Reading Books and Posting Reviews

Let's face it, and own it...I read a LOT of books.

Yes, I write, too, and sometimes, well...most of the time, my love of reading gets in the way of my writing. I did read somewhere something an author said that she NEVER read when she was writing her books so as to not pull her away from her concentration. You go, girl!

I'm also owning up to my crunch addiction. There, I said it...My name is Marcia, and I have a serious crunch addiction. If I don't crunch on something every day, I'm borderline certifiable. Potato chips are usually my crunch du jour, but if I'm out, popcorn will do. Or, tortilla chips, or crunchy veggies. Crunchy veggies are last on my list. I like the fun crunchies best.

But, I digress. Back to reading. If I don't read something every day, I feel I've been cheated out of something great. I feel I've let the one get away, left the barn door open, fell off the mountain, missed the train...well...you get my drift. I'm lost.

Where am I going with all of this? I'll tell you. When I finish a book, and it leaves me with an awesome feeling, whether happy, sad, indifferent, I try to review it. Sometimes, it's just the 5-star review rating, and other times I'll take a moment to write one. I think if an author took the time to write the one book that touches my soul, then he or she should know about it. I'm not a reviewer that gives the whole story away...I hate those, but I say yay or nay, and get it over with. I've read articles on how to review a book, and still prefer to do it my way. I've even received some feedback from the authors on my simple, but effective reviews. That makes me feel good. So, I'll continue doing it my way, thank you very, very much.

Hope you get to write today.

Marcia

Harvey, Irma, Fires, Floods, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, and Normal Everyday Life

WOW!!!


That's all I can say, or write. These past few weeks have taken a toll on everyone, and I am feeling so blessed right now that all my family and friends are safe. I've lived through a disaster, and it is possible to recover. Life goes on...with or without us, and I'd rather be in the living column.

We Will Never Forget...all the victims of 9/11 and their families. My heart and prayers are with you.

The 4th of this month was a banner day for me. I managed, by the hair of my chinnie-chin-chin to submit my first three chapters, synopsis and query letter to an open submissions invite from Carina Press, an imprint of Harlequin. Normally, a full manuscript is all they will allow, but the editor's curiosity got the best of them, and they wanted to see what us wannabe-authors were working on...our Work-In-Progress, WIP, if you will, and I jumped on the bandwagon. A writer friend of mine in New York informed me of this opportunity so we worked together to get our WIPs whipped into shape and editor-ready. Fingers crossed at this point...we have to give them up to 12 weeks for a response to our hard work. I'm willing to wait. Of course, while I'm waiting I'm thinking of all the stupid dialogue, shoddy descriptions, blah names, and  poor GMC that I foisted on my characters and story line.

 But, my dear readers, that is why we call it a Work-In-Progress. We get to fix the POS to the best of our ability so it really shines!

Hope you get to write today,

Mxo

Review of The Billionaire In Her Bed by Regina Kyle

Got an invite from Regina Kyle to be on her review team. Gladly. She writes the kind of books I like to read, and writes them well. I read mostly romance in a variety of sub-genres. I like contemporary, sweet, inspirational, erotic, mid-steamy, lots-steamy, and some in need of steam. I just love romance, period.

Anyway, here's my review I left on Goodreads on 8.14.17:


You had me at Regina Kyle. She could write soup can blurbs and I would read them. I loved her Art of Seduction series, and The Billionaire In Her Bed is as superbly written as they were. The characters are very believable, her sense of humor is spot on, and the romance is just how I like it. This book is definitely a keeper, and I look forward to reading the next one. I did receive this book to read in advance to publication, but I will be pre-ordering a physical copy to add to my library. Well done, Regina! 

I hope to be posting more reviews as I read. It's been tough as I'm trying to finish my own work in progress, and trying to run a household. Tough, yes.

I've Got A New Friend...That Makes Two...

Bear with me as I try to make this post into a fan girl extravaganza. Not the brightest pixel on the home screen, I will attempt to copy and paste an interview I did with the author of SAWYER'S ROSE, Kim Turner. The debut novel came out in March 2016. She has graciously granted me permission to use the interview, book cover, excerpt and blurb from her book.

