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

Meander 1 -Poem-Woman

One half of human kind
Is called the other.
Pushed aside and neatly tied
Into a box that's called a home.
But deep inside she knows
It's just a prison house
Keeping her confined
To the captor of her life.

Meander 2 - Aging - One likes to think they are as young as they were eons ago. Not really. The weather changes and this change takes hold of every bone and joint. Carrying in the weekly shopping, eight or ten bags because you didn't want to make them too heavy. A suggestion was made to use the chair lift but that wouldn't eliminate making all those steps again and again.. One must bite the bullet and think they can do this the way they did eons ago.

Meander 3 - Writing sort of went slow the past week. Sometimes putting the words on paper seems to be a chore but then there comes that magic moment when the words grab you and your pen or fingers fly. Doing well with my current WIP the Cancer Capricorn Connection. I'h hoping to show in the story her traits like not wanting to make scenes, anger bringing tears and clinging to old things. His is for a stubborn determination that the world may revolve around his wishes. These two have some real issues to conquer. The draft I'm writing is all about the characters and hopefully this will become clear.

Sunday's Book _Series 1 - Affinities - Escape #MFRWauthor #fantasy #adventure

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

Saturday's Blurbs - featuring Books by James Di Benedetto #MFRWauthor #susoense

FINDERS KEEPERS - book one of the Jane Barnaby Adventures (on sale for $0.99) http://books2read.com/FindersKeepers

LOSERS WEEPERS - book two of the Jane Barnaby Adventures - http://books2read.com/LosersWeepers

DREAM STUDENT - book one of the Dream Series (FREE!) - http://books2read.com/DreamStudent

Friday's Interview featuring James Di Benedetto #MFRWauthor #writing

1. What were you in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?

I worked (and still do) in marketing.  Specifically, direct mail fundraising for a big national association.  But I've always been writing, since high school.  I just didn't try to make a go of it as a published author until about four years ago.  

I don't think my career really influences my writing, and sadly any skills I have in marketing at my day job haven't translated into being a marketing genius for my books yet.

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.

Nope.  I write about the characters that "come to me" and demand to be written about, and I tell their stories, whatever genre they are.  I'm honestly not even sure which subgenre my first series of books properly belongs in, because it touches several of them but doesn't really fall neatly into any one.   

3. Did your reading choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?

Not really, because my favorite genres to read are science fiction and epic fantasy, and I've never written or really even had a great idea for a fantasy story.  I do have some ideas that would be science fiction, but I've never been able to figure out how to tell them as stories - I've never found the right point of view, or the key to "unlocking" any of them so that I could write them properly. 

4. What's your latest release?

My latest release is book #2 of my newest series, the Jane Barnaby Adventures.  They're suspense/thrillers, following an archaeology student who seems to always find herself mixed up in some sort of international intrigue.  The new book is LOSERS WEEPERS, and in it, Jane ends up having to unearth a 50 year old secret and unravel a plot that goes back to the Nazis.

5. What are you working on now?

I'm working on the next Jane book, tentatively titled HER BROTHER'S KEEPER.  Jane invites her brother on a vacation to Spain, and, as you might guess from the title, trouble ensues, which Jane must somehow get him out of. 

6. Where can we find you?

All over the internet!

My website is http://www.writingdreams.net

My facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JJDiBenedettoAuthor

My Twitter is https://twitter.com/JJDiBenedetto

My Amazon Author Page is http://viewAuthor.at/JJDiBenedetto

Thursday - Second Scenes #MFRWauthor #writing

Sine I've begun a new Sunday that means a new Thursday. Instead of first scenes, I'll be posting second scenes. Here you'll see the second scene of each of my books. Often a new character will have the podium. This may be the hero, heroine or even the villain. These scenes will follow the book being focused.

I thought about doing first chapters but that makes a lot of material for someone to read so I decided on this venue for Thursdays.

That perverse person in my head made me consider posting the last scenes but who really wants to read a spoiler. I'll stick with the second scenes. I do hope you enjoy reading what comes after scene one in each of my books.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - D Is For Dialogue #MFRWauthor #dialogue #writer's tip

I debated over two Ds I feel are important but decided on Dialogue for the D factor. Without dialogue the story becomes more tell than show and can be boring and a drag. Dialogue means people interacting and can be the point in a story that sets much. Dialogue allows the writer to depict the characters, to provide information and to advance the plot. Good dialogue does one or more of these actions.

Dialogue can also be boring. Allowing the characters to go off on long rambling passages can send the reader to sleep. Sometimes the character will ask a question and the person answering  wanders around until one can't find the answer.

