Do you know author E.A. West? 05/16/2012
Please help me welcome author E.A. West to The Mustard Seed today to help us get into the spirit to celebrate Memorial Day. Let's meet E.A. West...  E.A. West, author of sweet and inspirational romance, is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she discovered the wonders of sharing her stories with others through writing. She picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn't laid it down yet. Her love of writing encompasses not only the romance genre but also a variety fiction and non-fiction styles. Born and raised in Indiana, she still resides there today with her family and a small zoo of pets that includes the typical dogs and cats, and the more unusual African water frogs and a ribbon snake. Her interests are as varied as her critters. She has been known to carry on conversations about everything from politics and current events to gardening and theology. When she's not writing, you can usually find her working on her latest knitting or crochet project. E.A. West's Website The West Corner: E.A. West Blog Find E.A. West on Facebook Find E.A. West on Twitter *********** For the last ten and a half years, the American military has been a regular feature in the news and other media. As an author, the constant flow of information about military operations, service members, and veterans piqued my natural curiosity. With a cousin who served in the Navy and a writing buddy who deployed to Iraq more than once with the Army Reserve, it’s only natural that the military infiltrated my writing. As the War on Terror continued and I learned more about my own father’s experiences receiving services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, I also developed an interest in veterans and the challenges faced by many recent veterans. All of this led to research and brainstorming. As a result, I wrote two ebooks with a military/veteran theme. The hero in Riley’s Mission is a lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard. The inspiration for Riley’s Mission came from news reports of nursing home residents being left behind during Hurricane Katrina and severe flooding in Indiana, which caused a hospital to be evacuated. Those two incidents started the “what if…” process I always use to begin a new story. Multiple reports of National Guard units being deployed or returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq mixed into my musings, and I started thinking about what the National Guard does here at home. Assisting with evacuations and natural disasters are what most people think of when they think of the National Guard. In order to write a romantic suspense, however, Riley’s Mission needed more than just a flooded hospital. It had to have danger and romance as well. This is where the heroine of the story comes in. As an Israeli operative, she made a few enemies and got to know the hero through his previous occupation with the State Department. With regular news reports of Al Qaida and terrorism, the villain of the story was obvious: a terrorist the heroine had thought she finally stopped. Because of her work as an operative, Jade fought her attraction to Riley, even though he encouraged her to trust him. The romance in Riley’s Mission is sweet and hard-won, since Jade and Riley must survive a terrorist determined to kill her and overcome fears of future danger. Healing in Haven Falls is an inspirational romance with a veteran for the hero. Keith faces daily challenges due to permanent injuries suffered in Afghanistan. I was inspired to write Keith because of several interviews I had seen or read with survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). While the effects aren’t always as obvious as those I gave Keith, the challenges presented by a TBI can have a devastating impact on how the survivor views himself. I touch on a few of those issues with Keith’s character, although it’s important to remember that each individual will be affected differently and may or may not share the same issues. The heroine of Healing in Haven Falls, Autumn, must face the challenge of learning that good men do exist. She’s suspicious of Keith at first because she doesn’t realize that what she thinks are signs of intoxication are actually some of the effects of his TBI. This misunderstanding of what can be an invisible disability is one of the reasons I wrote Healing in Haven Falls. Although my initial “what if” question considered the idea of two wounded hearts healing each other, it quickly morphed into “What if the hero is a disabled veteran, but his disability isn’t as obvious as a missing limb or being confined to a wheelchair?” Thousands of veterans face challenges daily because of their time in the service, and not all of those challenges are obvious to outside observers. Physical disabilities are usually easy to see, but neurological and psychological disabilities tend to be much harder to spot, especially if the symptoms are mild. Writing Healing in Haven Falls allowed me to give a brief glimpse into one type of neurological disability and the psychological effects it can have on a man. While Keith is a completely fictional veteran, I researched the effects of TBI on veterans in order to make him as realistic as possible. I appreciate the sacrifices of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military. It take a special person to leave behind family and friends and lay his or her life on the line to protect the freedom of the United States and to help free oppressed people in other countries. The sacrifices of their families are also to be remembered and commended. It can’t be easy to send your loved one off for months with no way of knowing how they will fare. This Memorial Day, thank a veteran or a current military member for their willingness to selflessly serve their country. Thank their loved ones as well, for their tireless support of the men and women in our nation’s military. Thank you so much for sharing and reminding us to thank a veteran or current military member for their service. I have family members who are veterans and so appreciate their service and the service of all our military.  What are the top five random facts about yourself? 1. I learned to read when I was three years old. 2. I struggled with English classes all the way through school. 3. I’m a high-functioning autistic. 4. I have a pet ribbon snake named Mr. Squiggles. 5. I love to use my hula hoop. Why do you like being an author? Being an author allows me to share my ideas with others. I love to create interesting characters and put them in unique or difficult situations. Watching the story develop and the characters grow is something I will never tire of. The ability to share these stories with readers and perhaps bring awareness to something that might otherwise stay in the shadows is an amazing blessing. I love your reasoning and agree wholeheartedly. Who’s your favorite author of classic literature? I love Rudyard Kipling. His Just So Stories have been a favorite of mine since childhood, and I have fond memories of The Jungle Book as well. Kipling’s work has always appealed to me, perhaps because of the faraway settings or maybe because of the unique characters and stories he created.  