Welcome today, Maggie Dove. here is a bit about her.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Maggie Dove is a happily married housewife and mother of two, who has lived in the U.S. since she was five. As the granddaughter of a famous Cuban writer and publisher, writing is in her blood. Her family owned one of the oldest newspapers in the Americas. She’s had twenty-six of her letters to the editor published in The Miami Herald. Angel of Windword is her first novel published and the first of the Windword Trilogy.
Hello, it's so nice to be here. My publisher is Eternal Press
You can find them at www.eternalpress.ca or www.eternalpress.biz
My genre is Historical Romance with a mystery.
You can buy my books at www.eternalpress.biz,www.fictionwise.com, www.amazon.com,
Website: www.maggiedove.net
1. First of all, people love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
I started writing Angel of Windword in 1993 and put it away for many years. Last year, I took out the manuscript and revamped it and send it out again. I was completely thrilled when Eternal Press decided to publish it.
2.What's your favourite genre to write in?
Historical Romance and Mysteries.
3.Please tell us a little about your new book.
Angel of Windword takes place in France and England at the turn of the century. Evil forces are at play surrounding her, but she has no clue. It begins with a murder that takes place four years before and turns into a perilous cat and mouse game played by two reluctant lovers, who spin a web of deception that only their love can unravel. Having traded the blissful existence of her beloved Loire Valley, Angelique Beauvisage finds that Windword Hall has more than one villainous skeleton in the closet.
4. How do you devise your plots/characters?
The plot just came to me. I don’t spend too much time writing an outline. I jot things down as I go along.
5. What are you working on now?
The prequel to Angel of Windword. It is another historical/mystery. Angel of Windword is part of the Windword Trilogy. It takes place in 1870 London. It is about a young girl who has lost everything and is determined to become a duchess while a depraved rapist is determined to make her his next victim.
6. How can people keep up with your new releases?
By coming to my website: www.maggiedove.net
7. Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
Never quit
8. How would you write a good query letter?
Make it professional and interesting. It is easier said than done. I hate having to write the synopsis and the query, especially since so much is riding on it. I have great critique partners who are really good at it and they help a lot.
9. What is your response to rejection letters?
Throw them out and keep going.
10. Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
I love all of Jane Austin’s books, Withering Heights, Gone With The Wind, Presumed Innocent. I really enjoyed the movie A Good Year. I loved the Six Sense with Bruce Willis and The Others with Nichole Kidman. They really got me. I loved the twist in both. I had no idea!
Sean Connery when he was young. Sexiest man alive!
Here is an excerpt from maggies lastest release Angel of Windword.
His thunderous expression softened. “Come closer.” His eyes swept over her face as he caressed her cheek with the knuckle of his forehand. “I did not see her slap you, but your cheeks look burning hot. Answer something for me, Angelique,” he ordered gruffly. “Has that woman ever hit you before?”
Angelique drank in the comfort of his nearness. His touch was soft and soothing.
“Never,” she lied. “Victoria has never slapped me or hurt me. My lord, it was really my fault...I provoked her.”
He definitely will have his way with me and my place will be in his bed! Mon Dieu!
A guttural sound escaped her lips when she recalled her own words. She was not certain whether she was more distressed at having thrown those awful words at her stepmother or the dreadful possibility that Nicholas had actually overheard them.
Attempting to sound nonchalant, she stammered Victoria’s original question to him, “H-how long had you been standing there, monsieur? Did you...did you hear anything?” she asked in a faint whisper, her voice cracking with embarrassment.
“Hear what, my love?’ he asked innocuously.
“Monsieur, how long had you been standing there?” she repeated with mounting dread.
Then gazing at him, she suddenly wished she had not asked. His dark blue eyes sparkled with complete understanding as he stood casually against the doorjamb, strong arms folded across his chest, a devil of a smile beginning to form on his face.
“How long, monsieur…?”
Nicholas did not wait for her to finish. Without another word, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips. Then, just as suddenly, he let go of her, allowing her to fall back against the doorpost.
“Long enough to know I’m going to enjoy those willful ways of yours. Not to mention putting you in that bed of mine.”
Her heart pounding fast against her heaving chest, Angelique watched in stunned silence as Nicholas turned on his heel and made his exit. She could still feel his warm lips against hers as his deep, masculine chuckles echoed in the hallway.
