Thursday, June 30, 2016

Thursday's Opening Scene - Seducing the Baker #MFRWauthor #Romantic comedy #food

Chapter One

Jules Grayson sat behind the mahogany desk in his office. “Why me?” He propped his elbows on the leather desk pad.
“Trust me,” Tony said.
Jules glared at his friend. Trusting others might be someone else’s nature but not his. “Why can’t one of the others be best man at your wedding?”
“They come in pairs. Lauren doesn’t want her friend to feel out of place. You’re the only bachelor left in our circle.”
And he intended to stay that way for a long time. “Why do I have to meet her now? The rehearsal will suit me.”
Tony grinned. “Trust me. The trip will be worth the time. You’ll like Grace.”
Jules straightened. He had once known a girl named Grace. She’d been the only female to turn him down. Just thinking about her brought memories of a time and place he didn’t want to remember. “I really don’t want to cross the river until the trip is absolutely necessary.”
“Just for the weekend meet and two days for the wedding. You can manage.” Tony rose. “What do you have against the village?”
“Do you have to ask? The group home. Remember how your father had to rescue me from that…that…her accusations.” Jules grasped the steel letter opener. “I’ll come. Some time on Saturday, do the meet and greet and leave Sunday morning.”
Tony paused at the door. “There is a plus. To reach my house you don’t have to enter the village.”
“Go. Let me finish some work.”
“Saturday.”
“Yes and I’ll bring the wine. Found a new shop.”
Moments after Tony left Mrs. Jamison entered with a stack of mail. She dropped the pile on his desk. “Buzz when you need me.”
“Will do.” He slit the top envelope and groaned. Not what he wanted to see. Before leaving for her honeymoon, Allie Blakefield, editor of Good Eatin’ had given him an assignment. Having contracts signed wasn’t his usual chore for the Good Magazine Group but he’d agreed. Allie wanted the owner of Sweet and Spicy Cupcakes to agree to a feature.
With three letters and four phone calls the woman owner’s answer had been no. A visit to the bakery might do the trick. He didn’t want to go there. The bakery was in the village he didn’t want to visit. Allie returned on Monday. Today was Friday. He sucked in a breath. Never leave a job undone was his rule.
His hand hovered over the phone. A call hadn’t worked. When Allie had asked he’d figured obtaining the contract signature was a no-brainer. What bakery wouldn’t want to be featured in a national magazine? He’d had a failsafe plan. Mail the contract. Make a phone call or two. Answer questions. Contract signed. Hadn’t happened. The time had arrived to use some personal charm.
Jules buzzed Tony’s cell. The moment his friend answered, Jules’ gut clenched. Though he hated asking he would. “Tony.”
“Are you backing out?”
Jules chuckled. “Not happening. Just wondering if I could stay tonight. I’ve some business from Good Eatin’ across the river today.”
“No problem. I’ll call Lauren. What time will you arrive?”
“Around noon. I’ll drop off my bag, see to business and swing back.”
“Good enough. TGIF. I’ll be home around three. Good luck with your whatever.”
“Sales pitch for Allie.” Jules disconnected. He shoved two copies of the contract in his briefcase and tended to the rest of the mail. Nothing urgent. The clock chimed the half hour.
With briefcase in hand he paused at his secretary’s desk. “I’ll be out of town until Monday. Buzz my cell if anything needs to be handled quickly and I’ll check in with the service. Take the afternoon off.”
“Will do.”
Jules waved. When he thought about his destination his stomach churned. Though he didn’t want to spend time in the village of his nightmares he had to finish the task. Lately he’d grown to hate the investigative work. Was a career change possible? He had other skills and knowledge.
After a stop at his apartment for clothes he sat behind the wheel of his Jeep. He clutched the keys in his fist. Waves of nausea assaulted him. He gulped a breath. He could do this. Two events had forced his tip across the bridge to the Hudson River village where he’d grown up. On the say he’d left he had hoped never to return.
Trouble comes in threes. Business and a wedding weren’t the problem. Trouble existed in the memories of the place where his life hand imploded.
His weekender and briefcase sat on the passenger’s seat. He’d packed enough clothes for the weekend.
You can do this. The words spiraled in a never ending chain in his thoughts. He shoved the key in the ignition, revved the engine and drove from the underground garage. As the vehicle emerged into the light, Jules grinned. Something about being higher than the taxis and sedans made him feel powerful. He wove through the lines of cars and headed for the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. Hard rock poured from the speakers.
A glance at the sky showed clouds gathering. Snow predicted meant an early covering to white over city sidewalks and brown suburban lawns.
Not long after hitting the Palisades Parkway the feeling of doom he’d pushed aside leaped into his thoughts like the demons kids feared lurked in closets or under beds.
He gripped the wheel. The vehicle veered right. If he didn’t calm down he would run off the road or into another car. He spotted the turnoff for an overlook and pulled into the parking lot.
Get a grip.
Jules climbed down and walked to the railing at the edge. He stared at the gray waters of the Hudson. A blustery wind slapped his face. Across the river he saw the skyline of the city where he would rather be.
You can do this. The mantra ran through his head. He revised his plans. He would drop his clothes at Tony’s, charm the owner and obtain her signature. No sweat.
He strode to the Jeep and entered the flow of traffic. After leaving the Parkway he sped along the winding road and finally found the turnoff into Tony’s street. He reached the development and located his friend’s massive house. He pulled into the circular driveway, grabbed the overnighter and walked to the house.
Lauren answered the door. She held her nephew on her hip. Jamie burbled. “Ju. In. In.”
“Hello to you.” He tapped the small boy’s nose and kissed Lauren’s cheek. “I gather you were warned.”
“He phoned. Good to see you but you made me lose the bet.”
“How?”
“Bet Tony you would find a way to bail and here you’ve arrived a day early.”
He winked. “I’ve come to convince you to run away with me.”
She laughed. “Just like those old rumors. When I think of the days in the group home I cringe. I wonder how the Patons got the idea we were together.”
“Pure invention ala Charlene.” He put a finger to her lips. “No talk about those times or places.”
“Agreed. I’ll show you to a guest room.”
Jules hung his coat in the foyer closet and followed her past the living room to the wide staircase. Why had Tony bought such a large house? He’d asked his friend that question a week ago. The answer had astounded him.
“For the kitchen. It’s a cook’s dream.”
Lauren opened the door of a room just beyond the stairs. Jules dropped the overnighter at the foot of a massive four poster bed. Warm shades of browns and greens gave the room a cozy feel.
“The bath is through this door and connects to a second bedroom.” She opened the door. “Since you’re our only guest you won’t have to worry about locking the door.”
Jules shook his head. “How many bedrooms are there?”
“Six counting the master plus one upstairs in the third floor apartment.”
“And baths?”
“Four on this floor. One in the apartment. Two powder rooms on the first floor and one in the basement. Thank heavens for the cleaning service. Would take me a month to vacuum, dust and clean this house.”
Jules followed her downstairs. “I need to do a bit of business for Good Eatin’. Means going to town.”
“Five Cuisines?”
“No. I’ll tell you more at dinner. What time do we eat?”
“Around six thirty. Maybe six tonight since Tony will be home before five. Do you want lunch?”
A lump formed in his stomach. “I’ll grab something in the village.” If he could eat. Maybe once he finished at the bakery his appetite would return.
She patted his arm. Did she sense his uneasiness? “There are some great places in the village. Want me to recommend one?”
“I’ll manage.”
He grabbed his coat from the closet and left. Cupcakes, here I come.
When he reached the village he saw Christmas had arrived. Probably made an appearance between Halloween and Thanksgiving. The shops bore lights and festive decorations. The light poles were wrapped with red, gold, green and silver bands.
He made a turn and found he’d driven down the street where the group homes were located. He gripped the wheel. His two years at the boy’s home had been a drag but the circumstances had made him a ward of the state.
His stomach lurched. He slowed to a crawl and rolled past the pair of houses separated by a fence. The trip along memory street had been a bad one.
You can’t go home again but this had never been his home.
A stray item slid into focus. He recalled Grace standing at that fence. He’d flirted with her and had decided she would be his next conquest. With laughter she’d turned him down leaving him to fend off another girl he’d had no desire to screw.
With a groan he turned the corner and looked for a parking space. Remember the plan.
A flurry of snowflakes dotted the sidewalk. As they melted dark circles appeared.


Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - Dialogue "MFRWauthor #amwriting

Dialogue is another part of developing the character often forgotten by authors. The trick is to know the character and their background and thinking about these as the dialogue is designed. Each character has a particular background and this will be reflected in their speech. When I start a rough draft of a story, often I'm just putting words, even the dialogue on paper to reach the end of the draft. As I rewrite and revise dialogue is something that comes into play.

The first is to listen to the characters voices. Do they all sound the same? Could their words be spoken by any other character in the story? To differentiate can be difficult. So I must consider the character's background. To have a slum character speak with precise English makes the reader stop and wonder. Does the writer have a reason for this. If so the writer must make sure this is clear.

People's professions often color their language. Cops use specific words not used by other people. So do doctors, lawyers and other professions. These words can slip into their conversation. The writer can use these words to further develop their characters and to differentiate them from the other characters.

What is the character's nature. A shy person speaks differently from a bold one. A mother speaks to her child in one way and to her husband or another adult in another way.

So when developing the dialogue think of the ways this person can speak differently that the other characters in the story. Try reading just the dialogue aloud like one would in a play. Often this helps make the characters sound different and brings them to life.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Tuesday's Inspiration - On a Good Story #MFRWauthor #writing #rewiew

Before we begin, I have a new review up here. http://libriamicimiei.blogspot.it/2016/06/review-giveaway-seducing-chef-by-janet.html#comment-form

 On Becoming a Novelist is a book I picked up years ago and one I refer to many times. This time I'm talking about some things a good story needs and using this book as a jumping off point. The story needs to pull the reader into the world the writer has created. Even when writing contemporary fiction, the world the writer creates isn't the one we're living in. To do this means creating the world you're working with. My contemporary world has differences from yours. There are also similarities. Those are things to make the story seem right to the reader.  Why? The writer brings his own unique experiences into his writing.

A good story raises questions in a reader's mind but it also answers them. Leaving a reader dangling is one way to lose them. But drowning them in details will also lose them as readers. Too many scenes that say the same thing can become annoying. Each and every scene must add to the story by developing the characters, pushing the story or plot line, thus giving the reader the information they need to answer the questions they might have. As well as too many similar scenes, too many characters can ruin a story. Having too many villains who all seem to be the major one can confuse the reader. Confusing the reader can destroy their interest in the story.

A good story is really a performance, akin to a play, but one where we use our mind's eye rather than our sight to envision.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #poem #writing

Meander i _ Poem

Death

Dormant lies my love
Deep beneath the soil.
Something special passed toway
And life keeps going on.
I never knew my feelings
I never understood
Until I felt the pain of death
And dormant lies my love.

Meander 2 - Supporting others. I try to support my friends in many ways. One is by buying their books and reading them. I may not always read them but I do try to rate them. Sometimes reviewing can be hard, especially when a friend writes a good story but one that doesn't quite make a wonderful read. I would never give a friend or another writer a poor review. I would rather not write one. Another thing is when they are guests on a blog, I try to go to read and comment. Sometimes the blog won't let me write a comment. I may let them know in another way that I read their post. My publisher has a blog and people have their day to write a post. I always go to the site and make a comment even if it's just a word. I noticed few people do this and I wonder why.

