Other than Pi (that's 3.14 repeating, not blueberry) about the only science-thingy that sticks in my head is “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Google tells me that is Newton's Third Law of Motion. Actions and reactions are also the building blocks for compelling writing. The action can be big—blowing up a building—or it can be small—stealing a kiss from the girl next door—but the next step of the novel is based on the reaction to that action. A finished work also garners reactions. Very few writers do so strictly for their own enjoyment, keeping their work buried on a hard drive or in a drawer. Writing is meant to be shared. It is a way of communicating. I've been very pleased with most of the responses to MOUNTAIN FIRE. Even a few negative reviews have made the whole process seem real—only a published author gets bad reviews on Good Reads and Amazon! And the support of my friends and family have been absolutely wonderful (Thanks, Traffic Ladies!). I also laughed until I cried over the following message I received from a cousin of mine: Hey Brenda - another first for you....your book has been banned from a school! (lol - not really, but close). I got a note from the teacher at my son's school today letting me know that his reading material was not age appropriate and was causing a bit of a stir because of a very suggestive scene. He's been asked to put it back in his backpack and bring it home. I guess he was so excited his 'aunt' was a published author that he brought your book to school to show everyone. LOL! Negative reviews and banned from a school...cool!
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Get your mind out of the gutter, right now. Just because I'm a romance author doesn't mean I'm smutty.
Well, maybe a little. But that's not what I'm talking about right now. I'm talking about the phrase “New Year's Resolution”. (Sorry-- “My Favourite Dirty Phrase” just didn't have the right ring to it.) I've been reading a lot of blog posts from all kinds of people about how to make your New Year's Resolutions actually work. One of my favourites is to focus on one resolution a month. New habits take a while to form, so by focusing on one specific goal a month, you have a better chance of building on each months success. My husband and I joined the hordes every January and renewed our gym memberships. I've been three times in eight days. Not too shabby, but already one day less than I had planned (I was aiming for three times each week). The problem I have is guilt. I know I need to be more active (really, I do), but I also want to keep on track with the revisions on my work-in-progress. So it is a matter of balance. And isn't that what life is anyway? Finding the right balance, for everything from chocolate to chin-ups? I am Guest Blogging at Just Romantic Suspense this weekend. Come visit for a chance to win an e-copy of MOUNTAIN FIRE!
Wednesday is the day. Wednesday is the day I have spent three decades dreaming about.
If you read a lot of writers' blogs, you'll discover a common theme. The vast majority will mention at one time or another how they've always wanted to be a writer, how they scribbled stories in crayon, how they survived their teenage years with their nose in a book and their fingers on a typewriter (for those of us who remember the pre-computers age). I was no different. I distinctly remember Grade 7 as the year my dream to be a published writer solidified. I went to Catholic School, and our teacher handed out Saint Prayer Cards for outstanding marks on tests and projects. I collected a stack for my Creative Writing. Two stories stand out in my memory – one, about a girl who survived a plane crash in the wilderness, the other (inappropriately named “Shake and Bake”) a dramatic retelling of the San Francisco 1906 earthquake and fire. MOUNTAIN FIRE, my debut romantic suspense novel, was a long time in the writing. In the opening scene, the heroine, June, is hiding from a grizzly bear. In the original draft, the animal was alerted to her presence by the sound of her camera clicking. It wasn't a digital camera. :) I have a lot of excuses for why it took me so long to finish the novel. But there's really only one reason. I wasn't disciplined enough to put butt in seat and fingers on keyboard. Sure, there was only one computer in the house and I had to share it with three children and a husband. But I'm pretty sure I managed to watch an hour of TV every night. An hour when I could have been writing. At first, my goal was simply to FINISH the darn thing. And what a thrill that was! 55,000 words, all mine, with a beginning, a middle and an end. I started writing another novel while my first born was making its way through the rejection process. Except that process didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. I sent it to one publisher (a big one) and waited the requisite three months. When there was no response, I sent it to another publisher (a smaller one). Imagine my glee when I was told they would consider accepting it, if I made some revisions. Not that they would accept it...that they would consider accepting it. I didn't care. I was over the moon. A few months later I resubmitted, and within weeks had a contract with The Wild Rose Press. I am so thankful they gave me this chance to realize a dream. I have learned so much from the process, both on the business side of publishing as well as the writing side. It has truly been an amazing, wonderful time. MOUNTAIN FIRE will be released Wednesday, January 9th, in epub and print. Click the “Shop” tab at www.brendamargriet.com for links to where you can purchase. I hope you'll join me as I celebrate this “bucket list” moment! |