#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: A. J. Locke on patience with publication

What I’ve learned on my journey to publication

Patience. That is one of the biggest things I’ve had to learn throughout my journey to becoming a published author. Before taking the step to try and get published, I had all the time in the world to work on my writing. There was no pressure and no expectations. I could write when my muse was ready, and when I wasn’t writing there wasn’t anything I was waiting on except for inspiration. Then that step is taken…and everything changes.

When it comes to publication, no matter which venue you chose to go, it’s a waiting game. Sure I’ve read about people who go from zero to a hundred percent success in no time, but that’s not the norm. My first route to trying to get published was trying to land an agent through the query process. And querying agents is not known to be quick. Once those queries are out, it’s days, weeks, and even months of waiting for a response, haunting your email everyday to see if anyone has gotten back to you, then weathering the disappointment when days and weeks of waiting result in a rejection. It was not a fast process for me by any means, and after a few years of querying different projects and coming as close as you can to a yes without getting a yes, I switched routes.

I became a published author through a small press called Etopia. Once my novel was accepted I was riding a high for a while, then the waiting game kicked back in and I came back to reality. Of course I never thought the book would come out overnight, but it’s not always easy having to wait for things to progress. From editing, to copyediting, to waiting for the cover art to waiting for a release date, it’s months of waiting, which means months of having to be patient and know that things will get done, which is all that matters.

Whether someone is published the traditional way, goes with a small press, or self publishes, as I did with my novella, Elemental Inferno, there’s always going to be some aspect of waiting things out, which means that cultivating a good, patient attitude can go a long way. I’ll admit I’m not the most patient person, I mean instant gratification is always better, right? But I think I’ve become pretty good at being more patient and understanding that no matter how long the wait, it always ends with the best result.

~~~oOo~~~

Elemental Inferno

Urban Fantasy

Novella

Rielle is a Winter Aura who for the past hundred years has held the job of controlling winter weather in her assigned area. During the non-winter months she can live as she pleases, as long as she doesn’t do anything that would make her lose control of herself, which could unleash her power and have it snowing in July. Therefore, sex outside of winter is a big no-no, because what could make her lose control of herself more? If Rielle is unable to keep her winter magic dormant during her off seasons, she will be forced to Sleep by the Aura Elders. For Auras, it’s a fate worse than death.

When the Summer Aura for her area winds up mysteriously dead, summer weather spirals out of control until another Summer Aura arrives in the nick of time and brings things back to order. Aden is as gorgeous and alluring as they come, and before Rielle knows it, she finds herself with a roommate at the urging of the Elders, who seem uneasy about Aden, and want an eye kept on him. Rielle and Aden have a magnetic attraction to each other, and for the first time Rielle is afraid of losing control. However, Aden is much more than he seems, and when he shows Rielle a way to indulge their passions without repercussions, it seems too good to be true. But Aden’s secrets are ones the Elders fear, and can’t ignore. As they close in on him with deadly force in mind, Rielle will have to decide if Aden is in fact too dangerous, or if it’s worth going up against the Elders to save the man she’s losing her body, and heart to.

Elemental Inferno Links:

Amazon

Goodreads 

My debut novel, Affairs of the Dead is available on:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

All Romance e-books

  

A.J. Locke is an author and artist, originally from Trinidad, now residing in New York City. Affairs of the Dead is her debut novel, and other than writing she enjoys reading, drawing, painting, graphic design, and watching too much television.

Author Links:

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#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: Alana Lorens on Critique Groups

As a writer friend of mine scolded, “It may be fun to chunk out novel after novel, but until you put in the work to edit, they will never go anywhere!”

For me, it is in fact, fun to chunk out novels. I enjoy the process. I’ve won NaNoWriMo twice, creating a 50,000-word novel in thirty days. Over the years, I’ve written maybe twenty novel manuscripts. After I was 54 years old, I have been blessed enough to see them published—in fact, I received five contracts in 2010, three for fantasy novels, one for a romance and the last for women’s fiction; in 2011 two romance novels, a space opera and a fantasy, as well as a paranormal mystery; last year, a straight suspense, a YA post-apocalyptic series, a romance novella, and a romantic suspense, as well as a spooky short story for an anthology, and more coming. What has made the real difference for me is my critique group.

