– Salman Rushdie, The Independent on Sunday
Friday, March 28, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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By:
Lynn
Don't Shoot Your Book in the Foot
When authors write a book, they pour their heart into the creation process. Some refer to their books as their babies because they mean so much to the author. The creative process is very much an immersion project, as writers puts themselves into the process wholeheartedly. It behooves writers to use all their skills to create a work that is engaging, well-structured, and readable. But writing and using imagination does not automatically mean the end result is any of those three things. When an author sends a “flawless” manuscript to an agent or publisher or formatter without the services of an editor, they may shoot their book in the foot instead of present their best work. Odds are it’s not flawless. Authors need editors.
It’s understandable that writers may feel they don’t need an editor, though I think most appreciate the value of a good editor. Authors know words, they know sentence structure, and how to create characters and build a good plot. So why hire the services of a professional editor? It costs money, and many authors operate on a shoe-string budget. It slows down submission, because giving a manuscript to an editor is an extra step in the process. Then you have to wait. Horrors. And when the manuscript comes back to you, there is more work to do. It’s tempting to send it or format it without that step and move closer to publication sooner.
Let me take that gun for a second. Before you make a decision that has a strong possibility of endangering the life of your book, let me give you reasons to seek the services of a good editor.
1. Not in your head – An editor is not in your head and that’s a good thing. He or she doesn’t know the backstory other than what you put on the pages. She can’t fill in the plot hole you inadvertently left because she’s not in your head, filling it in with thoughts.
2. Not in a hurry – You’ve spent months, maybe longer, writing your book and now you’re more than ready to take the next steps that lead to publishing. You may have niggling concerns about the quality, but you’re overriding them in favor of moving forward. An editor won’t rush through the editing process. She’ll take the time needed to give you valuable input and direction. That’s what you’re paying for and it’s what your book most likely needs.
3. Not invested – As I said, authors invest so much time and energy and angst in a project and they want to enjoy the project’s success. But every word and every character is an author’s invention. We authors love our characters. We love our beautiful words and amazing descriptions. We hate cutting. An editor is invested in your project but in a different way. An editor is invested in a well-written product.
4. New eyes – How many times have you read your story? It’s a well-known fact that our amazing brains fill in absent words and read words the way we expect to see them presented. An editor reads your manuscript with fresh eyes that are skilled at seeing grammar mistakes, typos, inappropriate shifts in POV, etc.
5. Knows more – Authors are extremely intelligent and skilled at their profession. But as an editor, I can’t tell you how many times – because it’s so many – that an author knows nothing about styles. And that’s okay, because that is the kind of thing an editor brings to a project. Typos, poor grammar, POV accuracy, and inconsistent style stand out to a good editor.
6. On your side – It seems pretty common for an author to feel an editor is the enemy, one who is destroying her book with her suggestions. It can feel like some stranger, who calls herself an expert, has missed your vision and doesn’t understand your voice. All those red marks and comments translate as someone who is against you. But a good editor is actually on your side, acting in your best interest, and wants your book to succeed.
Skilled writing makes a book good. But good editing is a strong component of a book’s success. As I’ve written on my website, Lynn Crandall Editing Services, skilled and insightful editing helps strengthen the structure and readability of writing. Good editing is invisible, but it enhances the reading experience for readers.
Working with a good editor is the best way not to shoot your book in the foot.
As a romance author and a freelance editor, I’ve been on both sides of the table.
Stepping into the editing phase of my book, I felt a little nervous. I was afraid the editor would do things to my book that I didn’t like or make me do things I didn’t want to do or couldn’t do. I learned quickly that the editor’s suggestions were negotiable. But despite my fear, I also quickly learned that the editor had great thoughts that improved my book. And as an editor, I find authors reflect some of my writer feelings. They are taken aback at my edits and lean toward defending what they’ve done with the book. Ultimately, the process works best and results are positive when the author can understand that the editor knows things and can be trusted.
Stepping into the editing phase of my book, I felt a little nervous. I was afraid the editor would do things to my book that I didn’t like or make me do things I didn’t want to do or couldn’t do. I learned quickly that the editor’s suggestions were negotiable. But despite my fear, I also quickly learned that the editor had great thoughts that improved my book. And as an editor, I find authors reflect some of my writer feelings. They are taken aback at my edits and lean toward defending what they’ve done with the book. Ultimately, the process works best and results are positive when the author can understand that the editor knows things and can be trusted.
It’s understandable that writers may feel they don’t need an editor, though I think most appreciate the value of a good editor. Authors know words, they know sentence structure, and how to create characters and build a good plot. So why hire the services of a professional editor? It costs money, and many authors operate on a shoe-string budget. It slows down submission, because giving a manuscript to an editor is an extra step in the process. Then you have to wait. Horrors. And when the manuscript comes back to you, there is more work to do. It’s tempting to send it or format it without that step and move closer to publication sooner.
