviewer -- I had that happen to me a couple of years back, too! And I can only wish I'd been as prepared for both of those situations, as I was for my pitch.

That's it from me for now.

P.S. Check out the BADASS interview that Saranna posted yesterday! Seems we have an honorary Wild Dude to add to our ranks. How awesome is that???

Welcome, Ben!

Cheers,

Maree

Badasses with Ben Thompson: The Interview

Darlings. You may be wondering why a book on Badasses pertains to us and our writing in the romance genre. Two words. Alpha males. These are the badassedest (<--new word, you like it?) badasses to ever walk the earth. They are serious Alpha males who really lived. This book was a lot of fun and I've found it to be a handy reference tool. (Hehehe. I said tool.)

Ben was a great sport about answering all of my questions, so let's give him a warm welcome.

Saranna: Before we get started, I have to take a moment and fangirl you like crazy. I bought your book  Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live after reading an article you’d written about the seven most badass Vikings and I was laughing so hard Nutella shot out of my nose. So, thanks so much for being here.

Now, let’s tie you to the rack. You’re a badass, so it won’t hurt too much. *grin*

In that article you wrote called 7 Badass Vikings, a particular favorite of mine was the story of Freydis Ericsdottir, Eric the Red’s daughter. She’s so badass, I want to get her tattooed on my bicep. If I was still working corrections, I would get a bracelet that says WHAT WOULD FREYDIS DO? Which badass has inspired you the most and why?

BT:  Thank you for the kind words!  I have a tough time picking out a favorite badass, just because there are so many incredibly hardcore real-life heroes out there that we can take badass life lessons from.  When I'm describing the book to people, I usually like to point to an awesomely-named dude known as Wolf the Quarrelsome.  Wolf was an Irish warrior who defeated the Vikings in battle, then avenged the murder of his brother by slicing open a dude's abdomen, tying one end of his intestines to a tree, and forcing the guy to walk around the tree in circles until all his entrails came out.  Wolf ultimately didn't actually do a hell of a lot to alter the course of history, but his story is so over-the-top awesome that it needs to be told.  That's kind of what BADASS is all about.

(Now, there's a man. I love all of the testosterone in this book. Le Sigh.)

Saranna: Your voice in the book is unique and you manage to impart mass amounts of information in a way that has your readers saying, “Wow, that’s badass.” Something that should be obvious with all the face bashing going on, yet, it doesn’t seem to sink in until told in your voice. Are you like that in your every day life or was that something you developed for the book?

BT:  I'm way more laid-back in my regular life than I come across in the book, though I still like to try to say things in the most straightforward way possible.  Ultimately what it boils down to is that I don't understand why people need to take these great historical stories and make them as boring and dry as possible… there are tons of really interesting people out there, yet many historians seem to be so interested in explaining these characters' significance on history that they lose sight of the actual stories.

Saranna: Do you have pets? And if so, do they plot world domination?

BT:  I have two cats, one of which is seventeen years-old.  They both have very busy schedules of sleeping and eating, and don't seem to have much spare time to plot anything more complicated than their next meal.

Saranna: A big thing on our blog here at the Carnivale lately has been hermaphrodite fiction. We even have a list. Have there been any hermaphrodite badasses that you’ve come across in your research and if so, how did that affect their baddassery?   

BT:  Wasn't Jabba the Hutt supposed to be a hermaphrodite?  Aside from that, I can't think of too many famous hermaphrodites off the top of my head right now… or at least nobody who revealed themselves as such.  One of my main arguments in the book, though, is that it doesn't matter who you are, where you came from, or what sort of materials you're working with – as long as you don't back down from adversity (and crush all who oppose you in the process), anyone can be a badass.

Saranna: Is there a book that changed you as a writer or a person?

BT:  I really love reading the old-school histories, because guys like Herodotus, Plutarch, and Gibbon didn't pull any punches with their writing.  If they thought a guy was awesome or a total douchebag, they didn't worry about boring crap like objectivity when they told the story.  Their versions of history ended up reading like hardcore adventure tales rather than brain-crushingly obnoxious textbooks.  In terms of more modern writers, I particularly love "The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody" by Will Cuppy.  He was a huge inspiration for what I'm doing.

Saranna: Many authors have soundtracks for their work. Do you have anything you like to listen to while you’re working?

BT:  I actually require complete silence when I'm writing… I'm terrible at multi-tasking, and I find any kind of background noise completely distracting  If I were to choose three songs that epitomize the book, however, they would be "Tiger Woods" by Dan Bern, "Freya" by The Sword, and "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce.  If I were to provide suggested listening while reading the book I'd go with something by Jack Johnson or John Mayer, simply because anything less mellow might drive the reader to violence.

Saranna: Do you have word lust? Are there certain words you just have it hot and heavy for all the time? What about words you hate more than a yea—um, that one doesn’t apply here, I’m thinking. More than jock itch? (There we go.) Me? I hate “conversate” and “anyways”. Both make me want to climb a clock tower with a modified mini-14 fitted with red pen bullets *and* punch someone in the face simultaneously.

