I played this video for them after I uploaded it and they started howling after listening to themselves howl. It was very funny.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Mika and Izzy Howling
This is something I do with my dogs almost everyday. I start howling with them and they howl, too.
I played this video for them after I uploaded it and they started howling after listening to themselves howl. It was very funny.
I played this video for them after I uploaded it and they started howling after listening to themselves howl. It was very funny.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Interview with T.J. Loveless
I'd like to welcome author and editor T.J. Loveless to my blog. She's a good friend, who has supported me on a lot of occasions. I've read some of her writing and she's excellent at creating stories. Her blog posts are often humorous and enjoyable to read!
I'm also featured on her blog today, doing a guest post: http://queenofpaddedroom.blogspot.com/2013/02/introducing-eb-black-and-thoughts-on.html
And on February 18th, you can visit her blog again to enter a contest she is hosting where you could win a free copy of my novel, a mug, and a mousepad!
Here's the interview...
1. Name three random things about yourself.
Trying to think of things I haven't said yet! LOL 1.) I am an extrovert now, but until the age of 10, I was painfully shy. 2.) I have a secret penchant for cartoons. Including Spongebob. 3.) I would be more than 80% gray, at the age of 40, if I didn't color regularly.
2. What made you want to be an editor?
I discovered as a Critique Partner and Beta Reader that I love to watch, and be a part of, the birth of a book. I adore watching the story, and getting a peek into someone else. I wanted to be a part of the publishing process, to point to a book on the shelf and say, "I helped with that!" Plus I get to help others break all the rules. Must be the rebel in me...
3. What's your favorite thing about being an editor?
After I've sent the book to the author for revisions, I have to say my favorite thing is when I receive it for a beta read. To see their voices no longer cluttered amid redundancy, repeated phrases, etc. To watch the strength of the book make it stand on its own, the author's vision of the book now loud and clear.
4. What is the most common mistake you see writers making?
Redundant phrases. Granted, we all write in passive, etc, but redundancy is the biggest mistake. Adds to the word count and can be frustrating to read over and over. Repeated thoughts and actions from earlier in the MS, sometimes causing timeline issues. Or the MC and second character walking and phrases such as "we both" ...
5. Is it hard to balance being a writer and an editor?
It can be, for me. When I'm assigned a book, I dive in headfirst. I'll spend fifty or more hours on it, even the very well written. It's hard to balance strengthening the writing and ensuring the voice isn't lost. I am obsessive, so I end up analyzing every word, phrase, dialogue, etc. I've been told I'm a pretty tough editor, but no complaints about the end result.
The writing side of me is losing at the moment. It is very hard to go from editor mode and switch into The Writer's Zone. I tried writing after editing, found myself editing the WIP in rough draft - something I promised myself I wouldn't do. It can take two days for me to get out of Editor and into Writer. So now I am prioritizing the days off, ensuring I can switch gears. It seems to be working. I wrote 10k words over 10 hours the other day. With no current assignments, I might be able to continue and finish Going Thru Hell.
6. What writing projects are you working on right now?
I am finishing Going Thru Hell, a full length novel about a mother's choices and starting a short story about a psychiatrist to creatures of fantasy. Researching and asking a lot of questions about self publishing. I'm going to dive in with the short stories, simply because I don't think I could find a publisher for 30k - 40k length novels. And enter the query trenches with Going Thru Hell by mid February.
I'm also starting a monthly spotlight of self published authors, complete with giveaways and guest blogs, in an effort to dispel the myths and stereotypes. I think its time to show the options available, either as a writer OR a reader.
7. What things have you had to give up in order to have more time for writing and editing?
Sanity and sleep. I take pride in my editing and writing, and can get a little obsessive when a project is in front of me. I also have a husband and teenager, and the balancing act can be intimidating at times.
I also lost a few friends when I announced my new position...they tried to use it as a way to circumvent the process. It hurt. I'm not an Acquisitions Editor - I'm a Copy/Content Editor for starters. And if I have to trudge through the muck and mire to be published, it is part of the journey. I resented others trying to use me to fly over the mud for their own work. I ended up not saying another word, although I'm very proud of what I do.
---
Where to find T.J. Loveless online...
I'm also featured on her blog today, doing a guest post: http://queenofpaddedroom.blogspot.com/2013/02/introducing-eb-black-and-thoughts-on.html
And on February 18th, you can visit her blog again to enter a contest she is hosting where you could win a free copy of my novel, a mug, and a mousepad!
Here's the interview...
