Blog - Carmen Fox

November 3, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH with Hannah Lokos

THe Write Path

Hannah Lokos

In my series The Write Path, my guests talk to me about their books. Today I welcome author Hannah Lokos, who will be discussing Labyrinth of Lies with me.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Hannah’s.

1. What is your book about?

Many are familiar with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. I was no exception. When I was very young, I first heard the story of two kings who went to war, good King Aegeus of Athens and mean King Minos of Crete. As the story goes, King Aegeus lost, so as part of a “peace” treaty, King Minos forced him to annually send 14 young Athenians to Crete to be fed to the Minotaur, a terrible half-man/half-bull beast that dwelt in a labyrinth. This went on for years until Theseus, the young son of King Aegeus, decided that enough was enough. He jumped on a black ship with black sails, went to Crete, killed the Minotaur, and ended the peace treaty to protect his people.

It’s not a particularly scintillating tale and, for a long while, I didn’t really give it a second thought. However, when I reached high school, I discovered something. While doing an art history project, I discovered that certain historians believe Theseus was a real person. This caught my attention, so I delved a little deeper and found that evidence suggests that King Aegeus was real as well (the Aegean Sea was named after him). Stranger still, the palace of Minos at Knossos still stands, and you can actually still take tours of it today. All of this was crazy, but there was more. I then learned that in the ruins at Knossos there stands a structure that resembles a labyrinth. “What the heck?” I thought. “If Theseus was real, and King Aegeus and King Minos were real, and there really was a labyrinth, then what could possibly have been going on? The Minotaur could not possibly exist—you can’t actually have a half-man/half-bull beast. It isn’t possible. So why the maze, then? Why build a labyrinth and sacrifice fourteen innocent kids for a monster that doesn’t even exist? Was it a cover-up? A secret? But what secret could be worth covering with blood?”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was how my story was born. It is the backstory behind a classic Greek myth, and while it is based on some actual historical evidence, it is packed with some twists I can nearly guarantee you never saw coming. And…there might also be a romance…

2. What do you think attracts readers to your main characters?

Theseus, my main character, is the young and privileged prince of Athens. However, despite his external appearance of strength and power, Theseus is, to a large degree, insecure. He has never been given the chance to prove himself, and he secretly feels powerless and even afraid. I think, in a lot of ways, he is relatable. Many of us, at points throughout our lives, wear a “mask” of sorts. We have to act like we have it all figured out, even when we are really just confused. No matter how young or old we are, we ALWAYS have questions without answers; we never know what’s lurking around the next corner. Yet, just like Theseus, we all have a choice to make, an opportunity to set aside the fears and insecurities, decide what is important, and run toward it with all the strength we’ve got. Also, young though he is, Theseus loves Zosemine with all of his heart and will stop at nothing to protect her, a factor which, I believe, endears him to many.

3. What message do you hope the reader takes away from your book?

When I first set out to write Labyrinth of Lies, I did set out with a message in mind, but as I wrote, a couple of minor themes took shape as well. Life matters—this was a significant part of my plot from the very beginning. It was always the impetus, the driving force, behind the plot. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but Theseus follows Zosemine to Crete because he loves her, but the reason Zosemine goes to Crete is because she values the lives of her fellow Athenians, whether rich or poor, and cannot bear to think of them perishing in her place.

Another theme, one that developed as I went along, was that you don’t have to be old to do great things. Theseus is only about twenty when he sets off to slay the Minotaur, thereby doing what even his father, the king, would not dare to attempt. You don’t have to be “grown up” to make a difference or to do something remarkable, and you certainly don’t have to have all the answers. When I first began writing Labyrinth of Lies, I was only 17. I definitely didn’t have all the answers (and I still don’t), but I did know that I really wanted to write. It was important to me, so I did it. Zosemine was important to Theseus, so he risked everything for her. You don’t have to be old to do great things, and you don’t have to know all the answers, but you do have to decide what matters and commit to see it through to the end.

4. What do you think was it about your book that attracted your publisher?

I think my book fits a very unusual niche. In one of the rejection letters I received, an acquisitions editor cited the historical nature of my book as the main reason for its rejection. Historical fiction is a genre that often appeals mainly to adults. However, there is virtually no adult content in my book—no steamy scenes, foul language, etc. When I wrote Labyrinth of Lies, I wanted to write a book that would appeal to adults, a book that possessed structural and literary integrity as well as colorful characters and a captivating plot. However, I also wanted to write a book that could be read and enjoyed by young adults as well (besides, I was only a teenager when I wrote the first draft!). I think some editors found this a shade confusing.

