Dawn McClure

Like Sand through the Hourglass

2011-03-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to have this article finished for Savvy on Friday, but I waited until the very last minute to sit down and write it. Now it’s Sunday morning and I have about an hour to get it done. I’m pissy and agitated. Where’s my coffee? Why does my husband keep talking to me as though I’m not working? Why can’t my kids be quiet for five minutes? I’m seriously on a deadline here and I’m about to get out of this chair and open a can of whoop ass on the next person that bothers me.

At least the mayhem and looming deadline have given me this week’s article theme: time constraint and intensity, and why every book you write needs both.

Intensity blossoms under time constraints. Case in point – I’m stressed out now because I have about fifty minutes to get this damned article written. (That’s ten minutes less than I had in the paragraph above.) Time is flying and so are my fingers. Will I get this article done in time? Should I go back and edit? Just hit send? Delete everything and start over?

If you don’t have intensity in your book, what’s going to make the reader turn the pages? What’s going to push your characters to the edge and back? How are they going to grow and learn? Adding a time constraint to your plot will add stress to your characters’ lives and therefore ratchet the intensity level.

If I had started this article on Friday I wouldn’t be suffering from all this stress. I’m literally hyper because of my stress level. I have to get this done. I have no extra time. I’m only at three-hundred words. Son of a bitch!

We can all identify with time constraint in our personal lives. Adding this stress-inducer to our books is a no-brainer. You’ll create an instant page-turner. Remember, time constraint is in addition to your conflict – it is not the conflict itself. Time constraint amplifies the conflict and adds intensity.

Think back to the movie, Speed. Talk about a time constraint plot! First our sexy hero finds out there’s a bomb on a city bus. Then he finds out the bomb will go off if the bus goes below fifty-five miles an hour. Then he hits traffic, but can’t slow down. He finally finds a place where he can do a loop-de-loop to keep the bus moving but the damn thing is eventually going to run out of gas – oh wait – the bus starts to leak gas (adding more time constraint).

So let’s take a closer look at the time constraints applied in the film Speed.

Introduce the time constraint.

Howard Payne: Pop quiz, hotshot. There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?
Jack: I'd want to know what bus it was...
Howard Payne: You think I'm going to tell you that?
Jack: Yes.
Howard Payne: Aha, very good. There are rules, Jack, and I want you to get this right. NO ONE goes off the bus. If you try to take any passengers off the bus, I will detonate it. I want my money by 11AM.
Jack: We can't pull that kind of money in time!

Time constraint leads to intense situations & stress.

Howard Payne: Good! Now you tell them that the drop point is Pershing Square. You drop the bags and leave. I don't show until all your people are gone. It's getting on to 11AM, Jack, and I think it's gonna be a very pretty day. [hangs up; Jack flips out]
Annie: Jack, stop it! We're really scared and we need you right now. I can't do this by myself! Jack, please?
Jack: [chuckles] We're gonna die.

***

Annie: What is that smell?
Jack: It's gas.
Annie: We're leaking gas?
Jack: We are now.
Annie: What, you thought you needed another challenge or something?

Intense situations and stress forces characters to make difficult decisions.

Annie: You didn't leave me. I can't believe it... you didn't leave me.
Jack: Didn't have anywhere to be just then.

Let’s sum this up (because I’m running out of time).

Time constraint leads to intense situations & stress which leads to character’s decisions which leads to revealing your character (and their heroic decisions)! Oh…and don’t forget about the HEA:

Jack: I have to warn you, I've heard relationships based on intense experiences never work.
Annie: OK. We'll have to base it on sex then.
Jack: Whatever you say, ma'am.

Have To Share Some Cover Love

2011-02-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

These books caught my eye. I have NO idea why (yeah, right!). Anyway, click on the books and it will take you to the authors' websites. :) Both authors are auto-buys for me.

Happy reading!

Love is a Battlefield - Rockin' the Black Moment

2011-02-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

Every great romance builds up to an intense moment in which the hero and heroine can see no way out. They’ll never overcome the obstacles holding them back. They’ll never have that white picket fence. No bouncing babies for them. They may even face death.

Writers have come to call this the Black Moment. If your book or novella doesn’t have it, make no mistake, you will leave reader disappointed.

Creating the black moment is like walking a tightrope three hundred feet above a concrete parking lot with no safety net. You lean a little toward the left and rush through the black moment, you’ve cheated the reader. They’ve followed the characters through their journey, flipped the pages in anticipation of that Big Bang at the end of the book, always wondering what will happen. Will the hero and heroine make it through the Petrified Forest and survive the field of ghouls waiting for them? If that field of ghouls ends up being a few slobbering, easily-defeated monsters, then you’ve just fallen off the tightrope.

If you lean a little too far to the right and drag out the black moment, you have a reader whose ready to put down the book due to over-stimulation. I know you’ve read a book like that -- a battle that goes on and on and on, until you want to kill the characters yourself just to end the suffering (theirs and yours).

And don’t get me started on The Misunderstanding. That plotting fail deserves a blog post all its
own. I’ll just say this: if your hero and heroine can solve everything with a simple conversation, you haven’t just fallen off the tightrope, you’ve incinerated the damn thing.

So how do you know what your black moment should be? Most plotters will know the black moment before they begin writing chapter one. Plotters can work their way to the black moment, sprinkling in some foreshadowing and teasers since they know exactly where they’re going.

Creating the black moment can be a little harder for pantsers. Just ask yourself this question when you get close to the end: What are my characters working toward? What will bring them to their knees? What would destroy their very WILL TO LIVE?

Your character’s goal is the KEY to your black moment. So…your heroine has to get through the Petrified Forest in order to save her daughter who’s being held in a castle (Her goal). The hero is there to help, of course. He’s the King’s son – an outcast who knows that dangerous forest like the back of his hand. He’s determined to claim his kingdom now that his father has passed (His goal). Their SOLE MISSION: Get through the Petrified Forest alive. Their ULTIMATE MISSION : Save daughter/Become king.

What possible black moment can we whip up from this?

Let me introduce you to the beauty of the black moment = SACRIFICE.

Sacrifice can lead to heroism. Heroism comes from making a difficult choice, but deciding the outcome is worth it, which leads right back to sacrifice. As Jack from Meet the Parents would say: “This is the circle of trust.” The reader TRUSTS you to deliver the sacrifice aspect in the black moment. You don’t want to merely finish the book, you want to finish strong. Some authors think the black moment is when everything comes falling down around the characters – which is true. However, if a sacrifice hasn’t been made, what have the characters given up to achieve their goal? Don’t just hand the characters a HEA, make them work for it.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~ Joseph Campbell

Did you think the ghouls at the edge of the forest would lead to the black moment? I guess it could. But let’s take the black moment a little further. After battling the ghouls the hero and heroine are absolutely exhausted and wounded. They still have to save the child.

What if saving the child meant the hero would never become king? Sacrifice – check.

What if saving her daughter meant certain death for the heroine? Sacrifice – check.

You can play around with What Ifs all day long. There are so many great outcomes, which is what makes reading a book so wonderful. You never know what’s going to happen, because each author would take a different route or create a unique twist on the black moment of any given plot.

Just remember that the black moment is a *temporary* disaster that must be overcome to achieve the HEA if you’re writing a romance, and too little or too much will destroy the equilibrium of the plot.

Happy writing. :)

Writing a Paranormal, Fantasy or UF Novel?

2011-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

Write a Paranormal, Fantasy or UF Novel Using Existing Myths for Worldbuilding ~ SavvyAuthors will be offering this course starting on March 7th. The instructor is Marcy Weydemuller. Here's a little about the course (Copied from the site):

Do you have an interesting twist on an old myth or mystical world?Do the worldbuilding elements take over when you write and you lose the story?Do you want to learn how to better incorporate existing mythology into your worldbuilding?

Join us for this Masters Level course where you will learn to better incorporate existing mythology into your worldbuilding. Build better worlds based upon existing myths and history as you spend a year exploring your world and writing your novel with hands-on help from Marcy Wydemuller and your peers.

Through reading, writing and analysis of literature surrounding their novel's myths and history, participants will hone techniques to produce the type of myth-based novels that speak through metaphor, symbolism, allusion and echo. Excerpts from novels and movies will be deconstructed to provide workable models for your own research and story.

Writing produced during the course will be critiqued weekly in small peer groups. In addition to daily instructor feedback to lectures and assignments, authors will post a full chapter or scene weekly with professional edits during the first three quarters. A personal analysis will be returned to the student only. Once a month, the middle Wednesday, there will be an open class discussion online. During the final quarter, each student will have a private one hour, one-on-one with the instructor regarding their novel and any specific questions they may still have regarding final polish and marketability.

Course Objectives:

* to complete a draft of your novel with daily and weekly goals.
* to apply mythic impact appropriate to your narrative.
* to create a fully developed believable world for your genre.
* to deepen analytical skills through study and discussion of various myth-building techniques through assigned readings and movies.
* to develop critique instincts and revision skills in peer groups.
* to create a polished submission package.

TRACK
Masters Level – Will cover topics in detail, with the assumption that the student has more than a basic understanding of the craft elements of writing fiction.

WHEN: Mar 7, 2011 - Feb 18, 2012

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

I've been thinking about writing an urban fantasy lately, and this course caught my eye. I used an existing 'myth' for my paranormal series, so I know how difficult some aspects can be. Remember, this is a master's course, so keep that in mind if you choose to sign up.

Crash Course

2011-01-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

In the past four years I’ve read countless articles on writing. I’ve attended conferences and panels at both the Romantic Times Convention and the RWA National Conference. I’ve bought enough craft books to sink a small rowboat (Make a Scene, Creating Character Emotions, GMC by Deb Dixon, Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies, Revision & Self-Editing, to name just a few.) I’ve interviewed NYT bestselling authors, spoken personally to industry professionals, and blogged myself stupid.

After all of this information overload it’s a wonder that I can still craft a sentence, let alone write a paragraph or a chapter. There are so many rules and suggestions floating around in my noggin, it’s amazing that I’m still sitting at my desk and not stuck in a fetal ball.

Let me give you a sneak peek to what’s in this writer’s mind. I’m putting it all in one paragraph so you can *feel* the insanity. Make sure you’ve had your coffee, because this is going to be a wild ride.

HIGH CONCEPT, HIGH CONCEPT, HIGH CONCEPT. If you can’t break your story down into a single sentence, you don’t know your story. RESEARCH. Do too little and you’ll regret it. Do too much and you’ll be starting your book sometime during the next ice age. PLOTTER VS PANTSER (or, as some like to call it, ORGANIC WRITER). Should you outline? Storyboard? Start typing and hope for the best? Well, whatever you do, always start with an INCITING INCIDENT, and end each chapter with a CLIFF-HANGER. DO NOT drop back-story into chapter one, for God’s sake! If you do that you’re either a newbie who knows NOTHING or Sherrilyn Kenyon – and you, my friend, are no Sherrilyn Kenyon. HERO. Is he a bad boy? A rake? An alpha? (Are there any other types right now?) HEROINE. Is she quiet? Strong? Is she kick-ass? (Are there any other types right now?) SETTING. Some say this is just another character. Just do your homework and make sure it doesn’t talk. WORLD-BUILDING. Make it fresh. Make it original. Good luck with that. NARRATIVE. Too much can dull your manuscript, unless you’re Christine Feehan. DIALOGUE. Listen to people talk and do your best to emulate that. Go easy on the Scottish brogue. POINT OF VIEW. Stay in one point of view for each scene. Only the best can get away with head-hopping. ACTION VS REACTION. Are your characters just reacting to all the bullcrap that’s happening to them, or are they DOING something about it, which leads to CHARACTER DRIVEN VS PLOT DRIVEN. Do events drive your story, or are your characters moving the story forward through decisions and action? There are times the two combine, and that separates the good books from great books. Again, good luck with that. GMC. What is your character’s goal? What motivates your character? Is there any CONFICT in your novel whatsoever? INTERNAL VS EXTERNAL CONFLICT? Yes, there are two kinds of conflict. Deal with it. VOICE. What is it and where do I find it? Hint: could you ever read a paragraph from one of J.R. Ward’s Brotherhood novels and mistake it for another writer? I think not. DEEP POV. You’re not writing about your character. You ARE your character. Let the reader see what’s happening through the eyes of your hero and heroine. PACING. 2 slow or 2 fast for 2 long = not good. ADHESION. What keeps your hero and heroine together throughout the book? FLAWS & QUIRKS. Just because your heroine is a size two with fair, unblemished skin and long, shiny hair doesn’t mean she’s perfect. That goes for the hero, too. Give him a quirk or flaw to go with his washboard abs. SEXUAL TENSION. Doesn’t matter if Satan himself is tracking your hero and heroine by chapter two, they’d better want to hump each other by chapter three. EMOTION. Visceral emotions. Live them, love them, include them in your book. AVOID CLICHES. I’m trying to think of a cliché to put here, but I’ve trained myself so well I can’t come up with one. SEX SCENES. Remember, this isn’t your mother’s romance novel. (Even though those historical bodice rippers were OFF THE HOOK. Ever read one? And they say our books are hot. Whaaaat?) SUSPENSE. Romantic suspense isn’t the only genre that needs it. BACKGROUND. Little like back-story. Don’t bore the reader with the details, but tell us how your hero was tortured and why the heroine is afraid of bald men on rollerblades. SECONDARY CHARACTERS. Better make sure they add something to the story. Otherwise readers will be skipping some of your scenes like they do with the Lessers. (I didn’t just say that.) (Yes I did.) BLACK MOMENT. The climax. The time when the hero and heroine realize they are going to DIE. They are going to LOSE. There is NO future for them. (Until the next chapter, of course.) RESOLUTION. Time to wrap up everything that happened up to this point. Hopefully you took some notes while you were writing. HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I luv you! I luv you, too! I can’t quit you! You’re my destined mate, my one and only, my future and my life, my soul mate. THE END.

