Werewolf Fever

Isn't this the coolest cover ever? Makes you want to grab the book off the shelves. Even better is the blurb:

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

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.

World-building for Writers

Today C.L. Talmadge, author of the Green Stone of Healing® series, is joining us today to share about how she does world-building. For anyone who wants to create a fantasy or sci-fi, these techniques are powerful, but even those who are writing contemporary or historical can pick up some tips.

Let's welcome C.L. and find out her insider secrets:

Creating Different Worlds

By C.L. Talmadge

Creating a different world, whether for fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance, or any other speculative fiction, is not all that different from creating a contemporary setting for a novel of the here and now.

This “other” world cannot be so different or unusual that readers do not relate to or understand it. In fact, most of the elements of this different world will be very similar if not the same as elements of the world we know.

It’s the exceptions that mark a world out as alternative, or speculative.

One such exception might be the world’s technology. Yet-to-be seen gadgetry is usually the star of hardcore sci-fi, but not always. The Dune series, for example, boasts scads of way-out technology, but it always takes a back seat to the story and the characters. Maybe that’s why it has been such an enduring bestseller. Few readers are satisfied with nothing but pages filled with dissertations on future technology.

In my speculative epic, the Green Stone of Healing® series, much of the technology is similar to what we know now. There are cell phones (links), the Internet (the Grid), mobile computers called Gridbooks, and mechanized transportation (helicopters are called rotors). But there is also what I call spiritual technology based on the ability to perceive and manipulate something called kura (energy defined somewhat differently than sciences does).

In the past, this spiritual technology was the basis of the power of the dominant people in my series, the Toltecs. Most Toltecs are not aware that they live in a society that is not progressing or evolving. Instead, it is regressing, especially in technology. The ability to manipulate kura via thoughts and feelings gave the Toltecs transportation technology that was clean and needed no fuel to operate. These machines are called impellers. But they abused their powers and thus lost the ability to manufacture more of this technology. A lot of the plot later in the series hinges on this regression.

Another way to establish a speculative world is through its economy. What do people do for a living? How is their profit-making organized? This, of course, is closely related to politics. So, think about how this speculative society is organized. Is it tribal and rural? Urban and nation-state? Some blend of the two or something else altogether? Keep in mind our world today displays a wide range of ways to organize people, even if we divide politically into countries. Some nations are more coherent and homogenous than others.

In my series, the predominant setting is an island-nation called Azgard. It is a monarchy but there is a legislative body that the ruler, called the Exalted Lord, must consult. Much conflict and thus plot arises out of the power struggle between the king and this group, known as the Kinshazen.

This legislative body, however, does not represent all the people of Azgard. It consists only of the heads of the families that comprise the oligarchy that controls the nation’s wealth. Poor Toltecs and the Turanians, the conquered and dispossessed people of Azgard, have no political power and no representation. They fare little better than serfs. Later in the series a lot of action and conflict will arise out of this situation as future heroines seek to right this inequity.

Language is still another way to establish otherworldliness. The first-generation protagonist of my series, Helen Andros, is fluent in three languages. They are Atalan, the language of her mother’s people, the Turanians; Terzil, the language of the Toltecs, her father’s people, and Kydosh, the language of a vassal state far to the East of Azgard. Even the simple acts of naming a different language and providing a few words in that strange tongue helps imbue your setting with an otherworldly aura.

Last but not least, the characters help set the stage for a different world. Sometimes they are simply not human beings, like the mystical, alien mist-Weavers in my series. Aliens, elves, dwarves, werewolves, vampires are one dramatic way to establish a speculative world. But then, some of these nonhumans pop up in thoroughly contemporary settings, too.

Even the human characters, however, can contribute to the fantasy atmosphere by their beliefs and expectations about life and their world. They do not necessarily have an old-fashioned sensibility, but they are not totally modern or post-modern, either. In my series, for example, forget about women’s rights. Females are treated like chattel in Azgard, and my strong-willed first-generation heroine pretty much accepts her lot, even if she does not like it. Her warrior daughter, however, will raise an ungodly stink about it. Since my series is set in a theocracy, my characters’ religious beliefs and their national origin mythology are critical and very much interrelated.

