Fran Shaff Interview

Joining us today is Fran Shaff. Fran is the author of contemporary and historical classic romance, young peoples’ novels and short stories. She has won numerous awards for her fiction and non-fiction work. She began writing in 1999, and she continues to produce romance and children’s novels. Her short stories have appeared in such places as Woman’s World magazine and at major Internet outlets. Her books are available in hardcover, paperback and e-formats. They can be found in libraries and bookstores throughout the country and on the Internet.

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Fran] I did my first creative writing in third grade. I wrote a poem purely for the pleasure of writing, not as a school assignment. The next creative writing I did on my own was a few years later. From then on my interest in writing continued to grow.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest books.

[Fran] I had two new books released in 2010 in e-formats, and I had two books previously available only in e-format become available in both e-format and paperback in 2010. “Montana Magic” (Wings ePress, March, 2010) and “Kelly and the Candidate” (Wings ePress, May, 2010) are both contemporary romances available currently in e-formats at Wings ePress ( www.wingsepress.com) and at Fictionwise and other on-line bookstores.

“Stolen Son” and “For Love of Maggie” are prize-winning contemporary romance stories originally released in e-formats by Champagne Books and Awe-Struck E-books, respectively. Recently updated and re-released in e-book formats through Smashwords and released for the first time in paperback by Create Space, these books can be purchased at many places on the Internet such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble (bn.com) Books a Million (bamm.com), Sony Bookstore, I-Books for I-Pad, etc. These books are also available at libraries and bookstores.

[Anne] What inspired these stories?

[Fran] Anne, you’d be surprised how often story ideas just pop into my head.

My first book “Montana Match” (Avalon Books, hardcover) was the result of an idea I had upon waking one morning. Hmm, I thought, what if a Chicago matchmaker traveled to Montana to work with a cowboy client and fell in love with him herself? Very amusing….

I wrote “Montana Magic” years later because I was in love with the Montana setting I’d used in “Montana Match.”

“Kelly and the Candidate” was the result of another “out of the blue” idea which just popped into my head--what would happen if a hard-nosed reporter who hated politicians was stuck covering the campaign of a boring third-party candidate in a governor’s race? And she fell in love with him? And then she uncovered the biggest scandal she’d ever seen, a scandal so bad reporting it would win her a major award--and destroy the politician she’d grown to love?

“Stolen Son” came to me as a “wow” kind of idea I knew I had to develop into a story--suppose a man discovered his late wife had kidnapped his five-year-old adopted son and arranged for an illegal adoption? Being a man of integrity, could he in good conscience keep his mouth shut so he could keep his son? Or would he report his discovery and return the boy to his grieving birth mother? What if he developed an idea to covertly get to know the birth mother to determine if he could trust her with his son before he revealed the truth and, while he was getting to know her, he fell in love with her?

Whoa! Could life get more complicated for this poor soul?

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Fran] How I research my books depends on the book. My “Heart Junction Series” is set in the early 20th century in northeastern South Dakota. I set the series there because I grew up in the area. Moreover, I knew people who had lived during that period of history (much older relatives). I had seen the era through the eyes of people who had lived it. That was the inspiring part of my research. Beyond the first-hand research I studied lots of books about the local history so I could make the series as authentic as possible.

Recently I appeared at the Romance Junkies blog. In doing this guest spot I wrote about writing the “Heart Junction Series.” If anyone would like more information on writing “Early 20th Century Stories” I recommend they read my blog at Romance Junkies: http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/?p=959 Not only will they learn about writing for this time period, they’ll get a good introduction to each of the three books in this series, “Laura’s Lost Love,” “Stephanie’s Surprise,” and “Mari’s Miracle.”

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Fran] Like most writers, I’ve always got new books brewing. :-)

“Male Fraud” is a romantic comedy about a woman who pretends to be a man in order to get a job as a trainer for a pro football team and falls in love with the coach. A wacky and very fun read.

I’ve also got a rather long short story, formerly in the Amazon Shorts program, awaiting re-release in an updated form titled “Married While Intoxicated.” This romantic comedy is about a woman who--you guessed it--gets married while intoxicated and then must straighten out the mess she’s made of her life.

A brand spanking new historical romance I’m working on is in the very early stages of development. As of today, I don’t even have a title for it. All I have are a few characters and a premise.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Fran] Without a roadmap a journey would be ineffective and unclear. I always develop characters and plot before I begin to write a book. I believe this is the most efficient way to proceed with any fictional project.

[Anne] If you could be any one of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Fran] Yikes! I wish now I had a terribly wealthy character in one of my stories so I could choose to be that one. Oh, wait, Mari Mahoney of “Mari’s Miracle” is rich, but she’s such a little snot in the beginning of the story, I’m not sure I’d want to be her. Sorry, I don’t have a good answer for you here, Anne.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Fran] Tahiti. It’s getting pretty cold outside about now, and I can’t think of a lovelier place to warm up. Just imagine lying on a pristine beach next to beautiful, clear blue water, soaking in delightfully warm rays of sunshine. Ahhhhhh.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Fran] Hmm. Anne, my most recent releases feature very young heroes and heroine (mostly 20s and very early 30s), and most of my favorite actors would be too old to play the characters. I guess I’d have to say I’d like to see some new young faces paired with young hearts aching to make a wonderful story into a beautiful movie.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Fran] I love reading sweet romantic stories with engaging plots. The characters should be strong and real. I enjoy mystery and suspense too. The old classics are favorites which I enjoy too. Is it possible to read Steinbeck, the Brontes and Austen too often? I don’t think so. :-) Most of all, I read non-fiction simply because I enjoy learning new things.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Fran] Indoor plumbing, electricity and food.