A big thank you to Maggie for taking the time to do this interview. She'll love to see your comments on it.
The magazine to be in.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Welcoming Heather Kuehl
Good morning Every one.
Lots have been going on lately. I have joined a great new website and through them, I’ll be launching my first virtual book tour, on this blog, soon. So keep watching this page for updates. I’m still running the offer of Buy my latest release, The Heart of a Warrior in print and you will get a Meditation CD, composed by me, absolutely free. You can read all about The heart of a Warrior and my inspirational coffee break read, Two faces, One Life at WWW.margaret-west.com You can read about my CD’s at http://magsx.blogspot.com/
Right now I ‘m so happy to introduce, Heather Kuehl, a fellow Eternal Press author. Here is a little bit about her.
Heather Kuehl is the author of Fade to Black and Promises to Keep, as well as numerous short stores. Dawn from Love Romances and More said that "Fade To Black is one kick butt action-adventure ride from start to finish." More about her and her writing can be found at http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com. You can also follow her on Twitter (@heatherkuehl) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Kuehl/172267734681?ref=nf).
Publisher: Eternal Press (www.eternalpress.biz)
Genre: paranormal/fantasy/romance
Buy Link: Promises to Keep http://eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650480
First of all, people love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
My first big sale was when I sold Fade to Black to Eternal Press. I had already accumulated a ton of rejections slips and was sending it out one last time before putting it on the shelf for a while. I thought that perhaps people were tired of reading about werewolves. When Eternal Press responded, I had assumed that it would be another rejection...until I realized that rejection emails don't come with attachments. I opened it, screamed when I confirmed what it was, and started doing my happy dance after I read through the contract.
What is your favourite genre to write in?
I love the paranormal/fantasy world I've developed. I don't see why dragons can't exist in the same world as vampires and Walmart. Add a dash of romance, and everything is just right.
Please tell us a little about your new book.
My latest release, Promises to Keep, tells the story of Starlette DeFore. Starlette knows that her father is alive, even though her family buried him ten years ago. When a faerie confirms this she travels to Charleston, South Carolina to hunt down Sivad Night, the only person to have ever escaped from the hands of a powerful sorceress, the Dark Lady Dreashae. With help from a witch, Starlette travels into Verella, a fantasy realm filled with centaurs, dragons and magic. She is very close to finding her father, but first must defeat Dreashae. Will Starlette, a mere mortal, have the strength needed to finish her quest and save her father?
How do you devise your plots/characters?
Suddenly, everything just comes to me. I'll be sitting down, watching TV or playing with my son, and the entire summary of a book will come to me. Not only the summary, but names and descriptions too. I love when that happens, and I always keep a pen and paper near just in case.
What are you working on now?
I just finished writing Malevolent Dead, the sequel to Fade to Black. Malevolent Dead is the second out of three books in the Sarah Vargas series. I hope to have the final book, Blood Moon, finished by July. I am also working on something very different called The Wrong Man. It's a contemporary romance without a single paranormal creature in it, which is very new to me. New, yet exciting. I have no timeline on that though; I'll finish it when I can. I always keep an up to date works-in-progress list on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/malevolentdead
How can people keep up with your new releases?
I frequently update my website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook Fan Page with all up to date information. People can follow any of those and know what I am working on and what's coming out when.
Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
Keep at it and never give up. It's a long, hard road to get your name in print. Grow a thick skin, because some people in the writing world are not very nice.
How would you write a good query letter?
Short, simple, and to the point. I introduce myself and explain why I am contacting them. I make sure to follow the guidelines on the publisher's website, because nothing will get you rejected faster than ignoring their rules.
What is your response to rejection letters?
I don't respond, because many times the publisher thinks that you are trying to pick a fight. If they sent me a personal rejection, I read through their comments and polish up my manuscript. After all, they are editors and they know what they are talking about. I don't take it personally that they did not want my story.
Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
I love reading the genre that I write in. Kim Harrison, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Charlaine Harris are among my favorite authors. As for movies, anything with a lot of action and Ryan Reynolds. I especially loved him in Blade 3 and X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Thnak you so much Heather for taking the time to do this interview.