Let me take that gun for a second. Before you make a decision that has a strong possibility of endangering the life of your book, let me give you reasons to seek the services of a good editor.
1. Not in your head – An editor is not in your head and that’s a good thing. He or she doesn’t know the backstory other than what you put on the pages. She can’t fill in the plot hole you inadvertently left because she’s not in your head, filling it in with thoughts.
2. Not in a hurry – You’ve spent months, maybe longer, writing your book and now you’re more than ready to take the next steps that lead to publishing. You may have niggling concerns about the quality, but you’re overriding them in favor of moving forward. An editor won’t rush through the editing process. She’ll take the time needed to give you valuable input and direction. That’s what you’re paying for and it’s what your book most likely needs.
3. Not invested – As I said, authors invest so much time and energy and angst in a project and they want to enjoy the project’s success. But every word and every character is an author’s invention. We authors love our characters. We love our beautiful words and amazing descriptions. We hate cutting. An editor is invested in your project but in a different way. An editor is invested in a well-written product.
4. New eyes – How many times have you read your story? It’s a well-known fact that our amazing brains fill in absent words and read words the way we expect to see them presented. An editor reads your manuscript with fresh eyes that are skilled at seeing grammar mistakes, typos, inappropriate shifts in POV, etc.
5. Knows more – Authors are extremely intelligent and skilled at their profession. But as an editor, I can’t tell you how many times – because it’s so many – that an author knows nothing about styles. And that’s okay, because that is the kind of thing an editor brings to a project. Typos, poor grammar, POV accuracy, and inconsistent style stand out to a good editor.
6. On your side – It seems pretty common for an author to feel an editor is the enemy, one who is destroying her book with her suggestions. It can feel like some stranger, who calls herself an expert, has missed your vision and doesn’t understand your voice. All those red marks and comments translate as someone who is against you. But a good editor is actually on your side, acting in your best interest, and wants your book to succeed.
Skilled writing makes a book good. But good editing is a strong component of a book’s success. As I’ve written on my website, Lynn Crandall Editing Services, skilled and insightful editing helps strengthen the structure and readability of writing. Good editing is invisible, but it enhances the reading experience for readers.
Working with a good editor is the best way not to shoot your book in the foot.
https://www.facebook.com/lynn.crandall.313
@LCediting
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Friday, March 21, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Thursday, March 20, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Why I Chose to Not Self-Publish (for now) with Becky Lower
Publisher or Self-Pub. Learn today what author Becky Lower has to say on the subject.
It’s the wild west in the publishing world these days. With the legitimization of self-publishing by the Romance Writers of America (acceptance of self-pubbed books in the RITA, many conference sessions on the nuts and bolts of how to go about it), more authors than ever are jumping on the bandwagon, resulting in thousands of new titles being released monthly.
I say hurray to those brave souls who are navigating being their own publisher. And, someday I may join you. But, for right now, I’m content to be with my small press, even with smaller royalties. Why, you ask, would I turn my back on larger royalties? Here are my reasons:
1. Time. As a debut author, I knew I’d be spending a lot of time building my brand and my backlist. I’m slow to learn new things on the computer, so I had to decide whether I wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of publishing my own book or if I wanted to establish a presence.
2. Money. If you’re going to self-publish the right way, you have to outlay some cash up front. To pay for editing, cover art, formatting, ISBNs, copyrights, the going rate for any self-pubbed book is $2,000-$5,000. And that’s just to get it out the door. Promotion is a completely separate cost. And I have less money than I do time.
3. Validation. Call me crazy, but the self-doubting author in me wanted a legitimate publisher to tell me my books were worthy of their time. My books don’t fit into a traditional line, since I choose to write my historic romances about America in the 1850s and 1860s, and my contemporaries always feature women over 40. I was rejected by the Big Six because, although they were good stories, they didn’t know what to do with them. Small presses are more flexible. They just want good stories.
4. Editing. This one is big for me. I’d never been through the editing process before, and didn’t know a good editor from a lousy one. How could I possibly have sifted through all the editing services out there today if I didn’t know what I was looking for? Now that I’ve been through the process a number of times, I can spot good editing from the first page.
5. Cover art. Another biggie for me. Having been through this now seven times, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted for the cover of my latest historic. It was the first time I had a clear vision of what was to be on the cover. My publisher gave me their reasons why I shouldn’t go down that road, and gave me several choices, none of which made me happy. They finally gave me two choices—one as I pictured it in my head and the other a lovely young woman. They were right. My version sucked. But, if I’d been doing it on my own, I’d have gone with the cover from my head.