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Fran] If you love to write, write. If you want to be published, make it happen. Set a goal, and never give up on your efforts to achieve it.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Fran] My web page is at: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff, I’m on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/franshaff, I’m on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Fran-Shaff/100000707158093, I’m on MySpace at: www.myspace.com/franshaff and my blog is at: http://cavewriter.blogspot.com

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Ashaff\c%20fran&page=1

Wings ePress: http://www.wingsepress.com/Author%20Pages/Author%20-%20Fran%20Shaff.htm

Barnes and Noble: http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=shaff%2C+fran

Sony Books: http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/fran-shaff_159174

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=shaff%2C+fran

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Fran] There certainly is. I’d like to thank you, Anne, for your gracious hospitality. And I’d like to thank the readers for their interest in my books. I truly appreciate the many thousands of you who have enjoyed my stories. God bless you.

Gail Pallotta Interview & Book Giveaway

Author Bio: After writing articles for years Gail recently published her first Christian romance, Love Turns the Tide. This fall an excerpt from that book won the internet Clash of the Titles contest. In 2004, the American Christian Writers Association named Gail a regional writer of the year. Her husband, Rick, says she’s the only person he knows who can go in the grocery for a loaf of bread and come out with the cashier’s life story. That’s probably because she inherited her mother’s love of people and enjoys talking to them. In her spare time she likes to bargain shop with her daughter. Sometimes they try on garments so wrong for them, they laugh for fifteen minutes. When they finally find a treasure, they’re so pleased. Gail wants to write books of faith that show God’s love. She and Rick live in Georgia.

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Gail] As a youngster I made up stories. In grammar school I worked with a friend to put out a newspaper about our classmates. I recently went to a high school re-union and read articles I’d written in old copies of the newspaper there. I first seriously considered writing when I took a creative writing course in college. Even though I’d never heard of “the spin” then, when we analyzed works, I realized writing could be used for good or bad. I wanted to use it for good.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Gail] Shattered by a failed romance and challenged by a new job, feature writer Cammie O’Shea dreads meeting Bill Collins, editor of The Sun Dial, a new newspaper in Destin, Florida. Still in pain from her heartbreaking split-up, she wants no new relationships. That’s why real estate developer Vic Deleona turns out to be her real source of angst. When she interviews him to help get the paper off its feet, he thwarts her efforts to complete his article, arranges extra meetings and attempts to court her. She resists his advances. But mysterious break-ins occur at Cammie and her friend’s condos. When Cammie and Vic launch their own investigation into the vandalism, Cammie grows fond of him. Then, she gets an opportunity to return home to her old job. She has important decisions to make in the midst of danger.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Gail] Over the years I’ve talked to many women and men about dating relationships. I realize some people meet, fall in love and walk down the aisle. But others are hurt again and again before they find the right person. Cammie is one of those people, but God had a plan for her just as He does for each of us. I wanted to write a story of hope and faith that entertained the reader in a romantic place.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Gail] It’s contemporary, so one might think I didn’t need to do any research for it. But, I did. I’ve visited Destin many times, so I’m very familiar with the town. But I went through a number of magazines and brochures to learn about the history of the area and the fishing industry. The sand had fascinated me for a long time, so I dug through articles to find the origin of it. I interviewed my husband about the real estate business, because he’s been in residential construction and land development. As for the crimes, I was fortunate to meet a woman undercover cop. She and I had lunch quite a few times, and she answered a lot of my questions. I also had an interview with a police detective.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Gail] Yes, I’m working on a teen novel and another Christian romance set in Destin.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Gail] I start with a plot, but as I write it changes, so I suppose that makes me both. I also do character sketches, but the characters grow as I write about them.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Gail] I’d probably ask to start in Los Angeles, where a famous actress is robbed, and follow the criminal all the way to Hawaii. Of course, I’d recover the actress’s jewels and stay in Hawaii to vacation for a while.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Gail] For as long as I can remember I’ve loved to read. I rarely find a book I don’t like. Other than the Bible, my favorite books are those with rich characters and twists and turns that draw me in. Two memorable classics are An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser and Of Human Bondage by Someset Maugham. Both writers were so good they made me see the world through the eyes of their characters. After reading the books I realized we all start at different places in life, and for some the feelings of inferiority or inadequacy that this creates causes great pain. I thought it was so sad that Philip in Of Human Bondage couldn’t cling to his faith, because I knew when one believes he or she is a worthwhile person with a purpose that God is working out, it lifts up him or her. I wanted the characters in those books to find beliefs that would lead to fulfilled lives.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Gail] Spiritual nourishment, swimming and something good to eat. Since I love to eat it’s difficult to narrow it down to one food, but some mainstays might be fried fish, pot roast, pecan pie and anything chocolate.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Gail] My Web site is http://www.gailpallotta.com and my blog is http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Gail] From the publisher’s Web site at www.awe-struck.net. Also E-certificates with codes that download to a laptop, computer or reading device are available at Eagles’ Wings in Destin, Florida, and Sweet Spirit Bookstores in East and West Cobb County in Georgia.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add? I always enjoy visiting your blog.

