from Diablo Canyon

The cover is new. It represents one couple, who continue through the book, first as hero and heroine and then as secondary characters in the next two romances.

 

Diablo Canyon, which began with a dream, became one novella and then three, has been one of my more interesting writing experiences. Its writing brought together fantasy, metaphysics, science, ranch life, and the very human emotion of falling in love. 

When writing a fantasy, the one rule is the book must stay true to the world it created but otherwise-- anything goes. Because in Diablo Canyon, spirit guides and even monsters got their own points of view, it may have led to some reader confusion, which might be more difficult for readers not familiar with paranormal thinking.   The spirit guides take on a point of views in the three stories, as they struggle with fulfilling their goals. They operate (sometimes with frustration) through the small, still voice of wisdom. Only a rare human can directly see or talk to them. 

I believe I have a muse (what I call him) but can't say I've heard him arguing with anybody but me-- and a lot of what I believe to be his inspiration is through dreams, coincidences, or my subconscious (and I can pay attention or not). Having this inner voice doesn't block me from seeing the physical reality around me-- nor does he order me to do things. 

My muse or someone like him has been with me all my life. As a small child, I saw him as a playmate. My talking about what the two of us did and that he had a name worried my parents and eventually I quit seeing him. I don't think he left... although might we have different ones at different points in our lives? Regarding this, I don't know-- except in Diablo Canyon, where it was my choice-- the guide job is a lifetime commitment-- and sometimes a frustrating one.

Diablo Canyon involves the paranormal, ranch life, Montana, some unscrupulous humans, and oh yeah, a different love story for each of the three parts (or novellas depending on how someone bought them)-- the last with a rather unusual heroine.  

This is the only story/stories my partner and I published with an option. (When Fates Conspire, The Dark of the Moon, and Storm in the Canyon are offered as novellas without the spice (sensual but all descriptions stop there). Diablo Canyon, with all three parts, has the kind of heat readers can expect in my books-- ♥♥♥♥). This snippet is from the second part-- The Dark of the Moon.

     “What are you two doing here?” Racine asked-- not that she wasn’t grateful.

     “Curiosity,” Remus responded and then looked toward the horseman who had now stopped and was watching them.

     “Who are you?” Pace asked his gaze moving from one to the other. 

    Racine didn't like that one bit. It was disturbing. He saw them and believed he could talk to them. That was not how it was supposed to be. 

     “The bigger question,” Justus said, “is who are you that you see us?”

     “And can talk to us?” Racine added, trying not to sound annoyed and knowing she probably failed. 

     “Well, you aren’t exactly keeping yourselves secret, now are you?” Pace hooked his knee over the horn of the saddle and lit a cigarette. “What are your names?”

     They told him. “Generally we are unseen,” Remus added with a bemused expression.  “It’s not often we run across a human who is aware of the third dimension.”

     Pace smoked. “I didn’t ask for it.” 

     “Heritage then?”   

     He nodded. “It can be inconvenient.”  

     “Get you institutionalized if you aren’t careful,” Justus agreed with a laugh. 

     “So I’ve been told. You already know who I am. Now I want to know why you are here. Not on Aganes’ side, that much is obvious.”   

     “You know the demon's name?” Justus now sounded more surprised than disturbed.   

     “I’ve met up with him before in my… uh work.” 

     “Cole hired you for the job,” Remus said. “We heard that much. He didn’t know all about you though did he? Not all about you.” 

     Pace shrugged. “He could have. He and I have not actually met. He hired me through the investigative agency where I work. Dirk Langston runs it. The thing is, Cole wouldn’t have hired our agency if he hadn’t wanted something more than the usual.” 

     “Why would Cole want that that?”   

     “At the moment, I can only guess,” he said with a smile.  

     “How much does Myra know?” Racine asked, feeling increasingly troubled by this whole conversation. Humans should only be able to see spirits when they died. Pace seemed very much alive. Was he a warlock or sorcerer. 

     “Neither,” he said, as if he’d heard the question she knew she hadn’t voiced. 

     “Your buddy was right. I inherited it. It came down through the men in my family. When I was small, my father taught me not to fear what I was seeing but then added don’t let others know—at least not until you can trust them.” He drew deeply on the cigarette.

     “So it was a gift,” Remus suggested.

     Pace’s laugh held no humor. “It is what it is-- as I have observed a lot with life. The question I have is what are the two of you doing here? I’ve seen the little beauty there around.” He gestured toward Racine. “You two are new.”

     “How much do you really know of the other side?” Remus asked.

     “No more than I have to..."

 

Kathleen Eagle interview

Seeing a writer as they discuss their work has been one of my secret pleasures. You can learn a lot by these discussions and get more of a feel for who the people are behind the words. I have shared a few links here, and this is another that I found informative by romance author, Kathleen Eagle.

Interview with Kathleen Eagle

Literally I don't remember the first time I read one of her books, but I was very taken with her themes and writing. Listening to this interview is a reminder of why I felt that way. Her stories are set mostly in the west, like Montana or North and South Dakota. She frequently writes about cowboys, and Native Americans-- her accuracy is helped by her long time marriage to a Lakota Sioux. She brings a reality to her romances that have always made them both romantic but with a feel that this could be.

If you are interested in being a writer, not necessarily even of romance, I think you will find this interview worth your half an hour as she discusses from where her ideas come as well as her process. I especially liked the last thing she was asked regarding a motto for writing. (also if you have a slower service, put the link on and then click pause to let it buffer. It makes for a much more harmonious outcome (got that one from my granddaughter on methodology and the term harmonious outcome from the Tom Selleck western film, Crossfire Trail).