Lots have been going on lately. I have joined a great new website and through them, I’ll be launching my first virtual book tour, on this blog, soon. So keep watching this page for updates. I’m still running the offer of Buy my latest release, The Heart of a Warrior in print and you will get a Meditation CD, composed by me, absolutely free. You can read all about The heart of a Warrior and my inspirational coffee break read, Two faces, One Life at WWW.margaret-west.com You can read about my CD’s at http://magsx.blogspot.com/
Right now I ‘m so happy to introduce, Heather Kuehl, a fellow Eternal Press author. Here is a little bit about her.
Heather Kuehl is the author of Fade to Black and Promises to Keep, as well as numerous short stores. Dawn from Love Romances and More said that "Fade To Black is one kick butt action-adventure ride from start to finish." More about her and her writing can be found at http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com. You can also follow her on Twitter (@heatherkuehl) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Kuehl/172267734681?ref=nf).
Publisher: Eternal Press (www.eternalpress.biz)
Genre: paranormal/fantasy/romance
Buy Link: Promises to Keep http://eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650480
First of all, people love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
My first big sale was when I sold Fade to Black to Eternal Press. I had already accumulated a ton of rejections slips and was sending it out one last time before putting it on the shelf for a while. I thought that perhaps people were tired of reading about werewolves. When Eternal Press responded, I had assumed that it would be another rejection...until I realized that rejection emails don't come with attachments. I opened it, screamed when I confirmed what it was, and started doing my happy dance after I read through the contract.
What is your favourite genre to write in?
I love the paranormal/fantasy world I've developed. I don't see why dragons can't exist in the same world as vampires and Walmart. Add a dash of romance, and everything is just right.
Please tell us a little about your new book.
My latest release, Promises to Keep, tells the story of Starlette DeFore. Starlette knows that her father is alive, even though her family buried him ten years ago. When a faerie confirms this she travels to Charleston, South Carolina to hunt down Sivad Night, the only person to have ever escaped from the hands of a powerful sorceress, the Dark Lady Dreashae. With help from a witch, Starlette travels into Verella, a fantasy realm filled with centaurs, dragons and magic. She is very close to finding her father, but first must defeat Dreashae. Will Starlette, a mere mortal, have the strength needed to finish her quest and save her father?
How do you devise your plots/characters?
Suddenly, everything just comes to me. I'll be sitting down, watching TV or playing with my son, and the entire summary of a book will come to me. Not only the summary, but names and descriptions too. I love when that happens, and I always keep a pen and paper near just in case.
What are you working on now?
I just finished writing Malevolent Dead, the sequel to Fade to Black. Malevolent Dead is the second out of three books in the Sarah Vargas series. I hope to have the final book, Blood Moon, finished by July. I am also working on something very different called The Wrong Man. It's a contemporary romance without a single paranormal creature in it, which is very new to me. New, yet exciting. I have no timeline on that though; I'll finish it when I can. I always keep an up to date works-in-progress list on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/malevolentdead
How can people keep up with your new releases?
I frequently update my website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook Fan Page with all up to date information. People can follow any of those and know what I am working on and what's coming out when.
Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
Keep at it and never give up. It's a long, hard road to get your name in print. Grow a thick skin, because some people in the writing world are not very nice.
How would you write a good query letter?
Short, simple, and to the point. I introduce myself and explain why I am contacting them. I make sure to follow the guidelines on the publisher's website, because nothing will get you rejected faster than ignoring their rules.
What is your response to rejection letters?
I don't respond, because many times the publisher thinks that you are trying to pick a fight. If they sent me a personal rejection, I read through their comments and polish up my manuscript. After all, they are editors and they know what they are talking about. I don't take it personally that they did not want my story.
Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
I love reading the genre that I write in. Kim Harrison, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Charlaine Harris are among my favorite authors. As for movies, anything with a lot of action and Ryan Reynolds. I especially loved him in Blade 3 and X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Thnak you so much Heather for taking the time to do this interview.
Friday, 19 March 2010
Welcoming Angela Kay Austin
I am so pleased to introduce Angela Kay Austin to be my spotlight author.
