Thursday's Heroine - Valia From The Amber Dragon in Amber Chronicles by Janet Lane Walters #BooksWeLoveAuthor #MFRWauthor

Princess Valia stared at the seventeenth prince who had come to Lanton to court her.  Since the day her father had decreed she must marry, every available prince from the neighboring kingdoms had arrived at the palace.  This young man was her last possible choice for a spouse. She didn’t want him. She’d dreamed of marriage and had yearned for a man who would adore her. A man who made her heart flutter in her chest. Each one who had arrived had the qualities presented by this final candidate.

He was handsome.  The way he preened like a peacock meant he knew about his looks.  He acted as though his willingness to wed her was a gift and her acceptance a given.

Valia scowled.  How dare he think she had no choice?  How dare he ignore her?  She was tired of hearing about his skill with a sword and of the many maidens who desired him. She was weary of men whose vanity was greater than her own.

There had been no praise of her eyes, the blue of summer skies.  He had sung no odes to her amber-colored hair.  No poems had been written about her delicate features or her perfect figure.  The entire conversation had centered on him.  She had not been able to steer him to flatter her. The other sixteen had been the same. Once again, she must turn away a prince.

She rose and flicked away the hand extended to assist her.  “Prince Hoggen, I refuse your offer of marriage.  You are but a third son and your conversation and manners are tedious.  Your pale hair and eyes do little to compliment my beauty.  Go home for you have failed the test I set for the man I would wed.”

“And that might be.”  His voice held a haughty tone.

“To think of me and not of yourself.”  She turned and saw a fierce scowl on her father’s face.  The wizard stood at the king’s side.  He smiled and his expression caused a chill to slither along her spine.  Why was the man pleased by her decision?

The scorned prince halted at the door.  “You will go to your grave a spinster.  I am the last of the available princes.  I will give you another chance to say you will wed me.”

Valia laughed.  “I have no need of another chance.  Be gone.”

When the door closed with a bang Valia saw her father’s scowl had deepened.  Though he stood at a distance, she sensed his anger.  His boots clicked on the marble squares of the floor.  At the king’s side, the wizard appeared to glide.

“Daughter, what am I going to do with you?  Hoggen was the last of the princes available for you to wed.”  The king’s eyes sparked with anger.

Valia smiled.  “Father, do you think I am beautiful?”

“That has nothing to do with your need for marriage.  You must beg one of the princes to return.  Surely there is one who is less offensive than the others.  I must have time to train my successor to rule when I am gone.”

Valia’s heart skipped a beat.  “Do not think that way.  You are only of middle age.”

“I must consider the future.  Lanton must have a strong ruler.  Since you cannot choose I will.”

“Father, no.”  Valia’s hands rested on her hips.  “I refuse to marry a man who can say nothing about my beauty.  I will gladly wed one who adores me.  He can take on the boring chores of a king and leave me time to spend maintaining my beauty.  I will not wed a man who wants me to worship him.”

The king turned to the wizard.  “Do something.  Cast a spell to make her change from the vain and selfish woman she has become.”

The wizard smiled slyly.  “Sire, I can devise a spell but you might not be willing to pay the price.”

“Gold, silver and jewels will be yours.  I will gladly pay you to create a spell.”

Valia stared at them.  “Have I no say?”

The king shook his head.  “You will do what must be done.  Wizard, you will have what you desire.  I must have a son to rule when I grow old.”

“As you command, Sire.”

Valia scurried toward the door.  Her father grasped her arm.  “My child, you must wed before another year passes.  You have reached your twentieth year.”

She did not trust the wizard and she had no idea why she felt this distrust.  “Why must you be this way?  Am I not your greatest treasure?”

“You are and there must be a strong man to guard you when I no longer can.”

The wizard stood on her other side.  “The spell I will cast would best be done in the garden.”

A chill rolled along her arms.  Couldn’t her father sense what she felt. The wizard reminded her of the rejected princes. His arrogance was more centered in his power than his looks. Since his arrival, her father had turned from her and halted his lessons in statecraft. She had changed, too but how she wasn’t sure. 

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Those Tricky Characters #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveAuthor

While reading From First Draft To Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner a came across some things about characters that she mentioned may make the reader or worse an editor scratch his or her head. I've had a character of many try to pull one of the tricks. Sometimes it's the same character doing this.

The main character flees when things get interesting. Is it the character or the writer who chickens out on writing that intense scene. I'm afraid in my case it's the writer. This could be part of the character's character but this isn't always the case. You need to grit your teeth and write the scene.