She left the discussion with one piece of advice--

Writers Write!

discussing Rose's Gift

Don't do a video to sell something. I am not that convinced they work for that. Do it because you like multiple ways to communicate. Do it because it's fun-- if it's not, don't do it. For me, creating a video is interesting-- even when it does not work so well. Sometimes it just doesn't fly, and I leave it to come back another day. It does require being in the right or should that be 'write' mood. 

For reasons of sound control, I mostly have used the webcam above my computer. I keep thinking I'll do one outside with a camera but so far have not. My preparation is pretty much to look at what is behind me. I prefer it to not be cluttered, pillows where they belong, etc. For this one I already had the maps up for the fifth Arizona historical; so they weren't going down. I don't write a script or create an outline, which means sometimes I blow it. I don't write anything down because I want it to feel like a conversation, not a lecture. Ideally it should feel as if you and I were sitting across a table from each other, and I was telling you about something of interest to me. Of course, you don't get a word in-- until it's over anyway.

I generally have music on for background. I've noticed that with it, the log truck that might pass by, is not noticed. It appears to modulate sound.

For awhile I did more of these, because as much as I love books, I am a visual person who loves talking-- yes, introverts can love talking ;). It though has been quite awhile since I created one (October when I looked).  

The topic for this one is Rose's Gift, my first eBook about a senior citizen-- some say elder... others the elderly. Rose is sixty; so you decide. I liked writing a story about a woman who wasn't young and yet-- she wasn't done either. I could say more here but why not watch the video. 

Incidentally, if you have a slow system, one way to watch these is hit the arrow to start; then put it on pause for a minute or so, while you go off to get a cup of coffee or tea and it buffers. My granddaughter taught me that one.

Getting it off the ground

For those of you who are interested in writing but have had a hard time getting into a project, check this out.

Wednesday writing opportunity 

Basically, Linda Kay, who is a writer, is offering, in her blog, a chance for her readers to write something short linked to a photograph or any image that has tweaked their imagination. The instructions are in the above link. You will write your piece on your own site and link it to hers. 

To me this seems like a nice idea to encourage a writer, who feels blocked. How many times have we looked at an object and thought there is a story behind it. Linda did a good job on making this set up work for readers and writers. Because, right now, I have too much on my own plate, I won't be adding to it, but will go there on Wednesdays. 

I just finished the last edit for Rose's Gift (although my editor might see it otherwise). It will be out probably the first of February. That requires writing blurbs and getting the word out-- although I don't plan on doing any big events. I also have to do the final edit for the first of the Oregon historical series. I will get over to Linda's though on Wednesdays to see what others write. Anything that brings together writers is a plus in my mind.

Over the last week, I've had some dreams that work with Aztec Moon. One gave me more of my hero's back story. I've known the basics of it, but I actually saw some of the scenes that will show up in the book. It was funny how that worked into a dream that had nothing to do with the book and tied to my daily life-- kind of. I tend to dream these stories with my kids being much younger mixed together with people i know today.

Although I had meant to wait on writing this new one, it does seem to be calling me. After I do the edit of the Oregon historical, I could lay down a few thousand words just to get it off the ground. I don't like to do that though unless I have a block of time available to write the entire rough draft. So I am not sure. The muse may not be as patient about this. I never like to say no to the muse ;). He might not be around when I am ready for the writing. Muses can be temperamental-- maybe off to help another writer...

Most writers probably have that small still voice that they can call whatever they want. What does it look like? Well, I think mine might look like this-- although I can't say I have seen him, just felt him ;)

 image from CanStock

My other muse is sitting in his den right now and working on another of his projects. That one I do see and have since 1962-- although he's changed a little during those years, as have I :)

Anyway if you are interested in writing and want to get yourself inspired, check out Linda's blog, at the link on top. It seems like a good way to get your toe in the water and maybe meet other interesting writers. Sometimes a short project, that you can share with others, is a way to build up inspiration-- or get your muse more interested in helping you with something bigger. Small projects sometimes are only the first step to big ones.

Smart Girls Read Romance

Earlier I wrote about joining an author group and my first article there would be the 22nd. Well, tomorrow it goes up and here is the link to the group--  

Smart Girls Read Romance 

The monthly schedule is posted there with a different author every two days. It seems to be pretty loose for what the authors post, which can be from their lives or their work. So if you are interested in writing and what inspires it, this is a good blog to check in on.

What I liked about joining this group is how it promotes not only the idea of reading romances but also helps readers understand what lies behind the words. Romance has been a disrespected genre and yet it sells a lot of books. I think there are reasons. In a positive way, it's not just about boy meets girl; but it has an energy that can positively add to the lives of its readers. Whatever genre a reader prefers, it has energy; and it's wise if the reader understands what that energy will be giving them.

For my first post, I figured I should have it be about myself as although I do know some of these authors, I don't know how many know me. I have written before how difficult writing a profile can be. I played around with writing a couple of versions before I realized there was one I still consider important about me as well as what I write. It surprised me how much was from my growing up years. I say surprised because I don't often look back (which complicates writing profiles). 

Whether we look back, those experiences are there. They are part of the way we think and live. There are some who look at their childhood and make danged sure they don't have any of that in their adulthood-- but isn't that still impacting them? 

For someone like me, who grew up on the edge of wilderness, with lots of time for my imagination to run wild-- as well as myself, I see how much it impacts who I am as well as what I wanted in my life and how I raised my own children.

So return to that link tomorrow, and you will see how I resolved my problem of introducing what was important about me, what influenced the books I write-- and it how it all went to the girl growing up in hills at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. It's changed-- and yet nothing really has :).

I should add that those bummer lambs, which my brother and I were feeding (bummer means they were either rejected or orphaned), often grew up to chase me across the orchard requiring a leap onto a rock wall or climbing a tree to avoid being butted. Letting a sheep (especially a wether (neutered male), become a pet can lead to that sort of behavior-- another life lesson...