Can you tell us about your book Riley’s Mission? Trapped in a flooded hospital, former Israeli operative Jade Rosen discovers she’s not alone. One of the other stranded patients is none other than the cold-blooded killer she'd left behind in a Syrian prison, the man who had forced her to leave everyone she loved behind and go into hiding. Indiana National Guardsman Riley Jackson is on a mission to locate and contain a cunning terrorist whose guards aren’t responding. He finds more than he bargained for when the woman he loves appears out of nowhere, desperately ill and once again needing his protection. Will Jade and Riley finally find their happy ending, or will they pay the ultimate price at the hands of a man determined to see Jade dead? Sounds like a great book. Where can readers find your book online? Purchase Link for Riley's Mission  Can you share with us about your book, Healing in Haven Falls? Autumn Reger is no stranger to mistakes—she’s made more than enough to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the consequences of those mistakes and her distrust of men, keep haunting her. Keith Burke served his country with honor, but his service in Afghanistan ended with a roadside bomb. The emotional and physical scars leave him wondering if he’ll ever be able to make a friend or find true love. Can two wounded hearts heal the scars of the past to find the future God has planned for them? Where can readers find your book online? Purchase Link for Healing in Haven Falls Thank you so much for guesting today and helping us to remember our military veterans and servicemen. I enjoyed chatting with you and learning more about you and your books. Please feel free to hang out and chat with E.A. West. 7 Comments Do you know author, Margaret Compeau? 05/15/2012
Welcome back to another day at The Mustard Seed. Author Margaret Compeau is here to guest today. Hope you can hang out to chat. Let's meet Margaret...  Margaret Compeau is a Maine author. In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry and volunteers in the advertising department for the Gorham Times newspaper. Traveling the East Coast with her family and visiting the local town library are her two favorite things to do in leisure time. Future projects include a teen paranormal romance series. A contest will be on Margaret’s Facebook and Twitter page in the near future. Margaret, tell us the top five random facts about yourself. 1. Favorite food is lasagna 2. Loves collecting sea shells 3. Enjoys gardening 4. Hates waiting in line 5. I’m more of a cat person I love lasagna also and am more of a cat person too. Why do you like being an author? I am a very creative person. Writing allows me to put my feelings and thoughts down on paper. I love the fact that a story can be never-ending and there really is no limit to what you can do with a story. I love the freedom that novel writing gives me versus article writing. The biggest thing that I enjoy being an author would be seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they enjoy my work. That to me is hard work paying off. What was the happiest moment of your childhood? The happiest moment of childhood would have to be going to the library. I loved the crisp smell of the pages and musty smell of old books. Any information I needed, I knew I could always find at the library. I think surrounding yourself with a hundred of books is an amazing feeling for a writer of any age. A library can jump start great ideas and great creativity.  Can you tell us about your book, Timothy's Bath? Let your child's imagination soar with hopping, frogs, mud-slinging animals and a toboggan ride through the slushy mud with Timothy the bear. After Timothy sneaks out with friends, instead of taking a bath, the mischief begins. Timothy learns a lesson about listening and putting things first before play. Hop in and join Timothy in a fun-loving adventure! Where can reader's find your book online? Find Timothy's Bath on Amazon Where can readers connect with you online? Margaret's Website Find Margaret on Facebook Find Margaret on Twitter Margaret, thanks so much for guesting today. I enjoyed chatting with you and finding out more about you and your book.  **Guest post by Michelle Massaro In the recent Leading Ladies Clash, Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux and High Desert Haven by Lynnette Bonner went into the ring on Clash of the Titles. After the public vote, the winning title was.... HIGH DESERT HAVEN by Lynnette Bonner!! We're happy to announce that High Desert Haven has been added to the list of COTT Champ titles! And we also want to extend our congratulations to the author. I'm sure we're all eager to add this book to our summer to-be-read pile! In response to her win, author Lynnette Bonner said:
Some of the comments left by readers were:
Curious to read the winning excerpt? You can both contenders' entries here. An interview with the winning author can be found here. Want to congratulate the author? Leave a message in the comments. Have a question about future Clashes on COTT? Email them at contactCOTT@gmail.com Thank you! **Michelle Massaro is the Assistant Editor for Clash of the Titles, a mother of four, and a wife of nearly 17 years. She bakes, crochets, cross-stitches, sings, writes, and cries during movies. She champions for Biblical authority, leads a Jr. High girls' Bible study, and plays a mean game of backgammon. She spends way too much time on the computer, but makes it up to her family (she hopes) with prayer coverings and chocolate chip cookies. The best place to connect with her is on Facebook, naturally. Book Contest: Have you read Bella Lucia yet? 05/14/2012
I'm hosting a contest at The Mustard Seed from May 15th to May 29th. You have two weeks to enter this contest for a chance to win.  If you've read my book, Bella Lucia, and would like to enter to win an ecopy of my newest book release, My S.E.D. Label, please follow the following instructions: 1. Who was your favorite character in Bella Lucia and what are some of the reasons why you liked this character? 2. Did you relate well or empathize with one character more than the others and why? 3. Post a review on Amazon To enter for a chance to win, please answer the two questions listed above and email your responses to me, via my contact page—and also post your review on Amazon. Thank you for entering and I hope you enjoyed Bella Lucia!  One winner will receive an ecopy of My S.E.D. Label: When Greg was in high school, the guidance counselors and social service caseworkers gave him the label of S.E.D. He never understood what they meant. No one even bothered to explain their words to him. All they gave was psycho-babble and stern looks. Who cares, right? He’s just another messed up teenager with no future, except a life of drugs and crime. Didn’t anyone think to dig deeper beneath the crusty layers and help him. Finally, several years later, someone came into his life and made a difference. He was his therapist and he told him that label meant: He was Severely Emotionally Disturbed. Greg immediately disagreed. Yes, he was messed up—but severely, not really. There was more to him than the label. He just wanted everyone to understand. My Amazon Author Page Do you know author Eleanor Sullivan? 05/10/2012
