Friday's How She Does It With Shirley Hailstock

I've known Shirley for a long time. Met her at a Region One Retreat when she hadn't been published yet. Though our friendship is more on the acquaintance level I've enjoyed talking to her a number of times.

1. How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific process?






I create the plot first. Then I have to decide what characters are needed to fulfill the story.





2. Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?



The plot usually comes first. If I get a character in my head, he or she usually does not have a book. It might take a while to find a book that suits that character. I have one book where the character came first. It was the hero. He sat on a mountain in Maryland for three years before I came upon a plot/story for him. The book was LEGACY.



As to sketching out characters, yes I do character sketches. Usually they are not photos I've found in magazines, but is a characterization worksheet where I record everything I know about that character, his/her background, family, socio-economic background, like, dislikes, description, conflicts, etc.





3. Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?



All my books have been romances, so I know there will be a happily ever after. As to the external plot, I have plotted out the entire books, so I know the villain and the resolution. During the writing process, that might change. In one book I had worked out the villain, but when I got to the point of unmasking that character, I could have chosen several of that cast as the villain. I finally decided on the one from the original plot outline.





4. Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?



Yes to all of the above. I'm lucky to have lived or visited a lot of places in the United States and Europe. I've also been to several Caribbean Islands and Hawaii. Some of my romantic suspenses are set in Washington, DC where I lived for many years. I wrote a book set in Newport, RI while I was vacationing there. I also wrote three books set in Montana where I have never been. In the case of Montana, the romance community is extremely helpful. People I met at Romance Writers of America conferences who live in Montana have helped. Google Earth allows me to "see" the landscape. And as a child of television, I watched every movie I could find that was made in Montana. Not set in Montana, but actually filmed there.





5. Where do you do your research? On line or from books?



Again both. I love research. I still spend time in the library, both most research is done online. The ability to search and hone in on the information I need keeps me focused. When reading a book, I can get sidetracked in the search or finding something interesting that has nothing to do with the current work-in-progress. But it's interesting and my focus could be taken by something that I can't used at the moment.





6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?



I revise as I go, but then I don't. When I was learning to write (not that you ever stop learning), I was told that I should keep going until I get to the end. Then go back and fill in any scenes that need more depth or write scenes that are needed to keep the story moving forward. As I write, things come to me that I didn't know when I began. During the initial writing, I make notes and keep going until I get to the end. Then I go back and work in those details that came to me during the initial process.



The reason for this that works for me, is that I don't just get one new things that creeps into my mind and needs to be in the story. If I went back each time this happened, I might not get to the end for a couple of years.





Shirley

http://www.shirleyhailstock.net

Thursday - What Janet Lane Walters is reading #amreading

Once again it's been contest, contest, contest but I am done and I do have time to finish reading some things.

James Rollins Sigma series has been re-read, all but the new one but I'm not a hardback book reader. I do find them hard to hold given the convenience of my ereader. So I will wait for a time until the book either comes out in paper or the price of the ebook comes down to a low level.

Am now reading Free Spirit by Jenna Kay Francis. This is a fantasy that I'm enjoying. I have others of her books on one or the other of my readers. Unfortunately they are all obsolete and there's no way for me to get into the old files.

Can't wait until Christmas when I have an infuion of cash into my account so I can buy maybe a dozen books all at once and then find more wonderful ones to read. One thing I know is being a writer means one must read as well, not that you're copying other people's stories or even the ideas. While reading you also learn to write.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Learning from mysteries #amwriting

Once again I've been gleaning from How To Write Mysteries by Shannon O'Cork. This time it's looking at Motives, Means and Opportunity. How do they apply to other genres, not only mysteries.

Motives are important to what every genre you're writing. Motives are what drives a character to act. Without having a reason to reach a goal, there is no reason for the character or the story. So no matter what you write motive is important. In mysteries, it's the reason someone decides to kill, strsl, cheat or lie. In other genres it's  same because it's the driving factor behind what a character decides and how he goes after his goal.

Means works great in mysteries. This is about developing the plot and sometimes a writer has an idea that brings the factors into play. This idea forms the basis of the means. Means is the plan a person develops for reaching a goal.

Opportunity works for nearly all genres. Being in the right place at the right time. The heroine discovers a way to meet the hero. Some of these can become cliched but finding the right one works. In a mystery when the opportunity occurs, the killer or the detective acts.

So if you look at each of these items with your characters in mind, you can construct a plot or a map that will carry them to the end.

Tuesday's Inspiration ala Flannery O'Connor - More on limitations #amwriting

Once again, this is about limitations. "There is only one answer....and that is one writes what one can." Flannery O'Connor.

When I read this I wondered what it meant and the answer I found for me was that's exactly what I do. There are some books I won't write. Horror stories, science fiction unless it might deal with ESP, highly technical action adventure. That's because my mind doesn't work in that direction. I do read most of these types except horror.

Another way this limitation works for me is that I'm most comfortable in the 50,000 to 80,000 word length. I can and have written shorter stories but they're harder to write. Longer stories, perhaps once and that's because it's a trilogy all in a single book.

The third way this limitation works for me is that I don't like dismal endings. This means that I write genre novels that can have a positive ending.

How about you, do you see your limitations as holding you back or are they for you the canvas upon which you write your stories?

meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters

Today's meander begins with a question. How much backstory does a reader need to know and when and how should this backstory be given? Been reading some contest entries recently and found the greatest problem with some, both published and unpublished was the amount of backstory given in the opening few pages. This rather annoyed me and made me want to skip those pages. Not a good idea when a contest is being judges. Often the offered backstory is something the writer needs to know. The blocks of  paragraphs, sometimes interesting to read, and other times not, are usually about events the writer needs to know to develop both the characters and the plots. But to find line after line regaling the reader with what happened to the hero or heroine in the past slows the pace of the story, can confuse the reader.

How these paragraphs of backstory are done can vary. Sometimes the writer uses a prologue. This can be effective if kept short and really have had an effect on the character. Otherwise the reader may get the wrong idea of what the story is really about. Then there are the stories that start out with a bang of a paragraph or two of action and then stop to give what happened to the hero or heroine in the past and this goes on for pages.

Some beginnings give a bit of backstory that is just enough. A clue, a hint of what happened in the character's past to make them what they are today.

How about you? Do lengthy backstories in the beginning of the book annoy you?

My own writing continues with work on The Goddesses or Er and on finishing the corrections on Lines of Fire so I can submit it to one of my publishers.

