Helen Henderson is Visiting and Talking bout being a Panster or Plotter. #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor Fantasy #dragons

 

Panster or Plotter

Day 1

1. Are you a panster or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both?

I would say that I am more of an explorer, which is a combination of plotter and pantser. Each project starts off as a plotter and the creation of a storyboard. The scene notes contains a check-off for the purpose of the scene such as characterization, enhance the setting, or advances the plot. The storyboard is not the numbered structure of a traditional outline. It’s format is bullet points and it contains dialog, setting, and is in essence more a first draft than a true outline. At some point, the characters take over and the plotter submerges beneath the more free-wheeling pantser and the storyboard turns into a second draft.

2. Which comes first - characters or plot for you?

 

Although I need to know at least some aspect of the main characters, I work the plot first, letting the characters develop as they will.

3. What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?

 

The release of Fire and Redemption last month means I am in the middle ground between projects. I had thought a third book to tell the final chapter in Trelleir’s search to find the homeland of his dragon kin was the next logical project. However, a different land has been nagging to be explored. Whether it is a fantasy world or a science fiction exploration, adventure and some amount of romance is promised.

4. Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves.

Caves have appeared in all three of my series. The uses varied from travelers’ shelters to an underground temple, a dragon’s lair and hatching cave, and the hiding place of a magical relic. Gems have also made a few appearances, especially in the Tear Stone Collectors. When a dragon cries, their tears fall as precious jewels. Each tear stone is imbued with the magic of its creator. And for special humans, the jewels can enhance the person's natural powers or even provide the ability to take on dragon form. However, I admit to one thing appearing in al the fantasy books – magical breeds of equines. One word of warning, the horses chose their riders. Those who try to get into the saddle when they are not the animal’s chosen one will measure their length in the dirt.

5. Do you write every day or just when the spirit hits?

I would like to say I write every day. And for a good number of years I did. Now, even though I am no longer a full-time caretaker, life and age get in the way My resolution this year was to write every day even if it is a blog post, a hop, or a writing prompt challenge.

6. Where can we find you?

 

Website / Blog – http://www.helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com/

Amazon - https://www.amzn.com/e/B001HPM2XK

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HelenHenderson.author/

Goodreads – http://bit.ly/1eWhhGB

Twitter –https://twitter.com/history2write

7. Who are your favorite authors? What about a book you’ve enjoyed?

Over the years I have devoured Kathrine Kurtz’s Adept series, and have gone through phases where I read adventures written by Leslie Charteris, the 007 books by Ian Fleming, and westerns by Louis L'amour. Then throw in some science fiction by Asimov to round out the genres. But the number one favorite author is the queen of Dragonhold, Anne McCaffrey. In addition to riding a dragon, you can explore outer space and encounter strange creatures in the Talent Universe series.

Ruth Casie is Visiting and talking about being a Plotter or a Panster #MFRWAuthor #Panster #Plotter #romance #gems

 

1.     Are you a panster or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both?

I am a plotster. I write a narrative document with the important points of the story. If you think of a movie or a play, there is the inciting innocent or where the story begins, things get bad then sort of get better, then they get back again and somewhat improve and then the black moment happens when all is lost. In a romance, we promise a happily ever after (or at least happy for now) so the black moment is resolved. Those are the points I plan.

 

2.     Which comes first - characters or plot for you?

This is not an easy answer. For example, when I wrote The Lady and Her Quill, the plot came first. I based that story on a bad review I received on the first book I published. My new story, The Lady and the Barrister, Marianna Ravencroft, our heroine came first. She is an event planner extraordinaire! She doesn’t charge for her services, heaven forbid she took money, but had her clients donate the fee to the Sommer-by-the-Sea Foundation that served the underprivileged.
 

3.     What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?

The Lady and the Barrister is in pre-order and releases April 10. This story is about two friends who have lost touch with each other. Both find themselves the center of attention for the single status and abundance of influence and blunt. They decide to masquerade as a courting couple while they each look for the perfect person for each other. As for the inspiration for this plot. There is a scene in this story that is similar to one that played out when I dated my husband.

 

I have not been idle! I am working on the next book in the series, The Lady and the Earl. This story is set for a June release. This story is about a woman who has all the knowledge and skills of a premier doctor. She is welcomed by the family of the man she loves, but the same cannot be said about some of her fiancé’s friends, especially one female in particular. The woman’s gaslighting behaviors are a prescription for disaster. Can their love survive?

 

4.     Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves.

You will find a gem prominently on the cover of each book in this series that plays a role in the story. I had written The Lady and the Spy and was editing it when we visited our son and his family in Boston. I had just received the cover. I eagerly showed it to him, and my heart sank. I hadn’t described the gem correctly.

 

5.     Do you write every day or just when the spirit hits?

 

I have outlined a rigorous launch plan for myself. To meet my deadlines, I plan to write every day, although sometimes that doesn’t happen.

 

6.     Where can we find you?

 

Here is a list of where you can find me:

Website: https://ruthacasie.com/

Ruth’s Newsletter Signup:  https://www.subscribepage.com/ruthacasie

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/

Facebook private reader’s page, Casie Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963711677128537/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RuthACasie

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/ruthacasie  

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Ruth-A-Casie

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ruthacasie

 

7.     Who are your favorite authors? What about a book you’ve enjoyed?

 

I have been enamored with The Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas and Wrexford and Sloane series by Andrea Penrose. Both series take place in Victorian London. Both series have intelligent strong heroines. They both also have powerful strong men who are not intimidated by their woman and who do all they can to help her succeed.