In real life people use those sounds that aren't dialogue. Uh is a popular one. Doing this in a story wastes words, Sometimes when I'm roughing a story all the characters sound alike. This is probably my voice creeping in. When rewriting and revising I need to look at each character and think of a number of things. Station in life, education, career choice. All of these things define a character and should be seen in their dialogue.

There is inner and outer dialogue. Inner dialogue is thought and here the writer can play. Phrases that may lead into byways are allowed. Thinking one thing and saying another aloud is also possible. I've had fun with this in several stories but the most fun in Pursuing Doctor West.

Outer dialogue is what's said aloud. Just make sure the dialogue has some kind of meaning. To make sure my dialogue I often read the dialogue aloud taking on the voices of the characters and leaving out anything that isn't spoken. Rather like reading the lines of a play. Often things jump out and say this is not the character's voice but the writer's voice. The dialogue needs to become the character's.

So this is my D. What's yours. I'm sure there are a dozen or more things you can come up with.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Exercise #MFRWauthor #inspired #exercise

Three weeks ago, I began an exercise regime. Before that I started walking and found that boring, boring. Then the heat wave came and walking was only for fools. So I started doing some exercises. I'm gradually adding to the reps and so far of the three exercises I'm up to 3 reps of ten for each. I do look at the exercise bike and will add that to my groups of exercises.

Doing these exercises gives me an energy boost. Not sure it adds to my writing productivity but the added energy allows for longer periods of alertness. When you write, youhave to be alert and carry so many plots and sub plots in your head so you don't mess up the current work in progress.

Maybe I'll lose a bit or weight or some inches or fractions but that's not the reason to exercise. Just another way to keep the mind perking along.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #poetry #amwriting

 Meander 1 - Poem - Return to Gaisho

Japanese restaurant
Last year
I went there - a birthday treat.Thatched ancient farm house
Bad trip - embarrassed by
Companion who drank too much.
I sat and wished I was being cooked
On the center griddle table.
Sometimes a bad trip repeated
Becomes a time of joy.
One different companion this year
This time - three that I love.
A quiet time - no drunken noise
Just love and sweet plum wine.

Meander 2 - Robo Calls and Spam - I've decided the numerous robocalls received every day are the spam of the telephone. I find a lot of spam that I don't have to read on line. This morning the robocall was funny. I lifted the phone and their tape was stuck. The canned voice kept saying hello, hello, hello. Probably the best one I received. Most of these calls sound like they're made by people in foreign lands. They probably are but I spend a lot of time hanging up. As to the spam some of them are also amusing like the ones for dating services. No thanks I'm married have been for more than fifty years. Also the ones for teeth implants amust me. I have dentures. So they go. At least they're easily deleted.

Meander 3 - Have started the third draft of The Cancer Capricorn Connection and this is going well. The last four chapters will need the most work since the book went off track at one point but I halled those characters back to reality. Still typing and revising an old book now called Past Betrayals, Past Loves. The book is good but long. A reincarnation book.

Sunday - Looking At My Series #MFRWauthor #writing # book series

I'm starting a new Sunday feature. Today there won't be a book featured but in the future there will be. I've always been hooked on reading series but in my own writing I've found most of my series stop with six. Some times more as in the Moon Child series but that's a work in progress. Series come in several fashions. One is where the same characters appear in each book of the series with major roles. Two of my series fit this category. The Affinities Series, the Jewels of Erda series and the Alternate Egypt series..

Then there are the series where a town or something else if the focus of the series. The characters may or may not be present in the series. Here comes Moon Child series, Opposites in Love series, the Mrs. Miller Series, the Island of Fyre series and At First Sight series.

I also have series that aren't series - one is my nurse doctor or medical romance books that have medicine as a common base. These are stand alone books but they have the hospital and medicine as a uniting factor.

Then there are the series begun and not abandoned exactly but put on the back burner until a story comes to mind.

So these will be some of the books featured each Sunday and some of them will have new books or even new homes to be featured. I'm in the process of adding another book to one of the series and perhaps two more to complete the cycle.

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Kimbra Kasch #MFRWauthor

BOOK 1)

MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is a tale of extraordinary lives and epic adventures. This tale weaves the legends of Holger Danske and Morgaine Le Fay together.

Theirs was a romance that threatened two kingdoms.

An attraction more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than all the powers of Merlin:

MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING.

Everyone has heard of King Arthur and his magical sword, Excalibur, but there’s another legendary hero who received a magical sword from the Norse Goddess known as The Lady of the Lake. Meet Holger Danske and his sword “Cortana”.

