Paranormal fans should love this cover... Can't wait to read the latest werewolf saga from Kitty Keswick due out in 2011.
Vampire lovers everywhere will get a charge out of these Exclusives offered by Leap Books. Two chilling tales about graveyards starring otherworldly creatures...
Isn't this the coolest cover ever? Makes you want to grab the book off the shelves. Even better is the blurb:
But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.
Author Judith Graves has a fabulous book trailer for Under My Skin. Watch it and shiver...
Then check out more about this exciting new author at Leap Books and at her blog, the Wolfy Chicks. Counting down the days until this release on March 27, 2010.
Diane Craver, author of Whitney in Charge, who's joining us today, has agreed to share her insights on writing characters. She obviously has had a lot of experience with that because she's a multi-published author. Here's a bit about her latest release:
TV producer Whitney Benson is tired of her older sisters’ attempts to fix her up with every single male they meet. Shannon and Regan cross the line when they arrange for her to go skydiving with the simple excuse that more guys like to float in the air than women.
Whitney meets two eligible bachelors, Jack and Ben, who constantly battle for her affection. Which one will she choose? Both men make Whitney realize, even a heart shattered by her husband’s death, can once again be made whole.
But did she have to fall off a cliff to learn that?
When the fireworks went off to celebrate a Reds homerun above the Ohio River, the crowd roared and clapped. Whitney let herself be caught up in the enthusiasm, jumping up from her seat to clap and whoop, cupping her palms around her mouth. She sat down, laughing, enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. When Jack had invited Whitney to go to a baseball game on Wednesday, she’d hesitated even though she loved going to the stadium. They’d just gone out Saturday night. She wanted to take things slow and easy. But, in the end, she’d said yes.
And she was so glad she did.
Who was she kidding? She wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him until neither one of them could think or breathe. But she couldn’t smother his lips with hers during a baseball game. She took a quick glance at Jack. Regan was right – he did look a lot like Matthew McConaughey. She wondered if McConaughey also loved baseball.
Jack tugged on her visor. “Hey, you look pretty cute in this cap.”
She took a bite of her nachos and cheese. “I like the eating part a lot at games.”
Jack glanced at the boy sitting a couple rows in front of them munching on a box of popcorn. The delicious aroma of popcorn and butter drifted up to them. “I might have to buy popcorn, too.”
“Please help me eat the nachos first.”
He dipped a chip in the cheese, popping it in his mouth. He smacked his fingertips between his lips, licking off the melted cheese and salt. “I wish you hadn’t paid for the beer.”
“You bought the tickets. I wanted to pay for something.” She licked warm cheese off her finger. “So did you rescue any cliff climbers today?”
“Nope. I only rescue beautiful women on Mondays.”
“I’ll have to remember that. Since the pool’s open now and if it’s not too cold, we can go swimming after the game.” Why did she blurt that invitation out to him? Could she handle him if he got too intimate? She hated taking a step forward, then a step back again, but she was just confused about what she wanted from Jack.
“I’ll have to go home to get my trunks first.”
“I have several suits in different sizes.”
Jack smiled at her. “Do you collect trunks from your guests?”
She laughed. “No. Unless my mom did. People used to drop in a lot, and she’d invite them to go swimming with us. They didn’t have their suits. Mom bought a few girls’ suits and women’s and men’s in different sizes.”
“Bases are loaded. Bring them home.” Jack patted her knee. “Isn’t this fun? I love the Reds.”
“You’re right. This is fun. I’m glad you─”
“Hey, the kissing cam’s on us.” Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, covering her mouth with his.
She’d forgotten how they had a kissing camera to zero in on couples and when it happened, the pair usually waved or kissed each other.
She enjoyed kissing Jack back and hated it when he stopped. “You didn’t need to stop because the camera’s no longer on us.”
“I don’t want to spoil you.”
It occurred to her why he wanted her to switch T-shirts before the game. “You gave me a Reds’ t-shirt to wear to increase our chances of getting on the kissing cam.”
