Tag Archives: motivation

Writers: Get Unstuck

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Wow! It’s been awhile since I’ve been here and I do apologize…it seem I’ve been “stuck”. Authors, you know what I’m talking about, or maybe you don’t. If you don’t, you’re the lucky ones. With several projects in the hopper ~ and with most at midpoint, my goal is to finish what I’ve started, which is easier said than done.

As a pantser, I find myself faced with the grueling task of revising and editing the crazy first draft of one of the most complete of the above projects. I’ve got several scenes and now need to weave everything together. The thread I’m looking for is plot. This is a longer piece which I want to grow into a novel as opposed to a short story or novella. The characters and story have been awaiting my return. I really don’t want to disappoint them, but it isn’t fair to let them go without doing their story justice. That involves work, hard work…and so here I am, a pantser who got stuck:-( and has been procrastinating.

Will I ever become a reformed pantser? I doubt it, but I think I’d fare better if I attempted to use an outline and plot a bit more. To that end, I’ve discovered a great website called the Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers by Martha Alderson. She also hosts a YouTube Plot Series entitled Plot a Novel. The series features 21 steps to plotting a novel, memoir, or screenplay. Each step is approximately four to ten minutes in length. I watched the first in the series and found it to be quite inspirational and most helpful, just what I needed to great those creative juices flowing again.

I was impressed enough to order a copy of her book, Blockbuster Plots – Pure and Simple, and received my copy in the mail today:-). I don’t think this will be a book that sits on my bookshelf…Alderson really knows her stuff ~ she demystifies plot development and includes strategies on how to build a novel. From what I’ve seen so far, it is written with clarity and style. Her words really are pure and simple ~ very zen. I love it.

I’m committed to completing this workbook and promise to keep you updated on my progress…From the back cover:

“If you are having difficulty seeing where your story is headed, or if ideas are rolling around in your head but you are having trouble getting started, or if your book has been rejected time and time again, you most likely need help with plot. This is the workbook for you.”

She also has a website: blockbuster plots for writers (Check out the plot tools!)

Now it’s back to the book for me ~ I’ve got to get unstuck. Wish me luck:-) All the writers out there…How do you get unstuck?

Say Hello to Author S.R. Claridge!

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Today our special guest is Vanilla Heart Publishing author, S.R. Claridge! S.R. lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.  She loves thunderstorms, and chilly fall evenings when she can hunker down in front of her computer with a Vodka Martini and write another romantic suspense novel.


Well, S.R. ~ that vodka martini sounds good, but so do your books! We want to hear more…let’s get this interview started:-)!

Ursula: Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

S.R.: Definite pantser….though, admittedly, I lay in bed at night and plot.

Ursula: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

S.R.: Write, listen, learn, precisely follow submission guidelines, re-write a million times and never, ever quit.

Ursula: What is your writing day like? Do you have a specific daily word or page goal?

S.R.: No goal.  In my hectic world with two young kids, my goal is simply to write every day…something, anything, even if it’s just one line.

Ursula: Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so, how do you find your way back?

S.R.: I don’t freak out over it.  I put the manuscript away for a while and work on a different project. Sometimes just stepping back and taking a breather is all I need to refresh my brain and get it active again.

Ursula: Tell us about your first acceptance!

S.R.: My very first acceptance of anything I had written was the publishing of a greeting card, then came song lyrics and scripts for one-act skits.  It’s always exciting when someone believes in your work enough to publish it. The most exciting of all was when Vanilla Heart offered me a contract for my first novel, No Easy Way.  I smiled A LOT that day!  ☺

Ursula: What are your writing goals?

S.R.: To keep writing and to get my books out there into as many hands as possible.  My goal is to give readers something to look forward to.  I want them to dive into my books to the extent that they can’t wait for the next release.

Ursula: What books are currently on your nightstand?

S.R.: Bible, Evanovich Plum series, several by Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton and some non-fiction by Priscilla Shirer

Ursula: What is the last book you read?

S.R.: Plum Lucky by Evanovich;  Forgotten Covenant by J.J.Woods

Ursula: If you could go back in time, where or in what period would you find yourself?

S.R.: I wouldn’t go back in time…. I’d go forward to see the future of our world.

Ursula: What part of your writing do you enjoy least?

S.R.: Basic grammatical editing… I get bored with it because it’s not the “creative” stuff, it’s the logic stuff that leaves me feeling dry.

Ursula: How long does it take you to write a complete novel?

S.R.: I’ve taken 3 years on one and written another one in 3 months….so I suppose it just depends on the novel and the season of life.

Ursula: What are you currently working on?

S.R.: I am currently writing the second and third books in a mystery series called “Just Call Me Angel.”  Book one in the series (Tetterbaum’s Truth) was just released this month.  I am also writing another stand-alone mystery novel and working on a tender love story.

Ursula: Favorite vacation spot or place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?

S.R.: I LOVE vacations and traveling!!  Two of my absolute favorite spots are Paris and Rome, and I’d like to see more of Italy.  Italy and France are two countries I will definitely visit again someday. China was an incredible trip and an experience of a lifetime, but I don’t know that I need to go back. Mexico is a must for me every couple years… just to clear my mind and truly relax.  In the States, Chicago is my favorite city to visit and my husband and I sneak away there for a few days every year.