The Vikings, led by Holger Danske, invaded England. Yet somehow, even as enemies, Holger and King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay, shared a forbidden love.

BLURB

Travel across oceans, continents and countries to discover the story of legendary Viking hero, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with King Arthur’s half-sister in Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking

This is the story of two warriors who never thought they’d find love, especially on the battlefield, yet standing poised against each other Morgaine and Holger face an attraction more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than all the powers of Merlin.

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Morgaine-Fey-Vikings-Kimbra-Kasch-ebook/dp/B01L88QPTW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473136773

BOOK 2)

DEMON’S INK

Drake and Bartos come to the Pacific Northwest, where they open yet another tattoo shop but Bartos has no trouble dealing with the competition because there’s nothing normal about his art. And he’s stealing more than clients from the local skin artists. He's stealing their souls. Customers fall in love with Bartos Slinderman’s tats but end up paying the ultimate price for their purchase because unlike Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, they can’t walk away from this art and it’s beautiful until it comes crawling out of their flesh to devour the nearest thing...

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Ink-Kimbra-Kasch/dp/192797349X

BOOK 3)

THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK

Savannah meets Kyle and quickly starts to fall for him. And why wouldn't she? He's per-fect, as far as she knows. But when she starts finding dead animals in her yard and hears something scratching at her window, after the sun goes down, she starts to worry. Maybe Kyle isn't everything she thought he was - maybe he's something more.

BUY LINK:

https://www.amazon.com/Cats-Cullaby-Creek-Kim-Kasch-ebook/dp/B01AVVSB44

Friday's Interview featuring Kimbra Kasch #MFRWauthor

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

I’ve always loved creating characters, whether it’s acting, wearing a mask or writing stories.

When I was in high school, I used to be in all the plays, when I got older, my husband and I did dinner theater. I always wrote stories, or when my kids were little, I told them bedtime stories I made up, using their names as the characters. They loved to hear me tell tales especially when they were the characters.

And, now, I still dress up on Halloween.

 

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?

My characters are always talking to me, in my head…so they exist before the plot…usually. Sometimes I dream a dream about a story and I can’t forget it until I write it down. So, I guess, it goes both ways for me.

I never plot out my stories…I let my characters direct their journey ;D

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

In general, I always know how the story will end. It’s like watching a movie inside my mind…I usually know how things will turn out.

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

I write about places I know, settings I’ve visited that have captured my heart and soul.

It’s easier for me to describe places I’ve been that I can’t forget.

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

Research is like getting on Pinterest…three hours later I forget what I originally was looking for. I can use the library, on-line websites and a lot of times I actually visit the locations to get a firsthand impression.

Thursday's Opening Scene - The Amber Chronicles #MFRWauthor #Fantasy #romance

Amber Chronicles

The Amber Orb

Strains of music wafted from the ball room of the Amber Palace into the garden. Emme tapped her foot against the flagstone walk in an angry counterpoint to the dulcet tones. With each passing moment, the realization of another failure strengthened. Four times a prince had appeared at the palace seeking her hand in marriage. Four times the prince had chosen one of her younger sisters. Tonight the last prince would name her youngest as his chosen bride.

With great effort Emme capped her anger. Lysanda would pay just as her other sisters had. As the oldest, she should have been the first to find a bridegroom. Envy twisted with jealousy to form a rope binding her thoughts. This prince should be here for he was the last of the eligible ones in this world called Amber suited for training as a wizard and destined to sit on the amber throne beside Emme’s.

The scent of roses, jasmine and bluet filled the air with their sweet breath. The heavy aroma pressed against her forcing Emme to gasp.

She heard light tapping of slippers on the stones and knew Lysanda approached. Her sister expected to find Prince, what was his name, waiting to declare his love. Then amber lights would radiate across the night sky announcing Emme had failed again. That would not happen.

Lysanda came into view. Her hair, a few shades darker than Emme’s pure amber tones, hung in ringlets down her back. “Where is Rendel?” she asked.

“Looking for you,” Emme said. “I sent him to the Tower of Sighs.”

“Why?”

Emme stepped toward her sister. She smiled at the alarm in Lysanda’s pale blue eyes. Only Emme’s matched the blue of a summer sky. “You stole him. He was to be my prince.”

Lysanda asked. “He fell in love with me. His heart once given can never change.” She stepped closer. “Don’t think to take him from me. That is impossible.”

