Strawberry Sweetness

The strawberries are so juicy-delicious from California right now. I can’t get enough. Here a couple of my new favorite recipes.

Strawberry Shots

Strawberries        Sugar        small bowl of water      alcohol      lime wedges

• Hollow out a strawberry with a small spoon.
• Dip in water, then sugar.
• Add booze & garnish with lime.

Vodka or tequila would work, or for a snazzy shot, mix equal parts Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and vodka. Another tasty treat would be

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Cream Frosting

Frosting:
2 8-oz packages of cream cheese, room temp    1 c butter, room temp   4 c powdered sugar
1/2 c seedless strawberry jam      3/4 c chilled heavy whipping cream

Cake:
3 c cake flour    3/4 tsp salt      1/2 tsp baking powder      1/2 tsp baking soda   3 c sugar
1 c butter, room temp      7 large eggs      2 T vanilla extract      1 c sour cream
6 T plus 1/3 c seedless strawberry jam

2 1/4 lbs strawberries, hulled, sliced (about 6 cups), divided

Directions:

• For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth. You’ll probably want to use an electric mixer for this so you don’t end up with lumps.
• Stop every now and then to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Beat in sugar, then jam. Beat cream in a separate, chilled, bowl until peaks form.
• Fold whipped cream into frosting.
• Cover; chill for a couple of hours until it’s firm enough to spread.

Cake:

• For the cake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans with 2-inch high sides.
• In a medium bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Add sour cream, and beat for 30 seconds. Add flour mixture in three additions, beating to blend after each addition. Divide batter into prepared pans.
• Bake cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pans, then turn cakes out onto a rack to cool completely. (You may even want to refrigerate them for a couple of hours to make this next step easier.)
• Using a serrated knife, divide each layer in half horizontally. Place one half, cake side down, on a cake plate.
• Spread 2 T of strawberry jam over the cake, then spread 3/4 c of the frosting over the jam.
• Arrange 3/4 c of the sliced strawberries on top of the frosting in a single layer. Repeat two more times with cake layer, jam, frosting, and strawberries.
• Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down.
• Spread two cups of frosting over the top and sides of the cake in a thin layer, then frost with remaining frosting.
• Stir remaining jam to loosen, then spoon teaspoonfuls onto the top and sides of the cake. Use the back of a spoon to swirl jam decoratively into the frosting.

www.perrysplate.com  & www.resourcefulgirl.com

Tags: alcohol, baked goods, cakes, vices

A Writer’s Secret Weapon–The Power of Delete

A reader or crit partner, even an agent, reads through your manuscript and says, this is too long. Cut 5k, 10k, 30k words? Your jaw drops. What the? How in holy hell am I supposed to do that? It’ll ruin my story, you cry!

Chances are, there’s PLENTY to edit to make your writing tighter and your story move more swiftly. DELETE is the writer’s ultimate-super-bodacious-ultra-sonafide weapon. But there’s nothing to delete, you say? Ahh, look again, young padawan…

CHOOSE YOUR SCENES WITH CARE

This seems like a giant DUH. But it sooo isn’t, at least not at first. Sometimes we add vignettes with loving detail that really serve no purpose in terms of advancing the story or portraying a character’s traits. So how can you tell if a scene can be cut in your own work (especially when you can’t see the forest for the trees)? Look for these points in EVERY SINGLE SCENE:

1. Goal— What is the protag/antag’s goal?
2. Motivation—What’s propelling your character toward that goal?
3. Conflict—What is the problem/issue in the scene preventing the character from achieving said goal?
4. Does this scene SHED LIGHT on a character’s traits?
5. Does the scene MOVE THE STORY FORWARD?

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Does your protag have a duplicitous nature? Does he/she have a secret talent, a strange preference for maraschino cherries? Demonstrate this by putting your characters in the middle of a scene SHOWING us these idiosyncrasies. Do not describe them, or I should say don’t ONLY describe them. For example:

THIS:  Jonny Appleseed loved to scare people. He hid in trees, behind buildings, or in dark corners and sprang upon passersby when they crossed his path. Derrick Cradlesbee was his favorite victim since he made fun of Johnny all the time.

VS.:   Johnny Appleseed perched unseen on a bowed branch. A mosquito murmured in his ear and the sweet scent of rotting apples filled his nostrils. He cradled a water balloon in his hand like a baby kitten, careful not to puncture its stretched skin. And there he was—the indominable Derrick Cradlesbee with Claire Lightfoot on his arm. He would pay for making Johnny feel a fool in homeroom. Johnny leaned forward, careful not to lose his footing on the spindly branch. Just three more steps and Derrick…

You get the idea. Portraying a character within a scene is powerful and a reader is more likely to absorb the character’s traits/thoughts/feelings, etc., within an action scene demonstrating them.

TRIM ECHO WORDS, PHRASES & OTHER USELESS CRAP

Echo words or phrases reiterate an already stated thought, thus making them redundant and UNNECCESSARY. This is the part where you “murder your darlings”. Delete, prune, and leave only the meat. Here are a few questions to help guide you with your trimming. When revising, look at each word, each phrase and ask:

1. Do I really need this word/line? Does it add to the story? Can I communicate the same idea with a word or two or a gesture instead?
2. Is there one slam-dunk word that will nail the same string of adjectives or thoughts?

So look at your MS again. Focus on one scene at a time and comb it lovingly. I guarantee you’ll find a few lice that need to be zapped.

Tags: editing, manuscript, polishing, revising, writing

SALAD SPREE

Tis’ the season for salads. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I grow rather sick of the same cucumber-lettuce-tomato salad. Here ar a couple of my favorite salads with flare.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH PEAS, PISTACIOS, & ASIAGO

2 Tab fresh lemon juice          1/4 c olive oil

5 oz Arugula         1 c frozen peas, thawed

1/2 c pistachios, roasted & chopped      1 c asiago, aged & shaved

1 Tab mint, chopped          1 Tab parsley, chopped salt & pepper

• In a small bowl, whisk lemon & oil. Season with salt & pepper.
• In a large bowl, combine arugula, mint, parsley & peas.
• Toss salad with the dressing. Sprinkle pistachios and cheese on top. Serve.

GREEK SALAD WITH GRILLED GARLIC SHRIMP

1 lb shrimp, thawed, peeled, & deveined         2 cloves garlic, minced          1/2 ts lemon zest, finely grated

• Marinate shrimp in garlic & lemon juice for 30 minutes.
• Thread onto skewers leaving a 1/4 in between each piece.
• Place directly on greased grill rack over medium heat.
• Cover grill and allow to cook 3-4 minutes on each side.

SALAD:

7 oz mixed salad greens          2 oz feta cheese          1/4 c quartered artichoke hearts

2 tomatoes handful kalamata olives, pitted          1/8 c red onion, diced

1 cucumber, peeled & chopped     5 pepperoncini peppers, diced (optional)

• Toss all ingredients in a large bowl with Greek dressing (recipe follows).
• Spoon salad into 4 bowls. Place shrimp on top.

DRESSING:

3 Tab olive oil          1 Tab red wine vinegar          1 Tab lemon juice

1 Tab fresh mint, chopped         1 Tab fresh oregano, chopped salt & pepper

• In a screw top jar shake all ingredients well. Add to salad.

A Writer’s 8 Most Important Tools to Becoming Successful

There’s a boat load of resources floating through cyberspace about how to succeed as a writer. Though everyone’s process is different, I’ve found that the absolute most important tools are the same for everyone. I managed to round them all up in one quick list.

1. DON’T SEND YOUR MS OUT TOO EARLY: The problem is, how are you supposed to know if it’s too early? A good rule of thumb is to have at least five HONEST readers (a mix of writers and readers) take a look at your MS. What was their feedback? Writing mechanics aren’t enough. For a little guidance on this, check out APPLYING THE SPIT AND POLISH

2. RESEARCH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS:  Scour their websites, read their tweets, or check out any write-ups about them in Publisher’s Weekly and agent tracking websites. Most importantly, talk to their clients to get a feel for the agent/editor’s personality and their preferences. The more information you have, the more likely it is that you’ll connect with the right people to help you further your career. Besides, you may make some great friendships along the way.

3. SEE AND BE SEEN:  A web presence is crucial when marketing yourself, but it’s also NOT ENOUGH. Join writers’ groups and readers’ groups. Attend conferences. Connect, swap ideas, help your fellow authors grow. The more you participate, the more you will A) learn B) feel good about yourself and your own process and C) have a fighting chance of becoming published.

4. PRACTICE YOUR CRAFT:  This goes without saying. Keep writing and reading. A LOT. Write some more. Try writing in forms that challenge you to think about words in a new way. Dabble in some poetry, song lyrics, magazine articles, short stories, journaling, blogging even. Practice makes perfect and growth is essential or you’ll never get anywhere.

5. LOSE THE EGO:  No one likes a know-it-all. Acting as if you’re better than anyone, newbie writers included, is about the fastest way to destroy relationships with cool people. The other problem with a ginromous ego is that if you’re too busy tooting your own horn, you won’t be open to LEARNING something NEW or you may even miss opportunities.

6. TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY:  On the flip side of the huge head is the squeaky mouse in the corner, afraid to peep lest someone laugh at them. You must take your writing seriously. Even though God and everybody says they want to write a book the minute you mention that you’re a writer, it doesn’t make them one. It also doesn’t belittle your process. YOU ARE NOT A FRAUD. YOU ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT! If you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will either.

7. BE FLEXIBLE:  This little ditty can be applied to most things in life. A branch that bends doesn’t snap.  If the traditional publishing route isn’t working out for you, there are loads of options. Try indie publishers or even self-pub. Redefine your view of what successful means. Is it realistic? Adjust, grow, and meanwhile, write your heart out.

8. DON’T LOSE HOPE:  This is the great American Dream…or really anyone’s dream. There is ALWAYS hope in pressing on.  So write on! Keep learning. Keep pouring your soul into your creative works. Participate. Success WILL find you.

Pitch-ilicious Blog Hop WINNERS

I had a heck of time choosing the winning pitch–everyone did a fabulous job of tweaking them to make them sparkle. I hope there was much learned and new writer friendships were made. And as always, write on!

PRIZES:

FIRST: A critique of your manuscript up to 2,000 words and a FREE WRITER’S WEBSITE/BLOG from professional web designer and developer, Brian Mowell.

SECOND: A critique of your mansucript up to 1,500 words

THIRD: A critique of your manuscript up to 1,000 words

RUNNERS-UP: A critique of your manuscript up to 500 words

And now without further ado, the winners:

RUNNERS-UP

J.L. Oiler

Alexandra Hinkle is a mountain lion shifter, a secret that has kept her isolated most her life. Moving into the same small town the Hyatt brothers call home, she discovers her ability might not be as unique as she thought. When a string of deadly accidents plague the town, Alex wonders if the three men stalking her are up to more than ensuring the continuation of the species, and if she is their next target.

Bernadette Lincke

When Carol Anne Rison wakes up from a medically induced coma, all of her life memories seem intact. However, she soon discovers her memories are not her own, but belong to a woman named Deliah Simmons, a person who has never existed. Carols’s struggle to reclaim her identity takes her through the darkest regions of her mind to ultimately uncover a terrifying secret that changes her reality forever.

THIRD PLACE

Nancy Maloney

Asta had the unique ability to make everyone feel they were her best friend–until they convene at her funeral. An estranged husband and wife discover Asta was secretly friends with both of them; a self-absorbed diva learns she’s not the sole object of Asta’s attention, and a confused love interest comes to terms with their estrangement. These strangers, guided by Asta’s confidante the funeral director, unearth her puzzling nature and embark on inner journeys of their own.

SECOND PLACE

Angela F Parkhurst

Scarlett Lux feels like enough of a freak when she starts having premonitions of death, let alone learning she has light sparking from her hands. To top that off, her sort-of-ex-boyfriend Mason Salvatore, Prince of the Assassins, and Sebastian Andersson, a sexy guardian, can’t spend two seconds together without fighting. Scarlett really doesn’t need boy drama right now; not when the Majester is trying to kill her for her light–the power to melt the barriers between earth, heaven, and hell–and everyone else has mistaken her for a missing hundred-year-old princess.

FIRST PLACE

Liz SanFilippo

When 18-year-old Anne Marie is shipped off to Paris to live with her grandmother, she plans to uncover the secrets surrounding her mother’s death. While pursuing the truth, she tumbles through time and becomes a distant relative, Charlotte Corday, a French aristocrat entrenched in the politics of the French Revolution. As her two realities become intertwined, Anne must decide whether to follow Charlotte’s destiny–to murder a radical leader for the good of France–or to follow her own path.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CONTEST:

The QUERY CORRAL is coming May 28th. Receive feedback on your queries, hop around and help others, and submit your best query to win a FREE CRITIQUE of your opening chapter (up to 10 pages) from editor extraordinaire, yours truly.

WINNERS: Email me your pages in Microsoft Word format to HeatherWebb (dot) writes (at) gmail (dot) com

Guest: Bestselling Author Kate Quinn & Empress of the Seven Hills

I have the great pleasure of welcoming national bestselling author of DAUGHTERS OF ROME and MISTRESS OF ROME, Kate Quinn. I met Kate at the Historical Novel Society Conference last June in San Diego. She was delightfully witty with a streak of sarcasm (my fav), and happy to answer any questions newbie authors had for her. I knew I had to read her books! And what a feast they are–packed with well-drawn characters, page-turning action, and lush descriptions of ancient Roman times. Her latest, EMPRESS OF THE SEVEN HILLS debuted this month. To read a sample chapter on her website click HERE.

ABOUT KATE:

She is reluctantly a native of southern California. A lifelong history buff, she first got hooked on ancient Rome while watching the original “Spartacus” in elementary school and getting a tremendous crush on Kirk Douglas. She attended Boston University, where she studied Classical Voice while writing books in her non-existent spare time. Her first novel, written her freshman year while trying to retreat from a Boston winter, was later published as “Mistress of Rome.” A prequel followed, titled “Daughters of Rome,” and then a sequel written while her husband was deployed to the Middle East. “I realized that my Roman legionary hero in `Empress of the Seven Hills’ was fighting in the same part of the world where my husband was deployed. I swear it wasn’t intentional!” Kate is currently writing her fourth novel, and hopes never to work in an office cubicle again. She and her husband live with a small black dog named Caesar, and her interests include opera, action movies, cooking, and the Boston Red Sox. Kate be found at her website: KateQuinnAuthor.com

WHEN DID YOUR LOVE FOR ANCIENT ROME BEGIN? 
I’ve adored ancient Rome as long as I can remember. My mother had a classics degree, so my bedtime stories were all Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon and Marc Antony vs. Octavian at Actium, not Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I was watching “I, Claudius” by the time I was seven or eight (protesting vigorously when I was sent out of the room for the gory parts) and my first movie-star crush was Kirk Douglas in the old Stanley Kubrick “Spartacus.” He ruined me for boys my own age – I was so disappointed that there were no cleft-chinned gladiator-trained freedom fighters in my class at school.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH PROCESS.
Since “Empress of the Seven Hills” is my third book set in ancient Rome, I now feel very comfortable in the era. I have a library full of Tacitus and Suetonius, most of the books so well-thumbed they are falling apart. I did have to do a lot of special research into the Roman military this time around – campaign life and legion structure and so on. My two previous books had fairly minimal military stuff, but “Empress of the Seven Hills” has a legionary hero working his way up the ladder, so I needed a lot more specific information. It turned out to be fascinating research – my husband is a sailor on active duty in the US Navy, and if anything I found more similarities in the military experience than differences. Whether they fight in 1st century legions or 21st century destroyers, the fighters of the world still hunker down off duty to complain that their feet hurt, confess that they miss their families, grouse about superior officers, observe that the local alcoholic beverages are swill, etc. Some human experiences are universal.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PART OF NOVEL WRITING?

Working at home! Office jobs are allergic to me: I hate suits, I get claustrophobic in cubicles, I’m terrible at company politics, and I miss my dog. I wake up every day happy and grateful that I can do my job on the couch in yoga pants, with no one to tell me that my “Tell Me Again How Lucky I Am To Work Here” coffee mug is not in line with the company mission statement. Aside from working at home, the best part of novel-writing is that head of steam that builds up when the words are flowing and the fingers are flying – there’s nothing like it.

WHAT’S YOUR VICE THAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE STRESSFUL TIMES?
Yellowtail chardonnay and the Boston Red Sox! There’s nothing better, after five hours of hammering away at the latest novel, than pouring a glass of wine and collapsing in front of a baseball game. Watching David Ortiz swagger up to the plate with the game on the line and Fenway Park screaming their collective heads off – that’s a foolproof way to forget all about your plotting problems!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Don’t spend your hard-earned cash on classes and instruction groups. They can be good, but why pay money when there are wonderful online groups like Goodreads and www.onfictionwriting.com, free of charge and chock full of valuable advice and experienced people? Besides, the best way to learn to write is to read all the good fiction you can get your hands on, and keep plugging away at your own writing. That will give you an ear for what good prose is, and trial and error will teach you how to produce it. Find a few intelligent readers – friends, relatives, anyone you trust to read your work and give you an honest opinion about it – and listen to them. Learn to edit your own work; that sinks a lot of new writers. I think it really comes down to those three things: read, write, re-write. And keep at it! It takes a long time to write a book, a long time to get an agent, and a long time to find a publisher, so don’t get discouraged if the whole thing takes years. Just keep plugging.

EMPRESS OF THE SEVEN HILLS:

From the national bestselling author of Daughters of Rome and Mistress of Rome comes a tale of love, power, and intrigue spanning the wilds of the Empire to the seven hills of Rome.

Powerful, prosperous, and expanding ever farther into the untamed world, the Roman Empire has reached its zenith under the rule of the beloved Emperor Trajan. But neither Trajan nor his reign can last forever . . .

