HAVE A HAPPY, SAFE NEW YEAR!

Wishing all of you a wonderful evening!

Hopes for the best in your personal lives and your writing in the new year.

We hope to see a bunch of new names up on the shelves this year, or on the blogs stating you’ll be on the shelves soon.

Please be safe. Don’t drink and drive and watch out for others in your travels.

All the Best~
The MuseTracks Crew!

Love What You Write & Believe in Yourself…

Characters take on life sometimes by luck, but I suspect it is when you can write more entirely out of yourself, inside the skin, heart, mind, and soul of a person who is not yourself, that a character becomes in his own right another human being on the page. -Eudora Welty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

• Interview with Author, Dee White

We’re pleased to have with us today, Dee White. She’s the author of Letters to Leonardo, a debut YA fiction best introduced by Aussie Reviews — one of at least a half-dozen wonderful reviews of her novel I’ve come across:    

“Letters to Leonardo is a stunning debut novel from Victorian author Dee White. The blend of first person narrative with letters gives the reader a wonderful insight into Matt’s thought processes and emotions. Matt’s journey is full of action, emotion and twists and turns which keep the reader riveted from chapter to chapter…”    

JR     Great review, Dee. Welcome to Musetracks, but before we begin, I have to ask — is there a bit of an accent I detect? Tell us about yourself.    

DW     That could be an Australian accent, John. I was raised in regional Victoria, Australia, and that’s where I completed my high schooling. I went on to do a Diploma in Professional Writing & Editing at Victoria University.  I still live in regional Victoria in a house my husband and I built (mostly). I have two boys who read everything I write, and enough pets to almost fill an ark – including dog, cats, goats and rabbits – and that’s not counting the large number of kangaroos, echidnas and wedge-tailed eagles we share our property with. My special interests are reading, writing, golf, cricket, amateur theatre, collecting stray animals and traveling. I travelled around Australia in tents for almost two years with my husband and our two boys when they were 8 months old and 2 ½. One of my favorite parts was camel riding in the outback – and I dream of adding a camel to the menagerie one day.    

JR     Interesting background. I know one of our Musetrackers, Candi Wall (a softie when it comes to stray animals), would enjoy sharing stories with you about her love for these four-footed creatures. But, Australia… So many of us hold a fascination for the mystery and romance of that land down under. How did you first discover that you might pursue writing among all these other passions?

Leonardo da Vinci

DW     I started writing poetry when I was seven and that was the year I decided I would become an author. I have always written since then, but it wasn’t until I became and advertising copywriter and journalist that writing became a career. From that, I branched out into my real passion…writing books.   

 I was inspired to write Young Adult fiction by Australian author, John Marsden. I liked the ‘realness of his books’ – the fact that he didn’t talk down to young adults – that he didn’t try to shield them from reality. As I became a more serious about my craft, I had a very inspirational writing teacher, author Sherryl Clark. She gave me many tips on how to improve my writing. 

JR     Marsden’s work must have had its effect on you. And it’s apparent, from the reviews, that you’ve also established that all-important credibility with young adults on all levels — intellectually and emotionally.  Was Letters to Leonardo your first effort in the genre?    

DW     Letters to Leonardo was my first YA novel, but my third book. My earlier works were a non fiction book( A Duel of Words) and  a novel (Hope for Hanna); both for middle grade readers. I started out writing picture books when my boys were very small. As they have grown older, my books have got longer and the target readership has aged too. My oldest son is a now a teenager and I guess that’s how I ended up writing YA fiction. It was also one of my favorite subjects at university – and I think I’ve discovered that I’m really a fifteen-year-old boy at heart – this seems to be my writing voice.    

JR     What was your inspiration for the story?     

DW     The two main pieces of inspiration came from a true story I heard about a man who received a twenty-first birthday card from the mother he had been told was deceased, and the real life experiences of a friend growing up with a mother who suffered from a bipolar disorder. I was also really affected by a comment made by comedian Sir Spike Milligan about his own bipolar. He described the ‘lows’ as “1000 grim winters growing in my head.” Added to this was a long held fascination with Leonardo Da Vinci, which grew even more obsessive as I did my research for this book.   

From the minute the pieces of this story fell into place in my head, I knew it was a story I had to write.    

JR     In this coming-of-age story of love, life, triumph and tragedy, your main character, Matt, a fifteen year old boy, grows up believing his mother had died, then he receives a card from her and his world is turned inside out. Deceived by his father and with feelings of betrayal by a woman he’d never known, he tries to unravel the reasons why a mother would abandon her child. In the novel, meanings and messages left on canvas bring the powerful presence of a legend back to life. Can you tell us about the kinship you and your character have with this artist, Leonardo da Vinci – a man who was suspected by some as suffering from the same bipolar disorder as Matt’s mother? 

Benois Madonna

DW      What fascinates me about Leonardo, apart from his overwhelming genius and artistic talent, is that he was true to himself. I bought a little statuette of Leonardo and the Mona Lisa, and it sits on my desk watching over me. Leonardo da Vinci has become my muse.   

My favorite of his works is the Benois Madonna. Apart from the wonderful colors and detail, I love the relationship depicted between the mother and child. The mother’s expression is of overwhelming love, while the baby with typical youthful curiosity is totally oblivious to his mother’s emotion and is completely fixated on the flower in her hand.   

In Letters to Leonardo, Matt, and da Vinci lived over 500 years apart, so I wanted to bring them together in a realistic and original way. Art was a powerful connection between the two. Matt was an artist, and he later discovered that this was one of the strongest things that linked him to his mother. 
 

Mona Lisa

I’ve used some of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings to symbolize people and events in the story. The Mona Lisa, for example, is an enigma like Matt’s mother, but she is also a watching presence. In the letters he writes to Leonardo,Matt uses da Vinci’s paintings to talk about things that are happening in his own life. It’s what connects them to each other. Here’s an example: 

 Matt: “…that’s what I love about your Drapery Study, I never thought of clothes as having a life of their own – but they do. We all wear an outer layer to hide who we really are.”    

Matt’s anguish and feelings of betrayal when he discovers that his mother is not dead are symbolized in another of Leonardo’s paintings. Here again: 

Matt: “There’s this one painting, St Jerome. I can’t stop looking at it – at the torture in the saint’s eyes as he crouches among those craggy rocks, prostrate before that open-mouthed lion. It’s like that painting expresses everything that’s going on inside me.”  

He links Leonardo’s Lady with the Ermine to his own feelings of disappointment, and trying to come to terms with who his mother really is: 

Matt: “…I’m starting to think that Mum and I are like your Lady with the Ermine. I’m Mum’s pet. Maybe that’s all I was to her when I was a kid.”   