He shrugged. “Ben already got you on TV when you fell. I had to get you on TV again. I didn’t want you to think I’m a slacker here. And I managed it without you falling out of your seat.”
“We can’t have you being a slacker.” She glanced down at her red shirt. “Do I get to keep this shirt?”
“Only if you get me a baseball cap like yours?”
“This one was my dad’s, but it’s a deal.”
One of the hardest things to do in writing is to create characters that readers will care about, and will want to read on. You can have a well-written novel but if the editors, agents or readers don’t care that much about your characters, you won’t get very far. 
A Memorable Character should have the following attributes:
1. A strong, independent personality.
2. Believable motivation.
3. Consistent behavior.
4. Imagination.
5. Courage to take the initiative.
6. A bigger-than-life image.
7. Human traits - good and bad.
The above traits will develop over the character’s life. In other words, a character usually doesn’t begin her or his novel life having all 7 attributes.
Each writer has their own system in creating their characters. I jot down as much information about each main character as possible - eye color, hair color, and write down a goal for each one. Some authors are more detailed in their approach and use a chart method, filling in vital information. Mine is more a narrative approach. You need to know your characters very well so that you can make them real to the readers.
Character description shouldn’t stop the action. The writer needs to convey description without stopping the flow. I try not to convey description by saying the character stopped and looked in the mirror at his or her appearance. Boring!
A pet peeve of mine is when a writer tries too hard to be different in naming their characters. If the names are hard to remember or I can’t pronounce them, I will become annoyed. But you don’t want to use Mary Doe or John Smith either. Poor usage of character names may signal an amateur writer. Switching between first and last names makes it hard for a reader to learn a new character. For example, referring to a character as “Mary Doe” in the first sentence, then “Mrs. Doe” in the second, then “Mary” in the third will confuse the reader, especially if there are many characters in the scene.
There are drives, strong feelings, and motivations that are common to all of us. We all need to be loved, to get recognition, and to know who we are. When any one of these basic drives is blocked, there is conflict. When you have conflict, whether it is physical, psychological, or spiritual, you have one of the fundamental elements of all fiction. Conflict is what drives fiction. Without conflict, there is no action or reaction.
I love to research occupations for my characters because it’s fun to write about jobs I have never had. Although I was a teacher before starting our family, Mallory is the only teacher I have for a main character. I’ve used teaching careers for secondary characters. I’ve gone to the library to get books on occupations used for characters, but I also have used the internet for a lot of my background information. I did buy a used book from Amazon on broadcasting for my Whitney in Charge book. I enjoyed reading how a TV program is produced.
It’s not good to launch into the story without stopping to establish any of the characters. In many “high concept” novels, a heated scene occurs immediately without the readers knowing anything about the characters. Readers have to know something about the characters to care what happens to them before the exciting scene happens. The characters are the plot - their needs, wishes, developments. Their introduction and establishment should be the most important. Introducing too many characters in the beginning pages will confuse the reader.
I pay close attention to those around me in my daily life. I remember any interesting or unusual traits or habits that I can use for my characters. Observation is important for a writer. Also what might be interesting to me may not be to someone else. I consider what makes a character intriguing to others. I try to avoid cliché traits and to create unique characters.
While reading or writing, what kind of characters do you enjoy the most?
Readers, answer Diane's question or just leave a comment about her book or this blog and you'll be in the running for a free copy of the book. And a bonus: All this week, I'm picking one commenter to win an e-copy of my book, Spark of Magic. Will YOU be one of the lucky winners? Leave a comment and see...
Another writer and more great writing tips...
How I motivate myself to write is such a good topic for a blog, since I am sure I am one of many who fights that urge to procrastinate.
I developed a schedule. I get up in the morning generally around 4 am, but sometimes it’s 5 am. I put on the coffee, and I schedule a good two hours of writing time in the peace and quiet before the kids get up. During this time I actually get more accomplished then any other time of day.
