*entire crew breaks into song*

We’re holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight

 

That’s right folks, it’s time we add a hero to this crew.  And I know just the guy.  I have it on good authority he’s going to need to lay low for a while.  So when I offered him a spot on the ship, he ditched that old cave without a second thought.  I give you, your Dark Knight.

 

 

This guy has everything we need.  Chiseled good looks that make a piratess want to give up her rum for one glance at the goods.  Then there’s the gadgets.  And the money.  Mustn’t forget the money.  Pirates are all about the treasure, you know.

 

I agree, with that full rubber suit, he takes *protection* a little far.  But I’ve seen some of the stuff that takes place in the corners of this ship, so to be honest, I can’t say I blame him.  Overall he’s a perfect fit for this crew.  He goes his own way, makes his own rules, and comes with his own First Mate.  Well, he calls him a butler but still, it’s really the same thing.

 

Today marks the countdown – TEN DAYS TO RWA NATIONALS!  Tune in tomorrow when we talk about packing, preparing and panicking.  Even if you’re not going to Nationals this year, stop by to be entertained by my insanity.

 

Now, anybody else go see The Dark Knight this weekend?  What did you think?  Did it live up to the hype?  And did The Joker creep you out as much as he did me?

Readers and writers despair that there are no “new” plots.  This makes me laugh because there hasn’t been an original plot since Greece (and I’m not speaking of the musical.)  Ronald Tobias explains why this is in 20 Master Plots; he says that stories are written about the human experience.  If you have found a plot outside of the “ordinary”, you’re probably writing outside of human experience—and that’s not likely to find you a readership.  (That’s roughly paraphrased; sorry, Mr. Tobias.) 

 

The point is:  we read stories so we can connect with Everyman; so we don’t feel like the only person who has had their heart broken or scared by the unknown that goes bump in the night or held back by our insecurities. I believe all stories can be boiled down to two elements: love and conflict.  We seek tales that have conflict and heroes who overcome the Big Obstacle and prevail, and we appreciate this type of story if it also features love.  We have to love the character—we want to identify with the character (and that’s easier if we like/love him). We want to be liked, accepted, and loved—that is the whole point of the Human Experience.  We read books that have this theme to learn how to do it in our own lives.  We spend our whole lives trying to figure out how to do this, to explain it, to refine it, to ignore it, to pretend it doesn’t matter, to learn in the end that it IS the only thing that matters. We all learn the hard way, and that too is part of the Human Experience.

 

So how do you give your readers what they want: love, conflict, and the human experience without falling into “this plot is so stale pigeons wouldn’t touch it”?  Good question. 

The answer is: it depends. Are you a magician or an audience member?

 

Yeah, I know, this blog went in a totally different direction than you were thinking, right? Ha. Keep up.

 

In magic tricks (if you watch the same movies as me), you know that there are three parts, three acts to a magic trick. 

 

Act one is The Pledge.  It’s where the magician-type writer introduces his characters and makes everything look ordinary—though it’s not.  You make use of the misdirection you reveal here.  In act one of most storylines, you have the inciting incident that forces the hero to make the first step to Adventure.  The inciting incident is something that cannot be avoided by the hero; he must go; but he goes not truly realizing he will be changed by everything he does from here on out.  In act one, the hero might meet the quirky next door neighbor and realize they have competing, diametrically opposed goals, but he does not realize he’s going to fall in love with her.  She’s too crazy. As a writer, in act one, you’ve made a “pledge” to your audience that the hero will somehow be changed from his/her adventure, and if you’re like me, will find true love and live happily ever after. 

 

Act two is The Turn.  The performance of the trick—the action between Cute-Meet and Happily Ever After, complete with conflict, misdirection, misunderstanding, obstacles, and Black Moments.  This is the time where you, as the magician, make the ordinary extraordinary.  This is where you make your audience bounce on pins and needles wondering how you’re going to make the impossible possible.  “He can’t possibly fall in love with her!  They have nothing in common!  They fight all the time!  And besides, she overheard him saying she wasn’t anything special—ha! And when he did propose, it was against his will. Pigs will fly before those two get together!”

 

Your goal as the writer is to make the audience just as convinced as the hero and heroine that there is no possible way that everything could work out.  If you can make your characters believe there is no way on earth, you’ll fool your audience too.  Characters are people, remember. 

 

Make the trick big. Cutting a woman in half is always more interesting than making a coin come out of someone’s ear. The bigger you make your story: the bigger the characters, the conflict, the obstacles, the black moments—the more hooked, the more fooled your audience will be when you present The Prestige.

 

Yes, the HEA.  Act three, The Prestige, is where you deliver the Illusion, what the audience is expecting, our Happy Ending.  How are you going to give us the Happy Ending we’re waiting for and watch us be amazed at how magical it seems?  The better you’re able to make The Turn, the more magical the kiss will be at the end when we know those two lovebirds are going to work out after all.

 

There have been some books I’ve read that I didn’t think there was any way on God’s green earth that a Happy Ending could be wrought, and yet the author did a slight of hand, and all was well.

