by Angela Smith | Nov 14, 2015 | Writing
I admit today’s quote that I found to explain how my writing path is going is a bit dreary, which is why I chose the uplifting picture to go with it. Because writing, no matter what type of project, is a long and arduous task. You will have up days, you will have down days. You will have days that you feel like a failure no matter how many times people tell you they love your work.
If writing was easy, more people would stop talking about it and actually sit down and do it.
This quote is true. Some people actually love to write. It’s not that I don’t love it, but it is a struggle, and I do it because I’m driven to do it. And yet no matter how many “bad writing days” I have, I have many other good ones.
I got my edits back from my editor, so I’ve been writing and editing at the same time. Writing one story while editing another is probably not a good idea and never easy, but it’s how I work best. I’ve been trying to plot a lot, which is never a good thing for me. It never works out for me when I try to plot, and I’ve gotten stuck more times than I could admit when I try to plot. Even a simple plot outline tends to get me stuck, unless I’m very deep into my story already.
It’s important to go with what works for you. If you can’t start a story without a title, don’t listen to anyone’s advice about how you should do this or that first. Every writer is different. I keep telling myself that plotting is going to make my life easier, my story flow better, but I have more down days, more days where I struggle trying to tell a story, when I try to plot first. I wish it weren’t so. I don’t know how many plotters wish they were pantsers, but I know a lot of pantsers who wish they were plotters, me being one of them. I constantly have to remind myself that it doesn’t work for me, so stop trying to make it work.
This whole week was one of those times I felt like a failure, like giving up. And you will face days where you feel like a failure, feel like giving up. It’s hard to work full time and write, but then, it’s harder to give it up. Believe me, I know, I’ve tried it before and wasted years of struggle while not following my writing path.
So today’s writer’s tip is to keep going. Change your perspective if you must. And do what works for you! Me? I decided to get away from my computer, grab my notebook, and head outside.
by Angela Smith | Oct 12, 2015 | Guests
The Harvester is out there … watching, waiting, biding his time.
FBI cult specialist Lilith Munroe lives in dread that one day the man who tortured her when a case went bad will find her again. So leaving her sanctuary in Quantico to join the Harvester Task Force in Boston is her version of hell. But the Harvester is kidnapping babies, and Lilith’s profiling skills may mean the difference between life and death for the most innocent in society.
Australian millionaire and former member of the New Horizon commune Jacob Andrews returns to the United States searching for his sister. Instead of the happy reunion he expects, he discovers she is dead and his twin brother may be responsible. He agrees to lend his law enforcement skills to help find his former cult leader before the man can implement his plan to kill millions.
Now uneasy partners, Jacob and Lilith must learn to trust each other even as they fight their growing attraction. But when Lilith’s greatest fears materialize, will Jacob be able to set aside his anger and save the woman he loves?
Sensuality Level: Sensual
Buy Links
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/White-Lily-Susanne-Matthews-ebook/dp/B015P79XZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443387932&sr=8-1&keywords=The+White+Lily+Susanne+Matthews
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-lily-susanne-matthews/1122682664?ean=9781440591228
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/the-white-lily
Excerpt:
“That must have been awful for her, for all of you.” Lilith said.
“It doesn’t matter now. Dying was probably the only way out Mom had. From that day on, Eloise’s life was hell. The other kids in the commune, including my cousins, made fun of her and said the burn was Satan’s mark on her—something they’d heard my uncle say—but when I was around they left her alone. When I confronted my uncle about that and other things, I ended up in the desert.”
He closed his eyes, seeing a tearful Eloise held back by her aunt as he was led out to be disciplined.
“Leaving my brothers and sisters wasn’t easy, but I figured Jimmy would step into the breach and protect Eloise. They’d always been close. The conversation with that boy got me thinking that maybe she’d somehow escaped from the commune, and I decided to look for her.”
“My God, knowing what her life was like, how could you do it? How could you walk away from that poor child and leave her there for eighteen years? And when you decided to look for her, you waited again. Why?”
The implication that if he’d come sooner he might’ve saved Eloise was clear.
“Because I was an angry, seventeen-year-old bastard who’d almost died, and I was too damn scared to go back,” he said through gritted teeth. “Don’t judge me, Agent Munroe. Until you’ve been brutalized as I was, you don’t have the right to.”
Her face paled, no doubt stunned by the viciousness of his attack, but he didn’t care. No one could possibly hate him as much at the moment as he hated himself.