And, asked me to be her friend. **sigh**

Hopefully, some of her writer's enthusiasm will rub off on me. Once again I'm guilty of not using my time to it's greatest potential. My bad. Again.

Anywhoo...on with the good stuff. I will post the interview first, then get on with the promo stuff.

BTW, I have read Sawyer's Rose and have deemed it one of the best romantic historical westerns I've ever read. Yep, pardner, it's that good.


The Interview:

What author's do you read? Your favorite?

    That is a hard question. Mostly because since I joined RWA and GRW I have read stories to support the other writers there as well as my critique partners. Because of my own writing I mostly listen to books on Audible on the way to and from work and my interests are eclectic. I just finished listening to the entire Longmire Series by Craig Johnson as I loved it on Television. It was great! Before that I spent 18 months listening to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I have also read the entire Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I think I do prefer historical so I have been listening to one book at a time of the Wagon's West series by Dana Fuller Ross. It is an old series, but I love the post civil war period and all through the cowboys years and even until the 1920s. I suppose I couldn't name a favorite and try a lot of different things.

Do you outline, or are you a pantser?

    My characters make me panster. I do try to write an outline and use story boards and planning, but even when I plan well and can see it all happening, those cowboys move the story some other way and most often if I let them it ends up better. I keep a book of character profiles that have the specific, eye color hair color and height and build. I keep a list of characters and which story they show up in so I don't get  confused. It's amazing when you build a little town and get to a new story you can forget who the barber was.

What are some of your favorite writing craft books?

    I am such an alpha personality that emotion is something I always need to work hard on in my stories. So sitting nearby is usually The Emotional Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I have all their books actually and love love love them! I use the flip Dictionary a good bit since I recently ordered it. (Carol turned me on to that one.) When I write I use my 17 inch lap top because I can move around the house and my girls are always on the big computer. I even purchased extra batteries for my computer so I can go to soccer and gymnastics with the girls and still keep writing.

 

Do you take any writing courses online, and what are they?

    I have taken a few online courses but that is sometimes hard with a full time job and two kids. I get most of my learning through GRW speakers and writer conferences. A lot of times because I am on my laptop writing I just click online and search for what I need. Simpler that way. But I do believe you have to study the craft and the best way I think I have learned is to critique for others. I can find things in other's writings that I may miss in my own.

What is your weakest and strongest part of the writing process?

    Weakest is the craft itself. I have a lot to learn and even when you think you got something you can keep learning more and more about it. I suppose like anything you want to do well you keep studying it and I do. Like I said I have to work on emotion and better tags and dialogue. As far as what is strongest with my writing, I'd have to say the fact I have characters that people don't want to leave, and stories that make you feel like you are there. Where I get into trouble is that my stories sell as romance, and there are certain things that true romance readers want and while I have that, I toss in the family drama and also a cowboy fight and things that pull the romance back a bit and that seems to be a problem which is why I say maybe I truly write Family saga with romantic elements of which there is really no genre. Maybe I am just unique, but it seems to be working for now, though I am trying to spice up more romance in the current stories.

Do you do all your writing on the computer or longhand?

    Mostly on my laptop directly. There are times I print out a chapter at a time to read out loud or to critique on paper with a red pen so I won't miss things. I have found it time consuming to write it on paper and then have to type it later. I have dragon but it seems to be more work for me to correct how it reads my voice, so I gave that one up. I think I am better, just me and my laptop and a big cup of hot tea or coffee.

Thanks, Kim...it's always fun to read about how other writers get the job done.

The Blurb from the back of the book:

As if he doesn't have enough to handle between running outlaws out of Cheyenne, keeping his brother's out of trouble and avenging his father's death, sheriff Sawyer McCade's meddling mother just dumped a mysterious mail-order-bride on his doorstep. One woman can be more trouble than a band of renegades and while this one has him all stirred up, he'd rather get to the bottom of the story she isn't telling. Rose Parker had it all. Until she discovers a web of danger and deceit that sends her  running to Cheyenne, posing as a mail-order-bride. Escaping the evils of New York seems sensible until she meets the unsuspecting sheriff who didn't ask for her, has no intention of marrying her and won't rest until he uncovers her secret and sends her back home.