Welcome back to The Mustard Seed. Today I'm interviewing author, Eleanor Sullivan. Hope you all can stay and visit...let's meet Eleanor.  Eleanor Sullivan is the award winning author of books for nurses, the former dean of nursing at the University of Kansas, and past president of the world’s largest nursing organization. Turning her attention to mystery fiction, she authored the Monika Everhardt medical mystery series and, more recently, a series of historical mysteries set in the 1830s religious settlement of her ancestors. The stories feature a midwife and her cabinet-maker husband in the Northern Ohio village of Zoar. Cover Her Body, A Singular Village Mystery, is the first book in the series. Eleanor, what was the inspiration for your latest work of fiction? I grew up hearing stories about my distant grandfather who led a beleaguered band of religious dissenters safely out of Germany to establish a village in the Ohio wilderness in 1817. Why not set a series in the quaint village, I thought. It remains a historic town, complete with museums and reenacters who demonstrate the work and lives of the settlers. Uncovering the beliefs and practices of this unusual group of believers surprised me. They called themselves the Society of Separatists and named their village Zoar for the place where Lot had found sanctuary much as these settlers had in America. But all was not perfect in this Garden of Eden, I discovered! Perfect, however, for murder! I love history and how wonderful to have such an interesting family history. Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination? One real person is my fourth great grandfather. He was the village leader, thus, must be included when there’s a murder in town. According to historical documents, he dominated everything in town from secular decisions to preaching on Sunday. Still, capturing his interactions in the story proved to be more difficult than I expected. I kept thinking he was somewhere listening to how I depicted him! Ghost hunting, anyone? Seriously, though, all other characters are my own creation, providing me with an opportunity to populate the village with all sorts of troublesome characters, including, of course, at least one murderer! What was the most interesting research you had to do for any of your books? Absolutely the most fun was traveling to Zoar, As I walk the streets of the town and hike down to the river that runs through it, I envisioned Adelaide going about her work and her life along the way. Knowing that my distant grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins all walked these byways, I know that on some level I’m connecting with their lives as well. But even better is a trip this fall to the village in Germany where my ancestors originated! A group of descendants of the early Ohio settlers are traveling to the towns where our ancestors were born, lived, worked, and were imprisoned for their beliefs. I anticipate it being a rewarding, and yet somewhat emotional, trip for me. When my ancestors left Germany, they knew they would never return, never see their homeland. My distant grandfather even left a 14-year-old daughter there. I’m trying to trace her to see if she might have descendants in Germany. Of course, if they hadn’t come to America, there wouldn’t be any Singular Village Mysteries. And I’d be speaking German today! Must have been a very enjoyable trip. What other sources do you utilize for further research? I also use primary and secondary sources online and in libraries to research how people lived and worked in that area in the 19th century. I’ve loved learning about blacksmithing, carpentry without power tools, and tin making as well as herbal medicine and childbirth practices. My blog reveals this history behind my fiction. In addition, Zoar’s official historian serves as a resource and a fact checker for my stories. She’s the reason I can say my books, though fictional accounts of solving a murder, are historically accurate. How do you go from an idea for a book to the birth of the story? Is the process the same for every book you write? How long does it take you to write a book? Some incident in history or an obscure mention today triggers my thinking. For example, I read about itinerant artists, called limners, in the 19th century who traveled from town to town painting children’s faces atop bodies on pre-painted boards. One such limner invades Zoar in the second book in the series titled, Graven Images, due out next year. Recently I discovered that the census records from 1820 have my ancestor incorrectly listed as the owner of ten female slaves when slavery was illegal in Ohio! That mix-up will become the germ for book number three. Then I start with the murder: who’s murdered, by whom and why. Then I fit in my protagonists (the midwife and her cabinet maker husband), using their backstory and building on their flaws, fears, and hopes. I add a supporting cast (some new, others from previous stories) and create a mind map, linking names to reflect their connections. I give each a role in the story and then figure out each character’s name to convey just the right message about the person. At the same time, I work on his strengths and weaknesses as well as his appearance that could reflect his personality or counter it. All books seem to work the same, but it’s never fast. I’m also under contract to Prentice Hall for books for nurses so all my time isn’t spent on the mystery. In all, it’s several years in the making. I keep hoping I’ll become faster in the future! Do you have any advice for beginning writers on how to write a book? Do you have any advice for them regarding promoting that book once published? An early editor told me that the difference between a published and unpublished author was persistence. Persistence in learning your craft, persistence in accepting criticism, and persistence in putting your work out there. It seems to me that those who don’t get published refuse to do one or more of those. Also, I continue to study my craft, attend workshops, and, most of all, use the services of an excellent editor. The world of promotion has changed considerably since I was first published. At that time, authors asked (sometimes begged) bookstores to order books and hold signings. Even the biggest names in fiction have had the experience of sitting at a table with a stack of books and few buyers. Today, fortunately, technology keeps authors just as busy but from the comfort of their own office. Social media participation is a must, as it an up-to-date website. Two requirements for success in this world are: provide readers with useful, interesting content and help other authors but touting their books and writing online reviews. Thank you for the sage advice. I wholeheartedly agree. In the last 8 years since my first novel was published, promoting has drastically changed. What’s the most challenging aspect of writing for you? ~ POV issues; using too much passive voice and not enough active voice; trouble creating active and engaging dialogue; using too many similar words in starting sentences; or something else? I have two challenges in writing. As a former scientist, I love doing research. Then, of course, one interesting fact leads to another and soon I’m buried in information. So my challenge is integrating description, slipping in details without slowing the story. Another challenge is revealing characters’ emotions by showing, rather than telling, them. Visceral reactions are best. I’ve studied acting books for ways to put myself into the character’s emotion. What would I feel if I were in her situation, I ask myself. Would my stomach clench? My throat tighten? Tears threaten? Once I’ve felt, really felt, the emotion, I have to figure out how to write these emotions in fresh ways. Writing is a continual learning process, one that energizes and inspires me. I hope to do it forever!  Can you tell us about your book, Cover Her Body ~ A Singular Village Mystery? In a strict, religious society in 1830s rural Ohio, a 16-year-old girl is murdered because she’s pregnant, but the only person who suspects it wasn’t an accident is Adelaide, a young midwife. Her husband, Benjamin, fearful that they’ll be banned from the prosperous community, forbids her from questioning the girl’s death. But a mistake she made years ago cost the life of a mother and her unborn babe, and Adelaide vowed to never let another mother die. Pressure mounts when Adelaide is accused of harming the girl, but the allegation only fuels her determination to find the killer, disregarding danger to her own life. Where can readers find your book online? You can find Cover Her Body on Amazon You can connect with Eleanor online here: Eleanor's Website Eleanor's Blog Find Eleanor on Facebook Eleanor, thank you so much for guesting today. I had a fun time chatting with you and learning more about you and your books. Hope you all can stay for a while to chat with Eleanor. Have you found your niche yet? 05/09/2012
