Welcome to My Guest Author: Kamy Chetty

Today I welcome Author Kamy Chetty to my blog!   So over to Kamy...

 

Using Deep POV to step out of the Slush Pile

As a writer we get told a whole bunch of things that we have to stay true to, if we want to catch that editor’s/agent’s attention and not have to get picked up off the slush pile. Don’t get me wrong, many great writers have been picked up off that slush pile but we both know that it’s getting harder to get noticed.

Not too much back story or you slow the pace; your characters need to be believable; your reader needs to be invested in the story. You have to get the reader to have that emotional journey, and the most important one of them all, show, don’t tell. It’s impossible to remember all of this when you’re writing your story and to be honest, if you did, you’d drive yourself nuts and never get past page five. You’re sitting there thinking, this still isn’t telling me anything about deep POV, so here goes, I’m going to show you an e.g of how I used deep POV in getting published.

I wrote Falling into Paradise in three weeks but it took me a lot longer than that to edit the book. I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful editor, but there were a lot of things I learnt that helped. The concept of layering opened new doors to me and my writing started making sense which resulted in a stronger book.

Deep point of view is when you go into the character’s head and start writing from their POV, instead of the narrative. You might say what are the benefits? Think of it this way. By going into deep POV you can start writing actively and you can show things your character sees and does and that added layer gives your reader the key to your book and the characters.

E.g. when you meet Sophie you see a woman who dresses up in expensive suits with a flashy car, so you think rich doctor from a cultured background.

‘She looked down and wanted to say she felt more like the prostitute from down the road where she lived as a child than Catwoman, but it didn't seem appropriate to share that much information with a man she barely knew.’

Now that little thought Sophie shares with us tells us she didn’t grow up with a silver spoon stuck to her palate and that is a very important thread in the story. I could have used a few paragraphs to imply the same thing but saying that she grew up around a prostitute has a lot more punch and power than anything I as a writer could have narrated.

The other thing deep POV can do is give your book sass. Throughout the book I use deep POV to deepen the characters and their motivations and make it all real. It heightens the tension and makes the story flow.

I can go on about deep POV if you let me but I’d rather you ask questions and I am happy to answer them as best I can. Thanks for having me, it has been a real pleasure being here and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the book or about being a newly published author.

Cheers

Kamy

Kamy Chetty Around the Web:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Author Page

 

 

 

 Blurb - Falling Into Paradise:

A woman too afraid to commit. A man too hurt to love again. A passion that refuses to be denied.

Sophie Redmond knew betrayal, she knew mistrust. She knew everything that was wrong with the world, until Damon Watson charmed his way into her life.

The rules she used to shield her heart were broken one by one, as Damon showed her compassion and kindness. When no one else believes in her, he shows her hope. But is hope ever enough?

Damon knew trouble when he saw it. He was the sheriff. He could spot it a mile away and Sophie was trouble with a capital T. What was it about this City Slicker doctor that made him want to forget everything but those whiskey brown eyes and that honey blonde hair spilled against his naked chest.

Can Damon put the past behind him and choose to love again?

Buy Links:

Red Sage

Amazon

Amazon UK

B & N

 

 

 

 

Welcome to My Guest Author: Suzanna Ross

Today I welcome Author Suzanna Ross to my blog!  

Suzanna is giving away to one lucky commenter a copy of her previous release Trust In Me or a copy of her Short Story Book.  So over to Suzanna...

The Magic of Writing Friends

I’ve been trying to establish a writing career for a long time. Such a long time that I wrote in

the days before word processors – and in the days before the Internet. And I wrote when there
were no writing groups geographically close enough to join.

It was a very lonely and scary place to be.

In those dark days of being alone with my writing, my sales successes were limited: A

handful of short stories. An article and filler or two. Obviously, each hit was to be celebrated,
but they were very few and far between. Besides, even when I did make a rare sale, who was
there to tell? My family and non-writing friends didn’t understand.

Then I found the online writing community. And I did nothing but read writing blogs and

online forums for weeks. It seemed Christmas had arrived with the discovery of the like-
minded members of these groups.

My first tentative steps into blogging were ignored. But, gradually, I gained the confidence

to comment on others’ blog posts – and those comments were returned. Friendships were
formed. Eventually, these friendships developed into invitations to join private groups.

And my hit rate exploded.

Yes, I do think my writing has improved in that time – but that can be attributed to my

friendships with other writers, too. Because these friendships – some involving critiquing and
being critiqued – have increased my confidence in my abilities. And increased confidence can
only result in better writing.