3 blog visit Sunday with Janet Lane Walters

http://www.petitfoursandhottamales.com/2012/11/23/historic-sites-of-philadelphia/ A bit of research?

http://bwlpp.blogspot.com/2012/11/get-ready-to-comment-and-win.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BooksYoullLoveFromBooksWeLove+%28Books+You%27ll+Love+from+Books+We+Love%29

http://bwlpp.blogspot.com/2012/11/mountain-moonlight-by-jane-toombs.html

Saturday - More blurbs of books by Janet Lane Walters

I believe I now have covered all my publishers with a blurb,

Moon Pool Janet Lane Walters and Jane Toombs - In the center of the maze at an Adirondack resort lies a spring-fed pool. Legend says that if you look into the serene depths under a full moon, you’ll see the face of your true love. In this collection of four novellas, the magic of the Moon Pool touches the lives of eight people for whom love seems to be a dream that can never be reality:


Thea — who lost her one true love because she couldn’t bear the scorn of others.

Faith — who has given up on love in the face of responsibility.

Lynn— who settled for practicality when she yearned for poetry.

and

Cynthia — whose reputation for selfishness was no match for love.


Shortcut To Love - Zelda has loved Michael for most of her life, but he seems to be working through the alphabet in his search for a wife. She's a Z and it will be years before he reaches her. Besides, when they're together, strange things happen, usually to him. How can this nurse show the doctor, she's what he ordered to make him complete? The author calls this a "doctor nurse spoof" and we think you'll really enjoy it!

Affinities - Escape - In Affinities, Escape, a Books We Love Young Adult Fantasy, two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them


Jewels of the Quill - Anthology VI - Chose this one since it has a favorite of mine The Amber Dragon -

Seven Jewels of the Quill authors offer new, short, exciting Tales from the Treasure Trove! The Amber Dragon (The Amber Chronicles, Book 3) {a love story} by Janet Lane Walters (Dame Amber): Enter the world of the amber orb and learn the fate of the first prince to face the witch’s curse and be cursed to live out his existence inside the orb. When she learns her challenger is a prince who does not know her history, can she entice him to kiss her? If he does, will she learn her lesson? Jordana’s Chair (Kaleidoscope Series, Book 4) {romantic suspense} by Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst): Kaleidoscope Office Building provides employment to nine hot, young singles—all about to make a love connection. Working 9 to 5 has never been so complicated…or so much fun! The Nonesuch Curse (North of Nonesuch Series, Book 8) {gothic historical romance} by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise): “My name is Falana, I am a fae, and Ruthven blood I curse this day...” For five generations, the wood witch’s curse has killed all Ruthven males on their thirtieth birthday. When Trilla Pasanen falls in love with Rom Ruthven, she discovers that the only way to save him is to believe in the power she hasn’t been able to accept as her own. If she fails, Rom will die at thirty just as every Ruthven male has since Falana pronounced her evil curse. Choices (Aquamarine Series, Book 3) {romantic suspense} by Dee Lloyd (Dame Aquamarine): In the midst of the laughter and dancing at the Jameson/Donatelli stag and doe party, life-changing choices are made. One choice could lead to lasting love, another to violent death... The Incomparable Miss Scarlet {Victorian romance} by Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire): In 1851 London, Scarlet Warden stumbles upon her brother-in-law making love to a woman who’s not her sister. But when Scarlet reveals the truth to Emma, her sister wants to turn a blind eye to the entire affair because divorce simply isn’t an option, since the laws of the land could leave her penniless and without custody of her children. Scarlet’s sleuthing leads to several other female acquaintances begging her to spy on their husbands and she gains governess positions in various households in her quest to prove their unfaithfulness. Garnet Hills {romantic suspense} by Liz Hunter (Dame Garnet): It’s a dream come true when Julianne Harrison inherits a horse farm from her estranged father. But is she strong enough to handle the problems...and dangers...that come with the property, especially when one of them comes in the package of one gorgeous cowboy? The Topaz Guard {swashbuckling romance} by Carrie S. Masek (Dame Topaz): Set in Orléans, France, 1585, in an era when Catholic and Protestant vie for control of France, eighteen-year old Lisette Mercer is on the brink of her lifelong goal—acceptance into the Abbey of Paraclete and a life of monastic study—when a young nobleman, Charles de Verney, crashes into her life. Charles is handsome and charming—and a member of the Topaz Guard, the same guard that murdered Lisette’s parents during the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre thirteen years earlier. Genre: Romance /Anthology

Friday - Some blurbs of books by Janet Lane Walters

Since I was out of computer reach most of yesterday and today, I didn't ask anyone to do a 2 day sting here so I thought I'd share some blurbs of books that are mine. I'll do the same tomorrow.

Murder and Mint Tea Katherine Miller has retired from two careers, one as a nurse and the other as a church organist. Though she has no desire for a third career, she may be forced to become a detective. Her latest tenant has brought trouble to the neighborhood. When Rachel's body is found in Katherine's garden she recognizes the murder weapon and knows any of her near and dear could be the killer. She refuses to accept that a friend or relative could be a killer and seeks to find the culprit.

Code Blue - the medical suspense Code Blue by Janet Lane Walters, published by Books We Love and previously published as Obsessions, nurse Susan finds the body of the hospital’s “gossip queen” in the orthopedic storage room. She doesn’t realize this is the first of a series of murders involving her colleagues or that her life is in danger. She is a widow and is exploring a new romantic relationship that promises love but she fears the man she is falling for is as controlling as her dead husband. The arrival of courtship gifts, at first, seen as innocuous soon takes on a sinister note.

A Surprising Seduction - Tony Carlin learns what making an assumption makes him. Lauren Grant has made her own assumptions. The deaths of his brother and her sister bring them together to become guardians to 10 month old Jamie. He bases his view of her on their first and only meeting 4 years ago. Lauren was a teenage runaway who traveled across the country to find her sister. Back then she had nose and lip rings, streaks of green and blue in her blonde hair, and her skirts left little to the imagination. Tony knew what she was. Lauren knew he was a lawyer and a playboy with eyes for every woman but her. The attraction ignored in the past flares to life in the present and turns their worlds spinning out of control. Lauren has a plan. She will finish her BS/Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and find a job. Until then she has no time for a man in her life. Tony likes women and multiple is his choice. His father showed him love was false so he had no desire for a relationship that lasts longer than a night or two. What happens when there's an infant in the mix, especially since his promise to his brother is one Tony refuses to give up. The attraction between them sizzles and draws them into bed. She says no more though the times have been wonderful. Tony realizes he has fallen in love and needs a way to show her he won't derail her plans for her future.

The Warrior of Bast - Circumstances and finances have kept Tira from becoming an archeologist, and her future is shattered by her older sister, Luci’s, murder by a drug dealer. A crumpled flyer offers an escape…The answer is in your stars.