My personal editing process is stimulated, challenged and greatly aided by a talented critique group I met through Pennwriters. I can’t stress enough the value of a good critique group for any writer. While your mother/partner/daughter may rave about the wonders of your manuscript, if you’re serious about editing for the reading public, you need critical eyes of a variety of sorts. Our group, which meets every Thursday, is a veritable mashup of varied bodies of knowledge; a retired police officer, a therapist,  a lawyer, an artist, a technical copy writer, a barista, some students, some working, some retired–all gifted. Many are published in short form over the time I’ve belonged to the group, in newsletters, newspapers, or short story. The group boasts two published novelists, though others are coming up close behind.

This brings me to my first point: find a critique group at the level you need. If you’re just starting out, you’re still learning about everything—grammar, rhythm, metaphors—and need to become comfortable with the use of words on the page. What you don’t need in a critique group is a bunch of snippy professionals who will tear your piece apart as soon as you share it. You need a group with other beginners and a few mentors, a group that runs exercises each week to help you grow as a writer. Hold out for that group.

Conversely, if you’ve been writing some time and you’re ready for publication, you need a group with some published writers in it, to learn about queries and marketing and how to set your work before the public. You’ll want some harsher critiques—in a constructive way! Hopefully, your writer’s skin has thickened to the point where you can hear some criticism of the work, but still understand how changes might make the work better.

My second point: ego has no place in critique groups, on either the writing or reading side. In order to get the most from your feedback, you should listen, not talk. When group members comment on your work, take in what they say. They might not be right. They might not understand what you meant by a particular phrase or scene. Arguing with them just shuts down their urge to help you. Frankly, if the scene is so unclear that they missed the point—maybe the scene is that unclear. If only one person missed it, but the majority got it, maybe it’s fine. Listen. Then decide.

As a person giving feedback, remember your ego doesn’t matter, either. A critique session is not where you score points for being brilliant. Your opinion of someone else’s work only matters as far as it improves the other person’s work. It’s their work. Constructive criticism helps; tearing someone to bits doesn’t. In a business where sheer persistence is sometimes all that stands between a writer and publication, destroying their self-confidence to prop up your own ego is criminal. It happened to me, more than once. Receiving scathing words from someone claiming to “help,” I decided to give up any hope of being a writer. Thank the stars that my inner urges kept that from happening. Primarily because I found my new group.

What I like best about this group is the creative flow that works between us. Ego isn’t an issue. When we have questions, we toss them on the table, and they receive open, honest answers: Is this an information dump? Do you understand the character’s motivation? Is this too big a clue early in the story?

More importantly, in the discussion and exchange process, we’ve shared brainstorming moments that open the door to deeper understanding of my own work. What if your character did…? Perhaps the relationship between the girl and that boy could lead to…? What setting would make this scene most effective? What if the journey took on a more metaphoric flavor and…? I always love it when someone spots a meaningful undertone that I haven’t quite grasped, so I can coax it into the light.

Once you’ve worked over your manuscript with your group, then back to your computer to polish, polish, polish. Hopefully you have one writing partner who helps with final drafts. My critique mate Jean, a former high school English teacher, has read through just about everything I’ve submitted, even the science fiction she doesn’t like, attacking the pages with not only red pen but black and violet as well. Bless her. (No, really, I mean it!)

All in all, though writing is a solitary process, editing can work best as a collective. I’d urge any writer to find a group, online or in person, that provides what they need. Be prepared to do your share to help others along the way ; keep your ego in check. And start chunking out those novels!

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When her big trial goes bad, corporate attorney Brianna Ward can't wait to get out of Pittsburgh. The Big Easy seems like the perfect place to rest, relax, and forget about the legal business. Too bad an obnoxious--but handsome--lawyer from a rival firm is checking into the same bed and breakfast. 

Attorney Evan Farrell has Mardi Gras vacation plans too. When he encounters fiery and attractive Brianna, however, he puts the Bourbon Street party on hold. He'd much rather devote himself to her--especially when a mysterious riddle appears in her bag, seeming to threaten danger. 