I’m no longer in that scary, lonely, place. Now I have people I can tell when I make a sale.

People who are pleased for me – and who share their own successes, too.

The writing community – real or virtual – is a great thing to be a part of.

Above all, the generosity of writing friends is endless. They’ll spend time reading my work

and tell me straight if the story isn’t working. They’ll help me to find solutions to problems
that I might not see a way out of. They’ll talk about my characters as though they’re real
people. They cheer me on when I’m feeling down and talk me out of it when I’m ready to
give it all up. And, they’ll share contact details, submission guidelines – and shout if they
notice something they think might benefit my career.

Most of all, they cheer loudest of all when I place a piece of writing. At last, someone to tell

who actually cares.

Even if I haven’t met most of them in real life, these are real friends. People I turn to first

when thing go wrong – in my writing or in my real life.

And they’ve made a world of difference.

Honestly, the single best thing I’ve done for my writing is to make friends with other writers.

Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog today. And for the opportunity to write
this post – because it’s made me realise just how lucky I am.

Suzanna on the Web:

Website/Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads





Blurb - Hidden Heartache:

Dr Emma Bradshaw’s life is disrupted when Nick Rudd arrives back in town to take up a post at the GP practice where Emma works. The bad boy attitude is still very much in evidence, but Nick is a doctor now – against the odds – and Emma’s forced to work closely with him. Not so easy to ignore the love of your life when you have to see him on a daily basis. And Nick’s getting perilously close to breaking down the barriers Emma’s built to protect herself from the tragedy in her past.

Nick thought, as a doctor, it would be easy to command respect from the residents of his hometown – and most are pleased to see how well he’s done. But, the one person he wants to impress remains unmoved. Emma is keeping her distance. And she’s changed – the fun loving girl he knew has gone. She’s hiding something big, he’s sure, but she’s not telling. He can’t blame her – he knows he let her down badly in the past. But now he’ll do anything to rekindle the trust and love she once showed him.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon UK

 

Welcome to My Guest Author: Juanita Kees

Today I welcome Author Juantia Kees to my blog!   So over to Juanita...

Do you Love your Characters?

Building a story is like building a house. I discussed this topic in a post about Writing from the Heart on Rachael John’s blog last year. Heart and a good foundation is what helps you and your characters build a riveting story that will engage the reader from start to finish. Add to the mix the walls to make the story strong, and windows to peek into the heads and the hearts of your hero and heroine. The roof is the finishing touch to protect your investment and the people you care about most…your characters.  But their journey doesn’t end there, it’s only the beginning.

I went on to discuss the welcoming party in Write a Book, Bake a Cake which takes a look at the importance of editing your manuscript for submission. Writing is only a part of the incredible learning journey to publication. The more you write, the more confident you become. Research, critique partners, writing groups, contests and workshops all play a big part in helping you hone your craft.  Think of these as the ingredients for a fluffy chocolate cake batter. Leave any of the ingredients out and the consistency of your batter could let you down.

But what about the most important part of all in the story—the people? Who are they? What are they like? Are they heroes and heroines readers will love? Imagine a good, solid house with strong walls and a new roof, pretty gardens and rolling lawns, but the rooms are empty. Void of life, love and laughter. What brings life to the house? Is it the furniture, the paint on the walls, the shiny appliances in the kitchen? Absolutely not! What brings life to the house is the characters.

Readers read to find magic in a story, an element of happiness, hope and escape from the dramas of the real world. By building good, solid characters you can help them find that escape. I recently read a book where the heroine’s daughter was a whiny little girl whose bottom I wanted to spank for the temper tantrums she threw and the distress she caused her mum. Is that a criticism of the author’s writing? No, I’m giving the author huge credit for creating believable four-year-old behavior that drew me right into the scene and made me want to give the girl’s mum a big hug.

In Fly Away Peta, I created a feisty heroine in Peta; someone I hope readers will relate to in her fierce fight to protect her daughter against the dangers of life and heartbreak, while she battles her own demons. And Jaime—gorgeous, strong, delectable Jaime Caruso—a man who jumps feet-first into the fray to fight for the woman he’s loved forever, no matter what danger she’s in.

And if you enjoyed Jaime and Peta’s spirited characters, you are going to love TJ and Scott in Under the Hood, due for release from Escape Publishing in March 2013. This energetic story stars yet another feisty heroine not afraid to step forward and a delectable hero who can’t resist her charm or her dilemma. Together they fight to save a teenage gang from the grip of crime and drugs, all while resisting the temptation to fall in love.

