Guest Author ~ Regan Walker

Regan Walker

Today, Regan Walker is my guest. Her new book, a historical regency romance, Against the Wind, was released last month. I have a few questions she has graciously agreed to answer. 

First, here is the a hint about her new book, Against the Wind:

Amidst the rising winds of revolution, Agent of the Crown Sir Martin Powell alone can win the heart of--and protect--the elusive Lady Egerton.

1.     How long did it take you to write Against the Wind? About a year, though I was not writing full time.

2.     How much research did you conduct for Against the Wind and what was the most interesting thing you did while conducting your research?

Against the Wind is the second in the Agents of the Crown trilogy. I had already done a lot of research on France and Regency England in the 1815-1817 timeframe for my first novel, Racing With The Wind. Nevertheless, I did a lot more research for Against the Wind, both online and from books and live sources (particularly for some scenes in Derbyshire).

The story of Sir Martin, a spy for the Crown in France who returns to England for one last assignment, and his lady love, Katherine Lady Egerton is a complex tale. It is set in a period when England feared the Revolution in France would spread to its shores. After the Napoleonic Wars, the people of England were tired of the tax burden and an aristocracy that governed them but knew little of their needs. My novel features the Pentrich Rebellion of 1817 in Derbyshire, dubbed “the last revolution in England,” a government inspired uprising when mere villagers challenged the power of the Crown. I had to learn about the Midlands of England in 1817 and what conditions led to the villagers’ unhappiness. I had to research the various players in the rebellion, some of whom are characters in my novel. Then I had to understand each event that led to the uprising on June 9^th. Since he’s a character, I also had to research William Cavendish the 6^th Duke of Devonshire and his grand estate of Chatsworth in Derbyshire where several scenes take place (it’s pictured on the cover of my novel). There were many ancillary issues to research, as well, like highwaymen’s attacks on the road north of London, Lord Sidmouth’s spies sent out to uncover the “centers of discontent,” weddings, marchpane for dessert and jewelry, and well, you see, it’s complicated.

3.     I understand you have made your own trailers, yes?

Yes, I did and I did it virtually for free using trial software. It was difficult and some days I was tearing out my hair but I felt so good to have done them. Even though they aren’t perfect, they do give you a sense of the books. You can see them on my website on the “Novels” page or here:

Racing With The Wind: http://youtu.be/m5ajOm_rmfU

Against the Wind: http://youtu.be/F39tLElacYM

4.     Why did you decide to write historical romance? I write historical romance because it’s what I love to read. Then, too, I really am passionate about the research. Diving into the past is interesting to me.

5.     Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions when typing, The End? I am compulsive about editing as I go, constantly adding details and nuances in dialog. Then, when I’m done, I reedit the whole thing. When that’s complete, I send it to my beta readers and edit more after I get their thoughts. All that occurs before my editor ever sees it.

6.     When you are writing, who is in control? You or your characters? It depends. I’m inside their heads, and sometimes they surprise me with their thoughts, but I decide the direction of the action.

7.     Have you had any "ah ha" moments as a writer? Yes! Both minor and major moments. Like creating a character and discovering such a person actually existed. Or, in Racing With the Wind (book 1), I conceived of a treacherous scheme against the restored Bourbon king, Louis XVIII, and then learned after I wrote the book that 10 years after the time my story took place such a plot actually happened.

8.     What advice do you have for other writers? Write what you love and do it your way. Get it written, get it critiqued and beta read and get it published. These days there are many options. Hang in there and don’t let the naysayers get you down.

9.     What was the most exciting thing that happened to you after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a published author? Seeing my book on Amazon and getting my first 5-star review (from no one I knew!).

10.  How does your family feel about your career as a romance writer? Amused because I’ve always been so serious, and pleased because I finally have something to do that I love that isn’t dull in their eyes.

11.  What do you want your readers to take away with them after reading the story? I want them to love the characters and grow with them. Oh, and I also like to think they have been swept away to another time and place and loved it.

12.  What was the defining moment that you considered yourself an author? The publication of my first novel. Seeing it there on Amazon and the other online bookstores. It still gives me a thrill.

13.  With so many changes in publishing over the past year, where do you see the future of publishing going? More self-published authors will enter the market and they will write some of the best. More books will be sold as eBooks only. Though I still love reading paperbacks, the world is going to eReaders and so I have one of those, too. I am a major reviewer of historical romance with my own blog, Regan’s Romance Reviews (http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com) and many of the novels I read for reviews are eBook only like mine.