Emme fisted her hand on her hips. “I have no desire for a man who chose another over me. I’m sure he believes he will be able to rule you for your power is small and you can never sit on the amber throne. You have taken my last chance for love and rulership. I will take what he feels is important from you.”

Lysanda tore her gaze from Emme’s face. “What do you mean?”

“Face me, sister. Power against power or are you afraid?”

“I fear no one. I am a witch with power equal to yours.”

Emme heard a slight tremor in her sister’s voice. Knowledge filled her. She would drain Lysanda and leave her weak. Three times before she had faced a sister and won. She would win this time as well.

She drew the wind to eddy around Lysanda in wispy bands to speed and tightened them. One by one Lysanda broke the restraints. With each snap, Emme absorbed the power of the breaking.

Emme set the torches of the garden blazing. Tendrils of fire flowed toward her sister.

Lysanda gathered the flames and sent burning orbs toward Emme. “You will not win.”

Emme pulled water from the fountain. Fire and water met turning to steam shrouding the air with sizzling vapor. With slow steps Emme moved through the mist. The earth shook beneath her feet. Lysanda’s body wove in an attempt to remain standing.

Emme grasped her sister’s wrist. “Cede to me.” She drained the essence of magic from her sister’s cells.

“A curse I cry.” Lysanda’s shrill voice pierced Emme’s concentration. “Long will you search. Until you can give with forcing and demanding you will be alone.”

Those words forced Emme to release her sister. Lysanda slumped to the ground. Four times one of her sisters had shouted the same curse. Four times a sister had survived. She raised her hand and released all she’d taken from Lysanda. Brilliant flashes of light colored the night sky with all the colors possible except for amber.

She heard the sound of pounding boots. The prince stepped into view. “What have you done?”

“What I had to. Lysanda remains a witch and in a hundred years or so she will recover. You will never become a wizard. You will never rule the world called Amber.

The prince drew his sword and stalked toward her. “Why have you done this to my beloved?”

“You chose the wrong sister as those before you have done. Take her. Announce your betrothal. You can’t defeat me. You are the last to try.”

The sword slipped from his hands. Lysanda stirred. He lifted her into his arms. “My love.” He glared at Emme. “You will never find love until you love another more than you love yourself.”

Emme turned and strode from the garden. Why didn’t triumph fill her? Her life had been destroyed. There would be no chance to take her rightful place. She hurried to her tower. Why did the shimmer amber walls seem cloaked with gray? Instead of going to her room at the tower’s peak where the city spread before her, she fled to the dark basement and sat in a shadowed corner.

* * *

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - C is for Characters #MFRWauthor #writing

Today's letter is C and though there are other things that could be involved the obvious is C Is For Characters.

Without characters there would be no story. There are kinds of writing that don't have characters but for fiction, a Character is a must.  Actually there should be a number of characters in each story. Though I once read a story told all from the viewpoint of a man who had suffered a stroke and the story involved, not really his memories but a bunch of people who were things like the doctor, the nurse, the wife, the children. None of these had much to do with the story other than the main one's meanderings through not really being conscious and not being able to talk. This was an interesting but but I'm not sure it was a story.

Back to characters. Every good story needs a strong hero, heroine or villain. Sometimes all three. Some times the character is his own worst enemy. When developing the primary characters, the writer needs to pit strength against strength. To have one of the characters as being weak doesn't draw the reader in.

Also the character or characters need to have traits that make them unique. They need problems that will appeal to the reader and they need goals to strive to achieve that are within reach. Making the goal an impossible one for the character isn't a story people would like to read.

There are many other things about character development I've addressed before. What's your take on character. Do you have another idea what C is for...?

Tuesday's Inspiration - My Books On Sale #MFRWauthor #medical suspense #fantasy #Historical #hospital politics medical romance

This week I'm being inspired by the number of my books on sale for a limited time. I would be more inspired if the readers would leave me a slew of reviews.

First there is  Searches - A fantasy for all ages and is the third book of Affinities.

Then there is the free book Heart Throb where age is an issue for the heroine and not so much for the hero.

Gemstones is the only Regency romance I've ever done and is on sale for a limited time.

Choices also on sale for a limited time involves hospital politics

Code Blue has my favorite villain causing havoc in the hospital and is on sale for a limited time.

Finally Healwoman - a convoluted fantasy that involves three dying women and how they find themselves in another world where they must combat evil.

How about you? When your books are on sale do you scurry to finish your current work?