“…an especially suitable place or position…” that’s one way Webster’s defines the word niche. Do you know the most suitable place or position where your writing and specific books fit? If you don’t know that yet, and if you want to be successful in marketing your work, you need to figure out your niche. The complicated part starts now because you have to leave your preconceptions behind and take a look at your work with fresh eyes. When you started writing your book, you may have thought your work fit in one area, but now that you’ve completed it and signed a contract for publication and are starting to market, you’re not so certain if you are in the most suitable place.  So how do you find that niche? You start at the beginning and reaffirm the genre where your book fits into. If you write mysteries, what kind…police procedural, amateur detective, hard boiled, cozies…you get the idea. If you write romance, what kind…inspirational, erotica, historical, regency, contemporary, suspense, fantasy / paranormal, time travel…you get the idea as well. When you know for sure that you have the correct genre for your work, now you need to figure out how your book fits into that suitable place with an audience. Who is your audience? Of course, anyone can read your book, but success really boils down to finding out who really will read your book and focusing most of your marketing attention on that specific audience. Try to really connect with your readers. Join online forums where your genre is discussed, not only because you are trying to promote your book, but because you are trying to discover the pulse of your specific readers. Always be available to your readers. That doesn’t mean that as you get more successful you’ll be able to respond to every email and fan mail you get, but be open and engaging in your blog posts and status updates in other social media networks so your readers feel that they know you. You also need to figure out what sets your book apart from the rest of the novels out there in your genre. What’s so special about your book? Why should someone read it? If you are hard pressed to give an answer to that, you will have trouble in marketing your work. You need to believe in your book and share your work with conviction to the world. Remember, as I always say, you are your biggest fan! If your work is from the historical romance genre, you need to dig deeper into the story and decide if there are any interesting correlations you can make between the time period and setting with the current day setting. Can you somehow connect with the locality of the setting of your book? My current release is a contemporary, romantic suspense novel. The setting is suburban Philadelphia, as well as the Pocono Mts. I need to get the wheels turning in my mind to see how I can make some connection between myself and that first setting and market my book to the local suburban area. If you’re not looking at the location, then do what it takes to find that especially suitable place or position that your book fits into, to make it stand apart from the rest and be successful. If your book discusses any current hot topics or events, even if it’s only a small part of the novel, milk it for all it’s worth. That is another way to get the attention of the media, thus you will be more in the public eye. So many books are published every year and with the advent of self-publishing and new authors being signed to publishing houses every day, the media doesn’t really care about your book, even if you dutifully send out press releases. Your contact with the media needs to make you stand out from the crowd. Find that connection between your book and current topics or events and you will be a step above the rest when it comes to media coverage. I like to always think outside the box and in order to make your book stand out from the crowd; you will need to think that way too. Find that uniquely special aspect to your book and make a concerted effort to draw that aspect out into the public eye to make a deeper connection with possible readers. Show them that your book is not just the run of the mill mystery or romance novel. There is something spectacular about your book and they just need to read it. You must create that intensity about your book. You have a product that is unlike any other, so market it with that mindset. Soul-gripping Heroines 05/07/2012
 *Guest post by Jennifer Slattery When our daughter was young, I was very cautious of the television shows and movies she watched. It wasn’t just the language or violence that concerned me, but the image of women they portrayed. The media seemed to convey a constant message: “Women’s value is only skin deep.” I was probably overly cautious, but the discussion still holds merit. What do our choice of heroine’s say about our values as a society? At the risk of sounding cliché, we’ve come a long way … in but a short period of time. The other day my daughter showed me a page from her magazine. On it, there were five models, each with different skin tones and body types. Hurrah! I believe the heroine’s in Christian fiction are changing, too. I’ve read novels of women with disabilities, vices they need to overcome, backgrounds they’re not fond of. I’ve read of women doctors, single moms, those facing divorce. To me, a sinner saved by grace, it’s encouraging to read of women just like me—imperfect, yet strong. Struggling, yet overcoming. Imperfect women living in an imperfect world, embraced and loved by a perfect God. I believe our cardboard heroines from the past arose out of honorable intentions. There was a general desire to set forth perfection in the hopes that we, as readers, would strive for it. And there is much wisdom to that theory, and yet, the Bible presents a different kind of hero and heroine. Those like Abraham, who lied, thus betraying his wife. And Moses, a prince turned murderer turned liberator. Those like Ruth, who had to beg, well, glean, for her next meal. Paul, a religious tyrant who watched as Stephen the first martyr was stoned. A sinful woman with an alabaster jar who was willing to surrender something so costly when she found something of higher value—Jesus. Each of these characters taught us something about grace and something about ourselves. Through their struggles, God reveals our own. More than that, through their triumphs, God stirs us toward victory. I’d love to hear from you. Has there been a heroine—in a novel, movie, or the Bible—that God used to tap deep into your heart, revealing an area of weakness He wanted to change? Tell me about her, and what God revealed through her. *** *Clash of the Titles’ hostess, Jennifer Slattery, lives in the Midwest with her husband and their teenage. She writes for the ACFW Journal, Internet Café Devotions, Jewels of Encouragement, and the Christian Pulse. Her work has placed in various contests and appeared in numerous publications and compilation works. Visit her online at her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com) or on Facebook at “Living by Grace,” a modern-day meet-at-the-well community. COTT Blog Alliance: The Birth of Characters 05/02/2012
 Do you ever wonder how authors come up with their characters? I've heard of authors who fashion their main characters after a barista at their favorite coffee shop or some guy on the bus who looked interesting. The further I get into my writing journey, the more I find my characters often come from real life. For instance: The weekend before Easter, I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy - where half your face just stops working. Fun. Not really, but it's great story fodder. That's me. The story is one I started recently.