Ursula: Do you have a favorite book and/or author?

S.R.: I like so many books and authors but one of my fall-backs is Janet Evanovich.  I enjoy her stories because they are an easy-read and her characters keep me laughing.

Ursula: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

S.R.: In NO EASY WAY, there is an underlying message of faith and forgiveness.  In TETTERBAUM’S TRUTH and the whole Just Call Me Angel series, there is a message in life’s perspective… how one may perceive something as murder while another perceives it as family loyalty and protection.

Ursula: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

S.R.: I’ve written all my life.  It just never dawned on me that other people might enjoy reading my work.  It took to the age of 40 before I realized I could actually sign with a publisher and pursue writing as a career.

Ursula: What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

S.R.: I love to dance…real wild, crazy, erotic dancing…the kind you can’t do in public because people will think you’re nuts.☺On the tamer side, I love to watch movies.  I love to let my mind drift away from reality and dive into the plot of a great action/adventure film.

Ursula: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

S.R.: Maybe, how important do you feel sex is in marriage?  I have a whole soapbox on that topic. ☺ Suffice to say if we all got laid once a day our world would be a brighter place.         www.desirethefire.wordpress.com

Ursula: What genre are you most comfortable writing?

S.R.: Mystery/Romantic Suspense

Ursula: How do you deal with rejection?

S.R.: I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt my feelers, but I’ve learned not to take it personally.  What one person loves another will hate… it’s all very subjective… so just because I get rejected doesn’t mean my work isn’t good.  It means I haven’t found the right “fit” yet.  I have many people critique my work before it goes to the publisher and often times their opinions are not what I want to hear, but it helps me become a better writer.  My editors challenge me to improve myself so in the end, every critique is good and every rejection is a stepping stone.

Great interview, S.R.! Now, more on her books ~ where you can find them ~ and where you can find S.R.!


TETTERBAUM’S TRUTH Book Blurb:
Angel Martin plans to marry Tony and live happily ever after… until Tony disappears.  Nursing a broken heart, she takes a job at Tetterbaum’s Pub, unaware it is the most prestigious Mafia hangout in Chicago.
In a world filled with a pretense of innocence and a past filled with iniquity, Angel’s life hangs in a twisted balance of deception and revenge. Through an unlikely turn of events, Angel discovers her entire life has been a carefully orchestrated lie. No one is who they say they are and everyone has an agenda of their own.
Finding herself in the middle of a revengeful scheme from a past she’s never known and a Mafia blackmail scandal that’s already left several dead, Angel races to find answers.  The trouble is, the closer she gets to hidden evidence and tainted truths, the more the crime families want her out of the way.  With her true identity now exposed, learning who she can trust becomes a matter of life and death and unraveling the past is her only hope for staying alive.
Both books are available on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and various other outlets or via her publisher’s site: www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/S.R.html

A Visit with C. L. Exline, Author of the Sheryl Locke Holmes Mysteries Series!

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Welcome, Cassie! Please make yourself comfortable and begin by telling us a little about yourself:-).

Thanks for having me Ursula. I was born in the South and raised in the North, so when my Rebel-Yankee creative juices kick in, my readers are in for a real treat.  I’m married and have two children. Of course I also work full time for a weekly newspaper.  Love roses, African violets, and doing research.

We’d love to learn a little about your creative process ~ ready for a few questions?

Ursula: Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

Cassie: Panster. I get a basic idea and run with it. I do keep notes when the story grows, but I don’t set and outline the story first.

Ursula: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Cassie: Write and write and write.

Ursula: What is your writing day like? Do you have a specific daily word or page goal?

Cassie: I write at any time of the day and write as long as possible. No word total or page goal. Some days it flows, some days it doesn’t.

Ursula: Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so, how do you find your way back?

Cassie: Not writer’s block as in no ideas, but a block in writing at all. I’ll play games or read, but eventually those voices nag me enough that I have to write their story.

Ursula: Tell us about your first acceptance!

Cassie: Short story at Ruthie’s Club. I hadn’t planned on submitting but a fellow author encouraged me. I was thrilled and shocked when I got an email accepting the story. And a big smile when the check arrived.

Ursula: What are your writing goals?

Cassie: Write, write and write.

Ursula: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Cassie: Actually I’ve been reading ebooks when I get the time. I don’t read when I’m involved in writing a story.

Ursula: What is the last book you read?

Cassie: Dolly Departed by Deb Baker (ebook)

Ursula: If you could go back in time, where or in what period would you find yourself?

Cassie: 1800s but I sure would hate to give up my bathroom, potty and air conditioning. Not to mention the computer.

Ursula: What part of your writing do you enjoy least?

Cassie: Ending the story. It’s like my family is going away. Unless it’s Series story, then I know they are just waiting for me to continue writing their tales.

Ursula: How long does it take you to write a complete novel?

Cassie: About two months, barring illness, family emergencies or extra work load at the office.

Ursula: What are you currently working on?

Cassie: Butterfly Dreams

Ursula: Favorite vacation spot or place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?

Cassie: Hawaii. I’d love to visit there.

Ursula: Do you have a favorite book and/or author?

Cassie: No, I love reading a variety of authors.

Ursula: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Cassie: Never give up. That a person can do anything they want if they want it bad enough. My characters struggle and cry but they will work hard to obtain their goal.