 

So back to the “it depends”: what are you, the magician or the audience? Maybe you’re the kind of writer who writes from the audience’s POV—you want to discover the Illusion along with everyone else, or i.e. a pantser.  Or maybe you’re the kind of writer who writes from the POV of the magician, pleased to fool everyone so well, or i.e. a plotter. Or maybe you’re Michael Caine, a plotser who knows the trick and technique; but in the end you’re totally wigged when you realize what the outcome is, when you thought it was something else all along.

 

Anyone else see The Prestige? If you had to spend 7 minutes in Heaven with Christian Bale or Hugh Jackman, who would you pick? And are you a magician or an audience member—or Michael Caine? What sort of plot devices do you gravitate towards in reading/writing (Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty…)?

Instead of waxing poetic about finishing my novel (as I neither wax nor am I poetic), I figured I would map out my journey post-finishing as an exhibit for you, dear wenches.   Feel free to reference back when you finish, nod or disagree if you’ve already finished one, or just laugh at my ridiculousness.  All reactions are acceptable.

 

 

 

 

1.    Squee  -  I actually managed some really loud squeeing.  In fact, my squees scared my poor one year old so much that his little face folded in on itself as if my fit of insanity was the manifestation of one of his greatest fears (I wonder if he worries about my mental state often – hmmm…).  Then he started wailing.  This promptly made me feel horrible so I scooped him up and we danced around the room.  He laughed and I felt better.

 

2.    Dance around the room – see above.

 

 

3.    Send an email to friends, call friends, stop random people on the street to spread your good news, etc.  - Frankly, it was near impossible to not let my relief out.  I rambled; I babbled; I otherwise made a complete fool of myself.  My writerly friends of course smiled and nudged each other (through cyber-space), equally proud of me and happy for me, undoubtedly rolling their eyes at my silliness, but all aware of what a big accomplishment it is.  My real life friends, though happy for me, don’t get the depth and breadth of such a goal achieved but they were happy I was happy and that’s all I needed.

 

 

4.    Go out to dinner – My hubby and I went out to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner as a joint anniversary/book finishing celebration.  I had something for dinner, Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake for dessert (you didn’t really care what I had for dinner, did you?   I figured just the dessert detail would be enough), and one strawberry Ketel One Martini (I’m a cheap date *sigh*).  He toasted me twice, we held hands, and he told me repeatedly how proud he was of my accomplishment and how lucky he was to be married to me.  *Sappy girl sigh.*   I can leave my characters’ romance behind as long as my hubby is my forever hero. 

 

 

 

5.    Read – On my way home from dinner Saturday, we stopped at Borders and I picked up Twilight.  I finished it Sunday night and stopped to get New Moon and Eclipse.  I finished Eclipse last night.  I’ve missed reading.  I completely hibernated for a couple of days.  It was wonderful.  I think the key here though was not to read any historicals.  I do have revisions coming up.

 

6.    Avoid revising – This sounds like such an easy one, doesn’t it?  I mean, I just spent forever with my characters.  They’ve kept me awake for months, more so in the last two-ish weeks of writing, and I should want to leave them alone.  I shouldn’t want to mess with them until I force myself.  But the urge to revise is really strong.  I even started messing around on Friday, though it was a huge mistake.  I realized though, that I was getting twisted up.  I think I’m so exhausted with it that I need to take a break for a couple weeks and then try to read it with some fresh eyes.   So, a week and a half from now I’m going to start to read it through. 

 

 

 

7.   Write a query letter – Ugh.  I repeat… UGH.   I started this process a couple months ago and it’s no easy task.  Condensing your huge work, even after it’s finished, into a few short lines meant to entice.  Ugh.  Still working on this.  In bits and pieces.  Have lots of time.

 

8.     Write my synopsis letter – Quadruple UGH.  While the query letter is hard, this is just frustrating.  Every sentence needs to be concise.  I figure I’m not sweating it yet.  I mess with it now and again and assume that once my revisions are done, this will clarify as well

 

9.     Try not to drown in the sea of denial that keeps my query and synopsis apprehension at bay - *blinking.*   What denial?

 

10.   Start my next story – In this case, I had to ask what Nora would do.  And that’s right, people, she doesn’t take a long vacation.  So, I’ve started brainstorming.  This part is fun, only requires note-taking, and just happens as I putter about in my life.

If you’ve finished a book, what did you do?  If you haven’t, what would you do?  Any advice for a newbie finisher?  Anyone ever had the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory?  I’m telling you, yum.

Aside:  A giant, wet, slobbery fangirl hug to all my cyber romance writer friends who have stood by offering support when I felt nervous, threatening harm when I needed prodding, and generally being awesome in every way.  Thanks to all of you, I’m forever grateful for your help.

Oh, and I absolutely can’t wait for Breaking Dawn or this movie.  I am obsessed.  At least this week.

I often find myself in a fight with my muse for creative power over my brain. So today, I’m cheating. I keep a writing diary. I have for almost three years now. When we have it out, I write letters to myself. It’s mostly in character. So today, I bring you the inner workings of my mind.