There it is – the condensed version of rules and suggestions that run through my mind every time I sit down to write. Maybe that’s why most of us wear headphones and rock to our favorite music while we write. If we thought about all the rules, plot points and must-haves when writing, we’d never get anywhere close to the HEA.

Blizzard Aftermath

2011-01-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

As you can see, that's a lot of snow, or as we like to call it in my town, a lot of bullshit. It didn't take long for everyone to dig themselves out and clear their driveways. I think people from South Dakota are accustomed to this type of weather. I'm not. I was just happy to sit inside and write. :)

I've lived in a lot of places. Northern and Southern California, Italy, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Illinois. Every place I've been has its own flavor. In Italy it was all about the food. Michigan was downright beautiful, and I lived two minutes from the beach in Southern Cali. Here? It's peaceful. And cold - don't get me wrong. I've never been in weather like this before. In the summer it's storm after storm. Thankfully we only had one tornado warning last year. In the winter it's freezing and white. White as far as the eye can see. LOL But I'll take it, because my kids can run around this little town and I don't have to worry.

So there you have it. My blizzard pics. I took more, but you get the jist of the situation. ;) Lots and lots of snow.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken BEFORE the blizzard that swept through my town yesterday, dumping seven plus inches of snow. Unbelievable. Having been raised in sunny California, I'm simply speechless. This is my second blizzard in two years. It totally wrecked my plans to drink in the new year. :P

Speaking of...Happy New Year! I didn't make any resolutions for 2011. I think I've learned my lesson at this stage in the game. From losing weight to writing more, I've tried nailing down every typical resolution under the sun. Not this time. However, I did find an awesome horoscope for my sign today. :) I think I'll take it.

Year 2011 Career

This is the year to build your resources, fatten your savings account, and stash money away for some of your bigger dreams. Don't be afraid of spending either. Money has a way of finding its way right into your humble bank account, especially this spring. You're not used to such an effortless cash flow and may unconsciously attempt to sabotage your own good fortune. Tell yourself a thousand times a day that you deserve the riches that are coming your way, because you truly do.

You've got to take your talents more seriously, Pisces. No more undercutting yourself and humbly accepting crumbs when you're worth gold. Take an honest assessment of all of the gifts you bring to the table and you'll quickly realize that you have been shamefully underpaid. But let any residual false modesty be a thing of the past now that 2011 has come to bring you the big bucks you so deserve.

When Jupiter leaves your money sector in June, in order to keep the cash flowing you'll have to work those networking skills. Make sure you've got a strong online presence and don't be afraid to revamp your image and make yourself more visible. You have a tendency to keep yourself invisible. But once people see you and all that you have to offer, they will be all over your talents. Stop doubting yourself and letting that legendary Piscean paranoia interfere in what promises to be one of the most successful and lucrative years of your career.

Nice, right? Anyway, I didn't read all that much last year. Unfortunately, I didn't write as much either, as I was getting familiar with a new job. I couldn't nail a favorite book down for the year. I had two.

I really can't say which book I enjoyed reading more. I LOVED Rehvenge, and the gritty tone of the book. John Mathews novel nearly topped my list, but thinking back on the two books made me realize I enjoyed the tone of Lover Avenged a little more.

And who wouldn't love the demon Malkom? As a writer I was enthralled with the way Cole handled a hero and heroine who couldn't communicate through most of the book.

These two authors remain auto-buys for me.

As they say, on to bigger and better. I hope everyone has a great year. :)

Novellas

2010-12-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

We’ve all seen the titles. The Billionaire’s Pregnant Mistress, The Sheik’s Mistress, The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby, Taming the Tycoon. What do these titles have in common (other than the obvious)? They are smaller works, ending around the 55K mark – the original novella. The novella is the middle-child – not quite novel-length, and a bit larger than the novelette. Harlequin has dominated this market for years, spitting out these fun, quick reads as avid readers gobble them up. Introduce the e-market...

The e-publishing market is rising quickly. More and more readers are flocking to e-pub sites to snatch up titles right from the comfort of their own home. Just this past year an RWA Special Chapter was created for electronic and small press authors – ESPAN. Here is the beginning of their mission statement: “The Electronic and Small Press Authors Network (ESPAN) exists to enhance the careers of those members of RWA who are contracted with or have released books through electronic and small press publishers.”

Recent discussions about the e-publishing market have raised many questions, arguments and tempers, but today I’m going to focus on e-publishing houses as a possible venue for those snappy little novellas.

Awesome Advantage #1 - The submitting turn-around time concerning e-publishing houses is significantly lower than New York. Can you say instant gratification? Personally, I’ve heard back from an e-house the very day I submitted. It’s not uncommon for writer’s to wait months upon months to hear back from New York.

Awesome Advantage #2 - There’s a wide range of opportunities when going the e-pub route. The red tape isn’t so thick, so you can write the types of scenes and plots that other, more traditional, publishers won’t touch. I’ve seen e-book erotic romances with the eye-popping tag of M/M/M/M/F. Try to sell that to New York.

Awesome Advantage #3 - It’s a way to learn the biz and get paid for it. Many e-book authors have gone on to New York, and they cut their teeth on digital novellas. You go through the same process – submission, contract, editing, cover art and final line-edits. Then the reviews pour in…and you learn from those, too. Trust me, if you ever get Giggled, you can’t pay for that kind of honest critique.

Just Plain Awesome – Hey, New York authors are doing it. Not only is the submitting process quick, so is the payday. (Yeah, I went there.) You get your royalties monthly or quarterly, and who can’t use a little more spending cash?

Just like any business venture you should weigh all your options when submitting your work. There are good e-publishing houses, and then there are not-so-good e-publishing houses. Before you submit, chat with the authors of a particular house you are interested in. Ask them what they think of their editors, what they’ve learned from the process, and most importantly, would they submit to that publishing house again?

The publishing industry is a hard shell to crack, especially during these past few years. The more you educate yourself concerning all facets of the industry, the better off you’ll be. If you’re interested in going the e-publishing route, check out ESPAN and what their authors have to say. Buy a few e-books from the house you’re considering submitting to. Peruse their message boards if they have one, or join their Yahoo Group.

A few links for your surfing pleasure…

A large number of E-Presses all on one page (Thanks to ESPAN) - http://espan-rwa.com/links/

E-Publishing – The beginning (To learn a little more about the e-publishing industry - http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/02/19/epublishing-the-beginning/

E-publishing FAQ - http://www.writing-world.com/publish/FAQ.shtml

8 Second Ride

2010-08-10T06:00:00.001-07:00

I've lived in South Dakota for about a year, so you'd think I'd be used to the 'country' way of life by now. Short answer: not so much.

Tornadoes and farm equipment aside, I've seen and heard things that make this city girl scratch her head and back away...slowly. Very slowly.

But there was something I saw on Sunday that had me begging for more. *heh* COWBOYS! I went to my first rodeo, and suddenly I saw the light. Now I can see why the country life is so appealing.

I did sit and question why a sane man would sit his cute ass on a bull, shoot from a cage and risk his life while holding on for dear life to a pissed off bull. The odds of getting hurt were pretty damned high. Out of 10 or so bull riders, more than half limped out of the arena. One broke his hand after the bull stomped on it. Can you say ouch?

Watching these bull riders made me wonder why some individuals find it necessary to push themselves to the limit. They KNOW they're going to get hurt. You don't sit on a bull for a living and think to yourself, "This is a piece of cake. Good paycheck and great benefits." No. I bet they pray. "Please God, let the boys be okay after this ride. And I'm not talking about the men sitting on the fence at my back." Yeah, I bet it goes something like that.

The crowd went wild when the men lasted their 8 seconds, and gasped when they got thrown from the bull - which happened more often than not. I was sitting in the front row when I took that last picture. Poor cowboy. Made me think of romance writers. (Everything comes back to romance eventually. lol)

Just like the cowboys I watched in fascination, veteran authors cringe when their buddies get rejections. We watch in awe when a newbie comes out of the gate and lands a three book contract with a large publishing house. We help our friends dust themselves off when they get a bad crit.

After sitting there thinking for a while, I finally realized why these cowboys risk their life to get on that bull. They love it. I think they're a particular brand of crazy, but I also admire them for their strength and determination.

When I first started writing I didn't let rejection get me down. I framed the rejections I received and put them up on my office walls. Just like that bull rider in the pictures above, I got on the bull, held on, got tossed on my ass, and got back up. Rejection and defeat is all part of the process. (wow, can you tell I'm waiting to hear back on a submission?)

At any rate, I had a great time at the rodeo. I still think the men are nuts, but you can't hold that against a man in wranglers. No ma'am.

Frustrated Writer

2010-08-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever typed 'frustrated writer' in Google and then clicked on images? I shouldn't have felt such a rush of understanding when I gazed at all the pictures that sprung up, but the images made me feel better all the same. Been there. Done that. Living it.

A few days ago I fried my laptop. I shut it, thinking it was on sleep mode, and left it sitting on my leather couch. Yeah, can you say NIGHTMARE? Long story short, I was able to retrieve my files from the hard drive by buying some swank piece of hardware from Office Max. Thank you sweet baby Jesus. Anyway, I'm about to tackle those edits that I nearly lost, and you'd think I'd be on cloud nine. Hmm, not so much.

So I decided to blog about my lack of motivation and what I plan on doing to get it back. If there's something my friends know about me, they know I'll bring my A-game at some point. I'm stubborn and driven...on most days.

So I busted out The Art of War For Writers, an awesome book by James Scott Bell, a writer I had the pleasure of meeting at the Romantic Times Convention this year. Instead of focusing on what I was reading, I thought about a story he told at his workshop. A writer was once posed a question - what would he do if he had only 24 hours to live? His answer: type faster.

Now I know I wasn't the only writer in that room squirming in their seat. In fact, I'd bet money on it. Translation - that so wouldn't have been my answer. And my point for bring up that little story? Writers need to let go of the guilt.

The Art of War For Writers is the book to get you back on your feet. Sure, some writers don't need motivational quotes, but some of us LIVE on motivational quotes. I even have them on my website. This little book takes it a step farther and gives you strategies, tactics and exercises to get those creative juices flowing. Jeez, I'm starting to sound like a bad commercial.

I think we all go through growing pains when we climb that ladder of success. Doesn't matter the job. What matters is what you do about it. Don't let doubts suck you in and get the best of you. Finish what you started.

I didn't go to RWA Nationals this year, but I heard about a speech Nora Roberts gave from a few friends of mine. She said (and I'm quoting this from others), "Embrace the HARD."

Perfect. That sums up everything. Writing isn't easy. Just quit your bitching and get the words on the page. Edit. Put on your big girl panties and get 'er done. Yup, those are some pretty strong words from a frustrated writer, but you know what? I feel better already.

My New Campaign - I'd Rather Go Naked Than Edit

2010-07-20T12:06:00.001-07:00

We’ve all seen the ads for PETA – I’d rather go naked than wear fur. Well, I’m here to say I’d rather go naked than edit.

When I’m sitting in front of my computer and I get an exciting new idea for a book, I can run off of that energy for weeks. I’ve been known to write a novella in less than a week, and a full-length book in 8 days flat. I’ve written forty-six pages in one day, and 60,000 words in a week. However, when it comes time to edit that bitch, I break out in a cold sweat and come to the decision that the laundry needs my utmost attention. Even if it’s all done. Something needs to be ironed, folded or stitched. Socks need to be matched.

There’s something magical about writing a book. I can sit down for what seems twenty minutes, typing away, trying desperately to ignore my kids and whatever that last noise was, and in reality hours have gone by. When I edit, it’s a different story altogether.