Brash and headstrong, Vix is a celebrated ex-gladiator returned to Rome to make his fortune. The sinuous, elusive Sabina is a senator’s daughter who craves adventure. Sometimes lovers, sometimes enemies, Vix and Sabina are united by their devotion to Trajan. But others are already maneuvering in the shadows. Trajan’s ambitious Empress has her own plans for Sabina. And the aristocratic Hadrian — the Empress’s ruthless protégé and Vix’s mortal enemy — has ambitions he confesses to no one, ambitions rooted in a secret prophecy.

When Trajan falls, the hardened soldier, the enigmatic empress, the adventurous girl, and the scheming politician will all be caught in a deadly whirlwind of desire and death that may seal their fates, and that of the entire Roman Empire . . .

Pitch-ilicious Blog Hop Contest

I just love a good contest. How fun it is to interact with other writers and possibly gain A.) more friendships, B.) writerly advice, & C.) PRIZES!  So it’s high time I ran another! Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

WHAT

Create your best THREE line pitch for your novel (does not have to be a completed ms), give and receive feedback from other entrants, and submit your pitch for a chance to win!

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

1. Writers in need of help with their pitches

2. Writers who could use honest feedback & line edits on their pages

3. Writers in need of a website or blog make-over

4. All unpublished or published writers

HOW TO SIGN UP

1. Leave a simple comment on this post and be sure to include your website link. If you don’t have a site of your own yet, you may still enter by including your pitch in the comments. You may also sign up via Facebook or simply send me your info via Twitter.

2. I will keep a running list of participants at the bottom of this post with your links as you sign-up. This makes for easy hopping to and from others’ sites.

HOPPING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sign-up from April 9th-April 18th.

2. On Wednesday, April 18th, post your pitch to your blog/website.

3. Hop from blog to blog on April 18th & 19th and give other participants feedback on their pitches.

4. Submit your final pitch by emailing it to HeatherWebb (dot) writes (at) gmail (dot) com. The subject heading should read: PITCH CONTEST. Paste your pitch in the body of your email and send by MIDNIGHT on Saturday, April 21st. Winners will be announced sometime the following week.

SHARE

1. Please share the contest on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc. I won’t be tracking you, but I’d really appreciate it!

2. Be kind, but honest with your feedback. We could all use constructive criticism, but there’s no reason to be rude. Please respect each other.

3. In the unlikely event there are fewer than 10 participants, the free website will not be included as a prize, so SPREAD THE WORD!

PRIZES

First Place: A critique of your manuscript up to 2,000 words from editor extraordinaire (yours truly), as well as a FREE WRITER’S WEBSITE/BLOG from professional web designer and developer, Brian Mowell. YES, this is a FREE setup of your author website or blog! INCREDIBLE PRIZE! Already have a site? No problem. Have your existing site revamped for FREE!

Second Place: A critique of your manuscript up to 1,500 words.

Third Place: A critique of your manuscript up to 1,000 words.

PARTICIPANTS

Those without links do not have a site. Please check for their pitches in the comments of this post.

1. JL Oiler                                                              11. Bree Chittim

2. D.D. Falvo                                                         12. Liz SanFilippo Hall

3. Hasmukh Amathalal Mehta                                 13. Bernadette Phipps Lincke (see comments)

4. Diane Stephenson                                            14. Nancy Moloney (see comments)

5. Kerri Reiner                                                      15. Peggy Strack

6. Nancy Elizabeth DeFreitas

7. Janet Taylor

8. Carrie-Anne Brownian

9. Angela Parkhurst 

10. Celia Stander

12.

What’s With All the Conference Hype?

We just discussed Rocking the Conference Circuit, but let’s back up and discuss why bother going to one in the first place? They cost money, you probably won’t know anyone there, and you’ll feel like a phony because you aren’t published. I mean you’re not a REAL writer, right? Or hey, maybe you ARE published so what’s the point?

Most of these excuses are about FEAR and to be a part of this industry one must be FEARLESS, at least to some degree. So buck up, stop your kvetching, and take a leap. This is an investment in your future as a writer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised…and energized by being amidst a hoard of industry professionals and serious writers. Just look at all the perks. You’ll:

CONNECT WITH WRITERS IN YOUR GENRE Conferences are a great opportunity to meet writers both in your genre and outside of it. If you’d really like to target your genre only, choose a conference geared specifically for you. (See the list below.)

BUILD YOUR PLATFORM  Making connections with other writers is ultimately a way to expand your platform. Collect business cards and exchange information. As I’ve mentioned before, follow up and develop these friendships online and you’ll see your readership grow. Remember, word of mouth is key!

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE Conferences are usually packed with informative seminars on craft, platform advice, industry news, and agent/editor panels. There’s always something to learn, even if you’re a seasoned, professional writer.

MEET WITH AGENTS OR EDITORS that you’ve been dying to meet. Whether this happens in the form of a pitch or feedback session, or by simply introducing yourself to them, connect! Tell them how much you enjoy the books they represent or ask a few burning questions you’ve had about the business, what they are looking for in a client, etc.

HAVE FUN Mingle, learn, listen to keynote addresses by known authors, meet up with Twitter pals in person. Take pictures, buy books and have them signed, eat lunch with a hottie. Whatever. Enjoy yourself!

So now you’re convinced you should go, but…

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH CONFERENCES TO ATTEND?

Follow the buzz on Twitter and Facebook, but also ask other writes and dig around online. There are quality conferences in most states, though, admittedly, there are more in some regions than others. (NYC & New England, specifically) Here are a few of the larger conferences that are up & coming in order by date:

Unicorn Conference: Portland, CT, April 28th–All genres

Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference: Dallas, May 19-20th–All genres

Backspace Writers Conference: New York City, May 24-27– Lit, wom fic, hisfic, contemp Adult, YA

Algonkian New York Pitch Conference: NYC, June 21-24th– All genres

Romance Writers of America: Anaheim, CA, July 25-28th

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators: Los Angeles, CA Aug 3rd-9th– Pic books, MG, YA

Williamette Valley Conference: Portland, OR, August 3rd-5th– All genres

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers: Denver, Co, Sept 7-9th– All genres

Moonlight and Magnolias: Atlanta, GA, Oct 5-7th

Mystery Writers Conferences: This page has a long list of conferences for mystery/crime/thriller writers all over the country

Romance Writers of America Conferences: This page lists conference events all over the country month by month.

Rocking the Conference Circuit

As an extrovert, I LOVE attending conferences and I’m gearing up (with much anticipation!) for the couple I’ll be attending this year. I get a buzz from meeting all of those talented writers, agents, and editors. This is not the case for some of you. Many cower at the thought of working a room or being on the spot. So how do you get into the groove of selling your books, of selling you? How do you rock the conference circuit?

1. REGISTER IN ADVANCE  It cuts down on the stress of arriving early, making sure you get all of the proper tags, meal tickets, seating, etc. Not to mention, many of the conference perks can only be enjoyed if your register early.

2. STUDY THE ONLINE BROCHURE  Print it out and read it cover to cover, carefully. Check out all the great seminars. Circle or star those you think you’d like to attend. Some may overlap so rate them according to importance. On the day of the conference, you’ll know what to expect and be able to spend more of your time networking during the breaks rather than choosing seminars.

3. RESEARCH THE STAFF  Know the experts who will be leading the seminars, reading pages, or taking formal pitches. The brochure provided by the conference is great, but there are many more nuanced bits of info you can learn about a particular agent, for example, by reading the agency websites, their blogs, etc. Just because Agent Joe reps historical fiction doesn’t mean he prefers Russian historicals. Maybe his thing is westward expansion in the U.S. These are important distinctions an author should know before pitching their work. It also saves unnecessary stress and rejection.

4. DRESS COMFORTABLY, but look hot. I’m not recommending spike heels or suits and ties, necessarily, unless that’s your “thang”. There’s a fine balance between looking great and being comfortable–find your zone and stick with it. You’ll feel more confident if you look good!

5. PRACTICE YOUR PITCH  This goes without saying. Practice your pitch at home. Record it, perform it for your pets, your kids, your husband, or better yet, your writing group. Listen to their feedback and make adjustments so it flows the day of the conference.

6. BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF  People want to know what you write about, why you choose to write about it, and other interesting hobbies or background info you’d like to share. Gear up to spill the beans.

7. TALK WITH SOMEONE DURING MEAL TIMES  Meals are always a great way to make friends. Plus eating  gives you something to do to mask the akwardness in starting a conversation with someone new. At each meal time or designated break, mingle with different people. Circulate. This includes cocktail hour, which is often the best time to network.

8. BRING BUSINESS CARDS & A NOTEBOOK Give away your cards, accept cards from others, take notes on their information. People love to talk about themselves and it’s fun listening. Get it all down and add it to your list of people you know in the biz. This will come in handy later as you’re building your platform.

9. TAKE PICTURES  They’re a fun way to remember some of the great people you met. It’s also a wonderful thing to post on your blog or Facebook after a conference.

10. POST-CONFERENCE AFTERMATH Follow-up with the people you met, then friend or follow them on Facebook or Twitter, or wherever they may be on the web. Send them messages. Check in to see how their book(s) are coming along. Make enduring connections. This is what building your platform is all about.

Most importantly, BE YOURSELF! What makes writing conferences great is the multitude of very different people they attract, from all walks of life, in varying stages of their craft, in dozens of sub-genres. Being yourself is the real key to rocking the conference circuit, or, frankly, anything in life.

WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITE CONFERENCES? CARE TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE FROM THEM?

Fifty Shades of Theft

If you haven’t heard about the ebook FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by now, let me clue you in. It’s a BDSM erotica novel written as a Fan Fiction version of Twilight. It’s been on Amazon’s top 100 bestseller’s list for 100+ weeks, though Amazon wouldn’t claim it for some time (until about two weeks ago, I believe), and was finally bought at auction by an imprint of Random House for a reputed 7 figure deal!! Say what? How does a rip-off erotica sell for seven figures? You got me. Everything I’ve read bashes the novel for poor writing.

But the bigger issue surrounding FIFTY SHADES and all other Fan Fic isn’t a judgement of writting quality, but an issue of ethics. Is it the RIGHT THING to do to rip off someone else’s creative elements? Let’s begin with the definition of Fan Fic to get to the bottom of this.

WHAT EXACTLY IS FAN FIC?

“Supplemental stories written by fans of a pop-culture franchise (or, alternatively, a celebrity’s “real life”), using the show’s pre-established characters and story arcs. Can be used to fill in plot holes, or have characters get into randy, nasty sex, and lots of it.

In what are often extremely bad cases, some fanfic inserts the author into the middle of his favorite action, usually in the form of a Mary Sue or Marty Stu.  Fan fiction provides a clear and compelling example of Sturgeon’s Law (“90% of everything is crud”). All but the remaining 10% of it is ghastly stuff studded with misspellings, poor grammar, and horrid malapropisms; 50% of that is usually Dead Fic.” –TVtropes.org

So how is Fan Fic so different from other fiction? Because isn’t…

ALL FICTION IS A DERIVATIVE OF SOMETHING ELSE

There’s nothing new under the sun, as they say. Roughly five ga-billion spin offs have been written using major hits as models like Harry Potter, Twilight, Austen classics, and Shakespearean plays (and many, many others).

The difference seems to be that Fan Fiction isn’t INSPIRED by another work, it feeds from it like a parasite or even copies it outright. Let’s face it. Pouring $3 sparkling wine into a bottle labeled as Dom Perignon does not make it champagne. It’s still just sparkling wine. On the other hand, I like sparkling wine–as long as it isn’t the rot gut $3 variety– and so do many readers. So where do we draw the line? I gauge it by common sense and FEELINGS.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF IT WERE YOUR NOVEL?

Some would be flattered. Imitation is the best form of flattery, or at least that’s what my mom used to say when my little sister copied every last move I made. (Used to make me want to deck her) Some would want to do the same to the Fan Fic author. Others wouldn’t balk at all. Good for them. I guess it all depends on your perspective.

The part that rubs me raw is how hard I work, how much painstaking, gut-wrenching passion and dedication I’m willing to devote to my novels. Those who “write” Fan Fic with a little switcharoo here and there, only to make very good money doing so, makes me a little queasy.  As a writer, as a driven, hard-working woman who believes in pulling herself up by her bootstraps, I DETEST this idea. As a smart business person and an advocate of Freedom of Speech, I applaud their ingenuity. Just keep ME, the author, out of the re-written bedroom scenes, thank you very much.

So what about all of that possible copyright infringement?

IS IT LEGAL?

If names and locations are changed and scenes are spliced and diced, recreated, and sprinkled throughout the novel, the Fan Fic “author” could, in fact, be completely in the clear. So the answer is, yes and no. It DEPENDS on on how much content is copied.

So then the next question becomes…

HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES?

• Copyright your works the minute they’re finished. HERE
• Consult a fantastic publishing lawyer you trust for questions regarding copyright infringement HERE (Susan Spann is terrific)
• Sign up for Google Alerts HERE: Everytime your name or book title, character’s names, etc, are mentioned, you receive an email from Google “alerting” you. Be sure to “manage your alerts” to include any special tags you’ve chosen.
• There are many other sites designed specifically to proofread and monitor plagiarism, all varying a bit between fees and services. These include:

MUSO.com – Large companies tend to use MUSO, but any author willing to pay the fee can use their services

Turnitin.com– Check for essays, non-fiction articles, papers, etc. Many schools subscribe to this site.

Copyscape.com– Type in a URL and this site will scan for plagairized works for free.

TinEye.com– Scans for lifted images.

So the moral of the story is, protect yourself and keep an open mind. As authors, we risk being so wonderful that someone wants to treat our work and relabel it. In the age of electronica, I’m afraid this is a price we must pay as fewer books are tangible and more are copy & pastable. As readers, we demand LOTS of choices, and if we become obsessed with a particular series, hey, maybe we’ll be the very next person to purchase a Fan Fic novel.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?

How would you feel if your work had been “ripped off”? Or do you see it differently? Would you not be miffed by Fan Fic based on your novel? What are your feelings as a reader?

 A FEW ARTILCES FOR FURTHER READING

In Support of Fan Fic  Thoughtful points in an article written by Seanan Mcguire

Hilarious parody of FIFTY SHADES  written by Andrew Shaffer’s alter-ego Evil Wylie (and a few of his blog posts about Amazon vs. Random House and the swirl of media hype about the book HERE)

Why a Book Flies Off the Shelves by Agent Nephele Tempest

Fifty Shades of Grey: Publishing’s Sexiest Trend à la NPR

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST CHECK OUT

“It’s a Dystopian World in Publishing” 

For the Love of Spring

The atypical warmer weather this week has me itching to break out my favorite spring dishes. Today, I’m highlighting   asparagus, vidalia onions, and lamb chops. Bon appétit!

 GRILLED LAMB CHOPS w/ MINT PESTO

1/2 C balsamic vinegar    1/4 C honey      12(3 oz) baby lamb chops, frenched

1 & 1/2 C parsley leaves (tightly packed)    1C fresh mint leaves (tightly packed)         1 clove garlic

2 T pine nuts           1/3 C + 2T olive oil     3T parmesean        salt & pepper

•  Heat grill to high
• Whisk honey and vinegar. Season w/ salt and pepper. Save half of mixture for serving
• Brush chops on both sides with 2T of olive oil and season with salt and pepper
• Cook chops on grill for 2-3 min, or until brown and slightly charred. Turn over and brush with honey glaze. Grill 2 min more. (med-rare)
• Remove from grill and brush with remaining glaze. Tent with foil and allow to rest for 5 min.

Pesto:

• Combine parsley, mint, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor until corsely chopped.
• Slowly add oil while the motor is running. Once smooth, add cheese and salt and pepper. Process for a few more seconds to combine.
• Spoon 2 teaspoons or so of pesto on each chop.

ASPARAGUS with OLIVE OIL, FETA, & PEPPER

1 1/2 lbs fresh asparagus    9 T Olive oil         1/2 ts salt      6 oz feta cheese    1 ts black pepper

• Heat grill on high
• Trim asparagus and place on a baking sheet.
• Toss with 3 Tab of oil and season with salt and pepper
• Grill for 3-5 minutes or until crisp
• Transfer to a platter
• Add remaining oil, pepper, and salt and toss to combine. Top with feta and serve

VIDALIA ONION SOUP with BLISTERED VERMONT CHEDDAR

2 T butter   2 T olive oil  3 lbs Vidalia onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped     ½ cup brandy    ½ cup dry sherry    2 T flour
6 C low-sodium chicken broth     5 sprigs fresh thyme   Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 thin slices French baguette, lightly toasted    1 lb aged cheddar, grated

• Heat butter and oil in Dutch oven over medium until melted. Add onions & cook until caramelized, stirring occasionally, 30-40 min. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the brandy and sherry and cook until reduced.
• Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the stock and the thyme and cook until the soup is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Place the crocks on a baking sheet and fill each crock ¾ of the way with the soup.
• Place a slice of baguette over the soup and divide the cheese on top. Place the soup under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

**All recipes are Bobby Flay’s.

Guest: Sophie Perinot + THE SISTER QUEENS

Today I have the great pleasure of interviewing Sophie Perinot, a witty historical fiction author (with a wicked sense of humor) for Between the Sheets. This week her debut novel—a tale of two sisters who also happen to be 13th Century Queens—was released by New American Library. I’ll be picking up my copy today!

A BLURB for THE SISTER QUEENS

Raised together at the 13^th Century court of their father, Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are separated by royal marriages—but never truly parted.

Patient, perfect, reticent, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. Her husband, Louis IX, is considered the greatest monarch of his age. But he is also a religious zealot who denies himself all pleasure—including the love and companionship his wife so desperately craves. Can Marguerite find enough of her sister’s boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in the guise of forbidden love?

Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Her husband, Henry III, is neither as young nor as dashing as Marguerite’s. But she quickly discovers he is a very good man…and a very bad king. His failures are bitter disappointments for Eleanor, who has worked to best her elder sister since childhood. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?

 What inspired you to write about these particular women?