14.  What makes a man attractive to you? Oooo, what a fun question! On the visual side, I like ‘em tall, dark and handsome, always have. But I am most attracted to a man’s mind and his character. He has to be a thinker and a reader to hold my attention, and he has to be honest, patient and courageous. And I should add, a man of faith. I know, I know. Such men are rare.

15.  What is the most interesting thing you’ve ever done?

That would be becoming a mother. It showed me depths in my own character I never realized. The kind of absolute love one can feel for a child is amazing.

16. What’s your biggest dream?

Other than meeting a man to share the rest of my life with or having one of my novels made into a movie, it would be a summer to travel with my best friend and a second home in Scotland or Ireland. And I’d like to do something significant…help others in a way that uses my gifts, perhaps working with children.

17.  If you were a millionaire would you still write? Yes. I don’t make any real money doing this (yet). I write because I love it. 

Back Cover Copy:

A night in London’s most exclusive bordello. Agent of the Crown Sir Martin Powell would not normally indulge, but the end of his time spying against Napoleon deserves a victory celebration. Yet, such pleasure will not come cheap. The auburn-haired courtesan he calls “Kitten” is in truth Katherine, Lady Egerton, a dowager baroness and the daughter of an earl as elusive as she is alluring. She flees a fate worse than death. But Martin has known darkness, too, and he alone can touch her heart--as she has touched his. To the English Midlands they will steal, into the rising winds of revolution.

Regan's Bio:

As a child Regan Walker loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors thought her suited to the profession of law, and Regan realized it would be better to be a hammer than a nail. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.

Regan has one grown son of whom she is very proud. She lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.

Get your copy of Against the Wind at: 

     http://boroughspublishinggroup.com 

     and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Wind-Agents-Crown-ebook/dp/B00BXIJ6QM.

Find Regan at: 

• Her website/blog http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com
• On Twitter @RegansReview 
• On Facebook Regan Walker
• And on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker

She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line via the “contact” page on her website:  http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/contact-regan.html

Winners of the 2012 Stella Awards Announced

This is not a writer's award. But some of these stories are better than the ones we create. 

For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico , where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know the kind of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy

Here are the Stella Awards for this past year—2012

I've changed the names to protect the innocent, me!

* SEVENTH PLACE *

Katherine of Austin , Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.

Start scratching!

* SIXTH PLACE *

Charlie, 19, of Los Angeles, California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Charlie apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

Scratch some more...

* FIFTH PLACE *

Ted, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Ted, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Ted pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog  food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Ted $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish

Keep scratching. There are more...

* FOURTH PLACE *

Jeremy, of Little Rock , Arkansas , garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Jeremy did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Jeremy had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..

* THIRD PLACE *

Anne  of Lancaster , Pennsylvania sued a Philadelphia restaurant. A jury ordered the Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Anne had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?

Only two more so ease up on the scratching...

*SECOND PLACE*

Karla, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Karla was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.

Ok. Here we go!! Drum roll ...

* FIRST PLACE *

This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mavis  of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mavis sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner’s manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down? $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mavis has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.

Do you have anyone you'd like to nominate?

Guest Author ~ Tia Nevitt

Today's post is an interview with Carina Press author Tia  Nevitt. Her new book, The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf, was released this past Monday. It's an fantasy romance, one of my favorite kind of stories. Check out the bottom of today's post for a Tia Nevitt exclusive give away!

Not even a stint in the military as an aircraft mechanic could erase Tia Nevitt’s love of fairy tales. To this day, she loves to read (and write) books that take her to another place, or another time, or both. She also dabbles in calligraphy, violin, piano and songwriting. Tia has worked on an assembly line, as a computer programmer, a technical writer and a business analyst. She lives in the southeast with her husband and daughter.

Tia’s novella, The Sevenfold Spell, won the 2012 EPIC ebook award for Fantasy. 

Here is a short description of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf.

This story is about the mysterious face within the magic mirror of the Snow White story—who he is, how he came to be there, and why he finds the queen so lovely. It is also about the seven dwarfs, why they live together, and how two of them fell in love and came to defeat the evil queen.

Here are some questions that Tia has answered so we can get to know her better.

1.     How long did it take you to write The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf? About six months, with another two months of revisions.