Now, to be fair, the heroine is younger, skinnier, with darker, straighter hair than me, but that's where the idea for her came from. In February, Travis [one of the shift managers at my favorite Panera] informed me I needed to name a character after him. Travis-with-the-faux-hawk became the hero in a manuscript.  I flopped into the recliner and ran my hands over my face until my fingers furrowed rows in my faux-hawk. The one that made the kids think I was way cooler than I really was. But Travis won't see his name in print. A week ago, he was in a car accident. At age 22, he left this life - leaving behind the love of his life and two children. I'm deeply saddened by news of Travis' passing. To me he was more than 'just' a shift manager at the Panera I frequent. He was a nice guy I loved to chat with. Another manuscript I planned to work on is about a widow. That's all I knew until last week. Now, she's a widow with young children a few years after a senseless tragedy.
Someday, I hope to be able to share Travis-with-the-faux-hawk with his family. To let them know that he touched my life. That he inspired a character in a novel – and so did they. Because the best inspiration is what we find all around us.  When she's not writing about her imaginary friends,Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of her southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. You can follow her ramblings on her blog . **Be sure to head over to Clash of the Titles and cast your vote today! Character Driven Blog Party ~ Post VI of VI 05/01/2012
If you’re just joining us, you’ve dropped in on Part Six of our “Character Driven” Blog Party at The Mustard Seed. Today is a very exciting day—I’ve been celebrating the release of my newest book, My S.E.D. Label, the last few days and the final day that you can download a FREE copy from Amazon is today. To help me celebrate, I’ve invited some awesome author friends to a Character Driven Blog Party. So happy you all could join us today. Be sure to check back to the first post to find out which authors are at this party and what the book giveaways are that are being offered today—you can find their website, blog, facebook and twitter links on the first posting today. Don’t forget to comment to enter to win in these wonderful giveaways!  When you read, what types of characters do you enjoy reading about and why? J.F. Jenkins: Just anyone who's got an interesting life and adventure. Some of them are like me, some of them aren't. Some are tough, and some aren't. Patricia, what about you? Patricia Kiyono: I love to read about strong, capable women. They don't have to be physically tough, but strong in that they have the intelligence and mental stamina to overcome whatever hardships are thrown their way. This is what Robyn Carr does so well. Her characters often deal with extremely tough situations, but they don't give up and their efforts are rewarded in the end. Think about your favorite character from one of your favorite books (which you did not write) and what would you like to ask the author about that character if you could sit down and have dinner with that author? Chynna Laird: One of my favorite books ever is Tuck Everlasting. It’s so simple and so beautiful. I would love to talk to the author about how he created his characters and thought of this idea. It inspired my love of YA and wanting to write for young people. Brea, what about your favorite character? Brea Essex: I would love to ask David Eddings about Ce'Nedra from his Belgariad and Mallorean series. She's such an interesting character. I'd probably have tons of questions for him. Now, none of us loves villains, right!?!? So, who is your favorite all-time villain (from a book you did not write) and what would you love to ask the author? Joselyn Vaughn: My favorite villain? That’s tough. It might be Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice, but he isn’t really evil, he just makes me laugh. Lady Catherine is more truly villainous, so she might be my second favorite. She’s so full of herself as if no one would do anything that she didn’t approve of. Ruth, do you think that reading is helpful to you as an author, why or why not? Ruth J. Hartman: Yes. I read every night before I go to bed. Not only does it give me a break from the characters I’m writing, it also frees up my mind to contemplate my own possible storylines as I read how another author produces her craft. Very true. Reading is so vital to an author’s craft. Tara, what do you think? Tara Manderino: Definitely reading is helpful, as long as it’s just not all fiction. While that is great, reading something outside of my normal reading is what feeds the well. It makes me wonder about what if and how could that be… wonderful stuff. Reading outside of your normal reading habits opens a totally different world. Often, little bits and pieces will pop into my mind while I’m writing and add another layer or dimension to the story. Anyone else want to respond before we move on? Lynette Sofras: Reading isn’t just helpful, it’s crucial – and not just for writers, but for everyone (that’s from me with my former English teacher’s hat on!) Reading opens the mind to new ideas and stimulates the creative processes. I could probably live without writing; I sincerely doubt I could live without reading. Couldn’t agree more! Sherry, have you ever read a book where you related so well with the hero or heroine and why? Sherry Gloag: Yes. In Nora Roberts book Northern Lights her hero Nate has hit rock bottom and is not sure whether he will ever make it back out of the black hole he’s dropped into. Ms. Roberts doesn’t make him some kind of super hero, and his climb back into ‘the light’ as Nate calls it, is so subtle and believable it is endearing. Believable is the best at drawing a reader in. Lindsay, do you think readers understand how much reviews truly do help authors? Aside from posting professional reviews of books on your blog, do you also regularly post reviews on Amazon etc. of books you read? Lindsay Downs: I am sure a lot of readers look to reviews and the number of stars a book gets. As an author/reader it’s more the blurb that interests me. I used to post reviews on my blog but have stopped. Now I only post the too Amazon, Goodreads and B&N.  