Strangely compelled to follow the riddle's clues, Brianna is pulled deeper into the twisted schemes of a voodoo priest bent on revenge. To escape his poisonous web, she must work with Evan to solve the curse. But is the growing love they feel for each other real? Or just a voodoo dream?

Amazon

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About Alana Lorens

Alana Lorens dreamed for many years of being a spaceship captain, but settled instead for inspired excursions into fictional places with fascinating companions from her imagination that she likes to share with others. She has been a published writer for over thirty years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at a newspaper in Homestead, Florida, with a list of eclectic publications from horror to tech reporting to television reviews. She writes urban fantasy and science fiction under the name of Lyndi Alexander. The Elf Queen, her first novel, was released by Dragonfly Publishing in July 2010; the series continued with The Elf Child, The Elf Mage and The Elf Guardian. She’s now working on the space opera Horizon Crossover series, and a YA trilogy, The Color of Fear—the first book, WINDMILLS, was published by Zumaya Publications this summer.  Writing as Alana Lorens, she produces romance and romantic suspense, including the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyer series, CONVICTION OF THE HEART, SECOND CHANCES, and the latest, VOODOO DREAMS, released by The Wild Rose Press in October 2013.

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#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: Enriching Stories with Ethnic Customs by Linda Caroll-Bradd

Linda Carroll-Bradd, romance author, is here today sharing about how she strives to keep her stories rich with ethnic customs.

Be sure to check out her latest release, Sweetwater Springs Christmas.

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Enriching Stories with Ethnic Customs

As an author, I want to create a story with three-dimensional characters living in a realistic world—no matter in what era the story is set. Granted the world is fictional but I want to include enough specific details to enable readers to form visual images as they read. Because I only know the holiday traditions from my own experience, I needed to research customs from other ethnic groups for a recent holiday story. My goal is to always have enough detail that someone who is from that country will recognize familiar foods or items. As with lots of research, the quest for a tidbit of information led me deeper into the subject and I amassed more facts than the scene can hold.

In Wishes On A Star (a short story in Sweetwater Springs Christmas), the heroine Richelle Quaid is spending the Christmas holiday with her aunt and uncle and is helping to decorate the tree. A family story emerges about a special hand-blown glass ornament made by an adored uncle that survived the journey from Germany to America. Aunt Iola speaks of this uncle and how her mother lamented that so many ornaments were broken on the trip over the Atlantic. Although her aunt is the sister of Richelle’s mother, Richelle has never heard this story and doesn’t remember seeing a similar ornament on her family’s tree.  Instead, many of the ornaments are made of crystal, which reflects her father’s Irish heritage. [Here I’ve created a potential plot question for a future story]

My idea of old-fashioned trees is that candy canes (without the cellophane wrappers) hung at the ends of the fir branches. So I researched candy canes (zuckerstange in German) and learned (to my great joy) that one source states candy canes were invented in Germany in 1672. A choirmaster asked a local candy maker to create sweet sticks that he could pass out in the middle of the lengthy Christmas Eve service to keep the children quiet. (obviously before the real facts about kids and sugar were discovered) He specified that one end should have a hook to remind children of the shepherds who visited Jesus. The original sticks were pure white but by 1844, a recipe for red and white sticks flavored with peppermint was in print. So I gave Aunt Iola the memory of eating sweet sticks during worship service as a child. And I knew that having candy canes available to buy from a sweets shop in 1895 was feasible.

The details are minor and some readers may not take notice, but I believe taking the time to research customs that are part of the character’s heritage and weave them into the plot makes the story richer and more satisfying.

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Sweetwater Springs Christmas is an anthology by 11 western historical authors set in 1895 in the world created by Debra Holland in her Montana Sky series of sweet historical romances.

Free-spirit Richelle Quaid is outspoken, confident and a little bit spoiled. She sets tongues wagging with her bloomers and bicycle but also catches the eye of visiting rancher Landon Howard. An incident with her bicycle causes his prize colt to bolt into the cold Montana night. As Richelle and Landon track the animal together, they can’t fight their growing attraction. Will a wish made on a star foretell their future?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

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About Linda Caroll-Bradd

As a young girl, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, she read and then started writing romances and achieved her first publication--a confession story. Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, Linda now writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor from her home in the southern California mountains.