2.     How much research did you conduct for The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf and what was the most interesting thing you did while conducting your research?

This was my most research-intensive book. I researched German farmouses, the kingdoms of Medieval Germany, images and videos of the Black Forest, the German language, deaf communities and most of all, achondroplasia.

For German farmhouses, it started with a question—what were German farmhouses like? Aren’t the style of farmhouses universal?

Certainly not. I read, fascinated, of the icon German farmhouse architecture—those immense buildings covered with windows, and timbers making squares and Xs almost at random all across the structure. I learned how they were designed that way so the farm family and the animals all lived in one structure—the animals in stalls toward the front and the family in more homey quarters to the back.

The other research topics might be obvious, but why deaf communities? I lived near one many years ago, and I started wondering if the whole idea of seven dwarfs living together might have evolved in a similar way as deaf communities. I decided that to reach such a conclusion was well within the confines of what is permissible with literary license. J

And finally, not only did I read all I could about classic dwarfism—achondroplasia—but I looked into day-to-day living challenges as a little person. I discovered furnishings for little people, specifically designed clothing (a grown man can’t shop in the kid’s section), and even things that don’t apply to the middle ages—like mechanisms to make driving possible—because it helped me develop what I hope was the proper mindset.

3.     Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions when typing, The End?

I needed plenty of revisions! And when I thought I was done, I sent it in. It was accepted but then what did I need more of? Revisions! Lots of them! With The Sevenfold Spell, I did not have much of a developmental edit phase at all. But with The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf, it seemed like there was a lot more.

Of course, that COULD have been because the story is almost twice as long.

4.     When you are writing, who is in control? You or your characters?

For this story, I was more in control. I was definitely more disciplined, and when I did go off into flights of fancy, I took a hard look at the resulting scene to determine if it really needed to stay in the story. If not, into the discards file it went. Ange as the Tattered Princess almost made it into that file, until I realized how important that scene would be to Richard’s emotional development.

That’s not to say that I don’t have to obey my characters when they insist on having their way. A certain scene involving Gretchen, Lars, a moonlit river, and nudity? That was all Gretchen’s idea, and I wasn’t about to stop her.

(And believe it or not, this book is rated PG-13!)

5.     What advice do you have for other writers?

Finish your first book, and then write another one.

I ran a blog focused on debut novelists for over three years and almost all of the writers said that they had written multiple books before they wrote one that sold. In one case—Alex Bledsoe—he had about 5 or 6 unpublished novels when his book, The Sword-Edged Blonde, was published. And  then guess what happened? He started selling his other books.

Don’t think of them as unsold books. Think of them as inventory. J

And yes, I have taken my own advice. I have an unsold series that will always be my trunk novels, plus two additional novels that I consider inventory. Even my trunk series is ripe for reuse; I have always wanted to use that magic system in another story.

6.  What do you want your readers to take away with them after reading the story?

I want them to have a smile on their faces.

7.  With so many changes in publishing over the past year, where do you see the future of publishing going?

I think books are going to be cheaper, and authors and publishers will, as a consequence, sell a lot more of them. I already see fiction evolving to be more immersive for the reader as ebook readers begin to do more than simply display text. I see the size of the press mattering less and less, while the quality still has to equal that of Big Six houses.

Anyway, those are my predictions.

8.  If you were a millionaire would you still write?

Are you kidding me? Being a millionaire would allow me to write for a living. I would put out a healthy four books a year. When I run into writer’s block for one idea, I’ll simply pursue another. And thus I would earn my next million!

To tempt you even more, here is the copy for the back cover of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf.

Book two in Accidental Enchantments.

Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and avoids people.

 ll her life, Gretchen has been teased for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet strength.

 Danger looms when Gretchen meets a runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby, Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all. Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.

 If either Gretchen or Richard are to have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all…

Get your copy of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf at Carina Press and on Amazon.

Find her at her website/blog www.tianevitt.com

On Twitter @tianevitt and Facebook www.facebook.com/tia.nevitt

GIVEAWAY: All readers who leave a comment will be entered into my weekly giveaway, detailed here: http://www.tianevitt.com/2013/02/week-long-giveaway-of-all-my-releases-1/

An Award? For Me?

And you thought the award season was over!

My friend from Writing Divas, Joelene Coleman, writing as Harley Brooks, has nominated me for the R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. Award.  Her book, Designer Genes, is due out this spring.

This award came with a list of rules:

The questions:

If you could change one thing, what would you change?

