Friday, October 12, 2012
Supernatural Underground Super Halloween Giveaway!
Paranormal Avon authors are celebrating the Halloween season with a really awesome giveaway! We're giving away a Supernatural Underground Halloween Book Prize Pack, filled with 24 books, all written by Supernatural Underground authors. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page.
The list of amazing books in this giveaway is below.
PLEASE NOTE: Some of these books are e-books, so the winner should have access to an e-reader.
THE SUPERNATURAL UNDERGROUND HALLOWEEN BOOK PRIZE PACK:
The Body Finder and swag by Kimberly Derting
Nightspell by Leah Cypess
Ascension by Sable Grace
Afterlife + Fathom (e-book) by Merrie Destefano
A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer
Wrong Side of Hell + To Hell And Back (both e-books) by Juliana Stone
The Heir of Night, US edition by Helen Lowe
Dream of Asarlai trilogy (Secret Ones, Power Unbound, Rogue Gadda) in e-book by Nicole Murphy
Night Forbidden by Joss Ware
Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
A Devil Named Desire by Terri Garey
Tatsania's Gift (e-book) by Kim Falconer
Darkness Becomes Her by Jaime Rush
Last Vamp Standing by Kristin Miller
Diamond Eyes by AA Bell
Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks
One Grave at a Time + Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
Diaries of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Last Vamp Standing GIVEAWAYS!
Want to win a copy of Last Vamp Standing?
There are two ways to win.
HOW TO WIN A PRINT COPY:
I'm giving away three print copies of Last Vamp Standing (Book #3 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay series) on Goodreads. Last Vamp Standing releases in e-version August 28th and print September 18th. The contest runs to September 22nd.
All you've got to do is have a Goodreads account, go HERE, and click ENTER.
Good luck!
HOW TO WIN AN E-COPY:
If you don't have a Goodreads account, but you'd still like to win a copy of Last Vamp Standing, I'm giving away two kindle or nook copies of the book on my blog tour with LitConnect.
All you've got to do to be entered to win is comment on any one blog post. Check out the tour dates below:
There are two ways to win.
HOW TO WIN A PRINT COPY:
I'm giving away three print copies of Last Vamp Standing (Book #3 in the Vampires of Crimson Bay series) on Goodreads. Last Vamp Standing releases in e-version August 28th and print September 18th. The contest runs to September 22nd.
All you've got to do is have a Goodreads account, go HERE, and click ENTER.
Good luck!
HOW TO WIN AN E-COPY:
If you don't have a Goodreads account, but you'd still like to win a copy of Last Vamp Standing, I'm giving away two kindle or nook copies of the book on my blog tour with LitConnect.
All you've got to do to be entered to win is comment on any one blog post. Check out the tour dates below:
Tour Dates:
WEEK 1:
Starting August 20:
Aug. 20: Bitten by Paranormal Romance
Aug. 22: RomFanReviews
Aug. 23: AwesomeSauce Book Club
Aug. 24: LovLivLife Rreviews
WEEK 2
Starting August 27:
Aug. 27: Ramblings From This Chick
Aug. 28: STOP #1: Brunette Librarian
Aug.28: STOP #2: Book
Whore
Aug.28: STOP #3: Urban
Girl Reader
Aug. 29: All I Want and More
Aug. 30: Close Encounters with the Night Kind
Aug. 31: Ex-Libras
WEEK 3
Starting September 3:
Sept. 3: Tyra’s Book Addiction
Sept. 4: The
Jeep Diva
Sept. 5: Fictional
Candy
Sept. 6: Book Lovin’ Mamas
Sept. 7: Riverina Romantics
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Upcoming Signing in Southern California
Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be in Anaheim on Wednesday, Juy 25th signing copies of Intervamption and Vamped Up with hundreds of other romance authors. All proceeds benefit ProLiteracy Worldwide. Great writers. Great cause. I'd love to see you there! Take a look at the listing of who will be there and where we'll be seated: http://www.rwa.org/cs/literacy_autographing
As for what's been happening in my writing world lately: I finished a proposal for a new paranormal romance/urban fantasy series. (For all you non-writerly folk, a proposal is the first three chapters of the first book, a synopsis and book descriptions for the next three books in the series.) That proposal should be landing on editors' desks in the coming months. Cross your fingers for good news! I also finished book descriptions for two more novellas in the Isle of Feralon series. I'll go into more detail next week. :)
Hope to see you in Anaheim!
As for what's been happening in my writing world lately: I finished a proposal for a new paranormal romance/urban fantasy series. (For all you non-writerly folk, a proposal is the first three chapters of the first book, a synopsis and book descriptions for the next three books in the series.) That proposal should be landing on editors' desks in the coming months. Cross your fingers for good news! I also finished book descriptions for two more novellas in the Isle of Feralon series. I'll go into more detail next week. :)
Hope to see you in Anaheim!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Forbidden by Fate Blog Touring
Just wanted to pop in to let you know I'll be giving away 3 copies of my Isle of Feralon novellas during my blog tour. I'm giving e-copies of both Claimed by Desire and Forbidden by Fate to two lucky commenters, and I'm also giving an e-copy of Forbidden by Fate to the blog host who collects the most comments.
Want to follow along and enter to win?
Jul 2-Books N Kisses
Jul 3-Rabid Reads
Jul 4-Riverina Romantics
Jul 5-Demon Lovers Books and more
Jul 6-Novel Reflections
Jul 7-Cocktails and Books
Jul 9-Talk Supe
Jul 10-My Keeper Shelf
Jul 11-Supernatural Snark
Jul 12-Reading Romances
Jul 13-Book Lovin' Mamas
Jul 16-Nocturnal Readings
Jul 17-Romancing the Darkside
Jul 18-Ex Libris
Jul 19-Ramblings from This Chick
Hope to see you at one (or all) of the stops! See you then and good luck!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
RELEASE DAY!
Forbidden by Fate releases today!
I can't tell you how excited I am about this story. I love the Isle of Feralon so much that I can't help but slip back there when I skim through the pages. I hope you have the same experience. I hope you fall in love with Sasha and Damon...and I hope you get a little taste of the forbidden fruit.
Early reviews (from The Jeep Diva) say, "Damon and Sasha have an incredible love story" and "I could not put the kindle down once I started reading". Woohoo!