Date: October 04, 2006

Mood: Well, I’ve gotta tell you, muse, I’m just peachy because of you…  You feel me?

Inspiration: My level of confidence is in the dirt. But I’m hanging on by a thread.

Music: Brackish- Kittie  (Explains a lot, doesn’t it.)

Introduction- How we met–

When I met her, it was like any other day for me. The drive into work was the same. The phone calls were the same. The music on the radio was the same. Nothing was different. Except for her voice. It was eerily haunting in it’s sweetness. A hint of sarcasm. Scratch that. Full of sarcasm. She threw a shoe across the room and said very quietly, “Get out.”

 

She had my full attention. To throw a shoe (which is like an offense in my book. Throw a knife. A whip. A clock. Anything but the five inch heel in patent leather. That’s a sin.) But her voice. Haunting. Like she’d done this before. Knew what to expect. That it was coming. I didn’t know what “it” was at this point, but I was engrossed. I had to know. So I listened all day. Tuned in quietly to my thoughts as she continued to talk to me. More like musings to herself, spoken to a silent confident.

 

Then I heard his voice. Cool. Calm. Collected. The type of voice that all women turn their heads toward on the street. The type of voice that gives you goosebumps when confronted in the dark corner of a club. His voice was enough to send shivers down my spine. But I could feel her tense up. I could feel her movements as sure as they were my own. She crossed her arms. Her breathing became more controlled, and even. And her mind shut down. This was “it”. This is who deserved the “get out”.

 

He walked into the room as if he owned it. I wasn’t sure. He might have. The look in his eyes was a dark gleam He knew what he wanted. He expected to get it. No wasn’t an option at this point between them. She closed herself off even more and I had to wonder if this was about to get really ugly. It wouldn’t be the first time. My mind played host to some twisted scenes in the past. I just hoped that this wasn’t going to be one of them. I liked her. I wasn’t sure who she was. But I was willing to find out. That had to be something. Right?

 

“I asked you to leave.” Her voice was soft in a room full of tension and the hair rose on my forearms. There was a warning in her voice.

 

He laughed. A baritone rich in velvet. It was almost cruel how much I wanted to love him. “You told me to get out.”

 

I could feel her shrug. “We must interpret “get out” differently then, because you’re still here.” Her voice gave away no emotion. Flat. Distant. Meant to annoy him.

 

But it didn’t. He came to a stop at an arm’s length distance away from her. Close enough to touch, but he held back. His stare was hot on her skin. And it was obvious she was uncomfortable with him. I wasn’t sure why. They had some sort of a relationship. I could tell that much. But the depth of that relationship was stunted by their inability to communicate with one another. Unwilling to share information.

 

And then it clicked all of a sudden. They worked together. The look in their eyes, they couldn’t react. No matter how much he wanted to and how much she pulled away emotionally from him, it was always going to be there, between them. The fire. The ice. It was love at it’s greatest point.

 

Sadie, I thought to myself. I knew her just as I knew myself. Her name was Sadie. Her father was dead. Her sister was murdered. Her mother hates her and Sadie’s lived with guilt that’s rotted her heart. She doesn’t want anything to do with a partner. Especially one who’s using her to get what he wants.

 

And the devil. Well he was easy. With the silver tongue and confidence of a sultan, he was Ash. And he wanted her. Not only for information, but in every way possible. And to Ash, a challenge was just the excuse he needed to get closer to her.

 

And there it was, at midnight, on October 4, 2006, my grandfather’s birthday, I knew I had my first original plot beginnings. Sadie Madalyn Michaels was born like a wildfire blowing in a strong breeze. And we haven’t looked back since.

 

So how was it for you? Do you remember anything remarkable about your first encounter with your hero/heroine? Remember where you were? Readers, are there any hero/heroines that have stuck with you and made you think that you could write or identify with that particular character? And does anyone else keep a writing journal to refer back to? Or even just a book of thoughts?

 

*cued music from The Actor’s Studio, camera zooms in on Hellion, a stunning redhead (clearly a pirate due to her magnificent hat) and Megan Kelly, a petite and pretty brunette, who is sitting across from Hellion. A cover board of Megan’s new book cover is standing on an easel next to her: The Fake Fiancée*

 

Hellion: Hello, Megan! Long time, no see. *turns to audiences* Dear viewers, Megan is one of my fellow members of the MORWA Chapter in St. Louis. She heads the Critique Group, called CORE, and used to run two separate groups: one on Tuesday and one on Saturday. Very crazy, in my opinion. I mean, working. Megan is very brave and very persistent; and she has also very graciously agreed to be interviewed today. Everyone, please welcome Megan Kelly!

 

Crew: *cheering and whistling; Sin rushes over and offers Megan some grog which she happily accepts*

 

Hellion: Okay, let’s get started! First question, Megan, how did you get assigned into that role (with CORE), and what are your favorite parts of the job?

 

Megan: I had attended from the first and saw the value of getting feedback. I was a contest junkie until I sold and probably will be in the published contests now. When the moderator decided to jump ship, I was nearest the gangplank.