1. Name three random things about yourself.
Trying to think of things I haven't said yet! LOL 1.) I am an extrovert now, but until the age of 10, I was painfully shy. 2.) I have a secret penchant for cartoons. Including Spongebob. 3.) I would be more than 80% gray, at the age of 40, if I didn't color regularly.
2. What made you want to be an editor?
I discovered as a Critique Partner and Beta Reader that I love to watch, and be a part of, the birth of a book. I adore watching the story, and getting a peek into someone else. I wanted to be a part of the publishing process, to point to a book on the shelf and say, "I helped with that!" Plus I get to help others break all the rules. Must be the rebel in me...
3. What's your favorite thing about being an editor?
After I've sent the book to the author for revisions, I have to say my favorite thing is when I receive it for a beta read. To see their voices no longer cluttered amid redundancy, repeated phrases, etc. To watch the strength of the book make it stand on its own, the author's vision of the book now loud and clear.
4. What is the most common mistake you see writers making?
Redundant phrases. Granted, we all write in passive, etc, but redundancy is the biggest mistake. Adds to the word count and can be frustrating to read over and over. Repeated thoughts and actions from earlier in the MS, sometimes causing timeline issues. Or the MC and second character walking and phrases such as "we both" ...
5. Is it hard to balance being a writer and an editor?
It can be, for me. When I'm assigned a book, I dive in headfirst. I'll spend fifty or more hours on it, even the very well written. It's hard to balance strengthening the writing and ensuring the voice isn't lost. I am obsessive, so I end up analyzing every word, phrase, dialogue, etc. I've been told I'm a pretty tough editor, but no complaints about the end result.
The writing side of me is losing at the moment. It is very hard to go from editor mode and switch into The Writer's Zone. I tried writing after editing, found myself editing the WIP in rough draft - something I promised myself I wouldn't do. It can take two days for me to get out of Editor and into Writer. So now I am prioritizing the days off, ensuring I can switch gears. It seems to be working. I wrote 10k words over 10 hours the other day. With no current assignments, I might be able to continue and finish Going Thru Hell.
6. What writing projects are you working on right now?
I am finishing Going Thru Hell, a full length novel about a mother's choices and starting a short story about a psychiatrist to creatures of fantasy. Researching and asking a lot of questions about self publishing. I'm going to dive in with the short stories, simply because I don't think I could find a publisher for 30k - 40k length novels. And enter the query trenches with Going Thru Hell by mid February.
I'm also starting a monthly spotlight of self published authors, complete with giveaways and guest blogs, in an effort to dispel the myths and stereotypes. I think its time to show the options available, either as a writer OR a reader.
7. What things have you had to give up in order to have more time for writing and editing?
Sanity and sleep. I take pride in my editing and writing, and can get a little obsessive when a project is in front of me. I also have a husband and teenager, and the balancing act can be intimidating at times.
I also lost a few friends when I announced my new position...they tried to use it as a way to circumvent the process. It hurt. I'm not an Acquisitions Editor - I'm a Copy/Content Editor for starters. And if I have to trudge through the muck and mire to be published, it is part of the journey. I resented others trying to use me to fly over the mud for their own work. I ended up not saying another word, although I'm very proud of what I do.
---
Where to find T.J. Loveless online...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tjloveless3
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tjloveless3/
Friday, February 1, 2013
I'm finished!!!....Oh wait! I'm not....
There's nothing more satisfying than writing the last two words of any manuscript: "The End." You've slaved for weeks, months, or maybe even years to type up the ideas that swirl around in your head. You've agonized over trivial things like punctuation and what words should be used to express your point in the best way. You've come up with conflict until it snowballs at the climax near the end. Now you rest with a blissful smile on your face because you're done....
...Except that you aren't done at all.
Soon, you find out that you need to re-read that whole 50,000+ word document and self-edit. As you go through it, the rosy glasses you once wore fall off your face. You realize that chapter ten isn't emotionally compelling enough, but you can make it moreso by adding a thousand words to chapter nine. You need to change the gender of the best friend of your main character and add romantic tension between him and someone else to spice up the story. You're already getting a headache just thinking about the mess you have to clean.
But then you re-write it. I'm done! You scream to the world! You want everyone to know how hard you worked and how ridiculously difficult doing all that was. You've worked hundreds of hours and been paid nothing, but it doesn't matter because now the whole story is complete.
And then you give it to your critique partners. Your face falls as you receive your manuscript back all marked in red. But I just finished it, you whine. And one of my critique partners wants me to change the main character's best friend back into a girl? So what if they have a good point?! All that hard work will be for nothing!
You groan, but you sit down. You've come so far, you can't give up now. As you follow their critiques, you see your manuscript getting better every day. Your heart swells up in pride again until you're finished.