6. Help with promotion. Since my funds are limited, I can’t afford a big ad budget and get my books in Bookbub, The Romance Reviews, RWR or any of the hundreds of other places where a presence wouldn’t hurt. Nor can I get Amazon to publicize a Kindle Daily Deal on my own. Sure, as a self-pubbed author, you can play with the pricing, but can you get the word out to everyone on Amazon’s list when you drop your price to 99 cents for the day? I still do a lot of promotion on my own, such as setting up blog tours, keeping my own blog up to date, being a contributing editor on a number of national sites, but the assistance I receive from my publisher is vital to my success.
7. Distribution. Want to hold your book in your hot little hand? That’s a whole different ball of wax with self-pubbing. It’s one thing to throw it up on ebook sites, quite another to have it in print. A good publishing house will be able to sell your books directly from their site, as well as on all the ebook sites. And they’ll offer print versions within six months of publishing the ebook version. They’ll arrange for distribution to brick and mortar stores, and make them available to the sites bookstore owners and libraries use to purchase their books. If you’re a self-pubber, that means you’re also your own distribution source.
8. Fellowship. Last, and probably most important is the friendship with other authors. Becoming a success in this business means forming circles of fellow authors, through publishing houses, through local chapters, through a social media presence, and at national conferences. They can help you with promotion, aid you in picking one cover over another, assist with proofreading and writing those tricky cover blurbs. And, most important, they can write a review for you and help spread the word to their friends. The heads of the publishing houses know people in the industry that I don’t, and help spread the word if they enjoy a book.
Writing may be a solitary profession, but it takes a village to get a manuscript to print and then into the hands of the public. I’m grateful I have the help as I attempt to get my foothold in this business and keep writing, so I can have a decent backlist. The one argument I keep hearing over and over from self-pubbed authors is that they’re control freaks and need to be involved every step of the way. Well, when you submit a book to a publisher, it doesn’t just automatically go from manuscript to print while you sit on the sidelines. There are multiple editing steps to get through, reviews to garner, covers to approve. If the publishing house is a good one, you have a locked-in release date and can begin to promote it on your own months in advance. I still can control the outcome, and to some degree, the success of my books, by leaning on the publishing house to assist me in my efforts.
That’s not to say that I will never take the plunge into the world of self-pubbing. I enjoy writing a series, which do well in self-pubbed land. But right now, I’m picking my battles and trying to keep my head above water.
In 1858 New York City,
Halwyn Fitzpatrick thinks he's off the hook for attendance at the annual
Cotillion Ball. He has no sister to shepherd down the grand staircase this year
and no real desire to go through the rituals of courtship and betrothal himself.
Besides, he'll know the right girl when he sees her, especially now that he has
new spectacles. But his mother has other plans for him. At 27 years of age, her
son is in dire need of a wife.
About Becky:
Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it on a covered wagon headed west in the 1850s or in present day middle America. Historical and contemporary romances are her specialty. Becky is a PAN member of RWA and is a regular contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After column. She has a degree in English and Journalism from Bowling Green State University, and lives in an eclectic college town in Ohio with her puppy-mill rescue dog, Mary. She loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Visit her website at www.beckylowerauthor.com
It’s the wild west in the publishing world these days. With the legitimization of self-publishing by the Romance Writers of America (acceptance of self-pubbed books in the RITA, many conference sessions on the nuts and bolts of how to go about it), more authors than ever are jumping on the bandwagon, resulting in thousands of new titles being released monthly.
I say hurray to those brave souls who are navigating being their own publisher. And, someday I may join you. But, for right now, I’m content to be with my small press, even with smaller royalties. Why, you ask, would I turn my back on larger royalties? Here are my reasons:
1. Time. As a debut author, I knew I’d be spending a lot of time building my brand and my backlist. I’m slow to learn new things on the computer, so I had to decide whether I wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of publishing my own book or if I wanted to establish a presence.
2. Money. If you’re going to self-publish the right way, you have to outlay some cash up front. To pay for editing, cover art, formatting, ISBNs, copyrights, the going rate for any self-pubbed book is $2,000-$5,000. And that’s just to get it out the door. Promotion is a completely separate cost. And I have less money than I do time.
3. Validation. Call me crazy, but the self-doubting author in me wanted a legitimate publisher to tell me my books were worthy of their time. My books don’t fit into a traditional line, since I choose to write my historic romances about America in the 1850s and 1860s, and my contemporaries always feature women over 40. I was rejected by the Big Six because, although they were good stories, they didn’t know what to do with them. Small presses are more flexible. They just want good stories.
4. Editing. This one is big for me. I’d never been through the editing process before, and didn’t know a good editor from a lousy one. How could I possibly have sifted through all the editing services out there today if I didn’t know what I was looking for? Now that I’ve been through the process a number of times, I can spot good editing from the first page.