St Jerome

JR     Love the symbology here. You can just sense Matt’s longing for the ideal in Benois Madonna as contrasted with the despondence he bares in some of Leonardo’s other masterpieces. As an aspiring writer, was there ever a time along the path to publication when you felt you might not achieve your goal? Any lessons learned you’d like to share?   

DW     In 2002 (after researching and writing for more than four years) I was awarded a mentorship to work with a well-published author on my manuscript. Mentorships are a great experience for a new writer, but it’s important to find a partnership that suits you both – and that your mentor understands and loves your story too.   

My mentor didn’t like that Letters to Leonardo was in first person, she thought that my use of art was clichéd, and she felt that young adults wouldn’t know who Leonardo da Vinci was. I think this was really the only time throughout the whole journey that I experienced self-doubt.    

I was a very inexperienced writer and thought, “She knows what she’s talking about,” so I changed my story to meet all her recommendations. Instead of Letters to Leonardo, it became Space, a book about a boy who loved astronomy and wrote letters to astronaut, Buzz Aldrin.    

A publisher I submitted Space to thought it was well written, with well developed characters etc, but that it was missing something. That’s when I realized it was not my story anymore. I spent the next two years rewriting and editing – adding layers to the story, connecting up all the pieces and making sure that the manuscript was as tight as it could be.    

Lady with the Ermine

In 2008, I decided to have my manuscript assessed at the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Conference in Sydney.  Margaret Hamilton ,who assessed it, was very positive and in fact even went so far as to introduce me to publishers at the conference. A few months later, Letters to Leonardo was accepted for publication by Walker Books Australia.    

So I guess in terms of how many publishers I submitted it to, Letters to Leonardo had a reasonably easy road – but I did spend many years writing and rewriting – trying to get it right before I submitted it.    

I wanted to share my experience with other writers because for me, the biggest lesson was learning to ‘stick with my story’.  Sometimes, as writers we have to follow our instincts – and have faith in our own work (no matter how many rejections we have received).    

This experience also taught me that talent and a good story idea aren’t enough – you have to have determination – an unshakeable passion for what you do. You have to want to be a writer above all else and you have to have a story you love – then hopefully, others will love it too. I hope this inspires others to keep going with the stories they love – to keep writing – keep rewriting – and keep believing in yourself.    

JR     You’ve expressed so well what writers fear most – falling in love with an idea, a theme, or a character to whom we’ve given life, only to have the marrow of that inspiration stripped away someplace along the rugged road to publication. When you speak of determination and unshakeable passion, how does this translate for a writer who must next become a marketing manager?   

DW     I had a job in marketing in a past working life so I understand how important it is. I did a number of actual launches for Letters to Leonardo as well as a cyber launch and blog tour. The blog tour had over 1000 hits and there were more than 250 hits at the cyber launch. There’s more information about this on my blog http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com    

Aside from internet marketing, I have talked at conferences about my book, visited schools and done book shop signings. It’s important to get your work out there, and I must admit, I love talking to kids about books and writing.    

My sons and I made a book trailer for Letters to Leonardo on a zero budget. My eldest son was the voice of Matt Hudson and my youngest son selected and played the music. The link is http://www.blazingtrailers.com/show.php?title=504    

JR     I love how your family has become a part of both the struggle and success of your effort. Hmmm… this must be one of the upsides to writing YA.    

A great pleasure, Dee. We’ve enjoyed having you as our guest. Seems the world knows no boundaries in a collegial fellowship of authors and aspiring writers whose pleasure is to motivate and inspire. Thanks for sharing the experience, and we wish you much success with your novel.    

Letters to Leonardo is currently only available in Australia, but it can be purchased on line at Boomerang Books, Fishpond, or other online sellers.    

BUT… For one lucky commenter, Dee is offering an autographed copy of her debut novel!

GET BACK ON THAT HORSE!

Agent Shop is over for December and I’m happy to say there were TWO requests this time around from Ms. Lyon.

For the authors who received requests – WHOO HOO! And make sure you let us know how you made out. There is an open invite to anyone who pitches to come back for an interview if our little corner of the cyberworld in some way helped you find your agent!

For those of you who didn’t get a request – GET BACK ON THAT HORSE!

This tidbit of advice is near and dear to me right now. Many of you might know that I was entered in Dorchester’s Next Best Celler contest. ‘Was’ being the operative word here.

As of Dec. 11th, the final five contestants were chosen and I’m happy to announce that I wasn’t one of them…

“Happy?” you say.

Certainly. When faced with such talented writers, months of grueling promo, a huge new network of authors and readers, and some great new friends along the way, how couldn’t I be happy?

Sure, I would have loved to continue on, that was the purpose of entering after all, but rejection comes in every form in this industry. We either roll with it, learn from it and move past it, or we stop writing. Since quitting isn’t an option for me, I’m chalking it up to more experience under my belt, a great time, and some serious exposure!

There are so many ways we can receive rejection.

As aspiring and published authors alike, we learn to shield ourselves and our feelings from:

Harsh critiques
Form rejections
Agent rejection
Editor rejection
Contest scores
Bad reviews

Ugh, there are any number of ways we could potentially lose faith in our ability to write, not to mention our want to write.

But not giving up is what takes us back to that old saying,
“You’ve got to get back on the horse.”

It’ll throw us over and over. Just like life, just like work, the same as any other venue of our life, but we keep plugging along. As it should be.

• Use what you learn from every rejection to strengthen your ability as a writer.
• Don’t take everything to heart. Opinions vary, so look out for repetitive issues that are pointed out and see if that is truly a weakness.
• Read what’s current and in the genre you write. That doesn’t mean you have to follow a trend, but it keeps you informed on what’s hot, what’s not and where your writing would fit in the grand scheme.
• Sign up for classes and workshops – ‘Nuff said.
• Join writer’s groups & critique groups – So many people are willing to share their knowledge. Utilize it!
• Beta readers can be wonderful! They read for pleasure and are usually very willing to let you know what didn’t work for them.
• Network, network, network! This is a wonderful way to keep current on industry news and events as well as support.
• Do your research. Not just for your story, but for your agent/editor. There’s enough rejection out there without submitting to the wrong agent/editor, which will just bring you the rejection you hope to avoid.
• READ, READ, READ and read some more.

 

Don’t let the set backs get you down. Keep on keepin’ on.

Even the most popular authors had to go through the same rejection. But they didn’t let it stop them. They got back on the horse and I guarantee, they’re happy they did.

Happy writing for the coming year!

Candi Wall

Interview with Author, David Rocklin

•  Strategies for getting and keeping a qualified Agent.

•  “Taking the Long Way Home” with foreign publication.

