A teaser for the next book–just for you

I’ve been reading Elizabeth Sim’s new book You’ve Got a Book In You, and just read the chapter on character names. By the by, if you’ve written a book, thought about it, started one, or simply aspired to see your name on a cover, this is a terrific, common-sense, and freeing book to guide you.

Anyway, I just finished a new romance as a sort of, palate cleanser between books 2 and 3 of the Damaged Series. It’s a gentle, journey with two adult women finding and learning each other. And what I’d like to share is some of the early research.

The inspiration for the story is based on a real life incident, then I made-stuff-up. My stories are usually character based so, although I had a beginning I needed to know my characters. Names are critical to me because they define so much of my characters. Once I had Silke Dyson and Kirin Foster, I made up birthdays and then researched their horoscopes–individual and as a couple. Strengths and weaknesses were as important as their likes and dislikes.

Once I had basic tendencies, I created their histories. Here’s what it looked like initially:

2/28   A plane flight through a Class 2 hurricane.  A burned out cranky writer and a legally blind sculptor both craving solitude and a restorative vacation.  A beach in Belize.

Characters:

Kirin Foster- freelance writer

1969 B graduated hs 1987, graduated UW Milwaukee1992, Masters in journalism from the University of Wisconsin 1995.  Waitressed for 18 months in Madison.  Milwaukee ad agency 1997-2005 ,

42 years old, freelance travel writer, 5 foot four, dark brown curly hair, Tattoo right hip. Met GF—Melissa– in a bar, went home together, Melissa moved in. Broke up with her afterof 3yrs –better friends than lovers. Still friends.

>>Birth date: 6/21/1969 astrological sign: Sun cancer,  Ascendant virgo, Moon virgo

Internally, you are somewhat timid, reserved, and mistrustful. In fact, at times you may become overly cautious. However, you are naturally receptive and instinctive. Your individuality is fanciful and imaginative. You are very influenced by physical surroundings. Externally you are not much different, except that others view you as a person who is exacting about detail. You criticize a great deal, and it is almost an art for you. However, there is no malicious motivation; rather, you want to show your abilities as an analyzer of mankind. You are quite easy-going, but perhaps somewhat irresolute. You are basically humanistic and do not like violence.

Psychologically you are rather serious in connection with sexual affairs. You approach sex with caution, rationality and planning. Excess reason and thought in this direction may create some frustration in sexual matters.

Your liabilities include an exaggerated pride, arrogance and a tendency to rely too much on your own resources.

faults: type A control freak, caffeine addict, perfectionist

strengths: Thorough, loyal, dependable, passionate, fierce, decisive

Born and raised in Oconomowoc Wisconsin.

and the other protagonist…

Silke Dyson –Sculptor

Born 1964 , graduated hs 1982, graduated Marquette 1987, Master’s from the University of Wisconsin 1989.Art  History. Taught art UW 1990-2000. Private studio classes 2002-2011.

Married fellow teacher for 2 yrs in 1990-divorced.  Met gf in 2006 at UW seminar.  Rachel is sales manager for local software training center. Travels frequently and cheats, is verbally abusive.

>>Birth date:     1/26/1964   astrological sign:Sun Aquarius. Ascendant -, Moon -Cancer

Impulsive, critical, despising mean or dubious acts, you will create many excellent friendships but also important enemies. Your life is rich in passion and ardent love. In sexual matters you are quick, aggressive, and to the point. You also are a lover of pleasures, which you feel with a bright, open, and sparkling character.

You are generous, kind, sympathetic, benevolent, and the delight of anyone seeking a contribution in a fund-raising campaign, since you are a soft touch. You are too open with private or classified information. Try to be more conservative and serious.

Venus in the Twelfth House

Venus was in the twelfth house at the time of birth.

The conjunction of Sun and Venus in the composite chart is one of the strongest indications of a love relationship between two people, even in a friendship. It does not primarily indicate a sexual relationship; instead it signifies love, pure and simple. The attraction indicated by this aspect is so powerful that it can bring together people who are incompatible by ordinary criteria.

Only those very close to you have a hint of the little known facets of your personality. Regardless of the way you speak and express yourself, when you are alone, relaxed, and free of worry, you can have a sociable and congenial temperament that runs alongside a generous, kind, and attractive character.

This astrological combination may lead you into clandestine love affairs. Unless you use a great amount of tact and diplomacy, these secret affairs may create social complications that force premature termination.