BT:  My editor at Harper made me go through my entire manuscript and remove every occurrence of the words "numerous" or "countless".  I have no idea why.  I can't think of any words I particularly despise, though there are plenty that I over-use.  I actually have to keep a Word document on my desktop that has several hundred synonyms for the words "crush", "awesome", and "douchebag". 

Hm… I was really hoping to work the words "conversate" and "anyways" into my response, but I see that I have failed to do so.

Saranna: Have you ever read a romance novel? Now, this question might seem out of left field, but many romances are chock full of testosterone-laden heroes who are in a word: badass. Some of them are even based on real badasses.

BT:  I've never read a romance novel before, but if you have any good suggestions I'd be willing to conversate with you about it anyways. 

(Oh, damn. look at that. He did it. Ben Thompson is definitely a badass for braving the wrath of the Amazon Goddess of Doom. )

Saranna: What’s your most embarrassing moment? (C’mon. We’ll only laugh for a few minutes. And point.)

BT:  One time I asked a girl out, and before she could even answer me I tripped over a fire hydrant and fell down a hill.  We're married now, so I guess it worked out, but holy crap I wished I was dead.

Saranna: Who is your favorite comic book character? *picture*

BT:  I've always been a huge fan of the Punisher and Wolverine, but there are plenty of awesome comics heroes out there.  I particularly love guys like Thanos and Galactus… they don't just plot world domination, they completely physics-hump the entire galaxy!

Saranna: I read on your Character Sheet  that you’ve written something for Penthouse. Do tell us more about where your work has appeared and where we can get more badass and Ben. (It’s like cowbell.)

BT:  I did do a piece for Penthouse!  Once the issue is off the shelves (it's the July/August 2010 issue, for those who are looking for a good excuse to pick up some porn) I'll be posting it on my site.  Pretty much everything else I've written is linked into the site either through the Badass List or the Miscellaneous Articles section.

Saranna: Finally, do you take requests? I’d love to see a book titled The Sex Lives of Badasses.

BT:  That could definitely be cool.  I'd need to go through and update my custom thesaurus first though!

(Try the The Bald-Headed Hermit and the Artichoke .)

Thanks, Ben for being here! It was great having you. Let us know when you have another release and we'd be glad to dress you up in hooker boots and pimp you like crazy. 

x-posted at Culinary Carnivale

An Affair To Remember

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER by Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

I'm about an hour away from jumping in the car and heading off to our annual Romance Writers of New Zealand conference. This year, the conference is in Auckland City CBD at the Rydges Hotel, which will make it easy for our overseas guest speakers to do a bit of sightseeing, if they feel so inclined. Mind you, if today was any indication, Auckland seems bound and determined to rain on us all. Here's hoping The City of Sails shows our out-of-towners and overseas guests that we do actually know what sunshine is!

This year, our conference theme is An Affair To Remember, and, reading through the speaker notes I've been compiling for our conference notes disks, it certainly will be a memorable conference. We have a fabulous lineup of speakers and workshop presenters, including Laura Bradford (Bradford Literary Agency), Dianne Moggy (VP of Overseas Editorial Strategy & Development for Harlequin Enterprises), Alex Logan (Grand Central Publishing), Christopher Vogler, Stephanie Laurens, Jane Porter, Nalini Singh, Natalie Anderson, Vanessa Johnson, Nick McLeay, Nic Harrison... and the list goes on!

I reckon we're totally spoiled for speakers this year. In fact, I had a hard time choosing which workshops to attend -- still have buyer's remorse, so to speak, LOL.

And I've dusted off that red dress for the cocktail party, and the sparkly one for the awards dinner, and even accepted a dare to pair the latter with my pink wig-- fingers crossed I'm brave enough to pull it off!

Aside from the fun stuff, I think I've finally got my one-sentence pitch summary down pat. Gotta thank my DH for that, because when I was getting all frustrated, he was the one who got me back on track and gave me a huge hug when I nailed it. So here's hoping....

Stay tuned for next week's post. Who knows, there might even be photos?

:-)

Maree

Meet Pamela Beason

Please welcome author Pamela Beason here to Writers Gone Wild. I first met her last November at a writing workshop with Bob Mayer, and learned she had a romance coming out this summer with The Wild Rose Press. She's giving away a digital copy of On Shaky Ground to one commenter, so be sure to leave a note. Here we go!

Tell us about your interesting professional background.
I work at two jobs: freelance writing/editing, mostly technical stuff; and private investigation. No, I was never a police officer. I actually chose to go into private investigation because a lot of my writing work was being outsourced to India and investigation uses a lot of the same skills and cannot be outsourced. The basic steps are these for both professions: 1) Meet with client and determine what your ‘product’ is; 2) Find out where you can get the information you need for your product; 3) Go out and get that information (interview people, get video/photos, measure scenes, get court records, etc.); and 4) Assemble the information into the final product. In the case of tech writing, this is usually a manual or an online help system or a website; in PI work, it’s usually a report to your client. The main difference between the two fields is that you don’t deal with a lot of thugs or crazy people in tech writing, whereas they are frequently present in investigation work.