Numerous ways exist to set a world apart and imbue it with a sense of otherness. Just don’t go so far afield that an audience cannot find some way to connect the characters and events they read about to their own lives.

C.L. Talmadge is the author of the Green Stone of Healing® speculative epic. The fourth in the series, Outcast, will be published Oct. 1. Vote for the first book, The Vision, through Sept. 25 and get a free e-book on healing, love, and spirituality. Details at her blog: www.healingstonebooks.com/stonescribe

Thanks so much for joining us C.L. You've given us a lot to think about. Readers who comment on the blog tour also have an opportunity to win the series of books. So leave a comment for C.L. or share your own techniques for world-building. If you're a reader rather than a writer, what's your favorite world and why?

Some Wise Advice

Just read the following quote by marketing guru Seth Godin:

“The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out. Three years to build a reputation, build a permission asset, build a blog, build a following, build credibility and build the connections you’ll need later.”

So those of you struggling to get published can take heart. It takes time to become a writer. Many writers practice their craft for years--10+ years is not uncommon--before they see their work in print. So if you're at the early stages of your career, now's the time to start blogging, building your platform, and making connections. Then when you find a publisher for your novel, you'll have all the pieces in place to promote it.

I've learned that marketing can eat up a lot of time. I write under several pseudonyms and juggling all the promo efforts often devours hours of what used to be writing time. I find I enjoy social networking. So much so that I sometimes spend hours reading posts and responding to even the silly and mundane ones. Not sure that any of that gains me more readers or sales, but it sure is FUN!

Anyone have any advice on how to cut back on the social media addiction & find more time to write?

More Bang for Your Buzz

Spent three days last week at a conference soaking in marketing knowledge and discovered that most marketers consider their books only as a stepping stone, a way to get in the door. Their real goal? Lucrative speaking engagements. Selling themselves, their products, their expertise, their services, their ideas. I realize these are non-fiction writers, but is this something that can and should be applied to fiction too?

Here's my paraphrase of a speaker's advice: Write one book, then spend the rest of your life promoting it. It evidently worked for him. He's a New York Times bestselling author.

For me, though, the be-all and end-all isn't sales, it's the writing. It's the thrill of seeing another book in print. The joy of playing with words. So maybe I'll always be a fingerpainter, mushing around in a creative muddle of color for the joy of it rather than hanging in a prestigious art gallery. Which is the better choice, I wonder. Thoughts anyone?

Talk about amazing...

Today I'm showcasing Cate Masters who's had NINE acceptances in less than a year and a total of FIFTEEN since her run of good luck began. In addition, Cate’s short stories and flash fiction have appeared in various web zines and press sites. I’ve asked her to share a bit about her recent successes. We can all use inspiration like that!

It’s an exciting year for me. The Wild Rose Press released my sixties-era short romance, Seventh Heaven, in mid-March. On May 6, they’ll release my short fantasy, The Duende and the Muse. On July 16, they’ll release my contemporary short Going with Gravity, and last month they accepted Design for Life, a sweet contemporary. Eternal Press contracted two novellas—a contemporary women’s fiction and an urban fantasy—and both are supposed to be available sometime this summer. Wild Child Publishing contracted a short contemporary, Liberation via Pen, which should be out sometime this year. Shadowfire Press is set to release my short Halloween-themed urban fantasy, Reflections, on October 2. Freya's Bower accepted my short urban fantasy, The Lure of the Vine, last weekend. A few more stories and novels are out there circulating, and I’m hoping to have news on them soon. Anyone interested can find updates on my blog: www.catemasters.blogspot.com. Readers can find links to my stories, including those published in web zines (i.e., freebies), at http://catemasters.ning.com/.

Such recordbreaking success didn't have come easily. You've invested years of hard work in learning your craft. When did you first dream of being a writer and what steps did you take to follow your dream?