This time, you tell everyone that you're done more hesitantly. I thought I was done two other times, but I was wrong. What if I'm wrong again?
And the cruel trick of the universe is that you are absolutely correct that you're wrong! Because once you figure out how to publish your book, you give it to your editor and they scribble notes across all the margins. It's like all that work you did before didn't matter. Your main character should have two best friends, both a boy AND a girl and the romantic tension should be between the two of them. It will make the story great, your editor insists!
You sigh as you do more revisions, glaring at the computer screen. You hate your manuscript now and you just want to be finished with it already.
Once you run out of red marks and notes, you stare at it anxiously. You ask people if it's ready to be published. Did you re-read it? Yes, you say! Did an editor read it? Yes, you shout! Your voice gets louder and joins a chorus of well-wishers. It's time to publish your book. It was like this would never happen! Finally, you're done....
Except you're not really done. Now that you've completed the first book, it's time for book number 2...
Welcome to an eternity of running through a hamster wheel! Don't try to get off because you love it too much to stop!
...Except that you aren't done at all.
Soon, you find out that you need to re-read that whole 50,000+ word document and self-edit. As you go through it, the rosy glasses you once wore fall off your face. You realize that chapter ten isn't emotionally compelling enough, but you can make it moreso by adding a thousand words to chapter nine. You need to change the gender of the best friend of your main character and add romantic tension between him and someone else to spice up the story. You're already getting a headache just thinking about the mess you have to clean.
But then you re-write it. I'm done! You scream to the world! You want everyone to know how hard you worked and how ridiculously difficult doing all that was. You've worked hundreds of hours and been paid nothing, but it doesn't matter because now the whole story is complete.
And then you give it to your critique partners. Your face falls as you receive your manuscript back all marked in red. But I just finished it, you whine. And one of my critique partners wants me to change the main character's best friend back into a girl? So what if they have a good point?! All that hard work will be for nothing!
You groan, but you sit down. You've come so far, you can't give up now. As you follow their critiques, you see your manuscript getting better every day. Your heart swells up in pride again until you're finished.
This time, you tell everyone that you're done more hesitantly. I thought I was done two other times, but I was wrong. What if I'm wrong again?
And the cruel trick of the universe is that you are absolutely correct that you're wrong! Because once you figure out how to publish your book, you give it to your editor and they scribble notes across all the margins. It's like all that work you did before didn't matter. Your main character should have two best friends, both a boy AND a girl and the romantic tension should be between the two of them. It will make the story great, your editor insists!
You sigh as you do more revisions, glaring at the computer screen. You hate your manuscript now and you just want to be finished with it already.
Once you run out of red marks and notes, you stare at it anxiously. You ask people if it's ready to be published. Did you re-read it? Yes, you say! Did an editor read it? Yes, you shout! Your voice gets louder and joins a chorus of well-wishers. It's time to publish your book. It was like this would never happen! Finally, you're done....
Except you're not really done. Now that you've completed the first book, it's time for book number 2...
Welcome to an eternity of running through a hamster wheel! Don't try to get off because you love it too much to stop!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Zach Abrams Interview
I'd like to welcome crime and thriller author Zach Abrams to my blog today. He is going to talk about his novel: Ring Fenced.
What is your book about?
My book tells the story of Benjanin Short in his various incarnations. Benjamin is a very complex character and compartmentalises his life to an extreme. His life is split into five different characters, each living under a variation of his name and the people in each of these lives have little or no knowledge of the others. The one common thread weaving each of his lives together is his obsession for music. There is an inevitability the divisions can not be sustained and the story deals with the unforeseen events taking place causing the divisions to become blurred with catastrophic results.
Benjamin is an anti-hero. Although each of his characters has some redeeming features, they essentially are all different aspects of Benjamin's self obsession. He is a sociopath constantly using other people to serve his own ends.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
That's the strange part. I didn't have an idea for a book. I was sitting thinking about writing something and I had the idea for the character. He developed in my mind and I thought I'd start trying to write about him. At first I though it would make an essay or a short story. The ideas expanded as I tried to explain about the different aspects of his character and the story seemed to write itself. At no time did I prepare or think through a plot and I didn't know where it was going. Afterwards, when I read it through for the first time it was like reading someone else's novel.
Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?
I certainly hope not. True there are aspects of myself and of people I know but Benjamin is not based on any one person. To survive in modern society, I, like most people have to compartmentalize. Benjamin takes this beyond the boundaries of what is normal or reasonable. Each of Benjamin's lives are reasonable normal if taken in isolation - it's only when they are combined under the same character and obsessively ring fenced that they become pathological
Who is your favorite writer? Why?