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #Poem #amwriting

Meander 1 - Poem - Cloud Picnic

We ate above the world.
We three.
You bored.
She lonely.
And I looking for seclusion from the problems of my friends.
A misting rain began to fall
Before we reached out site.
And as we sat the cloudsSurrounded the car and us.
The world outside vanished.
We became part of the cloud.
The station windows open.
The clouds accepted our invitation.
They drifted in to touch us with crisp kisses
Of cool and stinging drops of water,
They misted on my body
And brought forgetfulness.
Light and lilting kisses
Caresses, cool and crisp.

Meander 2 - Memories - sometimes the poems I wrote in the past evoke memories from years ago. Memories of two close friends who have vanished in the mist. Memories of other times when I seemed to be a different person. But memories are often forgotten as one moves on with the life they've chosen to live.

Meander 3 -  Writing - Am nearing the end of the plot draft of the Cancer Capricorn Connection and will soon be ready to move into the Setting Draft. Hopefully that will end the need for complete re-writes of the story and for the Character and Revision drafts all I'll have to do is scribble all over the printed pages. and key the corrections in. Though I feel the last three chapters will need a third re-write. Not feeling yet that I must finish this book at once so that is good. It's been a long time since I've had a new book on the shelves.

Sunday's Book - The Amber Chronicles #MFRWauthor #Fantasy #romance #witch #dragon

Amber Chronicles Collection: Emme, a witch and the heir to the throne of the world called Amber is banished from her home to find love. She believes she can command a man to love her but this does not work. Angry at being told no by the crown prince of Rivand she casts a spell on the Riva family. Every hundred years when the moon is full at the summer solstice she will call the crown prince. If he refuses to cede his love to her he will enter the amber orb and vanish. Four times she fails and the princes find adventure on other worlds. One turns an enchanted amber dragon into a princess. The second is imprisoned in an amber tower and must select a bride. The third must free the heroine from an amber cage. Emme slowly learns her lesson and returns to spend her childhood with the fourth prince. Hoping knowing each other will help. She has fallen in love with the crown prince and enters the amber orb in his place. Can Emme who is Cast in Amber be freed and gain the love she has sought for all those years?

Reviews:
FOUR STARS! The witch's curse of zapping princes into an amber orb is one of my favorites. This story is the fate of the very first prince. It reads much like a fairy tale, where at least one moral is to be learned. An enchanting fantasy. **** Detra Fitch

3.0 out of 5 starsRomance

By Stanley R. Dennett on April 18, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

It was OK. It was not what I thought it was when I ordered t but I went ahead and read it anyway. More of a romantic novel than anything. I thought that it was either Fantasy or SciFi when I ordered it.

5.0 out of 5 starsJanet Lane Walters does it again.

By Kat Taylor on March 8, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

JLW has written another winner. Her talent for world building has made her a favorite in the fantasy field. Strong characters draw you in and don't let go until the last page

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Daryl Devore #MFRWauthor

FL.E.S.H.

FLame's Electrifying Sexy Heat

When secrets conflict with dreams, love explodes.

After a mistake by a surgeon’s scalpel shattered Fuchsia Quinn's dance career, she picked up the pieces of her life and moved forward. As the owner of a small, struggling dance school in a depressed neighborhood she supplements her income with a late night job at a dive bar. Haunted by the fear of humiliation, if her secret is revealed, her life was under control until the night he walked into the bar.

Peyton Lang, having run from a bad neighborhood, lives the lifestyle of a successful billionaire. Frustrated that his current multi-million dollar project is stalled, Peyton drops in to LEATHER-ICIOUS for a simple drink and late night entertainment. What he saw was a beautiful redhead. What he found was he wanted her.

After a lusty night with a hot pole dancer, Peyton and Fuchsia's worlds are about to collide.

US AMAZON

CDN AMAZON

iTunes

Print copy - Barnes and Noble 

Brace for Impact

What could be simpler than a routine plane trip from Toronto, Canada to Caracas, Venezuela for a rookie flight attendant and a sexy R.C.M.P. officer?

But Fate had other intentions.

After leaving a disastrous marriage, Paix Allcot begins a new career as a flight attendant. The romance of travel plus the desperate need to be on any other continent other than the one her ex is on seems like a dream job. For the first time, Paix is no longer a trainee and the passengers in economy class are under her care. Especially the handsome passenger seated in 36C.

Guy Lapierre, undercover officer, is following a vicious human-trafficker. He has little time for relationships. Too many innocent lives are at stake. But when the plane crashes and Guy is stranded on a tropical island, he is forced to work with Paix to survive. All is well  until he discovers that the man he is tracking is Paix's older brother.

Can a pink bra and a hot night on the side of a volcano save the relationship and their lives?