[Gail] Thank you so much for having me.

You’re welcome, Gail. Visit anytime. Folks, Gail is giving away a free download to one lucky visitor this week so be sure to leave a comment with some contact info. Good luck!!!

"What if" stories with a twist of grace

Thank you for inviting me here, today, Anne.

A hopping good story involves a protagonist (the main character, either male or female or both) and the opposing character, also known as the antagonist. The antagonist is the adversary or opponent. We naturally want to make characters we write or read about into good guys or bad girls. But does the main character always have to be the good guy? Most markets will say yes. Readers want to cheer for the good character and revile the bad guy.

To create a fully developed character, we want to delve into his or her psyche. What influences caused him to make those negative choices? Does he really have a choice about the way he reacts in a given situation? Can she change even on the death bed? Hope is always a writer’s best friend.

In my book, Meander Scar, the “bad” guys are people who truly believe they are making the right choices. Ann’s mother-in-law wanted the best for her son. Ann’s son never believed his father was dead and could not accept a new love interest in his mother’s life. They thwart the protagonists, Ann and Mark, at nearly every turn.

How bad is bad? Does your antagonist have a grudge? Legitimate wounds and no other choice in his or her mind to act the way he does?

How do we portray a character’s wounds without doing an “aside” and dumping a load of information (AKA “telling”) the reader why she turned out the way she did? Let’s analyze a couple of stories. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell, who accuses Tom Robinson of rape, is a sad character. She is described as having no friends and being poor. But how much of what happened to her was her choice? Her upbringing in highly prejudicial circumstances? How about Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, the 1962 psychological horror flick where sisters Blanche and Jane are not who the reader thinks they are (book Henry Farrell, 1960)?

We can flesh out our characters by giving them a defeating quirk and letting them unravel in front of the main character. He might be gifted in math, or have some sort of learning disorder that was ridiculed or misdiagnosed. She might have come from a dysfunctional family but still visits her mother. He might believe abortion is the ultimate evil but have no trouble committing murder in an effort to stop the practice. She might exist in a fantasy place in order to stay in control. Working out of fear, whether real or imagined, is always a good motivation, but must not become cliché. Blackmail with a new twist could be intriguing. The Robin Hood theme is another cliché that if used properly could add a redeeming layer to humanity to your antagonist. Munchausen’s Syndrome, where a captive develops feelings for her captor, can also be intriguing.

Who do you cheer for in Gone With the Wind? What makes Scarlett, Ashley, Melanie, and Rhett so fascinating? While you might have favorites, think carefully about which camp you assign them. Did Ashley, even accidentally, lead Scarlett on? Did Scarlett ultimately act in the best interest of her family? The layers of each character came out slowly throughout the story.

Of course, a villain can transform. Nanny McPhee is not a villain, but she does act like one as she works to better the lives of her charges. Her character represents transformation as the circumstances change. She’s not the one who needs redemption, but others can see the affects of their actions. Her character also doesn’t need to be loved or admired, so she’s a bit both good guy and bad guy in one.

In Meander Scar, one of the main antagonists (yes, there are more than one) Ann’s mother in law suffered the tragic loss of her husband while she was expecting her second child, who was born mentally challenged. Ann and Mark uncover reasons for her actions as they unravel her web of deceit. They, and the reader, learn to forgive her in light of her suffering, and hope for her redemption. However, the real antagonist in the book sneaks up on the reader in all its subtlety. It’s not even a person…but I’ll let you find out for yourself.

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and fifty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she has written dozens of feature newspaper stories, magazine articles, and written and performed radio theater. Her novels to date include the cozy mystery The Gold Standard, inspirational intrigue Healing Grace, and a romance with a twist, Meander Scar. She is the editor of Creative Wisconsin magazine, loves to encourage new authors, and will be teaching an on-line course The Nuts and Bolts of Submission in 2011 for American Christian Fiction Writers.

Visit http://lisalickel.com to read more about her books and find great writing tips.

Jena Galifany Interview

Jena’s bio: I’ve been writing for almost 40 years but didn’t think I’d have a chance at publication so didn’t pursue it until a few friends pushed me into it. I have 4 books published in the ShadowsForge series with Whiskey Creek Press.com and have Shyanne’s Secret, my first western, lined up to be released with WCP in January 2011. Red Rose Publishing. Com released Her Perfect Man on October 28th. I am continuing to work on the fifth book of the ShadowsForge series, hoping to finish it in the near future. I am married to Steve and we are coming up on our 20 year anniversary in December. I have three children, all grown, and one granddaughter. I’ve lived in California all but the first 6 weeks of my life.