One thing leads to another

 maps on wall behind me involve the fourth Oregon historical and its region

The week has involved a lot of hours writing and researching. I decided on a title for the fourth Arizona historical and found an intriguing twist that I hadn't expected (this before actually starting to type). While my main work had been on the novella, its story is set between 'Arizona Dawn' and the next book, these books tie characters strongly together-- even with each book ending without a cliffhanger. The novella begins in the fall of 1900 in Tucson and ends with the new year. The next story will open in the spring of 1901.

The unexpected element, which excited me during the day, led to a scary and even horrifying dream-- one of my movie dreams. These dreams come now and again, rarely are nightmares. I might like to, but I don't control such dreams. They come when they come mixed into prosaic dreams where my main issue is to figure out what swimsuit to buy someone. I don't always remember them. This one I did, and am still trying to decide if it came out of the research or what in in the newspapers about world events.

There are two reasons I don't write horror or frightening books-- my dreams and my unwillingness to immerse myself in the negative side of life for the length of time it takes to write a book. When I am writing a rough draft, that world becomes as real as mine. I think about these characters all the time and am constantly considering what comes next. So I am not about to write stories that are depressing. Yeah, some struggle, some danger, some fighting for a victory can be energizing to me but not dark stories that have no happy outcome. As I've said many times, I can get that by reading the newspapers. I like writing a romance that engages my interest in characters and the story itself. What are these people doing, what comes next, and yeah I want to see the lovers work it out, but it's not just about them for me.

My interest in the prehistoric and Native American peoples of western North America has led to visiting sites, museums, and reading. Years ago, it inspired an idea for a romance with an Anasazi heroine and the hero a trader from one of the Pacific Northwest tribes, Haida would have worked. For those of you who know much about the Pacific Northwest tribes, they were quite interesting, and the ones along the ocean especially in British Columbia were a handsome, rugged people. They killed whales from their canoes, but they also raided and traveled widely. Some of them were traders up and down the Coast. Exploring inland is no stretch considering the goods that were found in Southwest ruins.

 from http://www.mortkunstler.com/images/dayinhistory/pictures/1008.jpg

I never wrote that book because of my difficulty in putting myself into the mind of a woman of another culture. I write mostly heroines who are from my basic culture even if from an earlier time. I do this because I want to get into the head of my heroines. What would an Anasazi woman think about relationships, her own goals, could she choose a husband, or would that endanger her in the tribe? I had no idea because even though a lot has been found about prehistoric cultures, what is known is constantly changing with new discoveries. (If you are interested in such research, give this book a look-- Man Corn Cannibalism and Violence in the Prehistoric American Southwest by Christy G. Turner and Jacqueline A. Turner).

What I will be writing is about an archaeologist who heads up a dig into a ruin in Central Arizona at a time when that was still a very rugged and sometimes violent land. This heroine turned up first in the epilogue to Arizona Dawn. She is also in the soon-to-be published novella, Rose's Gift. Her reason for wanting to do this particular dig ties into that earlier idea I had for a book, through reincarnation dreams-- part of which I can draw from my own experiences.

The fourth historical will be called Aztec Moon. Some might wonder why Aztec; but, as I said above, there was a lot more interaction in the cultures of the Prehistoric Americas than many would expect. It can be discovered through a combination of the artifacts and legends. My intention for its underlying themes will be family, love, revenge, healing, danger, and discovery. 

Back to the dream that worried me for awhile. I had been researching the significance of my title choice when I learned about a myth regarding the Aztec moon goddess and the art left behind to tell [her story]. Gruesome... If you are familiar with Aztec art, you know how often it can be violent-- at least in our eyes.

from http://abraxas-d.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

You can kind of see how that story and image could lead to a dream. I am sticking to the title and will be sure, when writing that book, to read less newspaper stories and watch only sweet movies ;). As much as the story is drawing me to it, I have other responsibilities, which come first-- i.e. editing, editing and more editing.

Oh and we got our first lambs-- twins. They beat Imbolc this year ;)

New Year's Eve

Actually, I like New Year's Eve. This is not because I want to party or even stay up to see the new year come in. I like it because it feels like a new start. That is silly, of course, as a calendar doesn't give us a new start, but I like the feeling that it does. Who knows what 2015 will hold?

Personally, although 2014 was overall a good year for me personally, I am not at all sorry to see it come to an end. An election swung the direction of the country from what it had just voted to do in 2012. As a people, we are more divided than ever-- and I find myself often not agreeing with either political party. But you just have to let such things go. Why not do that December 31st. 

For me some of the things I wanted in '14 happened. Some did not. I had some surprises-- some good, some definitely not. It made for an 'interesting' year. I am not remotely going to delve into what all happened. I am not into rehashing my personal experiences (they are in the past), unless I can learn from them or feel someone else can. I am much more interested in what comes next, which is why I like the last day of a year. I am thinking what I might want in this year, what I will need to do-- want it or not.

Where it comes to my writing, I have two new projects, which I am looking forward to getting back into. One of them (short story or novella), I began writing in Tucson but other things got in the way-- life has a tendency to do that. Now, back in Oregon, I am ready to finish that one and dig into research for the novel I also have in mind-- fourth Arizona historical.

For some time I have been debating bringing out the Oregon historical romances. There are four, which cover the time period from 1852 to 1868 and follow one family with four separate romances. These books were written over a pretty long span of my life from girlhood to the last one finished fall of 2014. I use the term finished loosely as the fourth will need more editing. Well, they all will get a last polish before they come out at least two months apart.

One of my big concerns in bringing out these books was thinking romance readers, in particular, would find the later books more interesting than the first one-- but I absolutely had to start with the first one. If that happened, they wouldn't bother with the next three. The Oregon Trail had a lot of information attached to the trip. There is no way to tell the story without the trek. For someone who wants romantic angst on every page, this won't be their book.