Links:

Facebook  Website   Amazon Author   GoodReads  Blog

#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: Romance Author, Barbara Bettis, on Critique Groups

I'm pleased to have fellow TWRP romance author, Barbara Bettis here today sharing on a topic I high recommend ... critique groups.

Be sure to check out her newest release!

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 Let’s Hear It for Critique Groups

I’m in the midst of edits on my second mediev­al and each week, I take a section back to my critique group. The members have seen it at every step of the writing process and yet, on this last go-through, they’re finding things that had slipped past all those other times.

We’re doing the same last-edit run-through for another member’s book, her third. And as with mine, although we’ve been through her chapters at least twice before, this final time we still find points to clarify.

In this final go-round, the crit process is different. Now we’re into the polishing stage. Of course, only the author can do that final polish, but crit partners who know each other’s voice can be of immeasurable help. Tuesday afternoon, we discussed a particular word in my friend’s manuscript. Would another better represent the message she wanted to convey? Would still a third work to alter the rhythm (cadence) of a sentence to better transmit the feeling she intended?

Silly? We don’t think so. As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” We may not always get it right, but it’s not for lack of trying. Working together (brainstorming, checking a word’s origin, analyzing whether the particular character would have “said that”), we found a phrase that she thought better reflected the character, the time, and the situation.

Only other writers understand the drive to get the wording exactly right. And it’s easier when you have someone to bounce ideas off of. Now, critique groups don’t sit around all day debating esoteric word choices. J They offer advice and insight on whatever the individual writer needs. Characterization? Plot and story arc? GMC? All those and many other things.

That’s why I firmly believe in the importance of critique groups or partners. Not every writer thinks they’re important, and that’s fine. Whatever works for the individual. But I highly recommend them. They’re especially helpful for someone who’s starting on a writing career.

 A partner or a group also can help answer basic grammar, structure and development questions. You know, the kinds of things we all need to master so our stories can be understood.

True, finding the right critique partners or group isn’t always easy. Not every group is one in which you’ll remain. But when you find the right combination, it’s unbelievably helpful.

Right now, I’m lucky enough to have found two wonderful groups.

My particular weekly crit group has been together for years. We’ve become friends, but the friendship doesn’t interfere with the sometimes painfully honest evaluations we give each other’s work. We’re all published—all but one, who could be if she’d only submit!

The second is an online critique coterie of historical authors whose expertise is fantastic. They provide great insight, total honesty, and unequivocal support.

So if you don’t have a critique group or at least a critique partner, you might consider looking for one that’s a good fit for you. It might take a bit of searching, but I firmly believe it will be worth it.

Good luck and happy writing!

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He’s everything a proper lady should never want; she’s everything a bastard mercenary can never have.

Sir Giles has come to England to kill his father, who seduced and betrayed his mother. First, however, he’ll seek sweet revenge—kidnap the old lord’s new betrothed. But when Giles uncovers a plot against King Richard, he faces a dilemma: take the lady or track the traitors. What’s a good mercenary to do? Both, of course.

Lady Emelin has had enough. Abandoned in a convent by her brother, she finally has a chance for home and family. Yet now she’s been abducted. Her kidnapper may be the image of her dream knight, but she won’t allow him to spoil this betrothal. Her only solution: escape

Rescuing the intrepid lady—while hunting traitors—is a challenge Giles couldn’t anticipate.  But the greatest challenge to Giles and Emelin is the fire blazing between them. For he’s everything a proper lady should never want, and she’s everything a bastard mercenary can never have.

Purchase Links:

Amazon  / The Wild Rose Press

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 About Barbara Bettis

O

Barbara Bettis has always loved history and English. As a college freshman, she briefly considered becoming an archeologist until she realized there likely would be bugs and snakes involved. And math.

She now lives in Missouri, where by day she’s a mild-mannered English teacher, and by night she’s an intrepid plotter of tales featuring heroines to die for—and heroes to live for.

Links:

Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook  /  Twitter

#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: Val Clarizio on Finding a Critique Partner #WritersLife

I have Val Clarizio - hunter, fisherwoman, and romance author, here to share a bit on the importance of writing groups & critiquing partners.