Ursula: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Cassie: Grade school. I read Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew.

Ursula: What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

Cassie: World Search puzzles for fun. I also love doing research for my books for fun too. Amazing what a person stumbles across. Photography has always been my creative outlet, but writing has taken over.

Ursula: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

Cassie: The Question: Have you ever written anything that would make you cringe to admit? The Answer: Yes.  It was a taboo topic. It was a story challenge and I rose to the occasion.  But oh my, my.

Ursula: What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Cassie: Mystery/suspense and romance

Ursula: How do you deal with rejection?

Cassie: It hurts but it’s not the end of the world.

Great interview, Cassie! Can you tell us a little about, Book 2: Ruby’s Deadly Secret, in your Sheryl Locke Holmes Mysteries series? How about an excerpt:-)? Love your cover!

Blurb:

What do you get when you add a ruby, diary, secrets, and a mansion? A motive for murder. Sheryl Locke Holmes and her best friend, Dot Watson, have been offered an exciting opportunity to explore Bridgeside, a Victorian mansion, to search for items for their antique shop. Their adventure is short-lived when they discover a diary containing dark secrets and a newspaper clipping with a warning written in what appears to be blood. They get trapped in the attic, Dot is attacked and they find out the owner died inside the house. As if that isn’t enough, Jake is spotted with another woman. Clues are pointing to Sheryl as the next target, no matter who gets in the way.

Excerpt:

Sheryl gazed into Jake’s eyes and caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry for overreacting. For a brief moment, I thought I had lost you. I know better, but I’d just been with Mrs. Wallace and listened to how much her husband’s betrayal had hurt her. I wasn’t thinking, not with my head. Forgive me.”

“Take your hands off of me!” yelled a voice in the distance.

Sheryl and Jake looked over to see Dot being physically escorted out of the restaurant.

“Madam!”

“Look, you little toad, take your hands off of me.”

“I better intercede before Dot gets physical.” Jake hurried to smooth things over. “Lawrence, it’ll be okay. I’ll take over.”

Lawrence let go of Dot, but glared at her before facing Jake. “She and that blonde friend of hers are not welcome in our establishment. Both are troublemakers. We run a reputable business and cannot have altercations disrupting our patrons.”

“Like I care to go back in! I wouldn’t go in that rat hole if my life depended on it,” Dot said and rubbed her arm. “You better hope I don’t get bruises from your manhandling me.”

The man snorted before stomping back into the restaurant.

“You didn’t hit Lisa, did you?” Jake asked.

“Lawrence wouldn’t let me.”

**

Ruby’s Deadly Secret came in number eight in Top Mystery Book of 2010 at Preditors & Editors Poll.
Amber’s Mysterious Death is the first book in the Holmes Mystery Series. Start your collection today.

Wild Rose Press Author Rachel Brimble is here!

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It’s week eight of the All Romantic Suspense Blog Tour! With us today is Wild Rose Press author, Rachel Brimble. Hello, Rachel and welcome! Today, Rachel will share a little about her creative process and her latest romantic suspense novel, Reluctant Witness. Shall we get started, Rachel?

Ursula: Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

Rachel: Bit of both – I plot in way of main character worksheets & arcs and then a five page synopsis. That’s my skeleton. Then I write the first draft by the seat of my pants all the way through to the end. Revision comes afterwards…

Ursula: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Rachel: Give yourself permission to write a ‘dirty’ first draft – you can always revise a written page, you can’t do anything with a blank one.

Ursula: What is your writing day like? Do you have a specific daily word or page goal?

Rachel: Scattered! I used to have a 1,000 word a day goal but when I start failing more than succeeding, it put on too much pressure. Once I reduced this to 500 words a day, I found I wrote more than ever! I write as and when around my kids, the house and a part-time job.

Ursula: Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so, how do you find your way back?

Rachel: Never – I don’t allow it. Just write. Anything.

Ursula: Tell us about your first acceptance!

Rachel: I received it via email and stared at the screen so long, I couldn’t quite believe what I was reading, LOL! Then I ran and told my husband and we danced a jig in the kitchen, drank a glass of wine before I emailed my editor back to thank her and generally gush so much, she probably thought I was mentally unstable.

Ursula: What are your writing goals?

Rachel: Too many! I want to write full-time as a career, that is the ultimate goal.

Ursula: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Rachel: Picture Perfect – Jodi Picoult, The Favoured Child – Philippa Gregory and Wanna Be a Writer We’ve Heard of? – Jane Wenham-Jones

Ursula: What is the last book you read?

Rachel: The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous – Jilly Cooper

Ursula: If you could go back in time, where or in what period would you find yourself?

Rachel: Victorian times – fascinating. I have just finished my second Victorian romance and plan to write more.

Ursula: What part of your writing do you enjoy least?

Rachel: Plotting!

Ursula: How long does it take you to write a complete novel?

Rachel: From plotting to final polish – probably around six months

Ursula: What are you currently working on?

Rachel: Just getting to the end of a final polish of the Victorian romance and then I will start on my next contemporary which I have already plotted. It is set in a fictional seaside town in the South of England and about the reunion of the hero and heroine after a friend’s death separated them years before.

Ursula: Favorite vacation spot or place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?