Meander 3 - My writing. I have three mss in a matter of stages. One I'm typing furiously so I can move to the next to last draft of the book. One is typed in small sections making changed in an old manuscript paragraph by paragraph. The third is a new book of mine The Cancer Capricorn Connection. The rough draft is going well but there's still a way to go before I can see about starting this on the way to becoming a completed book.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Sunday's Book - Seducing The Baker (At First Sight Book 6) #MFRWauthor #romanticcomedy



She was the only girl to turn him down. What will happen when business and a wedding bring them together again.

Jules Grayson was a player as a teen and that hasn’t changed. Business and a friend’s wedding join to bring him to the place where his life had imploded and where his trust issues began. A Ponzi scheme and a suicide forced him into a group home he hated. For ten years he has avoided returning.

Grace Sutton is faced with a dilemma added to by the appearance of Jules in her Sweet and Spicy Cupcake bakery. Years ago she turned Jules down but she had a crush. His appearance erodes the vow she made years ago. Men had used her mother and led the woman into drugs and alcohol. Grace vowed to forego relationships with men until she could support herself. Though the bakery is making money, she doesn’t feel secure. When Jules arrives with a contract for a magazine feature, she is conflicted and attracted.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Saturday's Blurbs - Featuring Books by Gianna Simone #MFRWauthor #historical romance


Blurbs/Links:
Warrior's Possession:
* Wed on the king's command, she finds an unexpected passion! *
Upon her father's death, Lady Gillian Marlowe is ordered by King Edward I to wed Royce Langley, the Earl of Montchester. Worried she is being offered up as little more than a sacrifice in a political game, Gillian is surprised to find herself intrigued by her arrogant and infuriating husband.
Tasked with ridding the border along Wales of rebels who seek to unseat the king, Royce finds subterfuge and secrets everywhere, even with his beautiful wife. Though he only agreed to the marriage because of the king's order, he finds himself both fascinated and incensed by Gillian at every turn. She tries his patience, defies his orders and places herself in danger. To keep her in line, he spanks her, binds her to his bed and dominates and torments her, not only to ensure her submission, but also to coerce her into revealing her secrets. But even that is not enough to subdue her stubborn determination to stand beside him and defend her home and people.
Discovering his wife enjoys the same dark pleasures Royce does stirs more confusion. He has sworn never to fall for a woman's wiles, but his wife captivates him in ways he never expected and she stirs a desire deeper than any he has ever known. Trusting her is another matter, as he fears Gillian may bring about his downfall with her continued secrets, which he views as an attempt to undermine his authority.
The rebel attacks increase and danger lurks everywhere. Gillian falls under suspicion as the traitor, despite her vows of loyalty. Royce must overcome his mistrust and find a way to maintain his possession of Gillian as they battle the enemies both within and without, if there is any hope for them to save each other.
** Featuring A Kinky Twist on History! Includes male domination, bondage, spanking, anal sex and so much more!
Norseman's Revenge:
* Kidnapped on her wedding night might be a blessing from the gods. *
Geira Sorensdotter awaits her new husband, but she's filled with doubts about the man and the marriage. Those doubts are forgotten when the village is attacked, her husband is struck down and she is tied up and carried off amidst the raid.
Kori Thorfinnson has waited years to take revenge against the man who murdered his wife. But he soon finds the innocent young woman he's taken as his personal slave is not his enemy, despite her marriage to his foe. Her courage in defying him, her caring heart, and the fiery passion she shares stirs feelings Kori hasn't known since his wife died. Afraid to lose Geira, he binds her to him in many ways  not only with rope, but with his body, his collar and his brand.

Geira quickly learns just how despicable her husband was, and despite her difficult circumstances, grows to care deeply for Kori, her captor. Still, dreams of freedom linger. But once she finds herself with child, she must plan her escape, to save herself and her baby.
However, Kori has plans of his own.
** Contains explicit love scenes featuring A Kinky Twist on History! bondage, spanking, ménage à trois scenes and more!
Norseman's Deception:
* He saved her life – can the gods save her heart and soul from the mysterious loner's dark desires? *
Fearing an arranged marriage, Thora Korisdotter flees her village, vowing never to return. With her two pet wolves beside her, she is confident in her safety, protected by the loyal animals. But outlaws attack, wounding one of her beloved pets. Only a mysterious stranger saves her from certain death. Now in his debt, she must repay him as he asks – with her body.
After being cast out of his clan as an outlaw, Ari Hugisson has wandered for years. The time of his banishment is nearing its end, and Ari has the proof he needs to clear his name and unmask the real murderer – his brother. His journey is delayed when he comes across a beautiful woman under attack. Compelled to save her, he also knows exactly how to claim the debt she owes, using the passion lurking under the surface of her fiery nature.
Betrayal cuts deep with the revelation Ari has lied and knows well the man Thora was to wed. But the passion he stirs is unlike anything she has ever known, even if he insists on treating her as little more than a slave.
When Ari confronts those who would see him killed, will Thora stand beside him, even at the risk of losing her family – and her heart?
** Contains explicit love scenes featuring A Kinky Twist on History! bondage, spanking and more! 

Friday, June 24, 2016

Friday - A Bit about Gianna Simone and Writing #MFRWauthor #writing


1.  What's your genre or do you write in more than one? 
I write in more than one, though I'm partial to historical. I also like to write paranormal, which encompasses anything from vampires, to magic, to sci-fi-ish, but the dark ages and medieval times are my favorite times to write in.

2. Did you choose your genre or did it choose you?
A little of both – a lot of my earliest romance reading was historical, and I was drawn to those times when I started really writing, because they were comfortable to me. And as my reading tastes evolved and changes, so did the ideas.