Sound like an interesting mix. What got you started as a writer?
I’ve always been addicted to stories of all kinds, and I think I’ve written since I could hold a pencil. I wrote some stories about a dog secret agent when I was in junior high; the poor pooch was always being captured by the dogcatcher or booted out of the taxi at crucial moments on the case. On paper I can always make justice prevail, which is so satisfying. The right people don’t always win in real life.

Sad but true, and you’re exactly right. Tell us about your new release.
On Shaky Ground will be published by The Wild Rose Press on August 20, 2010. I’d classify it as a nontraditional romance. The heroine, Elisa, is half-Guatemalan and trying to run the family’s plant nursery after the sudden death of her father. Nothing is going right, the business is plagued by a vandal, and she hasn’t had a romantic relationship for well…forever. What man is going to fall for a tough half-Latina who drives a backhoe? The book opens with an earthquake, and when she’s rescued by some hunky firemen, she has hopes for the ethnic-looking EMT, but no—that guy falls for her blonde stepsister. It’s the story of Elisa’s life. The only man she attracts is the insurance investigator, who’s pretty sure she’s committing fraud with all her insurance claims. It has a lot of humorous moments as well as dramatic and poignant turns. I had a lot of fun writing it.

Blurb: When Terrence Langston ran Langston Green, the plant nursery sailed along like a well-run ship. But when his daughter Elisa takes charge after his sudden death, she feels more like the captain of the Titanic. First, vandalism, then a major earthquake, then arson. And now a handsome insurance investigator believes that she's behind all the destruction? Will she have to get killed to prove him wrong?

How does your knowledge as a private investigator help you with plotting and writing?
Hmm….never thought about that. Does it help? Well, I guess I know how crime investigation works, both in the private sector and in the police force, and I meet a lot of interesting people. I never lack for story ideas or for interesting characters. Being a PI doesn’t help with writing romances, though; I don’t investigate people who love one another (quite the opposite), and not many men want to date a private investigator. Hmmm…maybe the heroine of my next romance should be an investigator. At least I could make romance work out in fiction!

Sounds like a heck of a plan to me. And you could use some of your more interesting cases as background in a story :)
You've got an upcoming mystery series with Berkley Prime Crime. What is it about, and when are the release dates?
After a multitude of near misses, I self-published my mystery, Wild, the first book in my Summer Westin series. (You can still find a few copies floating out there on Amazon.) Then Berkley Prime Crime (and another publisher) made me a 3-book offer that of course I couldn’t refuse. The first book is about the search for a missing child in a national park in Utah. The main character, Summer Westin, is trained as a wildlife biologist, but forced to eke out a living writing about wildlife and outdoor adventure on the internet. She’s in the park writing about wildlife when the child disappears and the media goes berserk, accusing the park’s cougars of snatching the child. I have the sequel written, too—it takes place on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State and involves an anti-government terrorist group. I’m still pondering the third one. So many ideas, so little time. The first book, which will be Wild with a few minor changes (and possibly a new title), is currently not scheduled to come out until November 2011, which is a little frustrating to me. The sequels don’t have dates yet, but since I have to deliver them six months apart, I’m hoping they’ll be published six months apart. Maybe I can figure out a creative way to bump off another Prime Crime author and take his/her slots.

Well, that’s one way to do it (*grins*). What less bloodthirsty advice would you give to a new author?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that persistence is the key. Publishing is a brutal business. You’ve got to keep improving and keep trying every route to publication. Your manuscript has to land on the right desk at the right time, and that means trying every editor in your genre and sometimes trying the same editor multiple times. If you know your manuscript is good (and this means that more than just your friends are telling you so) and you are willing to put forth the money and time to self-promote, it can’t hurt to put an e-book out there in the Kindle store or Smashwords or other online venues.

Has anything surprised you about the publishing industry since you've become a published author?
The publishing business is a mess right now, and everyone is trying to feel their way through the chaos. Nobody knows what to do about e-books. Sure, it’s easy to throw one out there, but how will readers find it? What is it worth? But then, publishing has always been chaotic. I published 11 “how-to” books years ago. Four of those were with an imprint that was sold three times in two years. None of those books sold because they were not marketed, the publisher who ended up with them declared the whole line out of print after they purchased it, and I was never able to resell those books because other publishers said, “Well, jeez, they didn’t sell, did they, so why would we want them?” Publishers have the power to make or break an author, and frankly, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have much control after you hand over a manuscript. I am hopeful that The Wild Rose Press and Berkley Prime Crime will help me reach success in fiction. That’s one thing about writers—we are hopeful creatures, aren’t we?

Yep, we are that. And you’re right, publishing is changing every day. What's next for you?
More work, more mysteries, more romances to write. I’m also very much an outdoor gal, so I hike, kayak, scuba dive, etc. every chance I get. I’ve also written a couple of screenplays, and I’d love to see them made into movies.