5. Cover art. Another biggie for me. Having been through this now seven times, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted for the cover of my latest historic. It was the first time I had a clear vision of what was to be on the cover. My publisher gave me their reasons why I shouldn’t go down that road, and gave me several choices, none of which made me happy. They finally gave me two choices—one as I pictured it in my head and the other a lovely young woman. They were right. My version sucked. But, if I’d been doing it on my own, I’d have gone with the cover from my head.
6. Help with promotion. Since my funds are limited, I can’t afford a big ad budget and get my books in Bookbub, The Romance Reviews, RWR or any of the hundreds of other places where a presence wouldn’t hurt. Nor can I get Amazon to publicize a Kindle Daily Deal on my own. Sure, as a self-pubbed author, you can play with the pricing, but can you get the word out to everyone on Amazon’s list when you drop your price to 99 cents for the day? I still do a lot of promotion on my own, such as setting up blog tours, keeping my own blog up to date, being a contributing editor on a number of national sites, but the assistance I receive from my publisher is vital to my success.
7. Distribution. Want to hold your book in your hot little hand? That’s a whole different ball of wax with self-pubbing. It’s one thing to throw it up on ebook sites, quite another to have it in print. A good publishing house will be able to sell your books directly from their site, as well as on all the ebook sites. And they’ll offer print versions within six months of publishing the ebook version. They’ll arrange for distribution to brick and mortar stores, and make them available to the sites bookstore owners and libraries use to purchase their books. If you’re a self-pubber, that means you’re also your own distribution source.
8. Fellowship. Last, and probably most important is the friendship with other authors. Becoming a success in this business means forming circles of fellow authors, through publishing houses, through local chapters, through a social media presence, and at national conferences. They can help you with promotion, aid you in picking one cover over another, assist with proofreading and writing those tricky cover blurbs. And, most important, they can write a review for you and help spread the word to their friends. The heads of the publishing houses know people in the industry that I don’t, and help spread the word if they enjoy a book.
Writing may be a solitary profession, but it takes a village to get a manuscript to print and then into the hands of the public. I’m grateful I have the help as I attempt to get my foothold in this business and keep writing, so I can have a decent backlist. The one argument I keep hearing over and over from self-pubbed authors is that they’re control freaks and need to be involved every step of the way. Well, when you submit a book to a publisher, it doesn’t just automatically go from manuscript to print while you sit on the sidelines. There are multiple editing steps to get through, reviews to garner, covers to approve. If the publishing house is a good one, you have a locked-in release date and can begin to promote it on your own months in advance. I still can control the outcome, and to some degree, the success of my books, by leaning on the publishing house to assist me in my efforts.
That’s not to say that I will never take the plunge into the world of self-pubbing. I enjoy writing a series, which do well in self-pubbed land. But right now, I’m picking my battles and trying to keep my head above water.
Grace Wagner needs a
husband by July, in order to inherit the trust her father has left for her. Her
stepfather, though, has plans for the money that don’t include Grace, and the
last thing he wants is for her to find a husband before she turns 21, thereby
fulfilling the terms of the trust. She's been in love with Halwyn since she was
thirteen, but he hasn't noticed her at any of the balls they've attended over
the years. With the aid of his new eyeglasses, he spies Grace from across the
room and they share a dance. Grace decides to present him with a business proposition
that will satisfy them both. But, can a clueless knight in shining armor and a
desperate damsel in distress find a way to turn a marriage of convenience into
something more?
Avalailable at Amazon.
About Becky:
Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it on a covered wagon headed west in the 1850s or in present day middle America. Historical and contemporary romances are her specialty. Becky is a PAN member of RWA and is a regular contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After column. She has a degree in English and Journalism from Bowling Green State University, and lives in an eclectic college town in Ohio with her puppy-mill rescue dog, Mary. She loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Visit her website at www.beckylowerauthor.com
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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By:
HiDee
A Woman is Like a Tea Bag...
Eleanor Roosevelt was on to something.
Recent developments in my life have had me thinking about strong women, and what makes them tick. Women go through life, doing what needs to be done. We spend our days taking care of our families and our jobs, often putting ourselves last on our own priority lists. But back us against a wall, and you may discover we have strengths you weren't expecting. Don't underestimate us, or the fictional heroines we love to read because they, too, are rooted in strong women.
My family and friends think I am a strong woman. But compared to some women I know, I’m a wimp.
One woman I know is a wife, a mother of three children under 6, and a full-time researcher. Her youngest son was born prematurely, and before the age of 1, starting having seizures and coding. For months, she was afraid to leave his side in case he had another episode, and yet she did, in order to keep her other children’s lives as normal as possible. One night, her oldest son told her he must not be praying right because he prayed that the baby would never have to go to the hospital again and yet he did. He asked her to pray with him to be sure that he was talking to God the right way. Although she told me that just about broke her heart, she managed to do as he asked without falling apart. She is the glue that holds her family together, and I admire her for fighting to keep life as normal as possible for her kids during such a difficult time. And despite all she has on her plate, she finds time to ask about me and my family.