Tira flees her pursuers where she is offered refuge, but must undertake a dangerous quest. She will be unable to speak of her world, or anything alien to the culture she enters and… she will remain there forever.



Kashe is the unloved middle son of the nomarch of Mero. Though Kashe wants to become a warrior of Horu, his father has other plans. To see his eldest son, Pian, as pharaoh, the nomarch plots with the priests of Aken Re.



The pair sets out on the quest for the symbols which will save the Two Lands; the flail, the crook and the double crown. Tira learns this Egypt has many differences from the Egypt she has studied. They must face nearly insurmountable challenges as they pursue their sacred quest.

Thursday - What I've been reading - J L Walters #amreading

This past week has been an interesting one for reading. Usually I do three ore books but this week I did two, sort of.

The first was The Micro-manager Murder by myself and the reason is I had to write the blurb and it's been two or so books since I finished it. So back to reading bits and pieces so I could come up with a decent blurb. The book will be our in March and is Katherine Miller's 5th brush with murder.

Then there were the contest entries I had to read for a contest. Not a lot of reading. The entries are sort but one has to write a critique honing in on what's wonderful and what's not with each of the 12. I'll be doing that next week as well since I'm expecting about the same number.

Now the book I did read. Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone Reviews I really enjoyed this book and will look for the others in the trilogy. Catrin was an interesting character


Book

One of The Dawning of Power trilogy. Echoes of the ancients' power are

distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is

about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in

mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken,

and old fears ignite the fires of war.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip -#mysteries taken from How To Write Mysteries by Shannon OCork - Plot

What I found of interest here appeals to me since I am a plotter, sort of. There's always a situation that triggers my thoughts on a story. I'll talk here about what triggered The Micro-manager Murder due out in March 2013 from DiskUs Publishing. I knew the older heroine Katherine was marrying Lars who has made appearances in the other stories. But the scene of her leaving her wedding to go to the rescue of a friend who has been accused of murderrted the story rolling. That scene didn't start the book only my creative juices.

Situations often pop into a writer;s head and b twists and turns this situation could become a romance, a mystery or any other genre, but the situation isn't the plot. It's only a starting point in creating a story.

"A plot is a situation carried through to a fitting conclusion." Shannon OCork from How To Write Mysteries.
The plot is the story but therore to a story than plot.

All stories neand this is what a plot is. That doesn't mean you need to follow this outline slavishly. Changes happen. Characters make different decisions. Research sends you in new directions. The setting adds a bit of difference. The plot takes the situation and adds goals and motives of the characters, or their reasons for reaching the goal.

So don't just sit down and write thousands of words without having a goal. In the beginning you need a map, Once you've written a lot of stories, the plotting can be done in your head. When I wrote my first story years ago, I didn't know about plot and that story was written and re-written over and over again. It wasn't a mystery though there was an element of mystery in the story. That was the trigger sending the heroine to leave her home and find love elsewhere. My first mystery was better planned and the writing went much faster because I had a map to guide me along the way. The same for the first paranormal I wrote. For me having a map, even if it wa only in my head helped.

How about you? Do you plan your story ahead of time, either in your head or on paper?

Tuesday's inspiration #amreading #am writing J L Walters' Thoughts on Limits and Creativity

It's always interesting to find someone who has read some of the same books you have while seeking to learn about the creative process and limitations. Katherine Paterson is such a writere both read Rollo May's Courage To Create. This is what she discovered. "There is no such thing as unlimited creativity. It is within limits, often very narrow limits, that a creative work comes into being."

What are your limits? There are things limiting me. The way I grew up, the life I have today, the kind of memories I have about emotional events and the very emotions, the love I've had and the love I've given. The list could go on. Even my imagination has limitations. There are stories I can never tell, words write. Take horror stories. I can't read them and I can't write them. This isn't to say I can't write very bad people into my stories. Their villany is limited by what I know and have lived.

Part of the trick is in recognizing the limitations you have and using them. Filtering them through your imagination brings a story into being. My life as a child, as a teen, as an adult, the things I feel about what happened to me is filtered through my imagination and usually finds its way onto the paper.

What about you? Have you looked at your own limitations and filtered them through your imagination? Take a moment to think about this.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters #amwriting

Another week has pass the past week there were so many meanders impinging on me that I'm not sure where to start. The first is contests. I've been busily reading books and partials for two contests. Next year there will be a third. I did drop out of judging one contest since I found it one that was difficult to handle when the second came into line. So next year there will be three again. Hopefully spaced a bit better.

The second meander was about a talk I'd like to give and that's on World Creating. A sudden inspiration struck. No matter what genre we write, we are creating a world. There will be more on that later. Now to busily sketch that idea out. Do I have a special insight. Who knows.

The third meander was something I kind of disagree with. A fellow writer said the only reason to go with a publisher is for the editing factor. I'm not sure I agree with that, but then I don't like the idea of doing the entire mss myself. Art work, formatting, editing. Not sure I want to hire people to do these chores or learning to do them myself. Part of this has to do with age. Doing these things takes a lot of time and I have a lot of books that still want to be written.

Continuing to type the corrections into Lines of Fire and should be done by the the month or into the beginning of December. Will come close to my target word length. Am re-working what is not The Goddesses of Er and the new twist seems to make the words much faster. Just finished a fight scene and felt as if I'd been the fighter when I finished. Being part of an imaginary scene alwys tells me I'm on the right track.

So enough meandering and it's back to work.

3 blog visit Sunday found by Janet Lane Walters

http://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2012/11/07/amazon-tackles-review-problem-deletes-wrong-reviews/ interesting article

http://bookswelove.net/contest.php contest news

http://heatherthurmeier.com/2012/11/lessons-from-sandy/ Interesting bit about the hurricane and storm that followed

Saturday's Excerpt from Ancient Awakening plus blurb Annie's Heart by Barbara Edwards

Ancient Awakening by Barbara Edwards


Paranormal

In Ancient Awakening, Police Officer ‘Mel’ Petersen investigates a death only she believes is murder. By disobeying direct orders from the Rhodes End Chief, she risks her career to follow clues that twist in circles to her backyard and lead the killer to her.

Her neighbor Stephen Zoriak is a prime suspect. Steve worked for a major pharmaceutical company where he discovered a weapon so dangerous he destroys the research. He is exposed to the dangerous organism. He suspects he is the killer and agrees to help her find the truth.

In the course of their investigation Mel and Steve find the real killer and a love that defies death.



Excerpt:

Legend gave him many names, but the wide halls of his mountain retreat no longer echoed with countless worshipers. He could have ruled the world had his ambition not died with the passage of time. The endless whispers were from the cold winds and the few praying priests. He didn’t care that he couldn’t remember his real name or birthplace.