Hello, everyone. Let’s welcome our guest today, David Rocklin, the author of “The Luminist.” His debut novel will be published overseas in Italy (Neri Pozza) and Israel (Kinnaret). It is to be submitted for publication in the UK, and is scheduled to make its first appearance here in the United States in 2011 (Hawthorne Books). It’s an elegant novel described by Mohrbooks as: “In the spirit of ‘The Piano Tuner,’ David’s first historical, ‘The Luminist,’ is a beautifully written, page-turner about politics, war, art, and family that will linger in your memory long after you raced towards the last page.”

Q: Welcome, David. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Chicago, and moved to Los Angeles in 1990 to pursue writing; I’d felt that I couldn’t write while living where I was originally from. I felt the need to see what I’d experienced up to that point from a greater distance. I have a degree in Literature (we with degrees like to capitalize the word) and went into law. I now mediate employment cases and write – not in that order, I’m happy to say.

Q: A successful attorney with a degree in Literature (notice the capitalization). I can’t imagine balancing time between two challenging careers. How do you manage? Was professional writing always your ultimate ambition?

It’s a challenge, mostly to keep my head on what I’m doing while not writing. The writing seeps into just about every facet of me. I stay up late, a lot. We also have a toddler at home, so I’ve become a bit adept at multi-tasking mentally.

Q: On any scale, I don’t think there’s one of us who can’t appreciate those challenges you describe. Multi-tasking and time-sharing seem a way of life for writers. Tell us about “The Luminist” and what inspired the story?

The Luminist was initially inspired by an installation of Victorian-era photography at the Getty Museum in Southern California. The character of Catherine Colebrook is very loosely suggested by the life and work of  Julia Margaret Cameron, one of the first photographic pioneers. Her pictures of children were especially haunting, at once warmly immediate and bittersweet; those lives are, after all, lost to us now. After the exhibition and a bit of research, I discovered (among other things) that Ms. Cameron experienced the death of one her youngest children, as did so many in colonial Ceylon. It struck me that Ms. Cameron’s stated desire to “arrest beauty,” to select a moment from the thousands comprising her life and hold it apart from mere memory, might have arisen from that grievous loss as much as from scientific curiosity and the will of a strong woman to escape some of the limitations of Victorian life. What followed – research into colonial life in Ceylon, the traditions of Victorian photography, a plunge (inadequate, I’m certain) into the religions, cultures and customs of India – really began there, with photographic relics and writerly imaginings about the woman who made them.

Though the novel deals with matters of history (figures such as Sir John Holland, who is based very loosely on the great Victorian scientist Sir John Herschel, and of course Catherine and her husband and children, again, loosely modeled on Ms. Cameron’s family), as well as the origins of photography (including its genesis from sunprints to glass and beyond) and India herself during the period in question, I have taken broad liberties with each. My apologies for any tampering with these worlds in the interests of fiction.]

Q: I see that the Luminist will soon be hitting book stores in the United States in early 2011, with allowances for marketing and promotion. How did this novel come to be acquired first overseas?

My absolutely incomparable agents (Christy Fletcher and Melissa Chinchillo/Fletcher & Co.) took the novel to the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2008, where the rights sold to Italy and Israel. At that point there hadn’t been a sale here in the States, and I’m told that foreign publishers do not as a rule acquire a title before English speaking rights are sold, both for copyright and marketing reasons. So I actually felt very good about those sales, as they represented two publishing houses who thought strongly enough about the novel to take that sort of chance on it. I will always remember that Italy and Israel came through before anyone else.

Q: It’s difficult enough for most writers to navigate the complexities of business here at home, but untangling foreign rules… It seems you’re destined to become literature’s Cinderella Man. The quote by Mohrbooks impressively describes your work as written in the spirit of “The Piano Tuner,” also a powerful historical and debut novel. With how far you’ve traveled on the path to publication, was there ever a reality check? How surprised were you to see your debut novel received so warmly?

I was thrilled and extremely gratified at how the novel was received. My agent  – to whom I had submitted via recommendation of a friend and mentor who in turn had read it and thought highly of it, thankfully – read it in a day, which is about as wonderful a thing as a writer can ever hope to hear. It did take a while for the novel to find a home in the states, having gone out to the US publishers right at the economic meltdown, which has and continues to have a disastrous impact on the publishing industry. But my agents felt so confident and were so irrepressibly bullish, that I frankly sat back, started working on a new one and let the novel find its way. I am very excited to be with Hawthorne. If your readers get a chance to visit their website (www.hawthornebooks.com), I think they’ll find a truly eclectic and praiseworthy body of literature.

I think we all have a way of tying our experiences, our hopes, our memories and emotions wanted and unwanted, to some sort of vessel in order to make sense of them – or to make them resonate even more deeply than they already do. A memory is enhanced, or even informed, by a song or a movie scene. The beginnings of a cherished relationship belong not just to us, but to the city, the apartment window, the favorite restaurant, that served as the paving stones we walked while feeling it grow.

For me, writing – my own, that of others – is and has been that vessel, that vehicle that allows me to see the world. If I can be that, for even one person, I will die happy.

Q: I think you describe, perfectly, the passion we all have for the craft. And your work is, indeed, in the company of impressive titles at Hawthorne. You describe yourself as, “Taking the long way home.” I think we understand the inference – the long journey of a dream about to become realized. Would you describe how your novel found a home with a U.S. publisher? For an author, how involved is the process of translation and editing?

It really came about because my agents simply would not give up. As a writer, you dream of finding agents and editors who feel the way you do, who also burn to get that writing out into people’s hands and hearts. The folks I’ve met thus far – Christy, Melissa, my editor/publisher at Hawthorne – are outstanding at what they do, and a joy to be able to work with. I’m lucky beyond belief.

The translation process should be interesting – right now, I’m in the editorial revision process, and we hope to have something in final form by late summer 2010, after which the process of marketing and promotion will truly begin. The final will also be sent to all foreign territories who have shown interest, and will be sent to the publishers who have acquired it. As I understand it, they will translate and will be in touch with me to go over passages, ideas or words that might not have an equivalent meaning, and we’ll work out the differences. Having spent a bit of time trying unsuccessfully to learn Mandarin, I know some things will literally be lost in translation.

The editorial process is quite involved. The more involved it is, the luckier the author – that means they have an editor who has done what the author did throughout the writing of their work. They’ve immersed themselves in the story, in the words, in the lilt of the language and the melody of the sentences as they run together. It’s a fantastic learning experience, and I know my next novel will be the better for it.

Q: We should all be as fortunate to discover an agent or editor who loves our work and brings that kind of imaginative persistence to the business. So, here’s what every aspiring writer wants to know – How did you hook your literary agent? And please share with us the details and tactics you’ve discovered for getting and keeping a qualified agent?