 

Hellion: I know how that can happen.

 

Megan: It was either volunteer or be pushed overboard, too. So I volunteered. *laughs* I love when someone reads their work and it’s stronger than her earlier writing. Then I know we’re doing good. Also it’s a kick when one of us sells (me, Kimberly Killion, Annmarie McKenna, and Mary Paine in the past two years) or finals in a contest from something we all critiqued.

 

Hellion: Wow! A lot of familiar names! What a great group! How important is it, do you think, to be a part of your local chapter? I know a lot of fledgling writers aren’t even a member of RWA. How valuable do you think the chapter meetings (and CORE groups) are?

 

Megan: I’ve received so much from my chapter. I don’t think I’d be published without them. Not only does MoRWA offer monthly programs, but the support of my chaptermates has been invaluable. Perhaps you don’t know this (because I hid it pretty well), but for a good six years, I landed my writing ship on a sandbar, so to speak. Block, hiatus, drinking binge–call it what you will, but they were dark days. If I had quit attending meetings, I wouldn’t have gotten back to writing. So a good group is very important, whether it’s RWA or not.

 

Hellion: Mates are definitely important! A support group is indispensable.

 

Megan: Attending conferences put on by RWA National and other chapters has helped me learn, too, as has feedback from their contests. As for a critique group or partner, I think it’s vital. My writing is stronger due to what I get from my CP and CORE. I learn from feedback when I read my own work, of course, but critiquing someone else’s work means I better know what I’m talking about. Listening to other members who find different aspects in someone’s work helps me make my work stronger. It transfers to my writing, but it’s a mysterious process I can’t explain.

 

Hellion: *grins* A lot of life is a mystery. How long have you been writing? (How long did it take you to publish?) And most importantly, what’s your Call Story? We love Call Stories. Do you remember when you got The Call?

 

Megan: Do I remember!? How long can the answer be? Okay, first: I started writing seriously in 1994. I was, like, twelve. *coughs*  I entered a contest, pitched to an editor, sent off the ms. Got back the ms. *wink*  I got THE CALL in 2007. However, there’s that “hiatus” on the sandbar I took. During those six years, I didn’t finish anything.

 

Hellion: That sounds familiar.

 

Megan: I started two stories but only got into “the sagging middle” of each before setting them aside. I worked on this and that, but I’d lost the belief I’d sell. The characters stopped walking around in my head. One day, for no reason I can pinpoint, they came back. Once again, I was making up stories for strangers I’d see on the street (axe murderer, bank exec, bride-to-be, pirate). The joy was back. I still didn’t believe I’d SELL, but I wanted to write again.

 

Hellion: Been there, done that.

 

Megan: So… in June of 2006, my invaluable CP, Carol, showed me the Romantic Times magazine article where the Harlequin American line put out the call for mss from new authors. I had 72 pages of a book done and a synopsis I’d written for contests, so I sent a partial. Six weeks later, I got a request for the full. Of course, I hadn’t touched it in those six weeks because I wasn’t going to sell. I couldn’t decide whether to be thrilled or scared spitless.

 

Hellion: Spitless.

 

Megan: *nodding* I set a deadline of six weeks, said goodbye to my family and barricaded myself in my office in the basement. Six weeks to the day, I mailed the finished ms, with much thanks to Carol! Four months later, March 1, 2007, I was actually working in my office, with my printer running, and the washer and dryer chugging several feet away. Didn’t hear the phone ring upstairs. I went up for a break (more chocolate) and saw the message light flashing. Kathleen Scheibling, Sr. Ed. at Harlequin American, wanted to talk to me about my ms. Now, I’d had a call before, where the senior editor said right away, “this isn’t the call you’re hoping for.” So I tried not to get excited that Kathleen’s was THE CALL I was hoping for. But who could possibly NOT hope?

 

Hellion: *laughing* Clearly you can’t.

 

Megan: Exactly. Missing the first call was great for me, actually, because I had time to breathe; I found my printout of “What to Do When You Get The Call” and took time to read it over and make a few notes of pertinent questions (advance, payout, royalty), and I could walk off a little excited energy around the house. So…I called Toronto and got Kathleen’s voice mail since she was away from her desk. [Are you freaking kidding me!?] I left a message then called my DH on my cell phone. He tried to talk me down. The house phone rang and Kathleen wanted to buy my book. She’d been about to leave for the day and possibly the entire weekend (this was a Thursday) due to a blizzard blanketing the city. But we got this done first and I asked her to drive VERY carefully. *laughs* That night we were celebrating my mother in law’s birthday, so we had cake in the house!!

 

Hellion: *LOL* Your poor hubby! So he was the first one you told after The Call?

 

Megan: Yes. He’s been my biggest fan and most solid supporter. I know women who no longer write because their husbands didn’t support them. So I realize how lucky I am. Then I called Carol.

 

Hellion: Good husbands are hard to find. He sounds like a great guy. I’m sure he likes the research too. *grins* You write under a pen name. How did you come to choose your pen name, and why did you decide to go with a pen name to publish?

