He stopped at the door, tugged the cuffs of his shirt and ran his hand over his hair smoothing it before ringing the bell. From within he heard his date ask someone to get the door. He put his “I’m harmless” smile on as the door opened. Suddenly he couldn’t breathe.
The woman who stood in the door way was enough to bring any man to his knees. White blonde hair curled pleasingly about her face in gentle waves, intelligent blue eyes widened slightly and full pink lips pursed. The sensible blue pantsuit she wore showed off every curve to perfection. He lamented he was taking the brunette, Elle to the annual dinner and not this gorgeous creature.
“Hi, I’m…”
“Nick Clausen.” She finished for him.
He was surprised by the derision in her tone. Had he passed her over for someone else? Impossible. He wouldn’t be that stupid. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Miss?”
She shrugged one shoulder and motioned him in out of the cool December air. “Come on in. Elle will be out as soon as she decides what to wear.”
He stepped into the apartment and heard the door close behind him. It was a typical apartment, white walls, nondescript beige carpet. A television sat against one wall on a wood stand, opposite it was a comfortable looking couch. A tiny Christmas tree was displayed on an end table, the only concession he could see to the holiday.
The blond stepped around him and started towards the kitchen, halfway there she stopped and turned back to him. “Drink? I know you prefer Corona with lime, but we’re fresh out.”
He was about to ask her how she knew that when his date stepped out of the hall.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday.
Hands grasped her hips pulling her tight against a masculine chest. She snake hipped in time to the music. Whoever this was they were definitely getting lucky tonight.
"Quinten had an idea," Jenkins husky whisper sounded in her ear.
Afraid she was dreaming, Leena didn't turn as she answered, "What was his idea?"
He nuzzled her neck a moment sending a shiver of desire through her. Hades, how could she think any other man could satisfy her?
"Quinten had an idea," Jenkins husky whisper sounded in her ear.
Afraid she was dreaming, Leena didn't turn as she answered, "What was his idea?"
He nuzzled her neck a moment sending a shiver of desire through her. Hades, how could she think any other man could satisfy her?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sayings to remember for Writers
Catch phrases are a good thing - they make you remember something or someone. Even writers should have them. Today I'm going to share some of my favorites.
"The creative side and editor side of your brain hate each other. Never let them work together." Angela Knight.
I've found this to be very true. When I'm working on a first draft if I try to edit it as I go - I can't get any further.
"Writing is 10% creativity and 90% editing." Unknown
Once you get the rough draft (creativity) done it's all about the editing - self, self, self, content, line.
"You already know the story, you just forgot it." Delilah K. Stephans.
When you get the idea for a story, you know the who, what, when, why and how of the story. The rest of it is getting it into words. There will be times you forget what's next - but just remember you already know what's next - it is the logical progression of what you've already put into words.
"The Villain is alway the hero of his own story." Alexis Morgan
The hero and heroine may know this guy is EVIL, but he's protecting his business interest, his religion, his power base, his rule, his whatever so doesn't see that in himself. In his mind he's noble and ambitious and doing whatever deeds he's doing for the greater good. Keeping this in mind will definitely make for better, stronger villains in your book.
"Opinions are like A@^#)#$s everyone has one." Unknown.
Point of View to me equals opinions. If I gave a scenerio "A man sighted along the barrel of a pistol." So what is that man doing? Is he getting ready for battle? Is he about to shoot someone? Is he considering buying it? All three of those questions could be answered yes from three different people - but only the man sighting down the barrel knows why. The reader doesn't need to know the thoughts of everyone in the room because the only thought that matters is the one that will move your story forward.
Often I see new authors want to put in every characters POV, it's not needed and can be confussing. Using the example from above.
Ben sighted along the barrel of a pistol. It felt good in his hands almost like it was made for him.
George watched while Ben checked out the pistol and wondered if it was loaded. It was a silly fear, but one he always had.
Jane watched the interchange and rolled her eyes. If George didn't make the sale, they weren't going to have enough money to by the rent.
Ben nodded. "I'll take it."
