One down and one saved from the brink...
I'm talking about computers...
So I have spent the last few weeks attempting to create a book trailer, and apart from the personal frustration of not managing to grasp the intricacies fairly quickly, the additional cost of one computer going down and another threatening to go up in a puff of blue smoke didn't do my nerves much good either :-)
Did I finish it?  Yeah!  Am I pleased with it?  I'm not sure :-)  Did I expect this to be an integral part of writing a book?  No!! LOL 
But heck, after all the hassle, managing to complete this learning curve has left me on a great high.

Please welcome Allie Boniface on her latest stage of her virtual Book Tour

Please give a warm welcome to Allie Boniface

The blurb for “One Night in Memphis”:

What if a woman, tired of broken hearts and bad choices, traveled a thousand miles to the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, and spent a night forgetting her past in the blues clubs of Beale Street? What if a man who lost his wife to cancer ventured to Beale Street's social scene for the first time in over a year? And what if they met and realized love was still possible for them both?

Dakota James and Ethan Meriweather have both given up on finding happiness in a relationship. When they meet in downtown Memphis, at a crowded nightclub, neither has romance on the brain. But as the evening unfolds, and small talk turns to the stuff of hopes, dreams, and shared loss, a kinship grows that surprises them.

Before the night is over, though, Dakota's past will catch up with her in the form of a violent ex-boyfriend. As dawn approaches, and tragedy threatens to tear Dakota and Ethan apart, both will have to make a decision that could change their lives forever. Is new love worth putting your life on the line for someone you've just met?

Congratulations on the release of the audio edition of your Eppie 2009 winner One Night in Memphis. When you heard it for the first time, did it startle you hear the reader’s interpretation of your characters. Or did they sound exactly as you imagined?
Thank you!Hearing my books in audio format was an interesting experience! I love the narrators Audio Lark matched with my books, and even though a few places sounded different out loud than I'm imagined them in my head, I really think they did justice to my story :)
Did you always want to write and if not what triggered your passion for writing?
Yes, I've always loved writing, since I was a little girl. I used to get caught by my elementary school teachers writing stories in class instead of doing my schoolwork! I think my love for writing came from an early love of reading - I was reading to my stuffed animals by the time I was 3.
Are you a pantser or a plotter? If a plotter which comes first your characters, your settings or your plot?
Oh, boy - I'm definitely a plotter! I need to know where my story is going and how it will end. I have to say that usually the plot comes first - I think of a "what if" situation and go from there.Setting is usually the last thing I figure out.
What kind of goals do you set?
For writing? That depends on the rest of my life, since I have a full-time teaching job. Some weeks I don't get any writing done at all. When I'm in the middle of a writing project, though, I usually try to write at least 500 words a day.
Whose POV do you prefer…hero/heroine/villain?
Actually, I prefer writing from a male POV, whether that's my hero or my villain. I find it easier, maybe because I can get fully OUT of my own head - no female influences allowed!
What is your favoured writing routine? Do you have a set routine and place to write?
I usually write at night or on the weekends, and since I have a laptop, I'll write in my favorite chair, or at the dining room table, or on the sofa...wherever the mood strikes!
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
Simple: do not ever give up, and develop a thick skin. If you want to become successful in this business, you will inevitably have to overcome bumps along the way. Not everyone will like your writing/your books/your characters/your ideas. Write on, all the same. Some ideas will fall flat. Some will be rejected many times. Do whatever you can to become a better writer, and soldier on.
What do you do to relax?
I work out a lot, which really helps the mind and body. I also read or play my baby grand piano :)
Which do you prefer, background music or silence when you write?
Silence, definitely! I'm easily distracted.
What book are you reading at the moment?
Nothing right now, since I'm in the middle of grading students' papers at school! But I just finished Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," which I loved.
Who is your favourite writer?
I have a few, both classic and contemporary. I'm a fan of Shakespeare, Dickens, and Austen, but also Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, and YA author John Green.
How do you deal with criticism?
I've tried to develop really tough skin and remind myself that not everyone is going to have the same taste or like my work. I'll be honest, though - it's hard sometimes. We writers work so hard and pour our blood, sweat and tears into a story and its characters...so when readers or reviewers lambaste it, that can hurt.
What do you do when your mind blanks?
Keep writing. The old saying "You can't edit a blank page" is absolutely true.
(I have that quote pasted on the wall above my pc monitor!! LOL)
What books and WIP are in the pipeline for this year?
I have 2 print releases coming out this year, both with Samhain Publishing: One Night in Napa releases in mid-May, and Summer's Song releases in mid-November.
Any tips on promotion?
Do as much as you can with the time and budget that you have. There are many ways to get your name out there electronically, which is great, and they don't cost a lot. You can also buy print ads in some of the major genre-specific publications, depending on your budget and the support of your publisher. I try to look for ways to network with other authors and also book-sellers, anyone who will pick up your book, read it, and tell others about it. I've been fortunate enough to link up with some local authors for book signings, and I've made connections through them. Don't be shy - take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, even if you don't feel totally comfortable "putting yourself out there."
Do you have a link for one of your books you’d like to share?
One Night in Memphis is now available in print, ebook, and audio book - you can find out more about it and my other books at my website, www.allieboniface.com
And here's the link for the book, with a sneak peek listen if you'd like!