There are many writers I love depending on my mood. One that I particularly enjoy is the British author Michael Dobbs (to confuse matters there is a US author of the same name). I became addicted to his books after reading 'House of Cards' where I adored his depiction of Francis Urquhart. His own political experiences make his novels knowledgeable, insightful and amusing.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Once I started writing 'Ring Fenced,' I was consumed by it and wrote obsessively. I completed the first draft within five weeks the needed a rest to draw breath. The first edit took me about four months and it was over another year before I was sufficiently happy with it to allow anyone else, outside family, to read it. I waited a further year or more to embark on another novel and I have recently completed 'Made a Killing.' It was less obsessively written but not by much and I hope to have it published quite soon
What strange writing rituals do you have?
I don't know if I'd go as far as calling them rituals but I prefer to write into a word document while having a couple of windows open in the background. I have one open to a dictionary /thesaurus and the other open in Google search. This way I can often research or confirm small details I'm writing about while the thought is in my head. Only recently, I've added a separate word document to the combination so I can make notes on my time line and characters as I go along.
I've recently noticed that I'm not too distracted by background noise so I don't have a problem with a television or radio being on while I'm writing. It's maybe helped by my partial deafness but strangely enough I've found afterwards that I have a reasonable awareness of what the programme has been about and it hasn't significantly affected my writing - except maybe a few more typos to correct.
What are your hobbies?
Hobbies? Are you serious? Where's the time? Seriously though, I still have a lot of work commitments and try to write whenever I can. This involves the associated requirements to edit and publish and to try to mutually support other writers that I know. Outside of all of this I enjoy reading, music travel and sports.
What are you reading at the moment?
Currently I'm reading 'The Invention of the Big Bang' by Fred Schafer. It has a very unusual style and is a compelling read with the author telling you someone's retelling of the main characters life story. It took a bit of effort to get into it but it's proving very much worth the effort, absorbing. I love reading Indie books, you find real originality while the mainstream mainly keeps churning out variations of the same thing.
---
Blurb:
Benjamin enjoys sex, he likes money, he loves power and he’s addicted to control.
If you think your life’s complicated then spare a thought for him as he obsessively juggles and controls his five independent lives.
One man, five lives, ring-fenced and separated,
Bennie, loving husband and father,
Benjie, beloved youngest son,
Ben, successful corporate banker,
Benjamin, millionaire author and publisher of pornography
and Jamie, dynamic part-time lover of a beautiful musician.
Relying on his Blackberry to keep all his personae separate, his life is perfect.
But what if holes begin to appear in the divisions?
When a sequence of events throws his life into chaos, his separate words collide with explosive consequences.
Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Fenced-ebook/dp/B0060C7W8A/
What is your book about?
My book tells the story of Benjanin Short in his various incarnations. Benjamin is a very complex character and compartmentalises his life to an extreme. His life is split into five different characters, each living under a variation of his name and the people in each of these lives have little or no knowledge of the others. The one common thread weaving each of his lives together is his obsession for music. There is an inevitability the divisions can not be sustained and the story deals with the unforeseen events taking place causing the divisions to become blurred with catastrophic results.
Benjamin is an anti-hero. Although each of his characters has some redeeming features, they essentially are all different aspects of Benjamin's self obsession. He is a sociopath constantly using other people to serve his own ends.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
That's the strange part. I didn't have an idea for a book. I was sitting thinking about writing something and I had the idea for the character. He developed in my mind and I thought I'd start trying to write about him. At first I though it would make an essay or a short story. The ideas expanded as I tried to explain about the different aspects of his character and the story seemed to write itself. At no time did I prepare or think through a plot and I didn't know where it was going. Afterwards, when I read it through for the first time it was like reading someone else's novel.
Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?
I certainly hope not. True there are aspects of myself and of people I know but Benjamin is not based on any one person. To survive in modern society, I, like most people have to compartmentalize. Benjamin takes this beyond the boundaries of what is normal or reasonable. Each of Benjamin's lives are reasonable normal if taken in isolation - it's only when they are combined under the same character and obsessively ring fenced that they become pathological
Who is your favorite writer? Why?
There are many writers I love depending on my mood. One that I particularly enjoy is the British author Michael Dobbs (to confuse matters there is a US author of the same name). I became addicted to his books after reading 'House of Cards' where I adored his depiction of Francis Urquhart. His own political experiences make his novels knowledgeable, insightful and amusing.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Once I started writing 'Ring Fenced,' I was consumed by it and wrote obsessively. I completed the first draft within five weeks the needed a rest to draw breath. The first edit took me about four months and it was over another year before I was sufficiently happy with it to allow anyone else, outside family, to read it. I waited a further year or more to embark on another novel and I have recently completed 'Made a Killing.' It was less obsessively written but not by much and I hope to have it published quite soon
What strange writing rituals do you have?