For an eon he’d regretted the loss of softer emotions. Love had been the first feeling to die, along with the woman who had insisted he would never harm her. He couldn’t recall her features just the merry tinkle of her laughter and the bright smile she had greeted him with every morning. He licked his lips. She’d tasted sweet.

Fierce need flared in his gut and he sniffed the air. Outside his chamber a single acolyte in long brown robes waited to escort him. His mouth curved with a mirthless smile. The silent servants had ignited the flickering wall torches. Shadows jumped and shivered in the drafty halls like nervous virgins.


Barbara Edwards

The Wild Rose Press: Ancient Awakening, a Black Rose


Annie’s Heart by Barbara Edwards

Historical Romance from WingsEpress

ISBN 978-1-59088-210-5 Ebook

ISBN 978-1-59088-806-5 Pod

316 pages

Available at http://www.wings-press/Bookstore/Annie’s%Heart.html

Read more excerpts at www.barbaraedwards.net

Only two coins and a gold pendant heart separate widowed Annie Moss from disaster. The fields need to be plowed, the barn repaired and food stored for the winter, but she is alone and afraid. Her dream of a home for her children hangs from the promise of a wandering man to keep moving on, a man she has no reason to trust.

Trace Randolph has lost everything except his honor, so when a desperate Annie saves his life he knows he must pay his debt, even if it means marrying her. The only promise he makes is to leave before the winter snows. A promise he finds impossible to keep.

"... Barbara Edwards creates a romance that proves life is about surviving disaster. Growing back stronger, and most of all, the courage to love." **** (four stars), Gerry Benninger, Romantic Times Magazine


Author Web: http://barbaraedwards.net

Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards

Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5

Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed

Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A



Buy link http://tinyurl.com/3f627vh

Friday's How She Does It featuring Barbara Edwards

Welcome guest Barbara Edwards. She's telling us how she approaches a story.
Janet: We all know there are six elements in writing fiction and often fact. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is the plot. What's your take on this?


Barbara: In my opinion, plot is more important. A good plot is the starting point for character building, emotional tension and suspense. The plot is a curve that draws you from the starting point upwards. Building the story with details, you reach the crisis and fall to the conclusion. I regard the plot as weaving all the separate strands of my story into a tight braid.



Janet: How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific process?

Barbara: My initial characters appear in my dreams. Building my characters is like getting to know a new friend. Their first scene is our introduction. I learn about them as I write. Ancient Awakening, my paranormal romance, began with a nightmare about the cemetery next to the house where I grew up.

As to process, unlike many writers, I use a book bible instead of character sheets. I record the details as I go rather than coldly describing each detail ahead of time. I did try that. I found my style doesn’t work that way.



Janet: Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

Barbara: I guess you’re asking if I’m a plotter or a pantster, I’m definitely a pantster. It makes me laugh to remember when I first became serious about writing. I thought all the pundits knew more than me and I should use their methods. Outlining? Character sheets? I tried it all and found it slowed my writing to a crawl.

I need to allow my muse to create as I write. It works for me. When I begin, I know my first scene and I know how the plot will resolve. The rest needs to be filled in.



Janet: Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?

Barbara: I start a story after a vivid dream about the opening scene. I know at that time how the plot will resolve. It’s not something I could share. It’s the way my mind and imagination work. That knowing has worked for me.



Janet: Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?

Barbara: My paranormal series is set in New England. I grew up in a small town very similar to my Rhodes End village. I like writing what I find familiar: ghosts, werewolves, vampires and eccentric people.

One of my Historical romances: Annie’s Heart, is set in Kansas and I had to do research to find details about the place. By the way, my belief in reincarnation was reinforced a few years ago when we visited the local at the Fort in Kansas. I had many details right although I never read them anywhere.



Janet: Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

Barbara: Whew! All over. I have a terrific memory for details and can recall facts I learned years ago. I do interview people. I like reading so I do a lot in books from the library. I’m learning to use the internet more although it can be difficult to verify anything I question. Any historian will tell you to have three sources before believing anything.



Janet: Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?

Barbara: I revise as I go. My method is to open where I started the day before and edit those pages. It puts me back into my mindset and I can just continue forward. That doesn’t mean I don’t need final edits because I do.

I’ve tried several different methods and always go back to this since it works for me.



Thank you for having me as your guest, Janet.



Please visit me, friend me, tweet or follow at these places. I love to hear from you.

Author Website: http://barbaraedwards.net

Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards

Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5

Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed

Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/barbaraedwards

Email: author@barbaraedwards.net

Thursday's Who Janet Lane Walters is reading #am reading

So this week's reading is a bit of a mishmash or an eclectic selection as usual.

Lightning by Taryn Kincaid - short, spice and a great take on a one night stand.. Paranormal element are very inventive. If you like hot, you'll enjoy.

Murder, Mi Amore by Cara Marsi - good romantic suspense. Adventure in Rome and lots of tension both physical and sexual.

The Serpent's Tooth by Kathy Fischer Brown - Historical part of a trilogy, American Revolution. A lot of exciting action and an interesting love story. Rooting for the heroine.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip #mysteries and other fiction

For awhile I'll be looking at things I've found interesting in How To Write Mysteries by Shannon OCork but first a few thoughts. Good writing is good writing and I've found I can learn from reading and analyzing other genres, And of course, I tend to write in several. One of the first things I'd like to look at is all the sub-genres of writing mysteries. Most of the ones I write are cozies and I recall having a fellow writer ask me what I meant by a cozy mystery. I gave my thoughts and other people added their ideas and the lines became sort of blurred. I believe a touch of mystery can be found in other genres of fiction. In fact I've read some great ones in historical, science fiction, fantasy, romance and probably any genre one can imagine.

But back to looking at the variety of mysteries.

The Amateur Detective for this think Sherlock Holmes.  These detectives can run the gamit from hard-boiled to more ordinary characters. They usually do not have to work for a living and can spend their time solving murders or other crimes.

The Cozy mystery. The main character is an amateur but there is a difference here. The voilence is muted and can mostly take place off camera. My own Katherine Miller mysteries fall under this category.

The Puzzle can be a tour de force sort of story. The murder takes place in a locked room. The weapon has disappeared and can't be found. Someone is stealing money, jewelry but there's no way this can be done.

The Private Detective and this is a man or woman who runs a detective agency and takes on cases. Can be hard-boiled or sophisticated and anywhere in between. There are many takes on the private detective.

Police Procedurals professionals take on crime and the stories follow the actual procedures.

Romantic Suspense brings the mystery to romance with a hero and heroine who are involved and often in great danger.

