Writing for Harlequin Romance by Melissa McClone

Good Morning, all!
I'm so happy to have a special guest author on my blog today: Harlequin Romance author Melissa McClone. My blog happens to be one of the stops on her whirlwind blog tour.
So please give Melissa a hardy welcome and hear how she got started writing sweet romances for Harlequin.
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I never thought a high school English assignment would lead to a career as a romance writer, but that's exactly what happened to me. I was a senior in high school. Our class had taken the A.P. English test, and we still had a few weeks until graduation. Our teacher decided to expose us to various forms of writing. This included advertising copy and genre fiction.

One of those genres was romance. A classmate's mother loaned my teacher a brown grocery sack full of Harlequin Romances. I'd never read a category romance before. Each of us, including all the boys, received a book to study so we could come up with an original storyline. The assignment was to write the back cover blurb for our own romance novel.

The book I received was set on the Canary Islands. I can't remember the title, but I recall a postmark on the cover. (Today, I'd call it a flash.) I read the book that night. I attacked the writing assignment with vigor. Not everyone was as serious as some of us—okay, me—but we had fun listening to everyone's back cover copy.

I enjoyed my book so much I wanted to read another. I borrowed more of my friend's mother's books to read. I spent my summer devouring Harlequin Romances. I remember one book in particular, The Devil in Disguise by Jessica Steele. It featured a Greek hero and an innocent heroine. I'm not sure I'd feel the same way about the story today as I did when I was a teenager, but I must have read that book half a dozen times. Maybe more.

I loved the exotic settings, the emotion and the characters. Most importantly, I loved the happy endings. Harlequin Romances were so different from the other books I'd been reading at the time. When I'd finish a Harlequin, my heart would sigh. I loved that feeling (and still do!)

During college, reading romance novels became my escape from studying engineering. My reading expanded to include more category lines, both Harlequin and Silhouette, as well as Loveswept. I remember heading to the Waldenbooks store at the Stanford Shopping Center when the new batch of books arrived each month.

I also bought a book titled something like How to Write a Romance. That thin, little book inspired many daydreams. But I never wrote more than a line or two before a problem set or my work-study job at the engineering library would pull me back to reality.

After college, my reading expanded across the romance genre. But category romances, especially the "sweet" or "traditional" romances, appealed to me the most. I liked being able to finish a book in one sitting after a long day at the office or a night class working toward my MBA. I knew I'd fall in love with the hero right alongside the heroine. I'd be smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy when I read the words "The End." I also appreciated the characters not having sex unless they were married.

I was in my early twenties. There was enough pressure in real life to have sex. "Sweet" romances gave me what I craved the most…romance. Sure, the rich, powerful, gorgeous hero would have slept with the heroine if she'd said yes, but he was willing to wait (and wait and wait) if she said no.

Fiction. Fantasy. Totally refreshing.

A perfect escape from the reality of the dating world.

When I decided to write my own romance novel, I knew I wanted to write a sweet. I wanted to make readers feel the same way my favorite authors made me feel when I finished reading one of their books.

So that's what I wrote. Rather, attempted to write. I didn't have any luck with the sweeter lines. Harlequin Mills & Boon rejected everything I submitted. But an editorial assistant at Silhouette was willing to read my stuff. In spite of her rejections, she told me to keep submitting. I did. I even quit my engineering job to pursue my writing full-time.

Soon, I began thinking I didn't have a "sweet" voice so I wrote a short contemporary. I sold that one to Silhouette Yours Truly. When that line ended—my book was the last published—I was moved to Silhouette Romance. I was so excited to be at one of my favorite "sweet" lines and wrote nine books for them until that line also closed.

I was then brought over to the Harlequin Romance line edited out of the Mills & Boon office in the UK. Finally. After all those years since my high school A.P. English class, I was writing for the line that first introduced me to category romance. I felt as if I'd come home!

Do you read category romances? Do you have a favorite category line you read?
If so, what line is it?

**********
CONTEST:
The tour will run February 14-March 1. Melissa will be giving away $20 Amazon.com GC to one randomly drawn commenter from her tour.
For Melissa's blog tour schedule, click HERE.



Suddenly a Princess...

It's not every day that a tall, dark, handsome prince strides into your workshop and announces he's your husband! Mechanic Izzy nearly drops her wrench. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that she'd become a princess!

Independent Izzy struggles with exchanging her oil-stained overalls for silken gowns, let alone becoming responsible for an entire country! Yet her attraction to Prince Niko tempts her further into the fairy tale. And then two small surprises change all the rules of the game....

Sounds great! Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!



****Side note: The winner of Friday's book giveaway, A Billion Reasons Why, is....
Cindy R. Wilson!!***** Congrats!!

Book Giveaway for GEORGIE ON HIS MIND!

IN THE NEWS: Teen's bike stolen by apes and chicken . Read more HERE.


Hey, all! My good friend and blogging buddy, Diane Estrella is hosing a giveaway of my recent Avalon Books romance:
GEORGIE ON HIS MIND.

Isn't that sweet?

If you're interested in trying to win a copy, go over to her BLOG from now to Sunday, October 17th and comment to be entered in the drawing. Winners will be announced on her blog this Monday, October 18th.

PS: She's hosting a BUNCH of other goody giveaways too, so don't miss out!!

Here's a little bit about my book (um, in case you haven't heard)

Georgie Mayer has no boyfriend and rarely goes out. In short, she needs a life. Since she's graduated college and returned back home, her brother's protectiveness has been in overdrive, and she hasn't been able to have any fun, never mind get a date.

So what's a poor particularly attractive girl to do in a situation like this? The only thing she can do: find him a woman!

He'll thank her for it in the end. That is, if his best friend Walt Somers would stop interfering with her plans. The handsome pharmacist has made no secret that he doesn't approve of what she's up to. Unfortunately, having Walt hanging around does strange things to her mind, and suddenly she can't help but take a healthy interest in him. But how can Georgie entertain thoughts of the two of them together when Walt still treats her like his best friend's little sister?