I don't know if I'd go as far as calling them rituals but I prefer to write into a word document while having a couple of windows open in the background. I have one open to a dictionary /thesaurus and the other open in Google search. This way I can often research or confirm small details I'm writing about while the thought is in my head. Only recently, I've added a separate word document to the combination so I can make notes on my time line and characters as I go along.
I've recently noticed that I'm not too distracted by background noise so I don't have a problem with a television or radio being on while I'm writing. It's maybe helped by my partial deafness but strangely enough I've found afterwards that I have a reasonable awareness of what the programme has been about and it hasn't significantly affected my writing - except maybe a few more typos to correct.
What are your hobbies?
Hobbies? Are you serious? Where's the time? Seriously though, I still have a lot of work commitments and try to write whenever I can. This involves the associated requirements to edit and publish and to try to mutually support other writers that I know. Outside of all of this I enjoy reading, music travel and sports.
What are you reading at the moment?
Currently I'm reading 'The Invention of the Big Bang' by Fred Schafer. It has a very unusual style and is a compelling read with the author telling you someone's retelling of the main characters life story. It took a bit of effort to get into it but it's proving very much worth the effort, absorbing. I love reading Indie books, you find real originality while the mainstream mainly keeps churning out variations of the same thing.
---
Blurb:
Benjamin enjoys sex, he likes money, he loves power and he’s addicted to control.
If you think your life’s complicated then spare a thought for him as he obsessively juggles and controls his five independent lives.
One man, five lives, ring-fenced and separated,
Bennie, loving husband and father,
Benjie, beloved youngest son,
Ben, successful corporate banker,
Benjamin, millionaire author and publisher of pornography
and Jamie, dynamic part-time lover of a beautiful musician.
Relying on his Blackberry to keep all his personae separate, his life is perfect.
But what if holes begin to appear in the divisions?
When a sequence of events throws his life into chaos, his separate words collide with explosive consequences.
Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Fenced-ebook/dp/B0060C7W8A/
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Interview With Samantha Holt
Today, on our blog, we have Samantha Holt, who writes Historical Romance. (A genre I happen to love!) I asked her a few questions about her novel, The Angel's Assassin, and these were her responses...
What is your book about?
The Angel’s Assassin is a medieval romance but it explores the ideas of trust and redemption. The hero, Nicholas, is the ultimate anti-hero - a man with a bad past and a sinful deed to carry out. My heroine, Annabel, is the complete opposite of him and challenges him in many ways. She makes him want to change but whether Annabel believes him capable of change is another thing!
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I wanted to write an anti-hero and I knew I wanted to set it in early Norman England, a time when the country was still very much in turmoil It started with a baronial revolt and the story went from there really. The revolt only really plays as the backdrop for the story as the events act as the trigger but the rest of the story really revolves purely around Nicholas and Annabel.
What makes your book different than others in your genre?
My use of language is different. I know my native English tongue differs slightly but I hope that brings a sense of realism, particularly when it comes to dialogue. I love writing dialogue and I think that comes across. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to visit places featured in my books (castles etc) and I hope to bring a sense of realism into my stories by blending my experiences into my tales.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Generally I take about three months. I write full time so I put in anything between 4-6 hours of writing a day.
What are some writing goals for the future?
I’d like to perhaps expand into a different historical era or even write some contemporary romances. For the moment, I still have some untapped medieval stories but I imagine there’s only so many you can write. Having said that, I’m always sure the one I’m working on will be my last one and then another miraculously comes along.
If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?
How to Survive on a Desert Island - I’m making the gross assumption this book exists! Failing that, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
What makes a good romance book?
The characterisation is essential. I love it when a book makes your stomach churn with fear, apprehension, excitement… If you don’t care for the characters then that won’t happen. In romance, you need to want them to get together and I love that little stomach flip you get when it finally happens.
----
The Angel's Assassin
As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.
But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?
Angels Assassin: http://www.amazon.com/The-Angels-Assassin-ebook/dp/B00989J3PM/
Visit Her Online...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaHAuthor
Author website: http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk
Blog: http://www.samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.co.uk
---
What is your book about?