My story is not only that of the trip but also the maturing of an eighteen year old girl and her twenty-one year old best friend, who would like to be more. Although the characters are young, this covers some tough subjects and is not a young adult book.

Finding a cover image for this book or even a good photo for how I saw the hero, Matthew Kane, was a major reason why it hadn't already come out. If readers don't care about him, it won't work. Looks-wise, Matt is not only young but also blond. I needed a face that told of the pain in his background, the strength of his personality, and showed what enabled him to survive what he had and be stronger for it. Although I had looked at a LOT of images since I began bringing out books, I had never seen the right photo for him.

And then I came across the perfect guy. He had the sensitivity I needed as well as the toughness. His photos were in a site using pretty accurate period costuming. Although the image was a lot more costly than my usual purchase, it was essential if I wanted to intrigue readers enough to give this first book a try. Covers matter a lot to readers and me. They are part of being proud of what I put out. 

This story is one I am more emotionally attached than any other, which has concerned me as to how I will feel if it is rejected. Matt and Amy were first created on walks with my cousin when I was in high school. She and I would take turns telling their story and bringing them to life. Finally she only wanted to hear what I saw happening to them. In the years I was having my babies, that led to typing the first rough draft. 

The original title was Taopi Tawote but reluctantly I gave that up as probably being too confusing to readers. The words are Lakota for wound medicine, for the plant yarrow. It's still its title in my heart, the one I first typed into a Royal upright typewriter, and does appear in the book-- just no longer its title. 

This story has gone through some adjustments and extensive work with a consulting writer at least twenty years ago. But I didn't submit it to a publishing house partly because it's way too long for most of them to even consider from a first-time writer (they won't read anything over 100,000 words if it doesn't come through an agent-- getting an agent was a whole other problem). I was unwilling to cut it down and lose  the story I wanted; so it stayed just with me, dear to me, more than any other book I've ever written, but one I held back.

Anyway come February, not sure what date, maybe toward the end, Round the Bend will be available for eBooks and paperbacks with one of the two covers below. I hope I have figured out which one by then. Right now I am torn. Each says something different about aspects of the story.

The image in the background and the one behind Couple #1 is from the Ben Kern wagon train. I came across those images last year, emailed, and then called to get permission to use them someday. I had a delightful conversation with the guy who helped take people on these trips, those who want a small piece of what the pioneers experienced. The lightning is part of CanStock images that I purchased and finally the wagons in #2 came from the Baker City Oregon Trail museum-- well worth visiting if you have never been there.

Anyway that's a tiny part of what I have planned for 2015. There is a saying about that-- life is what happens when you are making plans. I hope you will have a happy new year with a lot of enjoyable plans of your own.

from where it comes

When looking for inspiration for a new book, beyond characters and place, there is another thing that can prove inspiring regarding the complexity of life-- newspaper articles. Where I avoid reading negative fiction or watching such films, I do read a lot of non-fiction in both books and articles regarding what is going on in our world. This article was one that attracted my interest.

The secret life of an ISIS warlord 

When I wrote Her Dark Angel, the hero had been forced to go undercover to help breakup a crime syndicate. Only at the moment the sting is being set up does he find someone else may be calling the shots. From then on, he's dealing with an unseen enemy. My book was fiction. The story above is supposition. A lot of fiction comes out of what has happened somewhere sometime-- or could have.

When I am creating a story, I use dreams and basically pull up everything into my thinking. Everything I read has the potential to be used. What would work? What story in the museum might be expanded or changed and work with my plot? I play with various possibilities. The essence in writing is that everything in fiction is also part of real life-- just not all in the same place or possibly put together.

Fiction writing is fascinating due to the complexity of human personalities and interactions. If you read that article, you see a whole range of possible ways those dynamics could be used in a story without using any of the facts. Instead you take the energy. A romance will use those dynamics and take the reader through an emotional experience that will reward not depress (like non-fiction can so often do).

transitions

 Sunset October 31, 2014 from Casa Espiritu

This is kind of an in between time for me, call it transitional. I think most people who have been reading my blogs know we have a second home in Tucson, Arizona. We were there in January of this year because of a cancellation of one of our VRBO renters. Mostly this house rents from January through April, and we leave it vacant or let our friends here use it for family events. With no potential fall renters, we decided we would come back in October and spend a little longer with several improvements planned, two potential repairs needed, but time this go round to do some enjoyable things too. Best laid plans and all that.

When we left Oregon, I had on my Kindle a LOT of books, more even than I knew, which I had accumulated from writers I knew as well as those I had seen blurbs for and thought their books sounded interesting. With one exception, these are romances, a genre that I haven't read much for the last few years due mainly to writing for it myself.

Buying books and storing them with the idea of reading them in the future, is not just something I've done with eBooks. I also do it with paper books thinking the right time will come. I am a big believer in there being a right time, a window, where the book will mean more to my life. It happens that way a lot.

In this case though, I kind of overdid it. It turned out I had about 100 unread titles on my Kindle. Because over the last year or two, I have been doing a lot of writing, there had been almost no time for reading more than research, non-fiction, social issues, and newspapers. A book for pleasure had not been on my agenda. 

Some claim that you should never read in your own genre when you are writing. I don't know if that is true. I do know when I am trying to generate my own plots or characters, I don't want to by accident get them from someone else's fiction. I have read enough books, through the years, to know a lot of writers do take their ideas from books they read. If they don't do it word for word, nobody says anything-- even if they think hmmmm, this is very familiar. For me though, the enjoyment of writing is generating my own ideas, letting them come from my observations, the book's setting, and its characters. It would not be fun for me to take what someone else created-- whether I could ethically do it or not.