Here are what nice reviewers are saying about my book:

**"I really enjoyed this one. Both Walt and Georgie have been burnt by love and are understandably reluctant to try again. The contest for a date with Clay adds an entertaining complication to the budding romance. The setting of a small seaside town and the entertaining cast of characters make this story a perfect one to while away a couple of hours."
4 COFFEE CUPS

Maura-- Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

** "A cute, funny tale from beginning to end..."

Patti Fischer-- Romance Reviews Today



Whew! I know. I'm sick of me too. But that's all the hot air out of me for today.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Chance to win my book!

Avalon Books editor Lia Brown is over at the Seekerville blog today!

She's giving an opportunity to pitch and giving away two copies of Avalon Books. (Winner's choice!)

If you win, you can pick mine, Georgie on His Mind--or you have a chance to pick out any other great Avalon Books book. You can go to their website to see their catalog HERE.

Good luck!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Tricia Mills

Hey, all you writers and readers!
It's another week of my new blog segment: Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until September 8th, I will host an author.
We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine
Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
Yes, only two more authors left! What will I do with myself after this blog segment is done? We'll cross that bridge then. :)
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Please welcome author Tricia Mills today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: I began writing romance when I was in college, but I got serious about writing and trying to get published when my local RWA chapter was formed in 1996. It took me 11 years and lots of manuscripts before I finally sold two young adult novels to Razorbill in July 2007 (written as Tricia Mills) and two contemporary romances to Harlequin American in October 2007 (written under Trish Milburn).
In the years leading up to selling, I finaled in RWA's Golden Heart contest (the top award for unpublished romance novels) eight times, winning twice. My second Harlequin American, Her Very Own Family, recently won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, which was very exciting.

FMI please visit her website.


Thanks for stopping by, Tricia!


**Describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you do write?
I'm not normally a crack-of-dawn riser, so I typically get out of bed around 8 when my husband goes to work, fix my breakfast (typically some fruit) and sit down to read e-mail and read/comment on blogs until around 9. I just recently joined the YMCA, so depending on what I want to do there on that day (certain classes at certain times), I work around that. For instance, if I go to the noon yoga class, I might get in a couple of hours of writing/editing and then check e-mail again for anything pressing before I head to the Y.
Really, after that first hour of my day, the rest of the day is flexible depending on what I have to do -- write, edit, freelance work, yard work, house cleaning, travel, RWA board duties, etc. I typically take a lunch break and watch something I've recorded on my TiVo while I eat.

**Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.
Until early 2005, I worked as a magazine writer and editor. I still do freelance work for them, but I mainly work on my fiction writing. We don't have kids, so no mommie duties.

**Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?
Laptop. It's kind of funny, but I do most of my Internet, e-mail, blogs, Facebook, etc., on my desktop computer, but I don't write on it.

**Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.
I'm somewhere in between. I have to plot some because I have to do outlines and partials to sell to my publishers.

**Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
I do like to collage. And I didn't think I would, but I did one at a retreat I was at once and loved it. I don't typically listen to music when I write. I'm too easily distracted. I love movie and TV soundtracks though, and those can inspire story ideas.

**What’s your favorite book on writing?
Hmm, it's been awhile since I've read one, but I'd say Stephen King's "On Writing".

**What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?
Can I mention three? :) Lover Mine by J.R. Ward, New Blood by Gail Dayton and Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. That's two paranormals and a young adult post-apocalyptic.

**What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
Going to the movies (I love seeing movies on the big screen) and getting a massage (to get out all the kinks from sitting at the computer).



Thanks so much, Tricia! I think I'm about due for a massage too! :)

Guess what? Tricia has a new YA release this month!

It's set in Alaska and is entitled WINTER LONGING.

Here's a little bit about it:

Winter Craig finally gets up the nerve and tells her long-time friend Spencer that she likes him as more than a friend. The best part? Spencer likes her as more than a friend too. With the perfect boy to love and be loved by, she begins her senior year at her small Alaska school and indulges in the dream of becoming a costume designer for the movie industry.
Life is perfect — until tragedy strikes.
Winter’s perfect life turns upside down as she deals with an unbearable loss, doubts about her future, a best friend whose home life is getting worse by the day, and unexpected feelings for an unexpected boy.


Check out the trailer!



Available at Amazon.com


CONTEST: Tricia has generously offered to giveaway a copy of her first YA book HEARTBREAK RIVER to some lucky commenter!






Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!






Good luck and get into your own writing routine!

Georgie on His Mind is Now Available!

MENTAL STATUS: "Flighty". Almost missed my own book release!
RECENT IPod DOWNLOAD: "Half of my Heart" by John Mayer

Well, my new contemporary romance from Avalon Books, GEORGIE ON HIS MIND, is finally released!

And I almost missed it.

**cue the crickets**

I know. How can I possibly be that dumb? Well..I don't know. But I really thought the publication date and release date were kind of one in the same so I thought my book wasn't going to be out until October. My editor was kind enough to explain the difference when I emailed her after seeing all these Google alerts about my book.


Then...this weekend I got that special little package every author loves: free books. :)

So, alas, my trailer isn't finished and my library brochures aren't in, but...

the one thing I can do is have a book giveaway on my blog!!

Starting now.

Well, not right now. But soon. At the end of this post.

First allow me to share some interesting tidbits about this book.
(Or at least allow me to share what I think is interesting) :)

1) Georgie is my heroine. And when I first started writing her, the general consensus by my crit partners was that she was WAY TOO immature. So I honestly thought about changing the story and writing it as a YA.
But instead of doing that, I opted to tweak her character a bit first. Turned out that's all that was needed.

2)This book went through a number of titles as I wrote it. The first being BROTHERLY LOVE and then MY BEST FRIEND'S SISTER.
I finally decided on GEORGIE ON HIS MIND because I liked the similarity in the song title "Georgia on my Mind".

