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

Meander 1 - Poem -College Registration

Today I met a nun in drag
-Wearing people clothes.
I frightened her.
Three novels published.
I didn't mention
Eight short stories.
Maybe it was awe.
How can that be - awed by me.
I'm simple, meek and mild.
Supermom in disguise - really woman .
Show me a telephone booth.
I want to be a student.
I'm not famous - not even a little
Just because they put me in those books
Plus eight short stories - just determination.
Three books - just my luck.
The company is out of business now.
I don't want to be expected
Or to be an expert.
I just want to write.
I'm afraid of college now.
I might have to be Superman.

Meander 2 - Too many things to do. That's how I feel today. There are some thirty or more books to re-format and at least 2 drafted to write. Writing isn't the only thing that's too much. Laundry to finish and fold. I've been living out of a laundry basked for a week. At least i don't have to cook dinner tonight and that's a plus. Tomorrow comes heading to the farm for corn and tomatoes and on Thursday signing books at the farmer's market up town. Plus I need my hair trimmed and more blue. The blue is gone and the place where I must travel is far. Will schedule that soon, I hope.

Meander 3 - Writing - Am busy working on Past Betrayals - Past Loves and that's revising as I type. There are still at least a hundred pages or more to type. This is a long book. Would love to have it finished by the end of the year since I also have to work on new story Cancer-Capricorn Connection. I will persevere.

Sunday's Book - Choices by Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #medical romance #hospital politics

In Janet Lane Walters' Choices, published by Books We Love, Johanna Gordon devotes her time and energy to her job as Director of Nursing at Hudson Community Hospital. With budget cuts hanging over her head, Johanna suspects the CEO of scheming a plan that threatens her job as well as the hospital, and she’s determined to find out why. 
The choices she’s made for herself and her career leave her with no social life until she meets Dylan Connelly. He’s everything she’s always wanted, loving, devoted to his kids and everything she’s never had. Just when she finds love with the new man, an old flame returns with promises of a life together. Johanna has to decide between security and companionship, while trying to recapture the past, or moving forward with her new life.

By Elizabeth Davis on 14 Sept. 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Choices was a great story about real people. They were not young, slender, impossibly beautiful and ridiculously wealthy but older people with real lives that I could care about. Well developed characters and a good plot

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Suzanne de Montigny #MFRWauthor #YA #paranormal

Congratulations to Suzanne de Montigny whose tween/teen novel, A Town Bewitched is being launched today, Sat., Sept. 17^th at the Cottage Bistro on Main St. in Vancouver. Here’s the blurb. (I’ve also included the book trailer.)

It’s tough for Kira, growing up in the small town of Hope as a child prodigy in classical violin, especially when her dad just died. And to make matters worse, Kate McDonough, the red-haired fiddler appears out of nowhere and bewitches the town with her mysterious Celtic music. Even Uncle Jack succumbs to her charms, forgetting his promise to look after Kira’s family. But when someone begins vandalizing the town leaving dead and gutted birds as a calling card, Kira knows without a doubt who’s behind it.

https://youtu.be/LjLZShR94W0"

If you’d like to attend the book launch, here is the link to reserve your free tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-town-bewitched-book-launch-featuring-mairi-rankin-and-jenny-ritter-tickets-24415288786?aff=es2

Other books by Suzanne de Montigny include:

The Legacy (Shadow of the Unicorn, book 1)

Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young, clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change to their world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. But nothing compares to the danger when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley, and their leader discovers the healing power in the unicorns’ horns. Greedy and ruthless, Ishmael will stop at nothing in his pursuit of wealth – even the complete extinction of the herd. Azaria must find a way to outsmart Ishmael before it’s too late.

https://youtu.be/VaX9tW_Hr8M

And The Deception (Shadow of the Unicorn, book 2)

Sixty years after the unicorns’ narrow escape from extinction, Azaria's Legacy has gone wrong. The new generation barely exists, hidden in the depths of the forest. Their cruel and ruthless leader, Icarus, threatens them daily with Jaresh, an invisible being capable of taking away their powers. Angry, the young colt Ulysees and his friend Téo rebel, following an old, abandoned trail where they’re discovered by humans. Now the entire herd must flee. But Ulysees learns there’s a far greater danger than humans when he meets a giant creature who warns him of impending doom…

https://youtu.be/deIqFzKVPwg

SHADOW OF THE UNICORN: The Legacy

SHADOW OF THE UNICORN: The Deception

A TOWN BEWITCHED

Friday's Guest - Suzanne de Montigny How She Discovers Her Story #MFRWauthor #YA

On the eve of the launch of Suzanne de Montigny’s tween/teen novel, A Town Bewitched, we’re interviewing her on how the novel came about.