It denotes a relationship between two people who really enjoy being together and who make each other feel good. You will share a great love of pleasure and doing things together.

faults: stoic, timid, disorganized, slow to react

strengths: gentle, creative, spiritual, sensual, beautiful, generous

Born and raised in Elm Grove, Wisconsin.

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

This is not always the way I create characters, but it worked especially well with these two.   After I got to know them, their family and friends evolved very quickly.

Here’s the best part, Tree House Studio captured the mood for “Balefire” in this exquisite cover. 

ps the book is still being proofed for editing. No Release Date yet. But, I think you’re going to love these women as much as I do.

Guest Review: Is Your Brand Interfering with Your Writing?

Jeffe Kennedy (Lovely LERA lady in large hat) is one of my LERA sisters, an excellent writer, and a pretty savvy  business woman.

She’s also a way better blogger!

Her recent post gut-punched me, necessitating a re-read. The denouement revealed part of a stealth software  program that has– surprisingly– been running in the background of my Curious-Mind. When  I digested the gist of her idea, I understood a nebulous quandary that’s been an irritating itch for me.

Horns of a dilemma, one might say.

Please take a few minutes to check the excerpt and then go read the whole piece. I’d really be interested in any thoughts you have about this subject or if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon.

Without further ado, Ms Kennedy…

“…At any rate, I can see what she’s going for – a very clear style – even if it doesn’t do much for me. I do wonder, however, if she’s sacrificing a heartfelt artistic effort for the sake of this style. This brand.

We writers hear about brand all the time these days. We’re in a peculiar position in that we, ourselves, are our brand. Just as we glommed onto authors, reading everything from an author on the library shelf, readers follow US, not necessarily our publishers or our genres. What we write arises out of us, but we our the physical embodiment of it because, even with print books, story remains intangible. It can be kind of a funky thing – especially when being sane about the business requires separating ourselves from our work.

I’m very careful to say “this work was rejected” or “this book got a good review,” not “I was rejected” or “I got a good review.”

But, for the purposes of branding, well meaning and helpful marketing types are forever reminding me that *I* am my brand. My brand is me. I’m pretty much just a walking, talking advertisement for All Things Jeffe. I’m picturing something like that old movie poster for the Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

See how creepy this gets?

It struck me the other day, because I saw a youngish writer tweeting about writing tips. She said something along the lines of that, when she gets stuck writing, she thinks of her brand and what her readers would expect from her. I can see how this is smart marketing, but it bothered me. It took me a few days to pin down why.

This is the tail wagging the dog, right?…”  continued at: 
http://www.jeffekennedy.com/is-your-brand-interfering-with-your-writing/

Next time…The Contest/Giveaway Returns …with PRIZES!!

Contest for give-aways!

I’m still a little flush with the excitement of finishing the first draft of “Balefire” and sending back the signed contract for it. This story derived as they often do from the ‘shotgun’. I entered Nanowrimo last year for the eighth year and won, as I have every year except 2005…when I did the whole thing with pen and paper. For Balefire, I wrote the first 50k  then continued the next 50k for five more months. It still needs beta reading and revising, but I really like it. As soon as I clean it up, I’ll post an excerpt about these endearing characters. ( I hope you’ll agree.)

It will only be a slight commercial interruption before I plunge head-long into the amped-up book 3 of the Damaged series, tentatively titled “Deliberate Choices”. In this one, Zeke will have her hands full, her weapon loaded, and a Kevlar vest handy. Lots of pots will be boiling and Anne’s frustration will be one of them. Stay tuned.

Back to the current topic. I want to share the love with some prizes. So, I’m planning a little contest where the winners will receive a copy of their favorite book. In order to make it fun and challenging, there’s a pre-contest.

For the top three people who submit an interesting “question” I can use for the contest, I        will send a signed copy of my table card used for my booksigning. (which is an 11×17 poster). The questions should relate to the series or to my writing.

The winners question will be chosen on the basis of cleverness, interest, and difficulty.

When I’ve got three good ones, I’ll post Phase II of Project Give-away. Need I say, if your question is chosen…you can’t submit the answer in the next phase.

Come on, folks help me get this Give-away moving!

Meantime, I gearing up for the SW Book Fiesta which will open next weekend at the ABQ convention center May 10-12, 2013.

“The Southwest Book Fiesta is all about the past, present and future of books and publishing. We’re bringing together authors, publishers and the public for a family-friendly weekend, focusing on nationally recognized as well as local authors, literacy, learning, and most of all – fun!”