I would have started writing sooner. I've had stories percolating in my head for years but never put them down on paper.

If you could repeat any age, what would that be?

To be honest, I don’t want to repeat any age. I like who I've become and I don’t think I could have gotten here any other way. Besides, if I picked one I might not make the same mistakes, just new ones!

What is the one thing that really scares you?

Bugs! I've captured them under a trash basket and let Paul handle them when he comes home from work hours later. I’m not great with scary movies either. And scary movies with bugs EEEEK!

If you could be someone else for the day, who would it be?

I’m going to change this question around. It’s not who I would like to be for day but who I would like to be with for a day. My mom. She was always reading a book and she thought she hid the romance novels so my sister Bernice and I wouldn't find them. I’d like to hear what she has to say about my stories.

My nominees for the R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. Award are:

Jessica Lauryn

Karen Cino

Tanya Goodwin

P.A. DePaul

Maria Ferrer

All nominees must:

Visit the blog of the person who nominated you, thank them, and acknowledge them on your blog.

Answer the questions above and nominate up to 20 bloggers whom you feel are awesome and deserving of notice. Visit their blog and let them know.

Cut and paste the award above to your wall.

Thanks for stopping by and to my nominees...thanks for playing along. Do stop by and visit their sites. They've all got great stories to share! 

Me and Lady Jane

Three years ago I had just written my first book, Knight of Runes, and met NY Times Best Selling author Leanna Renee Hieber at the New York City RWA chapter meeting. Feeling a bit like a fish out of water, over the next few months Leanna encouraged me and kept my spirits up midst rejections and rewrites.  She also told me about Lady Jane’s. It sounded like one of the great European salons where people sat and talked about the arts with artists and writers. I thought the idea of a salon dedicated to romance readings was brilliant. I went to my first reading and found myself in a world of fiction and romance. People spoke about characters as if they really existed and places that were real enough to visit. I met authors, editors, agents, and readers.

Me getting ready to read

Fast forward to this month. I've just finished the edits on my new story, The Guardian’s Witch, and got it off to my editor. I can’t wait to see my cover. But more exciting than that was Hope Tarr’s invitation to read at Lady Jane’s Salon in New York City this month. There I was. Reading at Lady Jane’s Salon.

I read excerpts from various sections of Knight of Runes and took the audience from Rebeka meeting Lord Arik to their first kiss. I have to tell you, each time I read the story I love it more.

Knight of Runes - in print!

I found myself in great company from the audience that included friends from NYCRWA and Eloisa James…

Me and Eloisa

…to the NYTimes best selling authors that were also reading Jennifer Probst, Hope Tarr, and Sarah Maclean.

Sarah, Ron, Jennifer, Me, Hope, and Leanna

Jennifer Probst read from her book, The Marriage Bargain. The story is about a marriage in name only between a woman in dire financial straits and a billionaire who needs a wife in order to get his inheritance.  It was a wonderful funny excerpt.

Hope Tarr read from her new story, Project Cinderella the third in her Suddenly Cinderella Series of unlikely Cinderella’s that are helped along by their fairy-godmothers in a contemporary re-telling of Cinderella.

The fourth reader in our quartet, Sarah Maclean, read from her new story One Good Earl Deserve a Lover. This excerpt was about a prime and proper young lady who propositions the most notorious rogue in London in order to learn all about the art of love making before she marries.

It was Lady Jane's Fourth Anniversary. We toasted with champagne, ate delicious cupcakes provided by Entangled Publishing and had tastes of chocolate vodka from Three Olives Vodka.

New York City isn't the only venue for Lady Jane. There are Lady Jane Salons in Denver, CO, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Naperville (Chicago area), IL, and San Diego, CA. A new salon will be opening soon in Greenville, SC!

Lady Jane's Salon meets the first Monday of every month (that in two weeks!) at Madam X in SoHo.

Here's to another four wonderful years of romance reading!

(photographs courtesy of Lady Jane's Salon)

Also posted on Blame It On The Muse.

Guest Author ~ Shawna Thomas

Today's post is an interview with Carina Press author Shawna Thomas. Her new book, Journey of Awakening, was released this past Monday. It's an epic fantasy, my kind of story. 

Shawna Thomas - Website

Winner of a 2011 RT Reader’s Choice award for her debut book, Altered Destiny, Shawna Thomas has been making up stories ever since finishing Gone With The Wind. Once she put her own ending in writing, there was no looking back. A wife and a mother of seven, (yes seven!) Shawna lives in California where she gardens, writes, and drinks lots of coffee.