More than seven years ago, while researching a totally different project, I came upon a footnote in a history of Notre Dame de Paris about Marguerite of Provence (whose kneeling image is carved over that great church’s Portal Rouge) and her sisters.  These remarkable 13^th century women were the daughters of the Count of Provence and related, through their mother, to the house of Savoy.  The Savoyards were celebrities in the High Middle ages—a family of considerable political and marital power, whose members were renowned for their personal attractiveness.  All four of these extraordinary sisters made politically significant marriages yet I had never heard of them.  I wondered how these women could have slipped through the fingers of history.  It seemed utterly unfair.  I started a file folder with their names on it, vowing to come back and tell their story.  With The Sister Queens I fulfill that vow.

How does your own life play out in terms of sibling rivalry in the novel?

I decided to frame the story of my queens as a story of sisters rather than a story of political events for very personal reasons.  I am half of a pair of incredibly close sisters.  My relationship with own sister, a professor of history, defines me and has done so since childhood. My sister and I were actually college roommates and we still speak nearly everyday by phone.  I get tired of books portraying sisters as back-stabbing, hyper competitive rivals.  That is NOT my experience of sisterhood.  Of course there is a bit of sibling rivalry in every relationship, but I believe lots of sisters draw tremendous strength from each other and stand together to face life’s challenges.

My finished novel weaves together the stories of the two eldest Provencal sisters—Marguerite who became Queen of France, and Eleanor who became Queen of England. They were the closest of the four sisters, despite being separated by the English Channelfor long stretches of time, and their relationship of mutual support, tinged with just a bit of competition, really spoke to me. It’s that sisterly support that I wanted to celebrate in my book, both in honor of my own sister and because I believe it will resonate with sisters everywhere.

Are you in love with a particular time period, or are you inspired by certain characters?

Characters.  I am a character junkie.  Someone interesting appears—I catch a glimpse of a historical figure out of the corner of my eye or, as in was with my sister queens, in a footnote—and I have to pursue her/him.  I have to discover, for my own satisfaction, what makes that character tick.

Don’t get me wrong, history fascinates me (particularly French history).  Heck I was the first member of my college graduating class to declare herself a history major.  But issues and relationships that are bigger than history, that are timeless, really inspire me.  So, while The Sister Queens is set in the 13^th century and Marguerite and Eleanor are “of their time” what interests me the most about them is their relationship as sisters.  They faced many of the same relationship challenges and drew strength from each other in many of the same ways that sisters do today more than 700 years later.  My current work in progress explores the always complicated mother-daughter relationship with a historical twist.

What makes historical fiction unique?

What does it mean to be family?  What does it mean to be loyal?  What does it mean to love unsuitably?  Why is every child desperate for parental approval, no matter how unsuitable the parent? What does it mean to sacrifice personal happiness, or even your life, for a child?  These are the kinds of BIG questions that books do and should wrestle with.  When they confront life’s major issues, books can make readers fully aware of their own humanity and help readers parse through issues in their own lives.  Historical fiction should play this role just as other genres of fiction do.  What makes historical fiction unique is its setting, which I would argue is more than decorative.  Historical context gives writers the chance to highlight just how universal certain themes are.  It also provides a distance of sorts to help readers approach themes and thoughts that might seem too raw or too personal in a contemporary context.  Finally, of course, writing historical fiction gives us history-geeks a chance to share historical facts and details with readers who may *gasp* (because I know “educate” is a dirty word) learn something new about the past while they are reading.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

To aspiring authors, I would say it’s not enough to hone the craft you have to learn the business (unless you are just writing for your own satisfaction).  While you are polishing your manuscript, take some time to learn about publishing.  That way when the happy day arrives and you have an agent and a book contract, the facts of life (e.g. authors need to be involved in marketing and promotion) or simple definitions (do you know what it means to “earn out”) won’t stop you in your tracks.  If you haven’t taken the time to learn about the business than you shouldn’t be looking for an agent or a publishing deal no matter how ready your manuscript is.

 Historical fiction writers, specifically?

To historical fiction authors specifically I would say respect history but don’t be smothered by it.  When I read a work of historical fiction I want accurate historical detail yes, but I need a compelling story.  If you are giving me pages of “historical detail dump” I get annoyed EVEN if the facts themselves might fascinate me in a non-fiction book.

And remember history is fluid—any academic historian will tell you that interpretations of history change and even the “facts” as we know them aren’t set in stone.  New information and artifacts are discovered.  Old theories and artifact identifications are discredited.  You get to make choices based on evidence.  If you change something that is currently accepted as “fact,” please mention that in your author’s note.  But if you have conflicting sources don’t hesitate to choose the facts that support the narrative arch you are trying to build.  This is fiction.

 Thank you, Sophie and congratulations on your launch!

SOPHIE’S BIO

Prior to being reincarnated as writer, Ms. Perinot was a lawyer.  An avid reader, especially of classic literature, and life-long student of history, Sophie was quite naturally drawn to writing historical fiction.  As someone who studied French inSwitzerland, and a devotee of Alexandre Dumas, French history was a logical starting point.

Sophie is an active member of the Historical Novel Society and has attended all of the group’s North American Conferences.  At the most recent conference she had the great good fortune to meet novelist and “Between the Sheets” blogger Heather Webb.  Sophie is also an enthusiastic resident of the virtual world where she is active among the literary Twitterati,on Facebook, and at the two group blogs she is proud to be a member of Book Pregnant (what to expect when you are expecting a debut novel) and From the Write Angle.  For more information on Sophie and her novel The Sister Queens, please check out her website.

/h3/a

Crepes, Galettes, and Madeleines + Sophie Perinot

I don’t know about you all, but I could use  a vat of café au lait and some sweet Frenchie goodness to carry me through to the weekend. So dig in to the array of simple recettes delicieuses below. Try one or two, or try them ALL et bon appétit! By the way, stop by next Wednesday, March 7th for a guest post by Sophie Perinot authoress of the newly released historical novel THE SISTER QUEENS.

GALETTES 

2 lbs dark brown sugar      1 lb butter   7 eggs     1 TB vanilla   6 1/2 c flour

Directions
In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar and butter until smooth and creamy; then add eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Gradually stir in flour. Set bowl over a hot water bath, and stir to blend ingredients. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.  Preheat the galette iron, or small waffle iron with shallow divets.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls, and place in the iron. Close the iron, and cook the cookies. This should take about 30 seconds in an electric iron, or 2 to 4 minutes in a handheld iron over a medium flame. Carefully remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

**These are buttery and delicious and go well with tea or coffee.

CREPES 

1 c flour   2 eggs   1/2 c milk   1/2 c water   1/4 ts salt   2 TB butter, melted

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan(I use a crepe maker) over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.  Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

**My favorite dessert crêpes are stuffed with bananas & nutella or strawberries & powdered sugar. I also dig them with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of Grand Marnier. For dinner  crêpes, I love them stuffed with spinach, wild mushrooms, and béchamel sauce.

MADELEINES

2 eggs  1/2 ts vanilla   1/2 ts lemon zest   1 c confectioners’ sugar     3/4 c flour
1/4 ts baking powder    1/2 c butter, melted and cooled

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour twenty-four 3-inch Madeleine molds.
In a medium bowl beat eggs, vanilla and lemon zest with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar. Beat for 5 to 7 minutes or until thick and satiny.

Sift together the flour and baking powder. Sift one-fourth of the flour mixture over the egg mixture, gently fold in. Fold in the remaining flour by fourths. Then fold in the melted and cooled butter. Spoon batter into the prepared molds, filling 3/4 full.

Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden and the top s spring back. Cool in molds on a rack for 1 minute. Loosen cookies with a knife. Invert cookies onto a rack and cool. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the tops or melt semi-sweet chocolate chips and dip the tips in the chocolate. Store in an airtight container.

**Another buttery treat made divine with a cup of tea.

Applying the Spit and Polish

What does polishing your manuscript mean? You hear it all the time. Make sure your ms shines. Look out for weak verb constructions and adverbs, or too many dialog tags, etc. Sure, these are important elements. But don’t be fooled into thinking strong mechanics are enough for your book to be “ready” for submission. They’re superficial elements. Yes, writing mechanics will make or break a great novel, but it’s only one of the MANY things that make a novel shine. Be sure your manuscript can answer these questions:

Character Arc

• What are the character’s hopes and dreams? Are they obvious to the reader?
• Did you convey a sense of yearning toward these goals?
• How does your character change over the course of their journey to reach their goal(s)?
• What unforeseen growth (or lack of it) happened IN SPITE of the protag’s ignorance of this need to grow?
• Did you properly portray the protag’s likeable qualities?
• What noble (or horror-inducing) actions display the protagonist’s inner sensibilities?
• How do your protagonist’s weaknesses cause obstacles for them before they may achieve their goal(s)?
• Why should the reader continue to read your 250+ paged novel? What is the lesson or moral your book reveals?

Setting & Mood

• Are your characters’ actions anchored in description and sensory details? Have you made the reader hear the metallic clang of a chain fence, feel the rustle of silk on skin, or smell the fatty richness of bacon?
• Have you reflected the character’s feelings by their view of their surroundings? How has this aided in creating a mood or tone for your novel? Can you pinpoint specific examples?

Themes

• Does your book display the theme(s) you’re trying to communicate? Can you discern them in different parts of your novel?
• Which additional themes can you weave into the story to enrich the messages in your MS?

Pacing

• Does the reader long to discover how the character will confront their obstacles?
• Have you made each chapter a mini novel within itself– beginning, middle, climax, and end?
• Does each chapter finish leaving the reader wanting to turn the page, or close the book?

Symbolism

• Have you developed the novel’s themes through the use of symbols?
• Is there a sense of foreshadowing illustrated through the use of symbols?

So how do we know if we’ve REALLY answered all of these questions?

1. Get a critique partner or group on par with your level of craft or slightly above.

2. Enlist several beta readers outside of your crit group for fresh eyes

3. Hire an editor

4. Become a reader yourself. Let your manuscript rest for several weeks and go back to it. Reread it from cover to cover without revising anything. What is missing?

When you can answer all of these questions without hesitating only THEN is it polished to perfection.

Enjoy this post? Check out:

Breaking Out of the Editing Funk

Tags: critiquing, editing, revising

WINNERS–Opening Line Contest

Thank you to everyone who participated. I had a blast reading your opening lines! This wasn’t easy–many of them intrigued me. So how did I manage to choose? Your entry made the top three if it:

1. Met the 160 character limit. (If your entry ran over, I chopped off the remainder of your sentence and judged from there.)

2. Was Concise, punchy, and attention-grabbing

3. Caught both my attention as well as Shari’s.

PRIZES

FIRST PLACE: A critique of your opening chapter up to ten pages or 4,000 words by beta reader extraordinaire (yours truly), AND a FREE thirty minute phone consultation from multi-pubbed author, magazine editor, and media expert SHARI STAUCH of SHARK MARKETING. Shari will assist you with your social media platforms (how to use them, how to increase your traffic, how to reach your target audience), coach you on improvements to your blog/website, or make suggestions on promotional details for your book release. Don’t have a website? Shark Marketing specializes in websites for authors as well as writers conference websites. This is a fan-tab-ulous prize!

SECOND PLACE: A critique of your opening scene or up to 2,000 words AND a book of your choice.

Books: No More Rejections by Alice Orr, Story Engineering by Larry Brooks, or How To Get a Literary Agent by Michael Larsen

THIRD PLACE: A critique of your opening scene up to 1,000 words.       

RUNNERS-UP: I’d love to do a 1,000 word critique for you as well!       

So, without further ado–the winners!                                            

RUNNERS-UP

Kris Walhderr

A painting undermined my father. And, as you will see by the end of my story, a painting nearly destroyed me. Art is dangerous like that, an unruly thing.

Killian McRae

The original plan definitely had not ended with exploding chickens.

Lindsay Kitson

No place better to be on a warm Saturday evening than looking for a whore in Bonnytown.

THIRD PLACE

Ashlyn Macnamara

If the key to announcing bad news was all in the timing, George Upperton’s mistress possessed impeccable sense.

SECOND PLACE

Barbara Forte Abate

He told lies the way some people make love; hard, often, and more than a little dirty.

FIRST PLACE

Caryl Cain

A good makeup artist can make anyone look beautiful. Even a dead woman.
Actually, Miss Ethelyn looked better dead.

Congratulations to the winners and MERCI for participating!

NEXT CONTEST COMING IN APRIL:

Create your best pitch and win a FREE WRITER’S WEBSITE (a $450 value!) or BLOG from professional web designer and developer, Brian Mowell. Details coming soon. YES, this is a FREE setup of your author website or blog! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G PRIZE! Already have a site? No problem. Have your existing site revamped for FREE!

WINNERS:

Email your pages as an attachment (Word documents only) and/or any questions to HeatherWebb (dot) writes (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to put OPENING LINE CONTEST in the subject heading.

OPENING LINE CONTEST

We’ve been discussing trite openings and plotlines the last couple of weeks here at BETWEEN THE SHEETS.  With so much blather about what is good and what isn’t, how to be inspired, and how to avoid falling between the cracks, I’ved decided to run a contest–an opening line contest. And I have some VERY EXCELLENT PRIZES. Trust me. You want to enter. So let’s do it!

WHAT

Submit the most creative opening line (of a novel) you can come up with in 160 characters or less, spaces included (like a tweet profile byline or a text). Make it dazzling. Entice me. The top three most intriguing will WIN WIN WIN prizes.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

1. Writers in need of honest feedback for their opening chapter or scene

2. Writers who could use expert marketing/platform advice, need help promoting an upcoming book release, or need direction from a media coach expert before hitting the conference circuit.

HOW TO SIGN UP

1. Sign up with your name and opening line in the comments section of this post (No more than TWO entries per person). Your opening line doesn’t have to be “real”, it just needs to get  me all hot and bothered about the story you’re selling. Show me your creative badassery.

2. Be sure to read others and talk about your favorites.

3.  Share the contest on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+, etc. No, I will not be stalking your every move, but would genuinely appreciate your cooperation. (I’ll send you a bucket-load of good karma.)

4. Check back on FEBRUARY 24th for the conclusion of the contest. Winners will be posted.

5. I’d love it if you followed me. Also NOT required. I ain’t that shallow, but let me know if you do and I’ll follow back.

 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Both unpublished and published authors may enter

2. All genres welcome

3. In the event there are fewer than 10 participants, the prize will not include Shari’s consultation, so round up some folks to enter!

WINNERS

Winners will be announced on FEBRUARY 24TH. I will post the top three as well as email those who have won. Good luck and pass it on!!

PRIZES

FIRST PLACE: A critique of your opening chapter up to ten pages or 4,000 words by beta reader extraordinaire (yours truly), AND a FREE thirty minute phone consultation from multi-pubbed author, magazine editor, and media expert SHARI STAUCH of  SHARK MARKETING. Shari will assist you with your social media platforms (how to use them, how to increase your traffic, how to reach your target audience), coach you on improvements to your blog/website, or make suggestions on promotional details for your book release. Don’t have a website? Shark Marketing specializes in websites for authors as well as writers conference websites. This is a fan-tab-ulous prize!

SECOND PLACE: A critique of your opening scene or up to 2,000 words AND a book of your choice (below).

THIRD PLACE:  A critique of your opening scene up to 1,000 words.

Good luck, everyone!

BOOKS

(The spacing is wonky & driving me nuts, but alas, I can’t fix it. You and I will have to deal with it.)

Tags: contest, editing, platform, revisions, social media

Overdone Plotlines & What to Do About Them (Part Three of Three)

We’re continuing our discussion of how to avoid writing trite openings or overused plotlines. We’ve reviewed a list of the most common storylines in PART 1 and how to devise a grabby intro in  PART 2. In part three, let’s take a look at what makes a story original…and how the heck to create one.

 MAKING STORIES ORIGINAL

SUBPLOTS

You’ve probably read somewhere there are only thirty some-odd character archetypes and even fewer journeys for the human psyche. So how do you make them fresh over and over again? The answer is in the subplots.

EX. Boy meets girl. Girl falls in love. They’re from different sides of the tracks, making their love forbidden. Angst and rebellion ensue–a tale as old as time. But what is underneath this storyline that is driving the protag & antag to their ultimate goals? Boy is an Afghani warlord with a penchant for executing people. His secret goal is to avenge the death of his family. Girl is an American soldier sent to Afghanistan for duty. She despises men because her father beat her. All she wants to do is annihilate every male she sees, especially the bastard warlords responsible for killing her mother in 911.

A very different subplot will unfold in such a setting.

OUTCOMES

Another major factor in creating an original plotline is the outcome of the protagonist’s journey. Girl falls in love with warlord, but kills him anyway for revenge, OR Girl & Boy flee Afghanistan and stay with Tibetan monks to work through their demons. The outcome should distinguish your protag from all of the other Boy meets Girl stories.

EVERY ACTION CREATES A REACTION

How a protag and antag (or any other character for that matter) react to one another pumps creative elements into a stale story.

EX. Judy discovered her husband is cheating. She could A.) boil his bunny B.) withdraw every dime from his bank account and leave without a trace  C.) silently seethe and then bed all of his coworkers and friends…the list goes on and on.

An exercise to get started– make a list of your protag’s actions. Now list three different ways they could react within the same setting. How will the antag’s action change as the protag’s do? Create surprises!

 AVOID THE COMMON & FINDING INSPIRATION

READ, READ, & READ SOME MORE

Read. A LOT. Ravenously. Offer to beta read. The more varied the genres you read, the better. Keep a running list of subplots. It enriches your knowledge base, ultimately improving your craft.

WATCH THE MARKET

This happens naturally if you’re reading constantly. Study the trends and then DO NOT follow one. By the time your novel gets picked up, the trend will be passé and you’ll be nothing but a harpy trying to ride someone else’s coattails.

GET A HOBBY

Try something new. Join an ethnic dinner club. Take scuba lessons. Enroll in an astronomy class. New experiences will help you develop varied subplots as well as enrich your characters’ traits.

EX. Jane meets Mr.Wonderful on Cocoa Island. She hadn’t planned on taking scuba lessons with such a hunk. What luck! Until her swim top tangled in her tube as they practiced shared breathing. With only seconds between breaths, Mr. Wonderful attempts to help her, only to run out of oxygen. Your girl meets boy just got a lot more interesting because of your new acquired skill.