 

Megan: When my kids were toddlers, I told the mother of one of their playmates that I write romance. Suddenly my calls regarding playdates don’t get returned, she avoided me totally, and even the calls I made to her as a customer for her business met with silence. Fortunately, the kids were too young to know what was going on, but I decided then my writing would never hurt my children. Also, I’d joined RWA and heard of writers being stalked. So a pen name made sense. I picked Megan because it sounds normal like me, and I was named for my Aunt Margaret, anyway. I’ve always liked the name Kelly, and it’s in the middle of the alphabet so hopefully readers could find me at a bookstore or library without crawling on the floor.

 

Hellion: Wow, are you kidding? What a wench. That’s so not cool. I can see the definite highlights of having a pen name. Okay, what’s your favorite movie?

 

Megan: Wow, you’re still completely random.

 

Hellion: Yep, still am. *shoots the undead monkey* Part of my charm. *monkey starts eating banana again*

 

Megan: Uh, do I get shot, too, if I fail to mention Pirates of the Caribbean first? Gotta love the adventure and romance and hot guys. Also Field of Dreams, The Wizard of Oz, and Pride and Prejudice (preferably the mini-series with Colin Firth). 

 

Hellion: Good (and correct) answers! And Colin Firth is the only real Mr. Darcy. Just saying. Okay, your newest book, The Fake Fiancée is out this month. Can you tell us more about it?

 

Megan: Joe Riley needs to get his matchmaking mom off his back, and “enlists the help of” (ie, blackmails) Lisa, a mom who needs money for a special program for her misbehaving son. Lisa doesn’t trust easily since her ex ran off with all their money and a bimbette from his office. Joe falls in love with Lisa, but it’s a rocky road. He has to make up for their bad beginning and figure out how to father her two kids.

 

Hellion: A blackmailer! Sounds like my kind of fellow! Joe definitely had his work cut out for him to pave the road back to heroic, then. Are you working on anything new now?

 

Megan: I’m currently writing a spin-off of The Fake Fiancee, featuring Joe’s business partner, Dylan Ross. He’s a “fixer,” who gets tangled up with Tara–who doesn’t want him “fixing” her life, thank you very much. They’re a lot of fun to write. This story features Dylan’s brother, Adam, and his eight children, which I hope will be my fourth book, so I’m having a blast.

 

Hellion: That does sound like a lot of fun. I love Mr. Fixer—that would be a lot of fun to write! What’s your favorite type of hero to create?

 

Megan: I love to write about the guy next door. He’s more real to me than billionaires, at least in my neighborhood. He’s a strong individual who respects a woman and is supportive without fear of losing any masculinity points. He has a sense of humor, and of course is always terrific looking.

 

Hellion: Terrific looking is definitely a must-have. How do you write the family dynamic so well?

 

Megan: I’m not sure how to write without a family in the story. Marrying the Boss didn’t have kids, which was a total departure for me. Then all of a sudden, the characters’ parents start taking over scenes! I just went along for the ride. As you might remember, Hellion, I have two children. I’m the fifth-born in my family, as is my husband, so we have lots of “dynamic” things going on.

 

Hellion: Wow, that’s a lot of siblings…and cousins! I bet you have entertaining family reunions and dinners. Okay, time for some more random questions.

 

Megan: Again? You’re not going to threaten to shoot me again, are you?

 

Hellion: I don’t think so, but no promises. What’s your biggest pet peeve? If you were in Bed, Bath, and Beyond with an unlimited budget, what one item would be on your must-have list and why? And what’s your favorite flavor of Crystal Lite?

 

Megan: I have lots of pet peeves. Rude people would be my current number one. I don’t shop in BB&B, so I don’t know what they carry. I’d love to have a hot tub, though, if you’re thinking of my birthday present. Thanks!!  Does there have to be a reason? Sheer relaxation. I like raspberry lemonade Crystal Lite, a pitcherful of which we keep in the fridge at all times. But I mostly live on versions of Diet Coke–caffeine free for after 2 pm and Vanilla Zero for the early part of the day, or if I need a caffeine boost.

 

Hellion: Caffeine is almost better than rum. Almost. Okay, final question, then I’ll turn this over to the crew to ask you questions: What’s the best piece of writing advice that’s worked for you?

 

Megan: “Never, never, never quit.”  It’s really from Winston Churchill, so I’ll give you a writer’s quote, this one from Nora Roberts: “I can revise anything but a blank page.”

 

Hellion: I think I like Churchill’s better. But leave me to be perverse! Okay, crew, come talk with us! What questions do you have Megan? What is your favorite boy-next-door type of story? And do you think it’s possible to be the boy-next-door and insanely rich?

I’m standing behind a podium at the front of a room with my heart beating double time.  Tables arranged in a U-shaped pattern fill the small room.  Sitting at those tables are writers.  Writers staring at me expectantly waiting for me to tell them something they don’t already know.  The three page handout in front of me starts to blur and a sheen of sweat breaks out across my forehead.

 

You’re probably thinking I’m describing one of my worst nightmares.  But no.  I’m describing my Saturday afternoon. 

