Happy Halloween!

I have just dropped my daughter off at her friend's house dressed as Frankenstein's wife and thought this intro was a perfect link to talking about my current work in progress - a Victorian historical romance set in Bath (although the hero is no Frankenstein!). I am loving the book...at the moment, and would love to know how you guys are getting on with your current projects?

I'm sure the other writers out there appreciate the love/hate relationship every author goes through with their works in progress. This book has been one of the more co-operative ones, I have to say! I ADORE my hero, Will Samson - he is a hunky, Victorian rascal who is out to avenge an attack on his mother. Will and Emily (the heroine) have made this story a joy to write but every now and then it is inevitable that I have and will continue to, come up against a roadblock.

I have had this happen once or twice throughout the writing of this book and the only thing I can do is write straight through it! I tend to allow myself to write a 'dirty first draft' anyway as this completely releases me of guilt AND my internal editor.

What do you guys do when this happens? Do you write a 'dirty draft'? Edit as you go along? Take a break and re-think?

All advice is good advice in this case!

Rachel x

Welcome fellow Eternal Press author, Nicola E.Sheridan

First of all, before I even get to read your blog, Nicola - I have to say how much I love your cover, it's beautiful! Who was the artist? Receiving my covers is one of the best aspects of being a published novelist so I apologize if I talk too much about artwork rather than writing, LOL!

Okay, I want to hear all about your release with Eternal Press!

Thank you, Rachel for opportunity to promote my book and talk about writing on your blog!

Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Nicola E. Sheridan, I am a West Australian author and my debut novel "Magical Gains" is due to be released in March 2011 by Eternal Press.

I have always been an avid romance reader. I like all kinds of romance, from Regency to contemporary and of course, paranormal and fantasy. I think escaping into a good book for a few hours is simply magical and it's that kind of experience I try to create for my readers!

"Magical Gains", is a paranormal romance - though the term paranormal seems to imply it's about vampires and werewolves, but it's not - it's about Genies'. As a qualified Archaeologist, I have an enduring passion for mythology and magical creatures, so it's no surprise that the kind of romance I write involves them! Most of my novels are based in an alternate reality where all magical and mythological beings are real, and simply considered minority beings. "Magical Gains" is set around the character of Primrose Brasco, who finds herself the unwilling mistress of a gorgeous male Genie. In a world where magic is heavily governed to ensure equality for all -their relationship seems doomed from the start. Together, Primrose and her Genie, Imran, must face lascivious Satyrs, treacherous Sirens and hygienically challenged Manticores to discover if true love can outlast three wishes.

The idea behind "Magical Gains" was actually inspired by a television advertisement for biscuits! You can actually watch it on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkTFrwnL5eA.
Basically its about a girl who has a Genie, and all she wants from him is a packet of biscuits that never ends! (I can tell you, if I had a Genie like him, I wouldn't be asking for biscuits!) Anyway, this advertisement got me thinking. Our Government - which is so hungry for taxes would undoubtedly have a 'magical gains tax' and make the granting of wishes illegal - all in the name of equality (naturally!) This idea gave birth to the world of "Magical Gains". After that, the story just wrote itself. In fact it was one of the easiest and most enjoyable stories I have written.

Writing well is definitely an art - and one I will never stop trying to perfect. It never ceases to amaze me the unique ways in which authors create worlds, and plot their novels. Rachel's blog on the GMC fascinated me. I am not a plotter - though I sometimes wish I was! Every night when I go to sleep, I play out the next scene I'm writing in my head. It's how I get to sleep (not that it's boring - it's very therapeutic and calming!) and it's how my novels get written. Dreadfully unprofessional of me isn't it?!

Despite my shocking lack of plotting, I do take great care when editing. I also have a critique partner who picks me up when runaway with myself. When my first draft is complete I then go through and analyse my characters, the world, the tension and make sure it all flows smoothly and makes for a good read.

My advice for any aspiring author is to be dedicated to your art. Getting published can be difficult and involve a fair amount of rejection. To combat the rejections I recommend entering work into competitions to get some assurance you're on the right track (that's what I did). Also joining a writing group or getting a critique partner is invaluable - their critical assessments of your writing are priceless (though at times difficult to hear!)

If you're interested in reading "Magical Gains" it will be out in March 2011 through Eternal Press, and feel free to drop by my blog http://www.magicalgains.blogspot.com/ or my website http://www.nicolasheridan.com/ to see what I'm upto.