For “The Luminist,” I was lucky to have a friend and mentor, Susan Taylor Chehak (an extraordinary author – please do pick up one of her several novels) read the book. She was very excited about it and suggested that she let a good friend of hers read it – my agent, as it turned out.

I’ve been down both roads (recommendation, query) in terms of locating and acquiring an agent, having queried a fair number in connection with an earlier novel I’d written that was submitted and not published (probably for the best). It’s a daunting process, but one that a writer can accomplish successfully with just a few tips. First, really try to establish for the agents why it is that you’re querying them, and not the agent next door to them. Show them you know their work, their clients, and that you belong in their stable. An easy bit of research will help – most authors thank their agents on the acknowledgement page of their novel (if they don’t, they really should). Think about writers/books that you believe your own work should be placed in the company of (be realistic, and yes, you do have to pigeonhole your novel a bit). Find the agents’ names, or names that aren’t identified as someone’s wife, boyfriend or mother. Cross reference them using one of the many guides to literary agents, or search them on the web. Now you have targeted an agent, and you know something about them – who and what they represent.

Next, don’t send your book out before it’s really ready to be seen. Have it read, preferably by a good workshop peopled with writers who are passionate, well-read and deeply involved in the writing life themselves. If you don’t have access to anything like that, have it read by at least three people who aren’t your wife or mother (and therefore don’t feel like giving you critical feedback is tantamount to rejecting you). Listen and revise. My grandmother used to say, “if someone calls you an ass, they’re rude. If two people call you an ass, you’re probably an ass.” If you hear similar feedback from more than one person, you may be looking at an issue that needs to be revised no matter how strongly you feel about it, as it’s impacting the reading/reception of your work.

A perfect close. Sage advice that should be stenciled on every computer screen — Grandmothers always seem to know how to reach the core with an impressive economy of words. We should have her here as a guest.

Thanks for coming, David. It’s fascinating to watch the genesis of a talented new author and discover the inspiration behind the writer and his story. There’s something here for everyone. Your transnational experience, your steep path to publication, and your advice for finding and keeping the perfect agent offer keen insight for both the established an aspiring author. We look forward to seeing your title in the bookstores.

David’s Website is currently under construction, but until then, you can follow his progress  on Facebook. 

David is happy to answer all comments or questions below. And if you need legal advice from lawer, David Rocklin… well, he may have left that hat at the office.

News Flash: Sorry I missed this. David is offering a free copy of “The Luminist” to the first TWENTY-FIVE commenters. Yikes — Happy Holidays from David!

 

Welcome author Christi Barth!

by Marie-Claude Bourque

Hi everyone,

 I am thrilled to welcome author Christi Barth, contemporary single title romance author with her debut Carolina Heat published by Eternal Press.  I met Christi through the Romance Writer Community online and I am forever indebted to her for her great (sometimes tough) critiques of Ancient Whispers. She taught me tons about P.O.V., backstory and internal thoughts!

M-C:  Christi, can you share the story of “the Call”, the “email” or how you broke through into publishing.?

Christi: I’m shocked, but I actually do have a story of ‘the email’.  I’d been corresponding with my publisher – submitted the full, and they said they liked it, but wanted to see one major revision.  I made it, and then sat on tenterhooks for a week.  We went to DC for Easter, and our hotel had computers in the lobby available to guests w/free WiFi.  We came back from breakfast – I checked my email.  Came back from the Air & Space museum – checked my email.  My parents thought I was obsessed, because I hadn’t told them what was going on.  But finally at 5:00 the email came through, and at dinner that night I got to share the good news!

M-C: Can you tell us what the story of CAROLINA HEAT is about?  

Christi: Close your eyes, and pretend you’re holding my book and reading the back cover:  Put a workaholic Yankee together with an amiable Southerner and watch the sparks fly! Annabelle travels to Charleston, where she stumbles across the trail of a long-buried Civil War mystery and along the way finds steamy passion, steadfast friends, mortal danger, and the love of her life.
M-C:  Where did you get the ideas for this story? 

Well-known journalist Annabelle Carlyle is stunned by the personal twist of her latest assignment: her best friend Vanessa is missing. Annabelle goes undercover in the Old South to search for answers. Full of thick accents and a way of life rooted in the past, Charleston is as foreign and strange a place as any she’s visited. Before finding a single clue, Annabelle encounters a sexy man she can’t shake.

Tall, dark and charming, Mark Dering is happy to show the gorgeous Yankee his hometown. He’s captivated by the quick witted, quick tempered redhead. But when they’re shot at, he realizes she’s far more than just another tourist. Soon they’re deep into a mystery that goes way back to the Civil War. For once Annabelle is in over her head. Desperate to find Vanessa, she reluctantly accepts Mark’s help and it isn’t long before romance blooms.

The stakes grow higher when a body is discovered. Someone is willing to kill to keep a century old Confederate secret hidden. With her best friend missing and a killer on the loose, it’s the worst possible moment for Mark to try and unlock Annabelle’s heart. Or is love exactly what her life’s been missing?

Christi: Years ago my husband and I spent two days in Charleston, just long enough to tour a plantation and the historic district.  I walked past an old graveyard, shaded by enormous magnolia trees, tripped over a cobblestone and realized it would be a terrific place to set a story.  At the time I was on a romantic suspense kick, so I decided to write one (as with most things, the idea was far simpler than the actualization).  Given the rich history of the area, I knew it had to tie in to the Civil War in some fashion.   Ever since then, every time I go someplace on vacation, I’m struck by inspiration for a new book.  I think soaking up the different atmosphere just kicks my brain into overdrive.

M-C:  What series of words would best characterize your writing style or tone?

Christi: Smart & witty banter, passionate, descriptive (see question below regarding setting), dialogue driven

M-C:  How does “passionate” translate in your story?

Christi: Physical passion, although necessary and fun (and included, I promise), isn’t enough to fill a 300 page book.  The characters have to be passionate about something, in order to make them interesting enough for the reader to care about.  Career, family, hobby – their passion has to leap off the page, and thus their passion for each other is easier to ignite.

M-C:  Do you have any idea why you write with such passion?

Christi:  I discovered my writing style with this book – by the end of it.  My humor really takes off in my next book!  I like to talk a lot, and so do my characters.  I like smart, funny people, and so I fill my books with them.

M-C:  Is your setting important in CAROLINE HEAT?

Christi: Setting is of paramount import in Carolina Heat.  Due to a long-buried Civil War secret that drives the murder, Charleston and Richmond figure heavily in the plot.  I truly don’t think it could take place anywhere.  My goal is to transport the reader, so that when they finish my book, they feel like they’ve actually visited the setting, and can easily picture it.