However, I had been promising myself for months that I would take a time out and read just for pleasure. I began this project as we headed south, reading each night. When I read a book that I liked a lot, I did a review but only if I could give it 4 or 5 stars. If I could not, I didn't review it. If I ever felt an author needed some kind of slam, I'd email them (I don't get that irate at fiction and stop reading and delete; or if it's a physical book and horrible enough, drop it in the garbage). 

Fortunately nothing I have read so far is anything like I write. They have all been romantic stories, which is why I bought them-- serious fiction and research books are already in folders. 

Some of the books I've been reading turned out to be pretty shallow. A few had manipulative plots, but then what isn't manipulated if it's fiction! Yeah I know literature is different... uh huh... When it is fiction, writers control their stories, and whether the manipulation stands out or seems to fit, it's all used to suit the purposes the writer has for that book.

 I do not know who did the cover for the book I am discussing below, but coincidentally I had bought a similar image some months back but have not found a way to use it yet as a cover. I like the one I have best but hers was pretty good too :) 

It's Jimmy Thomas whose images I have used a lot in trailers and covers. I never can see too many of this guy;). Yes, he's a beautiful man but it's the way he shows emotions on his face that makes him a winner for me.

From my recent reading binge, my favorite book so far has been Princess and the Ox by Peggy Ann Craig. The title alone had me interested. Set in 1884 on the shore of Lake Huron, it is a romance with good character development, very romantic, but something extra as it explored cultural and social issues. 

A book that looks at social issues and how someone can grow, when they are exposed to new ways of thinking, will always be one I like better than just a simple love story. Yes, a romance explores the developing relationship between two people, but it can do it through showing the social issues of a time. It can do it through illustrating actions and the resulting consequences. Princess and the Ox went into all of that but without preaching. It dealt with it through the divergent goals of the various characters and showing the lives people were leading during a time that was also of transition.

Because I write the sort of book that also uses social issues as plot elements, I know I lose some readers. If you illustrate, through actions, how some can be selfish and desire only power, while others have the good of others at their heart, some will find that partisan and political. Same problem, if you deal with religion-- which explains why some writers won't touch either to avoid offending someone. To me those resultant books are shallow and not that interesting to me. A good writer can explore problems and issues and not preach doing it. Craig was a good writer for this story.

I was delighted to find this kind of book out there and recommend it to anyone who is interested in historicals as well as a good romance.
Right now I don't know if she has such strong social issues explored in her other books because I refuse to buy any more eBooks (I hope anyway) until I have whittled down my massive backlog. I am not sure how long I can just read other writers' books. After awhile I get to itching to do my own, but I am going to stay with it for now anyway. It's been fun and actually educational to see what else is out there. I only though buy indie romances, no corporate published on my Kindle.

Because this blog has gone on too long and because I want to say more about our trip south and what we found when we got here, it's going to have to wait for Sunday's blog.

story telling as emotional catharsis

 image from purchased CanStock image

We've all seen the movies (okay, most of us) like Sleepless in Seattle where the women get to talking about a film, An Affair to Remember, and are in tears as they discuss the angst, the very emotional and romantic ending. It's humorous because the men look at them as though they are nuts and then have their own emotional (real or otherwise) catharsis regarding a guy flick of men at battle sacrificing themselves for each other. 

The same thing is played for humor when the author/heroine in Romancing the Stone is writing the ending to her newest manuscript and sobbing as she writes. Her ability to do this, not to mention far out, unrealistic plots, is what had made her a bestselling author, who (in the story) was famous for her romances wherever she went.

I read the same kind of emotional reaction last week in a writer group where I visit sometimes. A reader had just read a book she had read before and described how she was sobbing at the ending. Now she knew that ending was coming (maybe even knew it the first time she had read the book), but the same emotional waterfall happily overcame her.

There are films that totally aim the viewer to have this emotional reaction. The Notebook is one where when... Okay in case people have not read or watched that book/film, I'll go no farther, but emotions are definitely played for all they are worth looking for that emotional release for the viewer/reader.

Thinking about this has made me wonder if it's the missing link in my writing, and it will always be missing for the most avid romance readers. Is there a market in romance reading that likes good stories, characters, interesting plots, emotions, but is not seeking to pull heartstrings to that level? I have never written a book and sobbed at what I had written...

I cannot relate to sobbing at the ending of a book-- unless a dog, cat, horse, or beloved animal gets killed (Bambi does not have a place on my DVD shelf nor does Old Yellar or any other story that goes 'Black Beauty' on me). I love animals too much, have had too many of my own sad endings with those beloved animals and thus relate too much to that kind of painful loss in fiction. 

So, while I could get emotionally pulled around by a story, I choose not to by not seeing or reading them. It won't happen to me in romances-- not any of them-- from the best to the silliest. A little teary from a movie? Sure but not sobbing.

If one seeks that kind of emotional catharsis, it certainly is safer to have reactions to romantic books because, at least in them, they will end happily. Jane Austen may not have had a happily ever after in her life, but she gave one to all her heroines. Stories based around animals give no such assurances. 

I think I used to have more emotional reactions to films and can remember years ago getting teary at An Affair to Remember. I've had a few tears in my eyes from emotionally significant moments in films but books, can't remember any that did that. Now I am wondering if this is a missing link in me which won't let me really relate to what romance readers most want from their stories-- i.e. an emotional experience that moves them so deeply they sob. 

As I mentioned the last blog, I do go for trying to feel the emotions of my characters and hence the photos I use to inspire me to keep those feelings real, as I find words to describe them. But manipulative writing where I deliberately have something happen, not because I think it would for these characters, but with the reader in mind and how I know it will take them on the teary ride they want, that's something I haven't done. I wanted more realistic romances, but in wanting that, have I cut myself off from what the average romance reader wants?