Thanks again Rachel for allowing me the opportunity talk to your readers!

Happy reading!

The book sounds great, Nicola and thank you for your kind comments about my GMC post - although the more I write, the more I realize there is no right or wrong way of doing this, that's for sure.

Comments???

Yay, a fellow Class of '85 is dropping by - Welcome, Stacy Dawn!

Wow, this is cool—it’s the closest I’ve ever come to visiting England! Thank you so much for the inviting me overseas Rachel.

You are so welcome! It's funny you are thrilled by the idea of England as my family and I are planning when we can afford a trip to your wonderful homeland of Canada! Whereabouts are you? We are planning a three week trip at some time in the future so we can travel around and see as much as possible. Any tips would be great!

Anyway, over to you!

Being so close to the days of ghouls and goblins and things that flap in the night, I thought it would be fun to talk about my paranormal story as well as my newest release—although, I might be able to tie that in with Halloween too if given a few minutes LOL.

Let’s start with the dark and mysterious creatures of the paranormal world. I had wanted to write a story that didn’t scream VAMPIRE, but instead dug deeper to the humanity left behind.

Shadows of Moonlight is still one of my favourites because it is a haunting story of love…and fearing to love. It came to me as one of those half-dream thoughts that just kept developing with the ‘what if’ questions….what if there really were soul-mates….that love didn’t really die when the graveside was deserted? What if an immortal came across his one true love over and over again—at different ages, different times and at what point would it kill him to know that they would only die and leave him again…especially when he may have been the cause of their deaths…

Over the centuries, Rick Shayne has loved and lost the same woman four times. Her reappearance only deepens his guilt and he refuses to risk her life or his heart again.

Liz Greyson isn't about to let him off that easy, but will her secret be his saving grace or cast him back into the shadows of moonlight forever.

As for my newest release, I am proud to be with Rachel among the authors of the Wild Rose Press’s Class of ’85 series; my short story, Corvette Confessions, came out just last month.

Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time?

Dumped at the senior spring dance, AJ, who’d always been more into softball and shop class than cheerleading and pep squad, escaped the crowd to mope in the Corvette on loan to the class for the semester. When Greg Roberts unexpectedly joined her, his attempts to cheer her worked—too well. She might have even confessed her love that night if Greg’s longtime girlfriend hadn’t come looking for him.

Twenty-five hard years later, forced to come to the reunion by her best friend, AJ escapes back to her favorite class, only to find the exact Corvette—a little worn and faded—sitting right where she’d left it. Fond memories turn into reality when Greg shows up at her driver’s side window again—and déjà vu takes on a whole new meaning.

Now, you ask how this could tie into Halloween? Well, it sort of starts out by dressing up in costume….of the ‘80’s for the reunion dance at the high school. OMG writing that just made me feel old. No, I graduated after ’85 but I still lived through the eighties and suddenly feel old when I think people are using that era for Halloween costumes LOL.

But for this story, it’s what happens after A.J. leaves the synthesiser music behind in the gym that’s important.

I’m sure there’s been a time in everyone’s life when you wanted a do-over, or to know what a certain someone might be or might be doing today. But—and here comes my favourite ‘what if’s’ again—what if, unlike all the other ‘one night stand’ stories, nothing happened that long ago night—and that interrupted nothing affected the rest of your life in so many ways you never knew until one reunion when you found out that nothing was really the best something that ever happened to you?

Confused? You won’t be when you read, Corvette Confessions. I’m thrilled to say it’s been getting great reviews and you can read more of them at here: http://stacydawnebooks.blogspot.com/2010/09/corvette-confessions.html

And for my other books and some fun, please come back across the ocean to the Great White North of Canada and visit my website at www.stacydawn.com.

I’ve had fun talking with you all and hope you have a frighteningly wonderful Halloween in a few days!!

Thank you for loving romance and thank you so much, Rachel, for having me here today!

Loved you being here, Stacy! I cannot say enough great things about Stacy's Class of '85 story, it is well worth a read, go get it now! I really feel blessed to have been a part of this series and to have made some great friends with the other authors. We are like one big supportive family!

OK, over to you guys - Stacy would love to answer your questions and comments...

Where do you get your ideas?

This must be the most asked question of any author by friends, family and almost everyone else, but do any of us really know?

I am lucky enough to hear voices first and the plot comes later - each one of my novels started with either the hero or heroine talking to me about either a problem they were having, an argument with someone or worrying that they'd made the wrong decision about something. I then listened - hard!