What Happens in Bangkok (TBR)

Erika Bailey, owner/manager of a drag queen club in Bangkok, Thailand has happily settled into all aspects of her new life, except for her lack of a love life. When a new diva auditions, Erika is bewildered over her instant attraction to the blond God, Apollo.

Darien Scott is on vacation after a world tour and mistakenly figures the safest place to be is at The Black Dragon with the head of a Triad. When the club is hit, Darien is the only person to get out alive. Now he's running from the police and a Triad. Mistake number 1.

Disguised as a drag queen, he's hired by Erika, but falls hard for his new boss, then struggles with not coming clean with her. Mistake number 2.

Can he fix his mistakes and find a life filled with love or is he headed straight for mistake number 3?

Friday's Interview - featuring Daryl Devore #MFRWauthor #genres

1.  What's your genre or do you write in more than one?

I write in erotic anything. If I can stick erotic in front of it, I'll have a go at it. I have 2 erotic contemporary billionaire stories, an erotic twisted fairy tale, an erotic medieval romance, an erotic contemporary fantasy, an erotic contemporary crash romance and an up and coming erotic contemporary rock star romance.

2. Did you choose your genre or did it choose you?

It was chosen for me. I wrote a romance. Someone suggested making it hotter and ta da – erotic romance writer.

3.  Is there any genre you'd like to try?  Or is there one you wouldn't?

Mystery. Mystery stories fascinate me. I don't think I'd ever want to try Creative Literary Fiction. Definitely not my cup of tea.

4.  What fiction do you read for pleasure?

Mysteries – I have all of Agatha Christies, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dorothy L Sayers' works, plus several other authors.

5.  Tell me a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

I live on the Ontario side of the Ontario/Quebec border. When I'm not writing, I'm a yoga class. I love to garden and cook.

As to writing, I've been telling stories as long as I can remember and at some point I began to write them down.

6.  Which of your characters is your favorite?

I think it's pretty much which ever hero I am currently working on. My latest is a rock star and I think he's a fun guy. He was certainly fun to write.

7.  Are there villains in your books and how were they created?

Not usually, but in my latest there is. His name is Gan and he's the head of security for a Triad and he's a major creep. I characterized him with traits I thought would bother people. Even his hands are super cold. I didn't base him on any well-known villain – just sat back and thought how do I make this guy look and sound creepy.

8.  What are you working on now?

My latest – What Happens in Bangkok – is currently at the editors for a second run through. It is book 1 of a trilogy.  The other 2 books are written so I guess it is time for me to go back to the erotic medieval fantasy I started about 3 years ago. This one has a dragon in it.

9.  What's your latest release and how did the idea arrive?

My latest release is called Brace for Impact. It was one of 7 crash romance stories in a box set with some other fantastic authors. We decided to break the box set up and release our stories as singles. The idea was a plane crash in a remote spot and let the romance begin.

Thursday's Opening Scene - Gemstones #MFRWauthor #Historial #romance

Calcutta, July 1810

"Miss Nicola. Miss Nicola."

The whisper woke Nicola Gordon. Like wasps around ripe fruit, tales of native uprisings swarmed in her thoughts. She groped beneath the pillow for the knife she kept there.

The girls. She had to protect her sisters.

"Miss Nicola, wake up."

"Who?" She tried to keep fear from clogging her voice.

"Sarad."

"What are you doing here? Where’s Papa?" Just two days ago, she had seen her father and his young native assistant off on a buying trip. Fear gripped her spine. The knife fell from her fingers.

"Your father. You must come."

"I can’t leave my sisters. What if they wake and find me gone?"

"They will be safe. Your papa needs you. We were set upon by thugs and he was hurt. I found a safe place for him to stay until I am sure we were not followed."

Nicola pushed aside the netting that enclosed the bed. She found her shoes and grabbed a dark cloak. Her heart thudded in her chest. Though she and Sarad had engaged in mischief years ago, her childhood friend had become sober and responsible. So had she.

"Where is he?"

"The place is not far." He slid open the door to the verandah. Nicola followed him to the gate in the compound wall. The aroma of wet earth rose from the garden, but outside the gates, the recent rains had failed to mask the scent of exotic flower and spices of the odor of garbage. The absence of the moon created an ominous darkness. She hurried through alleys and along streets beside her silent guide. Her thoughts conjured a thousand tragedies.

She stumbled. A groan escaped.

Sarad gripped her arm. "Be silent as the tiger stalking prey."

His warning chilled her. Who knew what would happen to an Englishwoman caught in the streets at night.