Rachel: I love where we go every year in Wales – it is quiet, secluded and surrounded by beaches, mountains and forest. So relaxing for a writer! As for hotter climes? I would love a trip to the Caribbean!

Ursula: Do you have a favorite book and/or author?

Rachel: Nora Roberts every time!

Ursula: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Rachel: I didn’t think so until recently but I always seem to turn my stories around to learning to trust again after a disappointment – whether that be being let down by a parent, friend, lover, sibling or stranger.

Ursula: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Rachel: Very young – I used to make stories up at five, six and onwards. When I was eleven I wanted to be a journalist or novelist. Unfortunately, I didn’t pursue this seriously until my second child started nursery.

Ursula: What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

Rachel: I love walking my Labrador in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside where I live so I do that as much as possible – I also love reading, knitting and watch good TV drama.

Ursula: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

Rachel: The usefulness of networking for new and established writers alike – it’s huge and I wish somebody had made me understand that from my very first novel. Promotion is a lot of extra work but the rewards immense. I don’t necessarily mean in monetary terms but the friends you make, the support you receive and the following readers make writing more fun that I ever dreamed possible.

Ursula: What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Rachel: Romance – and I enjoy writing across the sub-genres. I write contemporary, historical, suspense and comedy.

Ursula: How do you deal with rejection?

Rachel: I have developed a very thick and mature skin along the way and now view every rejection as a chance to improve my craft. I always read, absorb and apply the advice I agree with and ignore the bits I don’t. Every writer needs to understand this business is subjective so not everyone will like their work but on the other hand, editors and agents will provide you with huge ‘aha’ moments too!

Ursula: Please tell us about your latest release.


Rachel: The book I am promoting today is my second romantic suspense novel. It’s called Reluctant Witness and set in the UK revolving around the murder investigation of a much loved resident. I loved writing this book and hope you enjoy reading it.

How about a blurb for Reluctant Witness?

Professional singer Julia Kershaw is leaving town and moving on with her life. She desperately needs an escape from her mother’s grief over the loss of Julia’s brother – shot and killed by an overzealous cop – and an ex-boyfriend who refuses to accept it’s over.

But when she becomes the sole witness to the murder of a man she has known all her life, how can she leave without helping to find his killer? But how can she work with a cop after everything the police have put her family through?

When Detective Inspector Daniel Conway is removed from the city chaos he thrives on, and sent to a sleepy seaside town, the last thing he expects is a murder case.  With an impeccable record that he intends to keep that way, for  both personal and professional reasons, he refuses to allow his very beautiful, sexy – and secretive to walk away from the case. Or him.


Ursula: Rachel, where can readers find you?

A Visit with Noble Romance Author Sarah Ballance

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Welcome, Sarah:-) So glad you could drop by!

Sarah: Thanks so much for having me here today.  I came without my kids, so I’m content to crash on your sofa (otherwise known as hiding from the kids) until you kick me out.  Readers, I’d offer you a drink, but I’m not sure where Ms. Grey keeps the coasters and I don’t want to get stuck with the cleaning bill.  (Ya’ll know you’ve got some “rowdy” in ya!)  Oops – my host is giving me The Look. Let’s pay attention, shall we?

Ursula: Ahem…I thought it seemed a little quieter than usual;-). Tell you what, Rachel ~ I won’t tell the little ones you’re here if you promise to let us in on your writing secrets and tell us a little about yourself. While I’m searching for those coasters, please make yourself comfortable…Okay, back with the drink of Sarah’s dreams…And now for what we’ve all been waiting for! Let’s chat, shall we;-)?

Do you consider yourself a plotter or pantser?

Sarah: I start my stories with an outline – usually as simple as a list of 5-10 plot points.  I start there, and I change it as the story demands it.  I guess you can say I try to plot but my characters wear the pants in our relationship.

Ursula: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Sarah: Find a GOOD crit partner.  Your story will  never be perfect, so anyone who can’t find a flaw in it is not doing you any favors.  On the flipside, a good CP will find something nice to say right along with the constructive criticism.  It’s just as important to know what you’re doing right as it is to know where the weaknesses are, and when your CP is a good fit he or she can help you see those points without trying to change your voice.

Ursula: What is your writing day like? Do you have a specific daily word or page goal?

Sarah: I have six kids and they’re homeschooled.  The most consistent bit of structure to my day is opening my netbook, typing in my password, and closing the computer right back up before my file even opens.  I would LOVE to write 1,000 words a day, but as long as I have children under the age of three I know better than to expect it.  That’s as it should be, though.  They’re awesome kids.

Ursula: Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so, how do you find your way back?

Sarah: Sort of.  I tend to be a perfectionist on the first draft.  I need to reach a certain level of “BAM” with my manuscript before I can move on.  Ignoring that pesky criteria of mine does no good, so I live with it.  Best thing I can do when the words won’t come is walk away.  The alternative is to write a scene later in the book.  I don’t feel like *it* has to be perfect because I haven’t gotten there yet, so to speak, and when I do get there it’s a relatively easy edit.

Ursula: Tell us about your first acceptance!