Here is a short description of Shawna's Journey to Awakening. 

Trained from birth for one purpose, Sara must reunite three ancient stones to restore balance to the land but one of the stone keepers has other plans.

To get to know Shawna better, she has answered a few questions. 

Available at Amazon and Carina Press

1.     How long did it take you to write Journey of Awakening? Well, it depends which time. I started writing this story over ten years ago. It’s changed much since then. The last version was done like a speed round. I had a newborn who did not sleep and a two month deadline to rewrite the manuscript. It’s a blur.  

2.     How much research did you conduct for Journey of Awakening and what was the most interesting thing you did while conducting your research? Unfortunately, a lot of researched material ended up on the cutting room floor. But Sara is a healer, so I spent hours researching herbal cures for different ailments. I found it fascinating and I tried several of them. They do work!

3.     Why did you decide to write fantasy? I’m not sure I ever decided to write fantasy. Rather it’s the way my brain is wired. However, I did publish erotic contemporary romance and gave it up for a chance to write and publish fantasy.

4.     Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions when typing, The End? Hah! I write fairly clean. (Looking over my shoulder to see what my editor might say) but I love revision. The first draft is usually bare bones. The next draft I’m adding flesh and bone, the next I’m dressing it up. I guess I write in layers.

5.     When you are writing, who is in control? You or your characters? It depends. I give my characters a lot of say. I think it’s one of the marks of a writer that they can argue with a character. These people have personality and depth. We just bring it out. But ultimately, I’m in charge. LOL I can almost hear my characters arguing with me.

6.     Have you had any "ah ha" moments as a writer? Oh yes, some of them embarrassing. Ah ha, this isn’t poetry, it’s narrative. Ah ha, no one will read my book just to glance around my world, something has to happen...

7.     What advice do you have for other writers? Don’t compare yourself to others. I have to tell myself this often, especially in regards to productivity. I don’t have much time to write so I’m not typically going to publish a book every six months. (This year is an exception)

8.     What was the most exciting thing that happened to you after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a published author? My sister works for a hotel chain. She was across the country and mentioned to one of the managers that her sister was a writer. The man had read my book! It was amazing and humbling and wow!

9.     How does your family feel about your career as a romance writer? Hmm... My kids think I’m playing on the computer. From time to time one of my daughters will ask me how much money I’m making. (As in can we get a pool yet) My husband loves it. I don’t think most of them really understand what it means.

10.  What do you want your readers to take away with them after reading the story? I want them to fall in love with the characters. I want it to plant a seed in their imagination. I want them to want more. I want them to say, Ahhhh.

11.  What was the defining moment that you considered yourself an author? Defining moment... I’m not sure there has been one. I think it’s been a gradual thing. I do consider myself an author, but it wasn’t the first or even second book published that did it. Maybe when I won the RT reader award. That was pretty epic!

12.  With so many changes in publishing over the past year, where do you see the future of publishing going? I think we’re heading more toward electronic books. Two years ago it shocked me that my family didn’t know what an e-reader was. Now most of them have one or at least know what it is.

13.  What makes a man attractive to you? A good sense of humor. Oh, and he must have nice eyes and a good voice.

14.  What is the most interesting thing you’ve ever done? LOL. Do you really want to know that? I’m not sure it’s the most interesting but I’ve trapped and skinned a beaver. I used to live in Washington State and there was Indian trapper that wanted to teach me how to live like my ancestors. He took me trapping, taught me to make moccasins. FYI: You only eat the tail. The rest of it is inedible.

15.  What’s your biggest dream? Ten or twenty things came to mind, but you know, I am living my biggest dream. I would like my books to be successful. So I guess my biggest dream is to captivate people with my words.

16.  If you were a millionaire would you still write? Oh yes. I write because I love it. Because it’s part of who I am. But I’d have a maid come in once a week to take care of the house. Okay maybe twice. And someone to come in a few hours a day to watch the kiddos.

17.  Seven children! How do you find the time? Coffee! Their ages range from 24 to 8 months. The older ones help out with the younger ones. With a new baby I plot and plan during diaper changes and laundry and write during nap time. But definitely coffee keeps me going.

      To tempt you even more, here is the back cover copy of Journey of Awakening.