And thank you for having me here today!
                                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you have enjoyed visiting with Allie, please let her know.

 Click HERE to participate in The Goddess Fish Promotions contest 

"A hunting we will go..."

Although at times it can be daunting, most of the time I'm happy to accept I'm not the brightest spark in the Universe! LOL.  So when faced with new learning curves, it can take some time for things to fall into place.  But when they do...
Then I start having fun. 
And so it is with setting up and creating a book trailer.
After weeks of frustration, a couple of days ago everything fell into place and all my picture hunting and music selections, while edifying, turned out to be hopelessly wrong in choices.  All the research is coming into its own, because my previous selections are all being tossed and I'm having great fun with new and more pertinent choices.
Many years ago I played around with Music Maker, and while it is no longer compatible with my current version of Windows (that's how long I've had it), I can still access the music and soundclips in a round-about method.
The trouble for me now, is, that I'm enjoying myself so much 'playing' with my options, it will probably take me as long again to complete the trailer as it's taken me to come to grips with how to do it in the first place!  LOL.
Sigh!!
Never mind, back to the playground...

Please give a warm welcome to Genella deGrey

Please welcome Genella DeGrey, author of erotic historical romance Love Divine:

Blurb--
In the Highlands of Britannia, 420 A.D., Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother.
Now Rome has returned, but in place of a legion of solders, a single man peddles a new Roman god.
Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction whom his Bishop finds equally delectable.
Ryus must choose between the salvation of his soul and the woman he loves.
Aslyn must escape before she becomes the Bishop’s newest sacrificial lamb.



What - if any - was the toughest fight you had with your characters, and which one/or how many of them ganged up against you?
:) That hasn't happened just yet - At the moment, I am struggling with killing off one of my characters in my current WIP. He wants not only to live, but to have his own book. The nerve! LOL

Do you stick to a rigid writing regime and space?
No, I have a 9 to 5, so I write whenever and where ever the muse insists.

Can you write with background noise, or do you need silence?
Wouldn't it be nice if the world came with a mute button? LOL – I think I've had only a few opportunities to write in total silence. I can do either though, I'm easy.

Do you read while immersed in your current WIP?
Yes. I usually try to stay within the same time period so that the atmosphere and language is easily accessible to me when I sit down to write. This also goes with watching DVD's, too. I remember when I wrote my Victorian old west story I had immersed myself to such an extent that in my dreams people were wearing 1880's period-correct clothing.

Do you have more than one WIP on the go at the same time?
No, although I will bounce back and forth between my WIP and a manuscript that is in the critique/edit process. If I get an idea I jot down everything for later and re-visit when I'm finished writing the current manuscript.

When/if you get writer's block what do you do to overcome it?
Haven't gotten that yet – Knock on wood and wake the Fae! :)

Who, or what is/has been you greatest inspiration in your writing career?
Oh man. The love of a good story, my penchant for entertaining, the wonderful people I've met along the way to publication . . . Everywhere I turn there is inspiration.

What to you do for exercise?
Now. I've only been seriously exercising since January. I practice Yoga twice a week, I walk up to three miles (give or take) a day, three days a week. For some odd reason I feel like it takes me twice as long to lose weight as it does the ordinary person. I blame my genes – and my jeans. LOL

Other than writing what other occupation would you have like d to follow?
was 'this close' to having a makeup career in the motion picture industry. I wish I could do both writing and makeup, but I have to pay the bills somehow.

Unrelated writing hobbies? What are they?
Aside from DVD land, I love live music. One of my favorite local bands is an Oingo Boingo Tribute band called, "Dead Man's Party." I also love swing, big band and blues. I go dancing as often as I can.

When you immerse yourself in a period of history such as 410 Scottish Druid, do you feel you have a kind of mystical connection with the period, settings and characters?
Oddly enough, it isn't hard for me to imagine being a historical western European. I'm still looking into why that is, but I'll tell you what, there are other places and peoples I can't even fathom. So yes, I do think there is a mystical connection — I just can't put my finger on it or prove it.

How much time and effort do you put into research before you start one of your historical novels?
I research as I go. For instance, if I come across tiny details such as distance between place to place or specific historical event dates I jump on the internet. I try not to leave any stone unturned, as they say.

Do you interview your characters, and if so, please will you share some of their responses with us here?
I've heard of that exercise, but I've never actually done it. I will tell you, there is something that almost all of my characters share. It's that when love finds them, it's not because they were looking. They go about minding their own business and BAM! Cupid's arrow finds its mark.

When creating the setting, what gives you your inspiration?
The settings are usually just . . . there in my mind. LOL I often go a step further when I read and watch movies to see what other's think the setting looks/feels like. For me, movies shot on location are a tremendously helpful tool for getting the feel for settings.

