If you like to read romance novels of all genres, join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all...about our writing, of course! Every week we'll answer the same questions. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Tell your friends and feel free to ask questions or make comments.
Our blog tour will six months old on July 29th. To celebrate our first milestone, the authors of Romance Weekly are giving back some of the love. We have incredible prizes on offer, including a Kindle Fire and multiple romance libraries. Enter for free by CLICKING HERE! If you've joined me from Mischka Jenkin's blog, welcome! 1. How much of yourself do you write into your characters? Or do you write characters completely opposite to you? I think the only answer I can give to this is “a little bit of both.” I can only write from my own perspective as a person, so no matter what, my characters will be coloured by my personality. But that certainly doesn't mean I write clones of myself (for one – I'm not a guy). If I look back on the four heroines I've written (or am writing) I can certainly see some similarities, but a lot of differences. For example, June (MOUNTAIN FIRE) is very athletic and comfortable spending time alone in the wilderness. Definitely NOT me. 2. Has your writing helped you see events in your own life clearer? Not in the sense that I've written a scene and then realized I'd written something that happened to me, but from a different angle. What writing has done (and what I am consciously, continuously working on) is made me SEE my life. It's so easy to let each day blur together, without taking the time to experience it. I'm a pretty focused person – when I'm going somewhere, I'm going there, and often forget to pay attention to the journey. To bring my stories to life, I have to pay more attention to my own life, in order to include the details and emotions that make good writing great. 3. Have you written a character with more of your personal characteristics than any other? Who are they? I'd have to say Jemma from my upcoming release, CHEF D'AMOUR, is pretty close. If I had her background, her situation, I think I'd react very similarly. She is fiercely loyal to her family, smart and a hard worker. She is also sarcastic, doesn't accept fools gladly and while she has dreams, often puts them aside in order to deal with “real life.” Now it's time to move on to J.J. Devine. Have fun!
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...I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Twenty-three years ago today, I married a handsome young man I had met at work three and a half years earlier. He's still handsome and we still work together. Back then, he was my best friend. If there is a level above best friend, that's what he is now. I started writing romance because I'm fascinated by how people meet, fall in love, and stay in love. My husband and I have wonderful examples in our own parents (57 and 47 years for his and mine, respectively). And while being there for one another for all those years has a special magic, it's those first moments - the first look, the first touch, the first kiss - that captivates me. When I'm writing about those firsts, I often close my eyes and remember what it felt like for me. It's a wonderful way to remind myself of why I said 'yes' when he asked me all those years ago. If you like to read romance novels of all genres, join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all...about our writing, of course! Every week we'll answer the same questions. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Tell your friends and feel free to ask questions or make comments.
Our blog tour will six months old on July 29th. To celebrate our first milestone, the authors of Romance Weekly are giving back some of the love. We have incredible prizes on offer, including a Kindle Fire and multiple romance libraries. Enter for free by CLICKING HERE! If you've joined me from S. C. Mitchell, welcome! Here are my answers: If someone could observe you writing without you knowing they were there, what strange practices might they catch you doing? Sitting with my eyes closed, sniffing. For some scenes the setting is vital to the mood. I like to visualize it in my mind before I start to write, although visualizing implies only seeing it. I try to put myself right in the scene and not only see where I am, but touch it, hear it and smell it. Scent evokes strong memories, and I like to use it as often as I can. Here's an exercise for you – visualize your local library or bookstore. Can you just smell the paper and ink? Hear the creak of wooden floors boards as you browse the stacks? Feel your fingers bumping along the smooth spines as you trace the shelves? Now write a paragraph about that library or bookstore without using descriptors that imply sight. Other than a creative outlet, how does writing benefit you? In my day job, I am also a writer – of television commercials. So I suppose you can say writing benefits me because it pays the bills. But writing novels benefits me by keeping my brain engaged as I work through plot points and character foibles. It forces me to do my chores so I can carve out time to write. And it keeps me happy. When I'm not writing, I feel like I should be, and the guilt makes me cranky! How do you feed your muse? Reading, reading and more reading. All kinds of books (although mostly other romance) whenever and wherever I can. There are certain writers – Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, Courtney Milan – who inspire me to write, if only I can tear myself away from their books. But even books that don't pull me in help me. When I'm reading a book that doesn't quite work for me I analyze why it doesn't. Does it feel overwritten to me? Are the characters a little too perfect? Is the plot flowing naturally or does it feel forced? All of this sends me back to my laptop with the competitive urge to make my manuscript better, by learning from what I didn't connect with. Now it's time to move on and see what odd things Nina Mason does when she's writing! My second novel, a contemporary romance titled CHEF D'AMOUR, will be released by The Wild Rose Press on Friday, August 29, 2014!! The blurb is here, and an excerpt here. When MOUNTAIN FIRE came out about a year and a half ago, I was starting from scratch. Loyal friends and family supported me, and it was an amazing thrill when someone I didn't know posted a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Over the last few months I slowly built up my Facebook Author Page, worked hard on this blog, and most recently, joined the Romance Weekly Writers on their Tuesday blog hop. I'm hoping all of this will help launch CHEF D'AMOUR, and by connection MOUNTAIN FIRE, even higher. I have blogged before about the theory that true success rarely happens until Book #3. It makes a lot of sense to me, so I'm not holding out for a National Bestseller, but a girl can dream, can't she? After all, having one book published was a dream that, for years, I thought would never come true. On the eve of launching Book #2, my goals have grown, along with my skills and experience. Can't wait for what the future will bring! If you like to read romance novels and would you like to meet new authors, join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all...about our writing, of course! Every week we'll answer the same questions. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Tell your friends and feel free to ask questions or make comments.