For my first manuscript, I had a lot of exclamation points. “They’re right on our tail!” “Run!” “They have grenades!” “I baked an apple pie today!” Yeah, I went the distance when it came to exclamation points. My editor, God bless her, didn’t make a huge deal about it. She said a lot of newbies used exclamation points instead of showing the emotion through word choice, or italicizing power words. I went a little too far when I edited my second book. She actually had to put a few exclamation points in.

Okay! So I learned my lesson on exclamation points! Moving on to the unnecessary words!

For example: He sat down in the chair and ran a hand through his hair. Well, how else is he going to sit? Up? He sat DOWN is redundant. He sat in the chair. Period. Oh, and while we are on redundant words, how about off of. “I snatched the brush off of the dresser.” No hooker, you snatched the brush off the dresser. No need to use the word of.

Another thing I tended to do in my early manuscripts that can really make editors grit their teeth is blatant overuse of certain words. I used some words so often that I had to delete that about that a quarter that of them. Wow. You’re really alert. Yes, I once overused the word that. I’ll save the word was for another article. I once had a crit partner point out that I had the word was over 40 times on one page. I shit you not. I still have a problem with THAT word. *Sigh*

And speaking of teeth grinding, I recently discovered this is a no-no. He grit his teeth when the bullet made impact. BONG! Incorrect. The correct form would be as follows – He gritted his teeth when the bullet made impact.

Ah, sharing all of my face-plants when it comes to writing is giving me the warm fuzzies. Let’s go on, shall we?

“Alright,” you say. Well, no. That’s not the way you spell it. It’s all right. Two words. Now, to be fair here, an editor once told me you could shorten it to alright in dialogue, but never in narrative. Confused much? Alrighty then, moving on.

Dialogue. READ IT OUTLOUD. Please don’t have your hero say, “It is nine O’clock in the evening. Is there any chance that you are you ready to go to bed?” Well, there’s nothing wrong with that sentence, you say. No, technically there isn’t. But do you talk that way? I didn’t think so. How about this – “Christ, it’s nine already. I’m going to bed.”

Such small, nit-picky things we tend to do in our first draft that must be weeded out when we edit. Suddenly the creative process is over, and you're forced to invite your internal editor back. You edit your manuscript once, twice, maybe even three times. Your crit partner edits your manuscript. You edit your manuscript again. You get a contract - YAY! And then you get your first round of edits, and then a second round of edits. Then you get your galleys, or final line edit.

Are you ready to join my campaign yet? T-shirts coming soon - I'd Rather Go Naked Than Edit.

Urban Fantasy and Breaking The Rules

2010-07-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

So I'm biting the bullet and going with my daughters to see the new Twilight movie. One is on Team Edward, and the other is all for Team Jacob. I'm a big fan of vamps, but I think I'm leaning toward Team Jacob, even though he looks like a child to me. Yeah. Feeling kinda dirty here, and not in a good cougar way.

So many people have blogged about how crappy the movies/books are, and that Bella whines too much, blah blah blah. Listen, Stephanie Meyer is laughing her ass off all the way to the bank, so I'm not jumping on the 'this sucks' bandwagon. I am, however, going to focus on the drama of a love triangle. Something I've never put into my books until recently.

While I was writing my last book, I had a slight problemo. By the end of the book there were two heroes, and I'm still not sure which one to go with. I can still remember reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris and being shocked to my core when Sookie and Bill broke it off and she had sex with Eric. A die-hard romance fan at the time, I hadn't yet read a book where the main romance was questioned. Sure there were 'misunderstandings.' The heroine might think the hero was sleeping with someone else, but it just so happened he was rescuing his sister from the prostitution ring and got caught by the heroine while untangling himself from two naked prostitutes. However, he wasn't there to score. LOL And once the 'misunderstanding' is resolved, you have your HEA. But with the Stackhouse series, Sookie actually WENT there. And that HEA was destroyed (for me, anyway). But like a trooper I read on, and then I was hooked on Eric as the hero. How easily I am led.

So I went on to edit my WIP, and my heroine has now slept with both men in the book. I know, right?? I'm not supposed to do that. My creative side is just going with the story as it unfolds, while my 'you-can't-do-this-in-a-HEA-romance' side cringes. So I guess I'm writing an urban fantasy. At least that's what my crit partner said.

I think authors can get stuck in that 'rule' side, and they write their stories accordingly. Then you have other authors who shout, screw the rules!, and they write best sellers. (Um, not saying this WIP is going to be a best seller, just saying I threw away the rules lol) Take JR Ward, for example. M/M books are hot in the e-book rounds. But she took the M/M subplot in her book to New York, and holy hell are readers gobbling it up. I'm all for Team Blay/Qhuinn. I had never read a M/M book before, but I'm all for reading theirs.

So, back to my problemo. Originally I had decided to pick one hero and stick with him. Then I sat back and asked myself - why? Why can't the heroine be torn between two heroes? Hell, that's a pretty awesome place to be - having two alphas fight over you. Isn't that what all the tweens are drooling over in the Twilight saga? Team Edward VS Team Jacob. Of course, Bella doesn't sleep with them both. This is a YA. Instead of sex, we get angst. Which works when you're dealing with tweens.

So why am I fighting the funk? If I throw away the 'rules' I have endless possibilities. She could go with what's behind door #1 - the first hero. Door #2 - the second hero. Or door #3 - Not a HEA, but an urban fantasy.

Urban fantasy is centered around the female protagonists. UF's are normally told in first person, but not always. I went to a panel comprised of urban fantasy authors at RT, and they all had different elements in their books. Some heroines had only one hero, and each book followed them through another conflict. Another UF author had a few heroes thrown in her books, just like the Stackhouse series. Hell, Jessa Slade has a kick-ass UF series out, and each book has a different H/H.

UF...let me count thy ways...

So, I'm not so freaked out about my problemo. I'm going to go with it and see where the heroes take me...er, the heroine. I meant heroine.

Deep POV

2010-06-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

So you think you’re an author? THINK AGAIN.

If you plan to sit down and write about your character, you’re making one hell of a mistake.

I’ll admit that I’ve jotted down what I’ve believed to be a kick-ass scene, sent it to my crit partner, then sat back in my chair after I’ve hit send, all excited and antsy. She’s going to love this shit. My heroine just got shot, she’s hanging on by a thread, and the hero is out of his ever-lovin’ mind with concern. The villain is closing in and their world is about to come crashing down around them. Bwahahahahaha…

Yeah, and then an IM from my crit partner shatters my euphoria when the box pops on my computer screen.

Crit Partner: I’ll call you.

Oh, crap. Oh, crap! As I wait for the phone to ring, knowing damn well she didn’t like it, I try to dissect the scene in my head to figure out where I went wrong. I churn it over in my mind, think about the details and the environment, the plot structure and the motivation. Nope. Pretty sure I rocked that bitch.

The phone rings. I pick it up and the first thing I hear is a sigh, like my crit partner doesn’t want to say just how bad she thought my scene was. Even better, she goes on to explain that the scene was great, the action was there, the story picked up…but she didn’t feel it. I nod my head, even though she can’t see me, and think, WTF? How did she not sympathize with my heroine who’s bleeding all over the wet asphalt in a torrential downpour while the hero holds her gently in his arms, rocking her back and forth? Not to mention the villain is about to pop on the scene and obliterate their pathetic asses. Break out the Kleenex!

Me: “Uh, so you liked scene, you thought the action was good, and the plot thickened. What exactly is the problem?”

Crit Partner: “Lack of deep POV.”

All right, let’s just pause right there. Listen, I’ve been published before. I know my biz. I’m not JR Ward, Christine Feehan or Sherrilyn Kenyon, but I think I can produce a pretty decent paranormal. Reviewers often give me great reviews – one reviewer proclaiming, “I stayed up until 5 AM because I simply couldn’t quit reading this book. That, dear readers, is a sign of a good book if ever I’ve seen one!” and another, “I could go on, but suffice to say this book has it all as far as I'm concerned - fabulous characters, an original plot, humor, and scorching sex. This is an absolute must-read!”

I’ve even received fan mail, for God’s sake. And now, after having published four books someone tells me I’m missing an integral piece of my craft? I struggle with deep POV? Seriously?

So I did what every other author would do. I got out my favorite romance novel, Lover Awakened, and read some of it. Oh yeah, deep POV all over the place. In fact, I find it hard to put the book down, spending over an hour with it in my greedy little palms, even though I’ve read it several times before. Ward immerses you in the character’s emotions, and you come to a point where the words on the page blur and you’re just IN the story and experiencing everything her characters are going through.

Then I do the unthinkable. [WARNING: Don’t try this at home after reading a Ward book.] I open up my manuscript and read through the scene I sent to my crit partner earlier that day (who’s all butt-hurt because she didn’t want to tell me I sucked, btw). I come up on a whole lot of he did this and she did that, and B-O-R-I-N-G. Sure, the heroine is wrapped up all snug-as-a-bug in the hero’s arms as her life blood seeps out, but what the hell is she feeling? Gah! I created a visual scene, went all psycho with blood pooling around them, the downpour of the storm and the shadows of the darkened alley, but I did it all with zero emotion. Does the heroine regret that the hero has to watch her die? Is she scared shitless? Is she growing cold? Does the hero’s hand shake when he smoothes the hair from her face? Does he feel incompetent to save her, or is he trying to show a brave front in hopes of making her passing easier? (Well, of course she doesn’t die, but he doesn’t know that.)

I keep reading, thinking I’m all sneaky with the villain closing in. Bring on the conflict! Hit the main characters with more crap and the emotional impact will blow the reader away!

Um, no. I didn’t really write it that way. What I saw in my head was not on the paper (er, screen) at all. The hero gritted his teeth. The villain smiles that evil little smile only those a-holes with black hearts can pull off. I read it again, figuring I must have missed all the awesomeness I was sure I’d slathered all over the pages.

Nope. Gritted teeth from hero. Smile from villain.

Well, I’ll be damned. Don’t shed a tear or anything as the LOVE OF YOUR LIFE DIES IN YOUR ARMS, and the man responsible for it traipses into the picture and points a gun at you. Yeah dude, grit your teeth and act all beta hero. Jerk.

So, after I got all mad at my pitiable hero (who’d only done what I told him to do, the pathetic jackass), I went back to square one to think about it for a while. I put the scene in the hero’s point of view. [This is very important, so if you’re going to highlight anything, highlight this]: Don’t sit down to write about the hero, BE the hero. Flex those biceps, baby! [End highlight. :)] Suddenly, I AM the hero, and the scene unfolds in my mind as I live it, and I just let the emotions bounce around in my noggin for a while…

My palms are sticky with warm blood, I see the ashen pallor of my woman’s face, and it’s then that the implication of the certain outcome hits me…I’m not just losing someone close to me. I’m losing my heart. My soul. She’s immortal. How can she be dying in my arms –

The motherfucker responsible steps out of the shadows of the alley, drawing my gaze. My eyes sting when my pupils dilate ominously.

I open my eyes to edit, allowing the disturbing emotions free rein to submerse me in the character. Um, I mean I AM the hero.

Now that I’m the hero, I have to write down everything I’m seeing, and all my emotions, while my lover dies in my arms. Cue 80’s love ballad, (I just) Died in Your Arms tonight.
Lesson to be learned from this article: Become your character. (<-- I’d highlight that as well.) :)

One way to tell you’re not in deep POV is passive voice. Here are a few tips on passive voice I received from my editor for my first manuscript. (I still have to weed these words out of my first drafts because I’m a slow learner or something. Someone pass me a Xanex, please.) Keep an eye on the following phrases:

– “he felt” “she felt” “he knew” “she knew” “knowing” “realizing” “found herself wondering” “heard” –

For example: She found herself wondering if he even had a heart.

Better: Did the bastard have a heart, or was he as cold as his reputation suggested?

So, if you plan to sit down and write about your character, you’re making one hell of a mistake.

You ARE your character.

Romantic Times Pics

2010-05-08T06:16:00.001-07:00

This is a pic of Charlaine Harris and me.

MaryJanice Davidson and me. She was SO funny...but I bet you'd guessed that from her books. :)

Jessica Anderson and me. LOVED the T-shirt she was wearing.

Jessa Slade, me, Melissa Mayhue and Kathy.

Joy and I at the bar.

Danyel and I with the Ellora's Cavemen. What a blast!

Romantic Times was the perfect mix of work and fun. Well, there was more fun, but to me that's the perfect mix. lol We took a few workshops on craft, and the highlight of my workshop experience was getting to meet and learn from James Bell Scott. I have a few of his books on Revision and Self-Editing and The Art of War for Writers.