[Anne] Thanks for joining us today, Jena.  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Jena] We moved a lot when I was a child. I did not make friend easily and once I did, we’d move again. I started writing at age ten or eleven, to make up some friends that could move with me. I’ve always written stories, mostly in my head so they would be portable and always at hand. When I fell in my garden and was off work for a month in July of 2002, I decided to write some of them down. When I shared them with some co-workers, they pushed me to publish.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Jena] My latest release is Her Perfect Man. Anna Scott can see wisps of thing to come and knows where she will be in her future. The visions are not always clear but she uses them to plan her future. Set in the early 1900s, when life is lived by separation of class, Anna plans to raise her station by marrying the perfect man, if she can find out just who he is. Just because she can see the future doesn’t mean she can see what is right before her eyes.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Jena] I have to laugh. I was actually angry with my ex-husband and wrote what became the ending for this story. I won’t give it away here, but many who I shared that small piece with wanted to know what led up to the ending. I found a way to “justify” what Anna did, and made her realize who the perfect man in her life really was.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Jena] Life experiences mostly. I’ve spent some time on the internet trying to find out more about Southampton and Brighton in England, where the story takes place. My local library had nothing on the subject. I have a good friend that I’ve known since 3rd grade that I’ve based Colin on. He’s always been there when I needed him, like Colin is for Anna.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Jena] I always have stories in the works. I have about a dozen storylines in my computer and my head but need to make time to get them finished. I’ve recently opened a used book store and it takes up more of my time than I thought it would. I will probably finish The Making of a Shadow, a possible series if it does well, about a secret society of people with special talents who take care of crime when the law can’t. Next will probably be Media Lies concerning a married couple of actors. He loves her more than anything but she fell in love with the character he plays. He tries to give her what she wants. Next would be Day Labor or Better Not Tell Her. There are others but these are the ones that I have the most definite ideas about.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Jena] I write backward. I know where I want a story to end and I plot what needs to happen to get us there. Once I’ve outlined the story backward then I follow the characters to see where they take me, making adjustments along the way but making sure they end up where I wanted them to go. I suppose you would call me both.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Jena] I’ve already been Anna Scott Trent, but I didn’t like it much! Lol I’d probably best like to be Alexis Synclair. She’s married to Ty Synclair, the bassist in ShadowsForge. I love music and when I was young, I wanted to be a groupie, so I could always be with the band. Alexis went through an abusive relationship before she met Ty, but has had a great life since marrying him and traveling with the band.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Jena] It would probably be somewhere in England. A lot of my stories tend to end up there one way or the other. It’s in my blood and I’d love to see England first hand some day.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Jena] Yikes! I don’t watch movies very much so I don’t know who is popular now. I’d have to turn to some of my friends to recommend who is hot these days. Media Lies came to me with Ben Barnes in mind. Perhaps he’d make a wonderful Colin as well. I don’t have a clue who would be Anna or Chase. Though he’s not British, Taylor Lautner would make a very nice Justin.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Jena] I write book reviews as well for an online site and read a wide selection of books for acquisition for a publishing house. Personally, I enjoy inspirational and sweet romance. I detest horror or anything with human mutilation. I like cozy mysteries and loved the McCassey Brothers series by Lauren N. Sharman at WCP.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Jena] My King James Bible, my dog, and my laptop! In that order.

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Jena] You will never know it all. Keep learning and honing your craft. Read books written by others and listen to the critics. Learn from what others say about your work. Others may see something you don’t. Don’t take it to heart and stop writing but figure out why they said what they said and learn from it. Learn from rejections letters when they give you a reason for the rejection. And keep writing!

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

http://jenagalifany.bravehost.com and http://www.facebook.com/jena.galifany

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

Her Perfect Man - http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=819

The ShadowsForge Series - http://whiskeycreekpress.com/authors/Jena_Galifany.shtml

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Jena] I want to thank all of those who have purchased my books. Without you, I’d be nothing. You give me the confidence I need to keep writing somewhere other than in my head.

A 'Sweet' Christmas Collection now available!

Christmas with Hope by Anne Patrick -
Hope Erickson, a Blackhawk pilot, and Nick Cunningham, an army ranger, renew their acquaintance on the battlefields of Iraq. Will they risk their hearts to one another or does fate have other plans in store for them?



A Christmas Full of Memories by Markee Anderson -
Piper Sage knows the man who enters her travel agency franchise is trouble from the moment he tells her he's the owner's son. He demands an old-fashioned Christmas, with a ready-made family…and Piper has to deliver.

Severed Hearts by Laurean Brooks -
Julie Blanton's dream is realized when shy Johnny Michaels all but professes his undying love. When he enlists two days later without so much as a goodbye, her world crashes. Will these severed hearts survive?

An Unexpected Holidate by Evie Alexis
Audrey Christensen, legal secretary, is in no mood for Christmas cheer. Defense attorney, Tom Finster, generally hates the holidays. Will the duo move past all that and make a little Christmas magic of their own?

Homecoming by Cheryl Pierson -
A holiday skirmish sends Union officer, Jack Durham, on an unlikely mission for a dying Confederate soldier—his enemy. Will the miracle of Christmas be able to heal his heart in the face of what awaits him?

Buy the ebook here or print here!

Writing in the Mist by Kylie Brant

Confession time: I cringe when an interviewer asks me if I’m a plotter or a pantser. Invariably I restrain an impulse to check my zipper :-). I’ve been exposed! Because there was a time when I was convinced that I was somehow inferior because I am not and will never be a plotter.