 

This is what happens when you attend a writing conference, take a bunch of kick-ass workshops, then float into your next chapter meeting on that conference high.  I still have no idea what possessed me to volunteer back in the fall, but this weekend I gave my first workshop ever.

 

I wouldn’t say I got off to a flying start.  And as my chapter is filled with talented writers who have many titles under their belts, it’s no surprise they looked at this still-aspiring-as-yet-unpublished author with a bit of skepticism. 

 

But then I decided to get them involved.  My workshop was called “Digging Deep With Your Characters” and my goal was to get them to look deeper into their characters my asking questions you might not usually think about.  I asked an off the wall, detailed question regarding characters and gave them a minute or two to write an answer.  Then I made them share those answers. 

 

That’s when one established author said this little exercise gave her an idea for her current WIP.  And again later in the workshop she got another idea.  By some miracle, I had helped someone.  Believe me, I’m as amazed as you are.

 

Now it’s time to get you involved.  One of your characters, hero or heroine, has an old shoebox under their bed.  What’s in that shoebox and why is it under the bed?  What would be the consequences to your character if that box is discovered.  Why?

 

PS:  Nine years ago today I was in the hospital giving birth to a beautiful baby girl.  Happy Birthday to Isabelle.  She is my life and my light. 

Tomorrow is July 14^th and that means it’s Bastille Day here on the ship.  I’m sure you thought we were only American pirates, but no.  We are International Pirates and with one of the greatest pirates to ever sail the seas being French, we must honor this day.  In case you haven’t figured it out, that’s Jean Lafitte.  His true origins are sketchy but the name sounds French and we’re going with it.

 

Anyvous, Bastille Day celebrates the raiding of Bastille prison by Parisian peasants on July 14, 1789. This is basically the French version of our 4^th of July.  And it also happens to be my daughter Isabelle’s birthday.  See, she even has a French name in celebration.  (Happy Birthday, Isabelle.  And you better not be reading this blog!) 

 

In order to celebrate the day, I thought we should add a Hottie Frenchman to the crew.  And so I went searching.  It’s actually more difficult to find a French Hottie than you’d think.  At least from this side of the water.  But in my *cough*hour*cough* of scoping out pictures of potential candidates, I came across the French Rugby Team.  Turns out they do a Hottie award winning calendar every year called Gods of the Stadium.  Does this look good or what?

 

I even found video of the making of the calendar.  More than one.  Audition tapes if you will.  I had to check them out, you know, in the name of research.  Gosh, this is such a tough job. *bigevilgrin*

 

This Tuesday, July 15, we are excited to welcome Megan Kelly to talk about her new Harlequin American Romance, The Fake Fiancee. This story is for all the moms out there who give all to their families. The hero is trying to avoid his matchmaking mama by bringing home a fake fiancee; and the heroine agrees to pose as his soon-to-be wife in order to earn money to get her son into a special program. If you like your stories sweeter, your characters more real–Megan is the author you need to add to your list of must-haves. Plus Megan and Hellion used to be in the same local writing chapter–total “dish the dirt” potential!

 

So join us this Tuesday with Guest Pirate, Megan Kelly and try not to hurt yourself today Googling the French Rugby Team.  I highly recommend finding those videos.  They are completely in French so I have no idea what they are saying, but that really doesn’t matter anyway.

*screen zeroes in on a great big bed with velvet curtains, clearly the interview is being taped from Hellion’s cabin; Captain Jack Sparrow is in the middle, with Hellion, ravishing and redheaded as always, on his left, and a set of gorgeous, voluptuous twins on his right. The twin on his immediate right, Dee S. Knight, is plastered against him, grinning most devilishly, but the other twin, Anne Krist, clearly seems to have been harassed into this fiasco and has her arms crossed and is hiding her face behind one hand*

Hellion: *adjusting her marabou boa and plucking a feather from her tousled hair* Okay, pirates and ‘lubbers, today is a bit of a different interview. Instead of one-on-one….

  

Captain Jack: *arms draped around Hellion and Dee, looking roguish* Oh, I like that.

  

Hellion: It’s actually a foursome. *CJ looks even more delighted*

  

Dee: *clapping delightedly and nearly coming out of her corset top* I’ve always wanted to be in a foursome!

  

Anne: *groaning behind her hand* I am in hell.

  

Hellion: So without any further ado, let me introduce you to our guests today, Dee S. Knight *Dee bounces again, once again nearly coming out of her clothes* and her sister, Anne Krist. *Anne seems to shrink a little as if she’s trying to fade into the downy comforter* Welcome, ladies, and I want to thank you for coming on the ship and interviewing with us.

 

Dee: It’s not my first time.

 

Anne: That’s not the first time you’ve said that.

  

CJ: Again, I like that. *oogling Dee’s cleavage*

  

Hellion: *subtly elbowing Jack* What Dee means is that she blogged with me last year when her book, Heat Wave, hit the stores. Heat Wave is now in print format and available to hold in your hot little hands as you sit on the beach this summer. Which incidentally is the best place to experience a Heat Wave.