Sarah: The whole experience was insane.  I subbed less than a week before we found out we were pregnant with #6.  Months later, I got the request for a full.  Then the contract offer came, and through all of this I was sick as a dog.  (I don’t get that.  I don’t even know any sick dogs, LOL, but anyway….)  I couldn’t jump around or cheer because it would have done nothing for my all day “morning” sickness, but fortunately for me I didn’t believe it.  I don’t think I believed it even after my book released, which – incidentally – was just a couple of weeks after my baby was born.  The baby was a shocker because I had my tubes tied after our fifth child was born, so that whole nine month period was just an insane mix of birthing both book and baby.  Unforgettable, to say the least.

Ursula: What are your writing goals?

Sarah: Ultimately, I’d love to write for Harlequin Intrigue.  For now – and to that end – I’d like to finish 2-3 novel-length romantic suspenses a year.

Ursula: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Sarah: Rosalie Stanton’s RIPPLES THROUGH TIME, Renee Vincent’s RÆLIKSEN, and a couple of nonfiction books by Dave Ramsey and Joel Osteen.  Over the nightstand is a shelf one of my kids made me and it’s packed full of Harlequin Intrigues.  My boy actually built it to spec, measuring the books so the shelves were just the right size for my “purple book collection” LOL.

Ursula: What is the last book you read?

Sarah: Renee Vincent’s RÆLIKSEN.  I bawled. Phenomenal book – a must read!

Ursula: If you could go back in time, where or in what period would you find yourself?

Sarah: Well, at this point you’d find me hanging out with Dægan Ræliksen, LOL.  But seriously, I’m not much of a history buff – and I’ll take all of my childbirthing with an epidural, thank you – but I do love colonial America (and have a WIP closely tied to that time period) and also have a thing for the wild west thanks to HBO’s Deadwood series.  But actually being there without my hot showers and my computer?  Eh.

Ursula: What part of your writing do you enjoy least?

Sarah: After a book is published, I almost refuse to look at it.  Every time I do, I find something I wish I could change.  Talk about maddening!

Ursula: How long does it take you to write a complete novel?

Sarah: If I could stick to my goal of 1,000 words a day, it would only take a couple of months to write a 55k-60k word novel.  But then life interferes and it ends up taking six months or more.  I know I need to work on my own mental game because I’m easily distracted, but I don’t want to blink and miss the kids growing up so I try to keep that in mind when I get frustrated.

Ursula: What are you currently working on?

Sarah: A romantic suspense I’m calling UNFORGIVEN.  A year before the story begins, Gage tore Riley’s world apart.  She did the unthinkable in forgiving him, but did so under the condition that he stay out of her life for good.  He kept that promise until he found his brother dead on his back porch; once Gage realizes who pulled the trigger, all bets are off.  The next time Riley lays eyes on him, it’s a gunpoint.  From there, things get interesting.

Ursula: Favorite vacation spot or place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?

Sarah: I’ve been all over the U.S. and to Europe, but my favorite spot is right here – the Outer Banks of NC.  I’d love to go to Ireland, Italy, or Greece but the H won’t fly and I’m not going in a boat.  I’ll go to the Bahamas in one of our boats, but that’s as much open ocean as I want to see!  I can seriously see us anchored offshore of the Florida Keys, though.  I don’t have to worry about foreign laws there – I would SO  not fare well in prison.

Ursula: Do you have a favorite book and/or author?

Sarah: I love the Harlequin Intrigue series.  I grabbed a free read and fell in LOVE with the whole romantic suspense concept, which is where my urge to write suspense originated.  I think those books will always hold meaning to me because every time I read one, I experience the thrill and the urge to write.

Ursula: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Sarah: No deeper meanings here.  ;c)  I want my characters to hit that third dimension and be real. That would be my greatest accomplishment.

Ursula: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Sarah: As a kid I wanted it as early as elementary school, but never took the first step in getting there.  In fact, I double majored in biology and biochemistry in college.  Then I married the H and went on to *never work a day in my life* so I could be a stay-at-home-mom for our herd of offspring. It wasn’t until after the birth of our 5th child that I gave it a go, and my first novel DOWN IN FLAMES was picked up on my first query by Noble Romance.  As soon as I saw that cover, I was HOOKED!

Ursula: What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

Sarah: We live on the coast and head out in our boat every chance we get.  I also love riding horses (and had one for 17 years until we lost her last spring at the age of 25), cross stitching, cooking/baking, and anything to do with the beach.   We also enjoy hiking.

Ursula: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

Sarah: I don’t know if there is one!  I do love any chance to tell folks how awesome my publisher is, though, so … pssst.  NOBLE ROCKS!

Ursula: What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Sarah: Romantic suspense.  My first was a romance and I tried for my third to be, but the idea kept resituating itself in my mind until it managed to twist into a suspense.  (That idea is on the shelf for now – a new idea took over.)  Bossy as it is, I think I found my comfort zone.

Ursula: How do you deal with rejection?

Sarah: It doesn’t bother me. I know everything doesn’t appeal to everyone, and even with a great story the timing has to be there for the publisher.  It’s a subjective business from one end to the other and I’m just proud to be a part of it.  One day down the line I may face a rejection I find devastating, but I’m hoping I can fall back on that inner logic when the time comes, LOL.

On that note, here’s the blurb to one which was not rejected: RUN TO YOU.