I love how big you dream! Where can readers find you?
My website is http://www.pamelabeason.com/. I’m attaching a blog called Who Am I Today? to it. I’ll write a bit about the chaos of being an investigator/writer/editor/author but mostly I’m writing about the solace and sense of wonder I find in nature, because a nature lover is the one persona I wear every minute of every day.

Thanks for coming by, Pam, and best of luck with your books!

Kaylea Cross :)

Jenn's New Release: River Rats

You know me, baby. Ms. All-or-Nuthin! Here is my second ebook release for the summer, my 2008 NaNoWriMo novel, River Rats! This was my first complete cross genre novel, where I focused more on the romantic elements of the story as much as the mystery angle. Plus, This is the first time I've ever been gaga over the cover, isn't it fab? Got one more due in September but let's keep our eyes on the prize here, shall we?

Blurb:

Set in rural upstate New York along the Delaware River, the Wayward Son Diner is a pit stop for tourists and locals of Sullivan County. Waitress Alex Hanson has seen it all and has no interest in the daily gossip-mongering of the natives. Knowing full well what it feels like to be the grease on the wheel, Alex takes pity on new park ranger Sam Ruiz, when he’s accosted by several eligible females whose need to satisfy their biological clocks outweighs their ingrained trepidation of a government employee.

Alex’s reluctant intervention starts a chain reaction that forces Ranger Ruiz to her doorstep, pushing the NPS agenda, even though he hates to see Alex so on edge. Despite the spark of attraction, neither Sam nor Alex is willing to explore a real relationship. Until a dangerous warning hits Sam too close to home. Before Alex can blink, she’s enmeshed herself in Sam’s investigation, and unwittingly becomes a target for the homegrown terrorists gunning for the National Park Service. And for Sam.

Snippet review from one of my favorite reviewers. She had it ready for release day on the 10th. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

"This is a story for everyone who thinks they have read it all. This book has love, romance, firebombing and a hate crimes mixed in, but the core is what two people who are pure of heart and free to love can do to cleanse the evil that lurks around us." --Mary Gramlich, the Reading Reviewer

Excerpt:

“This is gonna be messy.”

Alexandra Hanson glanced up from the ketchup stain on her summer uniform and grimaced at her employer. “I’m sure I can get it out. Figures the Bertolini brat would tag me on the first day of the summer rush.”

Gustav Shempsky, a man of few words, grabbed her chin, and refocused her attention on a booth next to the rear window of the Wayward Son Diner. Alex struggled, but his extra large meat hook held her still. Gustav stood out as the only man she allowed to touch her, and only because he had changed her diapers on occasion almost thirty years earlier.

Gustav grunted, and Alex took a moment to observe the newbie customer. The fact that he needed to be seated spoke volumes. Coming into the Wayward Son and waiting to be seated was as good as tattooing “new arrival” on his head. The locals ignored the faded Please Wait to be Seated sign, as they’d done for almost half a century. In Barryville, you either knew what you were about, or you were a tourist.

A broad-brimmed hat sat on the table before him. He’d promptly removed the accessory upon entering the diner. His sun-kissed brown skin contrasted sharply with the common pasty pallor of the resident upstate New Yorker, and his warm brown eyes reminded Alex of hot chocolate on a January day. She hadn’t been able to place his accent but the melodic lilt in his voice told her English might not be his native tongue.

The natives of Barryville could have overlooked his skin color and accent. Even his ingrained manners were foreign where the denizens of the Delaware River town lived by the creed Why fuss, we’re all like family here? His uniform, though, set him apart. The sharp pleats on his National Park Service uniform elicited comment from almost every one of Alex’s customers and none of it was friendly.

“What’s he doin’ in here, Alex? Didn’t you tell him his kind ain’t welcome?” Rosie Carlyle, postmistress and chief purveyor of gossip, stage-whispered loud enough to draw bobbing heads of agreement from surrounding tables.

While Gustav had never physically removed an NPS officer from the premises, he was known for speaking out against the government-run institution. Most of the natives felt the river communities should police themselves, and if not for the influx of money Barryville and the surrounding areas received from the tourists every season, the town wouldn’t stand for their interference.

Sullivan County sat a little over a hundred miles from New York City, and location was responsible for the river community’s much-needed financial IV. Those who couldn’t afford a jaunt to Cape Cod planned weekend rafting trips to the scenic upper Delaware and brought their hard-earned money with them. The nearest city, Port Jervis, was a winding thirty-minute drive along Route 97, and jobs at the tri-state point were on a first come, first served basis.

Rosie and many of the other patrons of the dinner worked as civil servants and didn’t worry about such nonsense as tourist capital and the like. Alex and Gustav weren’t as fortunate. They made the majority of their living during the summer season, and neither was about to turn away business, especially one with potential as a regular.

“Looks like a bleedin’ singles mixer over there.” Gustav’s Polish-German accent—thinned after forty years of living in the states, came roaring back when he was upset.

Alex managed to extract her chin and shook her head. “Nah, a singles mixer would have more than one man.”