  

Dee: *snuggling closer to CJ and grinning* Junior there has reminded me of a story. Two women worked in the same company. One was a little mousy, but had a good reputation. She worked in accounting. The other…well, she worked in finance and her, let’s say, her halo was a bit tarnished.

  

Anne: Like yours?

  

Dee: For whatever reasons, the boss decided to switch their places. One day, two men were strolling into the office. “Say,” one said, “I heard Sarah is moving up in finance.” “Yeah, the other said, “Tammy is going down in accounting.” The first said, “That’s not the first time that’s happened.”

  

CJ: *roaring in laughter*

 

Anne: I don’t get it.

 

Dee: She…never mind. *Dee shakes head* How the same parents raised both of us I’ll never know.

 

Hellion: That’s okay, Dee. My parents are confused how they acquired a pirate baby. It happens. *glances back at her questions as if just now realizing she’s supposed to be on task* Dee is here today in support of her sister Anne, whose new book came out July 2. The book is Burning Bridges. Ladies, would you mind telling a little more about your respective books and writing styles?

 

Dee: I’ll go first.

 

Anne: *sweetly* Age before beauty.

 

Dee: *smiling just as sweetly in return* If that’s what you choose to believe, Dear. Though must I remind you again that I am only 20 minutes older than you and we are identical twins? *winking at CJ* Heat Wave is just that: a wave of scorching hot writing by four talented authors.

 

Anne: She says, including herself.

 

Dee: *blushing* Well, I didn’t mean it like that, exactly. But all of the stories did receive really excellent reviews when they were released last summer on their own. Mine, Second Wind, is the tale of how Mother Nature forces a couple to realize what they mean to each other. I share the volume with wonderful people: Bonnie Dee, Veronica Wilde and Jamie Craig. I think all of the stories are outstanding, and as you so kindly pointed out, Hellion, Heat Wave is for sale now in print.

 

Anne: Is it my turn now?

 

Dee: *graciously bows her head and then turns her attentions to CJ’s roving hands*

 

Anne: *rolling eyes* Get a room.

 

Well, I’m thrilled to death to tell you about my book Burning Bridges. Dee had already started Passionate Destiny when I was visiting mom in Virginia. On the radio one day we heard about bags of mail found in a guy’s shed up in the mountains. He’d been a mail carrier and just decided one day he didn’t feel like working. He stuck the bags in his shed and then just forgot about them. That had been 20 years ago or something. I wondered what kind of havoc his actions caused. Did people have their electricity turned off because their bills didn’t arrive? Did someone miss the announcement of a birth or death? What about if someone had declared their love and never heard back—would that cause a broken heart that lasted for years?

 

I went home and wrote Burning Bridges in a month. I thought it was pretty good, but none of the agents and editors I sent the manuscript to were as thrilled as I. I received very nice and helpful rejections. After one agent I really admire said the premise wasn’t enough to carry a book, I mentally put it on the shelf. Then BookStrand sent out a call for manuscripts and I thought, what the heck? They contracted for it. My editor and their test reader loved it, and the first reviews have been very good. I’ve loved this book from the beginning and I’m so happy some others do, too. *wiping a tear from her eye*

 

Dee: Anne, you were supposed to tell the good folks what the book is about, not relay the history of the world.

 

Anne: Oh, yes. Sara Richards receives letters from 30 years ago which changes everything in the way she sees her life. As she sets out to unravel the tangle of lies she created, she can only hope not to burn too many bridges.

 Hellion: *laughing* You guys are a hoot. You definitely scrap like sisters. For all your differences, and they do sound vast, at the core, you two share the same values in your writing: passionate and emotional character-driven stories. Would you say this is true? What do you think you two have in common? What do you each like most about the other’s writing? Would you recommend each other?

 

 Dee: Of course, we share parents. And, uh, clothes sometimes.

 

 Anne: *eyes wide* Is that what happened to my blue cashmere Ann Taylor sweater with the silver rose buttons?

 

 Dee: Focus, Dear. Seriously, Hellion, Anne portrays emotion pretty well. I mean, I cry every time I read Burning Bridges, and God knows, she made me read me over and over while she was revising. Like her, I like characterization. I always focus on characters and their feelings more than plot.

  

Anne *muttering*: Do your sexy stories have plot?

 

 Dee: Haha. Hellion, you asked if I would recommend Anne’s books, and the answer is I would! I love the way she creates emotion. Her books seem real. I want to read a book that makes me feel what the characters do, and Anne manages to do that.

 

 Anne: Well, I did pick up a few tips from you, Sis. I’ll admit it. I’d recommend Dee’s books because the sex is hot without going over the top, and it’s always part of the story. That the characters would engage in sexy behavior as they do and when they do is natural in her work. That isn’t always the case in erotic romance.

  

Hellion: I know what you mean. What projects are you both working on now? When can we expect to see a new Dee or Anne novel on the shelves?

 

Dee: I’m working on something Venessa Hart and I started years ago. It’s the story of a man just about to win his dream job when his world is turned upside down. Will he ignore the people who need him and go for the dream job, or risk all for the woman who’s invaded his dreams?