3) When I got about halfway through writing this book I started to have doubts about where the story was going, so I wrote a synopsis and thought I would submit the book before it was done to see if anyone would be interested and to see if it was actually worth finishing. So I sent the partial off and within ONE WEEK Avalon Books requested the full. The only problem was the book still wasn't finished.
The moral of this story was I will never ever ever ever ever ever do that again. That was a stressful writing month. BUT it was nice to know that I could quickly produce a sellable story going by synopsis alone when under the gun. :)

4) My hero's name is Walter. Yes, and I did have a number of my critique partners suggest that I should change my hero's name to something a little more...contemporary. I said I'd think about it--which loosley translated meant: NO WAY. I LIKE THAT NAME AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS. PS. I should also mention I like the name Vincent and would not be averse to having a hero named Vince. Just giving you fair warning now.


So without further ado, here's a little bit about GEORGIE ON HIS MIND:

Georgie Mayer has no boyfriend and rarely goes out. In short, she needs a life. Living with her brother doesn't exactly help matters. Since she's graduated college and returned back home, her brother's over protectiveness has been in overdrive, and she hasn't been able to have any fun, or at the very least get a date.

So what's a poor particularly attractive girl to do in a situation like this? The only thing she can do: find him a woman-er, distract him.

He'll thank her for it in the end. That is, if his best friend Walt Somers would stop interfering with her plans. Back in town to help run his uncle's business, the handsome pharmacist has made no secret that he doesn't approve of what she's trying to do. Unfortunately, having Walt hanging around does strange things to her mind, and suddenly she can't help but take a healthy interest in him. But how can Georgie entertain thoughts of the two of them together when Walt still treats her like his best friend's little sister?

Available and on sale at Amazon and Barnes& Noble.

Best yet, Avalon Books is primarily a library book publisher, so run (or walk or drive) to your local library and request my book! Or if you're feeling lucky, enter my book giveaway contest below. :)

CONTEST: To be entered to win a copy of my romantic comedy, GEORGIE ON HIS MIND, please leave a comment below.

NO, you do not have to be a blog follower. NO, you don't have to follow on me on Twitter. NO, we don't need to be Facebook friends. And NO, you don't even need to like me. (But I don't understand why you wouldn't. I mean, I'm pretty nice.) :)

*to be entered in the contest, please leave a comment below between now and Tuesday, August 24 11:59PM (EST). Winner will be announced this Friday along with the winner from this coming Writer Routine Wednesday**

Good luck and viva la romance!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Heidi Betts

Hey, all!
It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until September 1st, I will host an author.
We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome author Heidi Betts today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: Heidi Betts is the daughter of an Arabian sheik and a Las Vegas showgirl, as well as the heiress to the Chocolate is Better Than Sex Candy Company fortune. Because of this, she eats chocolate in all its many delicious forms for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between snacks . . . without ever gaining an ounce on her perfect five-foot-nine, size zero figure.
Each and every one of her breathtaking, award-winning novels has been adapted to film and gone on to become a phenomenal box office smash, featuring such mega-stars as Hugh Jackman and Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, and Harrison Ford and Charlize Theron.
Heidi readily admits that she is only able to write such passionate love stories because of her real-life happily-ever-after romance with superstar actor Dwayne Johnson, who makes every day a fairy tale. When she's not writing or making hot, toe-curling love with her "Rock" of a husband, Heidi can often be found riding naked on horseback (a la Lady Godiva) along the beaches of Malibu or hobnobbing with the rich and famous on Martha's Vineyard.
You can reach Heidi any time, day or night, by calling 1-800-DIAL-TONE. And if you'd like to experience your own perfect, idyllic life just like Heidi Betts, be sure to take the little purple pill. (Not the red one. Never the red one.)
For more information, please visit: http://www.heidibetts.com/
Heidi is also a Silhouette Desire author and this year has a December 2010 release planned: INHERITING HIS SECRET CHRISTMAS BABY (Dynasties: The Jarrods, Book 6),

Thanks for stopping by and taking time away from your hobobbing, Heidi! :)

Please describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you do write?
As soon as I get up, the hungry masses demand to be fed. There is no coffee or anything else (including the bathroom—ack!) until their ravenous appetites have been satisfied. Then I like to exercise for about an hour…as much as I hate it (I do, I really do!) I also love it because it gets my blood flowing and gives me the energy I need to tackle the rest of the day. After that, I grab some breakfast and much-needed caffeine (in the form of tea, not coffee, thank you very much) and check e-mail or catch up on whatever minor business issues have cropped up overnight. Then…then…I can sit down to write. And I write the rest of the day, stopping only if I’m interrupted (which, yeah, happens a lot more than I’d like *evil scowl*) or to grab a bite to eat. I write in the evenings, too, whenever I can; and sometimes writing at night actually works better for me, so I try to take full advantage.

**Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.
I write full-time (you know, in theory) but I happen to be a bona fide cat lady, and despite popular belief, feline children are actually quite demanding. You know those “hungry masses” I mentioned earlier? Yeah, that would be my furbabies, waking me every single morning well before my alarm (why do I even bother setting the darn thing?) by walking on me, jumping on me, licking me, and yowling in my face until I get out of bed and feed them. And then they need to be fed several times throughout the day, as well, which explains many of those “*evil scowl* interruptions.”

**Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?
I am an Alphie girl, hands down. Or these days, I guess it’s a Neo, since they’ve upgraded. (I actually have one of each and go back and forth, depending on my mood or if I’m juggling more than one story at a time.) I LOVE my AlphaSmarts, and have written every book, in its entirety, on my AlphaSmart since Number 4…that’s 16, plus 4 novellas—wow!
However, when it comes to revisions or editing, I do use a (borrowed) laptop or work at the PC because of the bigger screen and greater range of functions. And I both plot and outline (i.e. write my synopses) by hand…my brain just seems to work better that way on that sort of thing.

**Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.
I’m a little bit of both, actually. I definitely plot about 80% of the time, because I find that if I don’t plot out my conflicts/motivations ahead of time, I get waaaaaaay off track when it comes time to write. I’m a very loose plotter, though, which puts me closer to the “pantser” category. I like to plot enough that I have a strong skeleton for my story, but leave enough room for creativity and inspiration to guide me through adding the muscle and flesh. (Okay, that just became a really weird, slightly gross analogy. Too many zombie movies lately, perhaps. :-p)

**Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
To be honest, I tend to write in front of the TV instead of to music. (Though music works, too! I think it’s a left brain/right brain thing.) But I do love to create playlists for my books, usually putting them together as I move along with the story. Then what I love to do is blog about the music I would put on a soundtrack to the book, if I were making one, and also ask readers what songs they think suit the characters and story best. (Doing this for KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP—in which the hero was suspected of cheating on the heroine—was a blast!)

**What’s your favorite book on writing?
I’m not sure I have a favorite book on writing. I can’t even think of one! Probably because I’m not much for how-to stuff, and if I’ve ever even read one, it was years ago. What’s your favorite book on writing? Maybe I’ll check it out, just for a change of pace. ;-)

**What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?
I actually started reading them last year, but hands down I would have to say J.R. Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series. To be perfectly honest, I’d put off reading these books because it seems that every time folks go wild over a book/series/author, I pick it up and have sort of a lukewarm “eh” reaction. But when it came time to start writing THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I found that my brain was still too enmeshed in regular contemporary and drew a blank on anything even remotely otherworldly. So to get myself in the mood and in the right frame of mind, I started watching all my favorite vampire movies and televisions shows, and of course reading vampire books. The BDB titles seemed like a good place to start, and from book one, I was hooked. Majorly hooked. And I swear, even though BITE is nothing like J.R. Ward’s series, they got me through writing my own vampire romance with flying colors. (Thanks, J.R., I owe you one. *g*)

**What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
In my fantasies: A quick jaunt over to the Islands (we’re talking the Hawaiian variety, here) with my main hunka-hunka burnin’ love, Dwayne Johnson.
In reality: Usually once I finish a book—and it’s not truly finished until I’ve polished and handed it over to my editor, so there’s a very anti-climactic period between typing “The End” and hitting “Send”—I crash. Sometimes for a night, sometimes for a week, but there’s always a very Austin Powers moment when I almost literally deflate and think, “…and, I’m spent!” That’s when I first take a much-needed nap, then love to sit down with a good book and just read, or watch a few movies/TV shows I’ve fallen behind on. The stuff that’s fun, but doesn’t take much energy or very many functioning brain cells.
Once the crash-and-burn portion of turning in another book has passed, though, I really do like to go out and do something to celebrate. Nothing too big or elaborate, but going out to dinner or doing a bit of shopping, sometimes even seeing a movie in an actual theatre (what a concept!) is a fun change of pace.
And then…it’s back to work and on to the next book!

Thanks so much, Heidi! Wow, writing in front of the TV is a new one! LOL!

Heidi is very excited to announce that her first single title paranormal and first Kensington Brava, THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS will be released September 28, 2010.

You can Pre-Order this book from:
Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or your favorite retailer.

Here's a little bit about it:

In Heidi Betts’s collection of holiday novellas, vampires turn to Angelina Bertolli—vampire matchmaker extraordinaire—to help them find that special someone to curl up with under the mistletoe…

“All I Vant For Christmas”
Connor loves trimming the Christmas tree, baking gingerbread cookies, and hanging the mistletoe. But his vampire siblings won’t help. His friend Angelina sends party planner Jillian to the rescue. But when Jillian, who’s mortal, discovers she’s decking the halls for a family of vampires, will she run—or will Connor have a beautiful woman to share the holidays with?

“A Vampire in Her Stocking”
When Vivian learns that her secret crush Nick is terminally ill, she’s heartbroken. Confiding in Angelina, Vivian refuses to turn Nick into a vampire. Deciding to play Santa, Angelina changes Nick and leaves him wrapped in a red bow on Vivian’s doorstep…

“It’s A Wonderful Bite”
Although Angelina is happy with her boyfriend Sergio, she’s ready for a commitment. After drinking eggnog and watching It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve, Angelina falls into a dream where she is mortal and Sergio isn’t interested in her. Talk about the nightmare before Christmas! But Santa must have checked his list twice because this Christmas Angelina’s wishes are coming true…

Check it out!

CONTEST: Heidi has generously offered to donate an autographed copy of one of her backlisted books to some lucky commenter. Winner's choice! (And there are many to choose from!) Check here for some ideas.

Her first western historical was released by Dorchester Publishing in 2000, with five more to follow. From there, Heidi moved into the modern world by writing numerous category titles for Silhouette Desire, and has since added both funny contemporaries and funny paranormals to her repertoire.



Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!


Good luck and get into your writing routine!

This, a Winner, and That Part 6

IN THE NEWS: Mo. diners flee without paying, but forget purses.
Read more HERE.

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by Writer Routine Wednesday to say hi and hear about Patti's writing routine! Isn't Patti a sweetheart?

But, yes, now the important part: the book winner. :)

The winner of one of Patti Lacy's books is...

Piedmont Writer!


CONGRATS!!!

Please go to Patti's contact page HERE and let her know you are the WRW winner and tell her which book you would like her to send to you.

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And now for the this and that...

Bummed out you're not going to RWA Nationals this year?

Me too! But fear not! Romance Divas is hosting the
Not Going to Conference Conference...

The Conference You Don't Have to Get Out of Bed For!

From July 28-31, come hang out with some terrific, savvy authors -- and you don't even have to brush your teeth (although, seriously, good dental hygiene gets you extra points.)