Thank you to my lovely friend and editing buddy, Serena Tatti for hosting me today and letting me waffle on about building houses, baking cakes and creating characters. For a handy guide to creating character profiles, I can recommend Valerie Parv’s The Art of Romance Writing. It’s a guide that’s stood the test of time and a book that holds pride of place amongst my reference books, as battered, dog-eared and full of post-it notes as it is.

Blurb: Fly Away Peta from Eternal Press

The time has come to face her worst fear and the clock is ticking…

Peta Johnson will go to extreme lengths to protect her daughter Bella. When Bella is kidnapped, the search for her takes Peta back to the small Western Australian country town of Williams, a place she’d vowed never to return to. The town where her dreams were shattered and her nightmare began. Back to the place she’d been destined to meet two very powerful, yet very different men. One would break her heart; the other would destroy her soul. Both would change her life forever.

The search for Bella brings them together. Secrets and lies keep them apart. Will Jaime and Peta renew their love in the face of danger or will he let her fly away again?


Bio:

Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and now proudly Australian, Juanita is a freelance writer of book reviews, blogs, web content, advertorials, newsletters, resumes and training manuals. She has written articles on business management for Stanford Who’s Who, New York, USA.

Having completed a diploma in Proofreading, Editing and Publishing through the Australian College QED, Bondi, NSW, Juanita is a freelance editor for Damnation Books, Eternal Press and Escape Publishing, and proofreads scientific text books for Elsevier Press, Oxford, UK.

Juanita gained her professional experience in the motor industry as an administrator and Customer Care/Quality Assurance Coordinator conducting audits; writing and proof-reading reports, operating procedures, company policies, capability statements, newsletters and customer correspondence.

Juanita escapes the real world by reading and writing romantic fiction. She conducts interviews with fellow authors and writes book reviews, as well as the odd blog about the frustrations and delights of being a writer.

When she’s not writing, editing or proofreading, Juanita is the cleaning fairy and mother to three boys (hubby included, his toys are just a little more expensive). Her not-so-miniature Daschund, Sam is her critique partner and keeps her company while writing.

Juanita loves to hear from fans and would love for you to enjoy her writing journey with her at:

On the Web:   

Kees 2 Create

Juanita Kees Website

Twitter

Facebook

Buy Link:
Amazon

 

Links used in this blog:

Write from the Heart

Write a Story, Bake a Cake

Strong Heroines Readers Will Admire

In the Armchair with Jaime Caruso

Escape Publishing

The Art of Romance Writing

Eternal Press 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to My Guest Author: Helen Lacey

Today I welcome Author Helen Lacey to my blog!  

To celebrate the release of Helen's second Harlequin Special Edition, Marriage Under The Mistletoe, she is giving away a copy to one commenter.  So over to Helen...

The Inner Editor

by

Helen Lacey

As much as I have tried not to at different stages in my writing career, I always edit as I write. Even though I am not a plotter and simply start with Chapter One and get into the story, I still edit myself page by page. I’ve never been the kind of writer who can do what is often called ‘dirty draft’ and then go back and fill in dialogue tags or add settings etc. I can’t write something that says ‘fix this’ in brackets mid-scene and then return later to flesh it out. Which means sometimes I am working on the same page for hours, wondering why it’s not working, and then making sure that it does work before I move on to the next page.

I have tried what I call the ‘sit and surge’ approach, but inevitably have to go back and edit the words and pages that I’ve done before I hit the save button and close down the computer  for that particular writing session. I stopped trying to force myself to plot my books out in advance a long time ago – but have found that editing as I go helps me stay within the framework of the story and keeps my characters true to theme. I do the usual character biographies, story outline etc, but I have found that if I plot in too much detail I often lose spontaneity and get easily distracted from the project. Not knowing what is going to happen next keeps me interested and invested in the characters I am writing about.

Of course, while I’m actually writing the first draft this approach sometimes doesn’t seem particularly time effective – but I have found that since I do edit as I write, when it comes to the latter stages of the manuscript’s development, I can polish and do any editorial revisions reasonably swiftly. Some books seem easier than others though, and often I’ll work with critique partners and/or a professional manuscript assessor to really fine tune any glitches and ensure the story is in the best shape.

But there is no right or wrong way and every writer has to find the process that suits their writing style. Essentially, the important thing is to write the best possible book every time.

Helen Around the Web:



Website

Facebook

Twitter

Author Page

 

 

Marriage Under The Mistletoe:

Strong. Sensible. Dependable. That was Evie Dunn's type. Certainly not young, fearless gorgeous firefighter Scott Jones. She knew the wisest course was to keep her distance, but she couldn't resist the allure of a holiday fling. Now the widowed single mom found herself with an unexpected post-Christmas gift—she was having Scott's baby!