The Angel’s Assassin is a medieval romance but it explores the ideas of trust and redemption. The hero, Nicholas, is the ultimate anti-hero - a man with a bad past and a sinful deed to carry out. My heroine, Annabel, is the complete opposite of him and challenges him in many ways. She makes him want to change but whether Annabel believes him capable of change is another thing!
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I wanted to write an anti-hero and I knew I wanted to set it in early Norman England, a time when the country was still very much in turmoil It started with a baronial revolt and the story went from there really. The revolt only really plays as the backdrop for the story as the events act as the trigger but the rest of the story really revolves purely around Nicholas and Annabel.
What makes your book different than others in your genre?
My use of language is different. I know my native English tongue differs slightly but I hope that brings a sense of realism, particularly when it comes to dialogue. I love writing dialogue and I think that comes across. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to visit places featured in my books (castles etc) and I hope to bring a sense of realism into my stories by blending my experiences into my tales.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Generally I take about three months. I write full time so I put in anything between 4-6 hours of writing a day.
What are some writing goals for the future?
I’d like to perhaps expand into a different historical era or even write some contemporary romances. For the moment, I still have some untapped medieval stories but I imagine there’s only so many you can write. Having said that, I’m always sure the one I’m working on will be my last one and then another miraculously comes along.
If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?
How to Survive on a Desert Island - I’m making the gross assumption this book exists! Failing that, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
What makes a good romance book?
The characterisation is essential. I love it when a book makes your stomach churn with fear, apprehension, excitement… If you don’t care for the characters then that won’t happen. In romance, you need to want them to get together and I love that little stomach flip you get when it finally happens.
----
The Angel's Assassin
As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.
But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?
Angels Assassin: http://www.amazon.com/The-Angels-Assassin-ebook/dp/B00989J3PM/
Visit Her Online...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaHAuthor
Author website: http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk
Blog: http://www.samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.co.uk
---
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Five Things Many Authors Don't Want That I Do
Every author daydreams about their novel one day becoming a bestseller and eventually turning into a movie. I'll admit that I've had fantasies about the trailers for my books if they were turned into movies and all of them are set to the background music of Lacrimosa by Mozart. (I'm obsessed with that song and remixes of it.)
What a lot of authors don't daydream about is the following.
1. Fan-fiction
A lot of authors view it as stealing their work. They have a copyright on those characters and worked hard to create them, so they don't like anyone else using them.
As long as the fan-fiction isn't being sold for a profit, this is absolutely fine with me. It would mean that someone loved my writing so much that they continued to day dream about it long after they finished reading the last page. They thought about it so much and it was so real to them that they created a whole new story revolving around them.
I don't know if anyone could pay me a higher compliment than that.
2. Parodies
One of the first things I do when I fall in love with something entertainment-wise like the Twilight novels, is look for parodies of it on you tube. It usually entertains me for hours.
Because honestly, the people who find parodies the most entertaining are the ones who know something about a book series (for instance), not the ones who don't care about it. Something isn't funny if you don't understand it.
The more parodies being made of something I created, the more people care about it. And the more I get the chance to giggle at myself.
3. People That Hate My Characters/Book
As I've said before, I am a fan of the Twilight novels and movies. A long time ago, I joined several fan forums for the series. You'd think fan forums would be the one place where you are safe to discuss your love of Twilight without being mocked. That's so untrue. There's so many people on those forums who absolutely hate Twilight.
And yet those same people go and see every movie. They've read all the books and they spend all day posting on fan forums about it.
Because even though they hate the Twilight series, their hatred of it is a type of love. They love to hate stuff Stephenie Meyer created and therefore, they buy it all, so they can get that dose of hatred all over again.
I'm not saying everyone who hates Twilight is this way, but if you go on fan forums and meet someone who hates Twilight, but still posts on fan forums every day, they definitely are this way. And there's lots of them!
Even if you're a fan of my work because it's fun to hate it, I'm glad that I'm giving you your own type of enjoyment out of it. It's an unusual way of showing you care.
4. One-Star Reviews
I have yet to receive a one-star review. And to be honest, I'm a bit nervous about getting one, one day.
But at the same time, I know that once I do, my reviews will appear more balanced than they do right now.
Before I purchase a novel, I always read the one star reviews and if there isn't any, I'm more skeptical of the four and five star reviews. After all, enough people must not have reviewed this book to get a good overall impression of it or there would be more one-star reviews. There is no such thing as a book that is universally loved.
I think the Harry Potter books are pretty perfect, but I've met a ton of people who hate them. Either they think it teaches witchcraft or they think the characters and storyline are filled with cliches. Like Dumbledore, the wizard with a long beard and pointy hate and glasses . . . . it's true, it has been done a bunch of times. I don't view the books as cliche, but I've been told many reasons as to why a lot of people do.