It seems like I always wrote something. About age ten, I wrote poetry and continued until recently, when fiction drew me entirely away. In high school, I also wrote for the school newspaper. I started a novel in my twenties but found it too difficult to write while my kids were young and worked at a full-time job (and simultaneously a part-time job for many years). In my thirties I picked fiction up again more seriously and began buying how-to books and took several online workshops (Gotham Writers Workshop, Writer’s Digest, etc.), and attended local workshops and writer’s gatherings. I joined several critique groups. For a few years, my demanding day job allowed no time to write for myself, and I felt miserable—except that it was an incredible learning experience, and taught me to evaluate each word’s weight within a sentence. This past year, pressing personal issues forced me to quit work, and I focused on my writing full-time. Joy! And it saved my sanity in a tough time.

You write in a lot of genres. Do you have a favorite and why?

I’m too ADD to have a favorite! I love to experiment. Every genre poses its unique challenges and rewards. I do love urban fantasy, but also contemporary. Not being much for history in school, I was surprised at how much I loved bringing historical characters to life. Flash and short fiction are good exercises for tightening prose, but I also love how novels allow me to explore a story in detail. I love it all!

Some of your books are set in areas where you've lived/grown up. Can you share some of your memories of those places & why they're special to you?

I was very lucky to grow up in an artsy community. Lambertville/New Hope is nationally known for its art, antiques and theater. I also had incredibly talented friends who all loved music as much as I did. Since about third grade, we wrote poetry together, sang together, drew and painted. An amazingly nourishing environment for being creative. But I also like to explore places I’ve never been through writing. The Internet makes it easy to research locations, and I’ve also sent for visitors guides to help provide setting details. Fantasy’s fun for creating new worlds.

Growing up in an artsy community has carried over to your writing. Many of your stories contain references to art and music. What arts do you have a passion for?

I couldn’t live without music. I could never pick five CDs to take with me on a deserted island. I’d need a carrier pigeon to bring me the latest releases! Although I can’t listen to music while writing—I get too caught up in it. I’ve dabbled in so much (though lately, not so much)—painting, photography, gardening, jewelry making, needlework. In high school, I spent a lot of time sketching. I’ve attempted to play the piano and guitar, but gave it up at the request of my family. Photography comes in handy for making book trailers, which I find lots of fun.

Speaking of trailers, your son did incredible music for them.

Thank you! My husband and I recognized our son Chris’ gift for music at about age two and tried to nurture it by keeping his instrument supply updated. He has an uncanny ability to listen to a song once and play it. He also writes his own music, and I used his songs in my first three trailers. Below is the trailer for Seventh Heaven. I took the photos of the Lambertville/New Hope area on a trip home.

He's obviously very talented, as are you. Has following your passion encouraged your other children to follow theirs?

My daughter Abbey’s a stickler for language like me (luckily, she inherited my husband’ math skills and his mechanical aptitude). My youngest, Becca, has collaborated in designing furniture with my husband, who’s a woodworker, and sketched some pretty cool fashion, too. The Wild Rose Press recently contracted Design for Life, a story I wrote for Becca, as part of their Flower Basket series. I hope I’ve inspired my kids to follow their bliss, to explore within themselves and discover the gratification of nurturing their souls.

To have written so many books and stories, you must have a wonderful imagination. Where do you get your ideas? And what do you do if your muse decides to take a vacation?

Again, it depends on the story. My imagination’s triggered by any number of things. Sometimes I hear a character’s line in my head, and the story takes off from there. Sometimes a name will evoke an entire character. My imagination’s very vivid, and I generally see the story in my head like a movie. While on vacation in Key West five years ago, we visited a maritime museum and a story vision stopped me in my tracks (no liquor was involved, I swear!). That’s the only time that’s ever happened. It was a bit scary! But I spent a day in the Key West library copying old articles and bought a few books about the area’s history. Last year, I signed up for NaNoWriMo and focused on that story, finally. That historical romance novel is now circulating with publishers.

I have a backlog of story ideas and add to it continually. If my muse wants a vacation, it’s well deserved! And I have plenty to keep me busy.