So if anyone reads here, who is a devoted reader, of any type of book, is that emotional catharsis what you hope to receive from a book? The same thing is doubtless true for men in reading adventures. They vicariously get the adrenaline rush for what the hero braves that they don't have to.

wisdom on writing

Awhile back, I had the good fortune to be in Amazon's forum for writers when the well-known writer, Anne Rice had begun a thread she intended to help indie writers by offering what she had learned. 

That forum grew heated when trolls found it and began to argue with her or try to run out the clock on her thread. They became so domineering that she finally gave up coming. While she was there though, she gave out some helpful wisdom. 

The following was not necessarily there in that form but it was what she said again and again. I believe she expressed how it is if you want to write. 

On writing, my advice is the same to all. If you want to be a writer, write. Write and write and write. If you stop, start again. Save everything that you write. If you feel blocked, write through it until you feel your creative juices flowing again. Write. Writing is what makes a writer, nothing more and nothing less. —- 

Ignore critics. Critics are a dime a dozen. Anybody can be a critic. Writers are priceless. —— 

Go where the pleasure is in your writing. Go where the pain is. Write the book you would like to read. Write the book you have been trying to find but have not found. But write. And remember, there are no rules for our profession. Ignore rules. Ignore what I say here if it doesn’t help you. Do it your own way. —- 

Every writer knows fear and discouragement. Just write. —- The world is crying for new writing. It is crying for fresh and original voices and new characters and new stories. If you won’t write the classics of tomorrow, well, we will not have any. Good luck.                                    Anne Rice

I am proud to be an indie writer and grateful I have had the chance to pursue my passion for writing without having to fit a niche in a publishing house. Today, thanks to places like Amazon, is a great world out there for writers. Yes, it allows us to make mistakes, but we are the captain of our own ship-- which means we need to learn all we can about where we want to sail. 

New Moon

While I am not huge on astrology, where it comes to the moon, I pay attention (most of the time). Today is a new moon and the following is what I received in an email. Many gardeners plant by the moon cycles. Whether it makes sense for our lives, it is good, I think to stop once in awhile and think where we are. Lunar cycles are a natural way of doing that. When humans were more nature oriented, we probably found this more natural than when our cycles come from work or even entertainment.

"We are moving towards more clarity and organization and a renewed energy to get back to tasks that were put on hold for various reasons. This is a great time especially to honor the clarity and commitment around endings and beginnings. 

"Identify what is ending or what needs to end and your intention to end it. It could be anything from the habit of self judgment to work that no longer serves you, or even a relationship. What have you struggled with lately that you need to change?; Do a ritual that will help you mark the ending.; 

"When something ends, there is always a new space created for something new to begin. Identify what is beginning in your life or what you wish or intend to begin and ritualize it somehow for yourself. 

"Sometimes we are so focused on what is ending that we can't appreciate why has been knocking on our door. Open the door to NEW and use this new moon time as a way to establish an energetic marker for your endings and your beginnings. Because the times support clarity and organization, it is also a great idea to make an action plan as long as you have enough clarity."                                                Patricia Liles  

This link suggests some ways to ritualize such a time-- 

how to alchemise the new moon energy to manifest your goals

This isn't so much mystical as cyclical and using nature's cycles to further our own intentions. If we set aside no time to think where we are going and is it benefiting us, then likely we are letting someone else set our goals. For some people that works better than others.

revamping yet another cover

Yes, I've read of the agony of the struggling writer-- how each book is wrung from them with blood and sweat. I confess. I have love and have fun writing. I enjoy creating covers. What I hate is accepting they won't be liked-- yes, it's a conundrum to do something you love and know others won't love it also. 

When my books aren't selling, it's enough to sometimes make me want to cry. I stop and remind myself this is creative work. It is the reward just to be able to do it. Don't ask for it to be appreciated by others, but in reality we all want our work to be liked. It's unrealistic not to admit that. 

Creating covers is a lovely break from thinking about the harder aspects of marketing. They are also, however, part of marketing. So with recently purchased new images, I took a hard look at my existing covers. Could any be made better?

Better means more adequately tell, in one image, the story within the book. That is the object of covers. They are meant to attract as flowers do bees. They must though depict what is within, or they are cheating the potential reader. Putting up a cover that looks wonderful, the type that has sold many books, when it has nothing to do with the book, is unfair and as a writer-- unsatisfying.

From Here to There was one of the books to which I looked. That poor book. It has had so many covers-- the most of any of mine-- a few of its rejected covers. 

I love its story, plot, characters. It is about human relationships, several kinds, and the world of cattle raising. But one cover after another didn't get that across. Well, there is no use crying over spilt milk--onward and upward is my motto-- both likely cliches. (One I took from a friend who used it often). 

So when I re-edited that book, I decided to once again look at its cover. What could I use instead of what I have tried? The most recent one represented the western cowboy-- a major theme of the book. I liked it but can't say it was helping sell the book.

Part of the problem possibly was-- what does this cover say in regards the romance? The guy on the cover looks like the hero in the book. That was a plus. He also illustrates the underlying theme of ranch life. But was that really enough?

Looking at the book itself and its deeper themes, what did that cover do for illustrating them? It's about the modern west, cowboys, ranch living, illusions and how sometimes what we think is not real turns out it is. It's about families, relationships, love, sexuality, animals, and how we can do what we must-- with enough motivation. Obviously I can't get all that onto a cover.

I went looking through my images, found one I had bought just because I loved it with no idea how I could use it. Next I looked for images that could represent the hero and heroine. I found one that had the right look and only took a little adjusting to look like them. 

The next step was playing around to see how I could put the two images together in a way that depicted the energy and love of the West.

Will it help attract readers? I have no idea, but it definitely does the book more justice in terms of beauty and vitality. For readers who hate the very idea of romances, it will ward them off. For someone who would enjoy a romance that offers two stories of how love can come together, one told through an old journal, well that part I could not get onto the cover or it'd be cluttered. You just cannot get it all one one cover... I don't think anyway. 