Head-hopping. Now I've seen this done skillfully by a few writers but bouncing from head to head can be confusing. Whose eyes are showing this scene. That's a way to look at the story and decide which character's viewpoint would strengthen the scene. Sticking to one viewpoint per scene gives the reader an eye-view of the action. Using multiple viewpoints can muddy the water.

The character's emotions aren't really theirs. If you know your character, their emotions will be what they're feeling. If they're replaced by things not in character, the reader will shake their head and want to move to a different story.

Secondary characters suddenly become more interesting than the major characters in the story. You need to slap them down and show them the major players are the interesting ones. If it gets too bad, you can promise them a story of their own. I've fallen into this trap and I know some of my friends have done the same. Work on the main characters and just let those scene stealers fade.

Allowing some magical power to solve the main character or character's problems rather than having the major players find the solution. Called the "God in the machine," something to avoid at all costs. The reader may finish the book but they won't be satisfied with the results. If there's something that might seem like this to end the story, make sure you've written enough before to show this is possible,

Choosing the wrong characters for the story or having the setting be totally wrong for the characters. You might be able to pull this off but it makes for harder work. Advice is don't put the bull in the china shop. He doesn't belong there. The same with your characters. Make sure the setting and the characters can work hand in hand.

Tuesday's Inspiration - The Words of Others #MFRWauthor #BOKSWELOVEAuthor

There's something about the words of others that inspires me to write better. How about you? Do you read as you write? I read constantly but I try not to read what I'm writing. I have friends who only ready contemporary and only write contemporary. The same goes for other genre writers. They talk about knowing the competition. I guess I'm not made that way.

Since I'm the eclectic writer and there are many people who jump around from genre to genre when they are writing. Do they read the way i do. If I'm writing contemporary I'm likely to be reading anything but. Right now I'm writing fantasy and reading contemporary. Sometimes I read a passage and re-read that trying to decide how the author put those words together to make the passage sing. I also read an awkward passage in a story and whoa I think. There's a mistake you don't want to make.

From writer A I've learned how to make a setting come alive. Writer b might show me a new trick about showing a character. This doesn't get copied in my story what I'm inspired is by the flow of the words or the new trick I've learned that will become something different in my story.

Sometimes I read poetry, old or modern. There are things to be learned there. Sometimes I'm reading for research and what I'm reading is dry dull and boring facts but I'm inspired to make this information part of my story.

So look at the words of others and let them inspire you to make your words better and better.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveAuthor

Meander 1 - A new year has begun and let's hope the dark clouds cast at the end of last year go away. Life is a matter of changes but some of the changes aren't ones we like or want. So one must hope things become better.

Meander 2 - I've read a lot of books last year. Many of them are from my friends. Kat Attalla is one of my favorites. Love her Married to a Prince series. Wendy Marcus really wowed me with her contemporary romance, not so much the new adult one but it was a novella and sometimes novellas end too abruptly for me. Jen Probst always makes me laugh and hot. Steph and I can't remember her writer's name kept me on edge. Carly Phillips has some hot new stories. There are others, too many to mention but to all my writer friends, keep writing and I'll try to keep reading.

Meander 3 - My writing. I complained about moving my study to the second floor but during the move, I found a partial mss that's really good and rather different. It's maybe a fantasy or maybe something else. Now called The Goddesses of Solunda. I'm working on it and realizing it will end up somewhere between 65,000 and 80,000 words. Glad all but the last six chapters have been rewritten so I should be able to finish it by March. The interesting thing is this was written so long ago the copy I have is on yellow paper and is a carbon copy. Remember those. I barely do. Computers have made writing so much easier.

Sunday - Talking About My Books - Rekindled Dreams by Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveAuthor

Now Astrologically this should be the first of the Dream books. The hero is an Aries and of course the heroine is a Cancer. The astrological year starts in the spring with Aries. I began my research and then discovered a title.

Simon is an Aries and as an Aries he would be apt to find a career in where he could fight. Simon is essentially an orphan raised after his parent's death by his mother's sister whose husband tolerated him. As soon as he graduates from high school Simon takes off. He joins the service but he has no contact with anyone except his aunt and tells her not to let anyone know. After his time of service ends he joins the police.

Dana the girl he left behind is nine months pregnant and seven months divorced. She loved Simon but he vanished. She became a nurse but didn't like her career choice so she has taken courses and had just opened a billing service for many of the doctors in Fern Lake.