PUT ON YOUR 3-D GOGGLES

Put on your writer goggles, grab a plume and notebook and go to a place you would never dare set foot in– a dance club, a group home for runaways, a geisha house, a sewer tour, a Sear’s appliance store. You’re bound to run across very different kinds of people and have vastly different experiences in each location. Look, listen, take notes. You’d be surprised how many radical plot points spring into that twisted writer head of yours.

Tags: characters, editing, plot, revisions, writing

Overdone Plotlines & What to do About them (Part Two of Three)

So you noticed you made the list of overused plotlines or openings in Part One  HERE. Or maybe you didn’t, but you’d like a little advice on how to flex your creative muscles. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s start with–

OPENINGS

Everyone will tell you opening scenes are important. Almost more important than any other part of a book…except maybe the climax. If your opening doesn’t ROCK, your book will sink like a stone, out of sight and into the murky depths of the slush pile. So first and foremost, write an original, terrific opening. How does one do that?

1. Open the book with a great first line. A first line does a lot of things–it sets the tone, evokes a sense of time and place,  gives a strong sense of the protagonists problem or voice. Yes, all of these things are possible in one little line. Try a few on for size. For some writers, it’s the last thing they do before they type THE END. If this works for you, go for it. Just make it good. Oh, and by the way, this line should be short-ish, or your risk losing the reader’s attention.

2. Open the book with the moment the character’s life changes. We don’t care about their humdrum existence before “IT” happened.

3. Avoid clichés–dreams, temporary amnesia, dead bodies lying on the ground with inspectors standing over them, or *gasp*, left devoid of blood.

4. Deliver the reader into the middle of an action sequence. This does not have to be an explosion, a chase scene, etc. Action merely means the character is DOING something. This something should encompass a characteristic trait that distinguishes your protagonist from all of the others out there.

5. Avoid explaining the protag’s backstory. It’s a bunch of blah blah the reader can surmise through the course of the novel. Besides, witholding information creates tension. Hemingway championed the icebery theory (or the theory of omission)–less is more. Take his advice. Don’t bog down the story with info-barf.

6. Create a character worth rooting for. If a reader can’t sympathize with the protagonist in the first ten pages, they’re likely to put the book down. This does not mean you can’t develop an awesome “bad guy” as the protag. Just give us something to hold onto, something that makes us want to cheer your villain on as they attempt to secure his/her ultimate goal.  Good questions to ask yourself to get the ball rolling: How do I want the reader to feel about him/her? How is my protag wounded?

I NEED HELP!

Still need help developing this grand opening?

1. Find a critique partner or group. If they’re worth their weight in beans, they’ll let you know what stinks. And make sure more than one person reads it. It doesn’t matter how great that one single critique was, remember this is a subjective business. It’s better to have a few opinions before you go changing anything or keeping something that’s rank.

2. Go to the library. Read the first paragraph of five of your favorite books. Now, select ten others at random. Read the first paragraph. Write down the most memorable lines/openings on a sheet of paper. What did you like? What didn’t you like? How can you improve your own?

3. Read in your genre. A LOT. It will become obvious what is overused.

4. Visit my blog for the OPENING LINE CONTEST to begin on February 10th. Winners will receive a free critique of their opening  scene in addition to a FREE CONSULTATION from a multi-pubbed author, magazine editor and social media expert, SHARI STAUCH of SHARK MARKETING.

Any one else have tips they would like to share?

Overdone Plotlines & What to Do About Them (Part One of Three)

You’re a creative genius. You’re really going to knock their socks off with this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G storyline.

Are you sure you’re original? I asked an agent, who will remain nameless, the most overused, overwrought storylines and openings. Here’s the list–

Trite Openings:

1. Bad Weather creates problems for protagonist

2. Protag wakes up from a baaaddd dream, or even a good one

3. Protag is standing on a battlefield or hill overlooking the wreckage

4. Protag wakes up drunk/hung-over and doesn’t remember what happened the night before

Trite Plotlines:

1.Girl loves her boyfriend/husband. Gets pregnant. Is thrilled & happy to tell him, but he complains about money or acts like a bachelor-cad and girl decides not to tell him. Drama ensues.

2. Girl feels like an outcast. She’s clumsy. She’s kinda average pretty. Other girls are mean to her because they’re either A.) jealous of her since the hot boy likes her for some God-forsaken reason or B.) she’s new in school and threatens their turf

3. An orphaned witch/vampire/werewolf discovers they are a witch/vampire/werewolf and then commences to uncover their parents’ deaths and how they’re linked with the all-mysterious dark half.

4. There is at least one character in your novel where there is a god/angel/demon in disguise to deliver information or carry any weak plot points

5. Boy meets girl. Boy is super hot and arrogant, withdrawn, mysterious. Girl is tough as nails outwardly, but is all warm goosh inside and a sex goddess in bed who just wants to be loved.

6. Protag is a farmhand with mysterious parentage…

7. Boy/Girl is being chased the entire novel as they try to uncover a sacred lost relic, encrypted with the secret to immortality

8. Girl/boy is a have-not in a dystopian society, which seeks to control their every thought, their every move. Boy/girl challenges authority and by their disobedience ultimately takes down the ruling class.

If you fit into one of these categories, never fear! You can always REWRITE to make your novel breathtaking, original, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Ahh, but how does one do this? Stay tuned for OVERDONE  PLOTLINES & WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM (part two).

P.S. Are there any other trite storylines or openings you have noticed? Do tell.

Tags: editing, plot, writing

IT’S A DYSTOPIAN WORLD IN PUBLISHING

I attended half of a dozen writer’s conferences in 2011. I met scads of great people and learned a boatload about the publishing industry. Good times.  But despite all of the positive, one major issue loomed larger than all informative seminars combined–the shifting book market.  While I have nothing against those who self-publish, (who knows, I may go down that road), I am rather tired of hearing all of the…

GROSS GENERALIZATOINS

Everyone is self-publishing. It’s impossible to get an agent or a traditional pub contract. Amazon will own the entire market. To name a few hyperboles.

1. Trust me. Everyone is NOT self-publishing. MOST of the writers I know are either established in the traditional publishing market or are seeking traditional publishing. Yes, many of them are open to e-books and the possibilities of self-publishing, but they want the finality, the prestige, the stamp of success associated with a contract through a traditional publisher.

2.  It IS possible to land an agent.  There are thousands of agented authors. The problem is, many writers don’t want to do the real work associated with landing an agent. For one, a writer’s craft must be EXCELLENT and ORIGINAL(this is no easy feat). Two, writer’s must seek out those who would truly be interested in their work. Three, writer’s need A LOT of patience. Granted, plenty of wonderful authors will slip through the cracks. It happens, but learning the ropes and following the proper avenues may very well lead to signing with an agent, which ALSO happens.

3. This seems like an asanine generalization to me–traditional publishing contracts aren’t happening anymore? Yes, I’ve actually heard plenty of people say this. Check Publisher’s Weekly for the many, many contracts sold each day.

4. Amazon owns one of the largest shares of the book market, it’s true. But independent book stores are on the rise (NY Magazine & ABC News ). By George, there will be printed books.

DOOMSDAY THEORIES

The traditional industry is going under! By 2015, newly printed books will be a bygone!  Literary agencies won’t be needed.

1. The BIG 6 aren’t stupid. They didn’t become the leaders in the industry for nothing. While it’s true they were slower to move toward e-books, it doesn’t mean they are OPPOSED to them. As a matter of fact, the traditional pubs are making a fortune on e-books. That’s right, they have moved along with the times and are updating both their contracts to include e-book sales and their marketing strategies.

2. As for the banishment of printed books, that’s absurd. Despite the fall of the book vendor giants like Borders (now extinct), and Barnes & Noble (reports massive fall in stock), there will always be books in print. Look at the music industry. A core group continue to buy compact discs, even with the advent of electronic music files. Not everyone prefers technological gadgets and others enjoy owning the fancy, glossy booklets inside.

3. And literary agencies not needed? BAH. A literary agent will always be necessary, ESPECIALLY with e-publishing. With contracts changing almost daily and with the hundreds of indie presses popping up all over the internet, each with varied fine print, it becomes more important than ever to have a knowledgable advocate on the author’s side.

CHANGE

Change is hard. Most of us aren’t any good at it. As the sphere of publishing revolves, it evolves, leaving authors befuddled about their direction. But take heart. With change comes OPTIONS. Lots of them. And that can never be a bad thing.

Tags: agents, books, ebooks, publishing, writing

WRITING GOALS THAT STICK

How do people do it–write 5,000 words per week, crank out dozens of short stories, or even a novel per year? They must have a secret formula. Some cerebral superiority, or maybe high tech software that prods them when they aren’t looking. The rest of us lowly writing humanoids  need a plan. A REAL, honest to goodness plan. So here it is. A plan to help you ditch your crappy writing habits and get cranking.

Be Honest

Take a good look at your habits.  Do you spend half of your alotted time screwing around on the internet, texting, or wandering away from your desk to refill your coffee mug? Do you hit your snooze button 17 times, missing your 5 a.m. wake-up call? Be HONEST about your pitfalls. Now work around them.

I can hardly concentrate after eight p.m., therefore, I never schedule writing time in the evenings. Social media is actually FUN for me. This means I have to UNPLUG the modem in my house at times or work in locations sans internet. I love to distract myself with food so I pack snacks to avoid getting up. My phone is my fifth appendage, so I turn it off. I’ve learned to be honest about my habits to create productive blocks of writing time.

Devise a Schedule

Make a list of times you’re most alert–when you can actually feel the creative juices oozing between your ears. If you aren’t able to write during those times every day, choose the next best option and nail the time slots down. Do not budge on those blocks of time for ANY reason.

Be Reasonable. If you can only write for two hours effectively, then don’t set aside four hours. The last two hours of spinning your wheels will leave you frustrated.

Do a Warm-Up

Before each session, do a warm-up activity to gain your focus. Scan through the next couple of scenes (or notes for a scene) you need to revise or write.  Then, on a notepad, jot down a rough outline of what you will cover in this particular time block. Spend 5-10 minutes listing important points and then begin. It’s incredible how much a short amount of direction-focused time helps get the creative machine roaring.

Reward Yourself

If I finish this scene, I get a piece of chocolate. If I finish these ten pages, I get a glass of wine.  If I finish this chapter, I get a trip to Tahiti. Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea.

Schedule a Write-In

Remember those lock-ins from high school? Everyone stayed up all night eating pizza, throwing water balloons, and playing Capture the Flag in the dark. A few unruly teens would stray under the bleachers and grope each other until a teacher came by with a flashlight and flushed them out. Yeah those.

A write-in won’t be as memorable, but far more worthwhile. This is a great way to connect with other writers, break out of writer’s block, or find a critique partner. Gather at least one other writer (or as many as possible) and select a meeting place. Make a chart of individual goals, as well as a group goal. Get the coffee pot going. Disconnect the internet. And GO! Camaraderie may be just the bit of inspiration you need. And, hey, make it a weekly/monthly thing if you can swing it.

Live your Life

If the words won’t come no matter what you do, put down your proverbial plume. Live your life. Do something active. Watch a movie. Read a book. Travel. Fill yourself up with life’s moments; hard work, the dull routine, pleasure. The words will trickle back, slowly, or maybe even flood your being, once you’re full of life again.

The key is to know yourself and try many tricks until something sticks–then make a routine. Good luck with your writing goals in 2012.

If you liked this article, check out:

Breaking out of the Editing Funk

Tags: editing, revising, writing, writing goals

Happy Holidays, One and All

Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year…last and NEVER least, peace on Earth, good will toward men.

I’ll be doing a little of this:

A little of this:

And a lot of this:

See ya’ll next year.

Breaking Out of the Editing Funk

In a self-destructive editing funk? Yeah, me, too. These are the issues I’m wading through:

• Not covering enough ground per day

• Self-doubt: will it ever be good enough?

• Balancing everything: character development,  foreshadowing, symbolism, authentic dialog, inner struggle, raising the stakes, pacing

• Scenes & sentences are running together

Here is how I’m dealing with them:

CREATING NEW HABITS

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WRITING ABOUT Begin each writing/editing session by spending several minutes (5-15) jotting down what you will be working on for that session. This helps mitigate the screen-staring for endless periods of time, the not knowing where you’re headed, and the issue of how to progress forward. The more informal your pre-write scribbling, the better. Remember THIS IS NOT WRITING. It’s planning, brainstorming, and a warm-up exercise. Do this everytime you are stuck on a scene to get the juices flowing again.

CHART YOUR WRITINGHABITS including the time spent, the word count, or page numbers completed every single time you sit down to work. Track your most productive days and recreate them. Are you more productive at home or elsewhere? In the morning, afternoon, or evening? Begin a routine in which you may progress each session .

Some of these ideas come from a wonderful, helpful post by Rachel Aaron.

SILENCE THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD

You know the ones–you’re not good enough, you’ll never make it, and no one will want to represent you. It’s true. You will never be good enough, or get anywhere, if you don’t sit down and WRITE. Putting your masterpiece out there is frightening, humbling, intimidating. So what? NOT being out there is all of those things, but without any of the rewards that come with taking risks—recognition, important feedback to grow, having your DREAM COME TRUE. So tell the voices to shut up, put fingers to the keyboard, and get cranking.

WORK IN LAYERS

Another writer once said to me–

“A book is like a canvas. If you only painted one or two layers of color on the canvas, the painting would look like nothing at all. You have to write in layers, as a painter paints in layers, to incorporate everything that makes a book meaningful, beautiful, inspiring–a work of art.”

Work in drafts, choosing specific things to revise in different drafts. This is called layering. As an example, try these layers/drafts.

Layer 1: Finish your first draft.

Layer 2: authentic dialog (voice) & scene building

Layer 3: pacing

Layer 4: yearning/inner struggle, character arc

Layering helps ease the stress of juggling so many important aspects of storytelling at once.

 PRINT IT OUT

When everything runs together, when it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees, print out your MS. We’re far too forgiving when reading on a screen. You’d be amazed by the errors and slow scenes that  jump out at you when it’s in on paper. My pages bleed.

KEEP GOING

Muscle through the tough times.  Don’t be a wimp, a whiner, and an schlep who feels sorry for themselves. Get off your keester and get it done–even when the going gets tough. You know what they say about that–the tough not only survive, but they kick a little ass.

If you enjoyed this post, check these out for further reading:

How to Find Inspiration When its Lost

Revising Your NaNoWriMo Novel, or Any other Novel for that Matter 

7 Deadly Sins of the Twitterverse

Avoid the seven deadly sins of Twitter or you’ll surely go straight to #TwitterHell in a hand basket.

#7. DRUNK PICTURES

I like to have a good time as much as the next guy, but don’t give free fodder to those who may want to crucify you later.  DUH.

#6. RETWEETING IMPERSONAL LINKS

Sharing relavent articles is great. Go for it—SOMETIMES. Show your sparkling personality inbetween the blurbs of hard news. Just spare us the talk of laundry folding and toilet scrubbing.

#5. DIRECT MESSAGE (DM): LINKS & FREEBIES

A.) Your profile byline should contain important link(s), so do not send links in a direct message the minute someone follows you. This is SPAM.

B.) If  you send free stuff to people who don’t know you, they are less likely to place any value on the items, (i.e. free books). Interact with your new followers/friends, provide meaningful content on sites & blogs and people will not only WANT to read your stuff, they’ll PAY for it.

#4.  CONTROVERSIAL & POLITICAL VIEWS

I’m not 100% opposed to this one, as I think it’s important to take a stand for issues that speak to you. However, be choosey in your political tweets.  If many, many of your tweets revolve around controversial topics, you may alienate a great group of people that do not share your ideals. You may become viewed as narrow-minded and, consequently, lose friends and followers.

#3.  BAD MOUTHING PROFESSIONALS

I know you’re dying to cuss someone out who did X to screw you out of a contract, who rejected your shining, perfect MS, or who dissed your query posted on a forum. Resist. Be an adult. Trashing someone IN WRITING is a very bad idea. Don’t forget all of your tweets are logged somewhere in electronica and may come back to haunt you. Besides, people talk.

#2. RT, RT, RT

Do not Retweet every single Friday Follow (#FF) mention you receive, for Pete’s sake. Or at least for my sake. It’s  WHITE NOISE. Junking up the Tweet stream with 8 million retweets of mentions will get you DELETED.

#1. PLATFORM SPAM-O-RAMA

Go easy on selling yourself; talking up your novels & short stories, posting prices of your ebooks, begging people to follow you so may reach X number of followers, etc. Once per day for these types of posts would almost be too often. You’ll be deleted faster than you can order up a fried spam sandwich.

If you enjoyed this post, check out WHY ARE THOSE TWITS NOT FOLLOWING 

Blog Hop: Guessing the Age Contest

Hello fellow blog hoppers. I’m having a great time reading your intros and guessing the age. Can you guess my protag’s age in the first 250 words of my WIP? Any suggestions or recommendations on my intro? Let me have it! Let me know if you follow me and I’ll follow you back.

The voodoo priestess tossed entrails into the fire. My throat tightened at the stench, and sweat trickled in hidden places beneath my damp, cotton dress in the suffocating heat.

Mosquitoes buzzed. A night heron babbled in the brush. I twisted the sash on my dress into a knot.

The sun would set soon, and the walk home was far—down the mountain and through the pulsing jungle. Maman would worry. Serpents slid from their dark holes when the heat of the day faded, seeking victims for their poisons. I had witnessed men convulse, their lips frothing, blue-black swelling rising beneath their skin.

Yes, nightfall was deadly, but I could not move. My fate shimmered in the acrid smoke rising from the fire pit.

The old woman chanted, her lips moving in a silent rhythm as she rocked to a sound only she detected. Silver hair sprang from her head in unruly waves and her bent frame was wrapped in colorful cloth. Layers of wooden beads encircled her neck and a fetish of the Ibo god dangled. The slaves bartered for her potions, despite their fear of this small, but commanding woman. I swallowed my apprehension; purpose burned in my chest.