That wasn't the end of rethinking covers. At this point, I was taking an art break before my next editing job (three books I have not decided to  ePublish) before getting back to finishing writing fourth in that series (Oregon historicals). 

creativity begets creativity

As so often happens for me, an exchange with another writer led to thinking more about something that I then felt was worth sharing here.
When I have a conversation with another-- whether in real time, a thread of comments on a blog, through Skype, or exchanging emails-- it makes me put into words what I had been thinking. Sometimes it causes me to redefine my thinking because of taking into account new ideas. 

In this case, the exchange was about the writing process and editing which is so much a part of writing. The other writer said that she thought a lot of the reason we can look at a book later and feel it's not all we'd want was based on our changing. We grow and see things differently. I agree with that and would add that our skills grow. 

So editing has been where I've been this last week and working on three different books which had already been edited many times. But this writer had looked at one of mine and saw some things she felt were not working. She gave me specific ideas regarding where and why. That led me to take a long look at that book.

Sky Daughter was first written in 2002. It's one of the rare stories I sent to a publishing house after I had written it. The good part was the first editor liked it enough to send it to another editor in a different department. The bad part is both rejected it for different reasons-- the first for too much romance and the second for not believing in the paranormal aspect (this was before Harry Potter and the launch of so many urban fantasy books).

In June of 2012, I ePublished it. I brought it out after I had stopped doing free days. It was one of my first books to surprise me when it didn't have good sales. You know when you love a book, you think others will. ePublishing teaches you quickly that's not always the case. In its case though, after I got into this 7th or 8th re-editing of it, I was glad for those lukewarm sales and no free days.

Using her critique as a starting point, I found pluses in my writing. I still liked my hero, heroine, dialogue, the basic plot, its secondary characters, and believed in its premise. Sky Daughter was my first with a monster, and I had done research in terms of the experiences real people had claimed with such beings. The monster, as one of the characters, still worked for me. So much for the pluses. 

But when I got into it, I was disappointed and surprised at the many places where my writing was not smooth. It happened most especially in transitional passages-- where you take characters from one place to another without dialogue. Also I had times where the writer's, hence characters' logic, no longer worked for me. Fortunately better logic was waiting to be found. So I worked on that and the places where I had been redundant, which no matter how many times you think you got them all, there they are. 

When you see those kind of failings, it leads to a losing faith in your abilities. I remember sitting in the yard talking to my husband and telling him how disillusioning this re-edit was being. But if you are a writer, you trudge on. You hope that the changes you made this time will prove to be good in a year when you look at it again.

 Anyway, if you bought Sky Daughter, delete it from your reading device, go to Manage your Kindle where you can ask for it to be sent again. Sometimes they send the corrections automatically, but they have to decide it's a major enough change to warrant it. I believe this is.

After seeing those kinds of goofs in a book I had thought was well written, I went directly to doing another re-edit. For From Here to There, I had gotten a critical review awhile back when I was too busy to get back to the book. The reviewer had written that overall they liked the story, but the writing was not as consistent as they had expected, and it had cliches. Unfortunately unlike with the Sky Daughter critique where I could ask for specifics in an email, this one on Amazon, I could not ask what they meant, but I worked it over last week (gave it a new cover too). 

Fortunately in avoiding total depression as a writer, I found less of those what-was-I-thinking passages or the how-did-that-get-by-me places! Still I found enough where I could say it better (especially in those pesky transitional points), that I also republished it (one of the pluses to eBooks). 

So again, if you bought From Here to There or got it free, where you have a record of owning it at Amazon, delete it from your reading device, go to Amazon and find where you manage your Kindle and tell them to send it again. They will do this but be careful you don't delete it from there. Once you do that, you have to buy it again or get me to email you a copy if you tell me you owned it and lost it. I will take your word for it.

After From Here to There was off to Amazon (and already up with its new cover and corrections), I went straight to a third edit to see how it held up-- Desert Inferno. 

It's the first book I brought out as an eBook in December of 2011 and still one of my favorites as it takes the O'Brian family of the historical westerns to a modern story involving the Border Patrol. I also redid its cover. 

Desert Inferno was less disappointing. No major glitches, but I still am able to write some of it better. When I can write something better, I will and I then republish. Like I said above, if you have bought this one, you can get the re-edit on probably Wednesday. Give Amazon time to get the new one up. This ability to redo them is one of the pluses of ePublishing. 

It might seem that changing a book means it wasn't publishing ready. I guess that could be said. I mean if I can do it better today, shouldn't I have waited for today? Well what about this idea-- I could also do it better next year. So why ever put them out?

Thursday I have in mind discussing cliches in writing. I think it's worth looking at a little more.

June 29, 1943

A brief time out for my partner in writing. He reads all my books. He critiques them from a male point of view. Helps me with guns and any scene needing masculine type action. He is their publisher and supports my writing by saying he believes in what I am doing. He is part of what makes it possible for me to be living my dream and writing books.

He is also incidentally or not-- my life-mate. I married this man almost 50 years ago. We share two wonderful children, two children-in-laws, and four grandchildren not to mention the cattle and sheep ranch where we live today.

We've certainly had our ups and downs, but we are best friends today. We mostly like the same things. He's creative and has his own work where we each let the other be. We laugh a lot together. We also can yell at each other and then an hour later joke about what we had argued about. 

Today is his 71st birthday, and I just want to say I appreciate all he's given me through those years as a partner who is always interesting if sometimes challenging. Hey, who wants boring!