One-star reviews honestly often convince me to buy a book. If I think the reasons they are complaining about the series are petty or the one star reviews have horrible grammar and spelling, but at the same time are complaining about the book having horrible grammar and spelling, then I kind of laugh at it and buy the book anyway.
Once I have some one-star reviews, I can thank those people for helping me sell books and keeping my reviews balanced.
5. Controversy
This is a big one that many authors are afraid of. I've been tempted to tone down parts of my books so as not to offend people.
Yet controversy isn't bad. Like hatred, it gets people to care about your novel. It makes them curious as to why so many people were offended by it and what they will think of it. It gets them arguing and discussing your novel with new people.
It even gets you on the news if it's well written enough.
And it shows you are capable of creating a vivid story that can touch people. A novel must feel real to the reader in order for them to be offended by it.
I've never read a novel by Dan Brown, but I probably will read something he wrote someday. Why? Because so many people have been outraged by his work that I am curious.
It's a very similar reason as to why I decided to read the Harry Potter novels. I probably would have never heard of either series if it wasn't for people I've met being offended by it.
The worst thing you can do to an author is actually to never talk about their book. Whether you loved it or hated it, the more you talk about it, the more you advertise their book for them for free.
----
My point is that these things aren't as bad as they first appear to be. It's rare to find a truly popular book series that doesn't contain all five of these elements or at least most of them.
What a lot of authors don't daydream about is the following.
1. Fan-fiction
A lot of authors view it as stealing their work. They have a copyright on those characters and worked hard to create them, so they don't like anyone else using them.
As long as the fan-fiction isn't being sold for a profit, this is absolutely fine with me. It would mean that someone loved my writing so much that they continued to day dream about it long after they finished reading the last page. They thought about it so much and it was so real to them that they created a whole new story revolving around them.
I don't know if anyone could pay me a higher compliment than that.
2. Parodies
One of the first things I do when I fall in love with something entertainment-wise like the Twilight novels, is look for parodies of it on you tube. It usually entertains me for hours.
Because honestly, the people who find parodies the most entertaining are the ones who know something about a book series (for instance), not the ones who don't care about it. Something isn't funny if you don't understand it.
The more parodies being made of something I created, the more people care about it. And the more I get the chance to giggle at myself.
3. People That Hate My Characters/Book
As I've said before, I am a fan of the Twilight novels and movies. A long time ago, I joined several fan forums for the series. You'd think fan forums would be the one place where you are safe to discuss your love of Twilight without being mocked. That's so untrue. There's so many people on those forums who absolutely hate Twilight.
And yet those same people go and see every movie. They've read all the books and they spend all day posting on fan forums about it.
Because even though they hate the Twilight series, their hatred of it is a type of love. They love to hate stuff Stephenie Meyer created and therefore, they buy it all, so they can get that dose of hatred all over again.
I'm not saying everyone who hates Twilight is this way, but if you go on fan forums and meet someone who hates Twilight, but still posts on fan forums every day, they definitely are this way. And there's lots of them!
Even if you're a fan of my work because it's fun to hate it, I'm glad that I'm giving you your own type of enjoyment out of it. It's an unusual way of showing you care.
4. One-Star Reviews
I have yet to receive a one-star review. And to be honest, I'm a bit nervous about getting one, one day.
But at the same time, I know that once I do, my reviews will appear more balanced than they do right now.
Before I purchase a novel, I always read the one star reviews and if there isn't any, I'm more skeptical of the four and five star reviews. After all, enough people must not have reviewed this book to get a good overall impression of it or there would be more one-star reviews. There is no such thing as a book that is universally loved.
I think the Harry Potter books are pretty perfect, but I've met a ton of people who hate them. Either they think it teaches witchcraft or they think the characters and storyline are filled with cliches. Like Dumbledore, the wizard with a long beard and pointy hate and glasses . . . . it's true, it has been done a bunch of times. I don't view the books as cliche, but I've been told many reasons as to why a lot of people do.
One-star reviews honestly often convince me to buy a book. If I think the reasons they are complaining about the series are petty or the one star reviews have horrible grammar and spelling, but at the same time are complaining about the book having horrible grammar and spelling, then I kind of laugh at it and buy the book anyway.
Once I have some one-star reviews, I can thank those people for helping me sell books and keeping my reviews balanced.
5. Controversy
This is a big one that many authors are afraid of. I've been tempted to tone down parts of my books so as not to offend people.