Do your characters correct you if they feel you have strayed from settings they want you to create?
Not yet, but most of the time I have to play chaperone with them. They like to go at it ASAP and as you know, sometimes the plot doesn’t call for it right away. LOL

How much freedom do you give your characters?
Save for letting them jump into bed at first sight, I think I give them a good amount of freedom. I'm sure they'd beg to differ. :)

What is your favorite characteristic about Aslyn, your heroine?
Aslyn doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. The idea needs to be her own or she won't budge – like when she realizes she's in love. She knew everyone would want her to be with Ryus . . . She must be a Taurus like me. LOL Some might think of it as a weakness, but I think it empowers her. :)

What do you love and hate most about your hero, Ryus Jorian?
At first I was sad that before we meet him, he'd fallen in with the type of people who treat women as second-class citizens, but he soon figures things out - even though he does it in a typically logical man-like fashion. LOL I love that he internally melts when it comes to Aslyn – he is crazy about her.

Apart from Asly and Ryus who is the character you most enjoyed/connected with in Love Divine, and if it doesn't give away too much, why?
Twegan Greenwood was a really fun character to write. She loves Aslyn like a daughter, but is nosey as all outdoors. I could really relate to Aslyn's friend, Mae. I've felt hopelessly stuck in life before. Her plight is close to my heart.

Please will you give me any links you want added to the interview to help readers to your site and where to buy your book? 

  My website can be found here   
I love to have visitors, so pop by and say hi!

You can purchase Love Divine here  ~ first, enjoy the extract below :-) --

Reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck, Aslyn’s heart raced when his mouth softly coaxed her lips part. She nearly toppled over when he groaned as her tongue touched his. The wood post which bordered the stable separated their bodies, and Aslyn longed to be rid of the thing.

Suddenly remembering that anyone who had a view of the stable could see them, she broke out of the kiss.
“We shouldn’t be—”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Aslyn glanced over her shoulder and back up to Ryus. No one was about, but that could change at any moment. Her breath came out in a huff that may have been part laughter. “Let me finish. We shouldn’t be doing this here.”
She saw his eyes light up like flames. “Then where?”
Come to me after sundown,” she whispered, unable to believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Oh, she was thinking them, but once they passed over her lips, the bones were cast. He would be leaving soon, and it would be good for her to take a few more memories with her to her grave.
Without another word, Aslyn pushed away from the stable fence and headed straight for her lodging.
She paced in her room and wrung her hands, the same way in she did just before she met Ryus in the ancient grove of Ardwinna.
Aslyn almost yelped when he came bursting through her front door.
“You have more faith in me than I do if you think I can wait until sundown.”

                                                            ~~~~~~

During Genella's virtual book tour, she will be giving away a digital edition of Love Divine to one lucky commenter! Readers, please leave your comment or questions for Genella today for a chance to win!

Please come and support Genella deGrey's interview here on the 22nd April as part of her book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions.

Review of Circe by Anita Saran

Recently, knowing I review romanitic fiction for LASR,  author, Anita Sara, asked me to review her latest release Circe ~

Review of Circe by Anita Saran ~ Published by Mojocastle Press, LLC Price, Utah ~ ISBN: 1-60180-018-5

Anita Saran’s dry wit predominates her writing. As a reviewer of this story, my lack of knowledge of Greek mythology means I cannot fully credit the connections between the various gods and goddesses and their ilk, but it does mean I can still enjoy Anita’s humour.
She writes with a fluency and energy that has the reader turning the page eager to discover what further outrage she will depict next. Circe describes herself fully in the first chapter and thereafter you heave a sigh and follow her adventures and crises as they occur.
The thought of bearing a cloud for a son, who drifts in and out of the various dimensions and worlds, is fascinating. Her offhand opinions of her companions will have you loving her or hating her, but be assured of one thing you will not experience half-measures in your opinion of her.
To describe the various chapters is to give away more than Anita wishes the aspiring reader to know before she starts the book. But if you want a good laugh, a warped version of Greek mythology that is actually based on ‘factual’ tales, then this is the book for you.
If you are in need of transportation away from the daily tribulations of your life, then this is a ‘must-have’ read.
If you feel in the need to exercise your chest and lungs with a good and wholesome laugh, then buy this book, for you will get hours of fun and amusing entertainment.
If you are a fanatic of Greek mythology and find it hard to accept a perverse and quirky version of your beloved subject then be sure to have a strong ‘pick-me-up’ when you dip into this story, for while you may want to scream with frustration at the liberty she has taken, you will be too busy laughing to resort to any kind of outrage.
If you are looking for ‘something different’, then pick up this book. You will find it hard to put down until you’ve turned the final page.

Reviewed March 2010, by Sherry Gloag author of The Brat. Release date 1st Oct 2010.

If you would like me to review contemporary/sweet/inspirational/light paranormal/suspense romance novel reviewed here, please contact me. (top of right sidebar)

Please give a warm welcome to debut author ~ Kristy Denice Bock

Please give a warm welcome to my dear friend, and talented writer, Kristy Denice Bock who's debut novel, Divine Touch, releases on April 8th with Red Rose Publishing.