After the kids are at school, I write for the next five hours. What I do is establish a goal each day. When I am writing a novel, it’s two thousand words a day. So if I can maintain my focus I can be done in three or four hours. On those days, I’ll reward myself. I’ll take some me time, and it could be anything, such as sitting down and reading a book of one of my many favorite authors or working in my garden. Whatever it is at that moment that will bring peace.
There have been many days where I struggled to get two pages written. At anytime if the words aren’t flowing or I’m struggling with a particular scene, I’ll close up my computer and take a walk outside in nature to clear my head. This works for me, it helps me to ground myself to go back and write.
It’s important that I don’t schedule anything during the day when I’m writing. But life is such that things do come up. If I need to schedule an appointment, I do it late enough in the afternoon that it doesn’t cut up my day. I plan meals in advance too, so I don’t spend every day preparing a meal from scratch. When I cook, I make lots so there are leftovers and freeze any extras for a quick meal. Otherwise I found I always had that one thing in the back of my mind, that I still needed to do and that would took my focus away from my writing.
I never write when my kids are home, I maintain that time as our time together. Basically what it boils down to is that this is my career choice, and I treat it as a job, one that I love. No matter what the deadline is, I never write at night.
Thanks, Lohrainne! You've given us some great ideas. I especially like the tip about not writing at night. Have to try that one. And I must admit, my kids were a great motivator for writing too. Writing was the only way I could keep my sanity.
Well, I know after viewing the terrific cover above, you'd love to learn more about The Captain's Lady, so I'm including a blurb below:
Captain Eric Hamilton is a powerful force in the U.S. Navy, having earned himself a reputation of being a hard-nosed chauvinist. He’s commander of the USS Larsen, a destroyer, currently deployed in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Abby Carlton has just escaped from the man who held her captive for a year. Abducted while travelling in Paris, she was given to an Arab man as a gift, until one night she makes her desperate escape.
While on patrol one morning Captain Eric Hamilton discovers a dinghy floating aimlessly. Abby is found, battered and in an advanced state of pregnancy, lying in the bottom of the dinghy. From the moment she lay on the deck of his ship her innocence finds a way to penetrate his hardened heart. But time is running out. Eric is falsely accused of sexual assault and the CIA wants Abby and the baby for bait to flush out her captor.
Sounds great doesn't it? Here's a sneak peek at an excerpt (and at Lohrainne):
“We have no reports of a ship in distress in the area, Captain.”
“What about fishing boats?”
“No, sir, no reports.”
Looking once more at his first officer, Eric issued curt orders, the harshness grating in his voice. “Send a rescue team to check it out.”
Handing the binoculars off to one of the crew members, he strode with determination off the bridge, heading directly to the ship’s launch. His well-trained crew scurried about. Joe appeared at his side and they watched from the rail as the small rigid hull sped off in the direction of the dinghy. His pulse rose and the dampness on his back soaked through his short-sleeved shirt.
“So what do you think?” Joe leaned on the rail, uncertainty clear in the crinkle of his brows.
“Don’t know, dammit.” Eric focused on the scene unfolding in the distance. Again he commandeered the binoculars from Joe and scrutinized the three-man team approaching, then securing the boat to the dinghy.
His senses were keen; over the years, he’d learned to trust them. The uneasiness that crept its way into his gut, the hairs now standing up on the back of his neck and the racing of his heart; this unshakable feeling was telling him that things were about to change—drastically. Puzzled, he felt the mounting frustration build inside, along with something else he could not quite put his finger on. Shaking his head, he realized it was not a feeling of dread.
The crackle of the radio interrupted his speculation. A voice from the rescue team came over the line. “There’s someone in here, a woman, and she’s in bad shape.”
Today we have a special blog with author Clare Austin on a subject near and dear to my heart: Ireland. It's easy to wax lyrical, when the lush fields of green surround you. And the loveliness of the redheads catches your eye. As you can see, Clare has captured that magical beauty. I, too, am a redhead, so we have much in common as we both love Éire and love to write.