Ahead, she saw the looming shadow cast by one of the city’s many temples built to honor one of India’s multitude of gods. Why had they come here?

Sarad pulled her into a dark passageway that led into the temple. Their passing stirred the dust of the ages, musty and dank. Finally, they emerged in a torch-lit room. She followed her friend to a recessed alcove.

"Papa!" The blood-stained bandages around his chest and head alarmed her. "Papa, oh, Papa." She knelt on the stone floor beside him.

His dark eyes were unfocused. His skin felt hot.

"The eye. Siva. The eye."

"I don’t understand."

"Nicola. Must warn. Must tell."

"She is here, Sahib Gordon."

Nicola gripped her father’s hand. The flickering torchlight revealed his pain-filled features. "Papa, I will take you home and see to your wounds."

He took a shuddering breath. "Must leave Calcutta."

"Where will we go?" She couldn’t think of leaving. Calcutta was home.

"To England. Ian Grey will send an escort." He gasped a breath. "Your grandmother and Denmere. Old Earl dead. Marry the new. Distant cousin."

His words shocked her nearly as much as her memories. "My grandmother did not protect Mama. I don’t want to marry and live with strangers." Why was he saying this? He would get better and until then, she could care for her sisters. For ten years, since her mother’s death, this had been the case.

His fingers tightened around hers. "You must. Danger for you. For sisters." He struggled to sit up. "Your knowledge. Gems."

Fresh blood seeped through the dried stains on the bandages. "Rest, Papa." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I cannot leave you."

"Protect sisters."

She chewed her lower lip. "I will keep them safe."

He sank back. "Promise. Marry Denmere."

She couldn’t say the words. "Papa."

He pressed a velvet pouch into her hand. "For you and sisters. Not Fergus. Now go."

Though she thought about disobeying, she kissed his cheek. As she and Sarad left the alcove, tears cascaded down her cheeks and blurred her sight. She stopped to wipe her eyes and stifled a gasp.

Torchlight illuminated statues and wall carvings of men and women engaged in activities she had read of in the Sanskrit manuscripts her teacher had given her. Her eyes widened in astonishment. She hadn’t believed the human body could assume such convoluted positions.

Sarad grasped her arm. "We must go."

His whisper broke the spell. She tore her gaze from the figures that fascinated and repelled. Her cheeks burned as though she stood beneath the mid-day sun. She followed Sarad into the dark passageway.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - B is for Back Story #MFRWauthor #writing

Last week I garnered a lot of friends bringing their comments so here we go with another letter.

B is for Back Story - Like Topsy characters aren't just born. The back story gives a lot of information about the main characters in the story. A writer wants to know the life story of the characters they create. Where were they born? When were they born? What social standing did they have or lack? How much education have they had? There are so many little facts that may or may not mean anything when the character takes stage front in a story. Still this info is needed.

Some writers have long bios of each character in their book. This can become unwieldy. Some writers develop the back story as they rough draft the story. The many details creep into the writer's mind and suddenly the character becomes more alive.

Back story does a number of things in the story. Often the reason for the character's goals in written in his or her back story. Even the goal can be there. A poor man wants to become rich. His back story would be different from the rich man who wants to become richer.

There is one thing that the writer needs to remember is though her or she needs to know the character's back story there is no need to write pages and pages about the character's back story. Feeding in the important facts bit by bit gives the character depth.

So what's your take on B is for back story or do you have another B you would like to share?

Tuesday's Inspiration Sixth Sense #MFRWauthor #inspiration

I've used the five ordinary senses to show how they can help a story, characters and setting become more vivid and alive. Those of us who write paranormal stories often use the sixth sense which is a number of things gathered under the term ESP or Extrasensory perception. There are times when a touch of this sense helps me when I'm writing a non-paranormal story.

Some people might call this an aha moment but for me it seems like the idea is pulled from the air. Could I be sensing someone's spoken words or is this because a scent or a touch triggers something that is known deep inside us.

Tapping into the sixth sense can be eerie. There have been times when a dream has led me to a story that has no reality but the dream seems real. Perhaps there are no thought readers or people who can tell the history of an object just by touch. But sometimes when writing and digging into our unconscious there really seems to be a sixth sense out there. Writers often seem to work in a trance and are so deep in their story when they are called into this world they feel as if they've been awakened.