Now let's see that same scene through a single POV - I'll use Ben.
Ben sighted along the barrel of a pistol. It felt good in his hands almost like it was made for him. He looked over the counter at the two clerks. One of the clerks, a man, looked nervous about something, his eyes shifting to the gun and to Ben's obvious comfort with the wepon. The woman rolled her eyes, probably anxious to close for the night. Ben nodded. "I'll take it."
Lastly, something I've shared with others and have no idea where I heard it.
"A book is like a tree. There are roots and the trunk, branches and leaves."
So how does that work? Let's say you are writing a book that takes place in the past. You do all this research - what people wear, average cost for certain items, who were the political movers and shakers, natural disasters, etc. You fully develop your characters on a character worksheet - so you know (I'll use the hero for this) the color of his hair, eyes, skin, his birthday, his favorite tutor or if he was educated at all, his hobbies, is he good or bad at poker, does he have something unique about him, what his parents and siblings were like, what type of horse he rides and all the other little details. All of that is the roots of the tree.
Then there is the plot, main characters, minor characters and surroundings - those are the plot, surroundings and characters. The plot is the trunk of your tree - it takes all the goodies you found in researching and carries it up to the leaves and branches making a whole instead of bits and pieces. The limbs would be the scenery - because readers need to be able to visualize where the characters are. The leaves are the characters and how they interact.
The roots of your book are the things you as a writer need to know but the reader doesn't - they'd just get bored with it. The days of writers getting paid per word are long gone. The readers are interested in the tree they see above ground - trunk, branches and leaves. (on a side funny - it just occured to me that we say branches when they are on the tree and limbs when they fall off)
Hope these help you in your writing.
"The creative side and editor side of your brain hate each other. Never let them work together." Angela Knight.
I've found this to be very true. When I'm working on a first draft if I try to edit it as I go - I can't get any further.
"Writing is 10% creativity and 90% editing." Unknown
Once you get the rough draft (creativity) done it's all about the editing - self, self, self, content, line.
"You already know the story, you just forgot it." Delilah K. Stephans.
When you get the idea for a story, you know the who, what, when, why and how of the story. The rest of it is getting it into words. There will be times you forget what's next - but just remember you already know what's next - it is the logical progression of what you've already put into words.
"The Villain is alway the hero of his own story." Alexis Morgan
The hero and heroine may know this guy is EVIL, but he's protecting his business interest, his religion, his power base, his rule, his whatever so doesn't see that in himself. In his mind he's noble and ambitious and doing whatever deeds he's doing for the greater good. Keeping this in mind will definitely make for better, stronger villains in your book.
"Opinions are like A@^#)#$s everyone has one." Unknown.
Point of View to me equals opinions. If I gave a scenerio "A man sighted along the barrel of a pistol." So what is that man doing? Is he getting ready for battle? Is he about to shoot someone? Is he considering buying it? All three of those questions could be answered yes from three different people - but only the man sighting down the barrel knows why. The reader doesn't need to know the thoughts of everyone in the room because the only thought that matters is the one that will move your story forward.
Often I see new authors want to put in every characters POV, it's not needed and can be confussing. Using the example from above.
Ben sighted along the barrel of a pistol. It felt good in his hands almost like it was made for him.
George watched while Ben checked out the pistol and wondered if it was loaded. It was a silly fear, but one he always had.
Jane watched the interchange and rolled her eyes. If George didn't make the sale, they weren't going to have enough money to by the rent.
Ben nodded. "I'll take it."
Now let's see that same scene through a single POV - I'll use Ben.
Ben sighted along the barrel of a pistol. It felt good in his hands almost like it was made for him. He looked over the counter at the two clerks. One of the clerks, a man, looked nervous about something, his eyes shifting to the gun and to Ben's obvious comfort with the wepon. The woman rolled her eyes, probably anxious to close for the night. Ben nodded. "I'll take it."
Lastly, something I've shared with others and have no idea where I heard it.
"A book is like a tree. There are roots and the trunk, branches and leaves."