Cousin Aimée poked her finger in my side. She resembled a skittish newt hiding between stones near the riverbed. I glared at her and steadied myself on the uneven stump. I would not be swayed by her urgency to escape.

As suddenly as she began chanting, the priestess stopped.

If you’re interested in visiting more blogs in the contest, check out this link:  BRENDA DRAKE WRITES 

Best Checklist EVER: 10 Rules of Writing

I confess, this is not my writing checklist. Janis Hubschman created it and is kind enough to share it with the world. If you aren’t using these techniques to advance your prose, I suggest you get busy. They may save you a couple of crappy first novels or short stories.

1. WHEN THE STORY STALLS, ask: what is the character thinking now? Is she thinking anything? If not, why not? Characters need to learn something about themselves, about their values and assumptions.
2. CHARACTERS REVEAL THEMSELVES UNDER STRESS. Raise the stakes. Drive the character into a tight spot. What are the psychological crutches the character relies on under pressure?
3. READERS LIKE TO LEARN about something when they read. The details of an unusual job or hobby, the day-to-day activities of a particular place at a particular time in history, for example, draw the reader in.
4. TRUST THE READER. Remember Hemingway’s iceberg theory: “you could omit anything if you knew you omitted it and the omitted part would strengthen the story and make people feel something more than they understood.”
5. TAKE APART SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHED STORIES (or the stories of writers you admire) to see how they work.
6. GIVE THE CHARACTER SOMETHING TO DO in the scene. It brings the character and the scene to life. A character soaking in the bathtub, thinking about her rotten marriage is boring. A character performing brain surgery, thinking about her rotten marriage is a different proposition.
7. TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO A CHARACTER, CONSIDER HER HISTORY: Think about what happened before the story, what tortuous path led the character to this particular moment?
8. ALLOW THE CHARACTER TO MISINTERPRET another character’s words or actions. In life, we often misread a situation, jump to conclusions. Interesting things can happen when characters make presumptions or project their own hang-ups onto others.
9. LET THE CHARACTERS CONNECT WITH OTHERS. Alienated characters, the whiney and self-absorbed protagonists that blame everyone else for their predicament have lots of precedent in literature, but can hold readers at a remove.
10. BUILD TENSION BY SLOWING DOWN A SCENE. Let the scene unfold moment by moment. Linger on the details. Build silences into the dialogue.

Any other pearls of wisdom fellow writers care to share?

Tags: editing, revisions, writers, writing

Revising Your NaNoWriMo Novel…or Any Other Novel For That Matter

I’ve grappled with how to begin the second round of revisions on my novel (not a NaNoWriMo book) the last few weeks. I’m at the part, you know, where you really have to make your prose sing.  The problem is, everytime I’ve thought of tackling my MS, I’ve wanted to beat it with a broom handle rather than face it again. Soooo, I took a six week break and enlisted a few high profile beta readers. The result: it’s in decent shape, but still needs some very important tweaking.

But how does one go about that all-important tweaking? Rather than invent my own warped system of revising, I looked to a few “experts” for advice. These blog posts might turn around the editing process for you–like they did for me. So all of you NaNoWriMo folks and every other writer out there in need of revision direction, here it is:

Nathan Bransford’s Revision Checklist

James Scott Bell’s Revising Your Novel 

Holly Lisle’s How to Revise a Novel

J Timothy King’s Checklist for Revising a Novel

Janice Hardy’s Editing your Novel: Tips & Tricks

Tags: editing, nanowrimo, revising, writing

PROOF OF LOVE

A  friend and wonderful writer, Arabella Stokes, is joining us today at Between the Sheets. She talks marketing herself as a debut novelist, her hero-husband, and writing, even when you think it stinks. Her first novel, PROOF OF LOVE, has just  been released in ebook from Champagne Books.

A Georgian-era, historical romance, PROOF OF LOVE is the tale of a young lady who has lost all faith in her heart and a scientist-nobleman who  never believed in love to begin with. Together, they learn that love is the greatest experiment of them all.

Arabella, tell us about yourself.

Hi! I’m Arabella Stokes, and I write historical romance and chick lit.  I blog as part of the group at
SouthernSizzleRomance.wordpress.com – a wild and crazy group of ladies from the  Gulf Coast, and all by myself at http://www.arabellastokes.com/.  And I’m absolutely wild about Twitter, so  follow me @romancemama!

 I work by day as a lawyer for a local government agency here on Northwest  Florida’s Emerald Coast. It’s a real high-pressure job where I have to deal with unpleasant things, so at night I write stories about attractive people  doing interesting things on their way to finding true love and a  happy-ever-after. I’ve been married for 27 years to my own personal Mr. Darcy  (aka Lord of the Far Junior College), and we have two teenage daughters. To my  chagrin, they refuse to even consider an arranged marriage. To their chagrin, I
write books with love scenes in them!

 What are your plans for marketing yourself? 

I love tweeting, blogging, and other social technology, so I’m talking up the book there. I’ve also made a personal appearance at a regional Reader’s Luncheon, and I’m eager to do more conferences and similar events.

I’ve been really pleased to see how many people I’ve known through the years – either in real time or virtually – have contacted me to say they are reading the book. I’ve heard from high school friends, people I’ve met at writing  events, all kinds of places.  I’m relying on the people who’ve read Proof of Love  and enjoyed it to tell others.

What inspires you?

 I know it sounds cheesy, but my husband. He’s not what you’d think of as a stereotypical Romance guy – no bulging muscles or piercing cobalt-blue eyes, but he’s a real hero. The kind you can depend on when everything’s going wrong,
when you simultaneously need a shoulder to cry on and a kick in the pants. I  also think the greatest thing a man can do for his woman is be a good father to their children, and my husband is the world’s best.

What are your future writing goals?

I want to tell stories that make my readers believe that happy-ever-afters really do happen. I want to show that you  an find romance anywhere, whether it is twentieth century Southern-fried chick lit or a traditional Georgian/Regency historical setting. Love is something anyone can have – you just have to believe that the right person is out there.

Any advice for other writers out there?

 Butt in chair. Hands on keyboard. Write. Even if its crap, keep writing; you can  always edit it into something better.

That  pretty much sums up what I’ve learned. You have to sit and write, even when you  think it is just awful. You can’t edit a blank page, but as the wonderful Anne Lamott told us in Bird by Bird, awful  first drafts can be the secret to success.

Order now!

You can order Proof of Love at ArabellaStokes.com, or at Champagne Books. It’s  also available on Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, and other popular sites.  If you can’t find it, tweet me and I’ll get you hooked up!

Tips to Survive NaNoWriMo

A week into NaNoWriMo and that 50,000 word total is beginning to look a little outrageous? Sometimes you just need a little help…

Create a Pitch as a Motivational Touchstone

I stole this idea from Diane Holmes over at pitch-university.com. Diane says to jot down a pitch based on the reasons you’re thrilled to be doing NaNoWriMo (“This is a book where I get to….”, “I can’t wait to play with….”, etc.) as a way to generate motivation. I’ll add my own twist. In addition to a motivational pitch, create a sales pitch (though you don’t have the time to make it perfect) to hone the thrust of your novel. For those in a mad dash like NaNoers, a sales pitch helps direct the themes and plotline of your novel.

Twitter Threads

Twitter threads are chock-a-block full of helpful links, interesting tweeple, and plenty of writers poised to cheer you on. Check out the #NaNoWriMo and #dares threads for inspiration, support, and writing sprints.

Write or Die by Dr. Wicked

If you tend to get bogged down perfecting each word, each sentence, you’ll never make it to the 50,000 word deadline. Time to crank up some cheap, speed-inducing software called Write or Die. Several versions exist: the horrible violin and baby screeching that begins if you aren’t typing after a certain alotted time, or the ever-popular version that DELETES all previous text. Better keeps those fingers moving!

Keep the Tools to a Minimum

The market is flooded with all kinds of software designed to help writers track their plotlines, scenes, word count by day, etc. Frankly, all of those bells and whistles can be just plain distracting. NaNoWriMo is not the time to be fidgeting with new software because you don’t HAVE TIME. Stick to the basics and get it done. Play with the software later.

Write in a Cloud

Google docs is a great example of a “cloud” that hides all of the garbage on your desktop so you aren’t tempted to browse, or better yet…

Unplug the Internet

Okay, so you don’t have to find a remote patch of Siberia to block all distractions to work, but try writing for chunks of time without the internet. Set the timer for 45 minutes or an hour at a time. You’ll be amazed by the progress you make.

Create a Cheering Squad

When the going gets tough, call upon writerly buddies to give you a kick in the derriere. Even an s.o.s. on Twitter brings loads of back clapping and tear drying. Set up a NaNo group to check in with each week to keep you on track and lighten your load of self-flagellation.

One Day at a Time

Stay focused on daily goals to avoid becoming overwhelmed. A 50,000 word novel by the end of the month is a daunting task, but can be done and IS done every year…one day at a time.

Writing a Novel is like Birthing a Baby

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to grow and deliver a baby, I have great news. You don’t even need a uterus! You just need to write a book of 100,000+ words and you can have an exact idea of what it’s like. Ok, that’s a bit of a hyperbole. I mean, let’s face it, squeezing a bus through a golf ball hole isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world. So how is writing a novel like birthing a baby? Sooo many similarities.

THE GROWING PROCESS

I read somewhere if a baby continued to grow into an adult at the same rapid rate as in the womb, the grown adult would be able to stand on the surface of Earth and touch the moon. Who knows if that’s a load of shiza, but it sounds about right–just ask any pregnant woman. The rate at which a writer expands their knowledge base and command of the craft during  the creating process, particularly with the writer’s first novel, equates to a percentage of gargantuan proportions. By the time I finished MS #1, I didn’t just touch the moon, I juggled it on my knees.

MAKES YOU NAUSEOUS

When you realize HOW MUCH there is to learn about the craft, the publishing business, and your willy-nilly  place among the multitude of writers and wanna-bes, it elicits recurring nausea the first trimester in the business. Kind of like the way morning sickness strikes when you roll from bed and are still forced to face the day, despite the magnitude of the new life before you.

KEEPS YOU FROM SLEEP

Waking in the middle of the night in search of the perfect pickle ice cream sandwich (or else you might D.I.E.) is a lot like inspiration kicking you in the cerebrum in the middle of the night. There’s NO REST until the itch is scratched, the new vital info is poured out of your head and onto a piece of paper.

EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

“I can do this! There’s no way I can do this. Of course I can do this and I will! But I’ll be terrible. No I won’t. I’ll be amazing. Right?”

So much doubt when birthing a baby…or a novel. Some of it will be fabulous, some will be terrible. A wise old proverb said without the shit there’s no appreciation of the divine. So fasten your seatbelt, pedal to the metal, and try to enjoy the ride.

DELIVERY DAY

Exaustion tricks us into thinking we can’t make it. Push through to the end! The final result is worthwhile and you WILL survive. In the midst of all the body and soul-wrenching pain is a beautiful pulsing, lively body you have created, for better or worse. There’s just one more crucial point to remember–the birth is only the beginning!

Ode to the Pumpkin

In honor of Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, I’ve gathered some dazzling recipes  that  express the poetry of one of my favorite fall ingredients.

SPICY PUMPKIN BISQUE

1-1/2 teaspoons dried ground small red chiles such as Piquins               1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped              1 Tablespoon butter or margarine    1 16 ounce can pumpkin puree

4 cups chicken or veggie stock           1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice   1/2 teaspoon sugar        1 cup half-and-half or light cream

1/4 cup dry sherry         Grated nutmeg

• Saute the onion and garlic in the butter until they are soft and transparent.
• Add the pumpkin, stock, chile pepper, ground pepper, allspice, sugar, and sherry. Bring to a boil and cover.
• Simmer the soup for 30 minutes.
• Place the mixture in a blender and puree until smooth.
• Return the soup to the pot, add the half-and-half, and simmer until heated. Garnish with the nutmeg and serve.

PUMPKIN & BOURBON BEIGNETS with VANILLA BEAN SUGAR

(makes about 30 beignets)

1/2 cup canned pumpkin           2 tablespoons Bourbon             1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger    1/2 teaspoon ground cloves      1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 tablespoons light brown sugar    Pinch salt        6 tablespoons water    1 stick butter   1 cup flour

3 eggs          Vegetable oil for frying(enough for two inches in the pan)

• Combine the pumpkin, Bourbon, spices, brown sugar, salt, water, and butter in a medium saucepot.

• Cover, and sit over medium high heat until the butter is just melted and the mixture is bubbling.
  Take the pan off the heat, & add  flour.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir rapidly  until all the flour is absorbed. Place the pan back on the heat over medium-low heat for 30-45 seconds, until the dough comes away from the sides of the pan.
• Remove hot dough & put in a large bowl.
• Stir the dough around to cool it off, and then add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition.
• The choux pastry should be smooth, thick, and sticky.
• Heat a deep pan half full of vegetable oil until it registers between 310 and 325 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Drop in teaspoon-sized amounts of dough in batches, careful not to overcrowd the pan. The dough will puff up as it cooks.
• Fry the beignets for 6 to 9 minutes.
• Remove with a spider or slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Toss with the vanilla sugar (recipe follows).

VANILLA BEAN SUGAR

1/2 c sugar      1 used vanilla pod

• Use your fingers, and get some of the sugar into the crack in the split vanilla bean; then scrub with the sugar as though you were scouring a pan with salt.

• If you don’t have a used pod, add a 1/2 ts of vanilla to the sugar, being careful not to wet it too much. You may add a drop at a time for more. If you use this method, stir sugar with a fork, making sure to break up the lumps and combine all vanilla.

PUMPKIN BROWNIES

3/4 c  flour     1/2 ts baking powder     1/2 ts salt

3/4 c butter, melted      1 1/2 c  sugar   2 ts vanilla     3 eggs        1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 c 60% cacao chocolate chips   1/2 c pumpkin puree       1/2 c chopped walnuts    3/4 ts ground cinnamon

1/2 ts ground cloves   1/2 ts ground nutmeg

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
• Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• In another bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract; beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon.
• Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter until it’s evenly moistened.
• Divide the batter in half in two separate bowls
• Into one bowl of batter, blend the cocoa powder and chocolate chips.
• In the second bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
• Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter.
• Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer, and drag a kitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in a swirling motion, to create a marbled appearance.
• Bake until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Cool in the pan, cut into squares, and serve.

PUMPKIN LASAGNE

1 c pumpkin puree            1 1/2 Tab olive oil            1 medium onion, chopped

4 to 6 cloves garlic, sliced         1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed

1/2 cup red wine         1 28-ounce can tomato sauce         1/4 c chopped fresh basil

1/4 c chopped fresh parsley           1/2 ts dried oregano          Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 16-ounce box lasagna noodles       1 large egg           2 1/2 c ricotta cheese

2 c shredded mozzarella cheese         1/2 c shredded romano          1 large zucchini, very thinly sliced

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pumpkin puree in a fine sieve over a bowl; set aside to drain while you make the sauce.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 more minutes.
• Add the sausage and cook until brown, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
• Pour in the wine and cook until reduced by half. Stir in the tomato sauce and herbs and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• Season with salt and pepper, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook as the label directs.
• Drain and toss with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.
• Mix the strained pumpkin puree with the egg in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella and the romano.
• Build your lasagna in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish: Start with a layer of sauce, then top with a layer of noodles.
• Evenly spread half of the pumpkin filling, then half of the zucchini, over the noodles.
• Top with half of the cheese mixture and cover with some of the sauce.
• Repeat the layers, finishing with noodles and sauce; sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
• Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly.
• Let cool 15 minutes before slicing.

SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media-o-rama. Seriously, I can hardly keep up and I consider myself an internet guru of sorts. Google+ is great and all, but aren’t all of the platforms in some capacity? Why add ourselves to another?  To be frank, I’m feeling a bit stretched and Google+ put me over the edge. One too many forums, one too many buttons to learn…what’s more, it’s too much befriending of the SAME people I’m developing connections with on other platforms. So what is the point?

This is what I understand about Google’s decision to build a social media platform:

A.) Google has the most pages viewed on the internet, WORLD-WIDE

B.) Facebook has the second highest number of pages viewed on the internet. If Google develops a social media platform, the monster company takes some of Facebook’s business and WOW, wouldn’t it be fabulous to take both the number one and number two spots?

Does this mean I have to jump on the Google bandwagon?

Probably. I’ve been told to be found everywhere on the net these days, but how exhausting! Keeping up with the latest and greatest social media innovation has become a chore.  We’re spreading ourselves so thin, none of the platforms have any substance, no real essence of our uniqueness, of who we are, which dimishes the entire point of PLATFORM, to use an industry buzz word.

I read a great article about how the industry driving social media platforms attempts to “commodify our identities”. How true this is! To streamline, categorize, and rubber stamp humanity robs us of our individuality and our true platform- our distinction among other writers, whether it appeals to everyone or not. Variety is the spice of life, they say.

The REAL reason behind my use of social platforms is to:

A) connect with those from my present & past private life

B) connect with other writers, editors, agents, & people in the publishing business and

C)  meet interesting people from all over the world.

It is NOT to spend endless hours learning the latest techno-geekified gadget or platform (unlike my hubby, God love him), thus taking away from both my valuable writing time and my time connecting with actual PEOPLE.

The last thing I want to feel like is just another worker bee in the hive, a floating electronic head stripped of substance and value.  So I’ll be spending my precious time and energy on a couple of platforms I enjoy; those I can truly connect with others, be myself, and expand my horizons WITHOUT feeling burdened.

How to Secure Your Blog in the Wild West

I was hacked. HARD CORE hacked. Somehow they managed to erase 8 months, that’s right, 8 MONTHS of material, which has disintegrated into the cyber sphere. Luckily, my tech wizard husband managed to salvage something, though I’m still crying over all of those lost guest posts, writerly links, and brillant (just go with it) articles I wrote.  (You’ll notice my last blog post dates to January.)