Yet controversy isn't bad. Like hatred, it gets people to care about your novel. It makes them curious as to why so many people were offended by it and what they will think of it. It gets them arguing and discussing your novel with new people.
It even gets you on the news if it's well written enough.
And it shows you are capable of creating a vivid story that can touch people. A novel must feel real to the reader in order for them to be offended by it.
I've never read a novel by Dan Brown, but I probably will read something he wrote someday. Why? Because so many people have been outraged by his work that I am curious.
It's a very similar reason as to why I decided to read the Harry Potter novels. I probably would have never heard of either series if it wasn't for people I've met being offended by it.
The worst thing you can do to an author is actually to never talk about their book. Whether you loved it or hated it, the more you talk about it, the more you advertise their book for them for free.
----
My point is that these things aren't as bad as they first appear to be. It's rare to find a truly popular book series that doesn't contain all five of these elements or at least most of them.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Characters Showing Emotion
"He pinched the bridge of his nose as he ran out of ideas."
For a long time, I had no idea what this phrase meant when I read about it in books. I read the words "pinch" and "nose" and imagined someone pinching their nostrils like something smelt badly. I knew characters did this when they were feeling frustrated, but I had never, personally, understood why a character would stick their head up in the air and pinch their nostrils when they were feeling frustrated. It seemed more like something someone would do when they were being stuck-up or something they would do when another character farted (which never happened.)
I've never pinched the bridge of my nose when I was frustrated, which is probably why I didn't get that pinching the bridge of your nose is pinching the top of your nose. I'd always be drawn out of the story and I still am now that I get it because I make fun of myself for not understanding it before.
One of the hardest things about writing is commuicating with the reader. You're not supposed to spell anything out to them. You're supposed to show them the events of the story rather than tell it to them. You can't say a character is sad, you're supposed to instead show their tears. Don't talk about a character thinking something is funny, instead describe their laughter. But you can't always describe them as crying or laughing because then your descriptions get too repetitive and in reality, everyone's body language varies more than that depending on the situation. And the more unusual the body language is, the more likely there will be a misunderstanding.
It's part of the reason why everyone gets something different out of reading the same novel. We all take our own experiences and understandings to a book. But it also makes it difficult for the writer sometimes when we're trying to portray a certain message.
One of the most embarrassing and funniest misunderstandings I had while reading a book was when I was a child. There was a female character named Al. Most people would read it as a nickname for Alexandra, but I read it as if it said A-One. I mean, the two look very similar depending on the font: A1 and Al.
My Dad got so confused when I read the book out loud to him and got into an argument over how the characters name was pronounced.
"A-One like the steak sauce?" my Dad asked. "I'm pretty sure that's not how you pronounce it."
But I was stubborn and wouldn't listen.
Do you have any other similar stories about how someone read your novel or how you read a novel and misunderstood something?
For a long time, I had no idea what this phrase meant when I read about it in books. I read the words "pinch" and "nose" and imagined someone pinching their nostrils like something smelt badly. I knew characters did this when they were feeling frustrated, but I had never, personally, understood why a character would stick their head up in the air and pinch their nostrils when they were feeling frustrated. It seemed more like something someone would do when they were being stuck-up or something they would do when another character farted (which never happened.)
I've never pinched the bridge of my nose when I was frustrated, which is probably why I didn't get that pinching the bridge of your nose is pinching the top of your nose. I'd always be drawn out of the story and I still am now that I get it because I make fun of myself for not understanding it before.
One of the hardest things about writing is commuicating with the reader. You're not supposed to spell anything out to them. You're supposed to show them the events of the story rather than tell it to them. You can't say a character is sad, you're supposed to instead show their tears. Don't talk about a character thinking something is funny, instead describe their laughter. But you can't always describe them as crying or laughing because then your descriptions get too repetitive and in reality, everyone's body language varies more than that depending on the situation. And the more unusual the body language is, the more likely there will be a misunderstanding.
It's part of the reason why everyone gets something different out of reading the same novel. We all take our own experiences and understandings to a book. But it also makes it difficult for the writer sometimes when we're trying to portray a certain message.
One of the most embarrassing and funniest misunderstandings I had while reading a book was when I was a child. There was a female character named Al. Most people would read it as a nickname for Alexandra, but I read it as if it said A-One. I mean, the two look very similar depending on the font: A1 and Al.
My Dad got so confused when I read the book out loud to him and got into an argument over how the characters name was pronounced.
"A-One like the steak sauce?" my Dad asked. "I'm pretty sure that's not how you pronounce it."
But I was stubborn and wouldn't listen.
Do you have any other similar stories about how someone read your novel or how you read a novel and misunderstood something?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)