We'll be hosting panels on:

The Power of Three: A crit group tell-all (Paranormal)

Crystal Jordan

Patti O'Shea

Dayna Hart/Rowan Larke

The Lolitas of STEAMED! Present Writing the Steampunk Romance -more than leather corsets and brass goggles!

Marie-Claude Bourque

Theresa Meyers

Whips, Chains, Slings, Oh My: It Really Isn’t About the Toys (BDSM Erotica)

James Buchanan

Joey Hill

The Great Big YA Panel

Rhonda Stapleton

Shannon Delany

Kiersten White

Carrie Ryan

Linda Gerber

Saundra Mitchell

Lara Zielin

Brenna Yovanoff

Register for free at Romance Divas, then come join us on the forums for the discussions, as well as some terrific prizes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, looking for another forum dedicated to answering your questions on romance writing? Check out: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/wrqforum/

All day Thursday, July 29, 2010, come and spend the day with Harlequin Mills and Boon author, Nicola Marsh.

Grab the opportunity to ask her everything you wanted to know about cracking the HMB Modern Heat and Romance market!

Whew! A lot going on, huh?

Well, that's all for me. But be sure to stop by next Writer Routine Wednesday where Harlequin and Avalon author Holly Jacobs will be sharing her writing routine with us!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Patti Lacy

Hey, all!
It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome author Patti Lacy today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: When Patti Lacy left the Louisiana swamps for college in 1972, she returned to the home she’d lived in as a five-year-old, the boys’ athletic dorm at Baylor University. Patti’s two hundred big brothers entertained her with magic tricks and tales of wild escapades, planting the love of stories in her heart.
The influence of her schoolteacher parents led Patti to pursue an education degree at Baylor and master’s work in literature at Indiana State. She taught in public schools and at Heartland Community College until she resigned in 2005 to write full-time.
Patti’s first novel of women’s Christian fiction, An Irishwoman’s Tale, explores the first memories of a feisty woman grappling with scars inflicted by two dysfunctional mothers. What the Bayou Saw, Patti’s second novel, takes a chatty Southerner from Normal, Illinois, back to a Louisiana swamp. Patti’s first two novels were finalists in Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year contest. In January 2011, Kregel will release The Rhythm of Secrets, Patti’s third novel. Reclaiming Lily, a story that took Patti to the hutongs of China, is a work in progress.
The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to capture Patti’s imagination. She writes full time, teaches Bible studies and seminars, and attends book signings. Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal. They have two grown children and a dog named Laura.
FMI: http://www.pattilacy.com/



Thanks for stopping by, Patti!

Please describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you do write?
The alarm buzzes me out of bed at 5:00 to 5:45. I usually trip over Laura the dog on my way to that first cup of coffee. Then I check e-mails, post my ART BITE of the day on Facebook, eat, guzzle more caffeine, and spend time in worship and praise.
Properly fortified, I glue my seat to the computer chair and try not to budge until three to six pages are written. In sports terms, that task gets me to first base! Other chores, including the typical mom/wifey shopping and cooking and general family social coordinator, follow. If the cylinders are firing, I write more on the WIP. Rewards come in the form of blog and Facebook checks. By noon, I’ve rounded second base and coast to third with lunch and my reading time. I trot on home with publicity stuff, blog posts, and e-mails. This year, I’ve tried to reserve evenings for family and friends.

Do you have another job outside of writing? I run the household here in Normal, where life is anything but! Occasionally I accept speaking and teaching engagements, like this past week, when Monday and Tuesdays took me to a retirement village and memoir writing classes. I love to intersperse (and fund!) my writing life with contracted engagements.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer? I am definitely PC on several levels.

Plotter or panster?
Dear Jennifer, I’m plotting this very moment. In fact, I’m in a police station in Fort Worth, Texas. Sigh. I plot for at least a couple of months, mulling things over with a couple of writer soulmates and agent Natasha. My first two novels flew by the seats of their pants and needed lots of in-house and out-house (yikes) unrumpling. Hopefully my conversion will smooth out these little wrinkles I seem to develop…

Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress. Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
Music fuels me, along with chocolate, coffee, and tea. I have a wonderful and eclectic collection of CDs…which I cherished until my son taught me, like, two months ago, about www.pandora.com. Yeah, I was a real dinosaur. So far I’ve downloaded Sigur Ros, David Crowder Band, Corrine Bailey Rae, Tenth Avenue North, Jamey Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Passacaglia. You wouldn’t believe the “special mix” those little people in the Pandora site have concocted for me!

What’s your favorite book on writing? Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. Hands-down.

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year? Sigh. Jennifer, you’re shoving me into a dark corner. I GOBBLE up books! I just can’t stop at one, so…Hotel at the Corner of Bitter & Sweet, Wild Swans, Chasing Lilacs (Carla Stewart’s new book), The Good Earth, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Madonnas of Leningrad…I’ll stop now!

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
I call up my special soulmates who’ve propped up my hands when they are sick of the keyboard and we meet at Thai House, our favorite restaurant. No menus are needed as we order family-style and celebrate with praise in our hearts and delicious food on the table!

Thai sounds fun, Patti! Thank you so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!

Patti has two books out now. Here's a little about both:

An Irishwoman’s Tale
Mary Freeman’s earliest memory has haunted her since childhood: An old oaken table, bitter faces guzzling tea, a heated argument about what’s to be done with the “little eejit”—her. Now she is far removed from this family that didn’t want her, and separated from her native Ireland. Living in the United States Heartland, Mary searches out fulfilling roles—businesswoman, wife, Christian, mother, community servant—but her loneliness and torment remain as acute as ever.
A crisis in her youngest daughter’s life—and the encouragement of Sally, a plucky Southern transplant—propels Mary back to the rocky cliffs of her home in County Clare, Ireland. Her harrowing journey unveils her tragic past and forces her face-to-face with God.
Available at ChristianBooks and Amazon
Watch the trailer HERE.