What/who has been your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration in writing has been my father, who can tell a story so believable that when you find out it was something he just came up with, you question him making it up before you question why you believed something that turned out to be a tall tale. The gift to tell a good tale is something that runs rampant through my family, from coming up with a believable excuse to entertaining large crowds. The ability is something that has always struck me as a good thing to grab from the gene pool. I just took it a step further and put my tall tales in writing.

What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?
Fear is something that I deal with in small doses. One minute I’m afraid that everything I write is complete crap and unworthy of being read. The next I worry that I’m going to make my editor go blind with numerous errors and issues that I should be able to have fixed. Then I’m terrified that someone will read the book and hate it. I worry that my mother will read It and disown me (not for content but because it doesn’t live up to the likes of her favorite authors) Then I worry that it will collect dust and go unread for the rest of eternity. I get over these fears by writing the next book. I can’t stress too much about what I can’t change if my mind is properly engaged.

What do you do to relax?
Sleep. I’m an uptight person, so the only time I’m truly relaxed is when I’m watching the back of my eyelids.

Did you always want to write and if not what triggered your passion for writing?
Yes. My parents bought me an electric type writer when I was fourteen years old. I lost my way for a few years but came back with a vengeance. I knew I’d write.. never once questioned it… I just took a while to get started on that first book.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? If a plotter which comes first your characters, your settings or your plot?
I think about plotting. I think so hard I give myself a headache, so I just write and see where it takes me. Every other chapter I’ll go back and make sure everything Is moving in the same direction.

What kind of goals do you set?
Flexible ones. I’m a single parent of four children… goals aren’t my forte. Actually neither are schedules… appointments… structure…

Whose POV do you prefer…hero/heroine/villain/multiple?
I think every main character’s point of view is crucial to fully engage the reader. I want my reader to know what my bad guys are up to, it’s more fun when the reader knows more than the hero/heroine.

What is your favoured writing routine? Do you have a set routine and place to write?
Hmm, somewhere quiet (meaning no kid distraction because I have to blast music to drown out conflicting thoughts.) I often have a hard time focusing on what I’m working on with other stories, characters and ideas interfering so I play music very loud to help me with the task at hand. (And hope the kids stay asleep or that school doesn’t let out early for some unknown reason)

Which do you prefer, background music or silence when you write?
Loud, obnoxious, bass thumping music.

What book are you reading at the moment?
Right this moment I have far too much to do to read a book, which makes me very sad. I hope to soon pick up something fun and light. I pick books depending on my mood. If I want to cry… I pick up something that will make me cry, and sometimes if lifes just been overwhelming, well its time for a light and fluffy happy book.

Who is your favourite author?
Um, at the moment Mary Janice Davidson with her undead series. Tomorrow who knows… it changes with the last book I read.

Some writers stop reading while writing because the feel it influences their writing. Do you read while working on a current writing project?
Not while I’m focused on the project, but if I need a break from writing, reading helps me clear the circuit board so that my mind is not so wrapped up on my work in progress.

How do you deal with criticism?
Cry. LOL I’m such a wuss. Then I put my big girl panties on and read the criticism. If its something that will make the story better I go with it, if I see no positive aspects in it, I ignore it.

What do you do when your mind blanks?
Walk away or start deleting. Once I deleted three chapters until I found what bothered me. (this is not the most productive way to write a book, but it works for me.) I will also use a program called Write or Die and it helps tremendously with moments when the words just will not come.

What books and wip are in the pipeline for the future? (Plug your series as much as you like here!! LOL)
I created a world where there is another race of people living among us. They are omnipotent and are called the Divine Ones. Six Goddesses who have made a deal with the Human council that they would limit their involvement in human life, for the sake of their children. Their children would grow up among the human mortals and then pass three trials to prove they are capable of having their natural birth powers, and yet retain the balance with the humans.

Divine Touch – Release date April 8th!!
Kate learns her mother is a Goddess and her boyfriend is a werewolf. What else could go wrong?

Divine Intervention – Written and submitted
Savannah's day goes from bad to worse when she's killed by the groom on her wedding day... that is until she meets Death.

Divine Purpose – being written as we speak…
Elle wanted to rewind time after she accidently turns the man she loves into a shadow creature. What good is finding out your mother is a Goddess if you can't do just that?

Divine Revenge
Ember has finally found the secret to destroying her father’s empire, and she knows just the demon to help her do it.

Divine Forgiveness
Faith knows the good in Cade outweighs the bad, she believe in him when no one else would, will her love be enough to save his soul?

Divine Rescue
Evelyn was no damsel in distress, she certainly didn't need Alex saving her every time something bad happened. She wasn't just the daughter of a goddess, she had special ways to get herself out of situations

Divine Redemption
Edereu had been given a second chance, but the one person who had been there for her at her worst, wanted nothing to do with her now that she changed. How could she convince Michael that his heart would be safe in her hands.