This lady was very gracious enough to accept my apologies when my network went down and I could not keep her assigned date for her blog. I KNOW, through personal experience, how much work goes into promoting our interviews etc, but sometimes things are just out of our control.
So without further ado, here she is and you can find Angela at www.AngelaKayAustin.com
So Angela, please tell us what drew you to write in your current genre?
Hi Margaret and thank you for having me.
I like the idea of relationships that, even when sent through the wringer, are able to survive. Not just the relationship between a man and woman, but between friends, siblings, but parents and children, too.
How many novels have you written to date and are they all in the same genre?
I’ve completed, for submission, two manuscripts. However, I do have several that I am polishing to submit.
Authors opinions on plotting techniques differ across the board. So tell us, how much time do you spent on plotting before you start writing?
Well, thats a hard one to answer for me. I’ve only just begun to really use outlines. I am a true pantser. I change direction so quickly when I begin to write that I don’t think they’re as successful for me as for other writers.
Most of us writers have a favourite spot to write. Can you tell us where yours is?
At the moment I sit on my couch with my laptop. One day, I’d love to have a nice writing space, surrounded by windows vs. the walls of my basement.
Most authors I know have looked back occasionally at work they have written in the past and shuddered >g< So come on, confess, have you written anything like that?
Absolutely! The worst things was probably some of the stuff I wrote as a kid, and submitted to teen magazines. But as an adult, it would have to be my first manuscript. I loved it, but it still had a lot of the same mistakes as my teen stuff. I had every writing trick thrown in along with the kitchen sink. But, I didn’t know the proper use or purpose of any of it. I still love the story and I’m working on editing it for submission.
Tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is called, Love’s Chance. I began this book years ago while living in Pennsylvania. It was based on a lot of things I saw and experienced mixed with a little bit of fantasy. Chance O’Malley was the fantasy.
Anyway, here’s the blurb to whet your appetite:
To pay back her parents and prevent the loss of their family business, Sinclair Mosley leaves her family and friends behind. Pennsylvania doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but Chance O’Malley does. At the risk of losing everything that brought her to Pennsylvania, including her family’s restaurant, Sinclair must decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love.
How can readers keep up with your news?
They can visit my website: www.AngelaKayAustin.com, and sign-up for my newsletter. I’d love to have them visit.
Now to get to the nitty gritty that plagues all writers. How do you deal with rejection letters?
I hate them. As all writers do. Initially, I cried while eating lots of butter pecan ice cream. Then, I shook it off and began to write again. I figured if I could get to the point where I could get a publisher to do more than send me a standard letter rejection then I was getting better. I also entered a few contests. Anything to get feedback on my writing.
Most writers struggle for years to get published. What do you think about celebrities writing book?
For the celebrities I’m interested in reading about, I think it’s great. I think that anytime someone expresses themselves creatively it’s fabulous. For me, writing is therapeutic. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t write. I’m sure that with the creative nature of celebrities that they’ve got a tremendous amount of things they’d like to say.
Have you got any advise for authors about getting an agent?
The only thing I can really say is don’t let it stop you from writing and submitting if you don’t have one. Originally, I submitted to agents, but I didn’t receive much feedback. If I would have ended my journey there, I’d still be unpublished. And, who hasn’t heard a story about an agent that kept telling some writer to keep writing to the tune of how many books, only to then have the artist move on, and have every single piece published, and then an agent calls them.
What's your favourite part of writing?
Character development. I love deciding how they will all interact. What kind of parents are they? Do they have siblings? What have they been through? Why are they the person they are?
How do you get past all the frustrations that come with trying to be a successful writer?
I talk to my friends about what I’m trying to do, and why. Also, I join organizations that have some sort of social element for writers which allows me to be able to talk to other authors about what we’re all going through.
I often find that authors don't 'have time' to read themselves. What do you like to read, if anything?
I like anything that takes me to a different place. Sci-Fi. Contemporary. Women’s fiction.
So tell us Angela, what actor/actress gets your pulses racing?
Brad Pitt is beautiful, so is Johnny Depp. Talent-wise, they’re both fabulous, too. There just don’t seem to be many people that have the ability to disappear into their roles.
Well, thats it folks. Please leave Angela a comment, she'll be so pleased to hear from you.