So how does that work? Let's say you are writing a book that takes place in the past. You do all this research - what people wear, average cost for certain items, who were the political movers and shakers, natural disasters, etc. You fully develop your characters on a character worksheet - so you know (I'll use the hero for this) the color of his hair, eyes, skin, his birthday, his favorite tutor or if he was educated at all, his hobbies, is he good or bad at poker, does he have something unique about him, what his parents and siblings were like, what type of horse he rides and all the other little details. All of that is the roots of the tree.
Then there is the plot, main characters, minor characters and surroundings - those are the plot, surroundings and characters. The plot is the trunk of your tree - it takes all the goodies you found in researching and carries it up to the leaves and branches making a whole instead of bits and pieces. The limbs would be the scenery - because readers need to be able to visualize where the characters are. The leaves are the characters and how they interact.
The roots of your book are the things you as a writer need to know but the reader doesn't - they'd just get bored with it. The days of writers getting paid per word are long gone. The readers are interested in the tree they see above ground - trunk, branches and leaves. (on a side funny - it just occured to me that we say branches when they are on the tree and limbs when they fall off)
Hope these help you in your writing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
This is from the start of Witchly Passion - which is kind of a sequel to Ghostly Passion. So enjoy.
Though she loved Dru like a sister, her Paranormal Investigator best friend could not give directions to save her life. Kara chuckled as she remembered the time that the two of them had gotten lost looking for a specific Mickey D’s where Dru’s latest crush worked. It wasn’t like both of them hadn’t grown up in that city and should know where it was and Kara had known. But, Dru had insisted they take a shortcut that the boy had told her about. By the time they had found the place, he’d been gone for an hour. With another girl. Kara always wondered if the slime bucket had given Dru the directions on purpose knowing her lack of direction.
Though she loved Dru like a sister, her Paranormal Investigator best friend could not give directions to save her life. Kara chuckled as she remembered the time that the two of them had gotten lost looking for a specific Mickey D’s where Dru’s latest crush worked. It wasn’t like both of them hadn’t grown up in that city and should know where it was and Kara had known. But, Dru had insisted they take a shortcut that the boy had told her about. By the time they had found the place, he’d been gone for an hour. With another girl. Kara always wondered if the slime bucket had given Dru the directions on purpose knowing her lack of direction.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Two For Tuesday
Today I'm featuring The Envoy - my July release from Lyrical Press. (okay it's technically 3 but the last two are only a sentence each)
As Diana’s footsteps faded, Francisco examined the three males in front of him. Long
suppressed training instinctively took over far more easily than he was comfortable with. Their
attire of baggy hoodies and low riding pants could hide a multitude of weapons. The confident
swagger each thug exhibited as they moved to surround him indicated they didn’t think him a threat. He easily picked out the leader by the not so subtle hand signals the man was giving his companions and stepped toward him. Mentally, he quickly identified the three as Boss, Righty and Lefty.
“You shouldn’t have interfered, man,” Boss growled. “Now we’re gonna have ta mess you
up.”
Francisco spread his arms, elbows slightly bent and palms up. “You are welcome to try.”
As Diana’s footsteps faded, Francisco examined the three males in front of him. Long
suppressed training instinctively took over far more easily than he was comfortable with. Their
attire of baggy hoodies and low riding pants could hide a multitude of weapons. The confident
swagger each thug exhibited as they moved to surround him indicated they didn’t think him a threat. He easily picked out the leader by the not so subtle hand signals the man was giving his companions and stepped toward him. Mentally, he quickly identified the three as Boss, Righty and Lefty.
“You shouldn’t have interfered, man,” Boss growled. “Now we’re gonna have ta mess you
up.”
Francisco spread his arms, elbows slightly bent and palms up. “You are welcome to try.”
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
Here's today's six sentences. Form one of my works in progress.
“Be careful Adam Spencer death stalks this city. Be cautious, you don’t want to meet her in a professional capacity.” She turned and started back down the row then looked back over her shoulder to meet his gaze. “Your family, they didn’t suffer.”