3.  Is there any genre you'd like to try?  Or is there one you wouldn't?
I don't think I'd enjoy writing inspirational romance – I'm not fond of reading the genre, so it doesn't do anything to motivate me to write in it. I haven't written any shifter stories, but the idea intrigues me. Maybe someday.

4.  What fiction do you read for pleasure?
Mostly romance, though I'll read anything Harry Potter related. :D

5.  Tell me a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.
I've been writing almost my entire life – I've probably shared this in many places, but I wrote my first complete novel when I was 14, and I still have a bunch of the stories I wrote in elementary and middle school. I was always an extremely avid reader, I devoured tons of books each week, and I wrote stories about the characters in those books, or from TV shows, or my favorite musician of the time.
I don't get to read as much as I used to – a family and career will take its toll on free time, but I always make time for writing!

6.  Which of your characters is your favorite?
There are two – Royce and Gillian from Warrior's Possession. They first came to life with me about 20 years ago, and have always held a special place in my heart. I'm so happy they are finally out there, ready to face the world! :D

7.  Are there villains in your books and how were they created?
My villains tend to spring from the question, "Who hates the hero/heroine and why?" Once I have the why, it's not so hard to build the rest of their backstory. Sometimes the reason comes along with whoever I learn who the villain is. Truthfully, the villain rarely shows up until after the hero/heroine come to life.

8.  What are you working on now?
Currently, I have two WIP. I do this to myself every time, I never have just one project at a time. One is the next book in The Norsemen Sagas, and the other is book 4 in The Medieval Warrior's Legends series.

9.  What's your latest release and how did the idea arrive?
Warrior's Wrath is my most recent release, though it's actually a re-release. It's been revised and updated, and has a new cover, too! The idea for that story sprang out of the events toward the end of Warrior's Possession. Funny thing is, in their first release, Warrior's Possession originally came out after Wrath, as a prequel to the first two books. Now, they are in their proper order.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Thursday's Opening Scene - Features Moon Summoned #MFRWauthor #fantasy #sword and sorcery

Moon Summoned

Eclipse

The setting sun brought shadows creeping along the mountain slopes. From the battle lines stretched across the plateau, the smell of blood mingled with the dust. Metal clanged against metal. Shouts, curses and screams filled the air. The moans of the wounded broke the Seer’s concentration on the amber light streaming from the crystal atop her staff. The beam sent a jagged pattern through the growing darkness.
A piercing cry arose. The ruby ray from the Warrior’s sword shot toward the sky. The Healer darted among the fallen and knelt beside the sorely wounded woman. Blue light from the Healer’s wand focused on the Warrior’s wounds. The Healer poured life-sustaining energy through the azure beam.
Gusts of wind drove thick waves of fog from the mountain peaks to obscure the plain and to cover the retreat of the women. A cluster of the servants of the Mistress of the Moons, clad in tunics of amber, red and blue, stumbled after those who bore the Warrior. They carried her between a pair of standing stones into a narrow passage that led to a crater lake and the Place of Choosing.
The Seer stumbled and would have fallen if the Healer hadn’t caught her arm. Together they moved through the fog. The edges of their cloaks brushed the standing stones.
“How much time have we?” the Healer asked.
The Seer tightened her grip on the staff. “I pray enough to complete the ritual before the eclipse hides the light of the moon.”
The Healer guided the other woman into the narrow passage. “With the coming of the fog, the bright moon and the dark moon have risen. We must succeed or all is lost for the One we serve.”
“Pray our call is answered before the next eclipse and the time of the lunar of the dark moon. For now and to all eternity, the thirteenth moon, the dark moon will rise each year to fill the sky.”
“We must wait thirteen years before this comes to pass. Pray the Mistress of the Moons will hold the Queen of Darkness at bay so the ones we call will have a chance.”
“Unless those who serve the Lord of Shadows call the Queen forth.”
The Healer sucked in a breath. “Never will the ones who serve the shadowed one share the rule.”
The Seer sighed. “Mistress bless. So be it. We will call, the Three will come and all will be as it has been. Unlike those in the other nomes, we can’t allow a drastic change to alter what we’ve built.”
“Agreed,” the Healer said.
They emerged from the passage and walked across the rock-strewn earth to the crater lake. The walls on three sides formed a crescent around the pool.
The Seer marshaled enough strength to walk unassisted. Her hair, darkened by age, flew wildly around her face. The Healer’s hair was as black as a night beneath the dark moon.
The remaining women clustered at the edge of the lake. The Seer and the Healer took the ends of the stretcher on which the Warrior lay. They waded through the cool water to the isle in the center of the lake. Gently they laid their companion on the pale rock. The Healer placed the Warrior’s sword on her chest and crossed the woman’s arms beneath the orb in the hilt.
Those who served the Mistress as seers, warriors and healers held torches aloft.
The ebon globe slid across the surface of the pale golden moon. The Seer passed her hand over the head of her staff. From the depths of the amber crystal, a band of pale yellow light flowed.
“From out of time and out of space, we three, Seer, Warrior, Healer, send our spirits questing for those who will continue the battle against the Lord of Shadows. We call for those who will keep the faith exactly as we have. Mistress of the Moons, pray keep the Queen of Darkness in bonds so You will prevail.”
The Healer raised her wand. The blue crystal on the tip flared and blue light shone. “The time of passing is upon us.” Her voice held neither fear nor anticipation. “Moon bright becomes Moon dark. May this eclipse add strength to our quest.”
The dark orb continued its stately progress across the face of the moon. The Seer held her staff so the light shone across the body of the Warrior. “How fares our sister?”
The Healer pressed a hand against the Warrior’s chest. “Her heart beats, but her body weakens. Can she bring forth the light of her sword?”
“The Mistress will sustain her.”
The Healer gasped. From the ruby crystal embedded in the hilt of the Warrior’s sword, a red ray rose to touch the blue and amber. “Just as our lights unite, we three are one.”