Once 7:30 pm hit everyone met at the bar to load up on SOTB's (Sex on the Beach) and then off to the parties we went. Danyel, Liz, Monica, Veronica, Jessa and I closed down the parties. Dancing on the stage became part of our to-do list. lol

Sara, I'll have my SOTB now. woot

Well, I'm off to edit. I have more pics that I'll post later.

Samael is now available

2009-12-16T07:11:00.001-08:00

Samael is now available from Liquid Silver Books. You can check out the blurb and find an excerpt HERE.

Happy holidays!

Christmas Humor

2009-12-07T10:57:00.001-08:00

News

2009-12-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Savvy Readers is now OPEN for business. :) Drop by and browse for your favorite romance novels, or search for a new one. Candace Havens dropped by the Savvy Blog to talk about her latest novel, Dragons Prefer Blondes, and her upcoming release, Take Me If You Dare. Drop by and check it out.

Free book alert - Starjacked, a print release from Samhain by author Karin Shah, is up for grabs. Just hop on over to Karin's blog and leave a comment for a chance to win.

Here's something interesting : The Irene Goodman Literary Agency is having a 3-chapter and synopsis critique auction via ebay starting December 1st at 3pm and running until December 15th. The top 25 high bidders will receive a 3-chapter critique from Irene herself. Proceeds from this auction will go towards the Foundation for Fighting Blindness and the Deafness Research Foundation. Full details HERE.

Exciting news ~ Samael will be released from Liquid Silver Books on December 14th. :)

Happy reading!

I'm a horrible blogger

2009-11-30T17:22:00.001-08:00

I haven't blogged in quite a while. I'm usually MIA during the holidays, so here is the news...more will be coming tomorrow.

Today over at ETS, you can vote for you favorite cover.

In other news, ASMODEUS is now in print. It was amazing to get my author copies. Nothing like holding your book!

There is a new site launching tomorrow, and I'll post about it. Author Candace Havens will be the first guest blogger. Stay tuned...

NaNoWriMo - Plus more

2009-10-23T03:14:00.000-07:00

Head on over to Embrace the Shadows for a chance to win a copy of Her Chosen Wolf, by Renee Michaels. I had a blast interviewing her. :)

Steampunk submission call at Samhain...click HERE for more information.

Today I'll finish up the last of my edits on Samael. I'm clearing my plate for NaNoWriMo this year. I already have a book plotted out, from start to finish. I know, I know. I'm a pantser. We'll see how this works out.

Have a great weekend. :)

Free E-Books

2009-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Go to Samhain Publishing to learn more.

Interview and more...

2009-10-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

I interviewed Joey W. Hill at Embrace the Shadows. Stop by and check it out. She's the nicest person (and her books rock, so go out and buy one!). It's also Pick Your Prize Tuesday at EtS, so drop by and choose your favorite book out of three...

I finished edits on Samael, and I also signed up for NaNoWriMo. Click HERE to see what that's all about.

Go to Bitten By Books to check out their new contests. There are a ton of prizes to be won!

Also on their site - interviews, reviews and more.

Head on over to My Book Addiction and More blog for a chance to win a copy of The Earl Claims His Wife by Cathy Maxwell.

That's about it for today. I'm going to start plotting out my book for NaNo.

Happy Reading!

Snow in October

2009-10-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

I'm originally from California, as some of you may know. I spent nearly 8 years in Michigan, and I never really adjusted to the cold winters there (Again, some of you may have been subjected to my bitching, but whatever). Usually the snow would start coming down in late November - at the earliest - or late December - at the latest. Here in South Dakota it snowed yesterday.

It was a pretty snow, and it certainly didn't stick to anything. No accumulation. But it was snow. The white stuff. In October. Just sayin'.

Now that I have that off my chest, today over at Embrace the Shadows we are celebrating the wonderful month of October with a few give-a-ways, in what we call our Month Long Masquerade! Today is Pick Your Prize Tuesday. Vote for your favorite shape-shifter story today, and be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win the book that gets the most votes!

I received my edits for Samael yesterday, so I'll be working on that in the next few days.

I found this on the web - Vamp Chix. Go there today for a chance to win a book from Kerrelyn Sparks. The book is titled, All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire.

Another chance to win a book, plus a $10.00 Barnes & Noble giftcard, can be found at Crista McHugh's Blog. Drop by to find out the details.

Happy Reading!

Cover for Samael

2009-09-27T18:36:00.001-07:00

Big thanks to cover artist Anne Cain, who designed the cover for Samael. :)

I arrived in South Dakota, so I've been a little quiet. I'll be back in the groove in a few weeks. I have edits for Samael coming, and I still have to unpack and settle in.

Happy reading!

TGIF

2009-09-18T04:26:00.001-07:00

Today I interviewed Katie MacAlister over at Embrace the Shadows. She answers questions about Steampunk Romance.

If you haven't stopped by Bitten By Books - A review site with bite - you might want to check it out. They have freebies ALL the time. You can chat with your favorite authors and check out all the hot new releases. It's a very interactive site. I promise you won't be disappointed. I did a little interview with them and had a blast. Check that out HERE.

On to my own news...I'm still waiting to hear back on a submission I sent a few weeks ago. (I can hear the faint laughing in the background. You can stop now.) I know a few weeks isn't very long, but it's been a while since I got nervous over submitting. I mean, they like it or they don't, right? You can stress over submitting your work, but really, what is that going to help?

I have been checking my emails a little more often the past few days. I can't seem to help myself. It's not stress...it's just curiosity. ;)

Happy reading!

Terry Spear

2009-09-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Terry Spear is over at Embrace the Shadows today. Drop by and talk about sexy alphas.

"Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high...take a look, it's in a book, Reading Rainboooooowwww." Series finale. Read article HERE. I adored this show, and I'm sad to see it go. Still, my kids weren't fans. They watch Hannah Montana and Britney Spears' sister...can't remember her name. Anyway, not exactly thought-provoking shows.

In other news, Diana Cosby had a photo shoot! I love her books. Take a look at the magazine she's in.

That's all for now. I have a few deadlines to hit.

Cheers!

2009-09-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

Embrace the Shadows is now featuring authors who landed that first sale. These uplifting little segments will go up on the weekends. Today we have Sandra Sookoo, Susan Blexrud, and Kris Cook. Stop by and read the story on how they achieved that first sale.

Kate Angell will be at Plotmonkeys today, talking about The Muse. Stop by and say hi. She's giving away THREE awesome prizes to a lucky commenter. :)

On to my own news ~ Last night I was writing chapter four of my new WIP, and something kept holding me back from producing serious wordcounts. It feels very flat and explanatory to me. :( I copied and pasted my worst (what I considered my worst) paragraph into a chat room I was in. (A chat room full of writers - yeah, I have balls) My CP said that I had a lot of pronouns in it. He did...he was...he went...she turned. So I took another look, and damn, my CP was absolutely right. (God, I hope she doesn't read that last bit there.)

So, I know everyone says not to go back and edit when you're just trying to get the story out, but I have to go back on this one. There's another little, teeny, tiny issue. My hero and heroine don't have any conflict. Okay. So that's a big issue. LOL! But I can fix it. I already have a few ideas, so I'm going to go back today and try to work some magic. Another thing I'm going to focus on is my imagery. I've been slacking in that area as I try to 'get the story out.'

So, as I work on my crappy writing today, you all have a great weekend. :)

Happy reading!

More on Quartet Press

2009-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Little update. I saw this link in a yahoo group, and thought I would share it.

How I Spent My Summer by Kassia Krozser

All Fired Up to Win A Book?

2009-09-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

I'm interviewing Kristen Painter over at Embrace the Shadows today. Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win her new realease, All Fired Up.

3 Free Samhain Books

2009-09-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to get three free e-books from Samhain. The formats are Adobe Acrobat, HTML, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket/Kindle, Rocketbook and Ebookwise. I'm not sure how long they'll be giving these books away for free, so go get your copy now.

Guest Blogger, Giveaway, and News

2009-09-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Today over at Embrace the Shadows ~ author Beth Trissel. She talks about her book, Somewhere My Love, and is giving away a digital download of her book to one lucky commenter. She's provided an excerpt, along with the insight on how she came up with the premise of her novel.

Also, if you're a member of the FF&P Special-Interest Chapter of RWA, Scott Eagen is taking 3-line pitches at the member's only blog, The Edge. If you're not a member of the FF&P, you can go to his website to find out more information on how to submit to him. Right now he's looking for contemporary, women's fiction, historicals, paranormal (no psychics, vamps or werewolves), and romantic suspense.

My own news: I just bought Night Keepers by Jessica Anderson. (Awesome website, BTW) I'm probably going to snuggle with the hubby on the couch and read it tonight. Well, most of it, since it's a pretty thick book. Jessica Anderson guest blogged at Embrace the Shadows a few weeks ago. Click HERE to read that post.

Also, I've been searching for articles about Quartet Press, and why it ceased operations. I found this article today. Apparently, seven authors had signed with them, though they will receive the full rights back to their work. This news has started a few conversations online about e-publishing and the risks an author takes when signing with an e-publishing house. Some say the e-pubs come and go, and I agree to a certain extent, but there are some great e-publishing houses out there - ahem - Samhain. :) From what I've read (and heard through the grapevine), Quartet had some heavy-hitters on its payroll, and were thought to be a rising star in the e-pub community.

One last note...I'll be interviewing Kristen Painter tomorrow at EtS blog. Be sure to stop by and say hi. :)

No Launch for Quartet Press

2009-09-09T13:54:00.001-07:00

I was very surprised to see this. Follow the link for the entire story.

LINK

Check This Out

2009-09-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

I've read so many paranormals lately, I was getting the worlds the authors created confused with one another. I figured a detour into a straight contemporary romance was in order. When I received my RWR in the mail (the magazine RWA puts out), Sliding Home by Kate Angell was the first cover I saw. The sexy slugger caught my eye, and within an hour I was at the bookstore looking for the novel. Now I have an entire series I need to read, because this book was fantastic. It's amazing how this author delves into the male mind. The hero, Kason, is a very private man who happens to have a very public job. When he comes home after spring training, he finds a woman living in his double-wide - uninvited. (I'm sorry, I just have to stop here real quick and say that this author had me at double-wide. LOL!)

You can read an excerpt HERE.

In other news, the kiddies went back to school yesterday. I swear my youngest daughter's backpack was bigger than she was when she came home from school. I remember having homework, but on the first day of school? And with the time I spent filling out the paperwork my daughters brought home, I could have written a novella. Next will come the fundraisers. Fun times.

Over at Embrace The Shadows, Barbara Hancock is announcing a new segment we have going on. Do you have a First Sale to announce? Follow the link to EtS and you can send Barbara an email, and possibly be featured at the blog.

Happy reading!

Review for Heaven Sent

2009-09-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

I've put several reviews up on my website recently, and have forgotten to post about them here. A few days ago I received another review. This one is from NovelSpot. Here's a snippet...

Heaven Sent is true to its name where paranormal romances are concerned. Vamps, demons, and Lucifer bring on the sexy and humor. Action, and hot romance fill every page of this attention-grabbing novel. Dawn McClure does a fantastic job and I will be recommending this one to all my friends. Reviewed by Pam.

It still tickles me to see Heaven Sent 'out there.' It was the first novel I completed. Seeing the great reviews trickle in is wonderful. :)

To read the review, click HERE.

South Dakota

2009-09-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

South Dakota was very pleasant. The people were nice and friendly, the scenery was ... well, there were a lot of cornfields. Lots of cows.

A storm rolled through as we were leaving, and of course a tornado warning was issued. I wasn't particularly thrilled with that, but otherwise I could see myself living there. There's definitely a 'homey' feel.

So the hubby and I are on the way home, and I have to say, having Internet capability in the car is something I ADORE. There are days I absolutely love technology. As I type, the hubby is cruising down the Interstate. We passed the Iowa border about an hour ago. It's going to be a long ride home, but we just want to hurry up and get home, so we're going to drive through the night.

Overall, it was a great trip. :)

There's no place like home...There's no place like home...

2009-08-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Come on, now, that sign is funny as hell. The town of Gettysburg might be small in populace, but it seems to be big in humor, and I might just be calling it home in the very near future.

The hubby and I are going on a little trip next week to visit this town. I Googled it, and was surprised to see just how small it was.

The town I'm living in at the moment has a lot of similarities to Gettysburg. Our town has signs near the lake that states, "Best town by a dam site." Yeah, that's because the lake is dammed. LOL

The schools are small in Gettysburg, and there isn't a mall as far as the eye can see. The nearest book store is over 100 miles away (SOB!!). Guess that will increase my writing time, if nothing else. Lots of corn fields, cows and...wait...wonder if there are lots of cowboys? *Pondering* Sorry, got off track there. The only thing that really freaks me out is the fact that SD gets tornadoes. Not too thrilled about that. And apparently they get more snow than we get here, which boggles my mind. I'm not into being a snow bunny, and for those who know me, that's a serious understatement.