Lindsay, what’s next on your TBR list? Do you prefer reading eBooks or print or like reading both? Lindsay Downs: With over 50 books on my Kindle to read and an equal number on my Wish List I’ve got no idea what is next for me to read. I do suspect it might be a regency though. Sherry, what book are you currently reading and why did you start reading it? Sherry Gloag: At the moment I am between books. The last book I read was Paula Martin’s lovely book His Leading Lady. I enjoyed it so much it is on my ‘keeper’ e-shelf. And I am looking forward to reading her current book Fragrance of Violets. Lynette, are you the type of reader who follows a particular author’s work, picks a book because of the cover or book blurb, or goes by a recommendation from a friend? Lynette Sofras: I will actively seek out work from a writer I’ve previously enjoyed and read all their works as long as they continue to give me the same enjoyment. If you could see my bookshelves, you’ll see entire collections from my favourite authors. I do listen to recommendations from certain friends, but mainly my favourites are my own discoveries. Tara, what’s next on your TBR list? Do you prefer reading eBooks or print or like reading both? Tara Manderino: Really couldn’t say what’s next on my TBR pile. Whatever strikes my fancy, I guess. I never anticipated reading When Passions Rule. I love to read but for the most part I do prefer eBooks. I love reading on a device away from the computer, not worrying about bookmarking the page and best of all, when I’m done I don’t have to figure out how to get a fiction book to fit on my bookshelves! That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy paper now and then, but it takes more effort. Paper is probably safer when I read before bed. I tend to prop my book up against the headboard. After having retrieved a few books from between the mattress and headboard I’m convinced this would be hazardous to an ereader. Ruth, what book are you currently reading and why did you start reading it? Ruth J. Hartman: I actually just finished “A Journey to Her Dreams” by Iris Blobel. It’s a wonderful romance/mystery by a fellow author. Joselyn, as a reader, do you enjoy reading happily ever after books or ones that are true to life? Joselyn Vaughn: It depends on what I’m in the mood for. When I’m looking for something to ease my mind, I definitely want the happily ever after. I want to enjoy the journey. If I’m in the mood for something I need to think about, then I’d like a story that is more true to life, where maybe the hero and heroine don’t end up together or things end up just a little bit off. Brea, what about you? Brea Essex: I like the happily ever after books. I read a book once where things went supremely wrong at the end of the book (it ended with the main character's husband dying, right as things were starting to go well in their lives). I threw the book away and never picked up anything by the author again. I’m the same way…more of a HEA kind-of girl. My husband’s always joking that I need to read more “real life” books, but they’re not for me. Chynna, do you think readers understand how much reviews truly do help authors? Aside from posting professional reviews of books on your blog, do you also regularly post reviews on Amazon etc. of books you read? Chynna Laird: No, I don’t think readers truly understand how much their reviews help us. I always try giving a review after finishing a book. I took the time to read an author’s book and when I love it, all I want to do is share those thoughts both with the author and readers. Patricia, have you ever read a book where you related so well with the hero or heroine and why? Patricia Kiyono: Meg Landslowe is the main character in Donna Andrews' mystery series. Meg is a blacksmith--I don't know much about blacksmithing, but Meg creates small wrought iron pieces that she sells at craft fairs. She's also overwhelmed by her family always bringing their problems to her, and now she has a set of twins to care for. I guess I identify with her because I (like all women!) often need to juggle family needs against work I need to get done. But I identify with her because even when she's faced with an enormous number of details to take care of, she takes out her "notebook-that-tells-me-when-to-breathe", writes things down, and then sets about solving the problem. I have lists like that all over the house. J.F. Jenkins, as a reader, do you enjoy reading happily ever after books or ones that are true to life? J.F. Jenkins: I enjoy reading both kinds. So long as the ending is a fitting one. That's what matters most.  One other question, do you think that reading is helpful to you as an author, why or why not? J.F. Jenkins: Always. It shows you how to write, how it's done, and you learn a lot about story arch and style. Patricia, what book are you currently reading and why did you start reading it? Patricia Kiyono: I have a paperback book on my nightstand (Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr), one on my iPad (In the Spotlight by Liz Botts) and one my phone (Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang by April Gardner). Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors, so whenever she comes out with a new book I tend to get it. Liz and April are both Astraea Press authors and I'm trying to support my fellow "A-Peeps" by reading and reviewing their books. Chynna, what’s next on your TBR list? Do you prefer reading eBooks or print or like reading both? Chynna Laird: Next on my fiction TBR pile is Ghosts of the Titanic. It’s a YA ghosty. I’m an old-fashioned girl who prefers to hold the book in my hands and turn the pages. Brea, what’s next on your TBR list? Brea Essex: Battlefield by J.F. Jenkins is next on my list. I love reading both ebooks and print books. Sometimes it's easier to just pick up my ereader. There are a lot of older books I like that aren't in ebooks, though. I do dislike hardcover, though. The dust jackets annoy me and they're hard to hold in my small hands. I agree with your sentiments. Don’t like the dust jackets for hardcovers. I never thought I’d like reading eBooks, but I’m enjoying reading them on my Kindle. Joselyn do you think readers understand how much reviews truly do help authors? Aside from posting professional reviews of books on your blog, do you also regularly post reviews on Amazon etc. of books you read? Joselyn Vaughn: I don’t think many readers have any idea how helpful reviews are, not just for recommending your book to other readers, but also for boosting your book within the sales system. I don’t do much reviewing myself. If I really like a book, I’ll post a sentence or two on Amazon or Goodreads, but I rarely have time to do much more than that. I try to keep an up-to-date list of what I’m reading on my blog. Ruth, when you read, what types of characters do you enjoy reading about and why? Ruth J. Hartman: I love men who are sensitive and funny. And women who are strong, but still have a deep need for a hero to come rescue them sometimes. Sherry, are you the type of reader who follows a particular author’s work, picks a book because of the cover or book blurb, or goes by a recommendation from a friend? Sherry Gloag: All of the above. I follow favourite authors, and