This lady was very gracious enough to accept my apologies when my network went down and I could not keep her assigned date for her blog. I KNOW, through personal experience, how much work goes into promoting our interviews etc, but sometimes things are just out of our control.
So without further ado, here she is and you can find Angela at www.AngelaKayAustin.com
So Angela, please tell us what drew you to write in your current genre?
Hi Margaret and thank you for having me.
I like the idea of relationships that, even when sent through the wringer, are able to survive. Not just the relationship between a man and woman, but between friends, siblings, but parents and children, too.
How many novels have you written to date and are they all in the same genre?
I’ve completed, for submission, two manuscripts. However, I do have several that I am polishing to submit.
Authors opinions on plotting techniques differ across the board. So tell us, how much time do you spent on plotting before you start writing?
Well, thats a hard one to answer for me. I’ve only just begun to really use outlines. I am a true pantser. I change direction so quickly when I begin to write that I don’t think they’re as successful for me as for other writers.
Most of us writers have a favourite spot to write. Can you tell us where yours is?
At the moment I sit on my couch with my laptop. One day, I’d love to have a nice writing space, surrounded by windows vs. the walls of my basement.
Most authors I know have looked back occasionally at work they have written in the past and shuddered >g< So come on, confess, have you written anything like that?
Absolutely! The worst things was probably some of the stuff I wrote as a kid, and submitted to teen magazines. But as an adult, it would have to be my first manuscript. I loved it, but it still had a lot of the same mistakes as my teen stuff. I had every writing trick thrown in along with the kitchen sink. But, I didn’t know the proper use or purpose of any of it. I still love the story and I’m working on editing it for submission.
Tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is called, Love’s Chance. I began this book years ago while living in Pennsylvania. It was based on a lot of things I saw and experienced mixed with a little bit of fantasy. Chance O’Malley was the fantasy.
Anyway, here’s the blurb to whet your appetite:
To pay back her parents and prevent the loss of their family business, Sinclair Mosley leaves her family and friends behind. Pennsylvania doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but Chance O’Malley does. At the risk of losing everything that brought her to Pennsylvania, including her family’s restaurant, Sinclair must decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love.
How can readers keep up with your news?
They can visit my website: www.AngelaKayAustin.com, and sign-up for my newsletter. I’d love to have them visit.
Now to get to the nitty gritty that plagues all writers. How do you deal with rejection letters?
I hate them. As all writers do. Initially, I cried while eating lots of butter pecan ice cream. Then, I shook it off and began to write again. I figured if I could get to the point where I could get a publisher to do more than send me a standard letter rejection then I was getting better. I also entered a few contests. Anything to get feedback on my writing.
Most writers struggle for years to get published. What do you think about celebrities writing book?
For the celebrities I’m interested in reading about, I think it’s great. I think that anytime someone expresses themselves creatively it’s fabulous. For me, writing is therapeutic. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t write. I’m sure that with the creative nature of celebrities that they’ve got a tremendous amount of things they’d like to say.
Have you got any advise for authors about getting an agent?
The only thing I can really say is don’t let it stop you from writing and submitting if you don’t have one. Originally, I submitted to agents, but I didn’t receive much feedback. If I would have ended my journey there, I’d still be unpublished. And, who hasn’t heard a story about an agent that kept telling some writer to keep writing to the tune of how many books, only to then have the artist move on, and have every single piece published, and then an agent calls them.
What's your favourite part of writing?
Character development. I love deciding how they will all interact. What kind of parents are they? Do they have siblings? What have they been through? Why are they the person they are?
How do you get past all the frustrations that come with trying to be a successful writer?
I talk to my friends about what I’m trying to do, and why. Also, I join organizations that have some sort of social element for writers which allows me to be able to talk to other authors about what we’re all going through.
I often find that authors don't 'have time' to read themselves. What do you like to read, if anything?
I like anything that takes me to a different place. Sci-Fi. Contemporary. Women’s fiction.
So tell us Angela, what actor/actress gets your pulses racing?
Brad Pitt is beautiful, so is Johnny Depp. Talent-wise, they’re both fabulous, too. There just don’t seem to be many people that have the ability to disappear into their roles.