The ‘unmarried and hating life’ set of Barryville came out in full dress within ten minutes of his arrival seeking the skinny on Mr. NPS. The single men, most of whom possessed a crazed, Wild Man of Borneo scruff, glared from over the rims of their coffee cups.

“Alex, you gotta do something,” Gustav never begged, but his tone was suspiciously mixed with hope and dread. “I can’t afford to have a fight in here; I’ll be paying for the new roof all summer as is.”

“What did you have in mind Gus, a burlesque show?” Alex studied Mary Hartnet, the librarian from Eldred who’d never fit the prim and demure stereotype that most small towns demanded. Back in the mid-eighties, Mary attended college in Albany and jumped aboard the fashion band wagon, donning leg warmers and stilettos in every available shade of neon. No weapon known to man could get her off that wagon and here she was in 2009, still dressed like Paula Abdul of ’85.

Mary might be up for a bit of flash dancing, Alex thought as she watched Mary trace a hot pink nail up the NPS guy’s arm. She was wise enough not to voice her opinion. Gus and all the men took a peculiar tack on guarding the integrity of the single women, like mother hens running circles around their hatchlings. Mary might be flamboyant, but she was still one of them.

“How’s his order coming?” Alex stood on tiptoe to peer over the counter divide and check the griddle. NPS guy had ordered a Captain’s Special, two fried eggs, bacon and cheese on a hard roll. His coffee probably needed refilling, but Alex would need a weed whacker to cut a path through the forest of hormones and Elizabeth Taylor perfume.

Gustav hustled behind the counter and flipped the eggs onto a plate. “Give me five,” he muttered and Alex scurried around, refilling coffee cups. The hands on the wall clock read almost ten and, other than the scene in the corner, the load was light. Wayward Sun hopped from opening at six to about nine-thirty, but except for Sunday, they coped with a lull from late morning until early lunch.

“Gus, hurry up,” Alex hissed. The NPS guy’s smile appeared forced now. The doublemint twins, A.K.A Lara and Lola, book-ended him on either side of the booth, their bleach-blond heads newly crimped but still showing off several inches of dark roots. Mary leaned in from the booth behind and was still caressing his uniform. Anita Hargraves talked a mile a minute and the stranger’s eyes went vacant. Alex could relate; she got that same expression whenever Anita did her hair.

Gustav slid a plate in her direction, his eyes pleading with her to do something before the frenetic energy in the room took a hold on everyone’s sense.

“Crap,” Alex whispered as the NPS guy tried to make his way from the booth and was sandwiched closer to the plate-glass window by Lara and held in place by Mary’s hot pink talons. He shot a glance to the ceiling, maybe praying for divine intervention.

Alex slid his sandwich into a Styrofoam container and poured a to-go coffee, then took a deep breath and mustered her strength. The Lord worked in mysterious ways.

“Here you are, honey-lamb,” Alex used her best bimbette voice and smiled for all she was worth as she held the brown bag aloft like a blue ribbon. “I knew you needed to go, so I asked Gus to put a special rush on your order. Wouldn’t want you to be late on your first day, now would we? How ‘bout I walk you to your truck and take my five right now?” She batted her eyelashes for an extra touch of dim.

Confusion radiated off of every native in the small diner and she could almost hear their collective thoughts. Alex and the NPS guy?

His panic-stricken gaze focused on her, and Alex saw the moment the word go registered in his mind. He grinned at her and managed to hip-bump Lara into a standing position, reaching out to steady the chubby bottle-blonde. He was nicer than Alex would have been in his shoes. A real gentleman in this rough-neck town.

He wouldn’t last a week.

* * * *

Buy from Wild Child Publishing!

Never say NEVER!

Well, I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine, and my thoughts are just a little bit soused. Is that possible? Maybe. Maybe not. I do know I tend to think just a little bit strange after a glass or two . (After three I just go to sleep. LOL)

Ever wonder if certain words are actually curses? As in bad magic, voodoo, don’t even go there curses? For me, that word would be ‘NEVER’. It’s taken me awhile, but I realize now that every single time I say the 'N' word, whatever I used it in reference to is exactly what I get.

I was NEVER going to get married, and yet at the age of 18, I said I do to the man of my dreams. I NEVER wanted to have children. Luckily, I only had two and they’ve turned out pretty good considering they had me for a mother. I was NEVER going to settle down and NEVER ever going to become one of those PTA attending, fundraiser organizer kinds of people. Guess what?! Did them all, and thoroughly enjoyed them.

When my last dog died, I swore through a river of tears that I would NEVER get another one, and if I did it would NEVER be a Jack Russell Terrier. Those little dogs are hyper and hard to manage. Four months later, I looked into Sassi’s sad brown eyes, and took her home. I was right. She goes to the office with me every day, and they fondly refer to her as the JR Terrorist. Just try not throwing that tennis ball for her!

Did I mention I have a cat? You guessed it. NEVER would I get another cat after my little Jericho had to be put to sleep after eighteen years. Of course, I only agreed to take Jeff temporarily. Hah! It’s been four years now. Even I know that’s not temporary.