am always on the look-out for new writers, so will look at both the cover and the blurb + the first and last pages! Recommendations from friends will always be considered, but if I know their reading preference is not mine, I may not follow up on their suggestions. Lindsay, as a reader, do you enjoy reading happily ever after books or ones that are true to life? Lindsay Downs: HEA and HFN ending are always important for me. Lynette, what’s next on your TBR list? Do you prefer reading eBooks or print or like reading both? Lynette Sofras: I have quite a formidable pile of both e-books and paperbacks awaiting my attention. Top of the list are a couple of novels I’ve agreed to review. I find I get through far more books since owning a Kindle and I have to say that for convenience and ease, that is my preferred format these days. I agree with reading more quickly on the Kindle. I think it’s great for reading through review copies of books rather than reading them on my laptop. Tara, do you think readers understand how much reviews truly do help authors? Aside from posting professional reviews of books on your blog, do you also regularly post reviews on Amazon etc. of books you read? Tara Manderino: I don’t think readers really understand the value of reviews. I have people who email me or catch me on facebook telling me how much they enjoyed one book or another. I wish they would leave a review, NOT that I’m complaining about the other compliments. J I try to leave reviews for books I have read and truly enjoyed. I’m a bit behind though. I have notes that I have two reviews I want to post. Sad to say our time is up for our author conversation and it’s been a blast! A special thank you to all of the authors participating today—and to all of you who stopped by to join the chat and comment, I know we all appreciate your time and discussions. Don’t forget to comment, if you haven’t already done so, if you’d like to enter to win in one of the book giveaways. Before you leave the Blog Party today, be sure to stop by the first blog post if you’d like more information on the participating authors and where to connect with them online. Thanks and hope you can hang around for a bit longer to chat with us. All winners will be announced online tomorrow. Character Driven Blog Party ~ Post V of VI 05/01/2012
I hope you’ve been enjoying this “Character Driven” Blog Party here at The Mustard Seed as much as we all have enjoyed chatting and sharing with you. Right now, we’re going to writers’ fantasies and I hope you stay to chat with the authors. Don’t forget to comment to enter to win some great books in the book giveaways.  Let’s say we all believe in magic and you had the chance to actually speak to one of your characters you created—whom would you select, why and what would you say? Lindsay Downs: Dakota above all the characters. To me he is the most real. Sherry, whom would you select and why? Sherry Gloag: I would ask the heroine, Melanie Babcott, in the first book of the Gasquet Princes series, From Now Until Forever, whether she really believed her marriage to Liam could work, let alone last? Anyone else want to share? Lynette Sofras: I’d ask Nicholas (The Apple Tree) to tell me exactly what was going on in his head the day he sent Juliet away and what his first thoughts were when he discovered she’d gone and he had no means of contacting her. I think I know the answers, but I’d just like to be certain that he suffered as much as he deserved for the pain he caused her! Good reason for wanting to talk to him. Tara, if you could sit down with your favorite character from your favorite book (one you did not write), what would you ask this character? Tara Manderino: Joanna Lindsey’s Malory family series is one of my favorites, and Tony my fav hero (when it’s not James). I would want to know why James is either always so angry, or feels that he has to come across that way to intimidate everyone. Ruth, have any family members, friends or others ever told you that you’re crazy for feeling connected to the characters you’ve created—and/or feeling like these characters speak to you? What do you tell these people? Ruth J. Hartman: I think sometimes my family thinks I’m nuts for writing some of my books. Especially the romantic comedies. Their senses of humor are different from mine. But that’s okay. I know I belong to them. At least I don’t think I’m adopted… Joselyn, if you could sit down with one of the villains in your novel, which everyone loves to hate—what would you ask him or her? Joselyn Vaughn: I’d ask him how he planned to pull off the fraud because I can’t figure out how to do it without getting caught right away by the IRS. Brea, do any of your characters ever get you mad and you don’t particularly like the direction they’re telling you their story should be written in? Brea Essex: I had the opposite happen. Logan fought me all the way through writing Overshadow, my sequel to Foreshadow. He did not like what I was doing to him. Can anyone share some snippets—without spoiling your surprises—of any new characters you’re dreaming up or are currently working on in your WIP? Chynna Laird: I have several WIPs in the works right now but my favorite so far is a Contemporary YA I’ve tentatively titled, Just Shut Up and Drive. It’s about an 18-year old guy and his grandfather traveling across Canada to learn about life. I adore these characters. They are so much alike but can’t see it and are constantly bantering back and forth. I’m putting them into a really crazy situation so they start learning to see the world through each other’s eyes. I think it’ll be fun. Sounds like a fun book! Anyone else want to share? Patricia Kiyono: I love to sew, and the ladies in my sewing groups are wonderful. So I'm working on a series of stories about four or five women who belong to a quilting group and support each other through good times and bad. A great way to get inspiration for your story.  