Another woman was seriously injured and lost her fiancé in a car accident before she was 20. Over time, she was able to rebuild her life. She married and now has two adult children. Her youngest graduated high school and joined the Marines. Although she is terrified something will happen to him, she acts strong for him because that’s what he needs. She focuses on his accomplishments and lets him know how proud she is of him. But one year later, she finds herself struggling to cope. After a strange phone call from her, I found her sitting on the patio in the dark wrapped in an old chenille robe. I held her in my arms, letting her cry until she couldn’t cry any more. She thanked me but it wasn’t necessary – she would do the same for me.
An older woman relies on her strong religious faith to carry her though daily life. She is always giving to others, sending notes of encouragement or offering to help in some other way. Her positive outlook slipped when she went through a difficult time with health issues that included three surgeries in a little over a year. She wasn’t recovering as quickly as she expected and without realizing it, she started relying on medications. It wasn’t until she couldn’t find the bathroom in her own home that she finally admitted something was wrong. Following an appointment with the doctor to review her meds, she ended up in the hospital, where they took her off all the meds, cold turkey. At the time, she was furious with everyone around her. She believed she needed the meds. But after a week of no meds, her head started to clear and she reverted to the person she has always been.
A once vibrant and happy young woman recently broke off a relationship that was showing signs of mental and verbal abuse. Although it was a painful recognition, she admitted she had been unhappy for some time, allowing her significant other to dictate her life. That’s not the way she wants to live her life.
These women are all important people in my life. The first woman is a friend who calls on me when she needs to vent. I encourage her when I can, but sometimes she just needs someone to listen and not judge. The second woman is the friend who would help me bury a body and then go to jail with me, and make the whole experience fun. We are there for each other. The third woman is my mother. She was furious with me at first, but now is thankful I cared enough to interfere when I knew something was wrong. The fourth woman is my daughter. I taught her, maybe too well, to be her own person. But most importantly, I hope I instilled confidence that she can make good decisions for herself.
These women are each strong in their own ways. I’m not sure I could handle any of their situations with as much grace as they have. My strength lies in being supportive and strong for others; I’m a nurturer and I know it. Knowing these women has given me insights into writing strong, capable heroines.
What characteristics are representative of strong women you know? Who is your favorite strong fictional heroine and why?
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Friday, March 14, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
An Interview with Angela Adams
Today, The Write Way Café welcomes Crimson Romance author Angela Adams. Angela talks about turning her love of reading happy-ever-afters into a writing career, despite the challenges.
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Thank you for inviting me to be a part of The Write Way Café today! I appreciate the opportunity to meet your readers and talk about Magic Moment.
When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance?
Always being a fan of the “happy ever after” ending, I’ve been reading romance novels since high school. Like so many other authors, I have old manuscripts tucked away that were written and never went anywhere. Persistence is part of an author’s nature. Whenever I got a new idea, I’d write the story, send it out and hope that sooner or later, something would click.
What was your path to getting this book written and published? What type of research did you do?
I queried lots of publishers with Magic Moment. I was also entering parts of the manuscript in writing contests. One of the contest judges commented that my hero, Chase Donovan, wasn’t likeable when we first meet him. I rewrote the first chapter, sent the manuscript to Crimson Romance, and had a contract. I’m a big fan of writing contests and the feedback they give.
I thought having the couple travel by boat, on the open sea, would be more interesting than a car. But, I know very little about boats and contacted the Philadelphia Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May for information on sailing and boat terminology. Both were very helpful, and now I know why a college friend of mine always used the phrase, “I have to hit the head” before going to the Mens’ room. On a boat, a “head” is the bathroom.
Where did the idea for your story come from?
Magic Moment started about four years ago. I had the idea for a hero who goes through life believing he has to be the type of person others want him to be, rather than the person he wants to be. Chase Donovan is a man who grew up torn between a self-centered, unprincipled father and compassionate, selfless mother.
Then, a colleague of mine said she wished that her family could live on just her husband’s income and that she didn’t have to work. She was melancholy, feeling she hadn’t spent enough time with her children because she had to work. She said she would be happy just being a volunteer lunch mom at her daughters’ school and going to PTA meetings.
That’s how I thought of the character of Laura Roberts, a woman who never aspired for a high-power career, but a simple, unpretentious life as a wife and mother.
The idea of bringing the FBI into their lives, and sending the couple on the run, I needed some twists and turns. The most successful romances, the most interesting storylines, were the ones littered with suspense.