What the Bayou Saw
Since leaving Louisiana, Sally Stevens has held her childhood secrets at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband Sam, has heard the truth about what happened to her and her best friend, Ella Ward, when they were twelve years old.
Now a teacher in Normal, Illinois, Sally has nearly forgotten her past. Then Shamika, one of her students, is violently attacked, and memories of segregation, a chain-link fence, and a blood oath bubble to the surface like a dead body in a bayou. Lies continue to tumble from Sally’s lips as she scrambles to gloss over the harsh reality of a betrayal that refuses to stay buried.
Finally cornered by the Holy Spirit and her own web of lies, Sally and Shamika embark on a quest to find Ella in post-Katrina New Orleans. With the help of friends, family, and God, Sally can glimpse a life free of the mire of deceit and truly begin to live with joy. Will she pay the price for a lifetime of deception? Can she save Shamika?
Available on Amazon and B&N
Watch the trailer HERE

Don't they both sound wonderful?


CONTEST: Patti has generously offered to give away a signed copy of one of the above books-- An Irishwoman’s Tale or What the Bayou Saw (winner's choice) to some lucky commenter!

Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!


Good luck and get into your writing routine!

This, a Winner, and That Part 5

MOOD STATUS: "Busy". Trying to finish up judging my RWA chapter's romance writing contest.


Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by Writer Routine Wednesday to say hi and hear about Eileen's writing routine! Eileen was really feeling the love.

But, yes, now the important part: the book winner. :)

The winner of Eileen Cook's book GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD is...

Samantha Bennett!

Congrats!

Please e-mail me where you'd like the book sent and I'll send it on to Eileen ASAP.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now for the this and that...


I've been on a fresh flower kick these past few weeks. I've been clipping a lot from my garden and putting them into vases all around my house. It just makes me happy to look at them. Like a little pick-me-up. :)

Now, I didn't grow these sunflowers but when I saw them on sale at the supermarket, I HAD to have them. HAD TO HAVE THEM, I tells ya!


Don't they make the kitchen cheery?

That's all for me.

Mom is coming to visit today and she's bringing my niece, so I need to tidy up a bit.

Have a great weekend!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Eileen Cook

Hey, all!

It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome author Eileen Cook today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO:
Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her latest release, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood was released in Jan 2010.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at http://www.eileencook.com/. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Thanks for stopping by, Eileen!

Please describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you do write?
I roll out of bed and take the dogs outside. In addition to the unconditional love that comes from having dogs there is the added benefit that you rarely oversleep because they want out. Then a quick dash on the treadmill and a shower. I am not a coffee drinker, which is practically a crime here on the West Coast where there is a coffee shop on every corner. I am however, a total tea junkie.
Tea in hand, usually around 8am, I tackle my email first. I secretly hope that every day there will be something fabulous in my email. If there is no email from Oprah begging me to be on her show, then I let myself check out a few blogs before I realize that I am never going to hit my writing target for the day if I don’t get started. I don’t set a daily word count goal, but I do have a weekly goal. This gives me the option to write like a crazy woman one day and then take the next day off if I want. It seems easier to give myself this flexibility, because life changes for me one day from the next.
I start writing by reading over the past few pages that I’ve written. I try to never stop writing at the end of a chapter if I can help it and instead like to leave off in the middle. This lets me jump right into the middle of things. The day then progresses between writing and beating my head against the desk- depending on how things go.

Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.
My “day job” is as a counselor. I specialize in working with people who have had catastrophic injuries or illnesses. When I sold my second book I went to part-time. So far this is a good balance for me. I have enough time to write, have at least a couple days a week where I put on grown up clothing and find I’m more productive on the days I do write. I wrote my first two books while working full time. It can be done, but being able to work part time has let me had more balance. I don’t write well late in the evening and I’m not even functional before 6am, so being able to write during the day is a luxery.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?
I am a total Apple junkie. If Steve Jobs made it, I probably own it. I have an Apple laptop that I use for most of my writing. When I get stuck (and there is a point in every manuscript when I’m stuck) the way out is to switch to pen and paper. Something about writing by hand seems to shake things free.

Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.
I am a panster by nature, and a plotter by practice. This is due in part because my editor wants to have some idea of what I’m planning to do before she’ll write a contract. (Those publisher people are so fussy) The more I write the more I find it handy to spend at least some time plotting things out before I start. I tend to spend a couple of weeks thinking about the plot, the characters and brainstorming different options. When I’m done I have a plan for the book, but I leave myself open to chucking the plan and going where the book takes me if a new idea comes up.

Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I’m made collages, music play lists, made alters to the muse, interviewed my imaginary characters, and created mind maps. If someone tells me they know a way to make the writing easier or better I’ll give it a shot. I own pretty much every writing guide available.
So far I’ve found different things work at different times. I haven’t found one secret trick that works for me every time other than to keep moving forward. As the saying goes- you can’t fix a blank page. I’m also quite fortunate to have a great editor and agent who are available to bounce ideas around.

What’s your favorite book on writing?
Can I pick more than one? I love On Writing by Stephen King, Save the Cat by Blake Synder and The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?
Can I pick two? I know, I know, but I read a lot. I loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters.

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
I feel like I should say something exciting like swilling champagne on a yacht, but I typically kick back on the sofa with my husband, our two dogs, a bottle of wine, and catch up on what I’ve missed while I had my head down.
The absolute BEST reward comes a year or so later when you finally get to see the book on the shelf. I still feel like busting out my dance moves every time I see the books there.

Congrats on your success, Eileen! And thank you so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!

Eileen's recent YA book is Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood and is available on Amazon, B&N, and a book store near you! Here's a little bit about it:

Popularity is the best revenge.
In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.
But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend.
Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.




Doesn't that sound fun?

CONTEST: Eileen has generously offered to give away a signed copy of her book GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD to some lucky commenter!


Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!


Good luck and get into your writing routine!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Kristen Painter

Hey, all!

It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome author Kristen Painter today and hear about her writing routine!


BIO: I’m a former college English teacher, personal trainer, advertising exec, maitre d’, runway model and two-time Golden Heart finalist. When the characters in my head started to take over, I decided to exorcise them onto paper and share them with the world. My print books include a paranormal romance, ALL FIRED UP, from Samhain, and HEART OF FIRE, a book I chose to publish myself through Smashwords and Amazon. Both of those books were Golden Heart finalists. In October, I have a steampunk romance, MISS BRAMBLE AND THE LEVIATHAN, coming out from Samhain and in fall 2011 the first three books in my gothic urban fantasy series, BLOOD RIGHTS, will be out from Orbit. I’ve published short stories and poetry. The first publisher to pay me for my words was Cosmopolitan magazine.
If I’m not writing, I’m probably in the forum at Romancedivas.com, the award-winning site I co-founded. I'm on Twitter. You can also find me on my Facebook fanpage.
I live in FL with my retired Air Force husband and five feline dependents. I’m represented by The Knight Agency.

For more info, please visit: http://www.kristenpainter.com/

Thanks for stopping by, Kristen!

Describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. A typical writing day for me often starts with me catching up on some DVR’d shows. I often work late and go to bed early, so most of my tv watching is in the morning. Is that weird? It’s my schedule. I used to feel guilty about it, but then I realized that I’m still working a pretty full day, just different hours. At some point, I workout, spend some time on promo, then I’m ready to write. Or edit, depending on what’s due next.
When I’m in “production mode” I try to write about 5 pages a day. That’s a good pace for me. Sometimes I can do more, sometimes not that much, but it evens out and keeps me on track without wearing me out. I write in my office, at my desk, but I edit in our library on hardcopy (don’t be jealous, library is our fancy word for a room with two bookshelves.)

Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.
I write full time. And by full time, I mean when I’m not cleaning up after my husband and our herd of cats.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer? I write on my PC, but when I travel, I use a laptop. I also do something I call “methodize” and that’s long hand on a legal pad.

Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing. I’m a pantser by nature and a plotter by force. I have to plot a little in order to map certain aspects of my Orbit series out – it’s a continuing series with the same main characters, so there has to be some continuity and arc. Also, I had to provide the publisher with a synopsis for each book, so they kind of expect me to follow it. They may be lowering those expectations now that they know me…

Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
If that stuff works for you, great. I’m a sit down and see what happens kind of writer. I like to think of it as organic writing. I do listen to music to help me get into a specific mood, but I really like silence to write. In fact, I sometimes wear noise cancelling headphones.

What’s your favorite book on writing? I don’t think I really have one. That’s not to say I haven’t found craft books helpful, I just haven’t even read one straight through (save Stephen King’s On Writing). Most of them are kinda dry and boring. Or maybe I have the attention span of a gnat.

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year? Hmm. That’s a tough one. There are so many! I’m going with The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. It wasn’t one of those books that gives you warm fuzzies, but it definitely inspires thought.

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book? Spa day, baby! That’s pretty much my favorite indulgence for any reason. I love a good massage, a nice body wrap, a facial…whatever you’ve got, I’ll have one.


A Spa day sounds great! Thank you, Kristen, so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!

Kristen's recent Samhain e-book ALL FIRED UP is out in print now at MyBookStore and More and Amazon.com and B&N! Here's a little bit about it:

Desire can heal the coldest heart-or burn it to ashes.

Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn't always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix-a merchant of change-he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus-three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She'll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik's eyes.

Alrik has vowed never to let love sway him again, but Calleigh's innocence and kindness throw him off balance. Yet even as his need for revenge fades and his love for her grows, he is bound to let her make her choices without interfering.

One wrongly chosen word, and any chance for happiness-for either of them-will go up in flames.

Sounds great, huh?


CONTEST: Kristen has generously offered to give away a copy of her book ALL FIRED UP--which I bought and read and absolutely positively enjoyed--to some lucky commenter!


Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!

***THIS WEEK'S CONTEST IS FOR U.S RESIDENTS ONLY***


Good luck and get into your writing routine!

This, a Winner, and That part 3

MOOD STATUS: "Busy". Jane, stop this crazy summer!

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by Writing Routine Wednesday to say hi and hear about Rhonda's writing routine!
I'm having so much fun reading all the author's writing habits. :)

But, yes, now the important part.
The book winner.

The lucky commenter who will receive Rhonda's YA book PUCKER UP is...

Julie Musil!!!

Congrats!
Please e-mail me the address you'd like the book mailed to. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



And now a little of this and that...

I'm pleased to announce that my writing friend Chicki Brown has a book just released out on Kindle called HAVE YOU SEEN HER?

Here's the blurb:

If she’d stayed any longer, her husband would have killed her.

Frantic to escape his drug-induced brutality, socialite Marcia Hadley escapes Santa Barbara and flees to Atlantic City. She’s sold everything she owns, rents a seedy inner city apartment and attempts to disappear as Dani Reynolds, cocktail waitress at Frenzy, a neighborhood nightclub.

Taylor Villanova, the club’s sexy multi-racial bouncer recognizes her naiveté and volunteers to teach her about surviving in the “hood.” Fearful and suspicious of men, Dani is at first repelled by his violent profession yet drawn to the compassionate nature that contradicts Taylor’s macho persona. But when her well-laid plans go awry, and Dani discovers someone is following her, she must put her complete trust in Taylor. Her time is running out.




The great news is that you DON'T have to own a Kindle to read it. You can download the FREE Kindle app for your PC or phone. Now that's convenient. :)

Check it out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's all for me folks.
Last day of surf camp for the kidlet is today then we're hitting the beach again this afternoon. (And probably the rest of the weekend, too)

Have a Happy Independence Day!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Rhonda Stapleton

Hey, all!