      After her grandfather's death, Sara inherits an ancient pendant and a near-impossible quest—master the mysterious pendant's source of magic. Driven to do so, she must find the other two stones of power, long considered lost, while preventing an unknown enemy from finding her first.

      Unprepared and alone, she travels to where the keepers of the stones, the Siobani, were last seen. Along the way she meets Tobar, leader of the nomadic Heleini tribe. As Sara wrestles with feelings for this intriguing man, she is also invigorated with her grandfather's passion to find the ancient Siobani race.

      After a rival tribe kidnaps Tobar's son and heir, Sara must harness the stone's healing magic to unite the tribes and save the boy. But as the dark power stalking her gains ground, will she continue on her quest to reach the Siobani or risk everything to save the warring tribes from eliminating each other?

You can find Shawna on Twitter: authorSThomas and Facebook: Shawna Guzman (Shawna Thomas)

She also loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at Shawna@shawnathomas.com 

Thank you Shawna!  

Presenting Guest Author, Liz Flaherty

Today Liz Flaherty joins us. She is a good friend and, as you will see, a fellow Carina Press author. Liz, tell us what you've been doing.

Life is new and wonderful for me these days. I retired from the post office in 2011, promptly gained 15 pounds--overnight, I swear!--and promised my grandkids, The Magnificent Seven, that I would make each of them a bed-size quilt. I also planned to write all day, every day.

What was I thinking?

I've learned to write when I feel like it, sew when I feel like it, and maybe even to eat a little less--or maybe not. For the first time, we're wintering in Florida and I'm enjoying the newness of it. I'm having a Very, Very Good time.

I recently finished the sixth quilt and my sixth book--I'm not an overnight success, but I never give up. JAR OF DREAMS, is a new release by Carina Press. I am thrilled to the point everyone I know rolls their eyes as soon as I open my mouth. 

Six quilts! I'm impressed. Liz, tell us a little about JAR OF DREAMS. 

For as long as she can remember, Lucy Dolan has been jotting down her hopes on slips of paper and saving them in a pickle jar—her jar of dreams. It was the first thing she saved when the beloved family diner went up in flames, and it's safely buckled in her beat-up minivan when she lands in Taft, Indiana, to start over. She rents a room and goes into business with her landlady, but then Gert's nephew comes charging in to "rescue" his aunt.

 Boone Brennan will be damned if he'll let Lucy take advantage of Aunt Gert, who raised him and his sister. Believing that she's just passing through, he's deeply suspicious of her—despite the sparks that fly between them.

Just as Boone and Lucy are starting to open up to each other, a series of fires throws Lucy under suspicion. Boone wants to trust her and his feelings, but with the whole town against her, will he stay by her side? Or will Lucy move on and find another place to make her dreams come true?

This sounds like a great story. I have a few questions for you.

Happy Holidays!

I love this time of year with all the excitement and anticipation as we get closer to our family celebration. Our children are on their own and our celebrations have grown to include in-laws and grandchildren. It’s a wonderful time with family. While our daughters and grandchildren live close by, our son comes home from Boston, everyone sleeps over and well, it’s wonderful. Here is some music for you to enjoy. From our house to your's, have a happy and healthy holiday and new year!

Merry Christmas

Happy Hannukah

Happy Kwanzaa

Happy Winter Soltice

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Author Joanna Chambers was kind enough to tag me in the Next Big Thing blog hop. The blog hope requires me to answer ten questions about whatever my next "big thing" is and then I tag five hapless victims other authors to carry on to infinity and beyond.

Basically it's a fun way of finding out a little something about what your favorite authors are up to while being introduced to authors who might be new to you. You don't have to do anything and no one is giving anything away, so no pressure. Just hop around and enjoy what everyone has to say.

1. What is the working title of your book?
   Mine Forever is the working title. My editor has already told me it needs to be changed. FLASH! The new title is The Guardian's Witch.
2. Where did the idea come for this book come from?
   I met someone who mentioned they were a caulbearer (born with a veil over their face) and researched the folk lore. Caulbearers as said to be excellent healers, have visions, and bear kings. Putting my caulbearer heroine in the 13th century was a natural.
3. What is the genre of the book?
   This story is a historical fantasy set on the border of England and Scotland in 1290.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your character in a movie rendition?
   I think Jennifer Love Hewitt would be good as Lisbeth, my heroine.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
   