The Thriller often involve spies and bounce from country to country. I've been reading James Rollins' Sigma series again and the mystery and the action advent stirred in equal parts.

Tuesday's Inspiration - J L Walters' thoughts on a quote from Colette

When I found this quote I remember thinking That's how I feel. "It's terrible to think, as I do every time I start a book, that I no longer have -- that I never had -- any talent ..."

I know the feelingand experience it with each new beginning. Starting a new story is exciting and scary at the same, at least for me. I have an idea of where I want to go. I have a slight acquaintance with the characters who will people the book. Then there is the blank page and for so long it remains blank. Finally I decide on a title after choosing a half dozen. Then I go back and decide don't like the characters' names. I spend a lot of time looking up names. Then I stare at the blank page more times. There's a clenching of my stomach and I think I can't do this. Sometimes I doodle on the blank paper. Finally words begin to arrive and I write them down.

Those first words writtin are sometimes, no most of the time tossed in the basket. I find myself in the Colette syndrome until I tell myself it doesn't matter if I have talent or not, there are people in my head who want their story to be told and the rough draft is born, the draft only an author could love. So what I'm saying here is I suffer from a form of stage fright but one must continue to follow the story to the end. Talent is only a small part of the writing game. Persistence and production are also part of the road to the end.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters

They say it's all in a name. For me it's all in a title. I was totally stumped with my current WIP because I did't like the title. The title was appropriate forty years ago when I began the book and sent it out again and again. The final straw was when a publisher of the type of book it was decided to stop publishing fiction. Then I was searching through my old files sort of clearing things out and found the mss on carbon paper. The title had nothing to do with where my head is not in writing but the elements of a good story were there. As I pondered what to do, I saw elements I had missed and knew what I wanted to do. Thus were born the Goddesses of Er, Sola, Luna and Erda. I've used the concept of goddesses before. Once the goddesses took root in my thoughts and the new title was in place, I was able to see what stayed and what had to go. Some to the to go things were archiac stules of writing and back story in the first 25 pages. In fact a lot of those things took up pages and pages. Leaving enough backftory to set up the world was interesting. Setting a world when it's one of fantasy or paranormal is difficult. The reader had to believe in the world you're created but not be so bogged down in a history lesson that they forget what they're doing. So now I can continue to fashion this story.

A real problem I'm having these days is with my reading habits. I've spent nearly all my gift cards and so must choose what I want to read on my Kindle carefully. Can't wait for Christmas. On one of my loops we've been talking about pricing ebooks. The conference I went to and a speaker I listened to said some interesting things about pricing. He felt 2.99 was too low and books should be above 4 dollars and yet not above eight. I seldom even buy one that's above that price. There are books I would buy since they belong to favorite authors but I'm not about to pay 9.99 or more for them. I'll wait. If they don't come down I'll have missed a book and they will have missed a sale. I'm sure they don't care.

So enough wandering for today and I'll get back to work plugging in corrections and working on the new story.

3 Blog Visit Sunday discoveries by Janet Lane Walters

http://annherrick.blogspot.com/2012/11/reviewing-reviewers.html reviews

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/11/guest-toni-v-sweeney.html  world creation

http://ffnp.blogspot.com/2012/11/social-media-and-author-by-lynda-k-scott.html  great post on social media

Saturday's excerpt featuring Born To Bite Anthology Diana Cosby

Turquoise eyes darted toward the entry, shifted back.




Bedamned, he should take her blood and be done with it, but Aedan could not risk scaring her. With his body so weakened, if she broke free and ran, he’d not have the strength to will her back or give chase.



After a long moment, Rowan withdrew her dagger. “But a few drops.”



“Aye.”



Precious seconds passed. On an exhale, she slid the honed blade against the pad of her thumb.



A drop of blood beaded upon the sharp metal, and the rich scent filled the air, infused Aedan’s every breath. His body demanded he take. He waited, preserved the last of his meager energy in case she decided to bolt.



Rowan’s eyes locked upon his, she held her thumb a hand’s breadth above his mouth. The beads of red grew, wobbled upon the honed tip, fell.



The warm salty drops landed upon his tongue. Aedan savored sweetness unlike anything he’d ever tasted. He swallowed. Strength flooded his body, and his senses heightened to a dangerous edge. As deep keening ignited within his soul. A completeness he’d never experienced filled him.



He stilled. By the sword’s blade, this woman was his mate!

How She Does It featuring Diana Cosby

Today's guest is a fellow member of an RWA chapter to which I belong.


We all know there are six elements in writing fiction and often fact. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is the plot. What's your take on this?



~I agree. Each element is imperative in setting up a clear goal, stakes, and emotional stakes for the respective character. In addition, I believe it's important for a writer to incorporate the 8 senses that we deal with when we craft our story. They are:

Touch Taste Smell Sight Hearing



Sense of time Sense of space Sense of the unknown







1. How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific process?

~I never know how each character will come to me. As a major plotter, I've tried to 'know' about my characters from the start by completing character interviews, but I've learned they will tell me about themselves when they're good and ready. Some appear complete, like Alexander and Duncan MacGruder, brothers from the best-selling MacGruder brothers series. But their eldest, Seathan MacGruder, I had to write the story to learn about him.





2. Do your characters come before the plot?

~Each story dictates who comes first. I've had both character before plot and plot before character.





Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

~I'm a major plotter and I like to have a complete synopsis before I begin writing. As I write and learn more about the character, the character updates happen to change the plot, as long as the changes are properly motivated and make the story stronger, I let the change happen.





3. Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?

~I know how a story will end in a very specific way. My plot is designed to ensure that the plot and characters are strong, properly motivated, and the story leaves the reader satisfied.





4. Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?

~I normally choose the setting. I use pictures from both magazines and on-line for visuals of scene layouts.







5. Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

~Both. I have several 'must have' research books always on hand. At times, I use on-line sources for facts. I use the rule of 3 - find three sources to confirm facts as much as possible.

My bibliography:

http://www.dianacosby.com/oldpage/bibliography.html







6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?

~I revise as I write. When I finish a book, it's normally pretty tight. I have no idea how fast draft writers write a whole book knowing they'll have to go back and revamp the entire story. Holy cow, my hats off to them.



On a side note, each year I run an International Food Bank Food Drive. If you donate to a local food bank, please leave a post beneath my Facebook post about the food drive, and you'll be entered to win a signed copy of the award-winning MacGruder Brother's to-date, and a copy of the anthology Born To bite, with Hannah Howell, Diana Cosby, and Erica Ridley, which I'll sign as well. Details:

http://www.dianacosby.com/authorevents.html



My sincere thanks for having me on The Eclectic Writer today, and another sincere thanks for everyone who stopped by. I wish each of you a wonderful holiday season!