Anyway, I'll be gone most of the upcoming week, but I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures of...the corn fields?

Chin up! I'm sure they have lots and lots of fun stuff to do there.

See...they have a beach. And their website says that the fishing is great!

They have the Gettysburg Country Club...sounds fab. On June 6th they had bingo at the Country Club, and served ribs, cheesy hash browns and salad. Yum!!

I know what you're thinking - I'll never survive. I must have a bookstore. A mall. Starbucks.

Starbucks. *SOB*

S'all good. I'll find out more on Tuesday, when the hubby and I snoop around. In all seriousness, I'm excited about going. I'm conditioned to love moving. I spent 12 years as a military wife, and I'm feeling restless...I've been in Michigan for quite some time now.

It's time to move on.

If only they had a Barnes & Noble, though. :)

Summer is coming to an end...

2009-08-28T07:10:00.001-07:00

With the passing of any season, I always look back and contemplate on what I've accomplished during that time. The past few months I worked on, and finished, a full-length novel. It didn't go quite as smoothly as I had planned, so I'm looking at another hard edit before I send it to my editor. I also finished a 11k word novella, that I submitted to Silhouette Bites a few days ago. (Cross your fingers for that one.) On the flip side of the industry, I became the newsletter editor for the FF&P Special-Interest Chapter of RWA (Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal). That particular venture is a little daunting to me, since I've never created a newsletter before. The friendships I've made, thanks to the FF&P chapter, have been invaluable to me. Writing can be a lonely process, but it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, I have more 'online' friends than I do in my own town. :)

I also co-founded a blog, Embrace the Shadows, with fellow authors Suzanne Rock and Barbara Hancock. Not only are they fantastic writers, they're great peeps. We always seem to be on the same page when it comes to our writing. Sharing the joys and setbacks of the publishing industry makes me feel as though I'm not alone, and I thank them for all their input. Exciting things are happening at EtS. In the month of September I'll be interviewing authors Paige Tyler, Kristen Painter, Katie MacAlister, and Karen Harbaugh. In October I'll be interviewing Terry Spear and Joey W. Hill.

A few months ago I received a contract for my novella Samael, from Liquid Silver Books. This novella is one of my favorite stories. The heroine, Jade, is a hard-ass assassin who is faced with her own death through a psychic vision from one of her closest friends. You may remember the feisty little psychic - Alexia from my novella, Azazel. Jade must come to terms with the possibility of her demise while battling the desire she feels for Samael, a demon from the First Angelic Revolt. The two couldn't be more alike, but they'd never see it that way - at least in the beginning. I had a great time with those two.

I also landed a new critique partner, Liz Pelletier (who's a web GOD, BTW). If you have a question about a website, or HTML...she's the girl you want on your speed dial. She joined Jennifer North to kick my manuscripts into something resembling a book. LOL I couldn't have asked for better critique partners.

So now, as we head into Fall, I'm setting goals and contemplating what else I can tackle. Most likely this will be in the midst of a move. It's looking as though I'll be calling South Dakota home in the very near future. The hubby was offered a job that he can't pass up.

I hope everyone had a great summer. :)

Also, today at Embrace the Shadows, I talk about Moon Kissed, the newest release from author Michele Hauf. Come over and check it out.

~ Happy reading. :)

Free Harlequin Reads

2009-08-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

The books above are free books that can be found on the Harlequin website.

Just thought I'd pass that along. :)

Happy reading.

Dawn Chartier - Paranormal Romance Writer

2009-08-25T11:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.romance-ffp.com/AuthorPage.cfm?pennameid=63

Shared via AddThis

Quartet Press - New E-pub House

2009-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Angela James, former Senior Editor at Samhain Publishing, has found a new home. Quartet Press is getting major buzz right now on all the author loops. They are accepting submissions, and you can click HERE to view their submission guidelines. They are scheduled to open up in the Fall of 2009.

Here are a few links to articles pertaining to Quartet Press.

Quartet Press Talks E-Books

Quartet Press Hires Angela James

Quartet Press to Embrace Romance, Spurn DRM

And of course, you can find them on Twitter and Facebook.

C.J. Ellisson

2009-08-25T11:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.romance-ffp.com/AuthorPage.cfm?pennameid=765

Shared via AddThis

This is a new service at the FF&P chapter...a little promo never hurt anyone. :)

A Romance Novel for the First Lady

2009-07-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

What's that saying? Oh yeah. A picture says a thousand words. LOL It certainly does. That's a romance novel in the President's hands. Go here for the story...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-cotler/a-novel-for-michelle-obam_b_243600.html

You have to love that expression on his face. :)

Free eBooks

2009-07-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Mari Carr, Moira Rogers, Sylvia Day...Go check out The Romance Studio for free eBook reads. I just stumbled upon the link today, and thought I'd share.

Happy reading!

Barnes & Noble Ebook Shop

2009-07-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

You can view the complete article HERE -

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) -
Barnes & Noble launched what it bills as the world's largest online electronic book shop with virtual shelves holding more than 700,000 titles.
The major US bookseller is challenging online retail powerhouse Amazon.com with electronic works readable on an array of platforms, including computers, iPod Touch MP3 players, and iPhone and BlackBerry smart phones.
Barnes & Noble added that it will be the exclusive provider of "eBooks" for electronic readers to be released by Plastic Logic.
"We want to make eBooks simple, accessible, affordable and convenient for everyone," said William Lynch, president of the book giant's website BN.com.
"Today marks the first phase of our digital strategy, which is rooted in the belief that readers should have access to the books in their digital library from any device, from anywhere, at any time."
Amazon staked out a place in the electronic book market with the release of Kindle reader devices in late 2007 and has more than 300,000 titles for sale at its website.
Early this year, Amazon made software available at Apple's App Store that lets people read Kindle books on iPhones or iPod Touch devices.
The increasingly competitive e-reader market includes offerings from Japanese electronics giant Sony.

***So I headed on over to see if my novels were there. They were!! :) Click HERE to see. I'm number 25 and 26. They haven't integrated all Samhain titles yet, so stay tuned. :)

Also, I went to the Barnes & Noble in the mall yesterday, and they had a Samhain book on almost every shelf. Usually I'd find one or two in the entire store. Exciting things are happening...

Interview + New Reviews

2009-07-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Over at Embrace the Shadows Blog today, I interviewed author Savanna Kougar. She's giving one of her books away, so be sure to drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win.

I received a review for Heaven Sent. You can read the entire review HERE. Here's a snippet...

Dawn McClure has brought us a story of strong emotion. It is a story of love, betrayal, hurt and anger that you can almost feel throughout the pages. She keeps you guessing as to who the bad person really is, one minute you think you have it figured out then she throws a hint to it possibly being someone else. I truly enjoyed this story, I laughed and I cried.

On to other news, I'm a little behind on finishing my WIP. I'd hoped to be done a few weeks ago, but summer happened. :) I have the first 200 pages with my CP, so I'm crossing my fingers in the hope that she'll like it.

I changed my website up a little. http://www.dawnmcclure.com/ I still have to work out a few kinks, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Have a wonderful day!

Just how long has it been?

2009-07-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a terrible blogger. I cheated with another blog, I confess. Embrace the Shadows, a blog I started with fellow paranormal romance authors Barbara Hancock and Suzanne Rock, took precedence over my own little blog. The good news is - I'm nearly finished with Leviathan. My goal is to have it finished and off to my beta readers by the end of the week.

I've also had a few good reviews...Here's a snippet of both...

For Asmodeus - Two Lips Review 4 Kisses ~ I did not want to put Asmodeus down. Dawn McClure introduced the characters in the novel, and then cleverly intertwined their growth so that their love story was believable. I really believed that their interest in each other went beyond sex and could withstand time...Asmodeus does not disappoint and I would recommend it to any reader who enjoys paranormal romance. ~ Reviewed by Christiana

For Heaven Sent - Just Erotic Romance Reviews 5 Stars ~ Heaven Sent takes place in a short period of time, but Ms. McClure packs in both a great deal of action and character development. The characters slowly reveal themselves and their secrets, though they all come across as fully developed right from the start. I loved Chris’s character more than Gabe’s, but he was one hot vamp. Chris was funny, gutsy and even her weaknesses were endearing. I also enjoyed the secondary characters like the villains who were interesting and didn’t come across as caricatures. The plot was engrossing with enough twists and turns to keep you reading straight through to the end. The only weak part of Heaven Sent was in the dearth of sex. This is understandably part of their growing relationship and individual hang-ups, but I would really like to have seen Gabe demonstrate more of his centuries’ worth of experience to Chris! I hope that this is the first in a series because I can’t wait to see where Ms. McClure takes the characters next. There were quite a few of secondary characters whose stories I would like to see developed in the future, especially the arrogant Sven and the tough Naberius. I will definitely put this author on my watch list. - Reviewed by Tory Sanders, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

The Romance Studio - 5 Hearts - Heaven Sent is the third book in a series. If you haven't read the other two, that's ok - this book can stand alone. I would, however, highly recommend you read the other two because this series is fabulous. It's a totally original idea incorporating not only vampires, but fallen angels, Nephilim, and more. It's one of those stories that stays with you long after you've finished reading. I fell in love with all the characters. Gabe has got to be the sexiest hero I've come across in a while - I completely understood why Chris was totally preoccupied with him. And Chris is one of my favorite heroines ever. Her life hasn't been easy, but instead of letting that bring her down, she has become a stronger, more compassionate person. And hilarious! She had me laughing out loud throughout the story. Sven, another vampire, was a complete riot - I'm really hoping to see his story. Naberius made another appearance in this book - he's fascinating and I want to know more about him. I could go on, but suffice it to say this book has it all as far as I'm concerned - fabulous characters, an original plot, humor, and scorching sex. This is an absolute must-read! Reviewed by Bonnie Jean

I'm off to finish my WIP. Have a wonderful day!!

Inspiration

2009-06-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

Over at Embrace the Shadow's Blog, author Barbara Hancock is blogging about inspiration. Her post is very positive, and worth taking a peek at.

I've been quiet on this blog, along with some of the Yahoo Groups I belong to, because I began work on a novel about a month ago. I started out by deleting 230 pages of the original novel, and began writing chapter two. Chapter one was all I kept. It sounds drastic, doesn't it? But the pacing and the plot were off. The new draft, which is almost finished, is so much better.

Barbara's post on inspiration today really pumped me up. I'm giving myself a week to finish this WIP. The next story is already bubbling up, and I still have to edit the one I'm writing.

Along with Barbara, I'll include a few inspirational quotes to start the day off right...

~ If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it ~ William Arthur Ward

~ Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out ~ Robert Collier

~ The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will ~ Vince Lombardi

~ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it ~ W.C. Fields (LOL!!! I had to add that one in there. :)

Have a great day!!

Awesome Review for Heaven Sent

2009-05-18T15:46:00.001-07:00

Title: Heaven Sent
Author: Dawn McClure
Publisher: Liquid Silver BooksPublisher
URL: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/
Reviewer: Tory Sanders
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat level: S

Chris Fitzpatrick meets vampire Gabe McPherson at the proverbial holiday from hell when he unexpectedly joins her family for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, he’s not there to give thanks but to kill one of her brothers. Chris discovers that her family is made up of vampires and that the family business isn’t really for people allergic to the sun. As Gabe attempts to uncover the conspiracy against vampires, Chris tries desperately to protect her family. She also has to keep her own secret and decide whether a relationship with a vampire can work for her. Mix in demons, werewolves, Lucifer and vampires galore and you’ve got a recipe for fun and mayhem.

Heaven Sent takes place in a short period of time, but Ms. McClure packs in both a great deal of action and character development. The characters slowly reveal themselves and their secrets, though they all come across as fully developed right from the start. I loved Chris’s character more than Gabe’s, but he was one hot vamp. Chris was funny, gutsy and even her weaknesses were endearing. I also enjoyed the secondary characters like the villains who were interesting and didn’t come across as caricatures. The plot was engrossing with enough twists and turns to keep you reading straight through to the end. The only weak part of Heaven Sent was in the dearth of sex. This is understandably part of their growing relationship and individual hang-ups, but I would really like to have seen Gabe demonstrate more of his centuries’ worth of experience to Chris! I hope that this is the first in a series because I can’t wait to see where Ms. McClure takes the characters next. There were quite a few of secondary characters whose stories I would like to see developed in the future, especially the arrogant Sven and the tough Naberius. I will definitely put this author on my watch list.

Tory Sanders
Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Book Giveaway

2009-05-08T06:08:00.001-07:00

Today over at Embrace The Shadow's Blog, I've interviewed Ellora's Cave author, Jennifer North. Drop by and comment for a chance to win her book, Hot Tramps, Cool Vamps.

Hope to see you there!