If you'd like to purchase the novella from Harlequin, click HERE. From Amazon (for kindle), HERE. And Barnes and Noble (for nook), HERE.
As for me, I plan on having a wonderful release day! I'll be going to church (to give thanks where it's due), then cleaning a bit (or a lot, considering the mess I've got going), and I'll maybe throw in a pedicure somewhere. Maybe.
Hope you have a happy July 1st! The year's half over already. Crazy. Even crazier? Forbidden by Fate is my SIXTH published book. Yowzer...when'd that happen?
I can't tell you how excited I am about this story. I love the Isle of Feralon so much that I can't help but slip back there when I skim through the pages. I hope you have the same experience. I hope you fall in love with Sasha and Damon...and I hope you get a little taste of the forbidden fruit.
Early reviews (from The Jeep Diva) say, "Damon and Sasha have an incredible love story" and "I could not put the kindle down once I started reading". Woohoo!
If you'd like to purchase the novella from Harlequin, click HERE. From Amazon (for kindle), HERE. And Barnes and Noble (for nook), HERE.
As for me, I plan on having a wonderful release day! I'll be going to church (to give thanks where it's due), then cleaning a bit (or a lot, considering the mess I've got going), and I'll maybe throw in a pedicure somewhere. Maybe.
Hope you have a happy July 1st! The year's half over already. Crazy. Even crazier? Forbidden by Fate is my SIXTH published book. Yowzer...when'd that happen?
Friday, June 8, 2012
Forbidden by Fate goes on tour!
Good morning!
After a few relaxing days in Lake Tahoe with Husband (and very limited internet), I'm ready to get right down to business. FORBIDDEN BY FATE is going on tour with Lit Connect!
If you're a reviewer or blog host interested in having me or the book as a feature on your site, take a look at the calendar, see where I fit in to your schedule and sign up!
http://events.litconnect.com/forbidden-by-fate-by-kristin-miller
Not only am I giving away an e-copy of Forbidden by Fate or Claimed by Desire to two randomly drawn commenters over the course of the tour, I'm also giving away BOTH Isle of Feralon novellas to the blog host with the most comments. Cool, right?
There are pdf's available for review, tons of giveaways and many slots left to fill! Thanks so much for helping make Forbidden by Fate's release a huge success!
After a few relaxing days in Lake Tahoe with Husband (and very limited internet), I'm ready to get right down to business. FORBIDDEN BY FATE is going on tour with Lit Connect!
If you're a reviewer or blog host interested in having me or the book as a feature on your site, take a look at the calendar, see where I fit in to your schedule and sign up!
http://events.litconnect.com/forbidden-by-fate-by-kristin-miller
Not only am I giving away an e-copy of Forbidden by Fate or Claimed by Desire to two randomly drawn commenters over the course of the tour, I'm also giving away BOTH Isle of Feralon novellas to the blog host with the most comments. Cool, right?
There are pdf's available for review, tons of giveaways and many slots left to fill! Thanks so much for helping make Forbidden by Fate's release a huge success!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Forbidden by Fate COVER!
Good morning!
Today is a glorious day...Forbidden by Fate has a cover!
Isn't it gorgeous! Harlequin's design team really outdid themselves with this one. B-e-a-utiful!
FORBIDDEN releases July 1st at your favorite e-retailer.
Here's the back cover copy (that varies slightly from the blurb in my "book" section of this site):
***
Dragon shifter Damon Frost has been banned from stepping foot onto Were land after sharing a night of pleasure with Sasha Moore, heir to the Were throne. Since then, he's been waiting for the opportunity to return and claim her once again—until a territory dispute finally reunites him with his werewolf princess. Damon plans to use every minute with Sasha to remind her of the passion they shared—a fire he's determined to reignite.
With their desire impossible to resist, Damon and Sasha indulge in a night of illicit ecstasy. But will it be enough to satisfy their lust? Or will their forbidden love start a war between their clans?
***
Also! As if that wasn't enough good news for one morning, my edits for Last Vamp Standing are in! They were sent off last night and arrived safe and sound on my editor's desk first thing this morning. I'm so stinkin' happy with these books, you guys. :big ole fat grin:
Today is a glorious day...Forbidden by Fate has a cover!
Isn't it gorgeous! Harlequin's design team really outdid themselves with this one. B-e-a-utiful!
FORBIDDEN releases July 1st at your favorite e-retailer.
Here's the back cover copy (that varies slightly from the blurb in my "book" section of this site):
***
Dragon shifter Damon Frost has been banned from stepping foot onto Were land after sharing a night of pleasure with Sasha Moore, heir to the Were throne. Since then, he's been waiting for the opportunity to return and claim her once again—until a territory dispute finally reunites him with his werewolf princess. Damon plans to use every minute with Sasha to remind her of the passion they shared—a fire he's determined to reignite.
With their desire impossible to resist, Damon and Sasha indulge in a night of illicit ecstasy. But will it be enough to satisfy their lust? Or will their forbidden love start a war between their clans?
***
Also! As if that wasn't enough good news for one morning, my edits for Last Vamp Standing are in! They were sent off last night and arrived safe and sound on my editor's desk first thing this morning. I'm so stinkin' happy with these books, you guys. :big ole fat grin:
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Amazing News!
InterVamption is a Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence finalist!
I can't believe it. I'm blown away. Stunned. Speechless.
Since I first started writing, I've expressed to anyone and everyone how special that contest is to me. How much I love REBECCA, Daphne Du Maurier's greatest work. (REBECCA is far and away my favorite book. The only book I've read more than once--and I've read it five times.) Anyone who knows me well knows how many times I've said that I'd absolutely love to final in her contest.
And I did! Well, InterVamption did. I'm so proud of her...
The award ceremony will be held at RWA's national conference in LA. I feel like my dream has already come true merely being a finalist...I can't imagine it could get better from here.
(In case you were wondering how I handled the news, I screamed and cried and asked the caller if she was playing a sick joke on me. She wasn't. I'm so glad.)
I can't believe it. I'm blown away. Stunned. Speechless.
Since I first started writing, I've expressed to anyone and everyone how special that contest is to me. How much I love REBECCA, Daphne Du Maurier's greatest work. (REBECCA is far and away my favorite book. The only book I've read more than once--and I've read it five times.) Anyone who knows me well knows how many times I've said that I'd absolutely love to final in her contest.
And I did! Well, InterVamption did. I'm so proud of her...