Mattie James can’t pinpoint exactly when she lost control of her life, but the moment she decided to take it back made the front page of the local paper. Desperate to dodge the fallout— and the tabloids—she jumps at the chance to spend an off-season week in a tiny resort community by the sea. Making the trip with her ex-lover is a complication she can live with; coming face to face with a dead woman is not.

The last thing Sheriff Wyatt Reed expected to find on the storm-ravaged beach was a beautiful blonde with a jealous sidekick, but one look at Mattie left him wanting more. Their first date takes an ominous turn when he gets the call that a woman was found murdered. With a killer on the loose and a troubling lack of suspects or motive, Wyatt has to put his feelings aside to focus on the case. But his vow not to become personally involved is shattered when he discovers Mattie’s life is on the line, and this time the truth leaves her with a deadly choice . . . and nowhere to run.

BUY LINK:  https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=214

Reviews:

http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/review-run-to-you-by-sarah-ballance.html

http://mizlovelovesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/01/run-to-you-by-sarah-ballance.html

Ursula: Great interview, Sarah! Please stop in again sometime in the near future ~ and bring the little ones along! I have lots of coasters;-).


Hey! Author Jerri Drennen’s here!

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It’s the third week of the All Romantic Suspense Blog Tour! Who do we have visiting today? It’s my pleasure to introduce author Jerri Drennen! Jerri has been published with Samhain, Wild Rose Press, and Liquid Silver Books. She’s here today to answer some questions about her writing process and to tell us about her latest release from Liquid Silver Books, Untouched. Please welcome her!

Okay, Jerri ~ we’re all eager to learn more about you, so let’s commence with the interview!:-).

Do you consider yourself a plotter or pantser?

Jerri: I’m definitely a pantser. The one time I tried to work from an outline, I didn’t finish the book.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Jerri: Just keep writing and find a good critique group that can give you feedback. I’ve been lucky to find groups that have helped me strengthen my writing.

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so, how do you find your way back?

Jerri: Yes, too many times to count. I just got over one that lasted close to a month. Tons of things can stop me in my tracks. A rejection. A hard critique. I usually allow myself time to do other things and that helps get me back on track.

Tell us about your first acceptance!

Jerri: Well, it was with the now defunct Triskelion Publishing. The book was Her Man Flint. I wasn’t real happy with the experience. Then I sold to Loose-id and it was like night and day. They were wonderful to work with. I hope to again someday.

What part of your writing do you enjoy the least?

Jerri: I really don’t like doing research but unfortunately it’s par for the course.

What are you currently working on?

Jerri: It’s call A Trace of Magic and it’s a paranormal romantic suspense. It’s something new for me and I’m having a blast writing it.

How do you deal with rejection?

Jerri: A gallon of ice cream, a large pizza and maybe a tear or two.

Thanks, Jerri! I really enjoyed interview you:-). Can you share a blurb, an excerpt…how about a review for Untouched?

Blurb for Untouched:

Botanist Madeline Wentworth is relieved to be heading into the Amazon, far from the university and the vicious rumors circulating about her failed love affair. But on arriving in Peru, her team finds their guide dead with a small puncture wound to his neck. Waiting to replace him is Travis Kane, Amazon guide, treasure hunter, and superhunk. Mattie is instantly attracted but uncomfortably suspicious. When a member of her team falls ill and a similar puncture wound is found on his body, her suspicions deepen.

Travis has stuck with being a jungle guide for over ten years despite a run of unsavory clients. The rain forest is full of hidden ruins and undiscovered treasure, and he’s determined to find his share. But when his grandfather dies, leaving a letter boasting of Templar gold, he’s sure it’s nothing more than an old man’s delusion. Everything changes when he finds his grandfather’s map. With high hopes, he leads Mattie’s team into the rain forest and finds himself overwhelmed by the beautiful blonde. When the group is attacked and has to fight its way out of the jungle, Travis discovers something more precious than gold–the love of a woman who’s made him want to be a better man.

Excerpt from Untouched:

“Dr. Wentworth?” a deep, compelling voice asked.

Mattie looked up. “Yes,” was all she could muster, spellbound by the pair of striking, brandy-colored eyes of a tall, well-built man standing before her.

She swallowed to clear her throat.

“I was told that you might need a guide.” He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. “Here are my credentials. I’ve been a wilderness guide for over ten years, and I know the area.”

Uncharacteristically, Mattie found herself tongue-tied. She had never seen such a gorgeous man in her life. His hair was a rich chocolate brown, cut short on the sides, slightly longer on top. His nose was straight and his features were perfectly proportioned. His lips were strong, firm, and the color of deep Mediterranean coral. From the stubble on his chin, it looked as if he hadn’t shaven in a few days. The effect gave him a rugged, outdoorsy appeal. The only thing less than perfect on the man was a thin, white scar running from his nose to his lip. She wondered how he’d gotten it. An occupational hazard perhaps?

To fight the urge to sigh, she unfolded the paper and studied his certifications. The résumé was impressive if it was on the up-and-up. “You know this area well then, Mr., ah…” She scanned the sheet of paper, then returned her attention to him. “Kane.”

He nodded.

His eyes mesmerized Mattie. She blinked and hauled her mind back on track. “Do you think you could be ready to leave later this afternoon? We want to get started right away cataloging plants. We’ve been prepared since we arrived four days ago. The guide we’d originally commissioned died the day we landed in Manu.”