Embrace The Shadows

2009-05-01T01:52:00.000-07:00

I started a new blog with fellow authors Barbara Hancock and Suzanne Rock. We'll be conducting author interviews, giving books away, and chatting about paranormal romance in general. Today is Fangtastic Friday. Drop by for a chance to win S.J. Day's new urban fantasy, Eve Of Darkness.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Embrace The Shadows

Embrace The Shadows ~ Fangtastic Friday

2009-05-01T01:43:00.001-07:00

I started a blog with fellow authors Barbara Hancock and Suzanne Rock. At Embrace The Shadows blog we will be conducting interviews, giving away books, and chatting about paranormal romance in general. Today is Fangtastic Friday. One lucky commenter will receive a free book - S.J. Day's urban fantasy novel, Eve Of Darkness.

Come on over and check it out! Embrace The Shadows

News on release dates

2009-04-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

BLURB

Vampire mercenary Gabriel McPherson must protect small town girl Christine Fitzpatrick against the very thing she loves the most: her family.

When Christine learns her brother Mike is a vampire, her peaceful world quickly turns violent. Especially when she meets Gabriel, a vampire who’s currently assigned to track down and kill certain members of her family. While Christine struggles to keep Gabriel from killing her family, Gabriel turns the tables on her and reveals her deepest and most shameful secret to the very people she has kept it hidden from. Christine is half-demon.

No longer burdened by her secret, and unable to keep her girl-next-door persona, Christine must fight beside Gabriel to save her remaining family members while battling the fear and doubt of misplaced loyalty. In the process, Christine realizes that not all love is eternal, though eternal love can heal the deepest betrayals. As the impending battle among the ravaged family draws near, Christine’s feelings for Gabriel grow deeper than the fiery pits of Hell. Ironically for her love, Gabriel becomes damned to those very pits, eternally bound by a pact made with Lucifer to save Christine’s soul.

Also, Asmodeus now has a print release date - November 1, 2009!

The Recession Heats Up Romance Novels

2009-04-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

I've seen this article listed on several of my Yahoo! groups, and some authors are finding it offensive.

I think it's funny. lol Call romance novels bodice-rippers, trashy novels, formulaic - it's YOUR opinion. But enough people like them enough to make it a billion-dollar business.

Here's the link to the article - http://www.delaware online.com/ apps/pbcs. dll/article? AID=200990406060

Busy Busy Busy

2009-04-06T07:13:00.001-07:00

Okay, so that's a dude in the picture, but I couldn't find a haggard-looking woman writing behind a desk, so this pic will have to suffice. I've been writing a chapter a day, keeping up with emails (you can't imagine how many emails fly through my inbox in 24 hours), and bouncing from blog to blog. Not to mention the kids had their Spring break this past week. Busy mom by day, and motivated romance author by night! :)

I did get a gorgeous surprise in one of my many emails - the cover for Heaven Sent. It's AWESOME. Anne Cain - a spectacular cover artist - really did a fantastic job. I can't wait to post it all over the web. lol

When I get the finalized cover I'll post it. :) Until then, I will be pretty quiet. I think I'm a step away from going no-mail with many of my yahoo groups, only I think I'm too addicted to go that route. I wonder how much more writing I could get done if I quit spending so much time in my inbox. lol That's like finding out how many licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop. A-one, A-two, A-three...I give up.

The Writing Process

2009-03-30T06:15:00.001-07:00

During an interview I had a while back I was asked what my writing process was like. Of course I couldn't put LOL as my response, but that's exactly what I did...I laughed out loud. Then I explained that I don't have a writing process. For Azazel, the story hit me like a brick thrown from a cannon. WHAM! I knew the story, I knew the characters, and I wrote it. For Asmodeus I wrote a chapter a day and stumbled my way through the first draft. It wasn't until my second round of edits that it resembled an actual story. Heaven Sent was much like Asmodeus, and Samael...don't get me started. It only took me a month to write the first draft...and then two months to revise it.

With Naberius I plan on doing a little research first. I decided to go the 'worksheet' route. What the hell is that, you ask? Well, I have a worksheet for character development, scene descriptions, GMC (goal, motivation, conflict), a conflict grid (can't have too much conflict), a relationship toolbox (that just helps you figure out why the two main characters should fall in love), and my Fast Draft and Revision Hell worksheets. Yes, I'm still trying to find my process, but I'm afraid I've already found it - every book is different. I've heard other authors talk about their process. Through the grapevine I've heard that Nora (who doesn't need a last name) writes only dialogue in her first draft, which she so sweetly calls her POS (piece of shit, for you innocents out there). It (supposedly) takes her three drafts and then she has a completed novel. I wish. Sometimes I only need two drafts, maybe three. Other times...I actually lose count.

But even if I do come up with my own handy-dandy process, would it be a perfect fit for another writer? Probably not. If I thought there was a perfect writing process out there, I'd try out Nora's, since she is the most prolific romance author to date. But writing only dialogue for the first draft wouldn't suit me. I all ready know this, so why waste my time? There is no magic pill...quite unfortunate...so I'll just muddle along until I find my own brand of genius when it comes to the writing process.

What I can do is give you some links to these wonderful worksheets. If you're a writer, hopefully they will help you nail the conflict in your book and flesh out your characters. If you're a reader these links will BORE YOU TO TEARS. Just a little friendly warning. :)

Character Development Worksheet

Conflict Grid (I use this ALWAYS)

Relationship Toolbox (Thank you Nikki :o)

Okay, so these three links should get you started. You can always type what you need into Google (character profile worksheet) and find whatever fits your needs. Happy writing!

Spring is ALMOST here.

2009-03-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

They say that Spring has already arrived. Hmmm, I live in Michigan and I'm going to have to disagree. Floridians might be basking in the warming temps, but not us. But I heard something just beyond my bedroom door today that I hadn't heard in months. The sounds of birds chirping. Now that is a definite sign of Spring.

During the winter I seem to lose 40% of my energy, but when I heard those birds I felt...better. Like my hibernation was almost at its end. :o)

Lately, when I talk to friends and family, I notice we've all had enough of winter. While I was in line at the grocery store yesterday, the cashier told the woman behind me that we were going to get snow this Sunday. The poor lady...you'd thought her family pet had just died. Her face fell and she stopped talking altogether. Ask anyone up north, and they'll tell you that this has been one hell of a long winter. Gloomy, gray days and icy, cold nights. I've definitely had enough. So when I heard the birds this morning I felt like relief was on the way. Energy seemed to consume me and I rolled out of bed with a smile on my face. (That never happens.) I'm the type of person who shuffles to the coffee pot, eyes at half-mast, and grumbles until I've had my cup of joe. Today I went straight to my office and started my blog (So if nothing makes sense, now you know why).

I have only two days left with my revisions on Samael. Suddenly the edits don't seem so daunting. :o)

It Takes A Village

2009-03-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

When I was younger I read two to three romance novels a week. Before I started to read a romance novel I would check out the dedication page. I was always surprised at how many people an author would thank. Sure, you had the occasional one-liner - this is for my mom - but I didn't see that very often. Instead the author thanked their editor, their friends, their cover artist, their baby daddy. Good Lord. Well, now that I'm on the flip side, I understand.

After I produce what I think is a very clean, brilliant manuscript, I'm surprised at what I don't catch. Simple mistakes that would scream at me from another author's book, but passes me by in my own. I think one of my favorite mistakes - and it will always remain so - is when I had my heroine jump onto an esophagus. Yes...you read that right. An esophagus. Hmmm...my editor says. Don't you mean sarcophagus? (Yeah, they were in a cemetery, and no, the heroine didn't jump on the hero's throat.) There's also times a plot issue will arise, and how I miss things like that is beyond me. It's so evident to others, but after engrossing myself in the story for so long I tend to miss these nagging little problems until someone else points them out.

I send my books to my friends for a 'fresh pair of eyes.' I send my books to my mom, who always finds a few problems here and there. Then my book goes to my editor, and we make a few passes over it. Then it goes to a line editor, who also has a fresh eye to catch things. The cover artist gives me a great cover, so she has a hand in the process as well. You never want to forget to thank a person who has had a hand in producing the book. Yes, there's always the dedication that focuses on one person who has stood out from the rest - but I always thank my editor, because she alone really digs in and makes the book shine.

Editing can be a daunting process, and it differs from book to book. I've had some easy edits, and some WTF-were-you-thinking-when-you-wrote-this edits. But when the edits are finished, the result is better than...okay, maybe not, but you get my point. Some authors love the editing process and others not so much. My favorite part of the process is starting a book, wondering where it will take me while I get to know my characters. The editing process can seem like...I don't know...work? lol You have to be on your game while editing so you don't miss anything - which you inevitably do. That's why we have editors.

Suffice to say I'm nearly finished with my edits on Heaven Sent. The editing process is humbling, exciting, and at times, tiring. But when you have the finished product in your hand it's exhilarating...and it propels you into your next book.

Heaven Sent will be released sometime this summer. When I get the cover and release date I'll spread the word...trust me. Promo...now that's a whole other blog entry.

Edits, Revisions and a new WIP

2009-03-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

I really should learn to complete one task before I move on to another. I received my edits for Heaven Sent, which will be releasing from Liquid Silver Books sometime this summer. I'm also doing revisions on Samael, a follow-up story to Azazel. This is Jade's story, and I have a few kinks to work out.

My new WIP is Naberius, and I've put it to the side while I finish up my edits on the other two manuscripts. Naberius is about a fallen angel who is determined to save his daughter from becoming a Nephilim at the onset of puberty. He'll do anything to keep her from turning, even face the fires of the Abyss. The heroine, Adira, has never had to think about anyone but herself. She knows what she wants out of life, and she'll stop at nothing to attain it. She's an assassin with the Alliance - a group of elite vampires who keep their kind in check. She is assigned to determine what Naberius is doing in secret. Vampires have sent in complaints about a demon who has been attacking vampires in the Los Angeles area, but not killing them. Strange activities have been reported, and somehow it's all connected with Naberius. When she learns the truth behind the attacks she must decide between keeping everything she has ever worked for, or accepting everything she's ever dreamed about.

Other than that I've been enjoying the warm temps the last few days. :) I can't wait for spring to arrive. It's been a looonnnggg winter.

That First Sentence

2009-02-16T08:37:00.001-08:00

This trigger happy cat has nothing on me today.

This one is for the writers out there. Today I started a Fast Draft with the goal of writing one chapter a day for the next two weeks. For the first time I decided to plot the book out before I sat down to write it. I have my notes for chapter one in front of me, and I have a scene worksheet that describes my intended setting, characters and goals for the scene. With everything organized, and my cup of coffee by my side, I opened up Microsoft Word to begin the first chapter.

It took me ten minutes to come up with my opening line - and I'm still not sure I'm in love with it. When I pick up a book I'm always drawn to those awesome first lines that really grab me. I think MaryJanice Davidson had a first line that went something like this - "The day I died started off bad and only got worse from there."

How can you not love that first line? It raises all kinds of questions and it's funny as well. Mine? Not so much. But I'm attempting to write a chapter a day so I can't exactly sit here and play with one line for the rest of the day. So I moved on.

My question is, what kind of first line attracts you? If the first scene doesn't grab your attention how long will you keep reading before you decide the book is not for you? Do you remember a first line that hooked you right then and there?

Articles on the future of ebooks

2009-02-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how many people look at me in a strange, confused way when I tell them that my books are ebooks. "What in the hell is an ebook?" Then I explain to them that they can only download my book onto their computer (I don't mention any devices like the Kindle at first because if they don't know what an ebook is, I highly doubt they own a kindle.) I do eventually start chatting with them about the special devices they can use so they can take their ebooks with them anywhere they go. It doesn't matter what I say, or how well I sell it, eighty percent of the time the person I'm talking to says they just have to have that book in their hand.

Well, why not have numerous books in your hand?

The Kindle holds over 200 titles. It also has wireless technology so you can download books from the back of a taxi or when you're waiting in a doctor's office. Now, I'm not going to do a whole blog post on the wonders of the Kindle and how it's simple and easy to download books and magazines to the device. I want to give you an idea of what's out there. Last little note on the Kindle, it's currently $359.00 at Amazon right now - it's also currently sold out.

The Sony PRS-700BC Reader Digital Book is another wireless device you can use to read your favorite ebooks or magazines. This is listed at $399.00 on Amazon and it's in stock. This is a little of what they have to say about the product :

Imagine holding a library of books conveniently in one hand. Begin a new chapter with the PRS-700BC Reader Digital Book. Boasting an impressive 6.0-inch, touch screen display, this Reader uses paper-like E Ink technology which makes it easier to read, even in bright-light situations. In addition to a built-in light, there's an interactive touch screen that lets you turn pages with the slide of a finger or activate the bookmark. You can also create annotations with a virtual keyboard, highlight text with a stylus pen, search for text in your digital book, and easily adjust the font size. A faster processor gives you quicker response times when opening content or turning pages. Ideal for travelers or people who like to read while on the go, the PRS-700BC holds approximately 320 digital books. - Go HERE to read all of the description.