Scott came to Crystal Point to see his sister tie the knot, not fall for the alluring owner of the town's oceanfront B and B. He knew he was all wrong for Evie, but he would do anything to win her heart and build the family he'd always wanted. All he had to do was persuade Evie to take the biggest risk of her life…on love.

Read an Excerpt:

 

Buy Links:

Harlequin

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Book Depository

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to My Guest Author: Marilyn Baron

Today I welcome Author Marilyn Baron to my blog! So over to Marilyn....

Make New Friends (But Keep the Old)

By Marilyn Baron

When I was a Girl Scout I use to love this traditional song:

Make new friends,

keep the old.

One is silver,

the other is gold.

I find the sentiment in that song has particular relevance to writing novels. I have several old manuscripts (friends) sitting around that I couldn’t find a market for because they represented a particular niche. Examples include novels about older heroines, which aren’t always the easiest to place, and a novel about World War II.

Last year, I dusted off one of my old favorites, revised it, and lo and behold, after some additional revisions suggested by the editor, it sold. My romantic thriller, Under The Moon Gate, set in contemporary and WW II Bermuda, will be released in the spring 2013 by The Wild Rose Press. In the past, no one seemed particularly interested in the topic of World War II. However, my new editor found something she liked about it, bought it and it will be marketed as a historical, which I didn’t realize I wrote. I typically write women’s fiction, paranormal and romantic suspense.

I never gave up on my “old friend.” I had faith in it. My husband even liked it and he doesn’t read any of my books. The only novels he reads are about World War II, so he actually agreed to read parts of this one. I have always been fascinated by the second World War since my father had been a top turret gunner on a B-17, flying missions over Europe. That’s one of the reasons I wrote it. Another was the location. My family and I had been to Bermuda on vacation many times and it’s one of our favorite places to visit. So I combined my love of Bermuda and my interest in World War II into one novel. 

I believe getting a contract on this book must have been fated. Earlier this year, Barbara Edwards invited me to join her Triberr tribe, Shining Roses for the Wild Bunch. I had no idea what this tribe was but I accepted her invitation. Months later, I signed the contract with The Wild Rose Press and noticed that some of my fellow Tribemates also wrote for TWRP. I emailed Barbara, who confirmed that, yes, all of the writers in the tribe are Wild Rose Press authors. Her response was, “Must have been karma. Congratulations.”  

Hanging out with old friends doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to work on something new. Right now, I’m finishing a new romantic suspense, partially set in Australia, because I fell in love with the place when I visited. However, don’t throw out old manuscripts like worn out shoes. As a matter of fact, I’m revising another “old friend,” a humorous women’s fiction that finaled in a writing competition.

The moral of this story is Don’t give up. Trust your instincts. Get out your old manuscripts and give them a second chance. Your writing has no doubt improved since your last reunion. You saw something in these gems once and you may again. Like an old stuffed, well-worn Teddy Bear, there is still something to love.



Georgia author Marilyn Baron on a trip to Australia in 2009
makes friends with a koala.

Georgia Author Marilyn Baron, a member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers, writes humorous women’s fiction, humorous paranormal short stories and romantic suspense.

Her latest paranormal romance, Dead Mix, was just released by TWB Press.

To read more about her women’s fiction, “The Edger,” visit her blog at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales; for her angel stories visit TWB Press.

Find Marilyn on Facebook or Twitter.

Marilyn's next book, “Under the Moon Gate,” a romantic thriller set in contemporary and WW II Bermuda, will be released from The Wild Rose Press in spring 2013.

DEAD MIX

MUSIC TO DIE FOR

The devil went down to Georgia. Roswell, Georgia, and more specifically, The Lion’s Den music store. Enter at your own risk. The proprietor there specializes in mixing music to die for...on CDs that are guaranteed to knock you dead by the final note. As the citizens of Roswell go missing, one man, Daniel Craig, ventures into town on the hunt for lost souls, a search that will change his life, forever.

Dead Mix is also available at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Welcome to My Guest Author: Louisa George

Today I welcome Author Louisa George to my blog!   So over to Louisa....


Thanks, Serena, for inviting me here today!

Lost For Words?

Put an end to procrastination

Some days I just don’t know where to start! I play a little on the internet, read my emails, play a little more (although I prefer to call it ‘research’) and before I know it the day has gone- not a word has been written and my writing opportunity wasted.

Now I’m published I have to write to deadline- a big and scary thing that adds worry to my procrastination. But somehow I still spend far too much time playing and not enough writing.