Well, thats it folks. Please leave Angela a comment, she'll be so pleased to hear from you.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Introducing Lorrie Unites-Struiff
I'd like to welcome today to my blog fellow Eternal Press author Lorrie Unites-Struiff. She has generously offered to send the first reader who leaves a comment on the blog a free pdf download of "Gypsy Crystal."
Hello Lorrie. First of all, we all love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
I read some of the other publications on the Eternal Press Website. I liked what I read and thought my book would be a good fit. I was very surprised when I sent my full manuscript to Eternal Press and they replied within a week that they wanted my book. Talk about nearly fainting. Doing the happy dance, my feet didn't touch the floor for a week. Gypsy Crystal is my first long piece of work.
What is your favourite genre to write in?
Oh, that's a toughie. I have written in different genres. If I have to pin it down I would say all my stories are "Women in Peril" slanted. No matter horror, romance, or humor.
I'm sure your fans and our readers are itchng to know about your new book. Please tell us a little about it.
Gypsy Crystal has to do with gypsy lore and mysticism. My main character, Rita, is a homicide detective who wears a crystal amulet that gives her the power to see, in a dead person's eyes, the last person they had seen. The amulet has been passed down through her maternal Roma bloodline and it offers Rita some protection. A serial killer is on the loose in her town targeting prostitutes. But, Rita's crystal has now stopped working. She can't see the killer in the dead prostitutes, eyes. She is confused and confronts her mother, Anna, a crystal ball seer and her uncle Dragus. Anna won't help for she has secrets of her own.
FBI agent Matt Boulet has been tracking the killer from New Orleans and now leads the task force in Rita's town. He has a secret he won't share. Rita is angry with Matt and tries to deny her attraction to him. She and her best friend, Della, strut the strip trying to lure the killer.
Who will be taken by this killer? And will it take more than a simple trap to catch the killer?
Many of us writers use different methods when we create our books, how do you devise your plots/characters?
I like to take different types of characters, mix them together, and see what trouble I can get them into.
Gypsy stuck in my head when a friend asked me to join her for lunch. At the restaurant we met a fortune teller and of course I had my fortune told. She became Anna in my book. I gave her a detective daughter and a few assorted relatives. I devised a strange serial killer. Then I brought in a hunk of an FBI agent. What fun to see them interact and chase this killer in an unusual way. Gypsy clan mysticism is in full force in my book.
So tell us what you're working on now?
I'm working on two projects. I'm putting together an anthology of Winnie, my middle-aged spook-speaker, who is always getting herself and her partner, Fat Phil, into jams. They belong to the COD Club (Call on the Dead) and must grant the newly deceased one final reasonable request. I'm also working on a novella about a woman sheriff trying to solve the murder of her uncle. A light sci-fi genre.
How can everyone keep up with your new releases?
They can visit my website, struiff.wordpress.com/
Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
One word. Perseverance. Stay with it, rewrite, rewrite, until your eyes feel like they are bleeding. A few good critique partners are a necessity for any writer. Fresh eyes help when you are blind from the rewriting. lol.
The bane of a writers life is writing a query letter. How would you write a good one?
State the facts ma'am, just the facts.
Rejection letters get us all down and we deal with them in our own neurotic way lol What is your response to them?
Rejections are part of the perseverance process. We all get them. My first couple of rejections depressed me. I reworked the stories and submitted to other publishers. My first acceptance, my jaw literally hit the floor. As you keep butt in chair, and learning is a constant process, you do become better, your work more likely to be accepted. Ha! But not all, I still get rejections on some short stories. But, I keep plugging away.
Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
My favorite books are too numerous to name for I read many genres. I'm not much of a movie watcher, I prefer books. I am a sci-buff for TV though, and the thoughts of spending some time with Ben Browder of the Farscape series and later on SG -1 makes my heart go pitty-patter.
(excerpt)
Detective Rita Moldova peeked around the corner to make sure the
hallway was empty. Making a quick right turn, she slipped into the
autopsy lab to have a few minutes alone with the body. She tucked her
white shirt tighter into her jeans and zipped her windbreaker to stay
warm in the chilly room. The harsh odor of formaldehyde hit her nostrils
and stung her throat.