They meet at the funeral of his dead cousin and her ex-husband.  Simon's anger makes him want to confront her but when he arrives at her car, he discovers she has gone into labor. He drives her to the hospital.

What I was exploring here was could the love from the past be rekindled to make it stronger than it had been when they were teens?

Saturday's Blurbs - Books By Corinne Peters #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveAuthor

SERIES  OUTLINE

Part I: CarpeDiem1 and CarpeDiem Blue1  spans 9 months and introduces Elizabeth Wakefield and Prescott Hamilton to the readers, and to each other, as well as, the strange occurrences that seem to be random but after awhile can’t be and are not.  The portraits of these two strong individuals: Liz, the deceptively ageless Investment Consultant VP for BarnesBlake and Prescott, the mesmerizing Chrm./Pres. & CEO of Global Communications, and their development  into a couple despite their differences, defines the price they pay for that commitment when it becomes known.  They will be pressured to separate by displeased family members; compelled to choose between love and business by corporate management for appearances of impropriety; drugged and raped by a disgruntled ex-fiancée; besieged by suitors and seducers; reduced to be a pawn of revenge; and attacked by hired criminals to be murdered as retribution. Yet Part I is the enheartening story of true love: the recognition, courage, passion, and rewards of being the One, even when not sanctioned by society.    Prescott comes out of the shadows, becomes more compassionate, abandons his womanizing persona and achieves longtime desires as a result of knowing Liz but has reason to fear that he will lose her; an unaccustomed experience with any other woman.  Meanwhile Liz has to resume her own dark personality traits in order to protect herself from the onslaught of men desiring to dominate her in addition to issues of separation from her children and deaths of significant people that substantially change her life.

Part II: CarpeDiem2 and CarpeDiem Blue2 The story shifts to Florence, Italy and follows the couple on their 10 day vacation in Italy, the day after Liz’s Gala rescue.  After 3 weeks separation, Liz is not completely in sync with Sonny and must resolve the problem as well as prepare for the bombardment of attention from Italian men.  Despite the refuge of their Villa estate, a surprise Wedding gift to Liz,  they  are besieged by issues of her past when it is evident that  her return has been discovered, exposing the need for her confession of an unspoken deep dark secret involving her rape and the product of it; the ex from her past wanting to be her present and future; the response by Sonny to abort it which lands him in prison and a concussion for Liz; and the temporary derailment of his secret plans to marry Liz in their Villa chapel in the presence of their family and close friends. They share their honeymoon with family, friends and the reader to be a travel log tour of the art treasures of Florence and Rome. But unknown leaks of their marriage is plastered in all news sources, and negative reports in social media favor the jilted Allison over the usurper Liz. It initiates a frenzy of attacks against Liz, escalating upon their return to NY with actual shootings and the serial targeted killing of women with similar appearances and in places frequented by Liz, to send the message that she is next.  Regardless of the costs and his Bride’s pleads; Prescott goes into protective custody with his Wife to do the same for and with her. The unforeseen benefits of his selfless act of the forced segregation, is their continued close proximity and intensified behavior of the lovers.  The joyous news of their deliverance from the murderous intentions of the vengeful assailants as result of a police sweep is short lived, as a sleeper minion betrays them, kidnaps Liz, and the near fatal car crash jeopardizes their future.

Part III: CarpeDiem3 and CarpeDiem Blue3 is the resolution and explanation of the story’s past and of new beginnings.  Still recovering from her injuries and meningitis infection, out of love for her Husband, Liz considers family creation for Sonny until a misunderstanding almost drives them apart. Sonny meets and falls in love with Liz’s granddaughter Anna, and comes on board with the plan to create a family.  Subsequently, the mystery of who and why the occurrences were conceived and executed are revealed, and the repercussions.  As a result of the sudden loss of weight due to  and because of her extensive injuries, an as yet unknown internal physical consequence comes to be, but  externally Liz  looks even younger, is more attractive than before and is constantly questioned why she married such an old man!  Sonny is not amused.  As a survival celebration Sonny surprises Liz with a romantic trip which culminates with a destination birthday/wedding reception in a Scottish castle surrounded by over 200 friends, family and business associates demonstrating for all time his deep devoted love and their passion, as testified by their Surge to the amazement of their guests.   The refinement of their marriage denotes the physical and emotional deaths of those who wished to negatively impact the couple; but when compassionately handled by Liz, turns many into committed friends and others to receding memories. Two months later,  as a birthday gift  for all that he generously has done, Sonny’s family status is changed by the Kids to Pops while Liz’s is to Papa, a difficult achievement but one which will save them all when a horrific tragedy shatters them.