Thank you for having me on your blog today. I have been thinking about how I research my stories. I would have to say it’s a dynamic process. Researching Ireland is always a joy.
When I started writing fiction four years ago this fall, all the Irishness in me once again surfaced. I had recently been back to Éire and as I traveled I made copious notes for story ideas. If you get off the tourist track, it won’t be long before someone will tell a tale, sing a song, raise a pint in celebration of a victory or to salve a defeat. The Irish love to talk. I love to listen. Story telling is a national pastime…right up there with Gaelic Football and Hurling. History, both recent and ancient, is a nebulous thing mixed with lore and a touch of blarney.
Years ago someone asked me “Why Ireland?” My answer… “Why anywhere?” Apart from the obvious, the physical beauty, the friendly people, the magical charm, there is a gravitational pull. The land of Yeats, Joyce, and Sheridan tugs on every cell of my body until I once again return to that greener shore.
My writing has been described by more than one reader as “lyrical.” I have to believe some of that tendency is in my mitochondria, passed down from generations of Celtic folk. But, I also have a vast curiosity about how environment shapes us.
I cannot walk past the General Post Office in Dublin without visualizing the struggle for Irish Independence…and a story will start to gel in my consciousness. When I stand on the shore or swim in the sea, I literally hear the music of harps, fiddles and pipes in my head. I’m “Off with the fairies.” This is a very Irish phrase that gently depicts a condition lacking reason or sanity. It rather sweetly illustrates a state of blissful confusion. My friends and family will attest to the fact that I can get lost in my own neighborhood. I know it is because those “fairies” called me off to places in my heart.
I’m not at all sure this qualifies as research. Yes, I do actually read, study articles on the internet, talk to experts. In the Fad Trilogy the Irish characters are native Irish speakers. I have an Irish language expert who helps me not sound like an illiterate when I use an Gaeilge in my books. I have a great little book called Slanguage by Bernard Share to help wade though the street slang of Dublin. The film “The Commitments” is fabulous for getting a feel for modern urban Irishness. I am a voracious reader. Frank Delaney, Maeve Binchy, The Táin translated from the Irish by Ciaran Carson and the Princes of Ireland series by Rutherford sit on my bookshelves beside the poetry of W.B. Yeats.
But, if you are going to write about Ireland, there is no research better than being there. You will feel the stories soaking into your skin, your hair, your lungs as gently as the rain that falls on a soft Connemara morning. Be mindful to keep your voice silent, ears tuned, to quiet your heart and wait. It will come…that’s Ireland.
Thank you for this opportunity. I hope you will stop by my website www.clareaustin.com and take a look at my other books, Angel’s Share and Hot Flash, both due to release early in 2010. If you wish to contact me personally, my email is authorclare@gmail.com. Don’t be shy…I love to be chat with people about writing, books and Ireland.
Clare
And here's Clare's most recent release:
Flannery Sloane is a free spirited bohemian with a soul blessed by Irish musical tradition. She doesn’t give a care for where she’s going or how she’ll get there. Joy and passion are her only map. And, though she’s not interested in falling in love, she wouldn’t mind a little fun with a fine looking man. Hunter Kincade looks like he could fill that bill and have a bit of change left over.
Flannery never wears a watch. She’s late for everything but the downbeat of a fiddle tune. She’s happy serving pints in the pub and playing for tips and smiles. Hunter thrives on punctuality. He is in the music business with his focus on the bottom line. The pretty fiddle player with the bright green eyes would make his next production worth the price of a CD.
Their only common ground is the belief that falling in love is a danger to health and sanity.
Will it take more than Irish magic to pull a man like Hunter into the spell of a woman like Flannery? They are all wrong for each other...and they are so right.
Hi, all,
When did you first dream of being a writer and what steps did you take to follow your dream?