This happened DESPITE the fact that I paid my host company an extra fee to store daily backups. Here’s the kicker, the daily backup database was tampered with and files were erased or virtually unusable.  Save yourself the rage and angst I suffered and take to heart what I’ve learned as an internet user, writer, and social media fiend:

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

You know all those crazy precautions uber-nerd tech people take to secure their emails, websites, online activities? They aren’t so crazy. Take a lesson from them and do what they do! A quick example: Do not email your username and passwords, because emails get hacked every day. This is why God invented the telephone and text messages. (By the way, if you have some emails building up in your inbox with important secure information, print them out and delete them OR save them in an alternate internet database.)

CALL YOUR HOST PROVIDER

Find out ways to harden your sites. Do EVERYTHING they suggest; not one or two of the suggestions, all of them! Trust me, you aren’t being over-the-top.

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

You really should do this once a month to be on the safe side. I get it- it’s a real pain in the derrière. So make a password notebook to keep track of them all or download a free database like KeePass to keep track of them.

UPDATE SOFTWARE

Always use the most updated versions of software and plug-ins.

CONSIDER SPAM FILTERS

Most databases offer some sort of spam filter. These help to weed through all of the junk being sent your way. Be sure to delete spam as soon as possible, as malware may be attached to it that makes your site vulnerable EVEN IF YOU DON’T OPEN IT.

ONE SITE, ONE HOST

I made the mistake of having several sites hosted on the same virtual server. Don’t do it. Purchase separate host accounts for each website you maintain. This way, if one site is taken down, they don’t all go down.

BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP

I’ll say it again. Back everything up. I was ignorant by not saving every blog post I had ever written outside of WordPress. Saving your files on your blog server is not enough. You need to A.) back up the entire database. If you don’t know what that means, call your host provider or WordPress/blogger support and ask, B.) store files in a non-internet holding place (Word, Open Office, etc.). One word of caution here, it’s also not enough to do just this. It is possible, though remote, that someone may burrow into your home computer. Frightening, I know! and C.) back up files in an internet storage space like Dropbox, where files may be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection.

In spite of all of that security, it’s still possible you may be a victim. The internet is like the Wild West. People are out to conquer their own “space” for all different reasons; some are malicious, some do it just for the hell of it. Hardening your sites and actively updating your passwords and software are not guarantees, but they may help prevent a major loss of precious information.  Do not make the mistake of thinking you don’t have enough visitors, enough hits on your pages. THIS NO LONGER MATTERS! If you are on the web, you are a target, so be smart and protect yourself. Take every precaution. In the esteemed words of the Dumb & Dumber crew, “Do it. Do it now!”

Healthy Lunchables

Need to jazz up your boring meal routine?  Here are three easy recipes that are delicious, healthy, and versatile for lunches, dinner, or parties.  I would love some of yours. Please share and ENJOY!

(Each recipe has been placed on the appropriate recipe page as well.)

SHRIMP SALSA DIP

serves 4

1 lb shrimp, steamed & peeled      3-4 med tomatoes, chopped        1 small onion, chopped

5 tab cilantro, chopped      1 jalepeno, minced     1 tab olive oil     1 tab red wine vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced       salt & pepper to taste

• Crudely chop shrimp.
• Mix all ingredients & serve.
• Scoop it up with pita chips, tortilla chips, or garlic & olive oil brushed crostini.  Throw it on tortillas with cheese and bake until crispy for quesadillas.

TORTILLA SOUP ****

serves 6

2 24 oz cans of diced tomatoes       2 green chiles, diced        3 garlic cloves, minced

1 large onion, chopped           4 med carrots, sliced         1 14 oz can kidney or black beans

1 jalepeno, minced         8 c veggie broth     1 tab chile powder         1 tab cumin

1 ts black pepper       3 tab smoked chipotle in adobo, chopped

2 tab olive oil

• Sautee onion in oil for 4 minutes, then add garlic, chipotle, and jalepeno for 2 more minutes
• Add carrots and chiles and cook for 5 minutes more, then add spices.  Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
• Pour in tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, lower to medium heat and simmer for 30 minutes
• Remove soup from heat.  Puree half of the soup mixture until smooth and add back to the pot.
• Drain the beans and add to the soup.  Cook for 15 minutes longer.
• Serve with a slice of avocado and crushed tortilla chips.
• *****Spicy recipe. If you want to make it milder, cut out the jalepeno & cut chipotle in half.

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT WRAP

serves 4

1 eggplant    2 onions, sliced       3 tab fresh lemon juice      1/4 c  parsley, chopped

2 tab cilantro, chopped       1/4 c chives, chopped  2 tab olive oil          4 oz feta or goat cheese

4 tab red onion, chopped    4 whole wheat tortillas     kalamata olives

1 cup shredded romaine        1 large tomatoe, chopped        salt & pepper to taste

• Mix onions in olive oil and spread out in one layer on a cookie sheet. Roast at 400 for 20-25 min, until browned.
• Poke holes in eggplant in several places and put on a cookie sheet next to onions & roast for 40-60 min (depends on size).
• Slice top & bottom of eggplant off when cool enough to handle over the sink.  Let water drain from eggplant in colander.
• Scoop the insides of the eggplant out of the skin and put in food processor with the onions, lemon, & parsley. Pulse until smooth.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide eggplant mixture onto four tortillas.  Sprinkle layer of onion, cheese, tomato, olives, and lettuce, then serve.

Why Are Those Twitts Not Following?

There seems to be a lot of unspoken rules about how to use Twitter.  In truth, no one has the time to explain to you the secret society Twitt-shakes.  You’re left to your own devices to figure it out #LoserNewbie  #GetaClue.   So to become a super savvy #TwitterRockStar, I’ve been doing some 007 James-Bond-style scouting these last four months since I’ve joined, and I think I’ve finally cracked the code.

You won’t get followed if :

1. Too many followers, but don’t follow enough in return: I’m not suggesting you auto-follow people; (unless you really want to jam up your screen with hundreds or thousands of tweets that you’ll never be able to keep up with), but at least make a concerted effort towards others. You’re not the only one worth knowing. There’s a ton of crazy, hilarious, and helpful folks out there so reach out.

2. Tweeting Too Often: Don’t fill up someone’s screen with 10,000 mundane tweets about your dog’s new sweater.  Personal information is great; funny and entertaining, just don’t go overboard.  I get a bit tired of the pet worshippers who have NOTHING else to say.  They get an instant UNFOLLOW from me.

3. Not Tweeting Enough: If you don’t Tweet regularly, it’s simple- you’re a stranger. So we UNFOLLOW

4.  Comments Are Impersonal: Retweeting and posting links is great; it’s part of what makes Twitter awesomesauce.  But social media should be at least somewhat SOCIAL, or what’s the point?  We’re dying to know about your quirks, bourbon habits, pet peeves, and work-related blow-outs.

5. Tooting Your Own Horn Too Much: You see this advice posted a lot and STILL people do it. You should definitely update your followers on your projects, accomplishments, signings, etc.  But doing it too much is like clogging the waves with a bunch of spam. It’s annoying as hell and it makes you seem like an ego-maniac. UNFOLLOW

6. Listing 100 Tweeple for #FF:  #FridayFollow hashtag is a great way to uncover new people.  When someone I enjoy following makes a recommendation, I often check out their suggestions.  But if you send list after list after list every Friday, it becomes a meaningless stream of dribble and clogs up my TweetDeck, making me irritated. UNFOLLOW

FOLLOW Me @msheatherwebb. I’m looking for new folks to follow, too.

Do you have other reasons to UNFOLLOW?

Guest Blog: Nancy Hinchliff

NANCY HINCHLIFF owns and operates a bed and breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky where she also blogs and writes on line at Examiner.com, Eye on Life Magazine, Pink magazine and Hub pages. You can find her blogging at Business and Creative Women’s Forum, Inn Notes, Inn business A Memorable Time of My Life, and Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association .

In 2008, she co-authored Room at the Table, for The Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky for which she won their president’s award for outstanding work. The coffee-table cookbook has recipes from Kentucky Inns throughout the state and beautiful photographs of scenic Kentucky taken by award winning photographer, Robin Goetz.  She is currently working on a memoir titled Operatic Divas and Naked Irishmen: An Innkeeper’s Tale, a humorous and poignant account of how an admittedly asocial retired school teacher reinvents herself as an Innkeeper. This intimate tale recounts 16 challenging years of self-discovery.

Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper
Aleksander House Bed and Breakfast
Website/Reservations: www.aleksanderhouse.com
Blogs:
www.innnotes.blogspot.com,
www.innbusiness@blogspot.com
www.businesswomensforum.blogspot.com

NOT GETTING A RESPONSE FROM YOUR WONDERFUL CONTENT?

Answer the following questions:

Are you targeting the right readers?
Are you posting in the right places?
Is your blog attractive?
Does it offer more to the reader than just your post?
Are you posting regularly?
Do your titles hook the reader?
Unless your blog is strictly technical, are you revealing a little something about yourself?
Are you honest and authentic in your writing and your responses to comments?
Are you generous in what you have to offer the reader?
Does your content read like an ad, therefore smacking of self-promotion all the time?

How you answer these questions can lead you down several paths, three of which I think are the most common:

You have the reader in mind at all times
You have your own agenda in mind at all times.
You have both the reader and yourself in mind at all times.

The truth of the matter:
I am of the mind that the third one is the way to go, having both the reader and yourself in mind when you blog…and we’re talking about blogging here, not writing an essay, article, novel (no matter the genre) or memoir. Blogging on line can serve a duel purpose; that is, it can offer valuable content which can be beneficial to your readers, and it can function as a means of networking and building a platform of faithful followers for you, who just may buy that book you are working on. But, before this happens, most will have to become invested in who you are and what makes you tick and why you’re doing what you’re doing. They’ll want to know more about you and, when they get to that point, they’ll probably decide that reading your book will satisfy that need.

Choice of content:
If you continually rely on posting “10 good tips for …whatever” and never reveal anything about yourself, many of your readers will fall by the wayside. Most want to get to know you. That’s the nature of the beast. We are human after all and social beings. If you spill you’re guts, it may turn some readers off…but it will probably turn more of them on than off. Your readers can find tips on writing all over the net. Maybe, you should think about giving them more than that.

Writing is such a personal thing. It’s okay to dole out a few layers of youself at a time until you get comfortable with the rest of the world reading about who you are and what you think. But eventually, you’ll have to come to terms with it. I did when I chose to write a memoir. If you’re not ready to do that or if you realize that’s not the way you ever want to go…write a cookbook. ‘Cause, even if you’re writing fiction and hiding behind made up characters, many of your readers will be able to see beyond that. Scary? Damned right! But, as they say, “if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of kitchen”…trite, but true.

“My Writing is the Shiznit” and The Defunct Self-Esteem Movement

Self-esteem makes for sucky grammar. As I type that, spell check is underlining away. That’s right folks, there are BUILT-IN tools for checking spelling and grammar. They’re certainly not infallible, but helpful and correct at least seventy-five percent of the time. High school students seem completely unaware of these tools. How is that possible in an era of information overload? Why are kids confusing subject pronouns with verbs and why, for the love of God, are they handing in assignments riddled with the worst conglomeration of sentences you’ve ever read? …And then they EXPECT an “A”. The expectation chip on their shoulders is inconceivable. The sense of entitlement they’re kicking around is infuriating.

CREATIVE WRITING TURNED TRIPE

Creative writing has taken on a whole new look in the form of JOURNAL writing with a capital “J”. Brittney, the Valley Girl, spews her profound inner feelings, complete with Johnny’s slutty prom date, OMGs, and smiley faces; a real work of art. But it’s uber important for her development that we encourage her to share her feelings for a grade, right?! I’m not the only teacher who found themselves saying, “Great job, Brittney. You put a period at the end of your sentence. You’re a good person and will go far in life.” That doesn’t mean it didn’t make me want to vomit.

The heart of my ranting comes from a decade of reading and grading high school students’ creative writing. It’s not that they aren’t capable of putting together fluid sentences with correct parts of speech. And make no mistake- this is not necessarily the fault of the teachers involved in the learning process. Language teachers have hovered over assignments with a dark red pen, groaning while reteaching the basics that should have been taught all along. They have gagged while “leading kids to discover” grammar structures through “mod” techniques and in their reading, which, ironically, kids aren’t doing. Not unless they’re threatened by grounding, anyway. So if it’s not the fault of the teachers, and the kids are capable of well-styled writing, then who’s to blame?

DEFUNCT MOVEMENT

I chalk it up to the gray funk of the “self-esteem” movement that has beaten the life out of structure; structure which happens to lead to UNDERSTANDING and beautifully crafted PARAGRAPHS (another concept beyond their reach). Unfortunately, this nasty little social movement invaded parenting on a wide scale as well. Lecturing kids without consequences only goes so far, buying a new toy when someone takes theirs doesn’t teach children to stand up for themselves, and allowing unlimited “screen time” doesn’t model how to develop real relationships with people. The self-esteem movement was designed to encourage us to learn creatively so that we may be individuals. What it has actually accomplished is letting O.J., ahem…I mean, little Brittney, get away with murder. Not to mention it’s wreaking havoc on language learning and writing skills across the universe.

BEAT IT

On an optimistic note, I’m hopeful we’ll fight back by rewriting curriculum to include syntax and grammar, we’ll inflict curfews even if they’re “so totally unfair”, and we’ll work at teaching others to be responsible for their actions! So dear, self-esteem movement, make like Michael Jackson and BEAT IT.

Writing Good Dialogue

Dialogue is essential to bring characters to life and to keep the pace of a story cooking.  But writing one isn’t as easy as it looks.  It’s a skill that must be practiced, like any other.  I seldom write a perfect dialogue in the first draft, but have found that following a few rules helps me to cut unnatural, forced conversations and amp up the action.  I selected a few lines of terrible dialogue I’ve read recently to illustrate my points.

1. LISTEN TO CONVERSATIONS AROUND YOU. Get a feel for the natural cadence of speech patterns and common expressions.  You’ll soon notice that we are interrupted constantly, change topics without finishing a thought, and, on occasion, have grammatically incorrect word usage.  If your characters are always speaking in complete sentences with proper language structures, it’s time to edit!

2. AVOID USING TOO MANY DIALOGUE TAGS.  It’s irritating to read “she/he said” every time someone speaks.  Substituting with amazing synonyms for these tags doesn’t cut it either.  Ultimately, it draws the reader’s attention away from the emotional element of what is taking place between two characters.

ex. “I need to know right now!” He exclaimed.

Improvement:  ”I need to know right now!”

He’s already yelling at someone by putting an exclamation mark. You don’t need to tell us “he exclaimed” the sentence- it’s obvious.

3. STOP WITH THE INFO-BARF.  Redundant or unnecessary details creates stalemate conversation.  A character shouldn’t say everything they think or feel. If so, they’re DULL, DULL, DULL, or the conversation just winds up feeling phoney.

ex.   “You never want to do anything!  You’re as dull as a spoon and I’m so sick of it. I’m think I’m going to leave you.”

Improvement:  ”You bore me to tears. I”m outta here.”

4. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. You don’t want your characters to become puppets spouting out words.  Gestures and snippets of movement need to be incorporated for them to come alive; for the reader to BECOME part of the scene.

ex.  ”I’m really upset,” Jordan said.

“I’m sorry. Can I do anything to help?” Adam asked.

Improvement:  ”I’m so upset,” Jordan brushed the tears from her cheeks.

Adam put his arm around her shoulders.  ”Can I help?”

5. KEEP ADVERBS TO A MINIMUM. It doesn’t matter if you’ve found a dozen of the most apt, brilliant adverbs EVER.  Again, you’ve put the reader in the position of outsider by using an adverb instead of drawing them into the story.  An occasional “ly” is fine, but don’t over do it.

ex. “I don’t know…,” she said inaudibly.

Improvement:  ”I don’t know…,” she mumbled through clenched teeth.

6. EDIT FILLER WORDS.  Though filler words happen in real life, they’re boring to read.  Less is more in this case.

ex.  ”I watched him walk across the room speedily before ripping open the front door.”

Improvement:  ”He stomped out the front door.”

This particular unfortunate section of dialogue has both filler words and info-barf happening. EDIT!

7. READ YOUR DIALOGUE ALOUD. This is a great way to get a feel for the rhythm of your characters’ conversation.  Choose a partner to read it aloud with you. It becomes instantly obvious which words and phrases need to be eliminated.

Beating the Holiday Bulge

Most of us, including me, are attempting to unload a few extra pounds we’ve picked up during the last two months of over-baking, over-eating, and over-partying.  Here are a few tricks that work well for me…if I manage to stick to my regime.

1. Put down your wine glass and beer.  Double-fisting is no way to lose water weight and empty calories, which is exactly what drinking does for you.  If you can keep it to one per day, you’re safe from packing on the pounds.

2. Get off your derrière and do something to get your heart rate pumping.  It doesn’t matter WHAT it is.  Studies have shown that even low-grade activity done most days of the week promotes health and longevity.

3. Eliminate baked goods until there’s a special occassion.  Bring leftovers to work, give them to your neighbors, or to your kids to bring to their classes.  Just get them out of your house. If you have enough self control, you can freeze them. I, however, happen to realize there’s a microwave in my house & the freezing gimmick doesn’t do the trick for me.

4. Cut down your meat consumption to a few times per week or less, if possible.  Nuts, avocados, beans, almond & peanut butter, tofu, and fish offer plenty of protein.  You only need 3 oz. per day, people.

5. Keep healthy snacks on hand. If you’re lazy or too busy, buy already sliced and diced veggies and fruit, nuts, rice cakes, hummus, and wheat or quinoa crackers.  I keep them in my glove box, diaper bag, purse, and on the middle top shelf of my fridge.  The easier access the better so there’s no time for crazy hunger.