When I started writing there was no Internet. I didn’t belong to any writing groups. Had never been to a conference, nor did I know anyone who was writing. What I had was a voracious appetite for books, a more than decent writing ability and a raging impatience. When my favorite authors couldn’t write books fast enough to keep me in reading material, I set out to write one myself. It wasn’t until I was fortunate enough to sell the first two manuscripts I’d written that I ventured to my first RWA conference and learned just how truly ignorant I was.

I crammed every day of that conference chock full, scurrying from workshop to workshop, taking copious notes. And leaving each one feeling more and more like a failure. What I was hearing was that I was doing things ALL WRONG. I was supposed to have plotted those two books before writing them. Who knew? What if my publisher found out that I hadn’t plotted them? Would they make me give the advances back? Would they still want an option on my next work? Probably not, I assumed. Not unless I started plotting at once.

I set out to do just that. I sat down and began writing every single thing I knew about my work in progress. Because in my mind at least, it seemed like a lot. I knew my characters very well. I had the overarching suspense plot planned along with the conflict and the black moment. But when I was done I’d only ended up filling about three pages. Even in my ignorance I knew that did not constitute outlining. So I jotted down a few more things that ‘might’ happen. At least they sounded good :-). And that process served as my synopsis writing for twenty some books.

Imagine my surprise when one of my editors ‘outed’ me at a Harlequin party one year by blithely telling all in earshot that I was a pantser. I was shocked and dismayed. How had she found out? (Perhaps her first clue was that my synopsis often bore little resemblance to the actual book I handed in each time).

But that was the moment that I finally admitted it to myself: I am not a plotter. There’s still a curious sense of relief every time I say it. I detest outlining, and not merely because I find it impossible. It bores me out of my mind. If I outlined prior to writing the book I’d feel like I’d already written it and wouldn’t be able to force myself to do it all again.

I like being surprised in the story. Those twists that even I didn’t see coming delight and excite me. That’s what keeps me writing, often furiously. I want to find out what happens next.

These days I embrace the term ‘organic writer’ because it most clearly defines my process. I start out knowing the characters and the parameters of the story (goals, conflict, suspense and motivation). I know how it’s going to begin. But a great deal of it evolves as I write. The major developments in the story aren’t known to me before I start. I like it that way. But I’d be lying if I said my process didn’t make the first half of the story challenging to write.

I call it ‘writing in the mist’. I know where I’m going but the landmarks are shadowy and sometimes difficult to make out. I’ve developed a couple techniques to assist me. My writing goal is ten pages a day and it helps to start the next scene before I quit for the day. I write a paragraph or two, or at least jot down notes for what’s going to happen next. I’ve also developed a two-column chart of boxes in which I jot down ideas for something that is going to happen at some point in the story. Sometimes they’re just reminders to myself: remember to foreshadow such and such. Other times it might be a connection that will appear with another character. These are just phrases or one-line sentences. I jot these as I write and when I fill enough boxes I run off the sheet and cut them out then spread them out on a table and establish a sort of timeline by moving them around. The sequence will change along the way. I’ll add more boxes, delete others. But this becomes my ‘road map’ for the story. It still allows new developments to pop up, because I have the flexibility to adapt as I go. It also helps to consult my little map of boxes when I get stuck in a story and am not sure where to go next.

It shouldn’t have taken me years to discover that everyone has his or her own process, and there’s no one correct way to write a book. Knowing that helps me feel ‘normal’. And being someone that holds regular if silent conversations with the imaginary characters in my head, feeling normal is always a good thing J.

Kylie Brant is the author of thirty-one romantic suspense novels for Silhouette and Berkley. She’s a three-time Rita finalist and has been nominated for five Romantic Times magazine awards, including a win for Career Achievement. She’s the recipient of two Daphne du Maurier awards for mystery and suspense. Brant’s books have been published in twenty-five countries and translated into fifteen languages.

Learn more about Kylie and her books at her website: http://www.kyliebrant.com

Interview with Kylie Brant

I’m very excited to have fellow suspense author Kylie Brant joining us today. Kylie is the author of thirty-one romantic suspense novels for Silhouette and Berkley. She’s a three-time Rita finalist and has been nominated for five Romantic Times magazine awards, including a win for Career Achievement. She’s the recipient of two Daphne du Maurier awards for mystery and suspense. Brant’s books have been published in twenty-five countries and translated into fifteen languages.

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Kylie?

[Kylie] Writing always came easily to me but it wasn’t until I began reading contemporary romances that I was inspired to write. Authors like Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Elizabeth Lowell and Jayne Anne Krentz couldn’t write fast enough to keep me in reading material every month, so one day I decided to try my own hand at it. I began writing in 1990 and two years later I sold my first two manuscripts to Silhouette.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Kylie] Deadly Intent is book four in The Mindhunters series. The books are loosely connected, as the main characters all work for the same company. Forensic linguist Macy Reid pairs with fellow investigator Kellan Burke as they race the clock to find an abducted eleven-year-old girl before the kidnapper follows through on his threats.

[Anne] This sounds like a story right up my alley. What inspired you to write this story?