Very soon, I have a premise forming and then I start the nightmare job of writing the five or six page synopsis - if I can give any aspiring author some advice, it's write your synopsis BEFORE your novel, not after. It gives you a referral point to come back to if you find yourself floundering a third or even half the way through the writing the book. It will act as a kickstart or give you a new idea and where to take it. Remember - this is little more than a guide at this stage, you can still write the book as you want it, change it and play with it.

I did and now I've written six full-length novels which I am very proud of!

If you change and rewrite the synopsis as you write the novel, at the end of it you will have a fully functioning synopsis, ready to submit to publishers or agents without having to struggle to come up with the synopsis after the hard work of writing the book - it's already done and ready to go, perfect!

Right, I'm off to start writing the synopsis for book number 8 - bit of an issue seeing as I am working on novel number 7 right now. But this damn hero will not stop talking so I'd better write down what he has to say!

Please welcome Eternal Press author, Richard Jones!

So glad to have you here today, it has been far too long since I have interviewed an Eternal Press author! Shall we get started?

1) What is your writing routine?

I spend quite a while working on a plot line in my head before I ever put pen to paper, figuratively speaking. Then I just start writing until I'm finished. Then the grunt work starts. Going back and re-writing eveything I just wrote.

2) Which author/s inspire you to write?

Louis L'Amour, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens. I'm an electic reader and it doesn't take much to motivate me.

3) Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?

I prefer westerns although I have a new romance due out 11/07 which is set in medievel England.

4) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

There was a time when it really upset me, but I've grown to accept it as graciously as possible. It's part of the process and there's little you can do about it.

5) What do you expect from an editor?

Inspiration. I spend so much time writing then re-writing that I need someone to show me what's good and what's bad.



>6) Tell me about your latest release - It's a traditional love story titled Mountain Romance. A lonely drifter comes upon a young woman lost on the prairie of the Old West. They are total opposites, but somehow they find love. But along the way they spend some time in a cavalry jail, tangle with a dangerous outlaw and meet a friendly ghost.

Tease us with a blurb or short excerpt -“I’m afraid not, sweetie,” he said as he loomed over her. “My name is
Jack Logan. And when Jack Logan sees something he wants, he usually
gets it.”
“Not this time, friend.” Mattie heard Red’s voice behind Logan; her
heart beat faster. “The lady’s with me.”
Logan turned around slowly to look at Red. Once they faced each
other, Logan slowly pulled the tail of his coat back to reveal a Navy Colt
in its holster. Then he carefully slipped the thong from the trigger.
Others in the store quickly assessed the situation and took cover or
headed out the door.
“She was with you, mister,” Logan told him. “Cause in less than a
minute, you won’t be around to claim her.”
If Logan expected his bravado to frighten Red, he was disappointed.
“I don’t want any trouble, friend,” Red said. “But the lady’s made her
feelings plain enough. Why don’t you and me find us a nice saloon and
have a beer or two on me?”
“Shut up!” Logan snapped. “Her feelings are gonna change once this
is all over.”
His hand flashed down to the gun on his hip, but the barrel never
cleared leather. Red’s Colt was already aimed at his heart.
“Use it or drop it,” Red told him. “I leave it to you to decide whether
7) or not this is a good day to die.”

8) Which is your favorite character in the book? Why?

Red Holden is my favorite character. I guess because he's most like me. Or at least how I see myself.

9) What is next for you?

I have another romance due out 11/07/10. It's set in medievel England and is a lighted look at two young people who refuse to fall in love despite the fact they are drawn to each other. There's plenty of action, adventure and even lust.

10) What are you working on right now? It's sequel to Mountain Romance. Quite a few people wanted to know what happened to Red and Mattie when the first novella ended so I thought a while and decided.

11) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists? Keep writing! I know it isn't easy, but ignore those rejections and continue to submit your work until you find a publisher that appreciates it.

12) Where can readers find you? Mountain Romance is available on:
eternalpress.biz
amazon.com
fictionwise.com
booksamillion.com
barnesandnoble.com (paperback only)
If there are any questions, my email address is: richit2@yahoo.com
I also have a blog at: richit1.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for being here today, Richard - I have to say I adore your cover, who was the cover artist? Huge luck with sales. Any comments? Richard would love to chat!

Wild Rose Press author, Mimi Barbour is here appreciating the skill of TV writing..

And how it can help us with our own story writing. Great to have you and your beautiful book cover here, Mimi!