Why did you pick the setting you did?
Every college English professor I had preached, “Write what you know.” I live in Philadelphia where Magic Moment starts out. Sea Tower, Maryland, where Chase and Laura eventually end up, is a combination of Cape May, where I’ve vacationed with my family, and Vermont, where I went to college.
Several months ago I began drafting a new project. This book’s setting is also in Philadelphia. Every day I walk through Washington Square Park, and one day an idea popped into my mind. It only seems fair to set the story not only in Philadelphia, but in Washington Square.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
There weren’t any blocks in writing Magic Moment. The road blocks came with finding a publisher. Every author goes through the process of rejection after rejection. I learned from the experience. With each rejection, I felt sorry for myself for a couple of minutes then queried the next person on my list. If I happened to be fortunate enough to get feedback, I listened. Some advice I took, and some I didn’t.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
I need to have the radio on while I work. I can’t concentrate without it. I listen to a lot of Frank Sinatra, Classic Rock, and Oldies. And, I’m a huge baseball fan. During Baseball season, I’m listening to a Phillies’ game or someone discussing a Phillies game. I also have a bulletin board with sentimental tokens hanging over my desk – including a picture of the 2008 World Series Champion, Philadelphia Phillies.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
My grandmother gave me a book, when I was maybe 12 or 13, titled Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. The book was published in the 1960s and set in pre-depression era New York. The heroine, Annie McGairy Brown, comes to New York to be with her law student husband, Carl. They have little money, no friends, and are pretty much ostracized from their families for getting married so young. She also gets pregnant. Annie is a strong person who faces every challenge thrown her way with a positive disposition and confident outlook.
Although this book was written over fifty years ago, Annie is exactly the type of heroine a writer wants to write and a reader wants to read no matter what the time period.
I’m also a fan of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. Virgin River reminds me of the small town in Vermont where I went to college.
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
In college I won an award for a young adult short story, and it was later published. I also had a children’s short (what we refer to now as “flash fiction”) published back in my college days, too.
I hope to someday write and publish a children’s book. My favorite book as a child was The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. If I can write a story that’s one quarter as touching and as heartwarming as The Velveteen Rabbit, I’ll feel honored.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
The initial draft – at times, I just stare at the computer screen, nothing comes to mind, and I feel as if I’ve wasted a writing day. It’s very frustrating.
I’ve heard some writers say they don’t like revising, but I do. Once the initial draft is completed, I find it easy to just go back and rewrite to make it better.
Who is your favorite hero/heroine?
Of course, Magic Moment’s Chase Donovan and Laura Roberts! That has to be my answer…or they’ll be angry with me! (smile!).
When the FBI brings Laura Roberts - a quiet, reserved bookkeeper - in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job - only to be attacked by thugs.
Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together - and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it.
Chase doesn’t want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn’t understand why she’s a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth - before someone dies?
Excerpt
Caught up their new-found passion for each other, Chase and Laura almost forget that they are on the run from some dangerous characters.
“Time for this later,” she breathed into his ear. “First, I want to see our new window.”
He rolled off her and flipped over on his back. “You sure can kill a mood.”
“I’ll be back.” She slid off the bed. “I want to see our window.”
“No, too late.” He propped himself up on elbows and looked down at his pelvis. “You ruined it.”
“I can fix that easily.”
She knelt on the window seat, staring out the casement. Chase loved hearing her say our window, jointly, together, like regular, sharing, married people. It felt right. Her divorce notion…He had gone along with her because it was the easiest thing to do. But Chase was convinced he and Laura were good for each other. He had at least nine long months to convince her.
“Chase,” she said, her voice wary.
“What? Did I forget a nut or bolt?” He swung off the bed and stood beside her.
She whirled and looked at him, her previously amused green eyes now alarmingly wide. “Chase, there’s a man watching us.”
Where to find Angela Adams:
http://www.facebook.com/authorangela
http://authorangela.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Adams/e/B00D0R03A2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Magic Moment is available at:
Crimson Romance (for information on Crimson’s great book club and webstore opening in May)
Amazon
Books-A-Million
Barnes and Noble
Powell’s Books
iTunes
All Romance ebooks
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Leave a comment and your email address to be eligible for a $10 Starbucks gift card!
Thank you for inviting me to be a part of The Write Way Café today! I appreciate the opportunity to meet your readers and talk about Magic Moment.
When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance?
Always being a fan of the “happy ever after” ending, I’ve been reading romance novels since high school. Like so many other authors, I have old manuscripts tucked away that were written and never went anywhere. Persistence is part of an author’s nature. Whenever I got a new idea, I’d write the story, send it out and hope that sooner or later, something would click.
What was your path to getting this book written and published? What type of research did you do?