I read my first romance novel when I was 20 years old. I'd picked up a couple of used Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novels for my mom, and decided to give one a try on the long ride home. By the time we arrived, I was hooked! I read every romance novel I could get my hands on (even hooked both my sisters-in-law, who are still voracious readers), and slowly the writing jones took a hold of me. Only I quickly discovered that writing an entire novel wasn't as easy as I'd thought. Several years and many half-written manuscripts later, I became discouraged and gave up. But in 2004, I sat down at my computer, a little older and with thicker skin (LOL), and eight months later I'd finished my first draft of There's Only Been You. Unsure of where to go from there, I emailed a fan letter to Jayne Ann Krentz who told me if I was a serious about writing, I should join RWA. Which I did, along with my local chapter. :-)
What do you find most challenging about being a writer? What do you love most?
For me, the most challenging is simply finding the time to write. But once my kids are both in school (this fall!!!), I hope to nail down a regular writing schedule. I love so many things...editing, fan letters, good reviews (just received my first review for MEANT TO BE & it was excellent!). And I love how proud my family is of me. :-)
In addition to writing, what are your other passions?
My family, of course. My friends. Reading, for sure. I love watching TV and I'm a longtime soap opera fan.
What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?
The usual, I suppose. Agents who say they love your book, but don't know if they could sell it. Editors who call, and just as you're about to have a heart attack they say, "I'm not calling for the reason you think I am." LOL Perseverence is how I overcame those stumbling blocks, until I found an editor who not only loved my work, but believed in it.
What comes first in your writing process? A scene, characters, title? Are you a plotter?
I like to simply start with the opening paragraph, which sets the scene for me. Everything else just develops, I guess, as I write. I used to be a pantser, but I quickly realized plotting works a lot better for me...less headaches...LOL
Where do you get your ideas? And what do you do if your muse decides to take a vacation?
I get my ideas in all sorts of places: the news, articles, books, real life, reality shows. Reality shows are a goldmine for quirky characters. LOL
What’s one secret few people know about you?
I've wracked my brain for something juicy, but I got nothing. Well, I cry at the drop of a hat...but heck, that's just pathetic. *grin* A few months ago, I was trying to tell my friend (co-author Stacey Joy Netzel) about the movie Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeves & Jane Seymour, which she's never seen, and I couldn't get the words out I was so choked up. She just shook her head and said, "Really? Are you kidding?" LOL I also couldn't read the speech for this year's Chapter Service Award recipients (at the WisRWA conference) because when I tried to practice it on my friends I couldn't do it without crying. Man, I'm a blubbering fool...LOL
Anything special you wish I'd asked or that you'd like to share with readers.
I'd love to post an excerpt for the secondary love story in Meant To Be between Luke Jamison (Garrett's uncle who moved in to take care of them after the deaths of their parents) & Muriel, a neighbor who works at the police station with Garrett & Mike.
Excerpt:
Luke Jamison nearly choked on his beer when he saw Muriel strolling his way with a killer smile and a plateful of food. She was so beautiful he couldn't believe some lucky guy hadn't snapped her up already. She had a figure women half her age would envy, and today she wore a pair of those lowrise jeans with a white, spaghetti-strap tank top that had the Led Zeppelin blimp on it. Please, God, let something witty come out of my mouth. He cleared his throat and gestured toward her chest. "You know, I saw them once, but it was years ago."
"Oh, I don't think so." She grinned. "I would've remembered something like that."
Heat crawled up Luke's neck. "I, uh, what I meant was...ah, hell, I'm an idiot."
"Actually, I think you're cute. And I know what you meant, I was only teasing." She stopped in front of him and held out the plate. "Garrett asked me to bring this in to you."
"Thanks." He accepted it without making eye contact. Chicken shit.
"Don't mention it." She took a seat on the beige and gold flower-patterned sofa and patted the cushion beside her. "I'd be happy to keep you company while you eat."
"Maybe I should go eat this out on the patio. Sara'll skin me alive if I plop barbecue sauce on their new furniture."
"Relax, Luke. After four kids, trust me, I'm an expert at taking out stains."
With a hesitant nod, he walked over and sat down next to her, being careful not to sit too close. With his luck, he'd end up getting barbecue sauce on her as well as the sofa.