Patricia, if you could sit down with your favorite character from your favorite book (one you did not write), what would you ask this character? Patricia Kiyono: I would love to ask Stephanie Plum when she's going to grow up and settle down with Joe Morelli. Ranger's nice to fantasize about, but he has too many secrets and lives way too dangerously. Joe is a great catch. Chynna, if you could sit down with one of the villains in your novel, which everyone loves to hate—what would you ask him or her? Chynna Laird: I’d ask him (Marcus from Out Of Sync) what happens in his mind when he kills another human being. Does he zone out? Is he right there in the moment? Is he sad watching life drain away from a person and knowing he took that away? Tough questions to ask…I think I’d be afraid of the answers. Brea, have any family members, friends or others ever told you that you’re crazy for feeling connected to the characters you’ve created—and/or feeling like these characters speak to you? What do you tell these people? Brea Essex: They've never flat-out told me I was crazy, but I have gotten odd looks from them. I was in Capitola with my dad one day (where my series takes place). We were walking out on the pier, and I was walking really slowly. My dad asked what I was doing, and I told him that I was “trying to get in Raena's head.” He just stared at me, and then told me to hurry up. I know the feeling! Joselyn, is there a secret fantasy one of your characters has which was not completely fleshed out in your novel, which you’d like to elaborate about? Joselyn Vaughn: Minnie would like to travel. I’m not sure if she did much, but I would like to see her and Gordon do some world exploring together. If you write contemporary novels, have you ever thought about writing fantasy? If you write historical, have you ever thought about solely writing contemporary—have you thought about switching from whatever genre you write in, but not sure you’d be able to make the switch? Ruth J. Hartman: I’ve written several contemporary romances, one fantasy, one memoir, and one children’s book. Right now, I’m trying my hand at my first regency. It’s a whole different outlook, that’s for sure. How fantastic! It’s so great to branch out and try something new. I love that you’re doing that! Tara, if you could sit down with one of the villains in your novel, which everyone loves to hate—what would you ask him or her? Tara Manderino: I would love to sit down with Barbara from Bound by Blood. I can’t say exactly what I would ask since that would give away too much, but a general question would pretty much be: What were you thinking? Lynette, what would you ask your favorite character from your favorite book? Lynette Sofras: I would have to ask Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) whether there was the tiniest element of truth in her answer to Jane’s question about how long she had loved Mr Darcy. Elizabeth jokingly replied: “It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.” Is this a case of ‘many a true word spoken in jest?’ I’m another Jane Austen fan. Good question for Elizabeth. Any other fans of Austen’s characters? Sherry Gloag: Elizabeth Bennet is certainly the most enduring character I have read about and I’ve always wanted to know why she did not look up at Darcy when he affirmed his love was as ardent at the end of the book as it was earlier. Lindsay, if you could sit down with one of the villains in your novel, which everyone loves to hate—what would you ask him or her? Lindsay Downs: The character would be the ‘brown-haired man’ from several of my books. The question I’d want to ask him-“Why do you want to kill Emily? What has she ever done to you except try to bring you to justice.  Sherry, if you could sit down with one of the villains in your novel, which everyone loves to hate—what would you ask him or her? Sherry Gloag: Denny Cadmore (Here is an example when the name portrays the character’s intent) never appears in the story Duty Calls, but his behavior towards his wife influences everything that happened to her before, during and after Duty Calls starts and finishes. I would ask him, if Rafe had not escaped, Cadmore, would he really have killed him? Anyone else like to respond to this question Sherry just answered: Lynette Sofras: Everyone hates my villain, Amber Rayne, in Wishful Thinking, who uses her abusive childhood as an excuse for her appalling behaviour. There are quite a few questions I’d like to ask this character, but if I wrote them here, they would sadly act as spoilers. If you read Wishful Thinking, I’m sure you will easily guess my questions. Tara, have any family members, friends or others ever told you that you’re crazy for feeling connected to the characters you’ve created. Tara Manderino: My husband used to frequently remind me the people I dealt with in my novels were not real and wouldn’t answer me. I never completely understood because they often talked to me. Which again leads me to Meg Chittenden’s quote: “Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing.” Very appropriate quote! Joselyn, do any of your characters ever get you mad and you don’t particularly like the direction they’re telling you their story should be written in? Joselyn Vaughn: I get nervous when the story seems to be going in a direction that I don’t think I can handle, if the plot becomes too complicated or mysterious or heavy. I have to step back and get it sorted out before I can continue. Or figure out a way to make it simpler. I’ve actually had similar feelings before in my writing. Brea, if you could sit down with your favorite character from your favorite book (one you did not write), what would you ask this character? Brea Essex: It would definitely be Keely from Daughter of the Lion by Jennifer Roberson. I'd probably ask her to train me how to sword fight. Chynna, do any of your characters ever get you mad and you don’t particularly like the direction they’re telling you their story should be written in? Chynna Laird: Oh, yes. It happens all the time. LOL! We go at it back and forth and I actually have to leave them for a day or two. Then I come back and we work out a mutual agreement on how things should go and the story continues. It sounds weird but that’s how I roll. I love it! Patricia, if you write contemporary novels, have you ever thought about writing fantasy? If you write historical, have you ever thought about solely writing contemporary—have you thought about switching from whatever genre you write in, but not sure you’d be able to make the switch? Patricia Kiyono: I started writing a historical romance, but it's been bogged down by details I need to research and verify. I wasn't sure about writing contemporary romance because I'm not sure I'm "in tune" with people the age of my daughters. But having them read and critique my stories certainly helps! I haven't considered writing fantasy--my imagination doesn't quite stretch that far. We are going to take one last break before regrouping for the final chat. Now’s your chance to chat with the authors! | Click photo to view Blog Trailer
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 ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll DISCLAIMER: Book Reviews In accordance with FTC Guidelines for blogging & endorsements, I want to post this disclaimer. From time to time, I do purchase and review some novels. However, most of the novels I review are given to me as a complimentary review copy by the author or publisher. I do not receive monetary compensation for the reviews I complete.  |
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