(I also have the first book of an angel series in the works that is tentatively named Fall from Grace.)

Any tips on promotion?
Don’t expect others to do for you what you can do for yourself. I have a blog Talk Radio show (Wednesday Nights 11pm Est) I have an active Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Ning. I plan on going to book signings as well as conventions in the next upcoming two years.

What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
Treat writing as a business. Dreams will give you an idea, but hard work, research and a business plan will get you so much further. Know your business, know your market, know your editor, know your publisher. Do not think that dreams alone will carry you through.

Do you have an excerpt from one of your books you’d like to share?

He stalked toward her, bringing his face a mere inch from hers.
“I could devour every inch of your skin and you would beg me for more. It most certainly would not suck.” Though he didn't touch her, her body tingled as if he had. She stared at him dumbfounded while her brain tried to prepare some type of appropriate response.
As she gaped at him, she realized he was changing. His jaw extended, conforming to an altogether new shape. The next thing she noticed was his eyes. They shifted from blue to black as the bone structure in his face changed, narrowing causing his eyes to set apart. His black hair spread the length of his body. It took every bit of control Kate possessed to not reach out and touch him.
His spine erupted, lengthening his torso as he dropped to his knees. Kate wondered for a brief moment if it hurt. His arms and legs shortened, turning into what she would expect a wolf's legs to look like. Though it only took a short period of time, his transformation captivated her.
Unable to stop herself, she reached out to touch him. The wolf turned its head toward her, baring its teeth but emitting no sound. Kate's hand stilled at the vision of the fangs, but her curiosity was stronger than her sense of self–preservation. Her fingers connected with soft black fur. She half expected it to be coarse, but it felt like silk.
What started as curiosity had turned into pleasure. Her hands stroked the length of the wolf's fur from the base of its neck to the hindquarters. With her face pressed against his fur, she breathed in his scent. The feel of his fur against her skin sent a ripple of heat through her body.
Shocked at her body’s reaction, she jerked her thoughts from a place they did not belong. With a need to return to reality, she backed away from the wolf Zane had become. Her breath caught at the sight of his eyes. Though her mind had turned him from werewolf to pure wolf, the sight of Zane in those black eyes made her all too aware of the man within the beast. He flashed his teeth again in what could only be described as a smirk and bounded away.
Kate sank to the ground, pulling her knees up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. She exhaled slowly, emptying her lungs before taking in a shuddering breath.
“You know you've been celibate too long when a wolf turns you on,” she said aloud. The desire she felt as she stroked the soft fur encasing that body left her throbbing with want. She knew the moment she saw him again in male form she'd not be able to look him in the eye.
***
Please visit my Book Trailer for Divine Touch

Thank you, Kristy, for coming in today and sharing your thoughts and advice with us.
If you have any questions or would like to leave a comment, Kristy will be happy to respond.

~Dont miss this oportunity to join in and win a bundle of fabulous prizes ~ 

Please give a warm welcome to today's Guest ~ Marilyn Gardiner

Please give a warm welcome to Marilyn Gardiner

When did you first start writing and when did it become more than a pleasurable pastime for you?At eight years old I was already writing. My first office was in bed, beneath the covers, with a flashlight. There was never any question of what I wanted to be as an adult. I’d walk the aisles of our small public library and find with my finger just where my books would alphabetically fit when I grew up. I wrote high up in our apple tree, hidden beneath the staircase and, as I said, in bed. I didn’t think anyone knew! And then, one day my grandmother told the entire family, seated around our Sunday dinner table, that one day Marilyn would write all the books she never could. Grandma only had a 5th grade education, but she was an avid reader. Sometimes, I think I write for her.

Was writing always your first love?Yes, but I didn’t have the courage to submit anything for publication until I was past 30 years old. To my delight, the story sold, and I’ve been writing and selling ever since. Although, in all fairness, music ranks right up at the top of my passions. I’ve been a soprano soloist for most of my life, and today still sing in a large Chorale. Music feeds my soul.

Who/what was/is your inspiration to write?Hmmm…Inspiration… I’m a people-watcher and am forever fascinated by the different ways we humans handle joy, disappointment, sadness, tragedy, etc. Some of us pull into ourselves and give up with a defeated sigh at the first sign of trouble, and others grit their teeth and face into the storm, daring it to do its worst. The way we all meld together is what makes life interesting. Relationships shape our lives. When I do public speaking, I always stress that the way we rub elbows with the teenager behind the counter at Dairy Queen, the greeter at Walmart, the squabble we might have had with a family member--those things--are what shape our responses to the world and its problems. Plus I pick up bits and pieces of information from television and the newspaper. It all melts into the ooze of my brain and flows out when I begin to write. Quite simply, I love to tell stories.

Relationships go back to the beginning of time. They are recorded in all our earliest writings, even in the drawings on the walls of caves. Shakespeare’s writings are all about relationships, The Greek Tragedians wrote about relationships. The Bible is about man’s relationship with God and his fellow human beings. Remember Abraham, Sarah and Hagar? Sarah’s jealousy is where the hatred began that is affecting our world today. That is why I write about relationships.