6. Stop drinking milk and juice.  They offer empty calories and very little in the way of nutrition unless freshly squeezed and unpasteurized.  Drink water instead.  If this isn’t interesting enough for you, make it sparkling.  Add a squeeze from an orange or lime.  Muddle some berries or fresh mint and throw them in.  It tricks you into feeling like you’re having a fancy drink. (No diet sodas. The chemicals cause brain tumors and other nasty such things.)

7. Go easy on the carbs.  That doesn’t mean you should give them up. That’s asinine, since they serve a purpose for energy stores in your body.  Besides, banning them will only make you want them more.  Just be reasonable. Cut to a few small portions each day and make them whole grain, quinoa, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.  White carbs act like glue in your intestines, making them difficult to digest.

8. Drink a full glass of water before you eat.  It fills your stomach and prevents over-eating.

9. Stick to low-fat dairy products.  Eat as litte dairy as possible, actually, as its supposed nutrients are difficult for your blodd to absorb. YES, this applies to protein and vitamin D.  If you’re worried about osteoperosis, be sure to consume leafy greens and nuts.  These are the best vitamin sources your body may absorb to ward off osteoperosis.  Trust me, it’s in the research!

10. Find a partner. It helps to have someone motivate you.  If there’s no one else in your circle who’s in the same boat, find a group online. There are tons of them that are free like Spark People, for example.

11. Keep a food journal.  Write down EVERY bite you consume. It’s amazing how much snacking we’re doing.  When you see how many items you’re eating in a day, you’ll want to cut down your list.

12. Be nice to yourself.  No one is perfect. You’ll have good days and bad.  Allowing a little cheating is what keeps us from over-indulging.  Also, make small changes incrementally; you will have more success.  Being an extremist doesn’t usually work well and sets you up for failure.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

A Decade of Pop Culture or Popular Trash?

I admit, I’m a big fat nerd.  I have a not-so-secret love of studying popular culture trends whether they’re related to entertainment & leisure, health & diet, or geographic trends.  I greedily file tidbits of useless crapola into folders in my brain.  All the while, I just KNOW that one day, the information has to be useful for something?  I’m pretty sure it’s the language teacher in me who gets hot and bothered by patterns.  Ahhh, but I digress.  Here are a few of the pop culture hits that made the decade of 2010 kooky and absurd, but ultimately fascinating.  PEOPLE, ADD MORE TO THE LIST. I’m just dying to know what you all enjoyed yourselves or better yet, found ridiculous!

MASH-UPS: Stirring the pot is what I like to call it.  Mixing old with new presents us with fresh or hilarious combinations. Classic British lit mingles with monster mania, GINORMOUS emerges on to the scene, and let us not forget celebrity couples- TomKat, Robsten, Brangelina, and Bennifer.

THONGS: So you’re wearing a hot little number and you have no desire to show the world your panty line. Did I just say panty? (I hate that word.)  Problem is, the illustrious thong craze made its way to the high school crowd; a group which lacks any type of discretion whatsoever. This means that low rise jeans + thongs = 3 inches of thong overhang.  I had a hell of a time teaching direct objects to the 15 year old boys.  All they could see was a literal butt-load of  lace and silk shoved in their faces every single day.  FINALLY, someone over at Victoria’s Secret invented low-rise thongs, but not before thousands of teens everywhere showed off their under garments.

ALL THAT IS LATIN:  Spicy salsa rhythms,  peppers galore, delicious food, and being a brunette all came in style.  This was fabulous in my opinion. At least until the mid-drift shirts arrived.  And the people who wear them never should- including my 350 pound male neighbor who sports one while he mows the lawn.

3D FILMS:  There’s nothing like an ax flying at your head or gargantuan bugs crawling all over your line of vision for entertainment.  They’re admittedly cool, but the price hike is a real downer.

JEGGINGS:  Even Conan O’Brien endorses the jean & legging combination, but the Kardashians made them famous.  Thank you, Kim, for bringing us skin-tight pants that you can barely pull on.  It’s a good thing thongs are no longer in style.

BLOGS, FACEBOOK, TWITTER:  Social media-o-rama means the world is your oyster.  And your world is literally at anyone’s disposal.  Hooray! Now we can obsess about  identity theft and hacking weirdos.

REHAB:   We have Lindsey Lohan to thank for this one.  Thanks to her, people seem to think going to rehab immediately erases their F ‘ed up shenanigans. But who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

LOSING WEIGHT:  Between Super Size Me and the U.S. federal government issuing statements likened to: “Americans, you’re the fattest bunch of lazy *$#%^on the planet.”,  fad diets have reached an all time high.  Not sure it worked for me.   *shoves brownie in mouth*

XBOX 360:  Kids and adults alike spend enough time gaming to illicit carpal tunnel and bleeding retina.  Hey, at least they got to beat the shit out of someone, even if it was fake.

INFLATABLE YARD ART:  I kind of hate it. It’s tacky and cheesy, but this is also why it’s kind of awesome.  And frankly, they remind me of the Stay-Puff Marshmellow man from Ghost Busters, which happens to be the best ghost thriller EVER.  Truth be told, I’ve envisioned myself in camo, running from bush to bush with a pellet gun poised to take down every last bloated neon elf and demonic-looking bunny I can find.

FOOD NETWORK:  Cheeky cake art contests, master mind chefs, and public cook-offs made the Food Network a sensation this decade. A newly awakened love for dining, cooking, and experimenting has boiled over in kitchens across the country. Or maybe everyone has a crush on Bobby Flay and the super hot Giada.

DESIGNER DRUGS:  Drugs are always in style. I suppose the only question is which ones are hot and who’s doing all the buying this time.  A resurgence of cocaine and meth are the proud contenders from this decade, putting puking celebutantes on T.V. and breeding meth farms in some desperate guy’s basement.

VAMPIRES:  The blood-suckers seem to make a comeback in every decade.  This time they’re impossibly gorgeous and they sparkle.  What ever happened to scary, gruesome, coffin dwellers?

PAPARAZZI: No one said it better than Lady Gaga. “I’m your biggest fan. I’ll follow you until you love me.” Heidi & Spencer Pratt took that mantra to the extreme.  I’m pretty sure no one loved them in the beginning…or the end of their fame.

REALITY TV EXPLOSION:  I don’t think I could have lived without G’s to Gents, Joe Millionaire, or Dating in the Dark.  Such quality television is the bread and butter of any network these days. Just wondering what this says about the viewers? Hmm…

How to Find Inspiration When it’s Lost

Losing inspiration happens to everyone.  You’re fried from a hectic week of LIFE happening, you’re sick of staring at the same paragraphs on the page, or you have no idea of where you’re going with IT; whether writing, painting, or doing anything that takes creative brain power.   Here are a few tips to help get those creative juices flowing again.

SPEND TIME IN A PUBLIC PLACE: People are incredibly interesting; their dress, their mannerisms, what they choose to eat or drink, their loud conversations on their cell phones, even their taste in dogs.  People watching is great for character developing.  So go to a busy café, a mall, a movie theater, a restaurant, a park, or maybe a place to observe others at work and take copious amounts of notes. Compare your characters to the detailed descriptions you’ve just taken and let them swirl around in your head for a few days.  The magic will surely happen.

PRACTICE ANOTHER ART FORM: Drop that keyboard! Okay, maybe you shouldn’t drop it, but put it aside and paint, color a mandala or even a Disney coloring book if you’re desperate.  Choose a random recipe from a cookbook you never use and make it.  Build model dinosaurs if you have to. Just stop beating your head against the same piece of work for awhile.  Inspiration is hidden in all creative undertakings.

TALK TO OTHER WRITERS: This is a not only a great way to make friends, but it’s great to toss your ideas around with someone else who understands the way a writer thinks.  (plot, characters, setting, plot, characters, plot.  Am I done yet?)

READ A NEW BOOK IN YOUR GENRE: Being sucked into another world helps divert your attention away from the scene you’ve been drowning in for weeks on end.  It’s insightful to study how someone else sets up “the villain”  or the “the hero”.  Maybe you’re stuck on a crappy character and can’t move forward.

RENT A MOVIE: Movies are an easy way to tap into our emotional selves.  Choose one that may be similar to what you’re writing and compare your story lines and characters.  Or don’t.  At times it’s best to try something completely different to get a feel for fresh settings, voices, and characters.  I often write best after watching a film that has broken my heart, challenged my way of thinking, or kept me panting until the cataclysmic end.

EXPLORE AN UNKNOWN PART OF TOWN: Being out of your comfort zone is key.  Nothing makes a person more aware of their environment than traipsing around in uncharted territory.  Your usual barriers and expectations are stripped away when in a new place- even if it’s only two towns over.  You’ll undoubtedly come in to contact with people who are different from you in some way. This opens up the creative waves. Remember to take notes!

SEARCH FOR NEW MUSIC: Chances are you’ve listened to your own playlists 8,000 times already and won’t likely derive new found inspiration from them-  AGAIN. Dig around in a friend’s collection, tinker on music websites that sell by the song (like Amazon & Border’s).  Browse, explore.  Note the artist’s emotional quality in their voice as well as the lyrics and journal as you listen. Music is one of the most expressive forms of art out there. Use it to help you express!

WRITE SOMETHING ELSE: It’s not only refreshing to work on something new, you may get some ideas on how you view the characters and plot in your major manuscript.  Write down the realizations you have in a journal and review it when you’re finished with the new piece of material.  It’s amazing the perspective you can have when you step away from it for awhile.

TAKE TIME OFF: A good old-fashioned break is often all we need.  If I’ve been unable to write all week, I’m usually chomping at the bit to sit down on Saturday morning and pour over my manuscript.  This is way less frustrating than picking at it all week. Give yourself time off!  You need it from any other job. Why wouldn’t you need it from writing? It’s demanding, hard work and should be honored as such.

Holiday Feasting: Part 2

As promised, I’m back with round two of delicious holiday party pleasers.  It’s practically impossible to serve ANY of these dishes without being asked for the recipe.  I’m dying of boredom in my kitchen at the moment and would LOVE some of your own favorites.  Share some with me!  Stay tuned for my post-holiday health fest.

ARTICHOKE DIP

2 14 oz cans of artichoke hearts           1 c mozzarella, shredded

1 c parmesan, shredded              1/2 c mayo         2 ts Dijon mustard

8 oz cream cheese at room temp

• Crudely chop artichokes.

• In a small bowl, cream softened cream cheese then stir in the mayo & mustard.

• Stir in both cheeses and the artichokes.

• Bake for 1 hour at 300 degrees or until bubbly and golden on top.

• Serve hot with crackers or sliced & toasted French bread.

GOAT CHEESE & OLIVE CROSTINI

1 cup assorted green olives, chopped fine               1/2 c walnuts, toasted

4 oz goat cheese                  1/8 c olive oil              salt & pepper to taste

2 cloves of minced garlic       1 loaf of crusty French bread    1 ts red wine vinegar

• Mix olives, garlic, olive oil, vinegar & walnuts.

• Season with salt & pepper to taste.

• Toast walnuts for 4-6 minutes or until golden. Watch them like a hawk! They burn easily.

• Slice French bread into slices about 1 inch thick  and toast.

• Spread goat cheese on each slice of bread & top with the olive mixture. Yummmm

ROASTED VEGGIE LASAGNE

Sauce:

1 onion, chopped         1 clove garlic, minced                1/4 c mushrooms, diced    1 tab olive oil

1 jalapeño, finely chopped        1/2 c diced tomatoes           1/4 c kalamata olives

1/4 ts oregano       1/4 ts basil        1/4 ts paprika             2 c tomato sauce

• Sauté the onion in olive oil for 4 min, then add the garlic & jalapeño.  Cook for 3 minutes more.

• Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook for 6-8 minutes longer, until the mushrooms are no longer hard.

• Turn off the heat & set aside the sauce while preparing the rest.

Layers:

2 med potatoes, sliced into medallions          2 med eggplants          2 med zucchini

2 med yellow squash         1/2 lb swiss cheese, grated         1/2 lb mozzarella, grated

1/2 lb provologne, grated         1/2 lb feta            4 tab olive oil

• Slice all the squash & egglplant vertically into 1 inch strips, brush them with 3 tab of the olive oil and grill them lightly on each side until slightly charred, about 5 min per side.

• Sauté the potato medallions in the remaining 1 tab of olive oil for about 5 min, or until slightly softened.

• In a 9×13 inch pan, put the potatoes on the bottom of the pan as the first layer, followed by a little sauce.

• Layer squash, sauce, cheese.

• Layer eggplant, sauce, cheese.

• Repeat step 4, then 5.  **Be sure that eggplant is the top layer of vegetables

• Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.  Uncover and bake 10 minutes more until the cheese on top is bubbly.

GREEK POTATOES

6 large potatoes, peeled & quartered                 1/2 c olive oil

1/2 c freshly squeezed lemon juice     1/2 ts pepper          3 tab yellow mustard

1 tab salt             1/2 ts oregano

• Place potatoes in a 9×13 in pan.

• Mix all  ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously until mixed.

• Pour sauce over the potatoes, then add just enough water to cover the potatoes by 4 inches.

• Cover them with foil and bake for one hour at 425 degrees.  Uncover them and cook for 30-45 minutes longer, until crispy.

PORK MEDALLIONS with CAMEMBERT CREAM

Serves 3-4

1 lb pork tenderloin            1 tab butter          3 tab white wine

3/4 c creme fraiche or heavy cream          1 tab fresh thyme and sage, chopped

4 oz  or 1/2 Camembert cheese wheel, rind removed              1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

fresh black pepper to taste

• Slice the pork crosswise into small steaks  about 3/4 in thick and pound them flat with a rolling pin until 1/2 in thick.  Sprinkle with pepper.

• Melt the butter in a frying pan then add the pork, cooking for 5 minutes and only turning them once.

• Transfer to a warm dish & cover to keep them warm.

• Add the wine to the meat pan with drippings and boil.

• Stir in the cream and herbs, bringing back to a boil.

• Add the cheese and mustard until melted.  Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

• Place meat on four plates and spoon the sauce over the meat.  PIG OUT!

CRANBERRY DATE BARS

12 oz package of fresh cranberries           8 oz chopped dates            1 1/2  tsp vanilla extract

2 c rolled oats              1 c butter, melted         1 1/2 c brown sugar           2 c flour

2 c powdered sugar           3 tab orange juice            1/2 tsp baking powder

• Over medium heat, cook cranberries, dates, & one tsp of the vanilla in a saucepan for 15 min, until cranberries are starting to pop and are gooey.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, & oats together.  Stir in the melted butter.
• Pat half of the oat mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
• Pour the cranberry mixture on top of the baked oats, spreading it fairly evenly.
• Pat the remaining uncooked oat mixture on top & bake for 20-22 minutes.
• Cool almost completely.

Glaze:

• Mix powdered sugar, orange juice, and remaining 1/2 tsp of vanilla.  Drizzle over mostly cooled cranberry bars & serve.

PEPPERMINT BROWNIES

4 oz unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped            1 c butter                    3 large eggs
2 c sugar                   1 tsp pure vanilla extract                    1 tsp peppermint extract
1 c all-purpose flour                              1 12 oz bag of York Peppermint Patties™, unwrapped
4 small candy canes, crushed

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and dust with flour, tapping out any excess.
  In the top of a double boiler or heatproof bowl, melt the baking chocolate and butter over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, & peppermint extract until combined.

• Beat in the cooled chocolate mixture.

• Gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the brownies comes out clean.  DO NOT OVERCOOK. They’ll be hard.

• Arrange the mint patties on top in one layer and return the brownies to the oven until they are just melted, about 1 minute.

• Evenly spread the chocolate with a spatula and sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

6 Tips for Social Networking

Social networking has only recently become my thing.  I’ve never been a fan of sitting for hours in front of a computer piddling on-line (writing aside).  Strangely enough, these days I’m actually having fun.  Meeting people and, YES!, learning constantly makes the time spent worthwhile.  For those of you still living in the dark ages, it’s time to step into the light.  Hopefully you’ll find some of these tips useful as you slog through cyber space.

1. USE TWEETDECK: I was weary about learning a new application on top of all of the others, but decided to be brave and test the waters.  I couldn’t be happier that I did.  As a matter of fact, I’m completely addicted to Tweetdeck!  It’s really the ONLY way to deal with streaming comments on Twitter. You manage those you follow by placing them into a “list” or category of your choosing.  Friends, news & entertainment, business-related folks (whoever you follow) can be sorted into their own vertical columns.  This is only one of the many things this application does for you.  Check it out. You won’t be sorry!

2. REGISTER WITH BLOGFARM: This is a website comprised of a community of bloggers in practically every subject area you can imagine.  Register your blog with them for free!  You’ll see an increase in traffic to your site, especially the more often you post.  If you’re hyper about advertising, you can pay a small fee for an upgrade of their service.

3. LINK YOUR MEDIA PLATFOMS:.  There are two reasons you should do this:  1) It makes your life easier to say something one time 2)everyone has different platforms that they prefer.  In order to reach as many people as possible, it’s a good idea to show that you can be found on MANY platforms, allowing your followers to choose.  Try Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to manage them all.

4.AVOID STUPID COMMENTS: “I’m going to brush my teeth and clean the house.”  WHO CARES?!  You barely care and we’re all dying of boredom reading comments like these.  You’ll find yourself deleted all over the place.  And another thing, it counts as a stupid comment to always post news or impersonal gobbly gook.  We want to get to know each other by interacting. Isn’t that the point of all of this?

5. GIVE SOMETHING AWAY: People love free stuff.  It doesn’t matter what form the “free stuff” takes on.  For example, as a foodie I constantly experiment with new ingredients and recipes, then post them for free.  Yes, giving away “knowledge” counts if it’s useful to your audience.  Sound bites, pictures, videos…you get the idea.  Start giving it away.

6. DO NOT PROMOTE YOURSELF CONSTANTLY: Simply put, it’s annoying.  Of course you can talk about your upcoming projects, book signings, and media events from time to time- just not 24/7.  Don’t be so self- important.  There’s a lot of interesting people to get to know.  It takes as much effort or less to post a funny diddy instead of an impersonal promotional statement.

Use these media tools wisely and you’ll form new personal and professional relationships worth the investment of time you’ve made.

