Writers love to imagine things – obviously! This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Jenna Da Sie wonders:
If you inherited a plot of undeveloped land, what would you do with it? Now, this questions just begs more questions. Is the land near the ocean, or have a lake, creek or river running through it? Is it in an urban or rural area? Does it have trees or is it cleared? Is it the size of a city lot or acres and acres? Is it near where I currently live or far away? See what I mean? Such a simple question, but what a great way to get the creative juices flowing! I think that is what would determine my decision on what to do with the land. If I could see it's potential, if looking at it inspired dreams of what could be done with it, I would keep it. My husband and I have talked about buying waterfront property for years, so if it was on a lake the decision would be very easy. But even if it wasn't, I think I would hold onto it for a while and see what possibilities might unfold. Undeveloped land is kind of like a blank computer screen – it begs me to make my mark on it. I wonder what Victoria Barbour would do with her undeveloped land?
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This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Leslie Hachtel asks:
What is the worst rejection you ever got? And what was the best? Or the funniest? And how did these help you in your writing? If you joined me from the lovely Carrie Elks, welcome! Don’t forget to check out her brand new release, Canada Square! Ebooks and the internet have changed the publishing game dramatically. And I’m not just talking about the opportunities for self-publishing. Traditional publishing houses and agents have altered how they accept manuscripts, so that now, in most cases, they want an email with a synopsis, cover letter and maybe a few pages of the manuscript to make sure you can use periods and commas with some accuracy. Because of this, I think the traditional rejection letter has become a thing of the past. Manuscripts don’t have to be copied and printed and mailed by the pound anymore. Emailed submissions make it so easy—and cheap—for writers to submit, that my belief is that the inboxes of agents and editors are simply flooded. So now what happens is—nothing. Many agent and editor websites say things like “if you haven’t heard from me in three months, then your manuscript is not for me.” So when three months comes and goes and all you hear is the echo of your fingers on the keys as you keep pecking at the next work in progress, you’re supposed to move on. But what it really happens is you don’t let go of the hope. “Maybe they’re a bit behind. I’ll give them another week or so.” And then another week, and another week. So, instead of the swift, sharp cut of a rejection letter, all you get is—nothing. I have received only one personalized rejection letter. It was from an agent, and she said while my writing was strong it just wasn’t something she could see herself representing. So I held onto the “writing is strong” part, ignored the rest of the email, and kept on writing! After all, it’s what a writer does. Leslie Hachtel was the one to propose this question, and she’s next on the blog hop, so I’m sure she’s got something interesting for you to read. Head on over by clicking here. Having a new release can be a scary, overwhelming event, and it's best when you don't have to go it alone. So Carrie and I became "release buddies" this week, since my new romance, When Time Falls Still, just came out Monday, and Carrie's Canada Square releases today! Please welcome Carrie to the blog, and show her some love. (BTW, I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy. You can see my review on Goodreads here.) Inspiration!Inspiration can strike a writer in many ways. A news story can grow in your mind, two people arguing in the street can become characters in your book. A beautiful vacation can make the perfect location for your novel. For me, I find inspiration everywhere I look, and sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to write it all down! Take my latest release, Canada Square. In my previous job I recruited interns for our business, and one day I was looking at them and thinking how alike they all were. What if you weren’t like them, I thought, how would that make you feel? What if you were older, less well-off, went to a college that wasn’t as good as theirs? That was the inspiration for Amy Cartwright, the heroine of Canada Square. She’s a girl that comes from the wrong side of the tracks, but in spite of her hardships she’s pulled herself up by her boot strings and achieved a lot in her life. But from the first day in her new internship she stands out, and is different, and that’s a hard thing for anybody to take. It made me think of my own school and college years, when there was a desperate pressure to fit in. I see it in my own children, now. They wear the same clothes, like the same things, talk the same way as their friends. To be different is to be shunned. But it’s only when we try new things, and accept our differences that we can really begin to grow. In the end it’s our differences that make us unique and special – allowing us to become the people we want to be. Amy discovers this in the course of the book, as she shrugs off her old life and finally grows to become accomplished woman, one that’s attractive, successful and ultimately happy. Funny to think that story came from watching others, and yet that’s how most of my stories evolve. That’s why getting out in the world and observing is as much a part of the writer’s role as putting words on paper is. So right now I’m going to put my laptop away, pull on my shoes and get out there. Who knows what I might find! Secrets have a way of coming out... Amy Cartwright isn't sure who she's supposed to be anymore. Her family thinks she's flighty, her ex believes she's a walkover (the bastard) and her friends think she's plain crazy. But there's a different side to her that nobody sees, nobody but the cool, sexy Scotsman who just happens to be her boss. Callum Ferguson isn't looking for excitement; he's had that and it almost ruined him. He likes things calm and predictable – everything that his new PA turns out not to be. But from the moment she walks through his office door it's as though the light has come back into his life, and he can't get her out of his mind. Fighting against the inevitable, they both try to ignore the attraction, but the flame of desire is too bright. They're soon drawn into a steamy love affair that they have to hide from everybody, knowing the revelation could cost them everything they’ve worked so hard for, including each other. Author note: Canada Square is the third in the Love in London series, but can be read as a standalone book. This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Carrie Elks asks: Spring is all about rebirth, and I always think it's a much better time to make resolutions than at New Year. With that in mind, if you were to make any new resolutions what would they be? They don't have to be writing - related! It’s perfect timing for Carrie to be posting our topic this week, as she has a new release coming this Thursday! It’s Canada Square, the third in her Love in London series (but makes a great stand alone read as well – I should know, I read it). Be sure to come back to visit my blog this Thursday, April 7, as Carrie will be visiting. Now on to today’s topic: I agree with Carrie. Spring is a better time to make resolutions than January 1st. In Northern BC, January 1 is one of the darkest days of the year and winter has such a grip that I will make any promises to myself just to get out of the doldrums. But in springtime, I am much more cheerful, so my goals are more reasonable. Resolution #1: Go for more walks Like many people, my main resolution is to be more active. We are planning on get a dog soon, to replace our old Labrador mix who passed away more than two years ago. I love to go for walks with a dog – they are always so interested in everything and are great examples for living in the moment. Resolution #2: Get outside more See, this is definitely one resolution I wouldn’t make in the winter! I love to write outside, but beyond that, I enjoy puttering in my garden, camping, swimming, fishing and more. Resolution #3: Promote myself as an author better I am still a little shy about telling people I write books. But now I’ve got three available (so excited for people to read When Time Falls Still, which released yesterday!) and I feel like I have something substantial to share. Many people only right one book, but I’ve built my credibility with three published, a fourth on the way this fall, and a fifth in the editing process. Writing novels is no longer something I’m trying to do – it IS something I DO, and want to keep on doing. So it’s time to take the cover off my light and shine! Next up on the hop is Gemma Brocato. What springtime resolutions will she be making? Birthing a book is a long process! I looked back in my records, and I did preliminary work on When Time Falls Still in December 2013. Actual writing began in March 2014. That's a more than two-year gestation period! Which is why I am so excited to be able to say - it's here!!
From April 4 to 15, you have a chance to win an e-copy of When Time Falls still. I'm giving away 5 copies!
You can enter the draw here on my Facebook Author Page! |