 

Thursday at eclecticwriter.blogspot,com Janet Laen Walters is talking about writing Gemstones #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Regency #romance #Jewels #India

 O really enjoy reading Regency romances so I decided to write one. Actually, I had four friends I considered turning into lives. I began Gemstones with tons of research,  and an idea. I wanted to bring the heroine from India where she lived with her father and sisters. Her mother had died ane as the oldest of three girls, Nicola became their guardian. The sisters were interesting to develop but where to find a hero and a reason for them to travel to England. Then the idea of a greedy uncle who was partner to Noclla's father occurred. Also there was the grandmother whose daughter had run away and married a man heading to India. The hero was a relative of the grandmother. Thus the story began.

Writing this book allowed me to explore India in books and also gems. Connecting a gem to a statue from India was good. Also allowing the heroine to have explored Indian mythology was another plus in developing the story. The conflict with the hero is partially based onher knowledge which is only book learning, not the experience the hero believes. The book was a fun one to write but the three other books in what was to be a series all encountered glitches in developing the story lines.

 

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Thursday Characters from Confrontations Affinities Book 4 #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #epic fantasy #Swords #Gems #evil defeated

This book features the characters whose epic journey began in Escape.The twelve young  people who have affinities for the elements, air, earth, water and fire, Now meet those who have opposed them during their long journey and learning processes. 

Dom Senet and He Who Walks With Evil are the opponents, aided by four who also each have and affinity to one of the elements. These four have been corrupted by Dom Senet.

Doma Jandia and Dragen will lend what help they can.

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Thursday's Opening Scene from Gemstones #BWLAuthpr #MFRWAuthor #Romance #Regency #India #Gems

 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.

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Wednesday Temple of Fyre #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Fantasy #Romance #Gems

 

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here  http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com  for some great excerpts. Mine is from Temple of Fyre She learns the truth and is banished from the temple

BLURB:

Sold by her family to the priestesses of the Temple of Fyre, Ria soon masters using each of the four fyrestones, white, yellow, orange and scarlet. Her curiosity leads her to the archives and there, she learns things that disturb her. There are no men serving as priests but in the past there were. Men are kept in the harras where the priestesses visit. On the day of her testing she is ordered to perform a task she dislikes and refuses to destroy a town. Many of the priestesses fall into unconsciousness. Melera, the chief priestess, beats and banishes Ria for the carrion crows to consume. Ari was abandoned as a child and found by two elderly firestone miners. He has pursued this and is the best of the finders. He goes to the temple to sell the stones he has gleaned. On leaving, Ria attempts to steal the fyrestone he has worn since the day he was found. He thinks she is a boy and a thief and he takes her to his room at the inn. On discovering her identity, he refuses to turn her over to the priestesses and they leave town. They are searching for the fabled blue fyrestones. They also learn to use them they must be bonded physically, emotionally and spiritually. Can they learn to master the blue stones and defeat Malera so they can rule the temple with love and understanding?

EXCERPT:

The stone seeker reached the market square where people thronged. She tried to keep pace with him while skirting the clusters of people who moved in erratic patterns. Her body ached. She felt as if the flames she had called were lodged beneath her skin.

The babble of voices and the shifting patterns of the brightly colored clothes made her dizzy. She gulped deep breaths laden with perfumes and spices. She halted and frantically scanned the crowd. Her quarry had vanished. A sense of desperation filled her. She had to find him and the fyrestone he carried.

A tremor spread along her body. She shook. She fisted her hands and fought the darkness threatening to swallow her. She couldn’t succumb to the convulsions that occurred when a priestess lost her crystal. For some, death occurred.

When she saw the stone seeker near a seller of ale, she nearly collapsed as relief swept through her body. He drank the liquid in several gulps. She tried to swallow, but her mouth and throat were dry. Hunger pangs stabbed her gut. The sun slid over the horizon and the sky grayed. Men with long sticks lit the torches near the stalls and around the periphery of the square.

Ria pulled a small knife from the sleeve pocket of her tattered caftan. Had the blade been a gift? Did the acolyte know she had dropped it? ‘Twould serve now. Ria crept toward the stone seeker. Surely the fyrestone was in the pouch with the coins. She didn’t care about the money, just the crystal. She had called fire from a scarlet. To be without a stone could mean her death and she was determined to live.

He headed toward a lane where a number of inns and pleasure houses stood. Once he left the square, her chance to steal the stone and vanish into the milling crowd lessened. She moved closer, reached for the pouch and slashed. He wheeled and grabbed her arm.

“A thief.” He glared. “Who beat you, boy? Is your master heartless?”

How would he act when he learned she was a woman? Ria stared at the ground. Her legs trembled. How could she answer? If he learned her identity, he would take her to Malera.

“Nothing to say? Shall I call the alders?”

She shook her head. “No, please.” Fear caused her voice to crack. If he brought her before the hamlet leaders, she would be sent to one of the pleasure houses to earn her fine. Unless she was recognized and returned to the temple.

Fear, fever, and hunger joined. Her body shook. His face blurred and she collapsed.

 

 

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