If you've joined me from Leslie Hachtel's blog, welcome! Here are my answers: When did you start writing, and why? I have been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. But my first memories of being a writer were in Grade Seven. I seem to recall many creative writing assignments that year, and while other students struggled to fill the one or two page minimum, I would blithely hand in fifteen or twenty page manuscripts. I actually still have a couple of those tucked away somewhere (the paper is probably crumbling by now!). Two assignments stand out in my mind - “Shake and Bake”, a horribly inappropriately named story about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906; and an adventure tale about a girl who survives a plane crash in the wilderness, which my teacher thought good enough to sell to a magazine (I was too embarrassed to try). During my teens I continued to write short stories, poetry and even started a few novels, none of which made it past page 80. It wasn't until my husband bought me my very own laptop in 2010 that I finally completed a manuscript, which became MOUNTAIN FIRE, my debut release. What do you like best about writing? I love the chance to meet new people. That may sound weird, but my characters start out as strangers, and by the end they are friends. They don't always do what I tell them, but along the way we find out a lot about each other, and it always has a happy ending! I also love how a manuscript grows. I have a very small daily quota of 500 words. With a full-time job and an actual life, I've learned having this goal still gets me closer to the end, and yet doesn't panic me into paralysis. A tiny step each day is all I need to keep connected with my story – and I love to see the word count go up! If you could go on a writing retreat, where would you go and for how long? I've mentioned before on this blog about the Amtrak Writer's in Residence program. I think it would be so cool to write on a train, no matter where it is going! Otherwise, I love the idea of writing in a secluded cabin near a lake or the ocean. Water is very inspiring to me, and I really do enjoy writing outside. So a quiet, reclusive spot with a great view for a month or so would be heaven! Now it's time to move on to Carolyn Spear's blog. Enjoy! I read somewhere there are two types of moms - kissing moms and scolding moms. If that's true, I'm a scolding mom. With the best intentions in the world, of course. Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Not the loving part - how could I not love these three intelligent, charming, beautiful people? But the raising part. How much discipline is too much? How do you ensure each has high self-esteem, while being honest about their strengths and weaknesses? How do you teach them to be good people? I often tell my oldest daughter she was the "practice" child. Despite my conscious effort, I am certainly more lenient with our youngest. Lenient on myself, as well as him. My two daughter taught me that a schedule, while necessary, does not have to be written in stone. How much they eat is not worth fighting over. Clothes must be neat and clean, but other than that, who cares? I've probably done too much yelling in the past 22 years. And I wish now I'd relaxed more. But whether because of me, or in spite of me, I now have three wonderful young adults to spend time with. They make me proud to be their mother. If you like to read romance novels and would you like to meet new authors, join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all...about our writing, of course! Every week we'll answer the same questions. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Tell your friends and feel free to ask questions or make comments.
Those of you who have linked here from Fiona Riplee, welcome! Here are my answers: Do you prefer to write futuristic, contemporary or historical romances and why? I write contemporary romances – for the moment. I'm toying with writing historicals, as, oddly enough, I probably read more historicals than contemporaries. But the philosophy of “write what you know” has led me to contemporaries for my three completed manuscripts and my current work-in-progress. What is your favourite time in history and how and why does it inspire you? This is a tough one. Not sure I can narrow it down at all. I do enjoy reading about the Regency era, but I don't think I would refuse to read any book simply because of the time period in which it is set. As for writing, the present day inspires so many ideas for romance. I've always loved discovering how people meet – online, at work, by accident, by design. Young people I know complain about how hard it is to meet potential lifemates. Being able to plot my own happy endings is a lot of fun! How has your life experience contributed to your writing? All writers write from our own experiences. How can we not? I may not fictionalize specific events and write about them directly, but every emotion I've felt, adventure I've had (no matter how minor), lesson I've learned, affects what I put on the page. The memory of heart-thumping fear when I lost sight of my toddler for an instant? I magnify that to describe my heroine's terror. A family vacation to an exotic locale – what a cool place to set my next novel! Everything good or bad feeds into my writing. Now it's time to visit LaNora Mangano. Have fun! There have been a lot of changes in our household lately. And while they are all good changes, some tiny part of me is wondering what will happen to balance out all the stupendous news? (I'm not Portuguese, but my mother-in-law may be rubbing off on me just a bit.)
My husband just received a terrific promotion at work. He deserves it – and because we work together (and have for almost 27 years – OMG) I know of which I speak! I am very, very proud of him. Eldest Daughter will graduate with a Bachelor of History Honours at the end of May. She has also been accepted into the Masters program at our university, and received an amazing grant, plus an Entrance scholarship, which will take care of the financial side of things. She truly is on track for an awesome career! Middle Child has been accepted into the Architectural and Building Science program at the BC Institute of Technology. We are all very excited and proud of her – but wondering what life will be like when she leaves home in September. Her gramma has made her promise she won't meet anyone down south and never come back. I am hoping to hear of a release date for CHEF D'AMOUR any day now, and Only Son now has his Learner's License, so we haven't been left out of the excitement, either. Here's hoping the sun keeps shining on our house! |