Moon Bright, Moon dark,
Mistress of the Moons.
From out of time,
From the depths of space.
Call the Three,
Seer, Warrior, Healer.
Empower them.
From conception comes the thought.
From the thought rises the desire.
From desire springs the seed.
And the fruit becomes the harvest,
Ending shadows, bringing light.

The women who had gathered at the edge of the lake added their voices to those of the Three. Once, twice, thrice, they intoned the call. As the dark globe completely covered the moon, they plunged their torches into the water. Clouds of herb-scented smoke obscured the isle. When the sun rose only a staff, a sword and a wand remained.


Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - Who Tells The Story #MFRWauthor #amwriting


Though part of telling the story, who tells the story is important. When choosing a viewpoint, there can be one character, two characters or a multitude of characters.

Lately there have been a number of stories told in first person. This works for many writers. There are some downfalls. The first is keeping the story with the I character and not having them read minds of the characters they interact with. Another is the constant use of I which begins to stand out and can be annoying. A third is allowing the I character to go off on tangents that take away from the story. There may be others but these are the ones that jump out the most to me. Just remember to keep the I character in the character you've established.

We come to third person point of view. This is the most often used one. Choosing to tell the story through the eyes of one character has the same problems as the I point of view. Opting for telling the story from two POVs, hero and heroine, is often used in romances and can be very effective. Using more than one character is also used. I think I've done a story that has I believe eight points of view. Important things to remember is to stay in the character chosen for a scene and not bounce from character to character making the reader's head toss like a person watching a tennis match. Also remembering to keep the characters in character is important. What they show the world is filtered through their senses.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Tuesday's Inspiration - Two Books That Inspire Me #MFRWauthor #Etymology #Inspired

Words have always fascinated me. When I was young, I used to read the dictionary when I'd read all the books in the house at least twice. Since I've turned my hand to turning the words that fascinate me into stories I've learned one thing and that is not to use too many unfamiliar words for that will turn people off if the unfamiliar are strung in rows. The trick is to use one of the different words in a way that people can understand the meaning. Then I began writing fantasy. And here unfamiliar words can be a plus. There are two books I use frequently in my stories, and not only for having new words but sometimes for names.

The first book is a Seven Language Dictionary that goes from say French to English and English to french. There is Italian, German, Russian, Hebrew, Portuguese and Spanish. Here I might find a word I can use for horse but one that makes people understand the creature I'm describing. I came upon lobo for wolf. This book also has a section of Proper names and one of Geographical names. Great when you are using a character from another land or wanting to name your characters and perhaps using a geographical name for a last name. My only problem is getting lost in exploring and forgetting what I am looking for. Also in the print for soon I will have to use a magnifying glass.

The second book is The concise Dictionary of English Etymology. What fun this is when building a world that's foreign to the one we live in. Here one can find ways to spell a word that still makes it seem familiar to the reader. Take Amber, the Middle English word was aumbre in French ambre and in spanish Ambar amd Arabic anbar. Actually the word went from French to Spanish to Arabic and was called amber for its resemblance to ambergris.which is really a different substance. But if I used any of the three spellings in a fantasy, especially when describing a gemstone. people would know that is amber.

So look up these books especially when you're writing fantasy or if you have someone from a foreign land in your stories.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #poetry


Meander 1 - Poem - The Attic

The Attic

Tatters left from yesterday,
Fraying cloth in threads and shreds
Kept and stored in an attic space
Beneath the dusty eaves.
Sorting through them, remembering
Pain and pleasure, death and hope,
All they once meant to me.
Then came a knowing discovery
That turned my life around.
Tatters left from yesterday
Rags from days ago
Have no power in my life today.
I must let them go.

Meander 2 - Surgery recovery. Why is it when you have surgery you often think you can do more than you should. Mine was five days ago. I still fall asleep when I don't intend to. The pain is less but sometimes nags. I am impatient.

Meander 3 - Writing. I ahve done little writing for the past week. Soon I'll get back into the swing of things. Atleast i now have two ideas for the last two books of a six book series. I do think this will come about soon.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Sunday's Book.- Moon Summoned #fantasy romance #MFRWauthor #epic saga



 Moon Summoned is on sale for a few more days this is Sunday's featured book.

Three Moon Summoned women. Ashiera the Seer who controls the winds and sees into the thoughts of others. Dian the Warrior who controls fire and fights with the sword. Egeria the Healer who controls fluids and heals those who are injured. They are joined in their battle by Sieper a sailor who knows the winds, Kobe once sworn to the Lord of Shadows and Jetan a healer of animals. These three vow to help the three women against those sworn to Evil.
Lugal the Cabal reads the winds and thoughts. Sargon the Gladius controls fire and the armies of the Lord of Shadow. Lugal the Cabal has knowledge of herbs and uses them for evil. These three with their cohorts will face the three and three sworn to the Mistress of the Moons.

Previously published as Mistress of the Moons



Janet Lane Walters has written a story that will take you to another time and place. She gives vivid descriptions of her characters and their role in this story. Ms. Walters has constructed a civilization so real that you will feel its very existence. A place where men rule women as chattel for their sexual needs, and three evil rulers who drain their bodies of their very essence for spells and to gain power. There is betrayal and treachery inside of plots, as each priest plans to rule alone. Ashiera, Egeria, and Dian are bound to the spirits of the ones who came before them. They discover a truth that will astound them, and have them doubting their chosen path. They will experience a love that is forbidden and discover that two stand together better than one. I could feel the emotional struggle between love and destiny, described so passionately by the author. I hope Ms. Walters plans to continue this story. I could feel that this is just the beginning of this tale. Janet Walters book, Moon Bright, Moon Dark will go on my keeper shelf, beside such authors as Charlotte Boyett-Compo and Nancy Gideon. I give this story Five Hearts and recommend it highly. Enjoy!