Thank you Rachel for having me a guest on your blog. I’ve looked forward to it very much, and I hope the subject I’ve chosen to write of interest to all your followers.

Lately, I’ve been watching television programs through the eyes of an author and not just a fan, and by doing this, I’ve realized how much there is to learn from screenwriters whose job it is to make viewers believe. Believe in their concepts and their characters. (Plus by determining that it’s part of my homework on learning everything I can about writing, the guilt is much less than if I was just zoning out of real life for a few hours in front of the box.)

My admiration soars for those talented writers, for their ability to come up with new plot twists and deep emotional moments, and for many of them, it has to happen every week. The way they tweak in small tidbits of information, which eventually lead to the next weave of the story is nothing short of brilliant.

Recently, at the Emerald City conference in Seattle, I had the opportunity to go to a Bob Mayer workshop, great choice I must add, and he said something that struck me as being a bit sad, but very true. Every story has been told. Bravery, treachery, love, jealousy, etc – it’s all been used in some novel or another hasn’t it? So, as authors with a tale to tell, we need to write it differently. A new spin, a fresh voice, something that’ll catch the eye of the publishers and the readers. Well I imagine this scenario is the same for the television writers. They too need to keep their audience turning to their channels and falling in love with those actors playing roles that have already been done over and over...

One of my favourite shows is and an ongoing saga called Life Unexpected. It’s about a young orphan teenager who goes to find her real parents and gets caught up in their lives. The acting is great, but I think what gets me the most is the way each week spins out so that every episode leaves you hooked. Like the ending to a well-written chapter should leave the reader needing to know what’s going to happen on the next page. It’s what keeps the reader caught up in the story and unable to put the book down in the same way that I wait for the next week’s addition to this serial on TV.

By making notes and paying attention to their dialogue, especially during the deeper moments, it’s helped me to understand there’s a rhythm to conflict and emotion. Listening to the funny one-liners has taught me to cut down on the wordiness and trim off unnecessary descriptions. It’s also made me aware of how important the setting can be to the mood in that particular scene. But most of all, it’s given me a better appreciation and made me understand that us authors of books do not have the advantage of the screen. We need to convey and express everything to our readers with only our words.

Whoa! Are we really sure it’s what we’ve always wanted to do???

Please feel free to contact me anytime at mimi@mimibarbour.com, or check out my website at http://www.mimibarbour.com/books.html I love to hear from anyone, makes me feel there’s a world out there, and not just those cheeky characters always trying to give me a hard time by not doing or saying what I’ve plotted.

Loved this post, Mimi! I often find my mind drifting when watching TV - wondering how the writer did that, how skilled they are or asking my husband if he appreciates the work gone into writing the programme....which often gets me a glare that could kill, LOL!

Great topic to discuss, people - let's get started!!

Aarggh!! Goal, Motivation, Conflict! Aarggh!!

GOAL, MOTIVATION, CONFLICT

Three words you really want to get to know well if you are an aspiring writer and want to see your book published, making sales and gaining fans who want to see more and more from you. This is what makes your story. GMC is the backbone, the three things that hold it all together as well as moving it forward and bringing your readers helplessly deeper into the hero and heroine's journey.

So what is GMC?

This is the big question - because despite my success as a novelist and the lovely four & five star reviews I am receiving, I still not sure I've GOT IT!! GMC drives me insane every time I start a new project. So that's the purpose of this post - I have signed up for a GMC online course run by fellow WRP author, Paty Jager in the hope she will put me straight now and forever!

Here's how I understand it - but please, feel free to throw in your comment where I am going wrong! Help me to see the light, LOL!

Goal - What the hero and heroine WANT or more specifically what they THINK they want. This is what opens the story. Everyone wants something on a different year, month even day so the first thing to figure out is what can your protagonists want they will at least begin an interesting journey. The goal can change over time.

Motivation - What is driving them? The most effective motivation is INTERNAL. What has happened in the hero and heroine's past to make them who they are today? Think of your own life...I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't been so badly treated by my first boyfriend...I wouldn't be who I am today if my best friend hadn't turned out to be a fraud...I wouldn't be who I am today if my father wouldn't have walked on on me...

See? All of these scenarios start the mind ticking over. They are the basis for a character's INTERNAL motivation. But are they enough to carry a story??

Conflict - Now this is the meat of the story. This is what stops your hero and heroine achieving their goal. This is what creates the excitement, the suspense, the passion...