M-C:  How do you balance the romance with other elements of the story?

Christi: Every story has to have more to it than just a romance.  Outside plots elements have to bombard the main characters, or else they’d fall in love and the book would be about twenty pages long.  It is a symbiotic bond:  the plot has to drive the relationship, and the relationship has to drive the plot.  In the case of Carolina Heat, my heroine is searching for her missing best friend, and trying to outwit a murderer.  In the middle of it she falls in love – against her better judgement – and has to balance this discovery against the urgency of her investigation.

M-C:  How important is a happy-ever-after in your writing?

Christi:  A happy ending is non-negotiable in my world.  I won’t even go see a sad movie.  Real life is hard enough.  People read to escape and be entertained, so it is my job to leave them with a smile on their face.

M-C:  What is the major conflict in CAROLINA HEAT?

Christi: Well written romances can make you suspend your disbelief on several levels.  However, there are some stories I’ve read where I just shake my head and wonder how I’m supposed to believe two people fall madly in love at first sight – or over a weekend.  So I decided to tackle my pet peeve, forcing my characters to not only fall head over heels in less than a week, but have to tackle a major life change in order to be with each other long term.  Relationship conflict:  my workaholic heroine can’t wrap her head around falling in love in the middle of a murder investigation – and can’t believe it happened in just a few days.  My hero’s job is to convince her love is worth taking a leap.  Plot conflict:  two people are missing, and before too long the hero and heroine are dodging bullets.  Can they figure out what happened before someone else dies?

M-C:  Can you share with us your writing schedule?

Christi: After years as an actress, my creative juices kick into high gear after 6 pm.  I do my plotting during the day – well, whenever the ideas strike, which is often either when I’m at the gym or the symphony, oddly enough.  But the bulk of my writing takes place between sunset and midnight. 

M-C:  Do you have any more projects in the work?

Christi: Always!  I finished my second book in July, a funny romance set behind-the-scenes of a Minneapolis dinner theatre.  I just need someone to offer me a contract on it…..  Right now I’m working on my third book which takes place on a cruise ship.

M-C:  If readers want to know more about you and your writing, where on the web can they find you?

Christi: Please go to my website www.christibarth.com There you can find links to purchase Carolina Heat in print (on Amazon) and in ebook format (available at Eternal Press, Coffeetime Romance, Mobipocket, and soon to be on Fictionwise and Barnes & Noble).  I also have a list of upcoming interviews, and a link to my blog http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com .  We’ve got a group of six romance writers in various stages of the road to publication blogging about their journey.  Funny and honest, it is definitely worth a look! 

To thank all of you for participating today, I’d like to offer a free copy of my book to one lucky person.  I spent about ten years performing in musical theatre and opera. 

First person who can name a musical they’ve seen which I’ve been in wins my book.  (I’ve been in a ton, including all the classics, so it shouldn’t take too long to hit a winner.  One big hint – I am a soprano – which disqualifies a whole host of shows, like Cabaret, Cinderella, and Cats).  Outside my window (in Baltimore), it is grey and wet and cold – and I bet many of you can say the same thing.  Escape the December doldrums and treat yourself to some Carolina Heat!

Thank you so much for answering my questions so bravely today Christi!

This is the month of Soprano with Emily Bryan. Wow, so many talent!

So please everyone, name a musical you’ve seen (or you wished to see) to win your own copy of CAROLINA HEAT!

Yuletide Yarn Spinning

Song of the Day: Get In Get Out by Cinder Road

It’s that time of year again. Shoving, pushing, elbow-jabbing, and pile-driving are on the rise. Traffic laws are ignored and finger-flipping abound. Toe-tapping, sarcastic mumbling and eye-rolling are prominent in the long lines at post offices. The stores are out of the hottest toys of the season. Why, oh why, can’t I find that (beeeeep) $7 hamster-on-wheels for my kid?

There is the shopping, the gift wrapping, the greeting cards, the decorating, the baking, the parties, and don’t forget the cleaning the house before guests arrive. All this added to regular responsibilities at home and at work. What’s a girl/boy/author to do?

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right?  Ha! More like ‘tis the season the pharmacy runs low on Prozac and liquor sales are high.

With so much to do, when can anyone possibly find the time to write?

There are all sorts of blogs, magazine articles, and TV segments that offer tips on how to take the stress out of the holidays. And there is no shortage of holiday tips geared for authors, too. Yet for many, there is simply no room for writing.

I admit, with as much as I have to do this time of year, the holiday magic I am to whip up with all the trimmings and trappings (see above list), I’m not as a prolific writer as I’d like to be.  In the past, I’ve used this as an excuse, a free Get out of Jail card, to not write. In the end, though, I feel pretty crappy. I’ve let an entire month slip past me. An entire month I could have written a chapter or two.

So, folks, here’s my holiday tip.

Following the advice of the great Stephen King, write for half an hour every day.

Gee, Jenn. Is that all?

Yup. That’s it.

Thirty minutes doesn’t seem like much time, I know. Think about it this way. Once you prep yourself for an allotted time to do work in and your mind is in the right frame, you can be surprisingly productive.

 I’m a pantster, which means I spend an equal amount of time staring out the window waiting for inspiration to strike as I do actually typing real words for a real story. I can easily waste thirty minutes watching the leaves bud, bloom, grow, die, and then fall off the tree outside. But knowing I only have half an hour motivates me to get something, anything, done. Trust me when I say, it works. These little spurts of artistic energy add up. Soon, that chapter or two is written.

Get up a little earlier. Stay up a little later. Skip watching Oprah, CSI or that cute newscaster with the sparkling eyes and white teeth. Sit at the PC while the cookies bake. Take a notebook to the post office; after all, you will be there a while. However or wherever, find thirty minutes to write.

But what if the holiday frenzy is just too much for a fried brain to crank out anything worth the paper it’s printed on?

Carve out a smidgen of time to do something else writer related. It could be outlining, editing a chapter, critiquing, reworking a problem area, you name it. Whatever it is that propels you in forward motion as an author. It’s much better than waking up January 1st with a hangover and nauseating writer remorse.

Hey, you could be writing right now instead of reading this blog!

Got a holiday tip to keep us writing? Please share, then get to work. Your thirty minutes starts NOW!

10 Things to Do When The Going Gets Tough by Nicole North

By Marie-Claude Bourque

Hi everyone,

WE HAVE A WINNER!!! CONGRATULATION ANGELIA ALMOS

I am thrilled to welcome erotic romance author Nicole North to Musetracks today. I have taken workshops with her and I have to say that she is the one who thought me how to write love scenes. I am forever endebted to her wonderful advice.