So, what's in store for the future of ebooks? Forbes.com has a great article on the future of ebooks. The article covers new technology for electronic readers. Some ebook readers have backlights and other great add-ons. What I covered above is only the beginning.

So, if you haven't checked out the devices associated with ebooks, the above links are a great start. Here's a few other links to articles that might give you a better idea on what an ebook is, and what the future may bring.

TeleRead : Bring the Ebooks Home - Ex-eReader employee on the past and future of ebooks.

BusinessWeek - The Future of Ebooks - Software and consumer-electronics giants as well as some investors are joining the publishing world for the rise of e-books. First stop: higher ed

Planet Ebook - The Possible Future of eBooks and Print Publishers.

Pocket PC Thoughts - The Future of Ebooks.

First Review For Asmodeus

2009-02-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a snippet ~ Paranormal Romance has a new champion and her name is Dawn McClure! I’m delighted to say that ASMODEUS was every bit the five star novel I’ve come to expect from this incredible new author. I loved everything from her characters to the enthralling paranormal setting she's created. Believe me when I say Asmodeus is a must read for romance fans everywhere! ~ Crave More Romance

Click HERE to read the whole review.

I'm busy writing Ronove right now and keeping up with emails. It's a warm 45 degrees here in Michigan today, so that's good! Especially considering it was -4 the other day.

Azazel Reviewed by Joyfully Reviewed

2009-01-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

Azazel is a demon of the First Angelic Revolt and Lucifer’s top assassin. Luc has sent him to retrieve a group of souls who escaped from the pits of Hell. Alexia is a vampire and one of the best vampire assassins of the Alliance.

Azazel has tracked the souls to Alexia’s friend and fellow assassin Kelsey. “Partner” is a foreign word to both of them but Alexia refuses to stay behind when Azazel hunts the souls. There are a lot of firsts for Alexia and Azazel in this fight. The one that may destroy them is love though.

Nothing beats a good demon and vampire story except a good demon and vampire story with romance and sex. Azazel’s storyline is as engaging as Azazel and Alexia’s tumultuous relationship. Along with its dark and well written plot, Azazel has a very sensual romance. Azazel is a dark, handsome, warrior and Alexia totally kicks ass. She’s a fighter through and through. Every once in a while her vulnerability shows through. They make an amazing team both in battle and in bed. ~ reviewed by Nannette

Link to Review.

My Hero ~ Thank You

2009-01-29T06:10:00.001-08:00

I spend so much time writing about fictional heroes, I thought I would focus on a real hero today. Mine.

I met my husband, Tor, when we were both 19 years old. I was in the Navy, he was in the Marine Corps, and we were both stationed in Italy. Right off the bat I knew he was the one. No one can convince me that love at first sight doesn't exist. I'm originally from the city, and here was this man standing before me in jeans, big worn boots, and a flannel shirt - looking just like the Brawny man. You could have described him just like a hero out of a book...large shoulders, broad chest, square jaw...so handsome. Within ten minutes he asked me on a date.

Since we were in Italy there were numerous wonderful restaurants to choose from. He chose to take me to a place called Tony's...where I had been before. In fact, all of the members of the military went there on a regular basis. I knew the owner Tony by name because I frequented there. That Tor took me to Tony's let me know two things about him instantly - One, he was grounded. He wasn't trying to impress me. And two, he was a man who enjoyed the familiar. My interest in him grew. Of course I messed up the date by trying to pay my share at the end of the meal. Tor was insulted...and he still talks about my insistence on paying to this day. I promised he could pay for our next date, and with a wink he said that would work.

We were married in Italy less than a year later. Within that time he had gone to Bosnia, and during those months I realized just how much I loved him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Through letters I came to know the sensitive side of him. Many romance readers go for the alpha male - but we want a little beta in there. We want our hero to have a sensitive side - a side that perhaps only we can see. He had both. I've kept all the letters he's written over the years, and I read them every now and then. (There are even a few poems in there, but he'll deny that. The beta in him will write them to me, the alpha tells me to keep them to myself.)

We've been married over ten years and during that time he's been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. As strong as I like to think I am, I was a mess during those deployments. While stationed in Iraq he trained Iraqi's to become police officers. He wasn't stationed on a base...he was in the middle of no where with little protection other than the eleven or so Marines with him. I couldn't watch CNN because I was afraid I would hear of a Marine detachment getting harmed. At the time that was all that was on CNN.

He's the strongest man I know. There isn't a thing he can't fix on a car or in the house...at the same time he knows how to separate the laundry and fix a delicious chicken and dumplings meal. If you ask our two daughters who makes eggs the best, they'll say he does, hands down. Cheesy eggs happen to be 'the' thing to eat on weekends in this house. :)

While I struggled to get published he was always there telling me I could do it. He believed in me even as I framed my rejection letters and put them on my office wall with tears in my eyes. He sat in the bookstore with me as I read through magazines and books on the industry, picking and choosing which books I wanted to purchase. He footed the bill for RWA Nationals when both of us knew the money was needed elsewhere. He was there to pick me up and twirl me around when I finally got the email that offered contract.

I wanted to write this as a thank you to the man who completes me in every way.

If I can get my heroes to be half the man he is, then I've done a damn fine job.

Fast Draft Starts Tomorrow!

2009-01-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'll be doing a Fast Draft with Liz Pelletier, Nikki Duncan and Jax Cassidy starting tomorrow. I'm very excited! It's been a few months since I did my last Fast Draft. My goal is 13 - 15 pages a day for two weeks. Candace Havens came up with Fast Draft and Revision Hell. You can go to her website and click on her workshop's page to read more about Fast Draft.

Anywho...I plan to finish up Ronove, which only has one chapter written right now. By the end of the two weeks I should have about 180 pages...and I only need 140 pages. If you are a writer and you find it difficult to get, or stay, motivated, check out Candace's website. You can join her yahoo group from her workshop's page and get all the motivation you need from the members there.

Happy reading and writing!

Blah Blah Blah

2009-01-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

I feel like this cat looks. Perhaps I have the flu or something. I had to re-read Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward to feel a little better. There's nothing like a dose of Zsadist to make even the worst cold go away for a while.

I'm working on a few books right now, and wouldn't you know it, a new plot came to mind yesterday. So...I had to write down the jist of it, and hopefully the story will remain fresh in my mind until I'm finished with what I'm working on.

That's about all for now. I have a few interviews coming up, and I'm going to be a guest blogger on J.K. Coi's BLOG on the 26th of January. Stay tuned. :o)

Asmodeus releases tomorrow!

2009-01-12T05:16:00.001-08:00

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-357-9

Length: Novel

Price: 5.50

Available January 13, 2009

* * *

Blurb

Being an aspiring witch is daunting business…

When Brianna Claxton accidentally summons a demon, she is forced to face hermistake head-on. That becomes problematic when her mistake comes in the form of ahot, ancient demon named Asmodeus who refuses to go back to the hell from whichshe summoned him.

Thoughts of revenge have kept him sane…

Asmodeus is leader of the Rebel Watchers, angels who fell from grace out of lust forhuman women. He had been subjected to the Abyss, tortured in a virtual Hell in Heaven,until the careless mistake of a human witch released him from the fires. Now faced withtemptations of the flesh by the sexy witch who summoned him, he tries convincinghimself that embarking on a relationship with Brianna would be a mistake of biblicalproportions.

Two lives hang in the balance…

Just when things start heating up, four Death Angels give her a mission: Use herpowers to kill him…or face the Abyss herself. Gaining his trust is the key—except thecloser she gets, the more he reveals the man he is, not the demon she thought him tobe.

To read an excerpt click HERE.

www.dawnmcclure.com

Review for Azazel

2009-01-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 star and a must-read rating from Crave MoreRomance.

Sometimes a girl needs more than just a little sizzle and asmoldering body to fulfill her desires. For Alexia, an ass-kickingvampire and member of the alliance trained to hunt down demons, ithad been far too long since either demon or vampire had turned heron. Of course it's a little hard to be aroused when you're able to takedown every member of the opposite sex without even running out ofbreath. That is until she meets Azazel, a demon who can best her inbattle time and time again.

Paranormal romance has never been better than it is in Ms.McClure's hands. Not only is the story unique, blending a world ofvampires and demons, itsthe most fun I've had with paranormal romance in ages. There isnever a dull moment in AZAZEL! I'm delighted to give Ms. McClure'sAZAZEL five stars and a must read rating.

Reviewed by Crave More Romance

Purchase by clicking on My Bookstore and More.

Armageddon Week on the History Channel

2009-01-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

Of course I missed the show I wanted to see! It aired last night. But if I know anything about the History Channel, I'll soon get to see it over and over and over again. :o) This is a blurb I yanked off the History Channel website...

SUNDAY January 4
8:00 PM ET / PT
Seven Deadly Sins: Pride
The Italian writer Dante called the sin of pride the "Chief of All Sins" -- the sin of Satan himself. The sin of pride was condemned by the Bible and the philosopher Socrates, while Romans and Vikings made it their greatest virtue. The sin of pride is thought to have led to the fall of Satan but strangely enough, the most famous story about Satan is not in the Bible. So what is the origin of the sin of pride? CC HD [TV14]

...I have one other show I must watch this week...

MONDAY January 5
9:00 PM ET/ PT
Seven Signs of the Apocalypse
The Seven Signs are clear: We will be struck by deadly plagues, famines and earthquakes... The sky will turn dark and oceans will turn to blood... And the antichrist will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil. Could this all be true? Experts decode this powerful prophecy and come to a startling conclusion: there is now scientific evidence that many of these catastrophes could, in fact, be occurring. A star falling from the sky could be one of thousands of rogue asteroids that may be approaching earth. The plague foretold in the Bible could be a deadly strain of avian virus that researchers fear could kill millions. Oceans turning blood red could be triggered by microorganisms that release dangerous neurotoxins that have the same effect as nerve gas. To reveal the ultimate truth behind the prophecy, this investigation will turn to the past to reveal why the prophecy was written, and why it keeps such a powerful hold on our imagination today. CC HD [TVPG]

Go to the History Channel Website to find out more.

What the...Hell yeah!

2009-01-04T12:02:00.001-08:00

So, I'm not hip to many things in the publishing industry...I'm a newbie. So when I received an email from a reader saying she voted for my book Azazel on the Preditors & Editors reader's poll I had to go investigate.

Dude! Azazel was on the list of (I'm thinking best) romance novels published in 2008. Get. Out.

So, here's the link if you want to go and vote. VOTE HERE.

FAQ

2009-01-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, I never thought I would be writing a post about frequently asked questions - although in this particular case it's a frequently asked question (no plural there) - but here it is. In the past few weeks I've had many people ask me where I got the ideas for my books. Where did I come up with the First Angelic Revolt and Second Angelic Revolt? Where do I find the names of my demons?

I've always been interested in religion. From Christianity to the old Norse gods, I find the stories fascinating. Who isn't intrigued by Loki? The lost books of the Bible? In fact, it was in the Book of Enoch that I found the basis for my fallen angels. In the book of Enoch we are introduced to a group of demons who fell from grace and had sex with human women. Their coupling produced a race of giants, and from there we have the Flood - which purified the world from the evil that had taken over.

My demons - most of them - seek redemption. If they choose to put someone's life above their own - a completely unselfish gesture - then they pass the test (usually given by an angel) and are included in the book of life once again. Some are given access to Heaven and others are not. It depends on the demon and their past transgressions. To me there is no greater emotion than love. Even the nastiest villian loves someone (or something). When I sat down to write my demonic heroes I kept that in mind. Nothing is ever black or white...there's a gray area, and I used that thought to come up with a well-rounded (not purely evil or good) demon. When I began to research Asmodeus, this was the first picture I came across...

Not exactly a man to incite lust, is he? But the story behind the Rebel Watchers interested me, so I read a little more from the Book of Enoch. Enoch, if you are familiar with the Bible, was the male who walked with God for 300+ years, and he had such a good, clean soul God took him. (FYI - Enoch is Noah's grandfather) In the Book of Enoch we find out that he is now an angel. The Rebel Watchers, who fell out of lust for human women (don't quote me on any of this) go to Enoch and ask him to speak on their behalf. It was right there, when I read about their HOPE for redemption that I thought, hey, that would make a good premise. Demons with a heart. Since I write romance I threw in a heroine, who captures the love of the demon, and 'redeems' him.

