I’m having a release party on Facebook. If you’re not part of Facebook or having a problem getting on there, then comment here. On June 23, I’ll give away some books and even a gift card. But if you can come to the Facebook party, then be sure to comment there. Five other authors will be giving away goodies on Facebook!
For the last few weeks I’ve been listening to some NYT bestselling books on audio. It’s inspiring all the way around.
As I was telling a buddy the other day, when I decided to try my hand at writing, it was out of desperation for something I liked to read. I had read all of my favorite writers’ books at that point (they can only write only so fast) and wanted to read what I knew for sure I would enjoy. Other authors start writing because they read something awful and said they could do better. But me, I wanted something just as good.
Though I’m not up to the excellence as the ladies I read, I continue to work on improving my books while keeping true to my voice.
One of the things I’ve learned while listening to the audios is that they’re not perfect. Close enough, but I catch a few things. And when I say I catch a few things, I’m saying they’re minor. It proves to me to stop sweating the small stuff.
Side note: One of the ways an author self-edits her book is to read it out loud. You catch so many errors that way. Helps smooth out the writing. But we’re all human and still miss a few.
Yes. There are grammar rules and they should be followed. Yet, at times you can break the rules if it will make the scene more dramatic or funny or whatever. In other words, there must be a reason to break the rule.
My critique partner can tell you, I don’t believe in characters saying each other’s name over and over again, especially in a scene where there is only two people. Wouldn’t you get ticked, if your better half said your name at the beginning or end of every other sentence? You’d think they were mad at you or being sarcastic. But in one of the books, the hero refers to the heroine quite often by a nickname. It caught my attention, but didn’t irritate me (or the heroine). It actually helped the reader to remember there was a difference between the two lovers.
I caught inconsistencies in facts, but it didn’t bother me because the story was so wonderful. Yes. Great writing can help you overlook the small errors too.
So here’s to me hoping that my writing improves to the point people forgive me of all my small mistakes and understand the choices I make in my books.
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I’m so excited! The book will be released June 23, 2014 at most on-line major booksellers. So be on the lookout!
Want to read the blurb and excerpt? Click here.
The blurb for the small novella, CIRCLE OF DISHONOR.John “Ice” Takahashi’s final job for The Circle has an unexpected hitch in it; he’s fallen for an innocent civilian and his enemies know. With his mission in a shambles, he’ll do anything to protect her, including kill. So how can a man without honor prove he’s worthy of her love?
Lena Matthews feels like she’s playing with fire by dating the mysterious Master J. He’s exotic, dangerous, and exactly what she needs in her boring life. With the bad guys bearing down on them, she discovers a whole new world of sensuality that binds her heart to his forever.
Lena Matthews felt like a perverted voyeur.
Sitting in a coffee shop across the courtyard from the martial arts studio’s glass storefront, she stared at the tae kwon do class as they kicked and jabbed. Most of the students wore white pajama-like uniforms, except for the teacher. He stood out in black with his shaggy dark hair and ripped body. The man looked good enough to lick.
For the last five weeks after her tai chi class, she’d claimed the same chair and watched his every move. Behind her, others in the coffee shop chatted about the class and the mysterious man leading it.
From what she’d overheard, his name was John Takahashi, and the students called him Master J.
Master? Oh, yeah. She could imagine he’d master many things. With his strong hands and long muscled arms and legs, he likely controlled any situation or person. He could easily lift and hold her against the wall as he stroked her to a climax. She whimpered and squeezed her knees together.
A shake of her head knocked out the dirty thoughts racing through her mind. She knew better. He’d never be attracted to an ordinary person like her. The woman he chose would be totally the opposite of her: young, athletic with honey blonde hair. Lena was about as interesting as watching bread turn to toast.
I had hoped to have it out in June, but it will be later. No date at this time. Keep an eye out here. [Updated 5/31/14 – It will be out in June after all. YAY! Probably June 23. Be on the lookout for the announcement!]
If you had the chance to be in the car alone for about twenty or thirty minutes with one of your all-time favorite authors, who would it be?
I had that opportunity in 2009. My writers group has a romance readers luncheon every first Saturday in November. That year it was Anne Stuart. Oh, my GOD! I was so excited. She and Linda Howard are two authors that I want to be compared to whenever someone reads my romantic suspense.
Anne was flying into the Birmingham airport and I volunteered (yeah, like I would let anyone else do that) to pick her up. I was so tickled, I even took off a half day from work. Who can concentrate when they’re picking up a rock star?
So there I was waiting for the time, unable to eat or read. If I can’t do two of my four favorite things, I’m really wound up. (By the way, if you’re curious, the other two are writing and sex, not necessarily in that order.)
The time finally arrives and I’m standing near the concourse exit. I’m holding a sign with her pen name on it, so she’ll know who’s picking her up. A large crowd comes through, warning me that the flight had deplaned. No Anne. Huh? Did I miss her in the crowd? Had she changed so much from Washington DC when I met her for the first time that I overlooked her? OMG! THE HORROR!
Then I crane my neck to look down the long hallway, and I see a man pushing a woman in a wheelchair. ANNE! (I read somewhere she has a bad knee.) Then I flip my sign, and she bursts out laughing (love her laugh). What did it say?
I had a feeling she would appreciate the humor, so I said, “And I don’t own a sledgehammer.” She roared with laughter and said, “I sure hope not.”
On the way to the hotel, I had around twenty minutes to gush all over her about how much I loved her books, telling her my favorites, and then I asked about what she was writing. And somewhere along the way, she asked about my writing. Before I knew it, we were at the hotel. Talk about loving every minute with her, it was fabulous. A time I’ll never forget.
Be sure to put her books on your list to read. In fact, the last couple weeks she has been celebrating forty years (amazing!) in the business and been giving away downloads at Amazon and sometimes B&N. Click here for her blog. Click here for her Facebook page. But be aware, most of Anne’s heroes are tough and almost scary alpha. Her Ice series are some of the best and most unique romantic suspense I’ve ever read. What makes them unique?
The hero doesn’t have issues with being a badass. They make hard decisions and don’t sit around mourning the results. They are at times rough and maybe even a little cruel to the heroines. The heroes are tough men and expect the women they are fascinated by (and they are always drawn to the heroines despite what is best for him) to understand where they’re coming from. Since this is fiction, I love these heroes. In real life, hell no. They would scare the shit out of me.
And her women are strong. Some can kick butt as well as the guys, but those who can’t (kick butt), know how to stand up them. Oh, yeah, with great results.
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because I’m such a fan that my heroes and heroines are a little like hers. I’m not saying I’m the caliber of writer that she is. But I will tell you that one of my reviews did compare my first book to Anne’s Ice series. I was thrilled.
Maybe soon I’ll tell you how I met Sherrilyn Kenyon and Linda Howard.
Carla Swafford, Author 