So don’t forget to comment for a chance to take one of her workshops for free. They are fantastic. In fact. I’m seriously thinking of joining her January one!

10 Things to Do When The Going Gets Tough

 By Nicole North 

The publishing business is tough and not for the easily discouraged. A small percentage of romance writers get published with a big house within the first year or two after they begin writing. But a much larger percentage must persevere for years before scoring a contract. If you happen to land in the second group, what can you do to keep yourself motivated and increase your chances of selling?

1. Pay attention to the rejection letters you’re receiving. If the editor or agent tells you why the manuscript didn’t work for them, this can be useful. Especially if two or more tell you the same thing. It’s a given that different people will have different tastes, but sometimes there is a problem with the writing or the story that multiple people notice. Fix the problem and/ or don’t repeat the problem with the next story. 

2. Keep on writing. You can’t quit after one completed manuscript is rejected two dozen times. Write another story. Writing skills improve with practice. 

3. Keep improving your craft. The (unpublished) writer who thinks his/her writing is perfect is probably being a bit closed-minded. Stay open-minded and realize as long as you’re willing to keep learning, you will keep improving. Take writing classes. Read books on the writing craft. Analyze your favorite published books and figure out why they work. Figure out your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. 

4. Develop a high-concept. Some (great) stories are a hard sell simply because they’re difficult to explain or pin down. Or maybe the story is actually exciting, but when described in a blurb or synopsis it sounds boring or familiar. Give your story ideas that instantly recognizable WOW factor. 

5. Believe in yourself and your own abilities strongly. Believe if you’re not good enough yet, you soon will be. There is work involved, a lot of work. Writing is not an easy job. One of the hardest things is looking at your own work objectively, but if you can figure out how to do it, this can be a huge help. 

6. Inspire yourself. Early in your writing career, you’ll probably have blinding flashes of inspiration which put you “in flow” and make you write for hours. And you dare anyone to interrupt you. Fabulous! But after a while this may dwindle. (I know, you don’t want to hear that.) If it does, don’t wait for inspiration. Create it. Listen to music. Brainstorm. Look at pictures of landscapes or hunks, whatever it takes to spark story ideas. You can also develop rituals or habits that signal to your creative side, it is now writing time. This is what separates the hobby writer from the career writer. Writing isn’t always fun; sometimes it’s work. But if it becomes a major chore, you need to rediscover the joy and satisfaction in it that you once had. 

7. Savor the small victories. If you get a request or final in a contest, celebrate that accomplishment. It took a lot of skill and talent to get that recognition. Go out to dinner or give yourself a gift. 

8. Experiment. Try writing different types of fiction or different types of romance. You never know what you’re going to be exceptional at until you try it. Early in your career is the perfect time to do this because once you’re published you want to already be on the right road, writing what you love and what you’re best at. 

9. Use your strengths to best advantage. Think about what others who have read your work have complimented. Which elements earn you high scores in contests? Since most of the feedback I received from others who read my work indicated sexual tension and love scenes were my strengths, I decided to give erotic romance a try. And I’m glad I did since this is where I’m published, with Red Sage. 

10. For most people, rejections will come. Sometimes they will come in droves. You’ll get polite rejections, rude rejections, and rejections that make no sense. But to use a golf cliché, that’s just par for the course. I’m not saying you should expect rejections, but if they do arrive don’t let that defeat you. Realize there is always somewhere else to send that manuscript. And there are lots more stories inside you waiting to break out. Let them. Don’t limit yourself to one or two stories that you keep rewriting over and over. Finish one story, then finish another, and so on. Keep several submissions out at the same time, maybe not of the same story, but different stories. 

I’ll be teaching my online workshop, Take Your Writing to the Next Level, in January. In it we look at your individual strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to do with each. We also look at various other elements you may need to focus on in order to improve your writing.

What about you? Do you have thoughts, advice or questions about what to do when the going gets tough in the publishing industry? I’ll be giving away one free spot to my workshop, Take Your Writing to the Next Level, to one commenter. Leave a comment along with your email address to enter (so I can contact you.) To learn more about this workshop, please visit www.nicolenorth.com and click on “workshops” on the menu. Thanks!

Nicole North’s erotic romance novellas have been described by reviewers as “exciting, high octane, captivating, scintillating, sinfully delicious and pure romance.” Her stories contain “heart and heat, killer love scenes, magic and extraordinary characters.” Her latest release from Red Sage, Kilted Lover, is contemporary erotic romance novella with a touch of paranormal. Her first story, Devil in a Kilt is in the anthology Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures, out now from Red Sage. The second novella in the series, Beast in a Kilt, will be in Secrets Volume 29. Her works have finaled in over a dozen writing competitions and won several awards. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and three chapters. She teaches online workshops about various aspects of writing, including sexual tension and how to write great love scenes. Though she has a degree in psychology, writing romance is her first love. She and her husband live in the Southeastern US, but she wishes she lived in the Scottish Highlands at least half the year. 

Kilted Lover Chapter One Excerpt: http://mysite.verizon.net/restljm7/nicolenorth2/id18.html

Kilted Lover Book Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Lz5dNoI0g

 

Kilted Lover Buy Link: http://eredsage.com/product.php?productid=149

 

Website: www.nicolenorth.com

Thank you so much for your great advice Nicole and for visiting us today!

Happy Holidays and everyone don’t forget to give us your thought/experiences on when the going get though! 

The Written Word — Mining for Ideas

 

 

“It seems to me that those songs that have been any good, I have nothing much to do with the writing of them. The words have just crawled down my sleeve and come out on the page.” -Joan Baez

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Most writers, no doubt, understand what Ms. Baez means when she describes words that so naturally crawl out onto the page. But seriously, these words don’t just appear from thin air. Neither for a songwriter nor any other kind of writer. It comes from an inspired — idea. The source of which might be anchored in our life’s experiences, our dreams, headline news, or from inspiration discovered in the folds of a novel.  

Life’s experiences are an excellent source of ideas, but how many of us are at once a doctor, lawyer, or scientist? How many have walked on the moon, flown fighters in combat, thrashed about in a hurricane, or explored an ocean floor for ancient treasure? How many have personally witnessed epic events in humanity’s past that have forever changed the course of history? Ooh… then there are those experiences of oppression, torture, and murder… Few of us will draw ideas from real-life experiences such as those. Least, I hope not.

But we HAVE experienced these things, haven’t we…? Vicariously, from a safe distance, by way of literature, theater, television, blissful dreams, or horrid nightmares? So experiences aren’t limited to REAL life for writers who are naturally blessed with hyperactive imaginations. Hmm, mining for story ideas is just another in a list of great reasons to sustain the discipline (or is it a voracious appetite) for reading … don’t you think?