I’m part of a panel discussion with my LERA sisters on Saturday and signing on Sunday.

Happy Mother’s Day to all those brave souls–for every Mother.

Burgers, Bombs, Blogs, and Balefire.

All right I know, 750 words will not break records in the Daily Word Count Books. It’s okay. Everything is OK and this is why: I’m not going to apologize for anything. I have somehow lost my ritual/habit routine for writing… And for many other things, like vacuuming. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. Life is short, every minute precious, and I don’t want to waste it on regret. I looked back over my recent blog entries and realized how erratic I’ve been, so what? No one asked me to publish a blog, let alone update it every week. That was my decision and now things have changed, so I do what I can.

Next tangent. See the picture I posted? That is a green Chile cheeseburger, something that is renowned in New Mexico.  I posted the above picture because  it’s been lurking in the back of my mind for nearly five months. I’ve been on a self-imposed diet with a very limited calorie count. As a general rule, I don’t eat anything that I like very much, which means I avoid: sugar, fat, alcohol, simple carbohydrates, and calorie laden foods which taste good. The only reason I have been successful in this draconian effort, is that it’s working. Were it not, well…

And it’s better not talk about food too much. Trust me.

Another thing, at the beginning of the year I set up a six-month travel schedule primarily for promotion of my second book (Defying Gravity released at the end of March.) Two down and the next will be middle of May. I’m very proud of both second editions and pleased by their success. Maintaining a presence is important in promoting books. (This is not something they tell new authors when we’re hoping for publication.) However, for an introvert who craves quiet it can be challenging. I enjoy every minute until I get home and need to get back to writing and the tank is empty. It’s a double-edged sword on which we all balance. I am only explaining this because I’m walking that tight rope as I try to wrap up the first draft of Balefire. After couple of hours of writing, I begin to flag and become easily distracted. Hence, the blog.

It’s more than that. This week has been difficult for many people on many levels and I can’t legitimately complain, except to say that I am profoundly impacted by tragedy, pain, hatred, and negativity.

I am only buoyed up by the resilience, determination, selflessness, and cooperation of my fellow Americans when tragedy struck this week. The people of Boston and the people of West, Texas put everything aside in order to help one another. I’m only sorry that it takes great tragedy to bring us together. In spite of the recalcitrance of a handful, the citizens of our country understand the basic precepts on which it was established. These United States were designed “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” And in times of trouble, like any family, we pull together.

As I prepare to post this, the intense drama surrounding the bombing in Boston is winding down and the citizens of the commonwealth are putting their lives back together. Like other tragedies of the past, like 9/11, Oklahoma City, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook elementary—we add The Boston marathon and the explosion in West Texas. The families of all affected will remain in my thoughts and remind me of my fortune.

 I believe that spring will come and better days are ahead of us.

Smile with your heart!

Re-entry Blogformation*

R.E. Bradshaw

I’ve returned from my whirlwind trip to Austin for the Lone Star Book Festival. Everything went smoothly and I had a chance to visit with friends old and new. There were 20+ authors from across the country and from several different publishers. It was great to put faces with the names that have become familiar.

I read a brief excerpt from Defying Gravity in the morning and participated on a panel with Mavis Applewater, Carsen Taite, and VK Powell to discuss “Villains”–which out to be a great topic.

A film crew from PBS was there to film for an upcoming documentary on LGBT literature and they were featuring Radclyffe along with some other interviews.

Very quickly it was six o’clock–the vendors closed up and the room was transformed for a lovely BBQ dinner especially for the authors and their guests. After a long day of yakking and schmoozing, that combination of BBQ, potato salad, coleslaw, and “sweet tea” really hit the spot. A big thanks to all who made the event possible.

I left shortly after dinner because my 4:30 am wake-up was drawing closer.

In less than a month, I’ll be revving up for another appearance in Albuquerque at the SW Book Fiesta, May 10-12 at the convention center. LERA, my local RWA chapter will have a booth and I will be signing books as well as appearing on a main-stage panel discussion on romance.

In June, back to Dallas for the Golden Crown Literary Society Annual Convention which promises to be a great meeting. I will be participating on a panel entitled ”the truth in fiction”.

In September I’m collaborating with some other folks for a fun “to be announced” event…

Until next time, enjoy Spring!

* I am a published author and I can make up words now…except for a few my editor deems inappropriate.