Have you kept and samples of your earliest writings, and do you ever go back and read them?Sure. I have the first thing I ever wrote. I was eight years old and it was embarrassingly like Anne of Green Gables! I wrote in high school and sang with an elite group of girls, traveling all over our part of the state, and I have a drawer full of my awards and medals, and comment sheets from my teachers and contest judges, all encouraging me to sing and/or write more.

Do you write straight to your computer or do you ever use pen and paper?I use paper and pen to write shorthand notes when I’m in the thinking stages of my book--before I begin to write--but once I let the story flow from my fingers, I sit at the computer. I taught myself years ago that I since my time to write is limited, it’s faster to write on the computer from the beginning. For me it is more efficient this way, although I know good authors who write the entire book by longhand and then transfer those pages into the computer as they rewrite. Whatever works.

Do you use personal exeriences on which to hang a story?If we’re talking about a certain life learning or concept that I’m trying to get across to the reader, I might use vignettes from real life, but not whole stories--and I never, never use a real name or shape a character after someone I know. Of course, a piece of myself is in everything I write. Can’t avoid that. I have to know what my characters are feeling--their fears, their loves, their past tragedies, etc. before I ever sit down to write. Occasionally, that translates into personal experience.

What is the greatest fear you've had to overcome as a writer?Writer’s block. I’ve only had one serious episode, and it was awful. I’d had several successive and extensive surgeries and as I recovered, I realized that all my words seemed to have dried up. It scared me. Without writing, I didn’t know who I was. I overcame the block by just writing something every day. I copied paragraphs from one of my already published books, I wrote letters, I journaled, streaming my thoughts onto the paper until the creative juices began to run again. Eventually, I even sold some of what I wrote during that bad time. A professional writer told me once that nothing succeeds like applying the seat of the pants to the chair, so I should write, write, write! He said emphatically, “In the teeth of the storm, by God, write!” And I did. A habit was formed that I stick to yet this day.

Do you like silence or music in the background when you write, and if music what is your favourite and why?I prefer silence because, as a musician, I tend to get caught up in the swell and beat of the music. Having said that, if I’m immersed in my story, a cat fight can erupt beneath my chair and I’d never notice it.

Why did you choose the genre you write in?
I didn’t choose a single genre, they choose me--and it’s somewhat different with every book. I have two paranormals, one historical (plus my WIP), a romantic adventure, an Inspirational, and five romatic suspenses. They’re all different, yet they all have some of the same elements. There is a mystery of a sort in each of them, and they are all about relationships and how the characters rub together as the issue is solved.

Is there any other genre you might branch into one day?There’s one I won’t branch into. I know erotica sells extremely well, and I know there are those who have a natural talent in that direction, but it isn’t something I feel comfortable with, so I stick to what I do best…relationships. I’ve sold everything, I think, except erotica: poetry, articles to newspapers and/or magazines, children’s stories, YA, senior citizen material, and to the Christian market. Putting my “comfort” aside, I find that, as I read, my imagination is more titillating than any written word.

Have you set yourself any particular writing goals?At first I thought it would be enough to write and sell just one book, but after that first book, I had to sell a second, and then a third. I now have ten books on the shelf, and find it isn’t enough. I still have stories in my head waiting to be told. I’ll never live long enough to get them all on paper. My goal with each book is to make it the best I can possibly make it. I have a problem with saying “It’s enough,” and stop rewriting. I can always find something else to tinker with.

How do you deal with criticism?I belong to an excellent writer’s critique group and I listen carefully to every criticism offered. Criticism is almost always a red flag that “something” might be wrong. It may not be what is said, but most often there is a tiny flaw in the writing, or the plot, the character development…something. I take criticism seriously, hunt diligently for the possible flaw, and then decide whether or not to use what has been said.

Do you have a particular writing space and routine?I’ve trained myself to write as soon as I can in the morning. I write other times as well, but the morning seems to be my most creative hours. I do aerobic swim very early and when I get home I go straight to the computer and write until noon. After lunch, I do rewrite on what I wrote earlier and then, if I have a deadline, I often go back to the office after my husband goes to bed and write another hour or two. The creative part of me responds best to a schedule.

Do you strive to emulate any of your favourite authors?I am wildly eclectic in my reading and some of my favorites are: Kristin Hannah, Wilbur Smith, the late Dick Francis, Maeve Binchey, Anne Rivers Siddon, Madeline L’Engle, John Grisham, Anne Provoost, James Alexander Thom…and I could go on. W. Smith writes what is generally called “men’s fiction,” but he is one of the best word smiths I’ve ever read. Madeline L’Engle touches my soul. Anne Rivers Siddon reaches the depths of my own being, and John Grisham keeps me up at night. Maeve Binchey simply tells a whopping good story. I could only hope, one day, to write as well as any of the above.

Do you read while you are writing?
Sure. There are books in every room in my house and I never leave home without a book under my arm. I read a lot, although not usually in the genre in which I’m writing.