Yet, my book has been read and enjoyed by both adults as well as a younger audience, so I think my original intent has been successful.

5. Comparing the ideas you had before writing the book with the finished product, would you change anything if you could travel back in time?

Hehehe, I wish I could travel back in time! I would get so much more homework done!!

On a slightly more serious note, I think I would make some adjustments to the timing. When I initially wrote Labyrinth of Lies, one of my goals was to not have a slow beginning. I had a lot of background to cover, especially the relationship between Theseus and Zosemine, and I didn’t want readers to get bored before I got to the action. So I sped through the background info and setting pretty quickly. However, if I had it all to do again, I would probably spend a little more time on setting up their relationship, because it would have lent even more significance to the rest of the plot.

Want to know more? Click here.

Hannah Lokos

Blog: www.hannahlokos.com
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POEMS AND THE MUSES

Abuse

One day in the long forgotten present
I sat wailing at the waning crescent
Of the dark moon’s bulging cheek.

Cheated, laughed at, even beaten
By a sinful handsome cretin,
I’ve been hiding for a week.

I step out, my face is glowing,
No more crying, no more bowing.
But his smile, it makes me weak.

Eyes wide open, lips hot burning,
We go to bed, my stomach churning,
Yes, my life is up the creek.

C. Fox, 2005

This poor attempt at a poem harks back to my time volunteering at a women’s shelter. A harrowing time, not always successfully countered by my frequent creative surges.

But it doesn’t matter. Whether good or bad, poems helped me practise language, at least they did nearly ten years ago. Despite its casual, playful setup, it’s based on a conversation with a woman who was a victim and kept going back to her abusive boyfriend.

Nowadays I write the rare whimsical limerick, and mostly full-sized novels. Guess I’ve found my niche.

What do you do to indulge your muse? Write? Paint? Sing?

October 29, 2014 Food Post a Comment

BASILUR FLAVORED TEAS – Review

Wonderful Flavoured Teas to Seduce, Soothe and Make You Smile

Basilur tea

By now, no one is surprised to see another blog post from me about tea. I love flavored tea. A splash of milk or (unsweetened) soya milk, and you get heaven in a cup. Shake the soya milk first, and I call the result a teaccino. Its benefits are well know, too. Tea contains caffeine, but not as much as coffee. Just three cups a day can apparently help fight the bacteria that are linked to tooth decay and gum disease, according to a study published in the British Nutrition Foundation’s Nutrition Bulletin. Of course, I drink it for its wonderful taste.

I’ve previously declared my love for Nothing But Tea’s Coffee Cake and Scotch Acorns teas (now also available on Amazon). Love them. Nothing about that has changed.

But now I’ve discovered a new source for my daily tea fix. The company is called Basilur, and they haven’t made a single bad tea, as far as I can tell.

First of all, be assured they sell high grade ceylon teas. Even if I drink unflavored black tea, I pick Ceylon tea for a special treat. So the promise of unique flavors with what I consider the king of all teas convinced me to give them a try.

I’m so glad I did.

The experience begins when you first cut open the sealed bag and catch your first sniff of the contents. Gorgeous. You get a physical reaction. Your tastebuds ping, your stomach contracts, and if you let them, your eyes will roll in sheer bliss. To date, I’ve tried their Gold Pure Ceylon Flavored Present tea, which has a lovely cherry aroma with a hint of almond, the chocolate/bergamot tea (London Music Tin), which tastes like some kind of lemon cheese cake to me, the Knitted Folk Indigo, a blueberry/blackberry flavor which reminds me of those black/blue wine gums we all loved as a kid, and the Strawberry & Kiwi. Most surprisingly, none of them have an artificial, oily aftertaste. Just pure goodness. Needless to say, I’ve ordered more flavors. Oh, I want to try them all!

Also Basilur don’t pack and keep the stock in the warehouse. Instead, their teas are packed to order to maintain freshness and to offer a longer shelf life, which is a different approach from other companies.

There’s one more twist that makes this company stand out from its competition. All teas come in lovely caddies and are sealed inside for freshness. The caddies are stunning, with wonderful and original shapes and patterns, from Christmas books that look like, well, books, to the Basilur tea chests. And the London Music Tin is, in fact, a musical tin that plays music. How wonderful!