The one problem with humans and demons mating (according to my world) is that it is forbidden. Remember the Flood? The Nephilim? Well, demons still mate with humans, and those unions still produce Nephilim. So, the demons from the Second Angelic Revolt must keep the Nephilim numbers down by hunting them and killing them. The Nephilim are monsters anyway, right? Well, they are and they aren't. Nephilim are born as normal children. They laugh, they cry, they love, they have cute baby fat, and need to be burped...and then they hit puberty. That's when they turn into Nephilim creatures. So, the demons from the Second Angelic Revolt must kill these creatures, per archangel Michael's orders, or face the fires of the Abyss.

What is the Abyss? To put it bluntly it's Hell located in Heaven. It's a place set aside for Fallen Angels who get a little too big for their britches. There are three tiers, each a little worse than the last. That's a little harsh to have a virtual Hell in Heaven, but you have to recall the teachings of the old testament - 'eye for an eye.' It wasn't until we get to the new testament that we see the adage 'turn the other cheek.' (I'm partial to the old testiment, but then again I'm a little sadistic.)

In a nutshell, that's where I came up with my premise. Here are a few links if you want to look into it.

Demon Names. Here you will find a small list of demons and a little on their background.

The Book of Enoch. The book of Enoch translated from the dead sea scrolls. This site tells you a little about the book and you'll find a link to read the text.

Rebel Watchers. This is the specific page that inspired my stories. Here we see Enoch speak to the Fallen. We also read about Nephilim - or 'giants.'

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.

~Anonymous

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.

~Jay Leno

Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.

~Anonymous

I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included. ~Bernard Manning

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.

~Anonymous

Come to me. I want to plow you like a Calgary driveway at Christmas.

~John Cleese, "Monty Python"

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.

~Erma Bombeck

My Favorite Books of 2008 - Part 2

2008-12-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

Shayla Black is known for her hot, steamy novels such as Wicked Ties, Decadent and Dangerous Boys and Their Toy (get it, toy? Not toys, toy? Oh yeah). Well now she has a paranormal out called Tempt Me With Darkness. Marrok has been screwed over bad - and I mean BAD - by Morganna, an ancient witch. When he meets the heroine, Olivia, he thinks she's Morganna. Oh shit, right? Would you want a male who was once the mightiest warrior in King Arthur's court to detest the very air you breathe?? The next book in the series is Seduce Me In Shadow. Here's a cool tidbit that no one will care about but me ~ I was with Shayla (Shelley) and her friends when she came up with that title. How awesome, right? It was cool! Oh shut up.

Funny story. I was at Nationals in 2007 (everything seems to happen there), standing in line for Sherrilyn Kenyon to sign a book. Nikki Duncan (fellow writer friend) and I caught sight of this book titled "'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy.' How could we not slink over to the author and check out her book? The title was hilarious, and the book was laugh-out-loud funny. Well, this is Leslie's second book in the series. There is a scene in this book that had me acting a FOOL at the airport one day. All I have to say is "CHANGE BABY!!!" If you like a funny, quirky, contemporary read, this is your cup of tea. I DARE you not to laugh your ass off when you read this book. It's impossible.

This book is far from a light and fluffy read. It's the third in a series that stunned me, shocked me and entertained me right to the last page. Brenda Novak knows how to write a disturbing storyline and still keep the romance aspect of the story alive and sensual. The plot is chilling, and it pulls you right into a place you believe actually exists. The characters have been through hell, and this is the book that solves the mystery once and for all. Suspense novels aren't my fav thing, but I couldn't put this book down until I'd read the last page. If you enjoy reading suspense, check out the first two books in the Stillwater trilogy - Dead Silence and Dead Giveaway. These books will not disappoint.

I love me some Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her characters are BAD ASS. Zarek? Kyrian? And now Sin. Come on, you have to love that name. It ranks right up there with Zsadist and Ice (keep reading Shayla's books and you'll know who I'm talking about. He's not quite out yet, but I'm already waiting for him. I'll give you his stats here in a sec ~ Ice is going to be AWESOME). Besides Sin's rockin' name, he's an ancient Sumerian God. Who wouldn't want him in their bed? Kat, who has one hot-ass father, certainly doesn't kick him out of her bed. Only there's one problem (isn't there always?). He hates Kat's mother to the point he actually plans her death. Gives a whole new meaning to hating your in-laws, eh? Read this book! If you haven't yet read a Dark Hunter novel...well, shame on you. If you've never heard about the Dark Hunter novels, then go out and buy them. Her books aren't something a paranormal fan should pass up. It's just...wrong.

Okay...on to Ice. I have to say, I might have to beg Shayla for a sneak peek at this one. Here's a snippet I lifted off of her website for your viewing pleasure. :o)

Isdernus (Ice)

Age: 246—Seasoned enough to carry the scars of war on his body and in his heart.

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 220

Build: Muscled hulk of wizard

Hair: Brutally short black

Eyes: Green

Other: Scarred by poverty, tragedy and self-hatred, he’s a magical warrior determined to avenge the murder of the only person who ever meant anything to him. To do that, he has to cozy up to magickind’s princess—a woman so far out of his league. But one taste…and he’s lost forever.

Do you see why I can't wait for this book to come out? I say she should call it Ravage Me At Midnight and name the heroine Dawn. Right? Ice and Dawn. It has a certain ring to it. Kind of like Zsadist and Dawn. What?? A girl has to dream.

Okay, so that's my list for 2008. These were my top picks, though I have read many good books this year. God I love romance books.

My Favorite Books of 2008 - Part 1

2008-12-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

Nationals 2007, Dallas, Texas. I had no idea who J.R. Ward was until a friend of mine mentioned that she was sitting right behind us at the Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony. I met her briefly after the ceremony and she was funny and nice, so when I got home I decided to check out her books. Thank you God! Zsadist is the ulitmate hero, but I read his book in 2007, so I can't count that as one of my favorite books of 2008 (though it is one of my favorite books of all time). Lover Enshrined is J.R. Ward's latest release in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and though I wanted to see more of the hero and heroine, you just can't find writing like Ward's anywhere else. She's a master storyteller. Her books are food for the soul ~ seriously. In Lover Enshrined I found myself fascinated with how far Ward went with Quinn and, as some reader's call it, the 'gay' scene. Now, I'm not much into m/m novels, and this scene I'm writing about didn't have anything beyond that of a kiss, but it was so moving and tender that I almost wished she had gone a little farther. Yes, I wanted it to go farther and I wondered where that wish came from. It was her writing and the depth of emotion she portrayed through her characters. Waiting for her books to come out is painful.

Joey W. Hill is a writer who doesn't give a damn about 'the rules.' Her female vamp will do what she wants, who she wants, how she wants, and then for shits and giggles she'll piss in your Cheerios. Love it!! Underneath that shell she does what's right, and loves without holding back. To hell with the hero, I was in love with the heroine! The writing is exciting and fresh, with none of the terrible cliches we find so often (admit it, cliches abound in romance novels...hell, I might have more than one cliche in my own books). Joey W. Hill will surprise you every time. The Mark of the Vampire Queen is a must if you like paranormals. It's hot...super hot! And when you read these sex scenes it won't remind you of a thousand others you have read. Again I'll use the word fresh. I'm pretty sure Joey colored outside of the lines when she was a kid, and I thank her for it.

Haha, suckas!!! Here is where I get to brag a little. This book won't be coming out until April 2009!! How did I get an advanced copy you ask? Never you mind...oh alright. Sylvia was giving out a few at Nationals in San Fran this year. This urban fantasy will kick you mother-livin ass! The tag line - you're going to love this...

Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work.

This book is hot, unpredictable, and the series is going to rock the shelves this summer. I'm thinking I'm going to have to wait for the other two books, Eve of of Destruction and Eve of Chaos, because Sylvia hasn't been offering any more of her goodies to me. *sniff* Wait...that didn't sound right. Oh, whatever. On to the next book...

I've been loving the Sookie series for years now, and unless you've been living under a rock, then you know the series is now on HBO. It's called True Blood. It's up for two Golden Globe nominations! In Definitely Dead the reader is let on to a little bitty secret that shatters poor Sookie (toward the end of the book so I can't give it away). In all honesty I think some of the new aspects to the books - Godmothers and Fairies - take it a little too far (just how many paranormal beings can one book have?), yet I still eat these books up like candy. Harris is one of my auto-buys, and I can't miss any True Blood episodes! Unfortunately the season is over, and I have to wait until this summer to see more True Blood (I think Sylvia and HBO are trying to drive me nuts). Just a little tempter to watch the show...here's the actor who plays vampire Bill...

Here's a historical for you. You won't see many of these on my fav books of 2008, but His Woman was really awesome. As you can see from my very loooonnnngg post below, this book reminded me of the historicals I used to cherish. There's action, suspense, danger - everything you want in a historical romance. I had the chance to talk with Diana on the phone yesterday (she did give me her new number!! Bwaaahaahaa) and she has some new twists and turns in store for her readers. Hell no I'm not going to tell you what they are. (She didn't let me in on all the secrets, but I'll give you a hint: if you read His Woman and pay close attention, you might pick up on...yeah right. You have to read the book.) Thought I was gonna spill the beans, didn't you? As if.

And that's all for today. I'll have a few more of my fav's of 2008 tomorrow.

Happy reading!!

His Woman by Diana Cosby

2008-12-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I don't read many historical romance novels anymore. I'm a paranormal girl. I've picked up a few historicals in the past year, though none of them really took me on a journey with the characters. Isn't that what you want in a historical romance novel? Danger, intrigue and passion. Honorable knights and wild Scottish warriors wearing their tartan with nothing underneath, their long, wild hair blowing in the wind, their toned, naked chests....I'm sorry, where was I? Oh yeah, taking a journey with the characters in historical romance novels. *fans self* Some great historical romance novelists include Jude Deveraux, Johanna Lindsay and Julie Garwood. In fact Julie Garwood wrote my favorite romance novel of all time - Ransom. The hero was named Brodick - if I remember correctly. (Brodick, I'm still waiting for you! I live in Michigan now! Call me!)

Anyway, these authors made you believe they had been thrust back in time (or sold their soul to you-know-who) to write such vivid details about a time long past. Their heroines were strong, independent lass's (lasses, lassies, whatever) or timid yet determined noble women. The heroes were larger-than-life men who used one sword to defeat his enemies, the other to tame their little ladies. (haha, did I just go there? I did, didn't I?) I say all of this in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way, but you get my point. The covers had a male standing with his legs braced slightly apart, looking for all the world as though he were going to save the world and devour the heroine at the same time. The heroine looked like she was on the verge of having an orgasm, her hair billowing in the wind, her dress half a centimeter from showing her pink, taut nipples while she kneeled in front of her warrior...ah, the good old covers. (I miss those covers by the way. Where art thou, my fair Fabio?)

Last night I finished a wonderfully crafted historical called His Woman. Now, the cover didn't have a half-naked heroine on it, and the hero had short hair that seemed quite unaffected by any wind. (WTF?) But as I was reading I felt that I had been thrust back in time - to a time when historical romance novelists ruled the world. Okay, fine - ruled the romance shelves at the bookstore. Is that better? Suffice to say I found a historical romance novelist that ranks right up there with Deveraux, Lindsay and Garwood. Her name is Diana Cosby. (And I can just call her Diana, cause yeah, I know her. *claps hands like a two-year-old* I even have her phone number in my cell...oh shit, wait, she moved. Damn!! Uh, now that I'm a stalker-fan you think she'll give me her new one???)

Duncan - the hero in His Woman - is the ultimate warrior with a soft, caring side to him. A few years back the love of his life, and promised bride, Isabel, left him to become an earl's mistress only weeks before they were to wed. (What a bitch!!) Wait! How long have you been reading romance? Come on, you know there's something more to this story than that. Jeez. So back to the whore...I mean story!! Story!! A cruel twist of fate (I've always wanted to say that) brings Duncan and Isabel back together. Duncan gives a promise to Isabel's dying brother, Symon (I'm still mourning your death *sob*), that he will find Isabel and save her from the earl's imprisonment. (Wait, why would the earl throw his own mistress in the dungeon? Quit asking questions I'm not at liberty to answer. I had a top secret clearance in the United States Navy, and I can hold a secret until my dying breath. Or 75 years per my disclosure agreement.) Duncan saves her, and yet still danger lingers. I can't say much more because Diana (there I go using her first name) was in the Navy as well, and I'm not sure what connections she still has. But fear not, my courageous romance novel readers! All the secrets can be found in the pages of His Woman.

4 Stars - HOT

"Former lovers find each other again in book two of Cosby's Scottish trilogy. She deftly combines historical accuracy, well-rounded characters and continuous action in this sweeping romance, which should keep readers engaged until the last page."- Romantic Times

Read an excerpt here
Order His Woman at:Amazon.com

Amazon.com in Canada

Barnes & Noble

Diana Cosby's Website