[Kylie] Originally the book was entitled Deadly Fear, because the abduction of a child encompasses a parent’s worst nightmare. Ellie Mulder, the abducted child in the story has been kidnapped—for a second time. I wanted to delve into that fear, but what I found in the character of Ellie Mulder surprised me. She’s much more than a victim, and her experiences help her heal and find some closure from her past. The way she handles her experience serves as an example to the heroine, Macy Reid, who suffered a similar experience in her past.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Kylie] I always talk to experts about specific plot points in my books and this time was no different. I spent a lot of time communicating with a national expert on forensic linguistics, an assistant director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a mask maker…and a forensic doctor about how long a severed thumb will ‘keep’.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Kylie] Deadly Dreams is book 5 of The Mindhunters and is released in April. Deadly Sins follows in August.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

[Kylie] I much prefer the term ‘organic writer’ :-). No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t force myself to outline. When I begin I know the characters very well; the overarching suspense plot, the conflict and I have a few scenes planned out. It makes it a bit difficult sometimes, especially in the first half of the book. It’s like ‘writing in the mist’. I have a general idea of where I’m going but the landmarks are fuzzy . But I like to be surprised in the story. It keeps it fresh for me. I’m afraid if I plotted it beforehand I’d feel like I’d already written it. I can’t stand being bored when I write.

[Anne] I totally agree, Kylie! I love those surprises our characters throw at us. Okay, If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Kylie] I’m still intrigued by Macy Reid, the heroine of Deadly Intent. Rather than dwelling on a traumatic incident in her childhood she grew up to be a strong independent woman dedicated to catching the sorts of criminals that victimized her family. But her resolve is tested when, in the course of following up on a lead in the story she must confront the man who kidnapped her when she was eight. I find that depth of character admirable.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Kylie] Hmm, dreaming here! I’m going to keep it pretty simple. I’d like to set my next trilogy in Savannah, GA and have already made some contacts there from a previous book. I’d like to spend a couple weeks and do all the touristy things before visiting the crime lab there and talking to people who can give me thorough history lessons of the area. I’ve always found that location fascinating.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Kylie] I’m terrible at these sorts of questions, LOL, because I don’t ‘see’ my characters so much as ‘know’ them. What they think, what shaped them, who they are. But for Macy Reid I’m thinking Selma Hayek and for Kellan Burke a younger (green-eyed) Ewan McGregor.

[Anne] Well you did good! I love your choices. What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Kylie] I love straight psychological suspense and complex romantic suspense stories.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Kylie] Diet Coke, Skittles and the Internet :-).

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Kylie] Finish the book. I’m appalled by the number of people I know who get invitations to submit and then never follow through on them. It’s easy to be tempted by the shiny promise of a new story, one that promises to be perfect…easy to write, a future award winner, etc. But writers write the whole book. They can’t quit when they get to the sagging middle, or when they hit plot problems. They write the story to the end and they do it by deadline. Once one has moved from novice writer to intermediate level they really need to finish manuscripts because they’ll learn more by going through that process, from start to finish, then by starting and stopping several works in succession.

[Anne] Great advice, Kylie! Where can we find you on the web?

[Kylie] Oh, I’m everywhere, LOL. My website is www.kyliebrant.com

Find my ten author blog at ridingwiththetopdown.blogspot.com

Facebook url: http://www.facebook.com/kyliebrant1

I’m also on Twitter.

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Kylie] Deadly Intent was released November 2 and can be found in bookstores everywhere!

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Kylie] Thanks for having me! Readers can contact me at kylie@kyliebrant.com

Thanks for the interview, Kylie. I wish you continued success in your writing career. Folks, be sure to drop back by Friday as Kylie will be sharing a writing tip with us too. Until then, enjoy your week!


Anne

Writing a Memoir type of book by Diane Craver

We all have a story we want to tell. Maybe we have lost a parent or a loved one and realize we can’t wait any longer to tell our family story. I always had in the back of my mind to write a story about my father. Although I wanted my book to have the emotional honesty of a memoir, I decided to fictionalize it. My goal was to capture a time and place in my childhood based on a true incident in my life that saddened and shocked me. An image of my father’s secret was burned in my mind forever, so the following sentences are the first ones in A Christmas Gift. “It was 1957 when I saw something that I wasn’t meant to see. I have never forgotten this night because it had such an impact on me.”

To write your memoir vividly and well while using fiction techniques, you need to research your past. Before beginning your memoir, start jotting down your memories in a notebook or if you prefer, in a computer file. Give yourself plenty of time to think about your past. At first, I brainstormed about my father since I planned on the main focus to be on his “disability.” I also listed old playmates, neighbors, siblings, and my mother. Don’t forget yourself and what you were like at a younger age. The narrator of the story is Debby Reeves, and she is sixty years old in the prologue and epilogue of A Christmas Gift. The rest of the book takes place in 1957 when Debby is seven years old. I thoroughly enjoyed reliving past childhood experiences to add credibility to my story.

Go through old photo albums and scrapbooks to jog your memory. Maybe you have a cherished item from a parent that will stimulate you into remembering more. I have a tie of my father’s, which he wore during the time period I decided to use for my book. Maybe you have a piece of jewelry of your mother’s that has a special meaning. When you return to an earlier time, make notes about what you see, hear, smell, taste and touch in your memories. Write down brief descriptions so you can remember them while you write your memoir.

I have four siblings but in A Christmas Gift, Debby has three. Young Debby is a lot like I was at that age. I’m sure my family felt that I was a brat at times, but they always knew I wouldn’t lose my childlike deep faith in God. Just as Debby knows Jesus will help her daddy to finally accomplish what he wanted his whole life, I have never lost my faith. Even when a tragedy occurred early in my adult life, I knew God would turn it into a blessing. And He did. Also Debby’s career is one I would have chosen if circumstances would have been different, but it wasn’t the career God meant for me. Because I wanted to give my father the ending he deserved and didn’t get in real life, the ending is fictionalized.