These days, I’m very careful. I use phrases like : It’s highly unlikely, or I doubt that I’ll ever... Can’t be too careful!

Right now I will definitely go get another glass of wine, and contemplate my grandson’s bedroom. Did I mention I once said I would NEVER be one of those doting idiots who took in their grandchildren when they became teenagers? He starts high school this year. Forget the glass, give me the bottle!

More 30 second summaries...with bunnies!

More 30 Second Summaries...With Bunnies! By Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

Sorry, nothing too interesting to report this week. Still perfecting pitches and synopses, and wondering what the heck to wear for our upcoming Romance Writers of New Zealand conference.

Cocktail party theme is "Red for Romance" and Awards Dinner theme is "Sparkle and Shine". I actually have two red dresses in my wardrobe.... but alas, with this darned ankle injury, and not having not been a regular gym-goer lately, I'm not enthused about wearing either of them. Same with my sparkly full-length halter dress, which would do nicely for the Awards Dinner. Spanx, anyone? Sigh.

Anyway, since I'm still angsting over high concepts and summaries that might hopefully wow agents and editors, I thought it might be fun to fall back on some of my all-time favorite summaries.

Yes, that's right, it's the return of the Starz Bunnies, courtesy of Angry Alien Productions!

And without further ado, here's some 30-second-long treats.

Enjoy!

Twilight

The Terminator

Kill Bill

The Princess Bride

Gone With The Wind

Hopefully something for everyone, there, LOL.

:-)

Maree

Taking it Easy

Tambra Kendall for Writers Gone Wild

Some of you might have noticed I haven't had anything recent out. (Except for a Christmas story in December.)
Having said that, I will be in a print anthology from Red Rose Publishing, Sanctuary Moon: First Howl.

I'm taking time out to refill the creative well. I want to write the best stories I can and to do it I need to step back. I believe those who love my books will understand. Placing quality over quantity is something I've ascribed to from the very beginning of my writing career.

I'm scribbling down ideas for new stories and hopefully you'll see something more passionate, emotional, richer and deeper in the words on the page when I'm through.

Despite taking thing easy, I'm continuing to teach and you can find me on Facebook.

I have some classes coming up with Savvy Authors in September and November.

Hugs to all and thanks for understanding,
Tambra/Keelia

Synopses and Blurbs and Pitches, Oh Joy!

SYNOPSES AND BLURBS AND PITCHES, OH JOY! by Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

I've finished the rewrite of Scent Of A Man. Finished, I tell you! *does a happy dance* Well, the first pass at it, anyway. *comes back down to earth* Whether it's indeed "finished" is, of course, up to my editor, LOL. Now I only have the synopsis, blurb, and a bunch of marketing stuff to complete. Oh happy joy.

But I've taken a break from this contracted work to rewrite a synopsis and a blurb for Super-Freak, a YA manuscript I'm hoping to pitch at our RWNZ conference in a few weeks. Yes, yes, I know. You don't use a synopsis and a blurb at a face-to-face pitch appointment. But I like to get all of these basics done and dusted before I tackle the mammoth task of stripping a manuscript down to its bare essentials and coming up with a high-concept pitch. It kinda helps me get to know the story again, and decide what's it's really about, if that makes any sense.

And yep, I know -- I've done it all completely ass-about-face. Written the whole book. Written a chapter-by-chapter outline. Distilled it down to a cohesive synopsis, and then a shorter synopsis. Distilled that into a blurb. And finally, come up with a one-to-two-sentence high concept.

I know I should have come up with a killer high concept BEFORE I wrote the whole darn book. And I know I should have written a nice, tidy, one-to-two-page synopsis before I wrote the whole darn book, too. It would sure have been less painful than trying to do it afterward, and tearing my hair out over what to leave out! But alas, although I'm determined to do it "properly" in future, I'm stuck with the ass-about-face method with this particular manuscript.

To add insult to injury (AKA the horror that is writing a synopsis in the first place), I had already written a pretty damned good synopsis for this manuscript. (I know it's pretty damned good because it helped the manuscript place in one contest and win another). But that was before I decided to mess with the story. Like, before I turned my teenage cyborg into a female instead of a male. Which meant that his potential girlfriend had to become her potential boyfriend. Which in turn called for some interesting new plot developments.... And finished with the suckiness of having to rewrite the entire synopsis. And the blurb. Ack.

Anyway, that suckiness is all over for the moment--so long as I don't have to provide anyone with a short synopsis. In which case I'm screwed. But for the sake of my sanity, let's not go there! *resolves never to muck with a manuscript that already has a reeeeally good synopsis written for it ever again*

So now it's working on the dreaded pitch. And wracking my brains trying to find the right words to summarize the essence of my story, and make it stand out from the crowd, while ensuring I don't come across like a complete fruit-loop.

Wish me luck, 'cuz I'm sure gonna need it!

Hey, anyone pitch at the RWA conference? How did it go? Would love to hear from you!