Be sure to check out her newest release, Covert Exposure!

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The Importance and Value of Joining Your Local Writers Group and Finding a Great Critique Partner

Five and one-half years ago I began my quest to become a published author.  After receiving enough rejection letters to wallpaper my house, with little to no constructive criticism, I began to doubt my ability to obtain my goal of becoming a published author.  I’d read books on the craft of fiction writing covering POV, dialogue, setting scenes, characterization, etc., but was still getting nowhere.  I’d just about given up when a wonderful lady, and experienced writer, answered my call for a critique partner.  It wasn’t until Virginia dissected one of my manuscripts, specifically pointing out the areas of issue, that I finally understood, and was able to hone my skills on the different “craft” components of fiction writing.  And voila, after just a few short months of working with my critique partner, I made my first sale to a publisher! 

Okay, so I finally made a sale and couldn’t have been more thrilled, but I quickly learned that my work wasn’t done yet.  In fact, not even close.  Outside of the edits, I had to approve a book cover, blurb, bio, and dedication.  And then….the promo.  How was I going to promote my book?  Facebook, Twitter, blog hopping, author interviews, etc.  Honestly, I didn’t know where to begin so I turned to my local writers group where I found a wonderful, knowledgeable, and supportive network.  They guided me through the processes and now here I am, my second book was just released, and I have two releases scheduled for 2014. 

Needless to say, my journey to publication has been interesting.  Looking back, I think some of the most valuable pieces of advice I received along the way were to join my local writers group and find a dedicated critique partner.  There is no doubt in my mind that without these people I would not be where I am today,            

Covert Exposure, A Nick Spinelli Mystery (Novella #1 in the Nick Spinelli Mystery Series)

Detective Spinelli’s life is tossed sideways when he is reassigned from the Homicide division to assist in the Child Services division of the Social Services Department for the holiday season.  From the beginning, Spinelli and Caseworker Shannon O’Hara generate their own kind of fireworks, causing more than the normal workplace stress.  They both have their own philosophies for dealing with the clientele.  However, the forces of nature have their own plan for Spinelli and Shannon.

Shannon moonlights as Santa Claus’ little helper at the mall, and when Santa and an elf turn up dead Shannon appears to be next on the killer’s list. Spinelli is placed back on homicide and goes undercover as Santa to help capture the killer.  He catches a great deal of grief along the way but will he capture the heart of his little Santa’s helper as well?

Purchase Links:

Melange Books  /  Amazon

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A little bit about Valerie:

Valerie Clarizio lives in beautiful Door County Wisconsin with her husband and extremely spoiled cat. She loves to read, write, and spend time at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She's lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all the men in her life has turned her into a successful hunter and fisherwoman.

Valerie is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Additionally, she was a finalist in the 2011 Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Novellas Need Love, Too! Contest.

Visit Valerie online at:

Blog:  http://valclarizio.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Valerie.Clarizio         

Twitter:  @VClarizio

#WriterlyWisdomWednesday: #Romance Author, Barbara Barrett #WritersLife

A special welcome to fellow TWRP author, Barbara Barrett!

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Water, Water Everywhere

Near the end of my latest release from The Wild Rose Press, Driven to Matrimony, the hero and heroine stage a water fight in the massive, three-tiered fountain behind the heroine’s movie star mother’s summer home to entertain a reporter who shows up to interview the missing parent. With all due respect to the fountain scene in “La Dolce Vita” and “Three Coins in a Fountain,” the idea seemed to come out of nowhere. Yet, when I stopped to wonder about the source, I realized my fascination with fountains goes way back.  

When I was growing up, one of the highlights of my summers was to attend band concerts in Crapo Park in Burlington, Iowa. The music was accompanied by the park’s magnificent fountain behind us, which shot crystals of water into the air while illuminated by changing colored lights. What a precious memory.

A few years passed, then along came the television sitcom, “Friends.” I’ve been watching a lot of its reruns this summer, enjoying this gem yet again. Though the show ran for ten seasons, the opening credits for every show featured the sequence from the first season which included umbrellas, a floor lamp, a sofa and a fountain. That fountain is a both a unifying force, bringing together the six friends, and also their playground, which would underscore the whimsical nature of their relationships and the crazy situations that would befall them.