Format: Kindle Edition
Walters is a phenomenal world builders. This is not my first fantasy by her and it will not be my last. Three woman, who control the elements are joined on a fantastic journey as the battle the forces of evil. 

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Saturday's Blurbs - Books by Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #food #law #fantasyromance

Seducing The Baker
She was the only girl to turn him down. What will happen when business and a wedding bring them together again.

Jules Grayson was a player as a teen and that hasn’t changed. Business and a friend’s wedding join to bring him to the place where his life had imploded and where his trust issues began. A Ponzi scheme and a suicide forced him into a group home he hated. For ten years he has avoided returning.

Grace Sutton is faced with a dilemma added to by the appearance of Jules in her Sweet and Spicy Cupcake bakery. Years ago she turned Jules down but she had a crush. His appearance erodes the vow she made years ago. Men had used her mother and led the woman into drugs and alcohol. Grace vowed to forego relationships with men until she could support herself. Though the bakery is making money, she doesn’t feel secure. When Jules arrives with a contract for a magazine feature, she is conflicted and attracted.


Seducing The Attorney
Lauren Grant’s first meeting with Tony Carlin happened four years ago at her sister’s wedding to his older brother. There’s been an attraction but a wary one. The handsome arrogant attorney had showed disdain. At that time Lauren had been a troubled teen with streaked hair and piercings. Now, she’s working toward her Master’s in OT and has no time for more than school and her infant nephew. The death of Jamie’s parents has left Tony and Lauren as joint guardians of the baby.

Tony makes assumptions about Lauren’s current life-style. He’s as attracted to her as he was four years ago. But he’s a player and has no thought of making any commitments other than having sole custody of his nephew. He is grieving for his brother. Lauren grieves for her sister and Tony’s brother. A moment of mutual comfort sends them on a spiraling course.

Will they solve the problem of the custody and come to admit their feelings for each other


Moon Summoned
Three Moon Summoned women. Ashiera the Seer who controls the winds and sees into the thoughts of others. Dian the Warrior who controls fire and fights with the sword. Egeria the Healer who controls fluids and heals those who are injured. They are joined in their battle by Sieper a sailor who knows the winds, Kobe once sworn to the Lord of Shadows and Jetan a healer of animals. These three vow to help the three women against those sworn to Evil.
Lugal the Cabal reads the winds and thoughts. Sargon the Gladius controls fire and the armies of the Lord of Shadow. Lugal the Cabal has knowledge of herbs and uses them for evil. These three with their cohorts will face the three and three sworn to the Mistress of the Moons.

Previously published as Mistress of the Moons


Janet Lane Walters has written a story that will take you to another time and place. She gives vivid descriptions of her characters and their role in this story. Ms. Walters has constructed a civilization so real that you will feel its very existence. A place where men rule women as chattel for their sexual needs, and three evil rulers who drain their bodies of their very essence for spells and to gain power. There is betrayal and treachery inside of plots, as each priest plans to rule alone. Ashiera, Egeria, and Dian are bound to the spirits of the ones who came before them. They discover a truth that will astound them, and have them doubting their chosen path. They will experience a love that is forbidden and discover that two stand together better than one. I could feel the emotional struggle between love and destiny, described so passionately by the author. I hope Ms. Walters plans to continue this story. I could feel that this is just the beginning of this tale. Janet Walters book, Moon Bright, Moon Dark will go on my keeper shelf, beside such authors as Charlotte Boyett-Compo and Nancy Gideon. I give this story Five Hearts and recommend it highly. Enjoy!

Friday, June 17, 2016

Friday - This Writer's Wild Imagination #robotics #imagination


Recently I experienced Robotic surgery and was disappointed that I couldn't see what they were doing. After all, they let me watch while I had a double knee replacement. Why? I am a writer and every experience goes into a writer's imaginative memory. Though I didn't get to see what they were doing I did have a vision. You've all read books where the heroine is slated for a ritual death to appease some god. My imagination conjured this scene.

Imagine the OR with the large ceiling light that could be considered the sun. They wheeled me in and transferred me to the table. Asked me what my favorite piece of music. I replied "tThe 1812 Overture" but I wasn't sure that was appropriate for the procedure. So I had "The Nutcracker." Now comes the imaginational part. First they put my right arm on a board and then my left hand. They were strapped down. Then my legs were positioned. That's when I lost consciousness. But in my mind I was the sacrificial virgin, though that doesn't really apply. But writers being writers, they are able to change things a bit.

I am sorry my guest for today didn't send me her material but that's life.F

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Thursday's Opening Scene - Seducing the Attorney #MFRWauthor #romantic comedy