Her heart twisted at the sight of the young, auburn-haired woman
lying on the stainless-steel table. A white sheet covered her to the navel;
bruises blemished the once pretty face. Contusions marred the pallid
skin from elbow to shoulder. The gash on the front of her neck gaped,
exposing open veins and torn tissue.
Rita flipped her thick, dark braid back over her shoulder, snapped on
one latex glove, leaned over the corpse and peeled back an eyelid. In her
bare hand she clasped a star-shaped crystal hanging from the gold chain
around her neck, an endowment from her maternal Roma bloodline. The
crystal heated in her palm, warm energy pulsing up her arm to her
shoulder. The face captured in the victim�s eye coalesced and stared
back. Rita drew in a sharp breath. Bobby Driscoll! She had known him
since high school, and now he worked as a uniform in her precinct. What
the hell was going on?
You know better than to touch the deceased before I've completed
my examination, Rita.
She jerked upright and looked straight into the age-lined face of Doc
O'Toole. The chill of the laboratory did nothing to stop the hot flush
creeping up her cheeks. Um, sorry. Just checking the eye color. You
know how antsy I get waiting for your report.
O�Toole ran a hand through his thinning hair. I'm waiting on the
results of the samples I sent to the County Lab in Pittsburgh. Doc
motioned for her to follow him into the large, glass-walled cubicle next
to his examining room.
When Doc turned, Rita quickly tucked the crystal hidden in her palm
back under the lace of her bra. She snapped off the glove and trailed him
into the enclosure.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guest today.
Hello Lorrie. First of all, we all love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
I read some of the other publications on the Eternal Press Website. I liked what I read and thought my book would be a good fit. I was very surprised when I sent my full manuscript to Eternal Press and they replied within a week that they wanted my book. Talk about nearly fainting. Doing the happy dance, my feet didn't touch the floor for a week. Gypsy Crystal is my first long piece of work.
What is your favourite genre to write in?
Oh, that's a toughie. I have written in different genres. If I have to pin it down I would say all my stories are "Women in Peril" slanted. No matter horror, romance, or humor.
I'm sure your fans and our readers are itchng to know about your new book. Please tell us a little about it.
Gypsy Crystal has to do with gypsy lore and mysticism. My main character, Rita, is a homicide detective who wears a crystal amulet that gives her the power to see, in a dead person's eyes, the last person they had seen. The amulet has been passed down through her maternal Roma bloodline and it offers Rita some protection. A serial killer is on the loose in her town targeting prostitutes. But, Rita's crystal has now stopped working. She can't see the killer in the dead prostitutes, eyes. She is confused and confronts her mother, Anna, a crystal ball seer and her uncle Dragus. Anna won't help for she has secrets of her own.
FBI agent Matt Boulet has been tracking the killer from New Orleans and now leads the task force in Rita's town. He has a secret he won't share. Rita is angry with Matt and tries to deny her attraction to him. She and her best friend, Della, strut the strip trying to lure the killer.
Who will be taken by this killer? And will it take more than a simple trap to catch the killer?
Many of us writers use different methods when we create our books, how do you devise your plots/characters?
I like to take different types of characters, mix them together, and see what trouble I can get them into.
Gypsy stuck in my head when a friend asked me to join her for lunch. At the restaurant we met a fortune teller and of course I had my fortune told. She became Anna in my book. I gave her a detective daughter and a few assorted relatives. I devised a strange serial killer. Then I brought in a hunk of an FBI agent. What fun to see them interact and chase this killer in an unusual way. Gypsy clan mysticism is in full force in my book.
So tell us what you're working on now?
I'm working on two projects. I'm putting together an anthology of Winnie, my middle-aged spook-speaker, who is always getting herself and her partner, Fat Phil, into jams. They belong to the COD Club (Call on the Dead) and must grant the newly deceased one final reasonable request. I'm also working on a novella about a woman sheriff trying to solve the murder of her uncle. A light sci-fi genre.
How can everyone keep up with your new releases?
They can visit my website, struiff.wordpress.com/
Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
One word. Perseverance. Stay with it, rewrite, rewrite, until your eyes feel like they are bleeding. A few good critique partners are a necessity for any writer. Fresh eyes help when you are blind from the rewriting. lol.
The bane of a writers life is writing a query letter. How would you write a good one?
State the facts ma'am, just the facts.