A favorite day trip has been a visit to Kansas City, Missouri. Besides great shopping, one of the primary reasons for this destination is to admire the city’s many fountains. It is said only Rome, Italy has more fountains. Many of these treasured artworks of water can be found in Country Club Plaza, an open air shopping district just south of downtown, frequently called America’s first shopping center. Built in 1922 to reflect the style of Seville, Spain, the Plaza boasts beautiful examples of Spanish-style architecture, mosaic tile artwork and the fountains. On my visits, when I wasn’t browsing the many high-end clothing stores or sampling the great food, I was admiring those incredible waterworks. Of particular note is the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain by Henri Léon, which dominates the east entrance.   

The more I write, the more I wonder at the incredible ability of the brain to store memories and images, sometimes for years, then suddenly bring them forth as part of the creative process. I suspect that, buried in the recesses of my memory bank, is the unmet desire to climb into one of those fountains of my past and be a child again. One of the joys of writing is to search those vaults, withdraw those yearnings and let our characters experience them for us.

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About Barbara Barrett

Barbara Barrett spent her professional career as a human resources analyst for Iowa state government, and that training has stayed with her in her writing of contemporary romance fiction. Now retired, Barbara spends her winters basking in the Florida sunshine and returns to her home state of Iowa in the summer to “stay cool.” Her first two books, The Sleepover Clause, Crimson Romance, and And He Cooks Too, The Wild Rose Press, were published in the past year. A third, Driven to Matrimony, TWRP, is available on Amazon for Kindle and will be released worldwide on January 15, 2014. 

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter

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Driven to Matrimony

Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date:  Jan. 15, 2014

Dina Maitland spends almost as much time extricating her movie star mother from personal messes as she invests in her forensic accounting job. So much time, she may no longer have a job once she cleans up her mother's latest fiasco, her engagement to a twenty-something film student. Vowing it's the last time she puts herself on clean-up duty, Dina sets off for South Carolina to stop the pending nuptials, and along the way, almost literally, runs into the father of the groom.

Ben Cutler has troubles of his own with his business under attack from competitors and a government audit looming. Not one to trust women, he must team up with Dina to balance his books as well as stop the wedding.

Though unwillingly thrown together Dina and Ben are surprised to find their interest and passion for each other growing. Can they face their pasts in order to create a union of their own?

The Sleepover Clause

Amazon ebook, Amazon POD

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

iBookstore

Kobo

And He Cooks Too

The Wild Rose Press, TWRP POD

Amazon Kindle, Amazon POD

Barnes and Noble Nook

iTunes

iBookstore POD

Kobo

#WriterlyWisdomWednesday : Inspiration In A Wink Of Sunlight by Laura Strickland

Today I'm thrilled to have fellow Wild Rose Press author, Laura Strickland (lore, legend, magic and music lover), share a bit about inspiration and where the ingredients for our stories come from.

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When my daughter was young, she loved playing Barbies with Mom.  As soon as the supper dishes were done she would sidle up to me with a hopeful look on her adorable, elfin face and ask, “Can we play?”

Of course I couldn’t say no, but as a then stay-at-home mom immersed in laundry, housecleaning and Teenaged Ninja Turtle episodes, I desperately needed something to engage my mind.  Daughter’s other favorite thing was Robin Hood.  So I would put some English Folk music on the stereo and we’d both unleash our imaginations.  Robin Hood Barbie was born.

Oh, the adventures those Robin Hood Barbies had!  The space under the dining room table became a dungeon, the edge of the sofa a perilous cliff.  Archery contests and daring rescues abounded.  The very handsomest of all the Ken dolls became Robin, complete with boots burrowed from a Disney Beast doll. The ugliest – the one we loved to hate – became the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Our characters spoke with English accents, and eventually I got so into it I even sewed them all period costumes.

Of such things are wonderful memories made.  Little did I know at the time, I was also stoking my own dream of becoming a published writer.