Excerpt from Sawyer's Rose:

“I’m a lawman, remember, and I read people very

well. I know when I’m only hearing part of a story.”

 

Her blue eyes narrowed, and that too-enticing flush

lit her cheeks to a bright pink. She darted past him to

look out across the ranch and then spoke. “I came here

 looking for a new life. Accepting a husband is a means

to survival for any woman in the West. But getting here

 and finding out you didn’t send for me—” She swung

around. “Well that’s certainly a relief. I thought I was

going to step off the train in Cheyenne, be whisked to

the judge and right into your bed. Frankly, that idea was

rather frightening.”

 

Was she trying to be funny? It wasn’t that the

 thought hadn’t crossed his mind. Bedding her would be

more than interesting, but he didn’t need a wife. Not

right now. “Then why are you here?”

 

 “I wanted to see the West and find adventure like I

told you. So why not start here? Did you read the

papers I sent?” She shook her head realizing he hadn’t.

“I suppose your mother got those.”

 

 He supposed so, too.

 

“I filled in my application.” She took a deep breath,

“And I realized I had led an incredibly normal life. An

only child, raised by my father, schooled in the proper

etiquette, sent to university, and spoiled to the point I

hadn’t lived for myself. I am here to create a new life—

my life. If you do not wish to marry, I will find my own

way, which is probably best anyway.” She stared out

across the horizon, blinking back tears.

 

“You can’t stay here alone, not in Cheyenne. I’ll

 get your fare paid and send you home.”

 

 She snapped around and glared at him. “I will not

be returning home, regardless of a marriage. You have

no idea what I am capable of, and I think that makes me

somewhat of a—thorn in your side?”

 

Sawyer wasn’t sure which was more annoying, her

presence and will to stay or the thoughts she made him

think. She wasn’t a thorn, but damned if he’d be able to

sleep with her in the same house for any length of time.

 

When he only nodded, a knowing smile spread

 across her face. “Good.”

 

As furious as he was, he couldn’t take his eyes off

the sway of her hips as she spun around and went

 inside. She couldn’t possibly think she would be

 staying in Cheyenne as an unescorted woman. Well, he

had no intention of marrying her either, and one way or

the other he’d see her on a train back to New York if it

was the last thing he did.

kimturnerwrites.com

"Sawyer's Rose"--The McCade's of Cheyenne-Book 1

Maggie Finalist 2014/Golden Heart^® Finalist 2015

Romance Writers of America^®  

^{Georgia Romance Writers}

"It's all about a cowboy and the woman he loves."

Reading When I Should Be Writing...

Yes.

I can see my last blog entry was over a year ago.

Obviously, it wasn't high on my priority list of "things to do today".

So, I'm here today, and, we need to talk.


My CP and I were Skyping last night, talking about the usual; writing, ideas, books we've read (or want to read), and what we had or were having (three hour time difference) for dinner.

The website www.netgalley.com came up for discussion. This is a site where you can get ARC's (advanced readers copy) of books not yet published. My CP introduced me to this site and I love it! Now, there is a catch...those silly little rules. What would we do without them? Anyway, long story short, there are some you can read, and some you can't depending on what kind of "person" you are. Here's a short blurb directly from the site:

"NetGalley is a service to promote titles to professional readers of influence. If you are a reviewer, blogger, journalist, librarian, bookseller, educator, or in the media, you can use NetGalley for FREE to request, read and provide feedback about forthcoming titles. Your feedback and recommendations are essential to publishers and readers alike."

OK. I'm neither/none of these tags/qualifiers, except for a blogger. But, not the right kind of blogger. I need to be a "book blog". Another excerpt from my you-cannot-read-this-book email:

"Reviewers

Please include a direct link to your review site and/or direct links to your reviews.

In order to be approved, your review space must follow this criteria:

     - Your book blog has been established and active for 3 months+.