“As for coming after her a few months ago, fate conspired against us. Andrew had a heart attack, and I made the choice to stay with him, a decision I refuse to regret. I hired a private investigator in Boston to find the girl with the tattoo. He found her right away, in mid-June. When I saw the picture, I knew it was my sister. She looks—I mean looked—like my mother. The PI arranged for me to contact her. She told me James had taken her to get that tattoo on her sixteenth birthday.”
“How did Eloise feel about seeing you again?” Her voice had lost its warmth, and her eyes were cold.
“She was surprised, but excited when I told her I wanted to bring her to Australia to live with me. She was worried about what might happen if my uncle discovered I’d survived and that she was planning to leave the States. I gathered from what she’d said that New Horizon had changed and not for the better. Through the man who’d found her, I made arrangements for her to get a passport and a ticket to Sydney.”
Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances. In her imagination, she travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
Follow Susanne on her: Website Blog Facebook page Twitter @jandsmatt
Amazon author page and Goodreads author page
by Angela Smith | Oct 20, 2014 | Books
Exciting news! I’ve finally got my newsletter up and running. It’s been a huge learning experience for me, since I have taken to doing this on my own, but it’s been a lot of fun. I love to learn new things, and I love to create, so this has offered both of those things!
Now for other exciting news…because I am trying to build my mailing list, I am doing a promo. Sign up for my newsletter before the end of this year (see sidebar to the right of this page) and be entered to win a $25 gift card to one of (almost) any store of your choosing. All subscribers are constantly entered for many fun prizes throughout the year and subscribers who share and get other subscribers to join get even more opportunities to win.
All newsletter subscribers automatically entered!
Besides awesome prizes, what else will you get for signing up for my newsletter? Craft ideas, recipes, reviews, things I love, relationship tips, and other exclusive content. Expect to see one every other month but at least 2 or 3 times a year.
Once you subscribe, you’ll receive conformation. Don’t forget to check your spam folder and add me to your safelist!
Thanks, and I hope to see you on my subscriber list!
by Angela Smith | Mar 13, 2014 | Guests
Today, I’m interviewing Allyson Lindt author of Holding her Close, part of her Bits and Bytes stories.
But first, let’s talk about her giveaway! Allyson will be awarding:
* Grand prize at the end of the four week tour – a Kindle paperwhite to one randomly drawn winner.
* Each week, one randomly drawn commenter will win a $10 Amazon GC
So be sure to enter, and click the banner to follow the rest of her tour for more chances to win!
Zach is haunted by ex-girlfriends. The day his fiancée dumped him, she also sold her shares of his multi-billion dollar corporation. On top of that, the girl who broke his heart in high school—the only woman he’s never been able to forget—is back in his life. She’s filling his business partner’s head with delusions of recovering from the hostile takeover, and haunting Zach’s most vivid fantasies. But Zach’s got a plan to solve half the problem: one night with her, and he can put the past behind him.
It’s been years since Rae talked to her high school sweetheart. But her best friend is his business partner, and running in the same circles has caught up to her. Rae is seeing Zach everywhere, including her explicit, rampant imagination. When he proposes a single night together for closure, she hopes it will be just what she needs to move on.
The past and the present intertwine as “Just this once” becomes “Just one more time.” When Rae discovers the solution to Zach’s business problems the entire situation becomes one giant knot. Can he trust her enough to risk his heart and livelihood a second time, or will experience convince him to walk away from everything?
Excerpt…
Zach locked the door, closed the remaining distance between them, and dipped his head. His lips hovered millimeters away, and then he kissed her.
The sensation was so light, Rae wasn’t sure she felt it. She leaned in, mouth opening, and a whimper escaped when he traced his tongue over her bottom lip. Every nerve ending was on fire, screaming for more. His hand rested at the base of her neck, holding her in place. He deepened the kiss, going from gentle to hungry in an instant.
His tongue twisted around hers in a desperate dance, and desire blossomed in her gut. God, this was incredible. Had it been like this before? No, neither of them had been so experienced. She rested her hands on his chest, heat searing her palms.
She fumbled to find her breath when they finally broke apart. His finger caressed her swollen lips, dancing over the sensitive flesh.
“You’re sure this is a good idea?” She didn’t want to question it, but she needed reassurance. Another voice to tell her the lust screaming through her veins wasn’t misplaced.
He nudged her back, hands on her hips, guiding her until she bumped into the desk. His soft growl echoed in her ear as he kissed along her lobe. “Possibly the best idea I’ve had all week.”
Author Bio and Links:
Allyson Lindt is a full-time geek and a fuller-time contemporary romance author. She prefers that her geeky heroes come with the alpha expansion pack and adores a heroine who can hold her own in a boardroom. She loves a sexy happily-ever-after and helping deserving cubicle dwellers find their futures together.