There are two types of conflict: External and Internal

External - The things that happened outside of the characters that get in the way. Ie: snowstorm, misinformation, car breakdown, bones breaking...you get the idea.

Internal - This is the baby that rules the school!

Go back to my list for motivation - this is the internal reasons for what drives the characters' to want what they do but it is also their internal conflict. I chose those three scenarios as examples on purpose, why? Because they would also provide an internal conflict that is the same... which is?

TRUST

This would be the hero or heroine's internal conflict that is stopping them from achieving their goal - maybe if they could trust someone, they would suddenly get what they want but if they don't (and it's easy for the reader to understand why!), then this becomes a massive central issue that the author can use to show the characters' journey and how they grow and change.

So that's it - that's how I view GMC. But I can't help thinking if I understand it so well, why do I struggle at the start of every damn book! Paty?? Paty?? Where are you?? Help!!

Mmm, a hunky hero in a kilt - always a nice thing to see! Welcome Elysabeth Williams!

Firstly I must thank Elysabeth for her patience! I thought I'd saved this interview, couldn't find it, ask her to send me it again, saw it and recognised it...and then found the original. Brain strain is my newest friend! Anyway, let's start, shall we?

1) Who is your favourite author and why? I tried to think about this one and I honestly can’t pin down a favorite author. Seeing the writer side of the fence makes me appreciate what writers do beyond spewing out words on a page. Everybody from the writer to the editor does so much work. As for personal tastes, I enjoy reading romance of all subgenres and urban fantasy and science fiction.


2) When did you first consider yourself a writer? I’ve considered myself a writer since “I owned it.” I said it out loud to people I’m not related to or married to. I write. I’m a writer.

3) Describe your writing space? It’s a huge red squishy chair with a huge red squishy ottoman. I don’t have a space. I just have a chair. It’s either that or starbucks and the occasional IHOP.

4) What are you reading now? Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

5) How many books have your written? I’ve written two completed books.

6) Which is your favourite? They’re both so different I love them both for very different reasons. DEVIL IN A RED KILT was the first. Scottish, historical time travel. It was very serious with a little humor and lots of drama… My second is ELECTRIFYING EXPLOITS OF THE ENGLISH THREE. It’s a Victorian Steampunk and it’s full of action and humor. Very fast paced and fun.

7) What comes first, plot or characters? Plot. And character names. I love making up names.

8) Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? I suffer from “lookakitty!” I get distracted very easily, but never consider it writer’s block.

9) What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I like to sleep…Or play World of Warcraft.


10) Tell us about your latest book? DEVIL IN A RED KILT is about a married couple with serious issues. They’ve drifted apart, fight a lot, have huge misunderstandings and she has divorce papers in hand. On Halloween, they try to keep up the family tradition of a party, fight, and end up transported back to Scotland, in the 1200’s on opposite sides of a feuding clan. Since neither of them knows the other is there, they are alone, trying to figure out how to get home. Otherworldly secrets of her family are brought into the open and they struggle to put them in order and get back to each other.

11) What’s next for you? New Words! I’ll be starting a new Victorian Romance in November. I can’t wait!

Loved having you here, Elysabeth! From now on I'm coming to you for my characters names, I can't believe you love that part! I agonise over my character names - I trawl the phone book, think of my friends and family, ask the kids. It one of the worst parts for me so I've saved you in my plotting file to consult in due course! ; )

L K Below waves the flag for Anthologies!

Welcome, to my blog, L K! It's great to meet you and I am really looking forward to reading your post. I haven't had a guest discussing anthologies before so I really hope this gives aspiring writers out there another avenue to consider. Over to you!

ANTHOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES
By L. K. Below

Every writer’s path is different. Some start with short stories, sending them to magazines; others work tirelessly on that one book, drafting and redrafting it until it’s perfect; and still more write everything under the sun, sometimes not even thinking of publication.

My start was with an anthology. “His Familiar Touch,” my paranormal romance short story, is now available in Paramourtal. And let me tell you why anthologies are a good place to start:

1) There are more contributors than just you. We all know that your friends and family are going to buy the book, but now -- thanks to your other contributors -- even if no one stumbles on the book and buys it, you’re still getting exposure. After all, their friends and families are sure to purchase a copy, as well. And I don’t know about you, but whenever I have a book, I like to peek through all of the stories. If the reader enjoys your story, they will likely search for more books by you.

2) Group marketing. In the publishing industry today, marketing is a group effort between the author and the publisher. Each author tries to reach a wide audience in the hopes of snagging their interest for that particular book, while the publisher tries to reach just as wide an audience to sell all of their books. With other authors contributing to a given book, the target will widen. Everyone has their own spheres, after all. 