"So how have you been?" she asked. "I haven't seen you down at the station in quite a while."
"I've been working a lot. Eating up the overtime." He picked up his fork and took a bite of the macaroni salad.
"Tasty, huh? Your Sara sure can cook." Muriel crossed her legs, her sandaled foot brushing his calf. "You know, I'm not a half-bad cook myself."
He glanced up after another bite of macaroni salad. "Can you make pierogies?"
"My maiden name is Slotkowski; what do you think?"
He held her gaze for moment before dropping his back to his plate.
Muriel took heart. Luke Jamison was easily the shyest man she'd ever met. And one of the best looking. He stood just shy of six-feet, had a thick, full head of salt and pepper hair with a matching mustache and beard that he kept neatly trimmed. Muscular, like his nephews, he was in surprisingly good shape for a man of nearly fifty. He wore a wellworn pair of Levi's with a black pocket T-shirt tucked into the waistband, which showed off a lean waist from all the years he'd spent doing hard physical labor at the paper mill. He had big, brown bedroom eyes, and some of the sexiest hands she'd ever seen.
Muriel had been itching to feel those hands on her since the moment they'd met.
* * *
Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on now?
I'd be happy to. I'm working on a novella, Home Is Where the Heart Is, my first story for the sequel to Welcome To Redemption, a four-story anthology I wrote with my good friend & CP, Stacey Joy Netzel. Once we finish the sequel, I have to get back to Jack Sutton's story. You meet Jack in Meant To Be.
And here's a blurb and excerpt from Meant to Be:
She's running from her past, he's unsure about his future. Maybe together they can figure out what was MEANT TO BE. Officer Garrett Jamison is at the lowest point in his life. He’s lost faith in his ability as a police officer after unwittingly setting his sister up with a dirty cop. Garrett ended up getting shot, and his sister's son kidnapped right out of his own bed. He takes a leave from the force, in need of some time to make a decision about his future. Too bad he can't get a decent night's sleep thanks to his sexy new neighbor and her howling cat.
Jessica McGovern moves halfway across the country to start a new life in Green Bay, Wisconsin after her ex-husband is convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of their young son. Her new neighbor is as infuriating as he is handsome, but when her ex is released from prison early and shows up in town, Jessica discovers she's never needed anyone more...
EXCERPT:
"Come here, Miss Crabbypants."
Jessica resisted, but it was no use. The big oaf outweighed her by a ton. "Look, I just want to finish my tea and relax. Today's my last day off for almost two weeks."
He leaned back and frowned down at her. "Why are you working so many hours?"
She rolled her eyes. "Um, I have bills to pay...?"
His gaze became pensive as he massaged the back of her neck. Slowly, she relaxed until she was leaning into his broad chest, eyes closed, inhaling his spicy masculine scent. He always smelled so good...Damn, the man was a magician; she'd already forgotten why she was mad at him...Wait, oh yeah. "So what's with all that hammering?"
"We're building a doghouse."
His busy fingers moved to her shoulders wringing a groan of ecstasy from her. Oh, God, was she drooling on his shirt? Then his words registered. Jessica leaned back and swiped her mouth with the back of her wrist. "A doghouse? But you don't have a dog...do you?"
"No, but Ethan's been begging for a puppy for a couple years now. I guess he finally wore Sara down. And Mike's still in the ‘buy-Ethan-anything-he-wants' phase." Garrett glanced down at his T-shirt and chuckled. He reached out and recaptured the back of her neck. "Liked that, did you? You do seem a little tense—"
"Oh, no you don't." She ducked out of his reach and took a few steps back. He started to follow but she held up both hands. "You stay right where you are."
He propped his hands on his hips. "So do I have a date tonight or what?"
"Or what."
He grinned. "Wear something sexy," he said with a wink before strolling out the back door. The jackass even had the nerve to whistle.
Jessica walked over and slammed the door with a muttered, "Nutjob." Then she headed into the bedroom to search through her closet.
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