With Joan Baez, I’m sure the words flow naturally for all the reasons above. She’s a woman who’s passionate about the environment, human rights, and nonviolence (both domestic and civic). She reads, she researches, she lives, she dreams. And from all these things she creates lyrical stories that seem for her, so naturally spun. So as aspiring writers, we have to appreciate that some preparation is needed on our part before we also experience the same kind of free-flowing creativity that Joan describes… 

For an aspiring writer, compelling stories should begin with a compelling idea, but where do we mine these things? 

• Sharpen Your Awareness

Ideas may come from any of the sources described above. You might find inspiration in life changing events – yours and others. Scour the world around you for headlines that evoke passion, fear, adoration, or loathing. And don’t discount your dreams (waking or sleeping). But even great ideas for a novel are often fleeting so, as a new writer, start now. Get organized!

• Write It Down

Most ideas happen spontaneously. Jot them down whenever and wherever you are. Write them immediately, not later. Keep a writing journal or a notepad handy for this purpose. If necessary use a cocktail napkin, a receipt, the palm of your hand … anything.

•  Flesh out the details

As soon as possible, gather as many details as you can. How did the idea come to spark your imagination? What was the setting? The scene? Describe how the inspirational event came about, when, and why? Convert all these thoughts into words. Note the specifics – Day, night, city street, or desolate wilderness…

• Develop the idea

Now’s the time to morph the idea into a story. Exercise your imagination. Ideas don’t often develop themselves, and as a new writer, you shouldn’t expect this seemingly simple phase of your story to happen quickly. It has to evolve. An idea has to be explored, researched, and nurtured to full potential.

Begin by expanding on it. Write your own personal perceptions of the people and place that inspired it – what makes the event unique. Envision primary characters that might fit the story idea. This is important. Whether your story is character driven or plot driven, you’ll want to have a good visual of your major players — distinctive features, flaws, or attributes. What are these characters fighting for, what stands in their way, what would you imagine is their ultimate goal, and the final resolution? Project yourself into the story. How does it affect you? You have your own capacity to feel, to experience, and to sense the emotion. It’s what makes your voice and style different from every other author. 

• Research the idea

You’ve probably heard the adage – Write What You Know. Good advice, but how many interpret this in the wrong way? No… It doesn’t mean you should only write about the things you’ve experienced. It means you should write about things that intrigue – ideas that compel you to get into the books or scour the internet. If you do the research, then you ARE writing about “What You Know.” And during your research, don’t forget to jot down new emerging ideas (no matter how minor). These ideas woven into the plot might readily become a chapter, a scene or an interesting plot twist.

One point about research – readers demand accuracy, even in fiction. As many elements of realism as you can find in your research will help anchor your reader and insure that they are pulled deeper into your imaginary world. If you want a good head start as a new writer, you shouldn’t hesitate to write in the genre that you most enjoy reading. 

• Condense the idea into a Theme 

Form the evolving idea developed above, write its theme – one line describing the underlying meaning of the story. When you’ve found it, write it on a paste-it note and stick it to the computer.

Example: The innocence of youth rarely surrenders to reason.

• Now Expand the idea into a short summary

Turn the idea of your story into an imaginative vision of what it might become. It might look like the short narrative on the rear cover of a book, or the blurb describing an upcoming blockbuster movie. Use your own voice and style, present the characters, and briefly tell their story.  If you can, try to blend all the elements of story building you’ve brainstormed above (Character, Goal, Motivation, Conflict, Journey, Climax, and Resolution).

Example (is there something familiar here):  

With the economy in the dumps, mortgages in default, and jobs moving overseas, Jack and Diane realize this is their last hope to stay together. Fame and fortune for this – the first couple to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon – is their only chance to avoid separate transfers to opposite ends of the continent. 

No time for regrets now…  A dizzying exhilaration stirs their stomachs with the accelerated rise of the ship as they release the tethers holding the helium-filled saucer to the earth. Layered with  pliable solar cells, the skin of the high-tech craft shimmers in the fading light before it vanishes into a thick layer of clouds. Though the untested craft they’ve commandeered might be considered stolen property, that’s not exactly the problem. The problem is that Jack and Diane are only ten, and the raging tropical storm approaching Corpus Christi is driving them further out to sea.

But with Jack’s arm secure around her shoulder, Diane isn’t afraid. The boy, a child prodigy and son of a brilliant engineer, has played all the flight telemetry simulations on his father’s computers and has never once been defeated by wind, weather, or treacherous mountain ranges.

And of course, there’s Jack’s first crush, the girl next door. Diane, the gifted gymnast and her impressive logistic internet connections around the world with hundreds of athletes their age. A tightly spun international web of secrecy they’ll rely on as their global support team.

Together they’ll cross continents and oceans, outmaneuver storms, navigate through dangerous mountain passes, and sail upon a hundred mile-an-hour wind, then hover over villages and fields to collect baskets of food. They’ll hide among the clouds and trick military radar in a global trek across borders that will confound presidents and dictators who thrive on suspicion and fear. But, for seven days, a world will unite, holding its breath for the safe return of a missing ship filled with the hopes and dreams of innocence.   

• Save your work

Save your work in a folder on your computer and/or in a desk drawer. You might have gathered several ideas before beginning work on your first manuscript, but it doesn’t mean you’re done with the hunt for compelling ideas. Keep an eye on the market place — what’s hot and what’s not. Stay vigilant. Always look for new ideas. If you don’t write the story you’ve stumbled across, then eventually … someone else will.

 

6 Reasons Why an Editor Stops Reading by Emily Bryan

by Marie-Claude Bourque

WE HAVE A WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS KIM SMITH!

I am delighted to welcome historical author Emily Bryan with a fabulous and helpful post on how to hook your reader (read agent, editor) from the get-go. I discovered Emily by reading her Distracting the Duchess, a really light and sexy Regency and I have been addicted to her writing since then. I WANT (NEED) a copy of A CHRISMAS BALL.

So please comment for your chance to win, and if not, like myself, you can buy your own autographed copy 10% off at The Book Oasis.

Emily Bryan short bio:

Almost everything Emily knows about storytelling, she learned from singing. A classically trained soprano, she describes her light-hearted historicals as “Gilbert & Sullivan . . . with sex!” Emily and her DH have lived in 9 different states, 4 time zones, but they now call New England home.

6 Reasons Why an Editor Stops Reading

Last summer, I moderated an editor panel at RWA Nationals. I was assigned to read the start of several dozen participants’ submission, stopping when the editors signaled me. Very few made it to the second page. Then the editors explained why they stopped me and remarkably enough, many of the same mistakes kept cropping up in the manuscripts. I’d like to share some of those red flags with you now.