The award ceremony will be held at RWA's national conference in LA. I feel like my dream has already come true merely being a finalist...I can't imagine it could get better from here.
(In case you were wondering how I handled the news, I screamed and cried and asked the caller if she was playing a sick joke on me. She wasn't. I'm so glad.)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Spotlighting Faythe Reclaimed!
Book Spotlight:
Faythe Reclaimed
Blurb:
Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon
hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither
was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a
rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of
Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and
bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of
her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the
mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.
Available at:
AmazonBarnes & Noble
Tulipe Noire Press
About the author:
Lisa Sanchez is a California cheer mom taxiing her way
through life, one car ride at a time. Along with chauffer, she sports several
job titles, including, but not limited to: author, chef, seamstress,
videographer, nurse, enforcer, and general slave to her three daughters.
The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, releases with Tulipe Noire Press on May 17th 2012. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id. Lisa also took the plunge into self-publishing this year and released the first novella, Cursing Athena, in her new Order Of Seven erotic paranormal romance series.
The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, releases with Tulipe Noire Press on May 17th 2012. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id. Lisa also took the plunge into self-publishing this year and released the first novella, Cursing Athena, in her new Order Of Seven erotic paranormal romance series.
Blog:www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com
Twitter: @LisaSanchez3
Excerpt:
Dark, viscous liquid pooled onto
the rotting floorboards below her body, the blackened puddle oddly reminiscent
of a Rorschach inkblot.
Suppressed memories and emotions
I’d believed long dead amassed from deep within, slamming me with a powerful
crescendo of…Madre de Dios…feeling.
Something I hadn’t experienced since the moment I’d lost my other half.
Nausea and desperation mimicked
acid, burning a hole through my gut and my chest as I allowed my gaze to wander
north. I knew what I’d find, and, fuck it
all to hell, it scared me to death.
Taylor. The exotic beauty who’d
breezed into my life just days before. The angel who’d awoken me from the state
of numbness I’d resided in for three centuries. The woman who was an exact
match in every way to my long deceased Faythe, hanged upside down and
unconscious in front of me.
Thud…
Thud…
Thud…
My heartbeat… It echoed in my
ears like a muted drumbeat. The rapid tympani so synonymous with anger and rage
oddly diminished and muffled as though I were listening to it from deep within
the bowels of the ocean.
How? How had I allowed my enemy
to capture the beautiful creature who’d breathed life into my pathetic
existence?
I thrashed against the magical
bonds holding me captive, every fiber of my being filled with panic,
desperation—and rage. Supernatural throwdowns were a normal part of my everyday
life. A warlock, an exiled member of one of Europe’s most powerful covens, I’d
been bred to do battle, to fight the dregs of the underworld—with magic.
Magic.
It had been my
saving grace, time and again. It was also the bane of my fucking existence. Much
like time. I hated my magic, almost as much as I hated myself. Witchcraft,
limitless power… Both proved worthless when they didn’t allow you to save the
one you loved. My magic hadn’t kept Faythe’s neck out of the hangman’s noose.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Claimed by Desire release day!
CLAIMED BY DESIRE is now available!
As teenagers, dragon shifter Rafe Landon and empath Misty Burke shared a heart-stopping love and heated passion that neither expected…especially since on the mystical Isle of Feralon, dragons aren’t supposed to embrace members of other races. Fearing for Misty’s life should she be claimed as his rider, Rafe commits the ultimate sacrifice and sets his love free, banishing her from the enchanted isle.
The last thing he expects is for Misty to return to Feralon ten years later as a very mature, and deviously sexy woman on a mission: use her heightened sensory powers to locate the missing Draco stone, a sacred gem that strengthens the dragon race. But Rafe is hiding a secret of his own. Forsaking a rider will end his life…in two days time. Despite his eternal love for Misty, he refuses to imprison her on the isle, condemning her to an early grave.
For Misty, Rafe will gladly pay the ultimate sacrifice—he’ll die, so she can live.
It’s not long before Rafe and Misty are swept away by undercurrents of passion that never waned. Their quest to find the sacred stone may be more of a journey than either realized—one that not only leads to the lost gem, but to true, undying love.
**********
It's available at B&N.com and Amazon.com for $2.99 or Harlequin.com for $239 in all e-formats.
***********
Writing update: I finished Last Vamp Standing (Vampires of Crimson Bay #3) last night. I wrote a whopping 5200 words to bring the total to 95,000! (For reference: InterVamption was 103k and Vamped Up was 97k). I'm taking today off, then diving back into edits tomorrow. There's more to fix in LVS than the other two, so I'm not sure how long it will take me to polish this bad boy up, but at least it's finished! Sort of. Roughly. ;)
As teenagers, dragon shifter Rafe Landon and empath Misty Burke shared a heart-stopping love and heated passion that neither expected…especially since on the mystical Isle of Feralon, dragons aren’t supposed to embrace members of other races. Fearing for Misty’s life should she be claimed as his rider, Rafe commits the ultimate sacrifice and sets his love free, banishing her from the enchanted isle.
The last thing he expects is for Misty to return to Feralon ten years later as a very mature, and deviously sexy woman on a mission: use her heightened sensory powers to locate the missing Draco stone, a sacred gem that strengthens the dragon race. But Rafe is hiding a secret of his own. Forsaking a rider will end his life…in two days time. Despite his eternal love for Misty, he refuses to imprison her on the isle, condemning her to an early grave.
For Misty, Rafe will gladly pay the ultimate sacrifice—he’ll die, so she can live.
It’s not long before Rafe and Misty are swept away by undercurrents of passion that never waned. Their quest to find the sacred stone may be more of a journey than either realized—one that not only leads to the lost gem, but to true, undying love.
**********
It's available at B&N.com and Amazon.com for $2.99 or Harlequin.com for $239 in all e-formats.
***********
Writing update: I finished Last Vamp Standing (Vampires of Crimson Bay #3) last night. I wrote a whopping 5200 words to bring the total to 95,000! (For reference: InterVamption was 103k and Vamped Up was 97k). I'm taking today off, then diving back into edits tomorrow. There's more to fix in LVS than the other two, so I'm not sure how long it will take me to polish this bad boy up, but at least it's finished! Sort of. Roughly. ;)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Updates
Good morning!