Flash forward an uncounted number of years, and here I am author of The Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy.  The writing came easily to me, probably because I had such a firm grounding in that wonderful, magical and limitless place my daughter and I created.  The fact is the first book of the trilogy, Daughter of Sherwood – due for release by The Wild Rose Press on November 1^st but available now in ebook format from Amazon – contains all the ingredients of our play stories: the bravery, the fight against tyranny, the magic and most of all the belief that love never dies.

As writers, we can never be sure what goes into the stories we create.  Ingredients garnered over a lifetime pour in through our ears, eyes and fingers.  Our minds filter them in the particular way writers’ minds do, weave memory with desire and produce wondrous things: tales of horror (did the slightly creepy guy beside whom you worked all those years on the factory floor turn into an axe murderer?), tales of home (were there grains of wisdom in all those wacky stories Grandpa used to tell?), and loyalty (did that favorite pet with the heroic heart really wait for you to get home from college before he died?)  My point is, as writers we need to remember that inspiration can lie anywhere: in a wink of sunlight on leaves, in a snatch of song, in a simple news story.  Keep your writer’s third eye on alert, because you just never know what might come of it. 

I’ve dedicated Daughter of Sherwood to my daughter because she played such a fundamental part in its creation, though neither of us realized it back then.  Daughter of Sherwood will be followed next year by the second book of the trilogy, Champion of Sherwood.  Meanwhile I’m hard at work on the concluding book, Lord of Sherwood.  But can I really call it work?  Feels more like play … Either way, I hope you’ll join us, just outside Nottingham.

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Click on image to add on Goodreads

Daughter of Sherwood

Romance / Fantasy

Raised in the kitchens of Nottingham Castle, Wren has no idea she is the daughter of the legendary Robin Hood until she is summoned to Sherwood Forest.  Since Robin’s death many years before, the resistance against Norman tyranny has been upheld by a magical triad, but now one of the guardians has died.  With two young men, Sparrow and Martin, Wren must form a new triad with a bond strong enough to defend Sherwood’s magic.  To one of them, she will also give her heart.

From the moment Wren bursts into his life, Sparrow loves her.  But he knows she may choose his lifelong rival, Martin, as her mate.  Martin wants Wren also, but Sparrow fears Martin is driven not by love but ambition.  When Martin is captured and held at Nottingham Castle, will the conflict between love and duty destroy the triad?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

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About Laura Strickland

Born and raised in Western New York, Laura Strickland has pursued lifelong interests in lore, legend, magic and music, all reflected in her writing. Though her imagination frequently takes her to far off places, she is usually happiest at home not far from Lake Ontario with her husband and her "fur" child, a rescue dog. Currently she is at work on the third book of the Guardians of Sherwood series.

Links:

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#WWW : Never Grow Up & Other Contrarian Advice by Sharon Buchbinder #WritersLife

I'm pleased to have my fellow Wild Rose Press author, Sharon Buchbinder, here to share with us some things she learned on her journey to becoming a published romance novelist.

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Never Grow Up and Other Contrarian Advice

As a relatively recent arrival to the realm of “Published Full Length Romance Author,” I am here to provide the contrarian’s guide to achieving this status. There truly is no one route to publication. You really don’t need an MFA. You don’t even have to have majored in English, although being able to use the language correctly is a plus. You don’t have to starve in an attic writing timeless prose or poetry. You don’t have to have lived in the belly of the underworld and struggled with alcoholism and addiction, although that has worked for others. You don’t even have to have designated office space. What do you need? Here are my top ten tips for becoming a published romance author.

      Never grow up. Be curious about the world around you and wonder, “What if?” Grownups (i.e., anyone who is done growing) are boring. Childlike curiosity is not childish. It enables you to see the world with fresh eyes and to bring a new perspective to a story. Look at F. Paul Wilson’s The Keep. Paul is a physician who started writing medical thrillers. Then he had a wild idea: what if Nazi’s encountered vampires in World War II? The result is a cult classic. Keep saying, “What if?”

       Be yourself. There is only one you, and you have your own voice. Don’t try to be a clone of another author. And don’t promote yourself that way. Do not say, “Oh, my work is just like Nora Roberts.” Um, no it isn’t. You will only be a pale imitation of that author--but you are unique.

           Get a job that pays. Money. Preferably with benefits. Because you have to live. While this flies into the face of those who say "do what you love and the money will follow," this is a tough business. Even for the most talented author, it takes time to climb the book rankings. Besides, who wants to live in their parents’ home forever?