1.       Suzanne, how did you create your characters? Did you have a specific process?

I had no process. Characters just walked into my novels. Sometimes they bore a strong resemblance to someone I knew, and oftentimes they were a combination of people I’ve known in the past. But as they developed themselves, they began doing all sorts of things I never anticipated.

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

I’m a total pantser, meaning when I begin a story, I know a few things that will happen along the way, but everything in between just comes along as I write. Do my characters come before the plot? Nope, they just barge right through the door. Sometimes I’m able to push a few back out again, but some of them are just too strong. Thank goodness.

3.       Did you know how the story would end before you began? In a general way or a specific one?

More or less, but in a general way. However, I had no idea how creepy Kate McDonough, the fiddler, would become. Or how naughty Kira would be. Surprise twists happened along the way. But I sure loved how my characters resolved their problems at the end.

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

A little of both, I guess. In a Town Bewitched, the story decided to happen in Hope, B.C. Then strange things took place. I imagined this old Victorian house that looked a wedding cake. Then, when I actually visited Hope, I found it. And the elementary school and high school turned out to be where I imagined them too.

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

People, internet, the news, documentaries, visiting Hope.

Thursday's Opening Scene - Sanctuary's Ending #MFRWauthor #fantasy

Chapter 1

Rebellion

Five hundred years ago, chaos reigned in the land. From the followers of the goddesses, Sola, Luna and Erda, a group of believers were called. They retreated to a hidden valley in the mountains. The goddesses ordered them to form a community and wait for a call to return to the outer world. A narrow pass over the mountain called the Gap guarded the place they people called Sanctuary.

During their isolation talents arose. Some became Healers and were able to treat and diagnose illness by touch. Sensitives who could read the emotions of others and on occasion read or send thoughts were born. Singers of great power who with their voices could guide and direct others arose. Elders appeared and they could lead and use the voice of command. Teachers who held traces of all the talents and who could tell if a child bore a talent. Of those with the talents there were no more than ten to twenty who bore each gift. Once there had been talented called Seers but there had been no one with a touch of more than one talent for more than twenty years.

The remaining people were commoners. They were divided into four groups. Caretakers cared for the running of the town and those with gifts. Rangers guarded the boundaries of the valley and the slopes. The farmers cared for the land. The herders tended the animals. Many of the commoners prayed one of their children would show a talent.

As the years passed hierarchies developed. The Elders became the rulers. Of the ones gifted as Teachers, there were seldom more than one and during some generations none.

Twice the call to return to the world was heard. Each time the Elders found a way to prevent the dispersal and to keep the number of the community to less than fifteen hundred commoners.

 “Enough said. You’ll soon wish you’d let someone else do the chore. Elder John complained the whole way.”

David arched an eyebrow. “Why him?”

“He knew I wanted to see you and he suspects…Tell you later.” Paul’s lips tightened.

David knew Paul wouldn’t speak until he was ready. He wondered what Paul planned. He’d been isolated from his friend and could no longer read Paul’s emotions or hear his thoughts.

“We’ll talk later.” Paul grasped David’s arm and pulled him toward the stone hut. “Elder John and I will spend the night and leave at sunrise. I’ll be back in time to prepare for being invested.”

David stared at the ground. Jealousy pierced his thoughts. He should have stood on the stage of the meeting house too.

His hands fisted and he forced his throat to open. “I’m happy for you.” And he was but the news dropped more acid to erode his self-confidence.

Elder John stepped into view. Heaving gasps rocked his rotund body. He slumped on the stone bench outside the hut. “Have you a place for a weary old man to rest. Preferably prone.”

David clasped the older man’s hand. The elder had always treated him with kindness. John had even broken the community’s rules to aid David’s mother before he and his twin sister had left the isolated cottage to enter the village school. Her banishment had meant no one could visit or help but Elder John had brought gifts of food and clothing. There had been others who came in secret.

David helped John to his feet and opened the door into the hut built from rocks taken from the hillside. A row of double-decker cots stood along one wall. A fire burned on the hearth.

John sat on a cot. The frame creaked and David prayed the legs would hold. He took the pack Paul handed him and pulled out a block of cheese and a loaf of bread. After adding water, lamb and vegetables to the kettle over the fire he walked to the door. He gestured to his friend. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

Paul paused at the door. “Later.”

“Why wait?”

“Because I’ll need an answer from you.”

“Then watch the stew while I check the flock and feed the dogs.” The eerie howl of a lobo sounded in the distance. David shuddered. Wild beasts had grown less wary during the past year. He studied the herd and saw they’d moved toward the hut. Then he filled the dog’s trough. With his chores done he returned to the hut.

They sat at the wooden table on backless benches. David filled bowls with stew and placed them near the bread and cheese Paul had cut. Once they finished the meal Elder John bade farewell to the Goddess Sola and welcome to the Goddess Luna.