Holiday Feasting: Part 1

‘Tis the season to EAT…and EAT some more.  So for those of you in search of an innovative and delicious dish for turkey day, look no further!  After many requests, I’ve added some of my favorites to my recipe pages.  I hope these dishes rocket your tastebuds onto Planet Bliss. All recipes are in alphabetical order on their respective pages.  Stay tuned for Holiday Feasting: Part 2.

Coq au Vin

Found on my “main courses” page

Let’s face it- the French do it best!  At least with those warming, festive dishes we all love so much.  My coq au vin recipe is inspired by Julia Child, bien sûr, and an ex-boyfriend’s French mother.  It has rock star quality with its fresh bouquet of herbs, tender chicken, and scrumptious wine sauce.  You may substitute turkey.

Roasted Chicken with Fennel & Pancetta

Found on my “main courses” recipe page

I’m having a love affair with fennel.  I can’t seem to get enough of it these days.  In this recipe, the fennel is almost the star of the show…well, except the chicken is particularly succulent from a rub of olive oil and a regular basting of wine and drippings.  Stuffing it with onions, ringing the roast with basted fennel, and topping it with pancetta makes the dish unbelievably divine.  You may substitute turkey.

Grilled Asparagus Salad

Found on my “veggies & sides” recipe page

There’s almost nothing better than grilled vegetables.  The asparagus lends itself nicely to the grill.  It remains lightly firm, but absorbs the delicious grilled taste.  You finish the dish by tossing the vegetables in coarse rock salt, drizzling them with lemon vinaigrette, and topping them with chopped boiled eggs.  YUMMY and kinda healthy.

Roasted Broccoli with Pine nuts & Goat Cheese

Found on my “veggies & sides” recipe page

Broccoli can be boring.  To give it a bit of pizazz, I roast it and toss it with more exciting ingredients like tangy red peppers and crunchy pine nuts.  The sprinkled goat cheese leaves a lightly creamy sensation on your tongue.  Pass the broccoli, please!

Butterscotch Pudding with Toffee

Pumpkin Cheescake

Found on my “desserts” recipe page

I’m not a fan of pumpkin pie.  I find it bland and slimy with a  rubbery store-bought crust, (I would never dream of this shortcut).  But one MUST have pumpkin during turkey day, so I searched high and low for an acceptable substitute and BEHOLD- pumpkin cheesecake!  This cheesecake recipe is the best I’ve ever tasted…and I’ve tried many.  The gingersnap crust catapults this cake into the stratosphere.

NaNoWriMo: Helping Writers Achieve their Goals

In honor of National Novel Writing Month, I have read dozens of blog posts looking for tips for all of us wannabes as well as the seasoned author.  I must admit that my recent addiction to Twitter is what made finding these helpful articles possible!   Read, reread, discard at will.

1.) 10 Tips for Magazine Writing

2.) 10 Ways to Create Plot Twist

3.) Query Help:  The Pitch is a Bitch

4.) Questions to Ask before Signing with an Agent

5.) Getting Published

Where’s the Beef?

Yesterday, I was revolted after watching a large grunting man gulp down a half a pound of overcooked ground beef as it oozed condiments and dribbled lard-turned-liquid on his face and plate.  It doesn’t help that his shirt was two sizes too small and I was forced to view his naked belly, layered like a stack of pancakes.  This lovely culinary experience happened in a pub with a sign on the window that said:  “NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE”.  Obviously, Billy Joe the manager isn’t enforcing the rules.  As for the beef, well here’s my story.

I LOVE FOOD.  In basically any form.  I adore the Food Network, delight in reading cookbooks, and can think of nothing better than scouting a new restaurant for fine cuisine.   But a food revolution is happening out there and chez moi, tempering my devotion to everything edible.  As a lover of meat and ALL things dairy, I have been particularly verklempt over the research that has emerged, but I’ve trudged on in the name of health, particularly for my darling babes.  It’s been a hell of a challenge accepting these TRUTHS I’ve discovered, but I can no longer ignore the facts.  And here they are.

In a nut shell, an appalling number of diseases have been correlated to our diet.  Actually, nearly ALL health issues among Americans are diet related. Cancer, auto-immune disorders, heart disease, and even many forms of hereditary diseases may be reversed or eradicated completely, just by doing a couple of small things- cutting out the meat & dairy.   I know, I know.  What about strip steak and bratwurst? Or the cheese cake with raspberry sauce?!  Well, it’s killing us.  It’s kind of like dumping grease from a McDonald’s french fryalater into your gas tank instead of gasoline.  It would definitely clog the engine and at some point, cause a complete system failure.

Believe me! I know it’s difficult to banish these beloved items from our lives because we love them or because we’re too cheap to spend the money purchasing natural products.  But over time, giving up foods laden in animal products and processed chemical garbage, at least in large quantities, will help you have more energy, lose weight and look younger, and live longer. That’s a fact!

I won’t lecture you.  As a matter of fact, on a rainy day you may find me standing by the freezer, fist deep in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.  But I’ve done my best to make changes for myself and my family.  I, for one, really don’t want to be staring at the depressing insides of a hospital room.  And, as someone who cares about people, I simply had to share the information I’ve learned with you- because it may SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Here’s a quick list of the most important things I’ve learned.  If you’re compelled or intrigued by what you see here, don’t take my word for it!  Read the resources I’ve listed at the bottom of the page and you’ll have all of the knowledge at your disposal.

• Meat & dairy raise the acidity level in your bloodstream and tissues…High acidity levels promote the growth of CANCER- that’s its best environment to thrive
• Farmed animals are routinely sprayed with antibiotics, antifungals, and other pesticides.  These chemicals are absorbed into their tissues, then we eat them…leading to CANCER and other diseases
• Meat & dairy are high in fat…leading to heart disease
• Dairy is high in protein and calcium.  Our body is unable to absorb the calcium since the high protein content acts as a buffer.  We’re drinking sugar water laced with pesticides & hormones.
• Dairy is rich in other vitamins and minerals.  When dairy is pasteurized, everything worth absorbing is killed.  A study of baby calves being fed pasteurized milk for 3 months resulted in the death of ALL of the calves.  No nutritional value whatsoever.

I could go on and on, but as I said, I’ll let you read it for yourselves.  Just know this- no one’s perfect.  Start with small changes.  Even those will drastically improve your health and may save your life.  There are many more resources out there, but here are my favorites:

The China Study

Skinny Bitch

The Omnivore’s Dilemma

The Bold Vegetarian

The Environmental Working Group

Writers, Please Reply

I would love to know the toils writers face during the process of developing their works and beyond.  Please! Enlighten me with your methods, inspirations, and disasters.  The creative process, nightmarish stress, and incredible self-doubt threaten to consume all creative types.  So for the sake of camaraderie among writers and writer wannabes, divulge your secrets.  Help us feel united under one driving need to spill our guts out on a page, to divulge our darkest secret emotions, to create the most outrageous characters.  Feel free to answer as many or as few questions as you like & be honest!

1. Tell me about your current book  in a few sentences.

2. What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?

3. What is your working method?

4. What is the single biggest mistake made by beginners to writing?

5. How did you come to write this particular book?

6. If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?

7. How can people buy your book(s)?

8.  What strategies are you using to promote yourself?

9. How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?

10. Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?

11. What are your writing habits?

12. What do you do to combat writer’s block?

13. Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?

14. How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

15. Where do you find inspiration?

16. Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

17. Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?

18. Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

19.  What is your biggest writing disaster EVER?

National Lampoon’s Vacation Part 23

We headed to Camden, Maine a couple of weeks ago for a family reunion and a little vacation fun.  Camden is a favorite of mine.  Its picturesque main street advertises lobster stews and clams, Maine shrimp sandwiches and maple fudge.  Colonials showcase overflowing flower boxes along the side streets, while nearly every restaurant overlooks the Penobscot bay.  I love watching the boats bob over the wake and the gulls glide in the wind…

So we set out with anticipation.  I, for one, was really looking forward to fresh lobster.  But my dreams of a lovely vacation were shattered early on in the journey.  The first leg of the trip was downright horrendous.  I’d like to get my hands on the person who decided to name traveling with young children VACATION.

I drove the first leg, speeding through Connecticut and Massachusettes.  After a mere hour on the road, I was getting really ticked off at the “Masshole” drivers, (a legendary rageaholic status reserved specifically for  Massachusettes drivers).   Being sucked into defensive driving mode on open interstate is never a good idea.  I was playing chicken with a bunch of Nascar wanna-bes.  I am not an angry driver, mind you, but my blood was already boiling from the super sonic screeching coming from the sweet little mouth of my one year old.  This kid could sonically evicerate you from 800 meters away. It’s a good thing he’s cute. I’ll leave it at that.

Naturally, the next event to follow was being pulled over by a Mass state trooper.  I felt my southern sass rise like bile in my throat as he approached our vehicle.  Luckily, my husband squeezed my arm in a warning to hold my tongue just in the nick of time.  This man was is no mood for an argument.  I accepted my ticket with as much grace as I could muster, it was my fault after all, wasn’t it?

On the road again, I drove for another fifteen minutes when we decided to make a stop.  If my husband and I didn’t get another cup of coffee and a set of earplugs, there would have been an infanticide.  So we cruised into a Starbuck’s parking lot- just as our engine started to stink like burning fuel, and oh how how lovely the smell was.  With burning nostrils and a cuss word on the tip of my tongue, I dragged the children into the bathroom while my husband checked under the hood.  We decided to head to a gas station and refill the transmission fluid and get on our way.

Thirty feet out of the gas station parking lot, after a refill of fluid, the transmission started slipping, making the car cruise from first to fourth gear and all over the damn place.  Alas, we pulled over, or more aptly, we coasted into a semi-ditch in front of a house in fourth gear.  Needless to say, the landing was less than desirable.   My husband and I were now berating ourselves for being dumb enough to consider a road trip in a car with 250,000 miles on it.  How stupid can you get?  Note to self:  wishful thinking does NOT get you to your destination!

So we made an action plan; my husband would walk to the nearest car rental place, which was close, thankfully, and I would take the kids for a romp in someone’s ditch.  Upon opening the van doors, thousands of polly pocket dolls, pretzel pieces, and copious amounts of rattling singing thingamajigs crashed around my feet.  My daughter had to poop, my infant son was an oozing mess of mashed strawberries and hummus, and it began to thunder- LOUDLY, making everyone cry.

All I could say was, “AWESOME.  I LOVE this vacation!”

Three car rentals (long story), and a dump in the woods later, we were on the road again, crammed into a small sedan that could barely contain us.  My daughter fell asleep on stroller wheel and we rode up front WEARING our life jackets.

But we did arrive, at last, 3 hours later than expected, nearly missing the entire reunion picnic.  We drowned our sorrows in lobster bisque, cooled off in a cold pool, and put those exhausted children to bed.  The laughs with the family and the gorgeous scenery made the trip worthwhile.  And then there was the ride home…

Bumper Sticker Blight

Bumper stickers can be fun, cool even; especially if you drive a junker.  Why not sass it up with something funny like “Buckle Up. You never know when an Alien might suck you out of your car”?   Hilarious.    Stickers with political jokes are sticky but thought-provoking, favorite countries or towns- fine, sport’s teams- okay.  I even like a good offensive religious jest from time to time.  It’s important not to take our views too seriously, after all.

These car badges are a small glimpse into someone’s personality, their belief system, or better still, their sense of humor.  That being said, I have to draw the line somewhere.  Calvin & Hobbes decals peeing on things aren’t funny- they’re trashy.  And then there’s a personal favorite of mine:   “How’s my driving?  Call 1-800-Eat-Shit”.  Is this the badge of honor you wear proudly for the world to see?

Then there’s a whole other level of stupidity.  I was sitting in drive-thru at Dunkin’ Donuts in the process of buying an iced coffee, (neither my beloved Starbuck’s, nor a local coffee shop could be found for miles), when I saw it.  A rusted white Chevy had two stickers which read:  “Fuck the French” & “Freedom Fries”.   I’m assuming this was put on the guy’s truck during Bush’s era of “Freedom Fries”, which happened to be one of the most embarrassing and idiotic phases in our nation’s recent history.  But seriously, couldn’t he remove it now?

It screams ignorance, a townie mentality, and a complete lack of cultural understanding.  Never mind the fact that fries were invented in Belgium- that’s an entirely different matter.  I haven’t recovered from the fact that this person would display his blatant ignorance and prejudice front-row and center.

Maybe I’m too uptight.  It’s quite possible that I have my own warped sense of humor.  I’m also trying to put aside the fact that I love the French; find their culture fascinating and influential, and their contributions to civilization invaluable.   (Yes, they’re not perfect- DUH)

So I approached this idea from a different angle.  If someone had a sticker on their car that said “Fuck Americans” or “Fuck the British”, or ohhh, ever so hot topic, the Muslims- would I be offended?  The answer is YES.  Absolutely YES!

People, please stop displaying your hatred for others.  Is this what you really want people to know about you in the thirty seconds they sit behind you on the highway?

We’re Just Teenagers

I’ll never forget my first trip abroad as an alleged adult.  I was baffled by the European way of doing things.  Why, for instance, were there massive garbage receptacles with 4 giant holes on every corner?  Doesn’t anyone NEED the privacy of their own car in Europe, or is public transportation good enough?  Why was everyone so thin when there was a gorgeous bakery every five feet?  Must every public place emit the pungent aroma of body sweat and stale smoke?  How could a culture possibly take karaoke so seriously?  And, for the love of God, why was fabulous wine so cheap?

By departure time, I had learned to appreciate these cultural norms with enough enthusiasm to scare off your average American.   A miraculous thing had happened to my brain; it was wrenched open with a crow bar so that I questioned everything about my upbringing.  It happened despite the fact I had had a remarkably cultured childhood compared to your average JOE.

But it was years more of teaching, traveling, and studying cultural geography before I came to REALLY grasp the differences between the American way of thinking & the old world way.  I finally got it.

The U.S. is very young; a teenager, one could say.  It’s a country in the throws of economical temper tantrums & hormonal war fare.  It turns up the music when criticized, rather than listens to the sage advice of those who have gone there before it.  Its metabolism is voracious as it gobbles up every crumb of food, space, or resource possible.  Slamming doors in the face of spirited opposition and falling victim to the self-centered, ego-driven phase of adolescence are its specialties.

On the other hand, not being jaded is a brilliant thing.  Fresh idealism and the golden DREAMS of opportunity never fade, since anything is possible in this land.  Venturing into uncharted territory is a beauty mark of the nation’s bravery.   Technological wizardry and a zeal for workaholism help keep the country in the top ranks of the world.  America’s  melting pot status is enviable, and its ability to come together for a cause, regardless of its regional divisions and gargantuan size, can be astounding.

Make no mistake!  The U.S. is my beloved home and I would defend it to the death.  But we have much to learn. Putting aside fear and accepting the values of others could only serve the country and the WORLD well.

Historical Accuracy

I’ve been following a link on Absolutewrite.com about the question of historical accuracy.  It’s been an interesting debate, especially among writers.  But I find myself arguing the point- why do we always have to be accurate?  Isn’t the “fiction” part of historical fiction where we, as writers, step in and make a story tantalizing?

I realize as a historical fiction writer you’re holding yourself to a a high standard of being a know-it-all researcher that can divulge ancillary details about a given time period or character.  We are bookworm types that romanticize events and real-life figures.

That being said, while I agree we are knowledgeable, most of  us are hardly the expert about our topics.  It’s true I’ve spent a year and a half reading or watching anything I can get my hands on about my topic; but I would never call myself an EXPERT, with a capital “E”.  I leave that to the historians.

Why then, do so many who read historical fiction get in a wad over our manipulation of the intangible parts of history…or even the factual minutia that surrounds an event?  Our readers aren’t typically an authority about the topic and, frankly, neither are we.  We just happen to really love the person we’re writing about, or the time period, or the location.

I certainly believe it’s my job to make a historic topic relevant through my character’s emotions.  Safeguarding major facts is also a must in my books.  The rest is fair game, as far as I’m concerned!

I suppose the real problem is that  historical fiction writers present information in different ways, leaving far too much room for skepticism and comment.

Maybe all the uproar comes about because people read this genre for fun AND for information.  It’s a softer way to learn about history, I suppose.  Though I must say it’s the reader’s fault if they take every word as truth.

It’s a slippery slope we must walk upon; balancing emotional insight while keeping the language and the actions of the story appropriate to the times.  But it’s certainly a challenge we HisFic writers relish; the way a Sci-Fi writer delights in the description of a phenomenon or super power.  Or the way I relish a dirty Spanish wine served with espinacas con garbanzos.

I suppose my grand point is this: POETIC LICENSE is what makes the great art of writing, even writings based on true events, engrossing and exciting!

In the beginning…

Am I really a novice writer?  I’ve dallied in journal writing, story outlines, and newspaper editing since I was a girl.  But the more I read and practice writing from the perspective of a self-proclaimed, bonafide writer, the more I realize how much more there is to know.   So many style choices and plot conundrums to solve!  Not to mention the huge learning curve involved with the actual business of writing.  I haven’t just taken up novel writing;  I’ve stepped into a peculiar cyber realm of blogging, forums, and RSS feeds.  SAY WHAT?!   Luckily, I tend to find learning exciting.

Self-imposed deadlines, query letter stress, and impending rejection are other delightful aspects sitting on a shelf in the corner of my mind, taking up valuable space where a magnificent storyline could be.  Ahhh, but this, young padawan, is all part of the joy and pain of calling oneself an artist.

By far, the most appealing part of becoming a writer, (besides the writing of course), is my newfangled way of seeing.  Smashed glass on an uneven sidewalk, a well-loved teddy bear forgotten on a playground, or the desolate expression on the post woman’s face, spark my imaginations that begin whirring and piecing together a drama.  I almost hear my narrator’s words ringing in my ears, my emotions fusing with hers.  In writing, I feel at home; as if my rambling soul has at last found a place to stretch, explore, and hide in the crannies of a character.  Fascinating…and what fun!