What book are you reading at the moment?I’m making my way through Kristin Hannah’s books, and only come up for air when I have to stop writing to get a meal on the table. I am what I consider to be an adequate cook--I don’t enjoy cooking. I have two grown daughters who are excellent cooks and both my mother and grandmothers were wonderful cooks but, unfortunately for my poor husband, the gene passed me by. My dinners are always whatever goes together quickly and easily. Tonight we are eating a roast done in the slow cooker with dry onion soup mix, and potatoes and carrots thrown in. Minimum time and effort, but tasty.

What novel are you currently working on?My last writing effort was a four-book romantic suspense series called The Women of Winsom. I took four friends from the same town and gave them each serious problems. All the women have made careers, survived bad marriages (or no marriage at all), struggled through debilitating problems, and found a second chance at happiness--if they dare take the risk. The town of Winsome became as much a character as the four women. I was sorry to write The End to the series.
Incidentally, all of my books are available at http://www.wings-press.com/. Fictionwise.com, Amazon.com, and my website http://www.marilyn-gardiner.com/. Drop in and check me out.

My WIP is my second historical. The first, LIKE A RIVER, MY LOVE, is about Verity’s trip down the Ohio River in 1776 with George Rogers Clark’s small army intent on taking Ft. Kaskaskia in the Illinois Country--with special emphasis on the group’s freedon-loving guide, Trey. The book garnered terrific reviews and four stars from Romantic Times. My WIP is entitled COMANCHE MOON and takes place in 1847, as Jenny is suddenly widowed on her trip by wagon train to Oregon. How she manages on her own, falls in love with the train’s scout, and personally goes after an Indian who kidnaps her small daughter, exposes the courage of our pioneer women as they played their part in settling our own west. There’s an old curmudgeon mountain man, and the villain, Eldon, (for whom my critique group can’t dream up a horrible enough fate), Jenny’s own small daughter and an orphaned boy she takes in. And, of course, the dreaded Comanche Indians. I’m almost finished with the first draft and am again dreading having to type The End. I love these characters and their story. If you’re interested, I’m including an excerpt:

Excerpt from COMANCHE MOON:

Tuck (the old mountain man) bedded down beneath Jenny’s wagon that night. As far as Jenny could tell, Zane didn’t sleep at all. She dozed in fits and starts, waking with every seemingly magnified sound. But again, morning came without any sign of Indians.

Until the morning guards came in.

Jenny, along with others, was out on the plains, gathering cow pats in her apron for the breakfast fire. Sophie wandered near by, humming as she picked yellow daisies. Cattle grazed off to her left and the horse herd further away.

The morning was clear and cool and quiet. The only sound was a gentle wind rustling across the prairie, the munching of cattle as they tore at the grass, and Sophie’s humming. Jenny straightened to ease her back, and was startled to see several Indians sitting their ponies not two wagon lengths away. Her stomach abruptly fell away. The Indians and their ponies were as still as if they were wooden.

Her heart abruptly kicked into high gear. Where had they come from, and how did they get so close without her hearing them? What did they want? Were they going to attack? Good Lord, her rifle was back at the wagon.

One Indian, the tallest of them all, stared straight at her. His eyes were broadly outlined in black and set deep in a chiseled face surrounded by long, stiff hair. A chill ran up her back. All Jenny could think was, they are real-live savages, before she grabbed Sophie roughly and pulled the child to her side. The breeze brought their smell in an overwhelming stench. She fought the urge to hold her nose.

Jenny couldn’t take her eyes from the one tall Indian. Her mind recorded Rance and Zane behind her, near the wagons, too far away for her to hear, and in the background the shouts and laughter of children romping in the tall grasses wafted on the breeze.

Suddenly, the guards arrived from the herd at a gallop, shouting for Rance. “Indians! They’re here! Indians!”

Jenny’s attention shifted. Both Rance and Zane met the guards at a dead run, grabbing for the bridles to stop the prancing horses.

“Where?” they yelled at the same time.

“At the edge of the herd. They’re just sitting there on their horses, not doing anything. Sprung up right out of the mist.”

Zane grabbed the reins of the nearest horse and swung up. “How many?” he shouted, already in the act of spurring the animal into a run.

“Seven of ʼem. Just sitting there, waiting-like.”

Rance was right behind Zane. He yelled, “Take your stations everybody. Be ready for anything.”

In the half light of early morning, the Indians sat motionless astride the dappled ponies they loved. They could have been cut from the earth itself with their dusky skin and unreadable faces. Each carried a weapon of some sort. A curved bow and a quiver of arrows, or a long decorated lance.

Jenny seemed rooted to the spot.

“Comanches,” Zane said.

Jenny remembered their reputation. They aren’t painted for war, but with that long greasy hair, stocky thick bodies…she wasn’t sure her heart was still beating. They looked more fierce and wild than anything she’d imagined.

Rance pulled his horse up beside Zane. “You know Comanch’?” he asked quietly.

Zane answered under his breath, “Some.” He faced the line of ponies. “Hini?” What? Do you want something? he asked, loudly.