Find Allyson Lindt
Website: http://allysonlindt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allyson-Lindt/116062025108551
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllysonLindt
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7024176.Allyson_Lindt
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/allysonlindt
Buy Holding Her Close:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DFTUP94/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DFTUP94&linkCode=as2&tag=itsalwabothej-20
Buy Conflict of Interest:
Liquid Silver Books: https://www.lsbooks.com/conflict-of-interest-p782.php
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CKYEPK0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CKYEPK0&linkCode=as2&tag=itsalwabothej-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conflict-of-interest-allyson-lindt/1115273894?ean=9781931761857
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-conflictofinterest-1186277-149.html
Buy Toeing the Line:
Liquid Silver Books: https://www.lsbooks.com/toeing-the-line-p820.php
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EN8QAMM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EN8QAMM&linkCode=as2&tag=itsalwabothej-20
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-toeingtheline-1269561-149.html
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toeing-the-line-allyson-lindt/1116789055?ean=9781622100194
Buy Learning New Tricks:
Liquid Silver Books: https://www.lsbooks.com/learning-new-tricks-p862.php
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HC1CZ3A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HC1CZ3A&linkCode=as2&tag=itsalwabothej-20
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-learningnewtricks-1374823-149.html
What intrigues you about your book, Holding Her Close?
I’m fascinated by the idea of someone with an idea, a big, epic, sweeping idea, who comes from nothing and becomes something. Who has the strength and the power to pursue their dream and make it reality. In Holding Her Close that’s what the characters’ success is based on: following this powerful dream.
Who or what is your greatest writing influence?
There are two authors who influence my writing, and my drive to tell the stories I do, more than any other. Neil Gaiman and Richelle Mead. Two very different story-telling styles, and two unique and wonderful interpretations of the world.
When did you absolutely know that you had to be a writer?
I was talking about this the other day with my spouse. The question was “what did you want to be when you grew up?” I had a huge list. Astronaut, teacher, lawyer, photographer. Then she asked, “where’s writer in all that?” When I thought about it I realized it wasn’t in the list because it’s always been there. I’ve always just assumed I would write (always being since I was six or seven), regardless of what else I did with my life.
What was your favorite part of writing, Holding Her Close?
I’ve written and rewritten Holding Her Close so many times I can’t even count. My favorite part was finally finding the real story I wanted to tell underneath everything else I’d created. Peeling away the layers and digging out what the book has become.
What is your favorite aspect of reading a novel?
Falling into another world, and living it through someone else’s eyes. Feeling life the way they feel it, gaining new experiences, and losing myself in the alternate reality the author has created, whether it’s romantic, fantastic, or anything else.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or both?
I’m a pretty solid combination of both. I can’t start writing unless I know where the beginning, middle, and end of my story are, and have a basic idea of how to get there, but the majority of the plotting I do gets tossed out the window once I actually get into the meat of the story and realize who my characters actually are, and how they’d really react in any given situation.
Do you have a certain theme in all of your novels?
That’s a tough question. I’d like to say something grand and sweeping like “down with Corporate America, up with dreams.” But my theme is more basic than that. I write about acceptance. Characters living in a world that they don’t quite think they fit in, who figure out where they belong somewhere along the way.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Err…um… I suppose so. I’ve been told I have a very distinct voice. And regardless of what I write, it always tends to be either contemporary or near future. I’m fond of sentence fragments, internal narration, and random acts of swearing.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Beyond the standard theme any of my books carry, I don’t tend to write to a message. I do hope that people will read Holding Her Close, enjoy it, and feel warm and fuzzy after they’re done.
Do you ever use your life experiences in your novels?
Absolutely. There’s always something there. In Holding Her Close, there are some heavy influences from past jobs. I’ve worked for a lot of companies over the years that have been bought out by bigger corporations. The changes don’t tend to be good, and the truly experienced employees get trampled in favor of ego and saving money.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one book with you, what would you take?
I’m going to steal this from something I saw the other day. “How to build a raft.”
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one song with you, what would you take?
There’s one song I never skip, regardless of my mood. Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time.
Are you working on any projects right now?
I’m working on a short story anthology with my critique partner, Sofia Grey, that’s loosely based on the Wizard of Oz. Right now we’re calling it Emerald City, but that’s more of a code name than anything. Thing sexy, futuristic with a hint of sci-fi, and retellings for Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow.
Do you see writing as a career?
I do. Right now, it’s a second job, and it’s a time consuming one. But I have goals for which books I need to write when, how quickly I need to finish them, and where I need to go next after I make my way through that list. I’m not a goal making person, so that’s a big deal for me. And of course, I wouldn’t complain if I was able to leave the day job behind in the next five years and make writing the primary job instead.