David built up the fire. While sipping on a mug of tea he listened to tales of the happenings in the village and reports from the Rangers about the increase of predatory beasts. David mentioned the record number of births among the sheep and goats.

Elder John nodded. “Soon the increases will be a problem.”

“Why?” David asked.

“Even among the villagers the number of births increase. For years no more than four or five infants were born. Your year was the last with a low birth rate. Last year the infants numbered thirty.”

Paul scowled. “But according to Chief Elder Jeremiah the goddesses haven’t answered his pleas for guidance.” He leaned forward. Excitement glowed in his blue eyes. “My father hasn’t listened.”

“Why not?” David asked.

“Stubborn pride and fear,” John said. “He likes matters to remain as they are.”

“Gabriel, Ruth and Deborah will be invested, too,” Paul said.

David lowered his head to hide the sadness coiling in his gut. Left out. Discarded. The one who didn’t fit. He gulped a deep breath. “How is my sister?”

“Wonderful,” Paul said.

David’s hands clenched. So the love between the two remained strong and a fool’s dream. As a Healer Deborah was forbidden marriage.

John grinned. “Your twin has more stamina than the other Healers. She’s a match for your mother.”

David tried to smile. The news should have pleased him but his spirits sank. He would never be part of his friends’ life again. “Mother will be pleased.”

“She knows. I told her. Have you visited her?”

“I visit her at least once a month. She misses Deborah.”

Elder John yawned. “I’m for bed. Don’t spend the night talking.” He rolled his poncho to use as a pillow and retreated to one of the cots.

David and Paul walked to the eye stone. Moonlight entered the hole and illuminated most of the circle stone. David carried a blanket and his staff. “I’ll sleep here tonight.”

“Why?” Paul asked.

“I heard a lobo howl. I may need to protect the flock.” He placed his staff on the ground.

Paul rested his head against the base of the eye stone. “You’ll have the flocks in the pens in time for the festival, won’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m not prepared to be banished.”

“Good. I’m going to call for Sanctuary to disband.”

“Are you sure this is the right time?” David tried to keep alarm from his voice.

“Change is needed. You heard what Elder John said about the increased population.”

David grasped his staff. “They won’t listen. There will be anger and fear stirred by those words.”

Paul leaned forward. “We need to know what the world is like beyond the Gap. This was the only entrance David had heard of into the valleys beyond the mountains. Are there people? Have they continued to worship the goddesses?”

“Forcing everyone to leave is drastic. A scouting party would be best. Men from the Rangers have the skill to live off the land.”

Paul frowned. “You’ve changed. Wasn’t leaving Sanctuary all you used to talk about.”

David nodded. He had wanted to leave and find his father to help his mother’s sadness.

“Are you with us?”

David lay back and stared at Luna’s growing crescent. Leaving the community meant being declared a rebel. Rebels were dragged to the Gap and told to run while the villagers threw rocks. His father had been named one for marrying. The irony was, after the birth of the twins, his mother had retained her powers to heal.

A chill washed through him. Fear, not for himself but for his friends rose. Did Paul think his status as the Chief Elder’s son would protect him?

David closed his eyes and listened to Paul talk about his plans. How could he commit himself to the ideas of a dreamer? But how could he let his friends throw their lives away?

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Writing ABC - The Ending

You've explored the middle of the story and have all those scenes full of action that drive the characters and the story. The tale is almost ended but you can't just write The End. The ending a a story is more complicated than that. So let's start to look at the plots.

There is the Black Moment or the time when one of the characters believes he or she has no chance to reach the goal. This period needs to be strong and the character must believe and make the reader believe. Achieving this might be hard but it's a necessary part of the story. Pulling out all the stops here is a must.

One thing you must remember is that during the middle and those action scenes you should feed in the seeds that will grow into that black moment. The character's belief that all is lost has to be triggered by his desires and his developed personality. So work on this scene hone it until the emotion grips you. There are some books that when you read, even though you know the character will succeed, you as the writer or the reader will feel that bit of despair then you know you have found this point and realize something must follow.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Listening #MFRWauthor #Inspirations

I belong to a critique group and we read our selections aloud rather than pass pages around. Yes, reading can find some mistakes and see some flaws in the story but listening opens a new view. Now some people are great readers and they can't help putting expression into what they are reading. At times just the flow of the words blinds us to the problems that are there.

Listen when in a critique group takes two forms. One is listening to what the reader has written in an oral fashion. For me somethings jump out. Others find different flaws. Listening can be hard and time is needed to rain the ear to hear. For me at times it's in the dialogue for things like the characters sound the same. Either of them could say what is spoken.