He couldn’t speak as she continued away from him and stepped behind a large oak tree. Forcing himself to move he hurried after her. Rounding the tree he scanned the rows of headstone but there was no sign of the woman.
“Be careful Adam Spencer death stalks this city. Be cautious, you don’t want to meet her in a professional capacity.” She turned and started back down the row then looked back over her shoulder to meet his gaze. “Your family, they didn’t suffer.”
He couldn’t speak as she continued away from him and stepped behind a large oak tree. Forcing himself to move he hurried after her. Rounding the tree he scanned the rows of headstone but there was no sign of the woman.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Muse Author L.J. Holmes Speaks
Before I begin, I want to take this opportunity to thank my generous hostess, Delilah K. Stephans, for inviting me to guest on her blog.
When I asked Delilah what she wanted me to talk or write about here, she said whatever I want. Giving a writer with an inner muse as quirky as mine free reign is a dangerous thing---So, my daughter, Best Selling Author Kat Holmes, stepped in to direct the inner me.
"Talk," she said, "about what motivated me to write the stories I either already have up for sale, Santa is a Lady, or those about to be released, Forever With You, on February 1st, The Pendulum Swings, on March 1st, Twilight Comes on May 1st, and In From The Cold, June 1st. (I know...a daunting process-)
The easiest place for me to begin, is the one thing you are all going to realize right off the bat
...EVERY one of my stunning covers have been created by my hostess, Delilah K. Stephans, who just happens to be the absolute best artistic genius in all of the Milky Way Galaxy.
There is something else that each of these books have in common...they have elements of the life I have lived and are, therefore, semi-autobiographical...that is not always a good thing, since I seem to be rather hung up on having too many of my heroines share my biggest character flaw---a little girl voice that would make Minnie Mouse
envious while everyone else clamors for one of those huge conical amplifiers my Great Aunt Agatha plastered
against hers whenever I was around.
Now that you know one of my darkest secrets, I guess I should tell you about my books, how they came into being, and which parts come from Lin's
(L.J Holmes) pre-authorship.
Santa Is A Lady is my debut at Muse It Up Publishing...and well, everywhere else too. (Yep, I'm a bonified Newbie.)
I hadn't intended for my first ever release to be a Holiday themed story, but all other themes were closed. Not being into a Valentine Theme, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Arbor day, (how DOES one write a Holiday theme about a tree?), or even Halloween and Thanksgiving...I was left with only one celebratory day...
Christmas.
I had no idea where to go with it, but then, as if somebody on Cloud Nine
decided to hand me a gift, our local news announced a "professional" Santa had just been arrested...five full days before Christmas.
Back when I was working my way through college, I worked store security at one of the big retailers
for a year. I got to see what Christmas means to "Business".
What, I found myself wondering, would a small business owner do if her Santa was arrested five days before Christmas? How would she go about replacing Santa when all the graduates of Santa University, and yes, such a place does exist, were working elsewhere? Who would she trust? Who could she badger into donning the jolly elf's red suit?
Her best friend, of course...but what if said best friend had MY Minnie Voice?
Santa is a Lady flowed like water over smoothly rounded stones in a creek-bed, and was released to some pretty amazing, at least to me, reviews by really spectacular renowned literary voices.
Santa is a Lady is available at Muse Publishing's BOOKSTORE.
I'm a person with an awful lot to say, so I have continued submitting to Muse Publishing and now have books that fall in both their Mainstream Wing and their Muse It Hot,
as in scorching the flames right off the nanobytes side.
My second release Forever With You, is a short story about a young woman on a quest...getting her custom designed cabin built in record breaking time.
Can Keith Patterson, the owner of Patterson Construction Coryne hired have the skills to meet her deadline...and damn it all...does he have to look like a center-fold magnet?
Forever With You will be available from Muse It Hot on February 1st and it has a surprise ending you won't see coming...I promise you that.
What motivated me to write Forever With You? I love the mountains and have a secret fantasy to one day have enough money to actually build my dream cabin in the middle of nowhere, from the ground up.