Slaìnte,

Who Janet Lane Walters Has Been Reading

More books read while the lights were out and beyond. Fortunately last Christmas I won a little gadget that allowed me to read during the power outage. Then the lights came on and I returned to reading by electric light.

Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray tells the story of Cleopatra's daughter and was fascinating to read. The story kept me moving from page to page. Usually I'm able to read a chapter and put the book down to do something else but this story held me the whole way. I will look up The Lily of the Nile and read it also. combines a bit of magic with the story of a woman who faces a dream and finds another to take the place of one that is lost.

Dark Destiny by M J Putney is a young adult written by one of my favorite authors.  Magic, special talents is the focus of this book and a coming invasion by Napoleon brings the young adults who have various talents into a war with one of Napoleon's war mages. The action moved fast and tension moves the book forward from page to page. Now I must find the other books in the trilogy.

Now the third book belongs to a series by James Rollins dealing with the Sigma group of warriors with science. I've read them all before but do like re-visiting old friends, especially when I'm starting a new project. I don't write anything like he does but re-reading allows me to clear my head and plot my own twists and turns. Sometimes I rather laugh when I'm reading as I wonder what Mr. Rollins will blow up next. If you like action adventure and the almost super hero pickoks. Not only are the entertaining but they're also educational.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Orson Scott Card - How To Write Science Fiction and Fantasy

Today I'll finish up the advice from Orson Scott Card. What he says in this book applies to writers in all areas of genre fiction. What he ended the book was advice or almost lecturing in areas of a writer's life. I won't mention them all but if you want them all, find a copy of the book.

Of the 7 areas he gives advice Discipline heads the list. This is something I know very much about. Being disciplined as one strives for a career in writing fiction is a must. One can't wait for the muse to strike. Writing every day even when you do feel like writing is a must. I'll share a bit here. Writing can be an escape and for me it was. Almost 20 years ago, my husband was having major surgery. He had an aortic anuyerism at the point where the aorta leaves the heart. The doctor told me the surgery had a 50/ chance of success. The procedure took many hours. I'd brought a clipboard and the mss I was currently working on to the hospital with me. Writing during that stressful time allowed me not to think about what could or not go wrong. When I looked at what I'd written after that time, most of it was great. Would those words have been as intense if I'd not grabbed discipline and worked. I don't know.

Patience is another thing for a striving writer to hold on to. I doubt anyone succeeds over night, And there are those long weeks one has to wait after submitting a story to a publisher. But don't just wait, the trick is to grab onto the discipline and sit down and start a new story.

The final one I'll touch on is prospective. For me this means not allowing discipline to take over my life. There is more to life than writing.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Janet's thoughts on a Quote by Judith Krantz

First it's sort of my own inspiration. I have an interview about developing characters up here. http://sheilaclaydon.com/2012/11/05/casting-couch/

Now to the quote. " Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by the work of other authors." Judith Krantz.

 This really made me think especially since I've let this happen a time or two. Sometimes a book I read is so good I wish I'd written it. Envy is an important ingredient in this feeling. After a while I laugh at myself because the book and author I've been so envious of isn't one I could have or even would have written. Having passed this roadblock, I then am able to look at why I felt this way and ask questions. Many times what I've really envied is some element of the novel like the character development, the descriptive passages or some other element. Then I can sit back and see if I can change some of my current work to I've learned. Sometimes I can and other times not.

After envy, there's jealousy. I've been bitten by that bug. Probably you have too. My book is similar to one written by writer X. Why did hers get more play than mine? This kind of thinking isn't good for a writer's soul, not to mention production. But looking back at my story doesn't help. It's been published and has sold. There's nothing I can do. Reaching this point can be hard. So what I do is start an analysis comparing two similar stories and seeing what I could have done to make my story fly. That can be brought to the next WIP.

How about you? Do you let the work of others intimidate you and keep you from doing the best you can? If so you could stop reading or you could look at this stories and add depth to your own writing.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters

For this month, I'm the spotlight author at http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/jewelsofthequill2.html#spotlight What a wonderful job Karen does for her Jewels. I'm dame Amber and she often knows things happening with me before I do. Kudos to her, not to mention that she's a very good writer.

Last week was definitely an interesting one. Superstorm Sandy roared through the neighborhood leaving destruction along the way. Up the street, a large tree fell and dug up the sidewalk. Came close to the corner house and i'm not sure if it hit the house or not. On Monday evening the power went out and so I missed seeing Hawaii 50, one of my favorite shows. Lots of attractive actors there, Didn't have power until Thursday morning so the blog was ignored for several days. The real shame is "People still do not have power and it's gotten colder with a new storm expected mid-week." Thank heavens for sweatshirts. I have three drawers of them.

As for writing managed to do several chapters of a discovered manuscript and I see changes to be made while I'm working. Though I do write by hand the typing was far behind and seems to get further every minute. But I will keep going. Lines of Fire is in the final draft which means making small corrections and putting in the things that will smooth the prose. Hope to have them all keyed in by Thanksgiving. The World Has Come Of Age is progressing. Really must find a new title. This one will go under the J L Walters name since the characters are all in their late teens and early twenties.

All I hope for this week is that the power stays on. Without power, we are lost in these days.

3 Blog Visit Sunday Discoveries of the week by Janet Lane Walters

http://www.thewriterschallenge.com/ tips for NaNo for those trying this method of finishing a story

http://bwlpp.blogspot.com/  contest coming.Seek more info here.

http://tinagayle.blogspot.com/2012/11/tina-gayle-doing-donut-dance-with-penny.html  great recipe here for making donuts. Sounds yummy.

Saturday's Chapter - A Surprising Seduction by Janet Lane Walters

A Surprising Seduction




Chapter 1



Bright morning sun glinted on the stained glass windows of the gray stone church. Lauren Grant left the memorial garden where the ashes of her sister and brother-in-law had been interred. They rested inside the stone wall near her parents’ site. She rubbed her arms to chase the chill of the autumn day.

Conversations flowed around her. She drew a deep breath to force back the tears ready to fall. Not yet. She had to leave. More words of sympathy might release the flood. As she dashed past the stairs leading to the sanctuary, she saw him standing with the pastor, two of Jim’s colleagues and a teacher friend of Carrie’s.

Tony Carlin. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair. She felt sure his piercing blue eyes compelled witnesses to tell the truth when he questioned them on the stand. Jim’s brother and the man she had to share custody of their ten month old nephew troubled her. She wasn’t sure why, except sharing wasn’t part of his nature.