His arched brows drew together. “I’d need to get my own supplies rounded up, but I could probably be ready by then. Could you tell me the name of the guide who died?”

“Yes, he was a local man. Chaz Juntas.”

Pain crossed his features.

“You knew him?”

“Yes. He was a good man. We’d gone into the Amazon a number of times together.”

“I’m sorry.” Mattie looked down at her cup, noting her shaky hands. Was it the reaction to Travis Kane or was the dream still working on her nerves?

“Have you rented trucks for the trip yet?” His question had her glancing back at him. “If not, I could see what I can do. How many are in your party?”

“Six altogether. Two men and four women.”

His eyes narrowed. “Four women?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?” Was the guy a chauvinist?

He inhaled, then shook his head. “No, no problem. What about the trucks? Have you got them lined up then?”

“Yes. The supplies are already loaded too. Chaz had arranged it all before we’d arrived.”

“Where are they now?”

“At the edge of town. The authorities have been keeping an eye on them to make sure nothing is stolen.”

“I’ll meet you there around two o’clock. Be ready to move out immediately. I want to get a few hours’ travel in before we need to set up camp.”

“We’ll be ready, Mr. Kane.”

He turned and walked away.

Mattie sighed.

Had she been too quick to hire him? Had the man’s qualifications won her over or did his looks and physique have her practically begging him to guide them? She wasn’t sure–and even if she were, she didn’t care. They had a sober guide who didn’t give her the creeps and that was all that mattered right now.

Untouched garnered Recommended Read status at Joyfully Reviewed! Congratulations, Jerri! Read the review here!

Untouched is now available on Kindle. Buy it here!

Thanks for stopping by, Jerri! Do come again:-)

Welcome to Author Veronica Lynch!

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Our first author visitor arriving on the All Romantic Suspense Blog tour is Veronica Lynch! Welcome, Veronica. Please tell us a little about yourself!

As Veronica Lynch, I have been writing professionally for less than six months. Under another pseudonym I’ve been at a computer for almost 30 years. I enjoy writing romance which eventually turns into romantic suspense, even if I don’t want it to!

While I patiently (!) await the release of The List (March 2011), part of the Class of ’85 series for the Wild Rose Press, I enjoy hearing readers’ thoughts about my first published short story: Those Who Wait, from Decadent Publishing. For more about me and the books I create, go to www.Veronica-Lynch.blogspot.com or www.KatHenry.com.

Now for the fun part, Veronica! I’m going to ask you some questions to help our readers learn more about you and your work!

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

The road to publication is often rocky and offers many detours. I found that connecting with experienced authors is a good way to start. Joining an established writers group which specializes in the genres which appeal to you is important. Connect with a critique group of authors who take time to listen and offer constructive criticism. In return, offer the same to them. At first, expect rejection. Listen to what agents and editors are saying in those “thanks but no thanks” letters. If it seems like gobbledy-gook, ask an experienced author to explain it to you. Attend as many conferences as you can afford and play sponge at as many workshops as you can fit into the schedule. And don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Tell us about your first acceptance.

I must preface this response with a short explanation:  I had been writing romance fiction since 1987 though I did not get serious, (read:  pay attention to what the experts were saying until 1993). Once I wised up, I began to enter contests and taking the advice of those infinitely more experienced than I and worked steadily though slowly. At the urging of writer friends at New Jersey Romance Writers, I submitted to Wings ePress. I was sweating bullets as I followed the submission guidelines and sent the query in via email. Within an hour, the editor requested the full manuscript. Within two weeks (no joke) she offered me a contract. “Captain Marvelous” was released August 1, 2004 while I was attending RWA in Dallas. Holding a copy of that book in my hands felt as powerful as the day I held my first-born child in my arms. I still get teary when I think of that day.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Covet by JR Ward (these are not your granny’s guardian angels!); Primal Fear by William Diehl (Aaron Stampler will go on to terrorize Martin Vail and his partners in two future books); The Bannerman Solution by John R. Maxim (can a group of reformed contract killers lead normal lives in suburban Connecticut?); Sinners and Saints by Eileen Dreyer (as a hurricane approaches the Big Easy, a woman searches for her sister).

What is the last book you read?

Samantha Power’s Genocide:  A Problem From Hell.

What are you currently working on?

A series of novellas based on a poem by Henry van Dyke titled Those Who Love. It will be based in a fictional city on the shores of Lake Ontario in western New York State. Characters are baby boomer age and are in some way connected to the local criminal justice system.

Favorite vacation spot or place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?

My favorite vacation spot is the west coast of Ireland. The cities I’d like to visit are Prague and Budapest.

Do you have a favorite book and/or author?

There are too many to count, but I will read anything by JD Robb, William Diehl, John R. Maxim, David Wiltse, and Vince Flynn.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I recently found a quote from Madeleine Albright, former Ambassador to the United Nations:  “There is a place in Hell reserved for women who don’t help other women.” This sums up what I try to put in all my books.

I’m not saying all women should go out and demonstrate against domestic violence, protest the war in Iraq, or storm the doors of the local HMO because we all know health care in our society – as it exists today – sucks. I am saying we should become informed on the issues most important to us, then vote our conscience.