I love history...especially ancient history. I also love the possibilities of Time Travel...These loves inspired me to write
The Pendulum Swings to be released from Muse It Hot on March 1st.
What would happen if an ancient Roman slave wakes up in a modern day hospital, in the body of someone else with no memory of who she is or was? And how would you survive it in a body that everyone , your husband, your staff, all who knows its real owner loathes? How do you cope? Is it a temporary leap in time, or are you stuck forever.
I especially loved writing this story and adored the seductive fireplace that was interviewed at the following link: CLICK HERE At the very least, it'll make you smile.
On May 1st my Muse It Up release, things get darker with Twilight Comes.
This story is based on events that took place in a neighboring town. When senseless tragedy strikes people we thought we knew, we can't help but try to decipher a rhyme and reason. Twilight Comes, another short story, is my attempt to understand and rationalize what is unimaginable. The story will stay with you long after the last word has faded from your screen. I know this because I am still haunted by the events all these years later.
And now we come to my June 1st release. In From The Cold is a cougar story that made me laugh while I was writing it...and cry too.
Mari Donovan is fifty and very happy in her disdain for anyone cursed with the "Y" chromosome. She has spent twelve contented years creating her mountain haven. Her only neighbor is in his nineties and not even an overdose of Viagra is going to make him stoke Mari's inner fires...but then he has the obscene rudeness to up and die...leaving all his worldly goods to Mari, with one exception...she must sell the curmudgeon's cabin directly across the graveled road from her.
She's determined it will not be sold to any male not intimately courting the Grim Reaper.
But Fate has other plans.
He's 35, deliciously built, and too annoying by half whether chopping wood shirtless, or daring to sneak off to HER lake and swim in the suit nobody should be blessed with upon their birthday.
No longer is her libido sleeping, and God does that tick her off! Only one thing for it...she's gonna have to jump his bones, do the deed, get him out of her system and slip back into her pre-bone-humping contentment.
Best laid plans ALWAYS bite you!
That's it so far. All the stories that I have covers for from Muse's Cover Art Goddess and my generous hostess, Delilah K. Stephans.
Reviews of my first book Santa Is A Lady are available at my Horn Tooting Blog
I can also be reached via e-mail
Spatzdkat1212@yahoo.com
Thanks Delilah for your covers...museum quality every one, and for this opportunity to do my Yakky Doodle imitation here as your most appreciative blog.
When I asked Delilah what she wanted me to talk or write about here, she said whatever I want. Giving a writer with an inner muse as quirky as mine free reign is a dangerous thing---So, my daughter, Best Selling Author Kat Holmes, stepped in to direct the inner me.
"Talk," she said, "about what motivated me to write the stories I either already have up for sale, Santa is a Lady, or those about to be released, Forever With You, on February 1st, The Pendulum Swings, on March 1st, Twilight Comes on May 1st, and In From The Cold, June 1st. (I know...a daunting process-)
The easiest place for me to begin, is the one thing you are all going to realize right off the bat
...EVERY one of my stunning covers have been created by my hostess, Delilah K. Stephans, who just happens to be the absolute best artistic genius in all of the Milky Way Galaxy.
There is something else that each of these books have in common...they have elements of the life I have lived and are, therefore, semi-autobiographical...that is not always a good thing, since I seem to be rather hung up on having too many of my heroines share my biggest character flaw---a little girl voice that would make Minnie Mouse
envious while everyone else clamors for one of those huge conical amplifiers my Great Aunt Agatha plastered
against hers whenever I was around.
Now that you know one of my darkest secrets, I guess I should tell you about my books, how they came into being, and which parts come from Lin's
(L.J Holmes) pre-authorship.
Santa Is A Lady is my debut at Muse It Up Publishing...and well, everywhere else too. (Yep, I'm a bonified Newbie.)
I hadn't intended for my first ever release to be a Holiday themed story, but all other themes were closed. Not being into a Valentine Theme, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Arbor day, (how DOES one write a Holiday theme about a tree?), or even Halloween and Thanksgiving...I was left with only one celebratory day...