She reached her six-year-old hybrid sedan. In the sunlight the car appeared more blue than green. She slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine and drove through the streets of the Hudson River town to her classmate’s house. The action gave her time to control the need to cry. She was on the way to pick up Jamie. The baby didn’t need to see her grief.

She parked in the driveway of the white frame house and rang the bell. With Jamie in her arms friend opened the door.

“Tee. Tee.” Jamie’s happy cries greeted her.

She held out her arms and he almost leaped into them “Were you a good boy?”

Marsha smiled. “He was a dream. Wish my hellions were the same. I have your notes from yesterday’s class. Will you be there tomorrow?”

“Have to be.” Lauren sank on the couch. “With midterms looming I can’t afford to miss another day.”

“Makes two of us. I made a list of classmates willing to watch Jamie. Do you have someone for tomorrow?”

Lauren nodded. “The young man I tutored for Carrie signed up for weekend duty. He watched Jamie for them several times so they could go out to dinner.” Lauren struggled to fit her squirming nephew into his blue jacket.

“Study hard tonight,” Marsha said. “I’m sure there’ll be a quiz.” She walked with Lauren to the door.

“Never fails.” Lauren wished she could follow her friend’s suggestion. Hopefully there would be time to copy yesterday’s notes as well as do battle with Tony Carlin over the guardianship issue. What did a playboy know about caring for an infant?

The trip from her friend’s house to Carrie and Jim’s condo took ten minutes. Jamie’s chatter had ceased the moment she’d fastened him in the car seat. At least he hadn’t cried the way he had when she brought him home from the hospital. Did he remember the accident?

She turned into the circle of the development and parked in the driveway of the unit. She’d lived here since the day of the accident and the deaths so Jamie would be in a familiar environment. After opening the garage door she lifted Jamie and carried him inside.

“Mama.”

She nearly lost her composure. “Just Auntie.” Tears she dare not shed burned her eyes. “Just Tee.”

“Tee.” He patted her face.

“Hungry?” She removed his jacket and put him in the blue and yellow highchair. After setting a pan of water to heat she opened two jars of baby food and heated the meat and vegetable combination. She poured milk from one of his bottles into a cup. Jamie used the plastic container as a hammer. He settled as soon as she popped a plastic bib over his head. She sat on a bar stool at the counter separating the narrow kitchen from the rest of the first floor. With a spoon she fed him.

After Jamie finished both jars of food and drank milk from the cup she carried him to the spacious nursery. There she changed his diaper and sat in the rocker to feed him the rest of the bottle.

When she placed him in the crib he was asleep. She turned on the monitor. For a time she studied him. How much he resembled his father and uncle, except for his hazel eyes, a gift from Carrie.

With a sigh she walked downstairs, straightened the kitchen and leaned against the counter. The tears of grief she’d held inside refused to be contained any longer. As though a water pipe had ruptured, tears spurted and gasping sobs accompanied the flood.

She gulped deep breaths attempting to control the gush of grief. She cried for her young nephew deprived of the parents who had adored him. The tears turned bitter when her own loss arose. Carrie and Jim had dragged her from a slide into self-destruction and helped her become a woman with a future. The sobs morphed into mourning for the couple who would never achieve their potential and never see their son grown into a man.

As Lauren wiped her eyes, thoughts of Tony Carlin rose. He had as little family as she did. Only Jamie belonged to both of them. Her body shook. Tony was determined to shove her out of their nephew’s life. His vision of her was based on a single meeting four years ago in California, a few months after Carrie and Jim had helped her pull her life together. A few of her rebellious quirks had remained. Not now. Not for three years.

Two years ago she had returned to the area where she and Carrie had grown up to start college. She’d been happy when Jim had accepted a position at a nearby research laboratory. Carrie had found a position teaching English at one of the area colleges. Since their arrival she had seen them several times a week.

Through her grief and a fresh spate of tears grains of resentment abraded. In the five months that Carrie and Jim had lived here, Tony had never visited once. Jim and Carrie had gone to the city several times to visit him. They hadn’t wanted to intrude on his busy work and social life.

What was wrong with him? Didn’t he care?

Stop it. She didn’t know why Carrie and Jim had named two guardians for their son. She didn’t know what kind of relationship Jim and his brother had. She only knew she missed them. Fresh tears began.

The doorbell rang. She blew her nose and blotted her eyes. Tears continued to drip. The glass panel of the door and her tears blurred the man’s face but she knew the dark hair and broad shoulders meant he had arrived. She opened the door.

In an instant his arms enfolded her. She pressed her face against the gray wool of his overcoat. He used his foot to close the door. As he stroked her back, Lauren fought the desire to let the comfort he offered make her forget they weren’t friends.

His hands slid lower and he cupped her rear pulling her against his erection. Lauren raised her head to protest. Before a word emerged, his mouth covered hers in a kiss that shot jolts through her body.

One of his hands slipped beneath her sweater and stroked her skin. Slowly he backed her from the door past the kitchen and the stairs leading to the second floor. He steered her toward the couch. His tongue played along her lips. Awareness struck. He didn’t like her. Why this passionate assault? A reason clicked. He would use her response against her when she asked for sole custody of Jamie.

She jerked her mouth from the drugging kiss. “Stop.”

“What?”

“Stop. You’ve gone far enough.”

“Wrong. I haven’t gone anywhere.”

She pulled free and nearly tumbled over the arm of the couch. His hands on her arms prevented the fall.

She glared. “I know what you’re thinking but you’re wrong.”

He grinned. “I don’t think so. I want you. You want me. Believe me. It’s going to happen.”

A cry from the nursery put an end to the discussion. She ducked under his arm and ran up the stairs. Hopefully once she rescued Jamie, Tony would be on his way back to the city.



* * * * *



Tony stood at the foot of the stairs. What had just happened here? He would have taken her like an animal in rut. Not his style at all. Slow seduction with every move orchestrated brought great rewards. His body throbbed with need and frustration. He wanted her beneath him while he pounded his way to a peak of elation.

Whoa. Where did that thought arise? He didn’t know her. He didn’t like her. There’d been a single meeting four years ago at Jim and Carrie’s wedding. Granted Lauren had changed, at least in appearance. Could a runaway rebellious teen change into a solid citizen? He had grave doubts.

Sure her blond hair no longer had blue and green streaks and didn’t flow to her waist. The nose and lip rings were gone. She didn’t wear tight skirts so short little was left to the imagination. The first time they met she’d dressed like the hooker he believed she was. And he had been tempted.

He had to fight this insane attraction. Why had Jim allowed her to be named as one of his son’s guardians? From all he’d seen, she seemed to have a rapport with the boy he didn’t have. Babies had never been his thing. Still, he couldn’t permit Lauren to have custody of the child. Not with the lifestyle he felt sure she followed.