So sixth sense or not there are moments when the writer just knows something and that knowledge is translated into words. So delve into your unconscious mind and find those nuggets that seem to appear from the air.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #poetry #hurricanes #writing

Meander 1 - Poem - The Barker

The Barker shouts
Come in, come in.
What will you have
Some love
Perhaps some sympathy
I'll try to find it for you
In the sideshow tent
And empathy comes in streams.
Barker keeps on screaming
What do you want>
I feel your pain.
And frenzied hands
Keep reaching
Taking little bits.
The barker gives until I die
And never, never gets.

Meander 2 _ Hurricanes - There is a hurricane coming, That was a few days ago. I have children in both of the areas where the storm is predicted to arrive. One child and her family decides to stick things out. Fortunately the hurricane missed them. Oh, there was rain and some winds but nothing like other places have. The other child left and found a safe place to stay. So all the worry I had was nothing. But worrying is what a mother does.

Meander 3 - Writing - Am really working on the Cancer Capricorn Connection. This draft always takes longer than any other. Rough drafts take maybe a day or a little longer for each chapter. Now it's the plot draft and holes need to be plugged, radical changes made since things changed when I went from the beginning to the end. The other drafts will be easier - I hope. That's what a writer does besides putting the words on paper, they also hope this story will be better than the last.

Sunday's Book - Gemstones by Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #historical #romance

When Nicola Gordon and her younger sisters travel from India to England, she goes to a marriage she doesn’t want.

Drew Barlow has no desire for marriage, but his distant cousin and Nicola’s grandfather, ran the estates into debt. Drew agrees to the marriage for the money and to please the Dowager, Nicola’s grandmother, but he has no trust for women or for love.

When the two meet they clash and come together, igniting a blazing attraction they cannot resist.

Janet Lane Walter's latest book Gemstones is a stunning tale of the differences between two cultures, English and Indian, and what occurs when two different cultures clash. After the death of her father, eldest daughter Nicola Gordon must take charge of her family, fifteen-year-old Elizabeth, a budding flirt, and ten year old Margaret, a hoyden of the worst degree.

Reviews :

By M. Fullington on January 7, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

Gemstones
by Janet Lane Walters

Nicola has been raised in India but when her father passes, she must seek out marriage to protect her sisters and herself. Drew has his own demons. His childhood shaped the man he’s become. Forced to marry for money, he is pleased with a match with Nicola. Unfortunately, their pasts get in the way of their happiness and future.

The dramatic storytelling of British society against the backdrop of a young lady who is experiencing it new, draws the reader deeply into the tale. Nicola is intelligent, witty, and a take charge person. Yet, she’s insecure, unsure of her decisions and impulsive. All things that make her “real”. Readers will want to shake the characters at times for not finding time to talk or share their feelings but when they’ve had such upbringing, it’s understandable and lends more passion to the story.

Ms. Walters shows a deep knowledge for the culture of India and gemstones in this story as she weaves a masterful tale of two people who need to be loved. I wasn’t able to put the story down.

Regency Romp, murder, mystery, suspense, romance

By Rosemary Morris on August 1, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

Gemstones by Janet Lane Water

In July 1810, Nicola Gordon’s father has been fatally wounded. Before he dies, he gives her a pouch of gemstones, one of which is the third eye of Siva (whose name is usually spelt Shiva) a sapphire. An expert on gemstones, Nicola is forced by circumstances beyond her control to flee to England with her sisters, where a warm welcome from their grandmother awaits them, and agree to a marriage of convenience to impoverished Drew Barlow, Earl of Denmere.

The earl, who has no reason to trust women – including his mother, an adulteress - marries Nicola for her fortune and to have an heir. Appointed her two sisters’ guardian in their father’s will, he is determined to be in complete control of his wife, his wards and his estates.

As time goes by Drew lusts over Nicola and she compares him to Siva.

Unfortunately, Nicola compares Drew to Siva when she sees Drew’s muscular body and brown skin.

Nicola grew up in India. She would have known that Siva’s skin tone is very pale blue. Apart from this moksha – liberation - is referred to as muksha. Also, I suspended belief when a reference is made to Nicola’s Indian teacher introducing her to a study of the kama sutra an ancient Sanskrit guide to sex. I could not imagine a young memsahib – no matter how indulgent her father was – being permitted to study it.

However, I think readers who enjoy unusual, sensual novels, with engaging characters will enjoy Gemstones, an amusing romp.

5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful!

By JKlopp on February 20, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

Well written novel at an excellent price point. Not trashy and has an excellent storyline that keeps you interested until the last possible second.

4.0 out of 5 starsGood Book kept me interested

By LadySam78 on April 15, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

This was a good read! It kept your attention. You loved the heroine and appreciated all she went through. I love the happy endings :)