The other part of listening comes after you've read your pages. This can be hard and the first thing coming into most minds is they're attacking my wonderful story. Maybe they are but usually they aren't. You may. One rule I have for this. When three people give the same critique about a section, you need to look more closely and see what you can do. Now some of these people will make suggestions that don't fit your story or your vision of the characters. They are in essence re-writing the story. But you listen and there might be a grain there that sends you on a different track.

So listen whether you critique or are the critiquer.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #poetry "Writing

Meander 1 - Poem - Tide Pool

The sea feels trapped
Pulled, pushed
Shoved against the shore
Rocks, earth and sand
Snatched back the other way.
Moon pulls the puppet strings
Directs an aimless dance.
Tides of emotions
Waves of fury spent
Nestling  in a tide pool
To find a brief respite
Before the moon tugs wires.

Meander 2 - Meetings - Today HVRWA chapter met and listened to one of our members practice the session she's going to do at the NJ conference. Lots of information and lots of suggestions. Giving one of these is hard and I'm wishing she will do well. I'm sure she will. Rest of the meeting went well and did some critiquing. Hopefully sent both of the writers on the right track.

Meander 3 - Writing - I'm reformatting stories for my publisher and this is a tedious job, especially since I want to make sure there are no mistakes. One of the stories had been edited I don't know how many times but I came across one that made me shake my head. Not picked up by the spell check. She gelt bad instead of she felt bad. Am progressing with the next of my Opposites book and so far, so good.

Sunday's Book - Sanctuary's Ending #MFRWauthor #fantasy

In the beginning the goddesses Sola and Luna shone on their sister bringing forth all life. Erda grew rich and fat and the people loved the Three. Some began to lust for the treasures buried beneath Erda’s skin. She offered them freely but men began to dig and plunder her riches. Sola and Luna hated what they saw. With floods, winds, fires and earthquakes they punished the children Erda had raised.

For five hundred years has passed since a group of the goddesses followers retreated behind the Gap. Almost twenty years ago, five children were born. They were tested for gifts of the goddess and to enter training. One became a Healer, one a Singer, one a Sensitive and one an Elder. David’s test was conducted by a Teacher who hated him and he was assigned to the lowest class and became a shepherd. Though he accepts this, he is angry especially when some of the talents begin to emerge. He has healed animals and can sense the emotions of others. The five had always talked about leaving the sanctuary.

On the evening of the spring equinox, the four are to be inducted into their specialties. The Elder trainee among them has plans to leave. He invites David to join them. David’s enemy offers to accompany them and is given permission. What will they find when they enter the world? A Seer gives a forewarning. Of the six only four will return. Who will be left behind and why? Can David prove he has at least a touch of all of the talents?

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Stuart West #MFRWauthor #Paranormal #Mystery

Bad Day in a Banana Hammock (a Zach and Zora comic mystery): Zach wakes up with no memory, no phone, and no clothes except his stripper g-string. And oh yeah! There’s that pesky naked dead guy in bed next to him. Problem is Zach's not gay. Or a murderer. At least, he doesn't think so.

Only one person can help him, his sister, Zora. Of course Zora's got problems of her own—she has three kids at home and is eight month's pregnant with the fourth. So she’s a bit cranky. But that’s not going to stop her from helping her brother.

With kids in tow, the siblings set how to find the true killer, clear Zach's name, and reassure Zach he's not gay.

Review
“An hilarious murder mystery romp. Ride along with Zach and Zora on this most entertaining of mysteries.”
-Heather Brainerd, author of the Jose Picada, P.I. mystery series. 

Secret Society (Killers Incorporated Book #1): Leon Garber has his reasons for ridding the world of abusive people, call it justifiable homicide. Opportunity comes knocking from Like-Minded Individuals, Inc., a global company fulfilling the needs of clients: new identities, security, and even lists of potential “projects.” But let’s not call it “serial killing” (such a nasty term). For Leon, it’s a dream come true.

However, LMI has put a target on Leon’s back, with no indication of why. LMI, the police, sanctioned hit men, and a vicious psychopath are after Leon. He collides with other Like-Minded Individuals: The Good Samaritan Killer, The Mad Doctor, Donnie and Marie (don’t ask). Heads are chopped, dropped, and swapped as Leon fights for his life. But nothing will keep him from finishing his current project. Not even the chance to fall in love. Sometimes a killer business idea is just that. Killer.

Ghosts of Gannaway: Ghost whispers echo through the mines of Gannaway. They have a story to tell. It’s the story of a town torn apart by greed, pollution and vanity, by racial discord between the Native Americans and the invading miners, by the Great Depression, by the violent union strikes of the 1930’s. That’s not all that brought Gannaway to its knees, though. Not by a long shot. Because something—else—lives in the deserted tunnels of the mine, something dark and evil. Something that breathes life into the Ghosts of Gannaway.

Ghosts of Gannaway takes the reader on a journey they won’t forget. ~ Paranormal Suspense Writer Gail Roughton