  

Anne: Ooo, that sounds good. Is it sexy?

  

Dee: Does a bee make honey? Do fish swim in the sea? Does CJ like to—

  

Anne: We get the picture. My work in progress is the first in a series called Five Card Studs. I’m finishing the first, Dealer’s Choice, about a man who does not want to get married so he dates only women he knows he could never live with—let’s say, women whose bells don’t all ring in the belfry. One of his dates thinks he’s a cousin of Spock’s when he tells her he’s a volcanologist.

 

 Hellion: *laughing* That sounds hilarious! Where do you usually get your ideas? Do you brainstorm with critique partners…or people off the street?

 

 Dee: I always have ideas that I think would make a good book. I should write them down but I always think the idea is so good I don’t need to. *tapping her chin* I wonder how bestselling ideas I’ve forgotten…?

 

Anne: I get a lot of ideas from country music, and just from driving. Put me in a car and head it east or west, and in a few hours I’ll have three or four story ideas.

  

Dee: Anne and I brainstorm, of course, but we’re so much alike it’s like talking to myself. *LOL*

 

 Anne: We have wonderful critique partners who talk plot and characters at the drop of a hat. Without them, who knows where our books would be?

  

Hellion: Let’s hear it for the CPs! Anne, you mentioned getting ideas while you drove. Which of you is the better driver? And when is the last time you two have taken a cross-country trip together? What are you two like on vacation?

  

Dee: We fight all the time on trips because we both like driving. I usually win.

 

Anne: *pouting* You never stop at interesting places when we travel. I like to add a little shopping to my trips and you just zip on down the road.

  

Dee: The purpose of a road trip is to get to your destination, not shopping. Get over it. We drove to Virginia last December and it was, “Oh, look at that Christmas shop,” or “That gift area looks interesting,” all the way. I like to get in the car and drive. It would take Anne two weeks to go coast to coast if I let her behind the wheel.

  

CJ: I like a fast woman.

 

 Dee: *purring* And I like a man who takes his time.

 

 Anne: Criminy!

 

 Hellion: Where is your favorite place to shop? What do find yourself always buying, even though you might have a dozen of them already?

 

 Dee: I love searching out new things at AdamandEve.com. Whoo! The toys they have! A woman could stay in orbit all the time spending wisely there—and I do.

 

 Anne: So that’s why we never have any batteries in the house!

 

 Dee: *stroking CJ’s arm* Not that a woman has need of toys with you around, Captain.

 

 CJ: I should say not! But a bit of rum is never amiss… *gropes Dee as she giggles*

  

Anne: *sighing with disgust, then crossing her arms and looking away* I’m a sucker for QVC. I love their jewelry shows and would spend thousands of dollars if I had it.

 

Hellion: Well, you know what they say: diamonds are a girl’s best friend. If you had a Sunday to yourself, how would you spend it?

  

Dee: We usually have Sundays to ourselves. Well, with Jack of course. Funny, I never thought before how that’s a good start to a ménage story.

 

 Anne: Don’t even think it! I don’t sleep late usually, Hellion. I get up, have a cup of coffee and often a bagel. Later, we go out for breakfast, then we watch TV shows I’ve taped during the week. Maybe we take a nap. Lazy days together are the best.

  

Dee: I still think a ménage between two sisters and one of their husbands would make a good book. One sister would be adventurous and the other shy. Just like us, Anne!

  

CJ: *staring at Hellion curiously* Are you blushing, Hellie? *looks at Dee in awe* I can’t even make her blush, and believe me, I try. Hard. *Hellion blushes harder*

  

Dee: No need to blush, Sweetie. I wouldn’t make you one of the sisters, though CJ here would make a great husband in the story. Would you like to be I bed with two women, CJ?

  

CJ: Well, there’s four of us now. *roguish grin* Four’s a nice round number. Once I was in bed with five women, and that was a bit tricky, but I think I have the kinks worked out and I’m sure I could….

  

Anne: Hellion, do something!

 

Hellion: *covering CJ’s mouth* Jolly good, okay, I think it’s time to wind this up, shall we? I’m sure the crew and ‘lubbers have questions and comments for Dee and Anne. Okay?

 

Dee: Ask away, everyone!

 

Anne: Yes, please. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

As I near “the End” of my book, revisions cast their dark shadow over my future.   *cue menacing music* dun dun dahhhhh .

While I’ve been writing, I’ve stopped and made comments on a page in my journal called the “To Be Revised” page.  I decided that instead of stopping constantly to fix the things I was sure would need to be fixed later I would write them down so I could remember them when I trotted back through. 

Though many of my “To Be Revised” notes are specific and of no use to you (and of questionable use to me), there are some that seem general and perhaps applicable to everyone.  Here are a few snippets:

-          Check for any adverbs I can avoid

-          Plot out motivation to make certain it is consistent throughout

-          Check for plot holes

-          Strengthen verbs

As I read back through these notes, I started surfing around online to find other writing rules that might help direct me through my revising.  Here are some fun ones:

Kurt Vonnegut’s eight rules for writing fiction:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innoce