     - You regularly update your book blog with book reviews, author interviews, or book discussion threads.

     - Your blog displays reader interaction (i.e. comments, giveaway entries, good social media following).

     - Please provide information on the number of unique visitors you receive in a given month (500+ are preferred)."

"500 unique visitors"??? I'm lucky if I look at it once a day! Whoo-wee! And I was seriously thinking of turning this blog into a book review blog. Lofty dreams, Marcia.

I guess I'm going somewhere with this. Since I do read more than I write, I will start putting my reviews on this blog since I'm also posting on netgalley, Amazon and Goodreads. Just one more place to copy and paste. I can do it while waiting for my "500 unique visitors".

On the home front...put my garden in a month late so I'm hoping to get at least a few tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers before the hot Nevada sun fries them into oblivion. We've enjoyed the radishes of which I've picked the last of, and looking forward to kale, onions and carrots, too. Be gentle, oh Sun god.

I'm reading lots of Jennifer Ryan these last few days so will review them as a whole on my next post.

Hope you get to write today.

Marcia

 

I've Hit The Big Time...

Yep. I've finally accumulated 400 emails to look at, comment on and answer. A lofty goal for anybody. I do delete every day, but the emails seem to "make like bunnies" before my eyes! So, I just "select everything" click "delete" click "ok" instead of "cancel" and they disappear magically! Job done!
They (who are "they", really?) say if you write everyday you'll become a better writer. Think outside the box. Know your characters. Write, write, write! Go deeper into POV. Good words to write by, but my issue seems to be the inability to put the words on the page. I've touched upon this dilemma of mine before. Someday, it will come all together for me, and I will have the opposite happening; not enough time to put all the words down on the page. I'll keep praying for that day.

Read my first Lisa Kleypas book last night. DREAM LAKE. My CP loves her, and recommended her to me long ago. She finally came to the top of my TBR pile. All I can say is, read the book! Laugh, cry, shout, cry some more, grit your teeth, say WOW. I could go on and on. There are three other books in her Friday Harbor series. You can bet they are on my "to buy" list!

Forgot to mention...celebrated 2 years of being a total vegan. Patting myself on the back. Not bad for a one-time total junk food junkie, and sweetaholic. I've never experienced bad health, and the women in my family tend to live longer than the men, but I'm feeling even more spectacular than I felt before and want to keep it that way. Get to have another birthday this month...Yippee!!

I Suppose I Should Say Something About 2015....

I didn't make any resolutions this year...never have...I make resolutions every day of my life.

When I rise in the morning I try to figure out what is going to happen that day. What can I fix for breakfast that will thrill my S/O? Who sent me interesting emails that I need to respond to? Are we going out or staying in? Whatever it is, I have to resolve to do my best to make everyone, including myself, happy.

For instance...I have a lot of words in me, I just have the problem of putting them down on paper or into Word. This perplexes my critique partner. She is so sweet and patient. Throwing hints my way at every opportunity. I'll get there, but not by making a resolution to be a better writer in 2015. It just has to feel right for me, and when I get all the facts/words right in my head they will go down. I promise this to myself and my CP. Just a promise, not a resolution. When this happens we'll all be happy.

I have been reading...some re-reads and new authors. Marie Force has caught my eye. Good voice, and the reading is easy and comprehendible. Not a lot of fancy phrases...you can tell she's done her research.
 Since I love all things cowboy and want to write western romances, I read a lot of them too. Mostly for research to get the feel and jargon. Works for me. I also read 'regular' romances, too. Will touch on some more authors in my next post.

Entered a contemporary birth of Christ story on the Harlequin site Writer's Challenge. Took third place out of six. All the judges caught on and liked the symbolism to the real birth. I liked it myself, and thought myself clever. I'm sure it could have used some polishing, but if I get it out there it's enough for me as a beginning writer.

What I will promise myself this new year is to write more. And hopefully, it will be on the first book in my western trilogy. When I resolve this issue, I'll let you know.

Happy 2015...May all your Wishes and Resolutions come true.

p.s. I sense a "happiness' theme here.