:-)

Maree

Victoria Gray's Destiny

Please welcome historical romance author Victoria Gray here to WGW! She's got a hot new Civil War romance out with The Wild Rose Press (and you know how much I love the Civil War), so I asked her to tell us all about Destiny.

A trained librarian, Victoria uses her research skills to explore other eras in time. Her interest in research is a perfect fit with her work as a writer of historical romance. And she lives in Virginia, so she's right in the heart of Civil War country. (I'm so jealous!)

VG: Thanks for inviting me to discuss my new release. Destiny is a Civil War-era historical that blends romance with adventure. Emma Davenport, the sheltered daughter of a powerful Northern senator, runs away to marry Christopher Staton, a charismatic businessman – a traitor with his own ruthless reasons for wanting Emma as his bride. Traveling to her rendezvous with Staton, she’s abducted by a daring train robber who harbors a bitter grudge against the man she plans to marry. Unknown to Emma, Jack Travis isn’t what he seems – he’s a cavalry officer tasked with keeping Emma out of Staton’s clutches. Driven by duty and a deep-seated hatred of Staton, Jack risks his life to protect Emma, even as he falls in love with his spirited, challenging captive. She’s forbidden to him, but sometimes, even a man on a mission has to follow his heart.

Blurb:
Emma Davenport was going to be a bride, and no one was going to stop her, not even an outlaw with a grudge. Bound for a forbidden marriage, her scheme shatters when she is abducted and spirited away to a remote hideout. Any proper young woman would be frightened out of her wits, but she challenges her daring, seductive captor at every turn.
Jack Travis was used to the battlefield, not stealing spoiled, sheltered women from trains, but his beautiful, spirited captive must be kept out of enemy hands at all costs. He risks his neck to protect her from the treacherous rake she’d planned to marry. But can he protect her from himself?

VG: Jack Travis is an alpha-male with a heart. A respected, by-the-book soldier, he’s put his life on the line on the battlefield and courageously accomplished the most challenging missions. When he’s tasked with keeping Emma out of Staton’s clutches, he resents being pulled from battle to serve as a bodyguard – but he’s driven to take on the mission by his hatred of Christopher Staton and his first-hand knowledge of the man’s treachery. Isolated with Emma at his remote hideaway, he’s drawn to her spirit as well as her beauty. She’s the woman he’s always wanted – but she’s forbidden to him – until he decides to risk everything to capture her heart.

Emma Davenport is no damsel-in-distress. She’s led a sheltered existence and craves a life away from her father’s stifling influence, but she’s nothing like the mousy wallflower Jack expects. Emma surprises Jack at every turn with her intelligence, spirit, and courage. Drawn to her captor, she’s conflicted by the attraction to a man she shouldn’t love – but her heart can’t resist.

What’s next for me? Destiny’s sequel, Angel in My Arms, will be released by The Wild Rose Press later this year. The story of a Union spy ring running out of Richmond in 1864, the book’s hero, Steve Dunham, was introduced as Jack’s partner in Destiny. In addition, I’ve begun a third book in the series, centering on the tumultuous events surrounding the fall of Richmond in 1865.

KC: Have to interrupt here, because this is the part of the war I know best (aside from the Michigan cavalry and the medicine of the era), and dragged my poor hubby (then fiance) to all the battlefields surrounding Richmond. I love that you've been able to put it all into a book! Here's an excerpt of Desitny to whet your historical appetites ;)