      Seize the moment. You can write in 15 minute blocks, at lunch, on break, in a fast food restaurant, on a napkin (yes, I’ve outlined entire books on a napkin), before the kids are conscious, in the bathroom, in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep. If you are passionate about writing, if it is an obsession, you will be unable to resist the urge to write. Where ever you go, have a notepad or phone and jot or text your ideas to yourself. I used the notepad app in my phone and made a list of story ideas. When I looked at it 3 years later, I had written all those stories. Carpe diem, carpe noctem, carpe wheneverem.

      Get rejected. Yes, get rejected. You will learn from those rejections what works and what doesn’t. I was rejected by 82 (no, that is not a typo) agents. That experience taught me to look at other avenues to publication.  Paper your office with your rejections. And, yes, I'm still submitting to agents, because I believe the right agent can be an author's best advocate in the competitive publishing world.

           Have trusted readers. When I started writing my first novel, I needed a cheering section to keep me going, to give me the courage to keep writing. That first stage should not last more than a year--at most. The next step is to put your work out there for others to read and critique. No smoke blowing allowed. Regardless of what path you go--paid editor, critique group, critique partner--you must have other readers. Otherwise, it’s like well, dare I say it? Masturbation. It feels good for you, but it wasn’t good for the other person. Be brave, get alpha and beta readers and listen to their constructive criticisms.

       Be persistent. Did I mention I received 82 rejections from agents? If I hadn’t been persistent, I would have never had the courage to send my work to contests, I would have never won writing awards, I would have never had the chutzpah to send my little story to a small electronic publisher called the Wild Rose Press and gotten it published. You must be persist.

   

            Do not whine. No one, and I do mean no one, likes a whiner. If you get rejected, allow yourself no more than 24 hours to cry, stomp your feet, and have a pity party. After 24 hours, STOP. Be child like, but not childish.

      

      Don’t take it personally. While the story of your heart is your baby and you know this is the best (fill in the blank) story ever told, publishing is a business. The publisher is not going to take a story that doesn’t fit with their lines or needs. They are in business to make money.

       And finally, if it doesn’t fit, find another publisher--or publish it yourself.  Right now, we have a lot of choices as authors. Agents, editors and publishers are feeling the pressure to perform. Some are responding to the sea change and stepping up to the plate to market and promote our stories. Last year, I self published two books. Will I continue to pursue publication with other publishers? Yes. I did with the Wild Rose Press, and I will continue to do so. I believe there are many great opportunities with traditional publishers.  I don't think this is an either or proposition. I see it as a great prospect (with some caveats) to connect with our readers and do what we do best: tell a story.

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OBSESSION

A year after a barbaric childbirth, complete with a near-death experience and an encounter with her guardian angel, Angie Edmonds is just happy she and her son, Jake, are alive. She's finally in a good place: clean, sober, and employed as a defense attorney. But at the end of a long work day, she finds herself in a parent's worst nightmare: Jake has been kidnapped and taken across the Mexican border by a cult leader who believes the child is the "Chosen One."

Stymied by the US and Mexican legal systems, Angie is forced to ask the head of a Mexican crime syndicate for help. Much to her chagrin, she must work with Alejandro Torres, a dangerously attractive criminal and the drug lord's right-hand man. Little does she know Alejandro is an undercover federal agent, equally terrified of blowing his cover—and falling in love with her.

Book Trailer /  Blog Tour  / Obsession Facebook Page

Purchase Links:

Amazon  /  Wild Rose Press

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About Sharon Buchbinder

After working in health care delivery for years, Sharon Buchbinder became an association executive, a health care researcher, and an academic in higher education. She had it all--a terrific, supportive husband, an amazing son and a wonderful job. But that itch to write (some call it an obsession) kept beckoning her to "come on back" to writing fiction. When not attempting to make students, colleagues, and babies laugh, she can be found herding cats, waiting on a large gray dog, fishing, dining with good friends, or writing. You can find her at www.sharonbuchbinder.com  

Paranormal Romance Guild Winner Best Mystery/Thriller, 2012

Links:

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Goodreads  /  Amazon