The middle Indian pointed to the herd and put two fingers up beside his ears. Like horns, Jenny thought. The Indian grunted, equally loud, and held out two fingers to Zane. “Haa!”

“He wants two cows or maybe oxen,” Zane said to Rance. Then to the Indian, “You want cows?”

The Indian launched into an earsplitting tirade, only a part of which Zane understood. Zane’s hands went into action, signing words and whole phrases, Jenny guessed. The Indians understood.

Zane said. “Their language is close to Shoshone and I get along all right in Shoshone, but I don’t get every word.”

“My land!” the man screamed. “Not your land. My land.”

Zane understood enough to know what they wanted. He turned in the saddle. “My guess is they’re demanding two cows in payment for crossing their land. They’re asking for a toll.”

“No.” Rance said firmly. “No cows.”

“Uh,” Zane began. “You might want to give them the cows. They….”

“It’s robbery. No cows.”

“We could have paid a toll for the ferry back at the Loup. Why not here?”

Rance glared at Zane. “And we chose not to, if you remember.”

“We might not have a choice here.”

“Our choice is whether or not to be lorded over by a bunch of ragged heathens.”

They stared at one another for a long minute before Rance turned to the line of waiting Indians. “No cows,” he repeated. “Not now. Not ever.”

Stony-faced, the Indians stared at Rance. “Hubi” Woman.

Zane said, “They want a woman.”

Rance’s head jerked around. “A woman! What woman?”

Zane kept his face blank and asked, “Hubi?”

He rattled off another blast of words, gestured first at Jenny, then at the sky, and ended with, “Hubi!”

Zane frowned. “Something about the sun and a woman. I think he wants either cows or a woman by sundown.” He glanced at Jenny. “Maybe her.”

Rance made a harsh sound. “Not on his life.”

The Indian repeated, “Hubi!”

“No hubi.” Rance said, making a sideways swipe with one hand. “No cows and no hubi. You go.”

For one long moment no one moved. The Indians didn’t even blink. Then, without a movement that Zane could see, the horses turned around and moved away slowly. The Indians rode with great dignity, their backs straight and heads high. At some unseen, unheard command all seven of the horses broke into a trot and then a gallop. The men rode so smoothly they looked to be part of the horse.

“My God,” Rance breathed. “Did you see that?”

Zane spoke without looking at Rance. “That’s why Comanches are called The Horse People. They’re the best horsemen you’ll ever see.

But Rance had recovered. “They wanted cows or a woman. Maybe both.” He spat on the ground. “We give ʼem two cows now, they’ll want twice that many the next time. And as for a woman…. They’re a bunch of dirty, stupid….”

Zane reined his horse back toward the wagons and interrupted. “They aren’t stupid by a long shot. We may be sorry we didn’t give them two cows.”

His point was proven when during the next night, two cows disappeared.

With much waving of the arms, a guard rode into camp declaring they’d just vanished. No one had seen nor heard anything. It was like witchcraft. The cows were just gone.

Jenny spent the day shivering in spite of the heat, and wondering if the tall Indian, the one who had done the talking, had really wanted her. He had, after all, pointed at her. If he’d taken the cows, why hadn’t he taken her too? Would he be back?

~*~

I’ve really enjoyed this chat. If any of you have read a book or two of mine, I’d love to hear from you. Because I delete by subject, please put “Interview” in that spot, and I’ll get back to you.

As I write, the ground is covered with seven inches of snow and the temperature hovers just above freezing, BUT I heard a cardinal sing his mating song this morning. Hurrah! Spring, when all of nature is reborn, can’t be too far ahead. My imagination is already at work on my next book, SEASONS. The story is about four generations of women who, by necessity, live under the same roof. I’m exploring their differences (egad are there ever differences!), and the surprising ways in which they--and all women--are the same: steadfast, loyal, vulnerable and yet courageous, supportive and above all, needing each other.

Blessings on each of you and, don’t forget, our best chance of success is the application of the seat of the pants to the chair. Write! Write! Write!

The one's you wish you'd written

How many times do you come across a line or phrase that catches you by the throat and you think 'I wish I'd written that!'? 

Well today it happened to me.  It may be that when you read it, you'll wonder what all the fuss is about, but then, that's the wonder of writing - and reading.  What grabs one reader's attention will bypass another without rising above their radar. 

Diversity:-)  - that's what writing is all about.

Take my own genre, romance.  Not so long ago there were half a dozen sub-genres. Today the 'romance' genre encompasses almost every other writing genre going, and has even added several new ones, too.

So it's not surprising there is such a vast diversity of opinions out there.

I belong to a wonderful group IWW where I have met and learned from some amazing writers,  and today  I opened my email and read through one of the current topics, 'The Novel-writing Process‏'  I was intrigued by the number of variations used by writers before and during their writing process.  And then I opened an email by Richard Bylina and in it was a line I wished I'd written...

"And each time, it's done differently, because inspiration and hard work are like bickering lovers unable to survive alone."

I'd love to hear what your favourite lines are and where they come from.