I have a spare second (with Princess in school and Tank eating breakfast) to give you some updates! I'm writing the final scenes of LAST VAMP STANDING. At this point the book is rolling to the end and the words are coming faster than ever before. (Finally, right?) My goal was to hit 90k words by May 1st. While I'm going to do that and then some, the book won't be finished by that mark. I'm guessing it'll take me another week to finish, smooth kinks, edit, etc. I should also have a cover to share soon. Stay tuned.
My Harlequin Nocturne Craving CLAIMED BY DESIRE releases May 1st and I'm downright tickled for you to read about Rafe and Misty. They are one of my favorite couples (Rafe is definitely one of my favorite heroes) and every time I re-read the pages I want to stay in their world longer. If you want to read the book blurb it's in the BOOK tab at the top of the blog. As far as the Isle of Feralon, where the novella takes place, it's a land of shifters. A magical isle where dragons rule the air, werewolves rule the land, and merfolk rule the sea. I can't wait for you to read about the isle, Rafe and Misty's adventure, and their way back into each other's arms.
As for what's next, I've got ideas brewing and I'm so excited to start putting them to paper. First things first though, which means I've got a vampire war to start and a book to finish.
Until next time...
I have a spare second (with Princess in school and Tank eating breakfast) to give you some updates! I'm writing the final scenes of LAST VAMP STANDING. At this point the book is rolling to the end and the words are coming faster than ever before. (Finally, right?) My goal was to hit 90k words by May 1st. While I'm going to do that and then some, the book won't be finished by that mark. I'm guessing it'll take me another week to finish, smooth kinks, edit, etc. I should also have a cover to share soon. Stay tuned.
My Harlequin Nocturne Craving CLAIMED BY DESIRE releases May 1st and I'm downright tickled for you to read about Rafe and Misty. They are one of my favorite couples (Rafe is definitely one of my favorite heroes) and every time I re-read the pages I want to stay in their world longer. If you want to read the book blurb it's in the BOOK tab at the top of the blog. As far as the Isle of Feralon, where the novella takes place, it's a land of shifters. A magical isle where dragons rule the air, werewolves rule the land, and merfolk rule the sea. I can't wait for you to read about the isle, Rafe and Misty's adventure, and their way back into each other's arms.
As for what's next, I've got ideas brewing and I'm so excited to start putting them to paper. First things first though, which means I've got a vampire war to start and a book to finish.
Until next time...
Monday, April 16, 2012
Faythe Reclaimed COVER REVEAL!
Her two books in the Hanaford Park series (EVE OF SAMHAIN and PLEASURES UNTOLD) are smoking hot and kept me on pins and needles, waiting for a third in the series.
Here (FINALLY--I'm so excited for this one to come out!!) is FAYTHE RECLAIMED, Book #3 in the Hanaford Park Series:
Isn't is absolutely, drop dead gorgeous?!? I'm thrilled. THRILLED. For you to get your hands on this copy and read about Gabriel and Taylor. I have to admit (and I haven't even told Lisa this yet) that Gabriel is my fav hero she's written to date. ;)
Read on to find out why...
Blurb:
Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.
To find out more about Lisa's other titles go here:
Author website: www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com
Tulipe Noire Press: http://www.tulipenoirepress.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13552986-faythe-reclaimed
Monday, March 19, 2012
ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER Blog Tour!
Nothing like waking up to bright blue skies, a steaming cup of Donut Shop coffee and GREAT REVIEWS. :)
ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER has a jam packed week and I'll be giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour!
Here's the schedule:
March 19: Ramblings From this Chick
March 19: LASR Erotic Romance Reviews
March 20: Seductive Musings
March 21: Cocktails and Books
March 22: Amy's Book World
March 22: United by Books
March 23: Babs Book Bistro
Early reviews for Ramblings From this Chick and Long and Short Erotic Romance Reviews are already up so go take a look and comment for your chance to win.
LASR is calling ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER "...pure, sultry magic." (Amazing, right?) They also say, "One Night to Remember is a romance that will stay and haunt a reader long after the final page. The romance was beautiful, the characters well developed and the despair and ramifications of decisions made were soundly felt."
Can't beat that. Totally made my morning.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Dark Tide Rising Nomination!
I have UNBELIEVABLY great news!
DARK TIDE RISING was nominated for Best Action-Adventure/Romantic Suspense novel of 2011 over at The Romance Reviews!
I'm THRILLED to be nominated. It was a Top Pick when it was reviewed there in February of last year, and at the time I thought it couldn't get better than that. I was wrong. :)
Honestly, I'm so proud of Dark Tide Rising. I call it my "little book" and by that I mean it represents my dream of wanting to be a "real writer". It was the first book I finished that I sought publication for. I remember sitting up late at night writing it thinking this could really make it.
It was the first time I thought my dream could become my reality.
And now my "little book" has made me prouder than I could've dreamed. If you're interested in voting (you don't have to though I'd LOVE it if you did) you can click the link below this logo...
...and log in with your Facebook account. It takes two seconds and you'd make my YEAR.
xo
DARK TIDE RISING was nominated for Best Action-Adventure/Romantic Suspense novel of 2011 over at The Romance Reviews!
I'm THRILLED to be nominated. It was a Top Pick when it was reviewed there in February of last year, and at the time I thought it couldn't get better than that. I was wrong. :)
Honestly, I'm so proud of Dark Tide Rising. I call it my "little book" and by that I mean it represents my dream of wanting to be a "real writer". It was the first book I finished that I sought publication for. I remember sitting up late at night writing it thinking this could really make it.
It was the first time I thought my dream could become my reality.
And now my "little book" has made me prouder than I could've dreamed. If you're interested in voting (you don't have to though I'd LOVE it if you did) you can click the link below this logo...
CLICK HERE TO VOTE
...and log in with your Facebook account. It takes two seconds and you'd make my YEAR.
xo
Friday, March 2, 2012
One Night to Remember Excerpt
Alrighty, I said I'd post an excerpt from ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER, but when I paste it into blogger, the format comes out a bit jumbled, as you can probably see from scrolling down. I'm under the weather today and *really* want to head back to bed otherwise I'd go through this whole passage and re-format it for you. But, hey, if you're picky about formatting when you read (I often am), you can read this exact excerpt on Amazon under "sample with one-click". I promise you the format on your kindle device or nook is perfect. ;)
Without further ado...
ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER
CHAPTER ONE
April 14th, 1912
North Atlantic Ocean
Elizabeth Scott closed her eyes, and for the tenth time this dreaded evening, wished she were invisible. Maybe then she could pretend the trip was over. If the hum of the Titanic’s engines didn’t buzz beneath her feet, she could imagine she was hard at work in her studio in Boston, the troubles of Europe far behind her.
The trip was nearly over.
Waiters shuffled around tables in the first class dining room, picking up silver, delicately setting plates of steaming lamb on every setting. Whether or not the seat was taken was no matter. Wine was poured. Courses were served. Smiles were stretched to the limit.
Only the finest for the finest passengers sailing on the finest ship in the world.
Which was perfectly acceptable, unless there were others in the room like Elizabeth. Other passengers holding a first class ticket who viewed everyone on the ship, from first to third class, with the same level of civility.
She’d bet the gold coin in her shoe that the passengers in steerage weren’t being served on such elaborate china.
It wasn’t until Elizabeth sighed that the woman next to her, a busty woman with a pound of rubies dangling from her ear, finally spoke up.
“Is the lamb to your liking?” she asked, stabbing her own filet with a fork. “They can make you another. All you have to do is ask.”
“The lamb is fine.” Elizabeth forced out a cough and slid a salad fork off the table, right into her lap. When she was certain no one saw what had happened, she peeled open her purse and slipped it inside. “I think my stroll around the deck this afternoon has simply taken the wind out of my sails.”
“Too much walking can make a lady pale with fever.” The woman leaned in close as if she were telling a dear secret. Elizabeth could almost smell the money seeping from her pores. She was clean, freshly bathed, and smelled strongly of rose-hipped musk. “You should take care. Perhaps some water would help.”
“Perhaps.” Elizabeth took a drink to appease the woman, then slid her elbow back across the table, dragging the knife from her setting onto her lap. “Are you traveling to New York with your husband?”
“I am,” she said, and swiveled in her chair. Her face lit with genuine excitement. Like no one had spent two seconds speaking with her about anything other than the necessary formalities. Her eggplant evening gown sparkled with more hand-sewn jewels than Elizabeth could count. The fabric was silk. Foreign. Very expensive. “He’s feeling under the weather and decided to retire for the evening.” She paused, pursing her lips, readying for a smile. “I‘m Lady Isabelle Grace,” she said with purpose, elevating her voice for everyone at the table to hear. “Pleased to meet you.”
Elizabeth didn’t need the woman to shout her name from the hilltops to know who she was. She’d married banker Lord Arthur Grace last year and they were headed to the states to rendezvous with his business partners.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance.” Elizabeth took a sip of wine. It was woodsy with hints of vanilla and went down smooth, but did little to warm the irritation building in her middle. Dinner was dwindling to an end and Elizabeth still had work to do.
She hadn’t brought down Lady Isabelle’s guard. Not one bit….
“I’m Miss Elizabeth Scott,” she said, giving a ten carat smile.
“And you’re traveling with your fiancé, I presume?” Lady Isabelle twiddled a diamond bee brooch on the collar of her dress. It was Tiffany & Co. 1890 collection.
“No. I’m traveling alone.” Elizabeth slid the knife into her purse, then pressed it shut.
“Alone?” Isabelle spoke the word with such disdain, Elizabeth wondered if her tongue was sizzling. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
No, she wouldn’t have. Women born into money didn’t understand the trials and troubles of women who weren’t. Elizabeth knew those troubles all too well. Although she was wearing a flaming crimson evening gown, accented with just as many jewels as the pretentious Lady Grace, Elizabeth had slaved for every dollar to purchase them and sewed them by hand in her shop in Boston that she’d built from the ground up.
Bitterness balled her nerves into a fist that rammed into her ribcage. She finished off the red droplets on the bottom of her wine glass and glanced around the room. Other than the band playing a soft tune in the corner and the stewards clearing plates, most of the room had emptied.
And no one was paying attention to the crime that was about to take place.
“We’re coming into a new age, Lady Grace.” Deciding no time could be better, Elizabeth stood quickly, purse clutched in hand. “I’m afraid I must leave you now.”
“So soon?” she asked, her expression genuinely solemn. “Surely you can stay for dessert. With my husband away, I should like the company.”
Elizabeth smiled and moved slowly around the arched back of Lady Grace’s chair, dancing her long, graceful fingers over the top. By the time Isabelle swiveled her gown around to face her, Elizabeth had slipped her gold tasseled purse off the table.
Holding it behind her back, Elizabeth leaned over and nailed the boards into Lady Isabelle’s casket. “I’m afraid I cannot stay. You see, I’m not feeling well, but it’s not due to the lamb.” She went in for the kill, gently brushing her stomach. “My situation is…delicate in nature.”
Nearly jumping out of her seat, Isabelle lost all color. “You are with child? Oh my dear, I am so sorry. And with no fiancé!”
“It’s all right. I’m plenty accustomed to doing things on my own. Now if you‘ll excuse me…”
Careful not to turn so that Lady Isabelle would see her stolen clutch, Elizabeth gave a small curtsey and excused herself from the table. She’d done it. Another night, another first class passenger swindled out of money they’d earned off the backs of others.
By the time Lady Grace realized her purse was stolen, Elizabeth would have the money emptied from it and have returned the clutch to the Master at Arms. She would probably think she’d misplaced it or dropped it along the way to dinner. When it was discovered in the lost and found, Isabelle wouldn’t cause a fuss. The snobbishly rich never did. Her husband, Lord Grace, was known for his obsessive gambling and frequently “borrowed” from his wife’s trove. She’d either think the money was missing or wasn’t there to begin with.
It was quite ridiculous, really, to think more people weren’t taking advantage of all the wealth of the world on a single ship, stuck in the middle of the North Atlantic. Elizabeth swelled with pride when she realized she might’ve been the only ingenious person among them.
As she reached the French doors leading into first class reception room, Elizabeth had the skin-crawling feeling that eyes were boring into her back. She spun around, facing her table. Lady Grace had gone back to her plate, oblivious to the theft that’d taken place.
No one looked her direction.
No one except the clean shaven man with side swept chestnut hair, blazing brown eyes and a square cut jaw. The man walking toward Elizabeth with a hard pound to his stride. As if he’d just witnessed everything.
***
Want to read more? Go HERE.
Without further ado...
ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER
CHAPTER ONE
April 14th, 1912
North Atlantic Ocean
Elizabeth Scott closed her eyes, and for the tenth time this dreaded evening, wished she were invisible. Maybe then she could pretend the trip was over. If the hum of the Titanic’s engines didn’t buzz beneath her feet, she could imagine she was hard at work in her studio in Boston, the troubles of Europe far behind her.
The trip was nearly over.
Waiters shuffled around tables in the first class dining room, picking up silver, delicately setting plates of steaming lamb on every setting. Whether or not the seat was taken was no matter. Wine was poured. Courses were served. Smiles were stretched to the limit.
Only the finest for the finest passengers sailing on the finest ship in the world.
Which was perfectly acceptable, unless there were others in the room like Elizabeth. Other passengers holding a first class ticket who viewed everyone on the ship, from first to third class, with the same level of civility.
She’d bet the gold coin in her shoe that the passengers in steerage weren’t being served on such elaborate china.
It wasn’t until Elizabeth sighed that the woman next to her, a busty woman with a pound of rubies dangling from her ear, finally spoke up.
“Is the lamb to your liking?” she asked, stabbing her own filet with a fork. “They can make you another. All you have to do is ask.”
“The lamb is fine.” Elizabeth forced out a cough and slid a salad fork off the table, right into her lap. When she was certain no one saw what had happened, she peeled open her purse and slipped it inside. “I think my stroll around the deck this afternoon has simply taken the wind out of my sails.”
“Too much walking can make a lady pale with fever.” The woman leaned in close as if she were telling a dear secret. Elizabeth could almost smell the money seeping from her pores. She was clean, freshly bathed, and smelled strongly of rose-hipped musk. “You should take care. Perhaps some water would help.”
“Perhaps.” Elizabeth took a drink to appease the woman, then slid her elbow back across the table, dragging the knife from her setting onto her lap. “Are you traveling to New York with your husband?”
“I am,” she said, and swiveled in her chair. Her face lit with genuine excitement. Like no one had spent two seconds speaking with her about anything other than the necessary formalities. Her eggplant evening gown sparkled with more hand-sewn jewels than Elizabeth could count. The fabric was silk. Foreign. Very expensive. “He’s feeling under the weather and decided to retire for the evening.” She paused, pursing her lips, readying for a smile. “I‘m Lady Isabelle Grace,” she said with purpose, elevating her voice for everyone at the table to hear. “Pleased to meet you.”
Elizabeth didn’t need the woman to shout her name from the hilltops to know who she was. She’d married banker Lord Arthur Grace last year and they were headed to the states to rendezvous with his business partners.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance.” Elizabeth took a sip of wine. It was woodsy with hints of vanilla and went down smooth, but did little to warm the irritation building in her middle. Dinner was dwindling to an end and Elizabeth still had work to do.
She hadn’t brought down Lady Isabelle’s guard. Not one bit….
“I’m Miss Elizabeth Scott,” she said, giving a ten carat smile.
“And you’re traveling with your fiancé, I presume?” Lady Isabelle twiddled a diamond bee brooch on the collar of her dress. It was Tiffany & Co. 1890 collection.
“No. I’m traveling alone.” Elizabeth slid the knife into her purse, then pressed it shut.
“Alone?” Isabelle spoke the word with such disdain, Elizabeth wondered if her tongue was sizzling. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
No, she wouldn’t have. Women born into money didn’t understand the trials and troubles of women who weren’t. Elizabeth knew those troubles all too well. Although she was wearing a flaming crimson evening gown, accented with just as many jewels as the pretentious Lady Grace, Elizabeth had slaved for every dollar to purchase them and sewed them by hand in her shop in Boston that she’d built from the ground up.
Bitterness balled her nerves into a fist that rammed into her ribcage. She finished off the red droplets on the bottom of her wine glass and glanced around the room. Other than the band playing a soft tune in the corner and the stewards clearing plates, most of the room had emptied.
And no one was paying attention to the crime that was about to take place.
“We’re coming into a new age, Lady Grace.” Deciding no time could be better, Elizabeth stood quickly, purse clutched in hand. “I’m afraid I must leave you now.”
“So soon?” she asked, her expression genuinely solemn. “Surely you can stay for dessert. With my husband away, I should like the company.”
Elizabeth smiled and moved slowly around the arched back of Lady Grace’s chair, dancing her long, graceful fingers over the top. By the time Isabelle swiveled her gown around to face her, Elizabeth had slipped her gold tasseled purse off the table.
Holding it behind her back, Elizabeth leaned over and nailed the boards into Lady Isabelle’s casket. “I’m afraid I cannot stay. You see, I’m not feeling well, but it’s not due to the lamb.” She went in for the kill, gently brushing her stomach. “My situation is…delicate in nature.”
Nearly jumping out of her seat, Isabelle lost all color. “You are with child? Oh my dear, I am so sorry. And with no fiancé!”
“It’s all right. I’m plenty accustomed to doing things on my own. Now if you‘ll excuse me…”
Careful not to turn so that Lady Isabelle would see her stolen clutch, Elizabeth gave a small curtsey and excused herself from the table. She’d done it. Another night, another first class passenger swindled out of money they’d earned off the backs of others.
By the time Lady Grace realized her purse was stolen, Elizabeth would have the money emptied from it and have returned the clutch to the Master at Arms. She would probably think she’d misplaced it or dropped it along the way to dinner. When it was discovered in the lost and found, Isabelle wouldn’t cause a fuss. The snobbishly rich never did. Her husband, Lord Grace, was known for his obsessive gambling and frequently “borrowed” from his wife’s trove. She’d either think the money was missing or wasn’t there to begin with.
It was quite ridiculous, really, to think more people weren’t taking advantage of all the wealth of the world on a single ship, stuck in the middle of the North Atlantic. Elizabeth swelled with pride when she realized she might’ve been the only ingenious person among them.
As she reached the French doors leading into first class reception room, Elizabeth had the skin-crawling feeling that eyes were boring into her back. She spun around, facing her table. Lady Grace had gone back to her plate, oblivious to the theft that’d taken place.
No one looked her direction.
No one except the clean shaven man with side swept chestnut hair, blazing brown eyes and a square cut jaw. The man walking toward Elizabeth with a hard pound to his stride. As if he’d just witnessed everything.
***
Want to read more? Go HERE.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
One Night to Remember--release day tomorrow!