My greatest reward comes from accomplishing my dream of having a book about my father published. I hope your journey to the past will be as rewarding as mine has been. In sharing your family story, you will be opening yourself up to a wonderful experience. In doing so, you will enrich many lives by deepening family bonds, and perhaps will touch others with your memoir.

EARLY REVIEW OF A CHRISTMAS GIFT:

When I first opened this story I felt like I was reading an autobiography. A woman tells a story of a Christmas years ago that she remembers fondly. Let me start by saying that while I am not usually a fan of first person…..I really, really, really like it.

There was something so powerful and real about the story and the characters. The way a little girl looks at her daddy with hero worship in her eyes is a wonderful thing. And oh how my heart broke right along with Debby’s on several occasions. I cried more than once during this story…in a good way though. It was that touching for me that I was moved to tears.

A wonderful story that will really touch your heart. I highly recommend it.

www.sweetlyreviewed.blogspot.com

Diane Craver met her husband while teaching at an orphanage, and they married in 1975. While raising their six children in southwestern Ohio, Diane started writing nonfiction. Articles of Diane's have been published in Woman’s World Weekly, The Catholic Telegraph, Virtue, Down Syndrome Today, WritersWeekly.com, and other publications. Later, she decided it would be a nice escape to write fiction.

Diane has published through a variety of houses, including Booklocker.com, Samhain, Desert Breeze, Whimsical Publications, and Victory Tales Press. She writes fun and inspiring stories filled with memorable characters. Diane gives thanks to God daily for all her wonderful blessings.

Learn more about Diane and her books at http://www.dianecraver.com and Diane has lots of fun prizes listed on her blog. By leaving a comment here, you’ll be entered in her two drawings! More details on Diane’s blog. http://www.dianecraver.com/blog

Sabotage Excerpt

District Judge Katie McKinley takes her career very seriously. No one knows that better than her old childhood friend and first love, Graham Bishop. Her ruling cost him his family’s ranch. So it’s no surprise when an attempt is made on her life that the sheriff turns his suspicions to Graham.

Katie feels horrible knowing what her ruling cost her old friend, and knows his outburst in her courtroom gave the sheriff every right to suspect him. But the Graham Bishop she grew up with would never harm her. Even when all the evidence points to him she refuses to believe it. Could she be wrong?

EXCERPT


Graham's smile faded. "I got a phone call this morning asking me to come to the sheriff's office to answer some questions about several nasty notes you received."

Katie was unnerved by the fact that the sheriff had moved on with the investigation in spite of her wish to drop it. But what bothered her more was that he'd shown the notes to Graham. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed unlikely that Graham Bishop had anything to do with them. Her suspicions lay more with Scott Tillman, or someone in his family. The sheriff was correct in his assumption of their hatred for her family.

"I'm sorry for any inconvenience the sheriff may have caused you. I was under the impression when I left his office this morning the matter was going to be forgotten."

"So you don't think I sent the notes?"

"Look, Mr. Bishop, I've already apologized to you, and I can assure you the sheriff won't bother you again. Now if that's all, I'm late for a luncheon appointment." She stood, grabbed her purse, and started around her desk.

"You didn't answer my question, Katie." He stepped forward so that they stood only inches apart.

She gasped in alarm, his glare prompting her to step back behind her desk. The beating of her heart echoed in her ears. "You called me an egotistical little snob in my courtroom," she reminded him. Over a year later, his words still stuck in her like a thorn.

He gave a low chuckle, and the lines beside his eyes multiplied. "You are a snob, or at least you were in high school. That doesn't mean I wish you any harm."

Leaning against her desk, he folded his arms across his chest, his brown eyes leveled on her. "Look, I was mad. Yes. And I admit that if I'd been able to reach your bench that day without getting a bullet in my back, I may have been tempted to wring that pretty little neck of yours. But I don't hold grudges, Katie. Life's too short for that. Besides, if I did hold a grudge, it'd be for you pretending not to like me in high school when I knew good and well that you did."

Her heart skipped a beat. "We're not in high school anymore."

"I'm well aware of that, Katie."

"This conversation is over, Mr. Bishop. Either leave my chambers, or I'll be forced to call security." The voice of authority she used in the courtroom sounded weak and shaky now. She knew deep down the man who stood before her would never intentionally hurt her, but since she'd received the third note yesterday, her nerves were a tattered mess.

"First you throw me out of your courtroom, and now you're throwing me out of your chambers."

His smirk prompted her anger to deepen. She wasn't sure which bothered her more, his pompous attitude or the fact that he could still draw a reaction from her after all these years.

"Listen, Katie..." He moved toward her again.

Not understanding why he wouldn't go, she backed up, almost tripping over the leg of her chair. "Please -- please leave."

"Fine, I'll go. But be careful, Katie. You may not want to admit it, but I think we both know who's responsible for those notes."


Purchase from publisher, Amazon, Christianbook.com or other online bookstores!

Interview with Rebecca J. Vickery

Thanks so much for joining us today, Rebecca!  We'll begin with your bio.