I queried lots of publishers with Magic Moment. I was also entering parts of the manuscript in writing contests. One of the contest judges commented that my hero, Chase Donovan, wasn’t likeable when we first meet him. I rewrote the first chapter, sent the manuscript to Crimson Romance, and had a contract. I’m a big fan of writing contests and the feedback they give.
I thought having the couple travel by boat, on the open sea, would be more interesting than a car. But, I know very little about boats and contacted the Philadelphia Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May for information on sailing and boat terminology. Both were very helpful, and now I know why a college friend of mine always used the phrase, “I have to hit the head” before going to the Mens’ room. On a boat, a “head” is the bathroom.
Where did the idea for your story come from?
Magic Moment started about four years ago. I had the idea for a hero who goes through life believing he has to be the type of person others want him to be, rather than the person he wants to be. Chase Donovan is a man who grew up torn between a self-centered, unprincipled father and compassionate, selfless mother.
Then, a colleague of mine said she wished that her family could live on just her husband’s income and that she didn’t have to work. She was melancholy, feeling she hadn’t spent enough time with her children because she had to work. She said she would be happy just being a volunteer lunch mom at her daughters’ school and going to PTA meetings.
That’s how I thought of the character of Laura Roberts, a woman who never aspired for a high-power career, but a simple, unpretentious life as a wife and mother.
The idea of bringing the FBI into their lives, and sending the couple on the run, I needed some twists and turns. The most successful romances, the most interesting storylines, were the ones littered with suspense.
Why did you pick the setting you did?
Every college English professor I had preached, “Write what you know.” I live in Philadelphia where Magic Moment starts out. Sea Tower, Maryland, where Chase and Laura eventually end up, is a combination of Cape May, where I’ve vacationed with my family, and Vermont, where I went to college.
Several months ago I began drafting a new project. This book’s setting is also in Philadelphia. Every day I walk through Washington Square Park, and one day an idea popped into my mind. It only seems fair to set the story not only in Philadelphia, but in Washington Square.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
There weren’t any blocks in writing Magic Moment. The road blocks came with finding a publisher. Every author goes through the process of rejection after rejection. I learned from the experience. With each rejection, I felt sorry for myself for a couple of minutes then queried the next person on my list. If I happened to be fortunate enough to get feedback, I listened. Some advice I took, and some I didn’t.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
I need to have the radio on while I work. I can’t concentrate without it. I listen to a lot of Frank Sinatra, Classic Rock, and Oldies. And, I’m a huge baseball fan. During Baseball season, I’m listening to a Phillies’ game or someone discussing a Phillies game. I also have a bulletin board with sentimental tokens hanging over my desk – including a picture of the 2008 World Series Champion, Philadelphia Phillies.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
My grandmother gave me a book, when I was maybe 12 or 13, titled Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. The book was published in the 1960s and set in pre-depression era New York. The heroine, Annie McGairy Brown, comes to New York to be with her law student husband, Carl. They have little money, no friends, and are pretty much ostracized from their families for getting married so young. She also gets pregnant. Annie is a strong person who faces every challenge thrown her way with a positive disposition and confident outlook.
Although this book was written over fifty years ago, Annie is exactly the type of heroine a writer wants to write and a reader wants to read no matter what the time period.
I’m also a fan of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. Virgin River reminds me of the small town in Vermont where I went to college.
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
In college I won an award for a young adult short story, and it was later published. I also had a children’s short (what we refer to now as “flash fiction”) published back in my college days, too.
I hope to someday write and publish a children’s book. My favorite book as a child was The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. If I can write a story that’s one quarter as touching and as heartwarming as The Velveteen Rabbit, I’ll feel honored.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
The initial draft – at times, I just stare at the computer screen, nothing comes to mind, and I feel as if I’ve wasted a writing day. It’s very frustrating.
I’ve heard some writers say they don’t like revising, but I do. Once the initial draft is completed, I find it easy to just go back and rewrite to make it better.
Who is your favorite hero/heroine?
Of course, Magic Moment’s Chase Donovan and Laura Roberts! That has to be my answer…or they’ll be angry with me! (smile!).
When the FBI brings Laura Roberts - a quiet, reserved bookkeeper - in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job - only to be attacked by thugs.Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together - and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it.
Chase doesn’t want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn’t understand why she’s a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth - before someone dies?
Excerpt
Caught up their new-found passion for each other, Chase and Laura almost forget that they are on the run from some dangerous characters.
“Time for this later,” she breathed into his ear. “First, I want to see our new window.”
He rolled off her and flipped over on his back. “You sure can kill a mood.”
“I’ll be back.” She slid off the bed. “I want to see our window.”
“No, too late.” He propped himself up on elbows and looked down at his pelvis. “You ruined it.”
“I can fix that easily.”