I've been in a fog the last couple weeks, battling flus and bugs and deadlines. BUT, I have great news to share!
If you haven't noticed the beautiful addition to the sidebar, I have a new release coming soon! ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER, a historical erotic romance that takes place aboard the Titanic releases TOMORROW!
Here's the blurb:
First class clothing designer Elizabeth Scott isn’t all that she appears. She may be elegant and poised on the outside, dining with the richest on the ship, but she’s hiding a dark secret within.
Thieves boarded the Titanic, too…
Officer Thomas McGuire is as honest as they come. Working to make a decent living on the ship of dreams, he can’t believe his eyes when the most striking lady he’s ever seen steals from another first class passenger. As the night goes on, Thomas must decide whether he plans to arrest or seduce Elizabeth and she’s not making it easy on him—the heat sparking between them is unlike anything they’ve ever known.
Time is running out…
The Titanic is sinking fast. Elizabeth has finally met a true gentleman—one who gazes upon her with total adoration yet fulfills her deepest fantasies. But being a gentleman means more than playing the stuffy part. Thomas insists on helping other passengers until the very end, even if that means going down with the ship.
In the fight for their lives, they just might find a love worth dying for.
I can honestly say I put everything I had behind this story. I've researched all things Titanic since I was eight years old. I have more books than I know what to do with. Well, I found a way to combine my love of romance and my love of the Titanic. I hope my passion for the ship came alive on the page...why don't you check it out tomorrow on Amazon or B&N (for 0.99 cents) and let me know! :)
Tomorrow I'll post an excerpt! Stay tuned!
If you haven't noticed the beautiful addition to the sidebar, I have a new release coming soon! ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER, a historical erotic romance that takes place aboard the Titanic releases TOMORROW!
Here's the blurb:
First class clothing designer Elizabeth Scott isn’t all that she appears. She may be elegant and poised on the outside, dining with the richest on the ship, but she’s hiding a dark secret within.
Thieves boarded the Titanic, too…
Officer Thomas McGuire is as honest as they come. Working to make a decent living on the ship of dreams, he can’t believe his eyes when the most striking lady he’s ever seen steals from another first class passenger. As the night goes on, Thomas must decide whether he plans to arrest or seduce Elizabeth and she’s not making it easy on him—the heat sparking between them is unlike anything they’ve ever known.
Time is running out…
The Titanic is sinking fast. Elizabeth has finally met a true gentleman—one who gazes upon her with total adoration yet fulfills her deepest fantasies. But being a gentleman means more than playing the stuffy part. Thomas insists on helping other passengers until the very end, even if that means going down with the ship.
In the fight for their lives, they just might find a love worth dying for.
I can honestly say I put everything I had behind this story. I've researched all things Titanic since I was eight years old. I have more books than I know what to do with. Well, I found a way to combine my love of romance and my love of the Titanic. I hope my passion for the ship came alive on the page...why don't you check it out tomorrow on Amazon or B&N (for 0.99 cents) and let me know! :)
Tomorrow I'll post an excerpt! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
And the winner is...
Drum roll please...
*
The winner of the Romancing the Valentine Giveaway is Mama8383! Congratulations! I'll be emailing you shortly to choose your Valentine gift. :)
Thank you to all the commenters who entered the giveaway. Rest assured there'll be more on the way.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
*
The winner of the Romancing the Valentine Giveaway is Mama8383! Congratulations! I'll be emailing you shortly to choose your Valentine gift. :)
Thank you to all the commenters who entered the giveaway. Rest assured there'll be more on the way.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Romancing the Valentine Giveaway!
Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Reading Romances!
Valentine's day is right around the corner! (How'd that happen? Wasn't it just Christmas?!?) Husband and I aren't big Valentine's Day spenders, but this year we bought tickets to a Peter Cetera concert near the romantic holiday so we're using that as our heart-fest date. Although hearing one of the greatest voices of our generation in concert will be an AWESOME way to spend Valentine's Day, I can think of another: getting lost in the pages of a romance novel. In honor of that idea and our lovely cherub filled holiday, I'm taking part in the Romancing the Valentine Giveaway!
What you can win here:
U.S. ONLY
Your choice of one (1) of the following:
print or kindle copy of InterVamption 
ReVamp's hottest Vampire Rehabilitation Specialist has been burning moonlight looking for a cure to what's ailing the blood supply in Crimson Bay, California. The mysterious infection is causing vampires to hit the streets and act like...well...a bit like Dracula when he's cranked out on venti mocha vamppuccinos. Neither her arranged marriage on the blood-smudged horizon, nor the threat of shutting down her clinic can tear DYLAN'S eyes off the prize--proving once and for all vampires aren't blood-lusting primal creatures. The last thing she expects while prepping a newborn for coven induction is to be spun for a wet and wild loop by the muscle bound vampire she finds beaten to a pulp and sprawled out on her bed.
Little does she know, the shape-shifting goon squads dead set on oppressing vampiric rights have a dark trick up their flickering sleeves. They’ve sent a sheep to sleep amongst the wolves…
Shape-shifter by birth, assassin by rank, and vampire by damned unfortunate circumstance, SLADE just wants to penetrate the coven of leeches, complete his risky assignment, and high-tail it out of there. Despite himself and shape-shifting law, he’s fired up; ready to take Dylan six ways from Sunday….with a Blood-Blasted cherry on top. When Slade’s next target is unveiled to be Dylan he must make a choice: complete his task and assassinate the love of his life, putting an end to the vampire uprising or die a traitorous death at the hands of his shape-shifting brothers and kick-start all-out war.
OR a print or kindle copy of Vamped Up
On the run from hungry vampires with his lover under arm, madly possessive RUAN has one thing in mind: keep the dirty fangs of his khissmates off the neck of his one true love—a human with mouth watering blood. The fact that from the moment he invited EVE into his bed, he’s been having eerily real nightmares about violently screwing her, then killing her? Yeah, that part wasn’t fitting too well into his carefully concocted plan to keep her safe. Eve, a tantalizing biblical studies teacher at Crimson Bay University, has no idea her life is in jeopardy. Ironically, living with the knowledge of paranormal beings and sharing a bed with one of the most cryptic vampires on the planet was not what had her protectively grasping her throat at night. It was the mention of her name in the ancient scrolls; the scrolls written by vampire elders, revealing what’s in store for the end of times…and her spilled blood.