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings he’d called the condo. Both times the phone had been answered by a person claiming to be the sitter. When he asked when Lauren would be home the answer had been “late.” He definitely knew what that meant, especially when the sitter had refused to tell him where she was.

The opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sounded. He pulled the phone from his pocket. “Mark…You got the message…Wish I could…Matt can take my place. Tell him the teacher and the shopkeeper are hot……Good luck…Call me when you get back.” He laughed. “I’ll be playing Daddy…Not sugar. To my nephew…Ciao.”

He broke the connection and sank on the couch. He would miss his best friend’s wedding but leaving here before his right to the baby’s custody was clear wouldn’t do. He groaned. Visions of the hot babes he’d met the last time he stayed at the inn in Vermont danced in his thoughts. While he was stuck here instead of scoring with one or both women, Matt would enjoy the pair. That was an event to regret.

No sense thinking about what might have been. He called the number of the agency he hoped would provide an instant nanny. The sooner one was in place the happier he would be. The moment the news about the accident and the deaths reached him, he had called.

“Tony Carlin here. Mrs. Bunch, please.”

A moment later the pleasant voice of the woman greeted him. “Mr. Carlin, I’m sorry there’s been no action taken on your request. You haven’t visited the agency to complete the paperwork so I can finalize the choices.”

“Why can’t I do this over the phone and through emails?”

“Agency policy. If you can stop by the office on Monday at one, we can complete your application and I can arrange interviews with our currently available candidates.’

“One PM. I’ll be there.”

“Oh, just to warn you. Since the nanny will be a live-in she must have her own room and a separate one for the infant. Most of our women insist on at least one weekend day off.”

When she stopped talking, he hung up. He had no choice except to accept the agency’s demands. How soon would the boy be ready for nursery school? At that point the nanny would only be needed for evenings and nights. He found a scrap of paper and made a to-do list. His brow wrinkled. There was another option. He could let Lauren share custody.

He nodded. Let her have the infant on weekends. A frown tightened his brow. Was that a good idea? Might put a spike in her ability to earn a living. He leaned against the back of the sofa. Maybe something could be arranged, like what she’d refused not so long ago.

Laughter reached him. Lauren appeared with the child in her arms. She dropped a blanket on the deep blue carpet and crouched to straighten the cloth. She added some toys and rattles.

“Watch him while I start laundry.” She dashed upstairs and returned with a basket. She entered the area near the door into the garage.

“We need to talk,” he said.

She peered around the wall. “I know.”

“I’ll be staying for the weekend. Since I must be at the office Monday morning, I’ll leave Sunday evening. You should plan to move out by next weekend. I want to sell the condo and put the money in trust for the boy.”

The look on her face puzzled him. She stepped toward the couch. “I don’t live here. I’ve stayed because it’s important for Jamie to be in familiar surroundings. I’ll ask my landlady if she minds having a baby in the apartment. I can move his crib and dresser there.”

“Wrong. I’m taking the boy to the city. I’ve arranged for a nanny.”

“Jamie. His name is Jamie.” She strode forward. “Did you forget we have joint custody? I refuse to allow my nephew to be shoved in a cell with a strange woman so you can forget he exists.”

Tony clamped his lips together and sought an answer. He didn’t trust her. He knew what she was. “I refuse to let you drag a different man into his life every night.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know how you earn a living. If you’d like I’ll pay you for two nights.”

“Excuse me.” She fisted her hands on her hips. “You know nothing. You’re making assumptions and that makes you an ass.” The words spat like bullets.

The baby cried. Lauren scooped him into her arms and held him close.

“Mama. Dada.”

“No, love, not today. Just Auntie.”

His sobs slowed. “Tee.” He buried his head against her shoulder.

Tony stared at his hands. He didn’t understand her anger. Couldn’t she admit the truth? Guilt for making the boy cry swamped him. “We’ll discuss this later.”

“Just remember I want what’s best for Jamie. If I must I’ll fight you.”

“I want the same for the child. If you fight I’ll win and you’ll be exposed.”

She whirled and walked away. Her black slacks fit perfectly, showing her narrow waist and curving over her delectable ass. His cock surged to attention. He rose and then sank back. He wouldn’t chase her and prolong the argument. He gulped deep breaths. No way would she win the battle over custody. He would have sole charge of the baby and he would have her body writhing beneath him.

The phone rang. He grabbed the receiver on the first ring. A man spoke. “See you tomorrow at eight.”

“There’s no need. Matters are handled.” Tony hung up and chuckled. He would definitely handle the situation when she learned she had no date. But the lady wouldn’t be disappointed.

How The Story Evolved - Janet Lane Walters - A Surprising Seduction

My usual guest for this weekend hasn't shown up so looks like this time it will be me. I'm sure this non-show has something to do with Sandy who whipped through this area and has left many people without power. I was fortunate to have power return yesterday. What I've been left with is a huge case of laryingitis so writing is favored. Now to my tale.

The Seduction series began with four planned. Two sisters and two brothers. Then New Concepts Publishing issued the first three in a single book in print leaving one brother in the cold. I read through the other stories and realized there were two friends mentioned by name. One, Tony, is a cynical attorney who has no faith in love. He needed to learn a lesson and so I began my search. I learned the why of his reason and learned he had a brother who had learned a different lesson. Unfortunately his brother who had married for love and his wife were killed in an accident leaving Tony as joint guardian of their infant son.

Joint-guardian who was the woman. Enter Lauren, a young woman who had been a runaway from a group home and whose only relative, her sister had married Tony's brother. They had met once and he had seen the rebellious side of her. She had seen his coldness.

Enter assumptions and we all know what assumptions do to people. Thus Lauren and Tony came together to sort out their assumptions. Tony has to make major changes in his attitude on many levels. The good thing while writing this story, the heroine for the last story appeared and I already knew who the hero would be.

A Surprising Seduction is a spicy read and one that was fun to put together.

Thursday's Who Janet Lane Walters Has Been Reading

Well, Tuesday and Wednesday were powerless. Actually this began on Monday evening so I've been doing a lot of reading by flashlight. Many of them were new or actually old, Some were goodies from a conference that I either hadn't read or had read years ago.

Suzanne Brockmann's Dark and Dangerous. One of the stories I'd read byt the initial one I hadn't read. This is a twofer book. Navy Seal books originally printed in the 1990s.

May Goldrick's The Promise a historical set in the 1760 era and possibly read before.

Susan Wiggs' The Winter Lodge A contemporay story with some neat recipes I may or may not try.

Next week I'll be back to the original routine of blogging and to anyone who missed the usual things, I do hope every one is safe and now have power and light, especially my New Jersey friends.