I’m Rebecca J. Vickery and I write primarily contemporary romance with a twist of the paranormal (special gifts), adventure, mystery, or suspense along the way to a happy ever after ending. This year I also added speculative fiction and suspense short stories to my list of published works and I am enjoying the new challenge. Most recently, with the help of my friend and talented cover artist, Laura Shinn, I founded Victory Tales Press, a small independent press for a select group of authors. Then to fill a different niche, I began helping certain authors and friends discover Indie-Publishing.

I’ve been married to the same extremely patient man since 1975, and we have one son and three wonderful grandchildren, plus a neurotic toy poodle. I’m also the primary caregiver for my mother and a firm believer in the saving grace of God.

To keep up with Rebecca's projects or to check out her work, visit:

http://www.romancewithatwist.com/

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Rebecca] My latest published story is actually in A Halloween Collection Anthology. Victory Tales Press has published two anthologies for Halloween, one sweet to mildly sensual and the other we called Stimulating as it contains more detailed romance stories. My story, A Haunting Love, is in the second book. It is the story of a young woman who house-sits in a large Victorian during Halloween week. After various problems which led to her meeting a handsome police officer, she discovers the house is haunted. She decides maybe she can deal with that—until All Hallow’s Eve when the ghost takes over.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Rebecca] I love all the legends and tales about Halloween. I wanted to take a traditional idea like a haunted house and do something unusual with it. It was a difficult story for me as I tried to rein in my characters too much at first. Upon good advice from several authors, I finally turned Trudy and Simon loose and A Haunting Love is the result.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Rebecca] For this particular story I spent a lot of time Googling and jumping from site to site scanning articles and then searching a new or different term I would find. I spent hours reading about hauntings, binding spells, curses, candles, herbs, and how witches go about casting and breaking spells. I found it fascinating and, of course, all that research translates to only a few passages in the actual story, but I hope it makes it feel more authenticate for our readers.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Rebecca] I am currently working on another story for our Christmas Anthologies. Victory Tales Press will have four books available in mid-November spanning the heat levels of sweet, sensual, stimulating, and spicy. I think everyone should be able to find a book of stories they will like. I also have two romance novels in progress, Healing Rain and Finding Treasure. I hope to have those ready for publication soon. Healing Rain is about a touch healer with a special affinity for horses. Finding Treasure features a young woman with the special gift of being able to locate lost objects, even if they were lost decades ago.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Rebecca] I am a definite pantser. Whenever I try to rein in my MUSE, she goes on vacation. I usually begin with a spark of an idea and my Muse quickly gives me character descriptions and names along with a situation which needs to be dealt with. Then the characters take over and most often it seems I just take notes as they give me their story. This can be most distracting if I’m driving or cooking.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Rebecca] I really think I would want to be Stacey Parker from Surviving With Love. She is a strong, independent woman with a kind, loving heart. She has a great career and a wonderful family. Then she meets a challenging, irritating man who is the dark, brooding, macho type. Yes... I want to be Stacey Parker.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Rebecca] I think I would want to go to Hawaii. Tropical weather, sandy beaches, beautiful oceans and flowers, plus the native culture, would be interesting to explore and research. There are also ranches and mountains to add some variety. I think I could find all kinds of inspiration there. I’ve wanted to see Hawaii ever since Magnum PI was filmed there.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Rebecca] My latest romance release is Seeking Shelter. I would need a cowboy type for the hero, Brigham, and a young woman who would be good with horses to play Kat. Hmmm... Rachel McAdams would be my pick for Kat and for Brig, maybe Paul Walker. I think I would need a lot of leading men to “audition” for me before I could definitely decide on the male actor to play Brig.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Rebecca] I love psychic mystery romances such as Kay Hooper’s Bishop Special Crime Unit Series. She has signed with a new publisher who is going to allow her to continue the series. I’m really looking forward to them, even though I have no time to read anymore. I also enjoy suspense, some fantasy, and a bit of sci-fi. I truly read almost everything when given a chance.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Rebecca] That one is easy for me. Would have to be chocolate, Dr. Pepper, and my computer.

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Rebecca] Keep writing and believe in yourself. Continue to study your craft and try to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of those around you. Join writers’ groups with a positive attitude. No one needs a downer all the time. Be open to new ideas and technology. Our industry is changing and evolving and we have to change with it. And finally, don’t become so obsessed with getting a contract that you sign one without doing some research and considering all your options.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Rebecca] My home website for my romance novels is http://www.romancewithatwist.com/ My blog is http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com. The Victory Tales Press website is http://victorytalespress.yolasite.com and my new website for authors who want to Indie-Publish with me is http://www.rebeccajvickery.com/ I’m also on FaceBook and Twitter as rebeccajvickery

[Anne] And where can we purchase your books?

[Rebecca] I make the highest royalties if my books are purchased through Smashwords. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rebeccajvickery My books are at most major online retailers and are available in ebook and print.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-J.-Vickery/

Barnes & Noble - http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?ATH=Rebecca+J.+Vickery&STORE=book

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Rebecca] I want to thank you for spending this time with me. I always enjoy visiting the Suspense by Anne blog. I’m a big fan.

[Anne] Thank you, Rebecca!  I’m a big fan of yours too, my friend.