So, after even more research I’ve developed a few strategies that I use every day. Using these have increased my word count no end and, more importantly, have reduced my stress/guilt levels.

1. Get Organised

So, I had files all over my computer in Word folders- cut bits, important scenes, ideas.  I had a page of links to research (I’m a medical romance writer so I need to do quite a lot of research), another one of photos for my story collage. But every time I wanted to look at them I had to open another document, then another, until one day I got so confused as to where I was that I found that I’d written and edited on the wrong darned document and lost a heap of good stuff!  Now I have Scrivener

There are many different writing programmes available (such as:  snowflake pro, writersblocks.com, writewaypro.com, writerscafe.co.uk) so if you’re interested in getting one you should do your research carefully. Scrivener works for me. I have everything in one place and can happily click away to my heart’s content! This is a screen shot of my Scrivener folder for my second book Waking Up with His Runaway Bride (out in July 12). On the left is the binder with all my relevant documents in it. The middle is where I write (although you can use full screen too), to the right I keep document and project notes, have a synopsis of my chapter- and my hero! You can try before you buy and there are lots of youtube videos to take you through the way it works!

2. Bum In Seat

Make a date: Show up on time!

If you want to have a successful career as a writer you have to write. Mark out your writing opportunities in your dairy and stick to them!

3.Turn OFF the internet

I use a nifty little programme called Freedom. It is ‘internet blocking productivity software’ that stops something (cookies, I think-but I’m not a techie!) and you can’t get on to the internet for a set time. You set the time. It’s available for macs and pcs. The first time I used this I trebled my hourly output!

4. Plan what you are going to write.

My biggest time suck is the internet. I waste far too much time flicking through facebook and twitter. However, one good blog I came across was Rachel Aaron's who tells us how she increased her writing output to 7,000 words a day! I use a couple of her techniques.  One of which is to plan what I am going to write that day before I start. Either longhand, or in the document notes section of Scrivener eg: (taken from my third book):

-they walk to pool

-have swim to cool off

-he kisses her

-they eat; he’s brought her food from places she’s going to visit, how does this affect her?

-she touches his tattoo- what does he feel/ think?

-he talks about his life before the accident/ what tattoo means

This way I have a list I can work through- I’m not plotting at this stage, just planning.

5. Have a deadline tracker

Scrivener has a great project tracker and can show statistics on number of words written/ most common words used etc. But I like to set myself even more rigid deadlines. I have a daily word count I have to achieve, a deadline for novel completion, one for editing completion, one for submission etc. The easiest way to do this is creating something that’s going to work for you in Excel, although you can find lots of examples on the internet.

6. Don’t lose the fun

This writing gig can be hard work at times- but it’s essential we don’t forget the joy we get from creating stories. Make time to ‘fill the well’- go for a walk, look at the ocean, take in a movie. Refresh, relax and recharge.

Once you’ve got all these steps in place- all you have to do is write! No excuses!

Do you have any other tips on how to increase productivity or decrease procrastination? I’d love to hear them!

About Louisa George:

I was born and brought up in Yorkshire, England. And yes, many hours were spent on the brooding, bleak Yorkshire Moors dreaming of Heathcliff and other dark, tortured heroes! I read avidly from a young age, and it seemed a natural extension that I would pen my own stories and poems (the early ones are locked away in a drawer where they should stay for eternity!).

Then followed years of studying, nurse training and marriage, two kids and well.... life took over and writing was put aside as a lofty dream.

We emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand in 2002, to feed our passion for travel. It was a place we had never visited and knew no-one - what a thrill! We soon felt very much at home. It is a wonderful place to bring up children.... and to follow your dreams.

Strange things happen here. While doing chores I began to get strings of poetry writing itself in my head, then story ideas would suddenly formulate out of nowhere, characters were telling me their stories and demanding I wrote them! I decided I either needed to visit a doctor or get some therapy! In the end I did neither, but instead I enrolled in an evening class in Creative Writing and have been writing poetry and stories in snatched moments of spare time ever since.

 

Blurb :  One Month To Become A Mum

Some things in life are worth waiting for…

Jessie Price has lost her only chance at motherhood – it’s a constant hurt, until she meets sinfully sexy single dad Dr Luke McKenzie and his gorgeous little girl. Luke’s intoxicating kisses and his daughter’s adoring hugs have Jessie longing for the impossible. But she's a temporary locum, the clock’s ticking – and there’s only a month to make all her wishes come true…

Buy Links:

Mills & Boon

Mills & Boon eBook

Amazon UK

Amazon

The Book Depository