Guest author-- Lacey Roberts

After attempting to describe what defines a genre like western romance, next up is erotica. You hear a lot about it, but how much do you know? If you are offended by discussions of sexuality, come back Thursday when I'll be onto the paranormal genre. Okay, don't like discussions of the supernatural either-- how about a Sunday discussion on what makes a book considered literary! ;)

On a personal note, I began reading erotica years ago. There sometimes were little corners in bookstores where the lights were dark, and I'd find a small section of it. There were some early authors I enjoyed, like Lolah Burford, where they had the erotica but with a lot of story alongside it. Then came Anne Rampling, who was really Anne Rice of the vampire and horror genre fame. Under a pseudonym, she put out several books she said were written for her husband (it didn't take long for it to be revealed they were by her). I still have one of those in a keeper shelf (safely away from where any grandkids can find it). More recently, I bought the Fifty Shades books just to see what others liked so much but to be honest have never been able to get into them enough to read one. I keep thinking I will, but the writing was such a turnoff that I simply found them boring.

Basically I don't know much about the erotica of today. Although I still read a book now and again, I don't have a lot of time for pleasure reading; so I asked an author of that genre, Lacey Roberts, to answer some questions on the basics of what it is. 

Would you tell us a little about yourself, Lacey?

I began writing romance with erotic overtones after being bombarded with ideas. I am married, have two adult aged children and I am retired which gives me plenty of free time to enjoy the things I love most- family, travel, our dogs and writing.  

I have two new books available, which I hope you enjoy, and another is in the planning. I can be contacted by emailing: 

robertslacey1955@gmail.com 
 
I am always happy to answer your questions or just have a chat.
 
My website is: http://robertslacey1955.wix.com/lacey-roberts

Q: What do you like about writing Erotica?

A: I enjoy writing Erotica because you are not committed to a standard theme, you can let your imagination come to the fore. I like to be creative without boundaries and Erotica allows me to do that a little better than romance. I just have to be careful not to step over the line. 

Q: What makes erotica different from romance novels, where there also can be a lot of sex?

A: Readers of Erotica want to be sexually aroused by what they are reading (so they tell me in emails). There is not really anything 'sweet' and it can involve more than the hero and the heroine. Readers don't always want to have a hero and heroine ending up together which is what appeals to me. Erotica can encompass violence, paranormal, fantasy and other sub-genres the same as romance but in romance the sex is usually between the two main characters who inevitably end up together. It is much more predictable. With Erotica, you are never sure how it will end. Although some romance books do have fairly descriptive sexual scenes, they are not usually quite as graphic and 'different'. 

Q: In writing romance, there are certain rules that go with it-- is there with erotica?

A: I don't know if there are hard and fast rules but my rules are: There must be a valid story, not only sexual description. It doesn't have to be only sexual acts, describing a hot bath, hot shower, running ones hands over another when in public can be erotically arousing to readers. There are certain areas which are not acceptable eg: bestiality, which I would never, ever include.

Q: Do you think erotica is basically porn for women, or is there a difference?  

A: Honestly? Yes I do. In my opinion a book which arouses women, or men for that matter, is really a form of soft porn which brings about the same response. A major difference is - an erotic story is just that, a made up story about fictional characters. Porn pictures are of real people in sometimes demeaning situations.

Q:  Do you have favorite erotica authors who inspired you.

A: My favourites are: Eloisa James - A Kiss At Midnight

Shoshanna Evers - The Enslaved Trilogy

D.H. Lawrence - Lady Chatterly's Lover

Q: BDSM is and actually has been popular with a lot of couples and not just in reading-- what do you think is the appeal? 

A: I think people these days are more willing to explore other ways of fulfilling their sexual appetites. Traditionally it has been the male partner who takes command of the sexual act, with BDSM it can be the woman in charge if agreed to. It enables exploration of the body in more unconventional ways, pleasure can be found in all manner of ways. One comment which has arisen over the years when couples have divorced is "I became bored in the bedroom" It is no secret many men and woman look for an alternate sexual partner after being married for years. Maybe couples are turning to BDSM to prevent this from happening. Like anything else, routine becomes boring. The creativeness BDSM allows probably helps to prevent this boredom. 

Finally how about a sample from one of your books?
 

Snippet from Taming Gemma:

“I’m sorry, I was…” She stopped mid-sentence as Giles slipped up behind her. His hands slid around her chest and began fondling her breasts. She spun on her heels, propelling her arm forward, clenched fist connected hard with his nose. Giles stepped back sputtering as blood poured down the front of his pale grey Armani suit.

“How dare you!” she screamed. Gemma stomped towards the reception house. Her intention was to apologise to Lynette, and her new husband, before returning home.

“You will pay for that, you tease.” Giles shouted at her back.

She turned her head to unleash her retort. “Stay away from me and keep your filthy hands to yourself.”

In her anger, she failed to watch where she was going and ran headlong into a solid wall. It almost knocked her backwards onto her butt. Large hands locked on her arms in an attempt to steady her.

Gemma’s head had connected with a man’s very broad chest, she felt his well-toned muscles bunch under his suit. A very sensuous cologne wafted over her. She tilted her head back and gazed into the blackest eyes she had ever seen, they were like pools of pure onyx. His hands remained on her arms and he smiled down at her. This man was too handsome and sexy for his own good. A strange thrill raced down her spine.

Gemma pushed back to release herself. “Let me go,” she demanded. Liam immediately released his hold. “Men!” she ranted as she stormed away.

Liam gave Pete and Jack a confused look. “What did I do?”

“Guess you got in the way of an argument between her and her boyfriend.” Jack laughed.

“That’s Gemma Carmichael. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. Giles Fisher has been sniffing around for a while but she told him she wasn’t interested.” Pete elaborated.

Liam watched the petite woman as she stomped her way to the reception house. Her pale blue, gossamer dress floated over her sexy curves and, with the sunlight behind her, not much was left to his imagination.

Taming Gemma at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Gemma-Lacey-Roberts/dp/1499144679