Savage, a villainous vampire-therian hybrid, has a simple plan: kill Eve, drain her dry, thus binding the death shades (dark spirits of vampire elders) to him.
Determined not to let the evil sucker execute his plan by harnessing the dark energy of the elders and killing everyone they’ve come to love, Ruan and Eve set upon a course to stop the future dictated in the scrolls from coming true. It doesn’t take long however, before Ruan realizes that breaking Eve’s heart and erasing himself from her life might be the only way to save her. If only the pull to her wasn't so strong..
Number of winners:
I'll randomly choose one (1) commenter via random.org on midnight, February 13th.
Open to:
U.S. entries only
How to enter:
All you've got to do is comment this post and tell me what your plans are for Valentine's Day!
Hop and enter the other giveaways!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Breaking through Writer's Block
I haven't met a writer yet who can say they've written novel after novel unscathed. That they haven't fought bouts of writer's block. It hits everyone, though at different times and different lengths. I've heard writers say they hit blocks before they start, when they're trying to draw the lines of their story together. But once they get rolling, the book writes itself. I've heard writers say they smooth sail through the beginning and freeze up mid-way, when antes are upped and the conflict is at its peak.
I usually hit the wall around 2/3 of the way through the book. It's no secret I write plot-driven books vs. character-driven ones. Getting deep into character's heads and emotions has always been where I have to work harder than I imagine most others do. (Though I don't know the struggles of others, I can't say for certain.) I can weave plots that are complex and suspenseful, with twists and turns coming out my ears.
BUT (and that's a mighty big BUT--no pun intended), once I have all that conflict down, all that thick and interesting plot, my story tends to look like a giant, jumbled mess.
I get 2/3 through the book (about 250 pages), and stop. I hit the wall. How on earth do I sort those threads? How do they straighten and fit together seamlessly? My first response is to come up with something really complex to solve the problem. (Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn't it?) I guess in my mind, the only way to get myself out of a hole is to keep digging!
It's taken 3 years, 4 novels and 2 novellas for me to realize that solutions can be simple. But how do you get there?
How do you turn that mess of yarn into something beautiful?
There's a few things that work for me...maybe they'll work for someone else out there struggling with the same thing.
1-I switch up radio stations. I was listening to a pre-made playlist on mixpod to write my novellas, but it didn't seem to work for the world of Crimson Bay.
(Below is the exact playlist I used.)
Music Playlist at MixPod.com
To get back into the Vampires of Crimson Bay mode, I started listening to a Snow Patrol station on Pandora. I'm going to stay there for awhile because I'm finding that every now and then I get in the right zone and the music and writing both flow.
2-Switch up your positions. If you normally sit at your desk and write (that's me!), and that's not working, move to the couch. If that doesn't work, try standing. Or kneeling. Or walking. (Have you seen those nifty tread desks?)
*That's not me, by the way.
Last night I got so frustrated working through a scene that I pushed out the chair, moved it out of the way, and kneeled at my desk. It seemed to work just fine, though my knees have rug burn. (Oh, keep the jokes at bay. I know that one was too easy.)
3-Find something to keep your logical brain busy so your creative brain is free to, you know, create! I use this:
It's one of those little toy ball puzzle thingies that come in Happy Meals. I was mindlessly toying with it one day while writing (Tank had left it on my desk), and found that when I was trying to figure out how to open and close it one-handed, my creativity really flourished.
4-Go outside.
5-Exercise
6-Try hashtagging #1k1hr on twitter. (There's all kinds of people who are ready to push through 1k words.) If you've got someone there with you, pushing you through, you may break through the wall without realizing it. Or write 1k worth of total crap, but hey, you're writing.
There's tons of ways to break through writer's block, and I'm sure every writer you talk to will give you their tips if you ask them. These are mine...and now yours.
I usually hit the wall around 2/3 of the way through the book. It's no secret I write plot-driven books vs. character-driven ones. Getting deep into character's heads and emotions has always been where I have to work harder than I imagine most others do. (Though I don't know the struggles of others, I can't say for certain.) I can weave plots that are complex and suspenseful, with twists and turns coming out my ears.
BUT (and that's a mighty big BUT--no pun intended), once I have all that conflict down, all that thick and interesting plot, my story tends to look like a giant, jumbled mess.
I get 2/3 through the book (about 250 pages), and stop. I hit the wall. How on earth do I sort those threads? How do they straighten and fit together seamlessly? My first response is to come up with something really complex to solve the problem. (Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn't it?) I guess in my mind, the only way to get myself out of a hole is to keep digging!
It's taken 3 years, 4 novels and 2 novellas for me to realize that solutions can be simple. But how do you get there?
How do you turn that mess of yarn into something beautiful? There's a few things that work for me...maybe they'll work for someone else out there struggling with the same thing.
1-I switch up radio stations. I was listening to a pre-made playlist on mixpod to write my novellas, but it didn't seem to work for the world of Crimson Bay.
(Below is the exact playlist I used.)
Music Playlist at MixPod.com
To get back into the Vampires of Crimson Bay mode, I started listening to a Snow Patrol station on Pandora. I'm going to stay there for awhile because I'm finding that every now and then I get in the right zone and the music and writing both flow.
2-Switch up your positions. If you normally sit at your desk and write (that's me!), and that's not working, move to the couch. If that doesn't work, try standing. Or kneeling. Or walking. (Have you seen those nifty tread desks?)
*That's not me, by the way.
Last night I got so frustrated working through a scene that I pushed out the chair, moved it out of the way, and kneeled at my desk. It seemed to work just fine, though my knees have rug burn. (Oh, keep the jokes at bay. I know that one was too easy.)
3-Find something to keep your logical brain busy so your creative brain is free to, you know, create! I use this:
It's one of those little toy ball puzzle thingies that come in Happy Meals. I was mindlessly toying with it one day while writing (Tank had left it on my desk), and found that when I was trying to figure out how to open and close it one-handed, my creativity really flourished.
4-Go outside.
5-Exercise
6-Try hashtagging #1k1hr on twitter. (There's all kinds of people who are ready to push through 1k words.) If you've got someone there with you, pushing you through, you may break through the wall without realizing it. Or write 1k worth of total crap, but hey, you're writing.
There's tons of ways to break through writer's block, and I'm sure every writer you talk to will give you their tips if you ask them. These are mine...and now yours.
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