She knelt on the window seat, staring out the casement. Chase loved hearing her say our window, jointly, together, like regular, sharing, married people. It felt right. Her divorce notion…He had gone along with her because it was the easiest thing to do. But Chase was convinced he and Laura were good for each other. He had at least nine long months to convince her.
“Chase,” she said, her voice wary.
“What? Did I forget a nut or bolt?” He swung off the bed and stood beside her.
She whirled and looked at him, her previously amused green eyes now alarmingly wide. “Chase, there’s a man watching us.”
Where to find Angela Adams:
http://www.facebook.com/authorangela
http://authorangela.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Adams/e/B00D0R03A2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Magic Moment is available at:
Crimson Romance (for information on Crimson’s great book club and webstore opening in May)
Amazon
Books-A-Million
Barnes and Noble
Powell’s Books
iTunes
All Romance ebooks
Friday, March 7, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
An Interview with Joni Hahn
Today, The Write Way Café welcomes author Joni Hahn. She brings to the page alpha males brought to their knees by love. She's also giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card.
What was your path to getting this book written and published? What type of research did you do?
I love all of the Marvel and DC superhero movies. I’m also a long-time fan of Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEAL books. Put the two together and… tada! My son is big into physics and mechanics, and has been a huge help with science angle of my series.
As for the publication path, I heard Liliana Hart speak about her self-publishing journey at a RWA local chapter meeting. Her presentation gave me a solid promo plan to build on. I’ve been going non-stop ever since.
Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself?
There is a lot of my husband in these characters. He’s a very strong alpha and has always been very protective of his family and loved ones. My son is into hero characters too, especially his sense of humor.
I think all of my characters reflect aspects of me to some extent. My sarcasm is definitely evident in every book.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
I heard Liliana speak in April. I started writing Book 1 shortly thereafter. Books 2 and 3 were written July through early December. Between my daughter getting married in June and working fulltime, my road was full of blocks. Five Hour Energy and me were BFFs throughout the fall. I would come home from work and write for hours before going to bed. When my editor finished with one book, I’d send her the next and work on the revisions of the first. Once I had them done, I went back to work on the third book. It was definitely a juggling act. I think the key is wanting it bad enough. I had a goal of publishing the series before Christmas. I met it by the skin of my teeth.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on Book 4 of the series, Agent M4: Riordan. Unlike the first three, it is a stand-alone book. My goal is to have it out in April.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
My writing space is a small, open area off of my kitchen. I wish it had a door. :) But, it is my private space, and is quiet. I need both to write. I have my Thor and Captain America standees in the corner, a poster from my Barnes & Noble booksigning on the wall, and a recliner. The recliner is very important because sometimes I need to step away from the computer, lay back and just think through my story. Any power naps I take are done in my desk chair by just lying back my head and closing my eyes. I can be out in seconds.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
As I mentioned above, I love Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEAL books. These guys are the elite alphas, the best of the best, yet they are brought to their knees by the women in their life. I like her writing style because she writes like she’s talking to the reader. It’s very authentic.
I’m also a big fan of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series. Wow, can she craft a smokin’ hero. Her characters leap off the page. I haven’t met one of her heroes that I haven’t fallen in love with myself.
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
I do have Book 1 of my romantic comedy series, the Royal Texans, written. I need to write Books 2 and 3. I thought I’d release Book 1 late this year, but readers want more DIRE agents so it will probably be pushed into 2015.
If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be?
Movie critic! Yes! I want to watch movies, give my opinion, and get paid for it.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
Edits. I whine a lot during edits. My editor warned me I would curse her and she was right. Cutting and changing things was very hard to do but her ideas did make them better books.
If your book was made into a movie, who would play your main characters?
This is so hard because I picture my heroes as the men on my Pinterest page, and only one of them is an actor. BTW, I highly recommend readers check out that page before reading the books. :) But, for fun, here goes:
Tristan – Taylor Kitsch
Rachel – Rachel McAdams
Aidan – William Levy
Cass – Brooklyn Decker
D’Artagnan – Channing Tatum
Jocelyn – Nina Dobrev
You
can find The D.I.R.E. Agency Series at all of the major outlets:Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo
Smashwords
Connect with me online:
Website
About Joni Hahn:
By day, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world… or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than falling in love (Other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers - that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.
Joni's three-book superhero romance trilogy, The D.I.R.E. Agency, is available now. Look for Books 4 and 5 in the Series, Agent M4: Riordan and Agent S6: Jaydan coming in 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway.png)
By day, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world… or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than falling in love (Other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers - that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.
Joni's three-book superhero romance trilogy, The D.I.R.E. Agency, is available now. Look for Books 4 and 5 in the Series, Agent M4: Riordan and Agent S6: Jaydan coming in 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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