Tony stood at the foot of the stairs. What had just happened here? He would have taken her like an animal in rut. The moment she stepped into his arms and cried an urgency to claim her had driven every thought but possession. Not his style. Slow seduction with every move orchestrated brought great rewards. His body throbbed with desire and frustration. He wanted her beneath him while he pounded his way to completion.
Whoa! What had brought on these thoughts? He didn’t know her. He didn’t like her. There’d been a single meeting four years ago at Jim’s and Carrie’s wedding. Granted Lauren had changed, at least in appearance. Still he wondered if a runaway rebellious teen changed into a solid citizen. Not likely.
Sure her blonde hair no longer had blue and green streaks and didn’t flow to her waist. The nose and lip rings were gone and she didn’t wear skirts so tight and short little was left to the imagination. The first time they’d met she’d dressed like the hooker he believed she was. He’d been sorely tempted.
Still was. 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. But he couldn’t permit Lauren to have custody of the child. Not with the lifestyle he believed 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’d asked when Lauren would return, the answer was late. He definitely knew what that meant especially when the sitter refused to give him Lauren’s location.
The opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sounded. He pulled the phone from his pocket. “Mark…You heard the message. Thanks…I wish I could…Matt or Jules can take my place…Tell them the teacher and the shopkeeper are hot…Good luck…Call me when you return.” 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 established wouldn’t do. He groaned. Visions of the hot babes he’d met the last time he’d 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 second one was in place the happier he would be. The moment the news about the accident and the deaths had reached him, the search for a nanny had begun.
"Tony Carlin calling for Mrs. Bunche.”
A moment later the pleasant voice 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 current available candidates.”
“One PM, I’ll be there.”
“Just to warn you. Since the nanny will be a live-in she must have her own room, one separate from the child. Most of our employees insist on either Saturday or Sunday off plus one other day during the week.”
The moment 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? When that day arrived the nanny would only be needed for evenings and nights. He found paper on the counter and made a to-do list. There was another option. He could let Lauren share custody.
He nodded. She could have the kid every weekend. A frown tightened his forehead. Was that a good idea? Might put a spike in her ability to earn a living. He leaned against the back of the sofa. Perhaps another arrangement was possible. Like the one she had fled from moments before.
Laughter reached him. Lauren appeared with the infant in her arms. She dropped a blanket on the deep blue carpet and crouched to straighten the cloth. She added toys and rattles.
“Watch him while I start laundry.” She ducked 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 of here by next weekend. I want to sell the condo and put the money in the bank 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 in a dark 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 allow you to drag a different man into his life every night.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know how you earn a living. If you’re hurting for cash I’ll pay you for tonight and tomorrow night.”
“Excuse me.” She fisted her hands on her hips. “You know nothing. You’re making assumptions and that makes you an ass.” The words shot 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 infant 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.”
“His name is Jamie.” She whirled and walked away. Her black slacks fit perfectly showing her narrow waist and delectable rear. 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 where he wanted it.
The phone rang. He grabbed the receiver on the first ring. A man spoke. “See you tomorrow at eight.”
“There’s no need.” Tony hung up and chuckled. He would handle the situation when she learned she had no date. But the lady wouldn’t be disappointed.


* * *

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - Character;s Actions #MFRWauthor #Am writing


Last week we looked at the way characters reacted to situations. Reaction often calls for action. Keeping the action consistent can be a problem. Remember the action must be natural for the character's nature and to the seriousness of the situation to which he or she is reacting.

Take a man who learns the woman he's been dating is also dating another person. Th make his actions work you must consider a number of things. How long have they been dating? How important is she to him? Did they have an exclusivity bit between them.

For the man to react to an action such as murder, you'd better make sure he and the girl have been in an exclusive relationship for more than a week or two. Also is he looking at others?

Does he shrug off what happened. This would work if they were just dating with no exclusivity.

So as you see the action provoked by the reaction needs to be logical or the matter will become a tempest in a teapot. Knowing your character is important to making the fiction work.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Tuesday's Inspiration - Courage To Create - Rollo May #MFRWauthor #Aminspired

While looking through past posts I came upon this from 2010 and realized what I said then remains true today. Writing takes enough courage to be alone, to imagine the lives of your characters, to live in their world and telling their stories.

Rollo May wrote a book in 1977 called "The Courage to Create." I found it on one of my book shelves and pulled it out thinking that it could be a good jump off for writing about things that inspire. The book is geared to all those in the creative art sector but for me writing is where it's at. What surprised me is how I underlined passages and wrote in the margins little notes about my own creative process. This was read during a time when I was exploring all the facets of where I was headed in writing. Short stories, poetry, novels and sort of why I wanted to write.

I have many friends who write and I have friends who have written and who have given it up. Are they on hiatus while ideas are germinating. I'd like to think so, but I fear many of them have lost the courage to create.

Writing is a solitary business and yet it's one peopled with people and places we want to know or to visit. So exactly what is courage?

To me courage for the writer is the ability to get past the fear that there's nothing new to say. Most stories have been told before, but each person tells the story in a different fashion with different people and different places. Courage is doing when one is afraid, when one looks at despair and reaches for the distant stars.

Courage requires a knowing of one's self. Courage isn't rash, Courage is allowing the seeds inside to blossom. Do you have the courage to create?

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #Poem


Meander 1 _Poem - Fallow Fields

Fallow Fields

Fallow fields, weed-filled, choked.
Once wehre lush, once were green.
Now the briars and brambles
Cover unused land.
Neglected - unplowed
Left to stand beneath the sky
To go to seed and not produce.
The farmer comes again to claim,
To plow the unused kland.
Too long it has been waiting
Now only weeds will grow.
Fallow fields and friendships, too
Return to nature and grow wild
And go back to wildness waste.

Meander 2 - A meeting of friends, all writers. Yesterday we had our June luncheon of Hudson Valley Romance Writers. Not all the members were there. Some were missing because of death. Some had other commitments. A few are no more than names on a page. We sat around a round table and mostly talked about writing. Was a fun time and this restaurant has no problem with separate checks. Always a good thing.

Meander 3 - Typing is the order of the next few weeks. A lot to be done. Before I begin another draft of one project I want to have the remaining chapters typed. Also did a read-through of an old mss and realized how much typing will be required to make it write. Almost 90,000 words. Have begun the Cancer Capricorn Connection and have almost 4 chapters rough drafted. Am enjoying writing this.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Sunday's Book - Seducing the Attorney #MFRWauthor #romanticcomedy


Lauren Grant’s first meeting with Tony Carlin happened four years ago at her sister’s wedding to his older brother. There’s been an attraction but a wary one. The handsome arrogant attorney had showed disdain. At that time Lauren had been a troubled teen with streaked hair and piercings. Now, she’s working toward her Master’s in OT and has no time for more than school and her infant nephew. The death of Jamie’s parents has left Tony and Lauren as joint guardians of the baby.