It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome YA author Rhonda Stapleton today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: Rhonda Stapleton is the author of a teen romantic comedy trilogy--STUPID CUPID, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, and PUCKER UP. All are out now with Simon Pulse.

For more information visit: http://www.rhondastapleton.com/

Thanks for stopping by, Rhonda!

Please describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. Usually, I plan ahead what my goals will be: anywhere from 3-6 pages a day, 5 days a week (depending on the production schedule). I can get a book written in 2-3 months this way. I usually write in the evenings or when I can sneak time in during the day. It only takes me about an hour to write 3 pages.

Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.

I have a bunch of jobs, LOL. I'm an editor for a legal publishing company. I'm also a freelance editor for Carina Press (Harlequin's new e-publishing imprint). I teach first-year composition at a community college. I have two kids, and I also squeeze in time to write. Basically, I do a lot of time management--when I'm doing one particular thing, I focus on that thing only so I don't feel guilty about not giving it 100% of what I have.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer? Totally a laptop writer. I type way faster than I write out by hand.

Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing. Plotter all the way. I like to plot pretty much the whole book before I write so I don't feel like I'm diving in blind. I still leave room for creativity though.

Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them? I don't have a soundtrack, per se--I just try to pick songs that evoke the mood I'm going for. I find it highly effective in helping generate that mood in me so I can try to capture it in my pages.

What’s your favorite book on writing? Oooooh I like Julia Cameron's book THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY. It's all about treating yourself well and nurturing the writer in you.

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year? Wow, this is HARD. Um, I don't know if I can pick just one, but I loooooved SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater.

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book? Buy a book and go out to dinner. LOL. :D

Thank you, Rhonda, so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!

Rhonda's new book PUCKER UP is out now on Amazon and a book store near you!

Here's a little bit about it:

Felicity can't believe her luck. Her longtime crush is now officially her boyfriend, and just in time for prom. Felicity isn't just smitten with Derek, she's head-over-heels in love. So when she learns that her boss at Cupid's Hollow used cupid magic to make Derek fall for her, Felicity is devastated. What will happen when the magic wears off? Felicity has only two weeks to win Derek's heart for real—no matter what it takes!

CONTEST: Rhonda has generously offered to give away a copy of her teen book PUCKER UP.

Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!

Good luck and get into your writing routine!

Writer Routine Wednesday: Nicola Marsh

Hey, all! It's another week of my new blog segment:

Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine. Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome author Nicola Marsh today and hear about her writing routine!


BIO: USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flare for Harlequin Romance and Modern Heat/Presents.
She’s had 24 books published and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. She’s a Waldenbooks and Bookscan bestseller, has finalled in several awards including the HOLT, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.
She was recently nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance 2009.
A physiotherapist in a previous life, she now adores writing, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favourite, curling up with a good book!

For more info on my books and writing life, visit my website http://www.nicolamarsh.com/ and blog http://nicolamarsh.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, Nicola!

Please describe for our audience a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you write?

In the ideal world, I would write the whole day (what bliss!) Instead, I have a family to raise so my work ‘day’ starts at 8.30 pm when the little ones are down for the night. I write for a few hours, longer if I'm on a roll or facing a deadline. Sleep is a distant memory!

Checking emails and my social networking stuff happens in snatches, usually via my iPhone. Best invention ever for authors on the run with limited time!

Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.After working as a physiotherapist for 13 years, those years are behind me. I’m now a full time mum and part time writer. My kids always come first. That said, they know if I’m on a tight deadline because they’ll be clambering over me while I write on Alphasmart in the playroom, or telling me loudly to get off the ‘puter!

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer? Usually PC but if I’m after speed, I always resort to Alphasmart. The words pour out when I use Alphie. I recently wrote the bulk of a mainstream novel in a month on Alphie, my trusty speed machine!

Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotter before writing? Used to be a plotter when I first started writing, these days I like my characters to show me the way.


Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them? I prefer silence when I write (my quiet time of the day when kids in bed!) so no music. I got hooked on doing collages a few years ago but strangely, while I love doing them before writing the book, once I’m into the zone I barely look at them again!

What’s your favorite book on writing? Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year? Barbara O’Neal’s The Secret of Everything. I adore her books!

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book? By vegging in front of the TV at night for a week, something I don’t get to do usually. I grab DVDs of movies I’ve missed out on, scoff large amounts of ice cream and have a ball!

You're speaking my language by mentioning ice cream! Thank you, Nicola, so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!

Nicola actually has two books out this month! Here is a little bit about both of them:

Three Times a Bridesmaid…
From geek…to chic!
Another wedding invitation has landed on Eve Pemberton's doormat. Determined not to attend alone again, Eve organises a date for the day! At such short notice she's ended up with billionaire Bryce Gibson - the guy who broke a teenage Eve's heart!

On the dance floor Eve and Bryce make a convincing couple - but she's in danger of falling for her first love all over again!

Available at Harlequin and Amazon.com.

Overtime in the Boss’s Bed

Penniless in her pencil skirt…
Desperate for a job, dancer Starr Merriday is forced to hang up her ballet shoes and accept a position as a P.A. in a new city - even if the last time she saw her new boss…she was naked in his bed! Her professional pumps and pencil skirt can’t hide her top-to-toe blush when she remembers their blisteringly hot night together!

But Starr won’t let that suppress her sassy spirit - after all, unbuttoning her blouse is next on her boss’s agenda. So she will switch on her out-of-office and go to a meeting - in the boss’s bed!


Available at Harlequin and Amazon.com.



*Overtime in the Boss’s Bed has hit the Waldenbooks Top 10 Bestseller list already!
Congrats, Nicola!


CONTEST: Nicola has generously offered to give away a signed copy of her Harlequin Romance Three Times a Bridemaid--which I bought and read. And loved!


Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!


Good luck and get into your writing routine!