   Newly minted Lord Alex Stelton, finds his life in jeopardy after the king awards him Lady Lisbeth's cursed castle. Someone, or something, wants him dead.  The knight’s trusted friend, Lord Bryce Mitchell, secretly wants it all, the castle and the woman, and he’ll stop at nothing to get them. In order to save the man she loves and prevent being married off to Bryce, Lisbeth must make a crucial decision; dare she rely on her knight to find a way to save them both or does she trust her magic and risk exposure and persecution as a witch? (Sorry, I couldn't do it one sentence)
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency/publisher?
   Carina Press has scheduled this book for publication July 1, 2013
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
   It took me five months to write the first draft.
8. What other books would you compare your story to within your genre?
   I would compare by story to those by Julie Garwood.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
   A friend of mine told me she was born with caul, a veil over her face. I did some research and the story leaped out of my research.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
    This is the first of a series of stories about seven brothers each plagued with the curse of a deadly sin. They must overcome their sin for an opportunity to vanquish man who cursed them.

I hope you're looking forward to my new series. My tagged victims are Liz Flaherty and Jessica Lauryn

10 Ways to Stay Motivated While You Write

Writing is difficult. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not. My stories start in my head. I hear dialogue, I see scenery, I even hear the exposition. Getting it down on paper and keeping my tushy in the chair is another thing entirely. It can be downright challenging. Here are some ways that may help you to stay motivated.

Take a short time to organize. I’m a ‘plotzer’ – cross between a planner and pantzer I use a basic story outline to know my story’s direction. For me, detailed planning prevents my characters telling me where things are going. I know that sounds strange, but detailed planning for me (and I stress for me), interferes with some of my creativity. So, I use a basic outline and character study (index cards or notes). It’s the character study I find most valuable and where I spend my time. I get close with my characters.  Once I know them well writing flows easier and easier writing keeps me motivated. If I get stumped, I go back to my outline, character study, or do some ‘what if’ scenarios. It recharges me and keeps me writing.

Set Deadlines. Deadlines work for some people. For me, they definitely are part of my day job and I had aggressive ones with my editor. I know the punishment for missing these deadlines but what would really happen if I missed a self-imposed writing deadline? Move the date? Besides, I’m a real softy. Ask my kids. So to quote Nathan Bransford “The trick is setting a deadline with teeth. If you secretly know that the deadline you’re setting for yourself is a soft one, it’s not going to have its hair-raising, stress-inducing maximum effect. So either you have to learn to be scared of yourself and your own punishments or you may need a partner in crime who can help you keep to them.”

Daydream a Little. Picture what it will be like when you book is completed and you ship it off for query to an agent/editor. Dream about the possibilities of a successful novel, keynote at RWA, Pulitzer (when they have a romance category), and movie option. It all depends on completing what you write. Tuck the daydream in a nice cozy place and come back to the present and make it happen.

Journalize. Writers usually keep a journal or pad handy for jotting down story and character ideas. Use your journal to clarify your obstacles, then think of ways around writing problems, like plot difficulties or difficult decisions about how to organization your story. Perhaps solving these difficulties will motivate you to keep on going.

Just start typing. Momentum can be invaluable in making progress. Even 10 minutes of uninterrupted writing can be helpful. Find time during the day to write, at lunch, commuting, waiting in line at the grocer, at soccer game practice, you see what I mean.

Skip ahead. I tell you this technique but admit I do not follow it myself. I am a linear writer. I find it very difficult to write ‘out of order.’ However, just because it doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. So, if you’re stuck about writing the next thing, skip it for now and try jumping ahead to the next piece you’re excited about. You can come back to the part you skipped later.

Talk with your critique partner or someone who supports your writing. For me, talking about my work in progress gets me excited. Sometimes that is all I need to stay motivated. I was stuck on a fight scene and spoke to my son (he’s grown) and Rayna Vause (a writer who is also a martial arts expert). Both gave me the support I needed and valuable insight. And while it’s not true of everyone, a lot of people—both writers and readers—are flattered to be asked to talk with a writer about a work in progress.

Move Around. Sometimes you need to move out of your space, physically, to reset your mind. I get up and go downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water or cup of tea. (Sometimes even chocolate.) I come back to my desk renewed.

Write what You Love. Don’t try to catch a fad. It may be tempting, but most times it doesn’t work. You need to love your novel unconditionally if you’re going to finish it.

Your turn. What about you? What motivates you?