3) You have an in! If a publisher hosts an anthology call and yours is accepted, you are essentially an in-house author. That means that (while not guaranteed), you will have a much greater chance of your next work being accepted. Especially if you were cordial and pleasant during the edits for your short story.

4) Even if you aren’t accepted for the anthology, your story might still be accepted with the company. Epublishers such as Samhain Publishing publish shorter works than purely novel-length. In fact, Samhain in particular states that if the editor for the anthology feels that your story doesn’t quite fit, (s)he might still pass it on to an interested editor to be published under their regular publishing program. Wouldn’t that be the best rejection you ever had!

5) Print. If you’re primarily an ebook author, this may be a good way to get your short story into print. Many ebook publishers bundle shorter stories to be released in a print anthology. And as much as (I’m sure) you like ebooks, there’s nothing like seeing your book on your shelf at home!

L. K. Below writes romance and speculative fiction. Under her full name, Lindsay Below, she publishes young adult books. Visit her online at http://lbelow.blogspot.com.

Want to win a signed copy of Paramourtal? Comment here or on any of the other stops on L. K. Below’s blog tour (schedule to be found on her blog) for a chance to win! Contest closes November 15th. Winner to be announced on http://lbelow.blogspot.com.

Great blog, L K and I couldn't agree more with everything you have said! I spent years writing short stories and submitting them to UK women's magazines without receiving a single acceptance. I began to think I couldn't write, had to give up etc but then I heard about epublishers and although my first acceptance was the novel I had been working on, I am positive I would have achieved success with a short story too!

Comments??

Debut Wild Rose Press author, Kathy Lane!

Kathy is here to be interviewed for her upcoming release, Bloodsworn: Bound by Magic. Can't wait to hear learn more about both author and book, Kathy!

Over to you...

1) When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

Writing was more or less a hobby until early 2006. That’s when I had the first chapter of a story critiqued by a published author at a conference and she actually pulled me out of the breakfast buffet line the next morning and begged for more. I thought, huh, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can really write a book someone besides myself would want to read. Writing that book became my focus and, well, three manuscripts later, here I am. My dream is coming true.

2) What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given as a writer?

Join a writer’s group. I firmly believe that my book would not be published right now if I hadn’t followed that advice and joined my local chapter of RWA. TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors) is such a wonderful group of published and to-be-published authors. Between the workshops and critique groups, they definitely helped me polish my writing to a professional level.

3) What is the best thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

Be flexible and open to suggestions. Your editor is there to help you make your book more attractive to readers. Let him/her do their job by giving you the benefit of their experience—but don’t let them run rough-shod over you either.

Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us

Worlds collide when a man of magic is forced to take a woman of science as his bride.

Powerful Bloodsworn, Devlin Kel-Tragar, is sent to Earth to claim his prophecy bride, a task he has no heart for until he learns that research chemist, Avera St. John, is also his Starmate, the one woman in the universe born just for him. Now he’ll do anything to claim her. But will his slow seduction of his lady mate give his enemy time to take away the one thing Devlin can’t afford to lose?

Avera is drawn to her new neighbor, Devlin Kel, despite the mystery she sense surrounding him. A mystery that blows her safe little scientific world wide open when strange men with swords try to kill her and Devlin shows up and blasts them with magic. Real, honest-to-goodness magic! Her world is suddenly changed forever, and Avera must decide if she is able to accept those changes along with the man responsible.

6) Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?

Not that I’m that big a fan of the Twilight movies, but I saw a picture of Peter Facinelli with dark hair and thought he’d make a wonderful Devlin. And I can easily see Nikki Reed as Avera. Ms. Sharp & Spunky would never let herself be overwhelmed by a bunch of alien warriors.

7) Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came?

I don’t write from an outline. That being said, I encourage new writers to start out using an outline if they can. The story will definitely flow faster. And don’t worry if the plot veers off course slightly. Outlines are temporary maps, nothing more. Sometimes your characters take you in a direction you never imagined and you just have to go along with them.

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

How fast it happened. My head’s still spinning a little. I started writing Bloodsworn in 2008, signed a contract in 2009, and here it is published in 2010. That may sound like a long time, but the truth is there is no guarantee when you write your first book—or even your third—that a publisher will choose it over someone else’s. Without a doubt, there are authors out there who’ve had their first book published sooner, but all I can say is that I’m still a little stunned with the reality of holding Bloodsworn in my hands.

9) Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like?

My den is messy, messy, messy. I really wish it was neater. Don’t know if I’d write any better though. I tend to block everything out when I’m writing.

10) What’s next for you?

I finished the second book in the Bloodsworn series in August and have already received a contract for it from The Wild Rose Press. Bloodsworn: Linked by Blood should be out Spring of 2011. And yes, there will be a third book. Before that, however, I’m completing a romantic suspense called Sniper Shots.

Finish with details of where readers can find you – website, Facebook, Twitter etc

Bloodsworn: Bound by Magic is available on-line at www.thewildrosepress.com, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com in both print and digital versions.

For further information on the author and a peek at the next book in the Bloodsworn series, please visit www.kyrlane.com. You can leave a comment on the Blog page or send me an email at kyrlane@hotmail.com.

I’m also on Facebook under Kathy Lane.

Great having you here today, Kathy - I love hosting debut authors, it is such an exciting time for you and us! Who is your editor at TWRP? They are all fabulous but I love knowing who authors are working with...

SO excited to welcome UK best-selling romantic saga author, Freda Lightfoot!!

I am beyond excited (and honoured) to have Freda visit with me today - Freda has written too many novels to mentioned individually but I know each has given insurmountable pleasure to her legion of dedicated fans.

She not only writes the popular Lakeland sagas but WWII stories, historical fiction and also contemporary fiction under the pseudonym, Jill Peters. I was lucky enough to meet and talk to Freda at the recent Romantic Novelists Association conference and she is equally as lovely and engaging as her books.

Freda, is it a huge pleasure to have the opportunity to interview you!

1) Who is your favourite author and why?

An impossible question to answer as it changes constantly. My passion for historicals was born through reading the entire collection of Anya Seton, Norah Lofts, Jean Plaidy and Mary Stewart, which are still on my shelves along with Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen. Currently I’m enjoying Diana Gabaldon, Elizabeth Chadwick, Susan Holloway Scott and Leslie Carroll. But next month it could be a different selection. My all time favourite though is Daphne du Maurier for her beautiful prose.

2) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I must have been born with the desire to tell stories. I certainly got in enough trouble with teachers, either for day dreaming or for talking. What I was actually doing was telling my friend a story. Fortunately my parents indulged my passion as they loved reading themselves and books filled a large portion of my Christmas stocking. The local library too was a haven of escape, a place filled with mysteries and secrets I wanted to explore, although I had to twist the librarian’s arm to persuade her to let me borrow certain books she felt I was a bit young for. Forever Amber, for instance.

But I didn’t consider myself a writer until I’d sold my first novel. This was to Mills & Boon in the late eighties. Writing for me started as a hobby with articles and children’s stories back in the early 70s when my own children were small. This is easy, I thought. Wrong! Beginner’s luck perhaps, but I then didn’t sell anything for ages. Life took over as I was bringing up my girls and running a book shop, which turned out to be excellent experience for a budding writer. The itch was still there and the day came when I sold my first short story to D.C. Thompson. I think the editor must have taken pity on me, although I had learned to focus on just three or four target markets by then, rather than the scatter-gun approach. Following this breakthrough I seemed to develop the knack, or my luck changed, for I went on to sell many more short stories and articles. With renewed confidence I tried again for Mills & Boon, this time with an historical, Madeiran Legacy, which was accepted. I wrote 5 of these historical romances, now available as ebooks on Amazon, Sony etc. But as my stories began to get more complicated I decided to try a saga, selling Luckpenny Land to Hodder & Stoughton in 1993.

3) Describe your writing space?

A few years ago we built a house in Spain in an olive grove. From my office I have a wonderful view of it, which I love. However, I write facing a blank wall, just in case I get too distracted. I am, of course, surrounded by books on all other three walls. I have a large library of history reference books, plus leaflets, maps, menus, old writers’ mags, and my favourite ‘keepers’ from Poldark novels and Daphne du Maurier to Philippa Gregory and the romantic novels of my friends. Who said computers would bring about a paperless society? Moving house is always a nightmare. But my office is my womb. My favourite place.

4) What are you reading now?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My daughter insisted I read this as she says it’s the best book she’s read in years. I’ve only just started it but she’s absolutely right. Brilliant! It has me in its emotional grip already.

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

I’ve written 33 family sagas and historical novels, and my favourite is always the one I am currently writing.

6) What comes first, plot or characters?