Any habits/rituals you follow to get yourself in the writing mode?

Turn on the computer and sit in front of it. I treat my writing like a day job, except I rarely get a day off!

What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

Time’s been the biggest stumbling block lately. I found it necessary to designate a certain chunk of time for email and throwing sheep at Facebook friends, then it’s back to writing. Promotion’s another time management struggle. Blogging’s fun and a great marketing tool but can suck away too much time. I also have to curb my research. It’s essential and I love it, but I can get carried away there, too.

What comes first in your writing process? A scene, characters, title? Are you a plotter?

Depends. The title’s usually last. I rarely like the titles I come up with. Initially, I was a total pantser and let the characters drive the story. Sometimes it was like herding cats. But plotting doesn’t work well for me. I find it too restricting. I settled on outlining, which helps me to know where the story’s going in general, but have the wiggle room to let my characters wander off on a tangent if they insist.

What characters in your books are most like you and why?

I suppose it’s inevitable that part of any writer’s personality ends up in the story. But again, I like to experiment and explore. I love stories that touch a nerve with people and resonate. I try to avoid making my characters like me – I’d end up writing the same character every time. Personalities are so complex, it’s easy to layer on various aspects. Sometimes I add traits to characters I wish I had!

So what's the real Cate Masters like?

I’m painfully shy. Less so than when I was young, when it actually prevented me from following my dream of becoming a journalist. I could never envision myself intruding on people’s lives efficiently enough to interview them. In my thirties, I made a conscious decision not to let it hold me back any longer. I challenged myself to try something that scared me—I freelanced for the local newspaper. It was a thrill to see my stories on the front page. And since then, I’ve realized how important it is for your personal growth to challenge yourself. Try something you think you can’t do. You’ll amaze yourself.

What do you find most challenging about being a writer?

Because I visualize my stories so vividly, sometimes it’s a challenge to translate what’s in my head to paper. Revisions were painful, early on. In the last few years, I’ve learned to respect them and give them their due. If I put something out there, I want the finished product to be my best possible work. Writing’s a high for me, especially when I manage to string together a well-constructed sentence conveying what’s actually in my head. Language is a powerful tool, and I love the feeling I’ve created something worthwhile, something even vaguely approaching art. I hope to create stories other writers recognize as being crafted with skill and care, and that take readers on a memorable journey.

Before we end the interview, do you have anything special you'd like to share with readers?

A few years ago, Ian McEwan visited our area to promote Saturday, after his success with Atonement. At his booksigning, I asked him for advice for wannabe-published authors. He said: Keep writing. At the time, I thought he just wanted to keep the long line moving, but I’ve since realized the truth of it. It’s so important to just keep at it. I’d also advise you not to be hard on yourself. Rejection’s tough to endure, but use it to improve your writing. And don’t take it personally. If a story’s rejected, polish it up and send it right back out until some editor or publisher picks it up.

I don’t believe in regrets. Sometimes what feels like the wrong path in life can actually provide something useful you’ll need on your way to where you want to go. Hmm, sounds very mystical but I believe it’s true. I’m probably living proof!

Okay, I do have one regret: that I was never in a girl band. I’m pretty sure I could’ve given the GoGos a run for their money, if I’d ever learned to sing and play guitar at the same time!

Ahh...but I'm sure her readers won't regret the time and energy you've poured into learning your craft. And who knows? With so much success already heading your way, maybe that girl band is next.

For those of you who are dying to read Cate's latest release, she has a special treat for readers:

She's giving away a PDF copy of Seventh Heaven. To enter, email her at cate.masters@gmail.com with Seventh Heaven Contest in the subject line. If you win, she’ll respond to your email with the PDF attached. She’ll announce the winner here and on her blog tomorrow, April 23, at 9 p.m. Also, be sure to leave a comment for Cate.

That's not the only giveaway Cate's participating in. I mentioned The Wild Rose Press Sony e-reader contest in previous posts (see below). Buy a copy of Seventh Heaven by Cate Masters for a chance to win!