Friday's Guest Corinne Peters - Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor

1.        For now I write in a single genre, Romance Suspense mostly because I like multiple things going on at the same time.  I love a great love story with beautiful people who are not likely choices and the polar attractions that occur with a great who done it in the background, trying to break up the lovers.  It’s what I read and like the most.  What I can’t get into is the paranormal/sci-fi stories….too creepy for me….could be a hold over from the old black and white movies that that used to scare me as a kid!

2.   

    I love a strong woman character who is able to resist the conquering efforts of domineering males.  But my favorite character to assume to be is the Hero, he doesn’t have to be strong all the time, he doesn’t have to write all the time, I love making him sensitive and yet be a formidable force.  I find I can say and make him do things that I still can’t make my heroines say or do. 

3.       

My Hero is my perfect man, the man I keep searching for.  He’s not a pretty boy’ nor ‘ruggedly handsome’ (a polite way of saying he’s not good looking).. He’s a head turner, always with great eyes sheltered by long lashes and strong eyebrows, a handsome face and full thick hair (not short).  He is always over 6 feet and with a great body that looks good with or without clothes and very sexual, able to please more than once.  Because Mr. Perfect is always in my head he is always before the  plot, it’s just how I’m going to make it unusual.

4.   

    My Heroines are always a version of me….some times as I am physically or with a better looking body.  She is always a contemporary woman, able to do anything and defeat anything.  She is very cautions but once she trusts the hero she is very open, funny and strong.  She is also very sexual, something she emits but restrains till the right time.

5.    

   I usually have two types of Villains/Villainesses introduced into the story.  The truly bad Villains/Villainesses are usually hidden from view and want to kill the Hero or Heroine.  We often don’t know who they are but their actions are always evident by the murder of someone, which often multiplies to many before they are caught.  The other type of Villain/Villainess in the stories are usually sexual Seducers and manipulators, who are gamesters, not interested in Romantic love but wanting to destroy and conquer one of the Lovers in the story.  Usually the Seducers are redeemable when they are vanquished in their gamesmanship but the Killers have to go.

6.    

   My latest release is CarpeDiem 1 and soon to be released is CarpeDiem Blue 1.  They are the dual telling of the introduction and love of Elizabeth Wakefield and Prescott Hamilton.  She is the hard working, professional Investment Consultant VP trying to do business with the Chrm./Pres&CEO of  Global Communications.  Both books tell of the joint experiences of the couple from either Liz’s perspective (CarpeDiem) or Sonny’s (CarpeDiem Blue).  Only in his book do you briefly meet the Villain, but in both you meet the Villainess and Seducers.

7.      

I have just finished my 7 book and the start of a new series Second Chances.  The book is Finding Her Heart featuring the prospective of Chad Armstrong the hero.  When we meet him, he has succumbed to being a streetbum and an alcoholic, as a result of some horrible experience and the fatal repercussions as a result of his actions.   His recovery and the costs to regains his life, he tries to write-off as a cost of doing business and not attach any emotional significance to his prostitution of his morals as he endures a sadistic Branch Manager’s demands because he believes no one could ever love him, until he finds again to his Angel of Mercy, Claude Jamerson, the CEO of Claudette Cosmetics, the love of his life and his salvation.

8.       

Website: www.corinnejulienne.com

Twitter: @corinnejulienne
Facebook: CarpeDiem@corinnejulienne.com

Email: CarpeDiem@corinnejulienne.com

Thursday's Heroine - Magda from Heart Throb by Janet Lane Walters

Magda Malone jammed her hands in the pockets of her white lab coat and felt the fabric rip. Just what she needed to add a bit of anger to what she’d just been asked to do. Why wouldn’t he understand no meant absolutely not?

Her jaw clenched. The temptation to commit an act of violence hovered like a giant thunderhead. She stared out the window of her office on the fifth floor of Rivertown Memorial Hospital and shoved her fury into a corner of her mind.

Sucking in a deep breath, she turned to her colleague and friend. At the moment, she wasn’t sure friend was operative. "Would you repeat your question?"

"Could you come to dinner tonight?" the cardiologist asked.

That wasn’t the portion of the original question she wanted to hear. "I believe there was more."

"Like I said. Nothing formal. It’s not a party or anything."