1. Lackluster first sentence—The beginning of your novel should grab your reader and not let go. In one dynamic sentence you must set the tone of the work, raise a question and drop your readers headfirst into your story. A tall order, but an essential one. (BTW, if you start with the weather, you’d better be writing about a meteorologist!)
2. Backstory dump—As writers, we know so many cool things about our characters, it’s tempting to spill it all. There is a place for backstory but it’s not at the beginning. DO NOT GIVE US A FLASHBACK IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH. It pulls the reader out of the story before they’ve even gotten into it. Weave in only what’s essential for the reader to continue.
3. No hooks—What a minute, I hear you saying. If they’re only reading the first few paragraphs, how can the editor get to the fabulous hook I’ve set on the last page? My point, exactly. Hook them with your title. Your first line. Set tantalizing tidbits that raise questions within your prose. It’ll drag the reader forward and MAKE her turn the page.
4. Gratuitous head hopping—Don’t give the editor whiplash. Pick a POV character and stick with them for at least the duration of the first scene.
5. Clichés—No heroine sitting before a mirror, describing herself to herself. No dark and stormy night. No nubs of any kind on a human body. Keep it real. Keep it fresh.  
6. Targeting the wrong editor—Study the market. Or better yet, make sure you have an agent who does. Nothing makes a worse impression than sending your zombie ménage to an editor who does mostly Amish romance (or vice-versa!) Editors have mountains of work and limited time. Don’t waste any of it if you don’t want to be remembered. And not in a good way.

 

Thanks so much for having me today, Marie-Claude. I hope this helps your readers. If it does, I’d like to invite you all over to my website emilybryan.com to check out my WRITE STUFF pages designed specifically for aspiring writers. While you’re there, please sign up for my newsletter, so you’ll never miss a moment! I’ll also be happy to take questions here today and make up an answer if I don’t know the right one, so please leave a comment or question!

Oh, and here’s my current release! A CHRISTMAS BALL, a holiday anthology with novellas from USA Today Bestseller Jennifer Ashley, Alissa Johnson and me. All of our characters are attending Lord Hartwell’s splendid Christmas Ball (even if several of mine don’t really have invitations!)  Library Journal calls my story “Worthy of Shakespeare!” but what do they know? I’ll give a signed copy to someone who leaves a comment or question today (I’m not above bribery!)

 

So, let’s get the discussion going. When you look at your current WIP, do you recognize any of the red flags?

 

Writer Inspiration: Margaret Mallory

by Marie-Claude Bourque

Today, I am please to welcome historical author Margaret Mallory who is represented by Kevan Lyon and who also happen to be in my RWA chapter (Go GSRWA!).  Here’s to you Margaret

Thanks so much for inviting me! 

Q: As a newly published author, do you have advice regarding how an unpublished author should choose an agent? 

People will give you all kinds of advice on how to choose an agent, but the truth is that for most unpublished authors, the agent chooses you. An agent is your ticket to the prom. To sell your book to a New York publisher, you almost have to have one. But they are hard to get, and most of us are lucky to have one offer of representation before being published. 

It is not all bad, however, that your first agent will probably choose you and not the other way around. Agents are bombarded with requests for representation. When an agent picks your manuscript from the vast sea of manuscripts around her, it’s because she loves it. To sell a first book, you’ll need to have someone with that enthusiasm in your corner.

 As a hungry, un-published author, I would have accepted any agent who met my minimal criteria. My agent simply had to A) be alive and B) not have a bad reputation. It was just good luck that a wonderful agent, Kevan Lyon, loved my first book and offered to represent me.

I don’t mean to say I didn’t check Kevan out, because I did. First of all, I only queried agents who were on the RWA-approved list and who did not have cautions about them on the Predators & Editors site,  http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm. After I heard from Kevan, I dutifully checked her author references. It was a bonus—and a great relief—that Kevan’s authors gave her rave reviews. My requirements, as I say, were minimal. 

Not every new author is as lucky with their first agent. That’s why authors have second and third agents. My view is that you shouldn’t query any agent that does not meet your minimal requirements. If you have two or more agents vying to represent you, by all means find out everything you can to help you choose. But it’s more likely you’ll have only one offer. 

Q:  Why do you think you sold when many talented authors do not? 

Writing fiction is a second career for me. When I quit my job to write, I did it with the goal of getting published. The only way I could justify giving up half the family income was to pursue this new vocation flat-out. I worked hard. I was in a hurry.

Here are the things I did that I think made a big difference in helping me become a published author:

1. I treated writing as a job and pursued it with the intention of getting published.

2. After reading Stephen King’s book On Writing, I set daily, weekly and monthly writing goals. I am a slow writer. I struggle. To meet my goals, I had to put in the hours and let other things go.

3. I accepted that I had a lot to learn and set out to learn my craft. I read books on writing, joined writers groups, attended conferences and workshops, and read lots of fiction.  

4. When I didn’t have a critique group to join, I started one with members of my local RWA chapter. Participating in a critique group was enormously helpful in improving my skills, toughening my skin, and discovering my strengths and weaknesses as a writer. 

5. I entered contests for the critiques. My critique group was great, but feedback from experienced writers who don’t know you can help you improve those critical first chapters, in particular.

6. I forced myself to submit to agents and editors and face rejection. Everything about this phase is just plain hard. I thrived on stories of famous authors who were rejected countless times. It is absolutely true that great books get turned down every day. But it is also true that many of those rejected books eventually do get published! Your book will never have a chance unless you put it out there. 

Regarding 4 & 5, above, I offer two cautions. Don’t put too much stock in one person’s comments, especially if they don’t ring true. If, however, six judges in two contests all say you are starting your story in the wrong place, you ought to pay attention.

My other caution is that critique partners and judges generally are better at identifying problems than at resolving them. Other people can tell you when your hero’s motivation isn’t clear, your plot is confusing, or your heroine is not sympathetic. You are generally better off, however, coming up with your own fix to the problem. After all, it’s your story.

I’d love to hear your comments or questions! I’m offering an autographed copy of either Knight of Desire or Knight of Pleasure (winner’s choice) to one of the people who submit a comment.

 Thank you so much for your great advice. I too like to be reminded that writing and the quest to publication is hard work. It’s fun but it is work. When I fell unmotivated, I re-read On writing by Stephen King. Great choice

So please leave us a comment for your chance to win a copy of Margaret and I’m curious, as we approach the holiday, what is your favorite trick to stay motivated? In my case, I am a member of the GIAM group  and just signed up for Cherry Adair “Write the Damn Book Challenge” that she opens to the ECWC conference goers every year. I just got her first kick in the back side email, I’m scared LOL.

So please, give me some motivation!