If you had the career of your choice, what would you choose and why?
Lol, writing. But outside of that? Something that allowed me to create (I’m assuming if I can pick any career, I can pick the skills to go with it too). Creating commercials, graphics, anything that allowed me to put the images in my head onto a medium where I could share them.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
My mother was a writer. I remember watching her and thinking I wanted to do that. But I think more of it came from my love of reading. I would devour everything in the library, and then there wouldn’t be anything else left on the shelves that appealed to me, so I started to make the stories up in my head instead.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
There’s always the self-doubt, the biggest challenge is ignoring that. Beyond that, description. I tend to write very sparsely, so it’s difficult for me to know what to include. My first drafts are frequently a lot of dialogue and read more like a screenplay than a novel. “Character yawns, is frustrated, says: why did you wake me up.”
What advice would you give to your younger self?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I’d tell my younger self that it gets better. That the way we deal with life determines as much about our future as the experience itself. Oh, and probably that she doesn’t need to max out that sixth credit card, or even the first one, because those jeans will be on clearance in just a few weeks.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
I never know how to answer this question. So many people have these great answers of wise people throughout history they’d meet, and some incredible reasons for their logic. But I don’t have vast, epic, grandiose plans for the world, and I suspect the knowledge of those great people would be better spent on someone else. So instead, I’m going to say Joss Whedon. Because… that imagination… that could be fun to pick at for a while.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
Going back to the whole Neil Gaiman inspired my writing, I’d have to say American Gods. The concepts introduced, the story line, the way it all blends together into a compelling read, it’s the perfect balance of all the elements I enjoy in a book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Angela Smith | Mar 6, 2014 | Books, Guests
Welcome to today’s Virtual Blurb Blitz Tour!
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
So be sure to comment, and click the banner to follow the tour for more chances to win!
Blurb:
Thirteen-year-old Derek’s cool snowboard adventure does a dangerous rewind, because his Burton Hero board holds the key to an unsolved crime.
Two Degrees From Zero is a story that opens up the world of snowboarding and surviving hazardous winter conditions in Keystone, Colorado.
Derek, his mom, and teen friend Janae (The Clan) are invited on a snowboarding vacation by his mom’s new romance Thomas. A blizzard hits during a sleigh ride and dinner at an isolated yurt miles from Keystone. The Clan accepts an offer from two arrogant snowmobilers for a way home. But to The Clan’s dismay instead of going home, they are abandoned in a creepy backwoods cabin.
Derek and Janae sneak out of the old cabin and make a dangerous trek across a white wilderness to find help while the snowmobilers are on the loose. Just as the teens find temporary shelter in an old car, another blizzard rages all night, leaving them hopelessly stranded. And their adventure has only begun.
Derek and Janae must escape the frozen ravages of the blizzard. Derek’s determination to save The Clan while outwitting the thieves is unstoppable. And the thieves are just as determined to find Derek’s snowboard because of the valuable information hidden on the board.
Excerpt…
“You know we’re missing an ultimate powder rush, because we have to ride in this goofy sleigh,” Derek said to Janae.
“Here you go,” Janae said. “Ruining this amazing experience because of your grumpiness.”
“Not grumpy on the slopes today,” Derek said. “Thomas spent lots of bucks on this trip, but I wish he’d stop acting like my dad, or really my Fake Dad.”
“Be nicer to your mom’s friend.”
“Easy for you to say,” Derek retorted. “Want to do the rails with me tomorrow?”
“Maybe. You were so full of yourself ripping through the pow,” Janae teased. “You’re a hucker, and you’ll try whatever trick you see another guy doing. You charge fast, fly through the air, and sometimes you even land upright.”
“I’m not a hucker. Wish I could lay down some cool tricks like the pros do,” Derek said.
“I saw you rolling down the windows a couple of times,” Janae said. “I’ll stick to the jumps.”
“Guess you’ll do anything to catch your balance. I like my cool Burton board I got at the rental shop. Except the left strap gave me trouble,” Derek complained.
“So that’s your excuse for not landing tricks,” Janae said.
Author Bio:
M.J. Stewart is a Colorado author and lives in Colorado Springs. Her love for the outdoors has provided many exciting adventures and include downhill skiing, biking, hiking, camping, and nature photography.
I’m on facebook at: martha.lancaster@facebook.com
I’m on twitter at: @hike4ski
Amazon.com buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Degrees-Zero-Snowboarding-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00GODMSJS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1385687435