"Come on. Say what you said before. I need to be sure I’m not going deaf."

"Lin and I want you to meet my new partner. He’s her cousin and a really great guy."

Magda glared. "Ben, I’m not letting you off the hook. What did you want me to do with this man?"

He studied his hands. "Was just a suggestion, not an order."

"And that was?"

"You can show him a good time." He joined her at the window.

She arched a brow. "A good time as in.…" Her voice trailed away. She thought she had grasped his suggestion, but she wanted to hear the words repeated. Then she would stomp. "Does your wife know you’re soliciting?"

"What?" His round face reddened. "That’s not what I ... well, maybe ... just ... couldn’t you make him happy to be in Rivertown? If you two don’t click, you could show him around the ... dating scene. You know what I mean. Lin and I want him to settle here."

Magda shook her head. "Spit it out, Doctor." Anger oozed from the dark corner and colored her voice. "Just how do I accomplish your purpose?"

He stared at the window. "Anything it takes."

"No deal." She clipped the words. Would he understand why she was so angry?

"Mag, come on. Wasn’t I there for you when you needed a shoulder. I need a partner who will stay, especially now."

Magda sighed. Ben and Linda had been there when she’d needed them, but he was asking for too much. "Why me?"

"Men like you. You like them and --"

"Don’t say it." She stalked to the desk and stared at the stack of folders needing her attention. "I don’t want to lose a good friend, but you’re treading on the brink."

"I didn’t mean you had to ... you know.…"

She rested her hands on the cool metal surface. "Let us set the record straight. I choose the men I want in my life. I don’t need anyone, not even a good friend, fixing me up with a man."

"I hear you." He sank on the chair across from the desk. "Lin said you’re bored with the local dating scene. Come to dinner. If you don’t like Eric, you can leave. If you do, who knows what will happen.
Give me one good reason you’re being so stubborn."

Was the invitation his idea or his wife’s? Sure she’dtold her friend about the lack of interesting and eligible men in the area. Did it matter who had dreamed up this scheme? She wasn’t about to accept. Her friends had heard her views time and again. She wasn’t about to repeat them. "What do I always say?"

"You don’t play where you work."

"Sounds like you’ve heard me."

"But --"

"Been there. Done that. Got burned."

He rolled his eyes. "But you received a nice divorce settlement. Give my new partner a chance. What can you lose?"

My independence, she thought. "Goodbye, Ben." She pointed to the door. "There’s a large flock of available women out there who would be glad, even eager, to meet an available doctor. I can name a dozen who are closer to his age."

"So he’s a bit younger. What’s seven years?" He backed to the door.

"Almost half a generation. See you."

He opened the door. "Eric has a thing for older women."

"Good for him. Ask Mabel Gray to dinner."

"Older. Not ancient."

"Tell Linda I’ll call tomorrow. Let her know I feel an urge for a shopping spree."

He groaned. "For what?"

She shrugged. "My vacation. Your soon-to-be baby. I can think of a dozen reasons, but I don’t need an excuse to shop."

"Bye." He closed the door.

Got him, she thought. Her anger changed to amusement. Spare me from matchmaking friends. She reached for the top folder. Her mind wandered from the budget to the future.

Four weeks until vacation and she had plans. Sun, surf, moonlit nights at a singles’ resort where she could meet men who had no desire for a commitment. She wanted a fling or two that allowed her to escape with her heart intact.

Her whirlwind marriage and the divorce a month after he had finished his surgical residency had taught her a painful lesson. Never become involved in a relationship with a doctor. Since the day the decree had become final, she’d controlled her life and she chose the men who shared her bed.

Her pen skidded across the paper and left a red mark. Darn you, Ben. Why had he set her thoughts on days best forgotten? She heaved a sigh and returned to work.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - more From First Draft To Finished Novel #MFRWauthor

Weaving together all the elements you've outlined, "Remember ":Everything that occurs in the opening segment of your story must be linked to something that happens later in the story."

Karen Wiesner uses an approach like this Character leads to Event leads to Conflict leads to Backstory leads to Goals leads to Motivation leads to Choice leads to Resolution..

Doin this with the main characters will form a pattern for the story. The characters must belong in the setting. The plot becomes an element that drives the story as the characters drive the plot. Having all your elements work cohesively is what makes a story the reader won't put down. The story can become one that is read and reread with the reader learning something new every time the book is read.

Tuesday's Inspiration - The Sixth Sense - ESP #MFRWauthor

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 bu 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.