Tony makes assumptions about Lauren’s current life-style. He’s as attracted to her as he was four years ago. But he’s a player and has no thought of making any commitments other than having sole custody of his nephew. He is grieving for his brother. Lauren grieves for her sister and Tony’s brother. A moment of mutual comfort sends them on a spiraling course.

Will they solve the problem of the custody and come to admit their feelings for each other?

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Victoria Chatham #MFRWauthor #Regency #Contemporary romance

His Dark Enchantress. https://amzn.com/B00BOW42QG
A London season is the last thing bright, beautiful Emmaline Devereux wants. Her grandfather knows he is dying and insists that she find herself a husband and secure her future. The only husband Emmaline would consider is her friend’s dark and imposing brother. But Emmaline has a past that, if revealed, will undoubtedly bring disgrace to her and those with whom she associates. Dare she risk pursuing her heart’s desire? 

Lucius, Earl of Avondale, with a secret of his own, has sworn to not marry until he is forty but fate brings Emmaline to his door. Intrigued by her, Lucius swears to unravel the mystery she presents. With a war raging between his head and the heart he is in danger of losing to her, he enters into a marriage of convenience with her. 
But then Emmaline’s past catches up with her and she is abducted. Will Lucius succeed in finding her and will the truth tear them apart or strengthen their love? 
The complete boxed set of all three novellas in the Buxton Chronicles. Cold Gold, On Borrowed Time and Shell Shocked. The story of Lord Randoph Buxton and his wife Lady Serena Buxton.
Loving That Cowboy https://amzn.com/B0161Z7M8A
Trisha Watts has a past she’d rather forget. She lost a career and nearly her life in an accident that sapped her confidence and haunts her dreams. The world famous Calgary Stampede presents a welcome diversion, but her past catches up with her in a way she could never have imagined. 

One more big rodeo win will fulfill all champion steer wrestler Cameron Carter’s ambitions but when he meets green-eyed, long-legged Trisha his ambitions turn to wrestling of another kind. Is this cowboy too hot for her to handle? 

From the pristine wilderness of the Rocky Mountains to the thundering applause of the Stampede Grounds, Trisha fights her growing attraction to Cameron – a man who sweeps her off her feet one minute then ignores her. Not trusting her heart, Trisha can barely wait for the Stampede to finish so she can go home, never expecting that Cameron will cross an ocean to track her down. 
Will she believe this determined cowboy’s explanation? Or will she close the door on what could be the love of her life? 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Friday - Who She Was Before Featuring Victoria Chatham #MFRWauthor


1. What were you in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?
I think I was always I writer, I just didn’t believe it! Amongst my cousins I was always the story teller, so putting those stories down on paper just followed naturally. I won prizes for essays while I was still in school and then grew into a typical teenager. I was more interested in good ol’ rock ‘n roll and jiving at the local dance hall at least two nights a week. Getting married and having a family put any ideas I might have had about writing on the back burner but I was always going to to write a book one day. Every job I’ve ever had has had a large customer service element and as I find people fascinating it wasn’t too difficult for me to build characters. I joked that if people weren’t nice to me I’d make them a villain in a book.
2 Are you genre specific or general? Why? I don't mean genres like romance, mystery, fantasy etc. There are many subgenres of the above.
I’d have to say general even though I mostly write Regency romance. I like to think I could branch out into other genres if I wanted to. My last release was a western contemporary romance, Loving That Cowboy, and I really had to work hard on that book. That surprised me as I thought I would have no trouble branching into a contemporary story.  My soon to be released His Ocean Vixen has been a joy to write as I’m back in the Regency period. I got so lost in it that for the last couple of months I’ve really thought of very little else.
3. Did your reading choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?
Yes, I really enjoy historical novels, especially Regency romances. I fell in love with that genre in my teens and although I enjoy a good mystery or thriller I usually come back to the Regency. I also enjoy good western romances, by Kathleen Eagle and Linda Lael Miller especially. For pure westerns I turlike Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, Larry McMurtry and Owen Wister. I tend to think of them as classical westerns.
4. What's your latest release?
This will be His Ocean Vixen, hopefully coming out mid-June. I’m working on revisions now. It’s the second in my Berkeley Square series.
Newly-wed Lady Juliana Beamish has much to look forward to but her future turns bleak when the ship she is voyaging on is attacked by pirates.

Captain Drake O’Hara serves no master and only one mistress – the sea. On course for Jamaica he is reluctant to waste time investigating wreckage strewn across the ocean’s surface but when the debris offers up a beautiful survivor, he has no option other than to take her aboard.

Drake undermines her every notion of what desire is but, uncertain if she is still a wife or might already be a widow, Juliana is unwilling to dishonor her marriage vows. Returning to England is the only recourse she has to determine her status. Can she continue to resist Drake or will she surrender to the unrelenting passions he has stirred in her?

There are two more to come in this series and might be more because as I create new characters in each story it’s a bit like ink on a blotting paper, the ideas just grow. I like to work with characters I’ve already created as they take on lives of their own and it’s not so hard to write their stories. They feel as familiar to me as old friends and I’m reluctant to let them go.
5. What are you working on now?
I’m already lining up my next book and have started with character outlines and reading histories of the area in which my book is set. This is a secret project so I can’t say too much except that I’m really excited about it. It’s set in 1935 so it is still a historical work.
6. Where can we find you?
All my books are listed on  http://bookswelove.net/authors/chatham-victoria/.  I had got really good at posting every week day on www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaChatham but have got a bit behind with finishing up His Ocean Vixen and then being on vacation. I post at least once a month on http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca and also have a regular blog page on the twenty-third of each month on www.bwlauthors.blogspot.ca.