Christmas.
I had no idea where to go with it, but then, as if somebody on Cloud Nine
decided to hand me a gift, our local news announced a "professional" Santa had just been arrested...five full days before Christmas.
Back when I was working my way through college, I worked store security at one of the big retailers
for a year. I got to see what Christmas means to "Business".
What, I found myself wondering, would a small business owner do if her Santa was arrested five days before Christmas? How would she go about replacing Santa when all the graduates of Santa University, and yes, such a place does exist, were working elsewhere? Who would she trust? Who could she badger into donning the jolly elf's red suit?
Her best friend, of course...but what if said best friend had MY Minnie Voice?
Santa is a Lady flowed like water over smoothly rounded stones in a creek-bed, and was released to some pretty amazing, at least to me, reviews by really spectacular renowned literary voices.
Santa is a Lady is available at Muse Publishing's BOOKSTORE.
I'm a person with an awful lot to say, so I have continued submitting to Muse Publishing and now have books that fall in both their Mainstream Wing and their Muse It Hot,
as in scorching the flames right off the nanobytes side.
My second release Forever With You, is a short story about a young woman on a quest...getting her custom designed cabin built in record breaking time.
Can Keith Patterson, the owner of Patterson Construction Coryne hired have the skills to meet her deadline...and damn it all...does he have to look like a center-fold magnet?
Forever With You will be available from Muse It Hot on February 1st and it has a surprise ending you won't see coming...I promise you that.
What motivated me to write Forever With You? I love the mountains and have a secret fantasy to one day have enough money to actually build my dream cabin in the middle of nowhere, from the ground up.
I love history...especially ancient history. I also love the possibilities of Time Travel...These loves inspired me to write
The Pendulum Swings to be released from Muse It Hot on March 1st.
What would happen if an ancient Roman slave wakes up in a modern day hospital, in the body of someone else with no memory of who she is or was? And how would you survive it in a body that everyone , your husband, your staff, all who knows its real owner loathes? How do you cope? Is it a temporary leap in time, or are you stuck forever.
I especially loved writing this story and adored the seductive fireplace that was interviewed at the following link: CLICK HERE At the very least, it'll make you smile.
On May 1st my Muse It Up release, things get darker with Twilight Comes.
This story is based on events that took place in a neighboring town. When senseless tragedy strikes people we thought we knew, we can't help but try to decipher a rhyme and reason. Twilight Comes, another short story, is my attempt to understand and rationalize what is unimaginable. The story will stay with you long after the last word has faded from your screen. I know this because I am still haunted by the events all these years later.
And now we come to my June 1st release. In From The Cold is a cougar story that made me laugh while I was writing it...and cry too.
Mari Donovan is fifty and very happy in her disdain for anyone cursed with the "Y" chromosome. She has spent twelve contented years creating her mountain haven. Her only neighbor is in his nineties and not even an overdose of Viagra is going to make him stoke Mari's inner fires...but then he has the obscene rudeness to up and die...leaving all his worldly goods to Mari, with one exception...she must sell the curmudgeon's cabin directly across the graveled road from her.
She's determined it will not be sold to any male not intimately courting the Grim Reaper.
But Fate has other plans.
He's 35, deliciously built, and too annoying by half whether chopping wood shirtless, or daring to sneak off to HER lake and swim in the suit nobody should be blessed with upon their birthday.
No longer is her libido sleeping, and God does that tick her off! Only one thing for it...she's gonna have to jump his bones, do the deed, get him out of her system and slip back into her pre-bone-humping contentment.
Best laid plans ALWAYS bite you!
That's it so far. All the stories that I have covers for from Muse's Cover Art Goddess and my generous hostess, Delilah K. Stephans.
Reviews of my first book Santa Is A Lady are available at my Horn Tooting Blog
I can also be reached via e-mail
Spatzdkat1212@yahoo.com
Thanks Delilah for your covers...museum quality every one, and for this opportunity to do my Yakky Doodle imitation here as your most appreciative blog.
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