Characters come first always. If I try to plot too much in advance I somehow lose the excitement and drive to get the story down.

I start by giving my main character his or her chief trait, then work out the yin and yang of that trait. You cannot have the one without the other. Every character should have a flaw, every villain their saving grace. I once did a workshop at an RNA conference where I demonstrated this. Once you have the trait, say independent, you then list all the good aspects of that trait, then all the bad. Pride, arrogance, whatever. From here you can develop your character’s flaws as well as their virtues and decide on the interaction and emphasis.

But the most important element of characterisation is motivation. Appearance is importance but what really matters is why they behave as they do. In order to discover that I devise a back story, mainly for my own purpose rather than inflicting it all upon the reader. If I understand what makes her tick then I can hopefully justify her actions to the reader and they will empathise with her. Once I know a character thoroughly she or he starts to live in my mind. All I have to do is listen to their voice and write it down and the rest follows, the ideas just come. I know it sounds crazy but that’s how it is.

7) Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

I’m not prepared to admit there is such a thing, otherwise I might catch it. That’s not to say there aren’t times when the going gets tough, perhaps because I’m trying too hard, or rushing it, and need to step back and relax a little. There are a couple of strategies I use to get the creative mind working again. As I write historicals I find research can often inspire me with new ideas. Just the act of jotting down notes starts me thinking of new plot twists and scenes. If that doesn’t work then it’s time to relax. Go for a long walk, take a bath, watch TV or read someone else’s book, anything to allow my mind to wander, and sure enough all sorts of ideas will pop into it. Sometimes just going to sleep with the problem lodged in my brain does the trick, and I wake up with the answer next morning, which often demands some rewriting, but I love all of that. But then too much thinking can give me a sleepless night. It’s no easy road being a writer.

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

Because I spend so much time in front of a computer, I like to do physical things: walking, gardening, yoga or aerobics.

9) Tell us about your latest book?

My latest saga is Angels at War, published 4 October by Allison & Busby. This is the sequel to House of Angels.esist his War I, as she strives to make her mark in the world. But then my heroines are always fe

I’m also writing historical fiction, still under my own name, which helps to keep me fresh. I’m currently working on the third book of a trilogy. The first was Hostage Queen, which is the story of Marguerite de Valois, daughter of Catherine de Medici. She was a fascinating woman and the subject of much scandal in the French court. In love with Henri de Guise she was married off to Henry of Navarre in order to bring peace to France. In fact the opposite happened as within days of the marriage Paris was awash with blood in the St Bartholomew Massacre. The Reluctant Queen, the second in the series, follows the story of Gabrielle de’Estrées who was mistress to Margot’s husband when he becomes King Henry IV. Margot herself is being held captive in Usson, and refusing to give him a divorce unless she gets the financial settlement she deserves. Atta girl! The Queen and the Courtesan will tell the story of his last mistress, Henriette d’Entragues, and his second wife, Queen Marie de Medici who fiercely competed for his affection. Margot, now divorced, is still very much around and creating problems and scandal.

10) What’s next for you?

More historicals, more sagas, although these are changing as the market shifts, and who knows what else. That’s the exciting thing about this business, there’s always something new to try. Watch this space!

Thank you so much for this fantastic interview, Freda, i have thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about how you work, your wonderful writing space (it sounds beautiful!) and what future releases we can look forward to reading! Your tip about characterisation is a fabulous one that I'm going to keep, if you don't mind!

I am sure Freda would love to read or answer any comments and questions...

Transatlantic Loving is now available to download - happy days!!

Just a quick note to let you know that my latest release, Transatlantic Loving is now available for download.

Here's the blurb...

In a desperate bid to escape the bitter reality of her children accepting her ex-husband’s new – and younger – fiancée, Lisa Cavendish travels from the UK to accompany her friend to a high school reunion. Forced to dress as Madonna in her hey day, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with the school’s coach, who seems to hold as much regard for his child as her ex did when he walked out…

Aaron Taylor can’t believe his eyes or ears when he is introduced to Lisa – sexy and funny, she has no idea how her accent enhances the heartbreaking wait he endures waiting for his daughter to call him back to the UK. But after spending just three short weeks with Lisa, he sees the answer to his pain in the eyes of the most phenomenal British lady he has ever met…

Go to The Wild Rose Press website right now to download your copy - I am so happy to be a part of this fabulous series, The Class of '85!!

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/transatlantic-loving-p-4244.html

Be sure to let me know what you think!

Rachel x