Excerpt:
Emma curled up on the porch steps beside an oil lamp and immersed herself in Cathy and Heathcliff’s story. She nearly dropped the book when Jack’s husky voice murmured in her ear.
He crouched behind her, his breath warm against the nape of her neck. The aroma of whiskey mingled with his natural essence in a masculine blend that tantalized her sense of smell. “So, tell me about these lovers, Miss Davenport.”
His voice seemed deeper, more raw than she’d become accustomed to, his words spoken more slowly in a sensuous drawl. His face brushed hers, prickling her skin with the stubble on his unshaven jaw and chin. “Do they live happily ever after?”
Emma felt a stirring in her core as she breathed in his scent. A lump formed in her throat, and she stared at the page she’d been reading. She shook her head vigorously as his shadow beard grazed her cheek. “It’s quite sad, actually.”
“Tell me more,” he whispered, sending a shivery caress down the length of her spine.
“They are hopelessly star crossed. Even though Heathcliff loves Cathy, they can never be together.”
“Heathcliff?” Jack repeated.
“Heathcliff,” Emma pronounced the name with solemn precision. “He’s English.”
Jack brushed his mouth against her ear. “Of course. He couldn’t be an uncouth American, an uncivilized barbarian.”
Emma wriggled around to face him. “Heathcliff is a dark and troubled hero. He’s utterly romantic. He continues to love Cathy even after she’s died giving birth to another man’s child.”
He traced the curve of her cheek with his finger. “Miss Davenport, do all the men in the novels you read wind up scarred or crippled or alone?”
She pressed her lips together, struggling to ignore the sensation of his touch. “That would seem to be the case.”
His fingertip made tiny circles over her earlobe. “Why do you enjoy reading about tortured men?”
Emma never knew her ears would be so sensitive to a man’s caress. She licked her lips and twisted away from him. “The characters are brooding and romantic. They suffer for love.”
His arm snaked around her waist, dragging Emma against his unyielding male body. “Shouldn’t love bring pleasure, Miss Davenport?”
“You shouldn’t…we shouldn’t do this,” she gasped, struggling to keep her wits about her as his heat and touch threatened to overwhelm her senses.
“Answer my question, and I’ll leave you alone with your tortured hero. Shouldn’t love bring pleasure?”
The note of desire in his husky rasp shredded her meager defenses. “I don’t know,” she whispered, feeling her voice catch in her throat.
“I think you do,” Jack persisted, moving his lips to caress her lobe as his finger had moments earlier. “Shouldn’t love bring pleasure, Emma?”
He spoke her name as a seductive caress against her nape. His mouth burned a trail along the thin line of flesh exposed above her high collar. “Answer me, darlin’. Or should I try to convince you that I’m right?”
She shook her head. “You don’t need to convince me,” she murmured. “Love should bring pleasure.”
He smiled, his mouth curving wickedly as honey-brown eyes raked over her. “You don’t sound completely certain, Emma. I do need to convince you.”
His hands cupped her bottom, drawing her so close she could feel his heart hammer against her breast. Emma’s softness cradled the rigid length of his shaft, her body instinctively yielding to the gentle pressure at the crux of her thighs.
His tongue traced a scalding line from the hollow at the base of her throat to her lips. Jack framed her face with his hands, teasing her lips with tiny kisses, until she whispered her surrender against his mouth and he upped the stakes.
“Shouldn’t love bring pleasure, darlin’?” he moaned against her mouth. “Tell me what I need to hear.”
“Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “Such pleasure.”
“You don’t have any idea how beautiful you are, do you?” His gravel-edged voice betrayed his need and something more, something far more powerful than the hunger of the flesh. Jack’s hands wove through her long mane as his lips laid claim to hers.
Emma was swept away, helpless to resist the intoxicating desire for his touch. She felt her lips part to accept him, felt the rough texture of his tongue against hers as he plundered her senses.
“So beautiful. So, so beautiful,” he murmured against her lips. “How will I ever find the strength to let you go?”
She gulped in a breath, intoxicated by the heat of his body and the gentle demands of his caresses. If only she could think of something other than the pleasure of being held by him, kissed by him. Possessed by him.

KC: Mmmm, yum! Thanks so much for coming by today, Victoria. As a treat she's giving away a digital copy of the book to one commenter, so please tell us: If Destiny was made into a movie, which actors do you envision as Jack and Emma?

Click here to buy in print, and here to buy in digital format. Also please feel free to drop by Victoria's website and book trailer.

Top 10 Time Sucks For Writers

My Tuesday Doppelganger Saranna DeWylde has co-mingled her genius with mine to make a top ten list to help determine just what it is writers do all day to keep from writing. Quick, somebody call Letterman!

10. General Procrastination— Of course I need to wash my hair, search for stray chin hair and scrub the tiles with a toothbrush before I write. That's just good housekeeping/hygiene. (Laundry Hag seal of approval ;-)

9. You Tube— I HAVE to see Lady Gaga's video with Alexander Skargard AGAIN. (and again and again and again) It's inspiration. If you try to stop me, I’ll cut you.

8. Social Networking— Because I really need to know what's new with my sixth grade teacher RIGHT NOW.

7. Internet Games— Because when else will I get the chance to be a vampire/mobster/pirate/farmer with a huge tractor? ( hehe, that’s dirty!)

6. In Laws— ‘Nuff said.

5. Offspring— What do you mean you need to eat again? You ate four hours ago. You’re fine. No, stop that. If you cry, I’ll send you outside to water the Poison Ivy trellis again.

4. Checking Sales Ranking On Amazon— Those numbers can't be right! We all know there’s no rhyme or reason to the numbers, at least that they’re telling us about, yet we continue to check and slip into a wine guzzling, chocolate mainlining depression when they are down.

3. Creating the Perfect Playlist— There must be ten songs totaling 00:72:09 minutes that inspire vein carving sadness (to be done with a new, and still packaged spork), teeth clenching rage and thigh breaking lust all at once. It has to be PERFECT. Seriously, what part of perfect do you not understand?

2. Compulsively checking mail/ email— just to see if there was a response from my latest query. It’ll only take a second….


And the #1 reason we writers don't have more time to write? Drum roll, please....

1. Obsessing Over Rejection Letters— Maybe there was a mistake. The agent/editor surely didn't mean MY manuscript. Of course there's a market for a memoir regarding underwater basket-weaving while wearing argyle socks and a paisley tie.

Did we miss anything? Be sure to let us know. Commenter with the best time suck that we didn't use will win a free PDF copy of The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag: Swept Under the Rug!