Rejection letters get us all down and we deal with them in our own neurotic way lol What is your response to them?
Rejections are part of the perseverance process. We all get them. My first couple of rejections depressed me. I reworked the stories and submitted to other publishers. My first acceptance, my jaw literally hit the floor. As you keep butt in chair, and learning is a constant process, you do become better, your work more likely to be accepted. Ha! But not all, I still get rejections on some short stories. But, I keep plugging away.
Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
My favorite books are too numerous to name for I read many genres. I'm not much of a movie watcher, I prefer books. I am a sci-buff for TV though, and the thoughts of spending some time with Ben Browder of the Farscape series and later on SG -1 makes my heart go pitty-patter.
(excerpt)
Detective Rita Moldova peeked around the corner to make sure the
hallway was empty. Making a quick right turn, she slipped into the
autopsy lab to have a few minutes alone with the body. She tucked her
white shirt tighter into her jeans and zipped her windbreaker to stay
warm in the chilly room. The harsh odor of formaldehyde hit her nostrils
and stung her throat.
Her heart twisted at the sight of the young, auburn-haired woman
lying on the stainless-steel table. A white sheet covered her to the navel;
bruises blemished the once pretty face. Contusions marred the pallid
skin from elbow to shoulder. The gash on the front of her neck gaped,
exposing open veins and torn tissue.
Rita flipped her thick, dark braid back over her shoulder, snapped on
one latex glove, leaned over the corpse and peeled back an eyelid. In her
bare hand she clasped a star-shaped crystal hanging from the gold chain
around her neck, an endowment from her maternal Roma bloodline. The
crystal heated in her palm, warm energy pulsing up her arm to her
shoulder. The face captured in the victim�s eye coalesced and stared
back. Rita drew in a sharp breath. Bobby Driscoll! She had known him
since high school, and now he worked as a uniform in her precinct. What
the hell was going on?
You know better than to touch the deceased before I've completed
my examination, Rita.
She jerked upright and looked straight into the age-lined face of Doc
O'Toole. The chill of the laboratory did nothing to stop the hot flush
creeping up her cheeks. Um, sorry. Just checking the eye color. You
know how antsy I get waiting for your report.
O�Toole ran a hand through his thinning hair. I'm waiting on the
results of the samples I sent to the County Lab in Pittsburgh. Doc
motioned for her to follow him into the large, glass-walled cubicle next
to his examining room.
When Doc turned, Rita quickly tucked the crystal hidden in her palm
back under the lace of her bra. She snapped off the glove and trailed him
into the enclosure.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guest today.
Monday, 8 March 2010
March catch up
Well,February came and went and I sort of missed it all. My apologies to everyone who didn’t get their interview submitted to my blog in time for their slots. I lost my internet connection for ages and it was really like flogging a dead horse to get it up and running again.
But it all seems to be working now and it is back to business as usual. I have some more blogs to post and will be putting out feelers for more author interviews on the writers threads shortly. So if you have something you’d like to blog about or a new release, let me know.
I have varied authors on here who write various genres. This is because I basically like variation. I am a romance writer, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in other genres. I’m just beginning my new book. I’ve actually just started my first chapter to day..yaaaaay...., loud round of applause.....This, however, will be a nonfiction book. It’s a spiritual handbook that explains everything from being psychic to actual spirit contact. I will be interviewing a few guides (teachers from spirit) for their insights and what it is like on the other side of life. So I think it’ll be interesting for everyone.
If anyone is a light worker and would like to add something to the book, feel free to contact me.
But it all seems to be working now and it is back to business as usual. I have some more blogs to post and will be putting out feelers for more author interviews on the writers threads shortly. So if you have something you’d like to blog about or a new release, let me know.
I have varied authors on here who write various genres. This is because I basically like variation. I am a romance writer, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in other genres. I’m just beginning my new book. I’ve actually just started my first chapter to day..yaaaaay...., loud round of applause.....This, however, will be a nonfiction book. It’s a spiritual handbook that explains everything from being psychic to actual spirit contact. I will be interviewing a few guides (teachers from spirit) for their insights and what it is like on the other side of life. So I think it’ll be interesting for everyone.
If anyone is a light worker and would like to add something to the book, feel free to contact me.
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