Perhaps you could give a few dollars to the local homeless shelter or give a bag of non-perishables or gently-used clothing to the nearest food pantry. Lastly, we can turn off the TV set when a program with offensive content comes on screen – then let the advertisers know we won’t use their products as long as they continue to support programming against your values. I used to be a rabble rouser. Bet you couldn’t tell.

What do you like to do for fun?

I design and make tote bags, purses, diaper bags, swaddling blankets, boppy covers and slings for fun and profit. I sell them online and at craft shows. It’s a great way to ease my creative need.

What questions are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

What are my favorite TV shows:  The Closer, Blue Bloods, Leverage, Human Target, The Defenders.

Thanks, Veronica ~ very interesting interview! Now, what we’ve all been waiting for…how about an excerpt from The List?

The List ~ EXCERPT:

Frustrated with the holdup, Fee glanced around the room, hoping to see  Dru the minute she entered the ballroom. A hand on her arm claimed her attention.

“Here comes someone you should meet.”

“Who?”

“Last year’s Eastman Award winner,” Rafe said, “And a helluva nice guy.”

“Where?”

“There, coming towards us.”

One nano-second later, all thoughts of revenge evaporated like steam out of a boiling kettle.

Thick gold hair flecked with gray grazed the collar of his jacket. His features were weathered, as if he’d already lived ten times over. Broad through the shoulders and chest, and narrow at the waist and hips, he possessed the long legs of a broken-field runner. Moving across the parquet floor as if born to a runway, he looked confident and at ease with himself. Without disrupting that graceful, fluid motion, he undid his tie, then shrugged out of his suit jacket.

She’d almost given up on finding a man like this.

This one had the Look.

Joyce Carol Oates – Quote on Writing

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I do like this:

“I have forced myself to begin writing when I’ve been utterly exhausted, when I’ve felt my soul as thin as a playing card, when nothing has seemed worth enduring for another five minutes . . . and somehow the activity of writing changes everything. Or appears to do so.”

(“Joyce Carol Oates” in George Plimpton, ed., Women Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews, 1989)

So true…

Another great find:-)

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I’ve found the Procrastinating Writers blog quite inspiring. On my blog rounds I happened to pay a visit there today and have returned with a useful tool ~ the Tick Tock Timer! If you’ve been procrastinating about whatever it is you tend to put off doing, why not make the task more manageable by chipping away at it? You decide how long you want to spend, ten minutes, a half-hour, an hour – just set the timer and get to work. I’ve just used it to begin a new writing project and found the tool very helpful. In fact, I went beyond the allotted time I set for myself and am on my way to completing a new story. It’s amazing the results you can obtain by setting a goal for yourself and following through. The key is, again, to make it manageable, to divide it into smaller tasks that don’t seem so overwhelming.  It’s a strategy that works for whatever it is that you’re intent upon accomplishing.

After you’ve tick tocked, click on the link to the site’s blog ~ very uplifting and inspirational advice to be found there…amazing photos as well. I’ll be visiting often!

How to get Unstuck – Rid yourself of writer’s block by silencing your inner critic

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Writer’s block, getting stuck, Muse abandonment, whatever you call it, most writers have experienced it at some point during their writing careers. Those who haven’t are indeed the lucky ones.  For the past few days I’ve found myself in a holding pattern that manifested itself as indecision regarding which project to next pursue. Or perhaps my proclivity toward procrastination was rearing its ugly head again. Either way, it was painful.

The sense of accomplishment I’d felt upon completing and letting go of the final revision of a story I’d been working on had started to fade. I knew it was time to get back to work. I started to explore different projects in various stages of completion. How would I decide which to work on next? The procrastinator in me said to read over the first few pages of each. Maybe I should work on the story with the highest word count? The one I felt needed the least revision? Or maybe I should work on the one that currently interested me? Or maybe I should work on the one I felt was most marketable at this time? The writer in me said, quit playing games, get back to work. You call yourself a writer, so write. Begin with the project that is currently 30,000+ pages. You were excited about it at one time, sure it needs revision, sure it’s a little different from your previous work, parts of it are good—start with that one.

After reading the first couple of pages, not me, but my inner critic went to work. She started to ask if I really wanted to write those words. What if some of the content was “out there”, what if some took offense, what if someone I knew thought they recognized a bit of themselves in one of my characters?  My characters are composed of the personality traits of those I have known and those I have not, some of me and none of me. My writing reflects all of the life experiences that have made me who I am today, and none of my life experiences. That’s just the way it is.

These thoughts and feelings returned me to the stuck place I was before I’d made the decision to proceed and finish said work. What then? Back to Internet surfing for inspiration and guidance. I found myself at the Procrastinating Writers blog which offers guidance for writers who struggle to get started. I immediately clicked on the link to the following post by Jennifer Blanchard entitled, “The Most Important Step You Can Take as a Writer.” I nodded in agreement as I read, yes, I thought, I had been holding back, I had been censoring. This manifested itself as procrastination, as writer’s block, and I knew it had to end.  Once I could identify what was holding me back I knew I could get back on the path. I was almost there…then followed the link to “How to Write Your Ass Off” by Johnny B. Truant at Copyblogger and arrived at where I needed to be. I found myself really relating to what he had to say, and as a result am now “unstuck” and back on track. I thank both bloggers. If you need a big push, check out their words of wisdom…