I order my Basilur teas from ebay via their UK outlet, but you can get them in the US, in Canada, Australia etc. Postage is okay, and the teas themselves are reasonably priced.

If you like flavored tea or fancy giving it a go, you must try Basilur teas. I hate to use superlatives, but they sell some of the loveliest teas I’ve ever tried. Such a treat. And I’m not even affiliated with them. Just a fan. ☕️

If you have discovered teas or fantastic drinks of any kind, why not share with the rest of us?

October 27, 2014 Books Post a Comment

HOW CHARLEY DAVIDSON CHANGED MY LIFE

Inspiration

Since my first encounter with Kim Harrison‘s Rachel Morgan, I’ve loved urban fantasy with a passion. I easily got through a few books a week, even straying into paranormal romance with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I was looking foremost for plot. Lots of plot. A nice premise and a hot romance means jack all without action that lets readers experience the premise and romance. Which is not to say I didn’t also want a nice premise and a hot romance. Hey, I’m no more than human underneath this incredibly cool and witty exterior.

When I took up writing again, these books influenced my genre and the way I structure my books. Yet my writing was always a little…different. No matter how much effort I pumped into emulating my idols, my voice kept veering into the humorous. I never really shared my stories with anyone. Why bother? They wouldn’t “get it.”

My first Eureka

My first Eureka came when I discovered Jennifer Rardin’s Jaz Parks series. Here was an author who wasn’t afraid of characters who weren’t just kick-butt, but also smart-mouthed. She gave me hope.

Then Darynda Jones published First Grave on the Right, and my life changed. How did this woman write like me? Had she somehow set up shop in my brain when I wasn’t paying attention?

This wasn’t a humble thought, I admit. It was a visceral one, born out of deep admiration for the author. Reading Charley Davidson’s adventures was like a warm welcome-home party. If Charley made it, perhaps my voice might have a market after all. I threw myself into writing more than ever and took writing courses to get better. I discovered Margie Lawson, a wonderful teacher who pushed me to give my best. And she liked my stuff. When she remarked I was channelling Darynda Jones in my writing, I was overjoyed. Someone else had noticed the similarity. Woot! After that, the comparisons flooded in.

Over the months, however, my attitude changed. Now I’d found more confidence, and people got into my writing, I wanted to be recognized as my own person. Yet I struggled to move out of Darynda Jones’s shadow. Of course it didn’t help I devoured each new Charley Davidson book with great appetite, which in turn influenced me even more, as all great books do. Sure, we shared a sense of humor. But as for the rest, our books were totally different. What was going on?

My second Eureka

After a while I went back to my initial state of being reluctant to share my work. One morning while pottering about the house, a thought struck me.

My writing style, or voice, couldn’t be changed. Why would I want to? It’s what makes writing enjoyable, and is only part of what makes a book. After all, Charley Davison was more than just a sense of humor. She’s smart, talented, resourceful and finds her way through imaginative problems. If I made my writing about my voice, it was all people would ever take away from it. I understood that, if you have a strong voice, you needed a counter-balance. Something that would anchor that voice to the story. So, during my hiatus, writing courses helped me flesh out my writer’s toolkit.

Okay, perhaps I couldn’t get away from using clever women with quips on their lips, or what I call sassitude. Anyway, my writing was coming together, and my voice and the characters’ voices blended into a varied read. But why not try a new concept, too? At this point, I was merely writing for myself. The thought of publication had never been further from my mind. As a result, straying outside the norm wasn’t much of a risk.

I’ve always been a feminist in the truest sense of the word. I want female characters to be equal to men. Not superior, but not inferior in any arena of human life. None of this romance that requires a hot alpha male to assist our feisty heroine for me, thank you very much. More than that, I wanted to see a true female partnership, à la Melanie Gibson and Daniela Glover in Lethal Weapon.

Then a second idea sparked. What if I included a twist on a common plot device? [I don’t like spoilers, so I won’t go into detail here.]

This is how Divide and Conquer was born. An unconventional plot with two strong females (I call them ‘alpha females’), united by nothing more than a similar sense of humor and a prophecy, would give me back my Me-ness. So I labored for months, adding ever more twists to the plot, making the characters pop to life, turning over the words in my mind to get them just right.

A warrior charged with mentoring a geek. A quirky gargoyle. Enemies who might be friends, and friends who might be enemies.

When I was done, I was proud. I’d told a story that was different from most books out there. The kind of story that would grip me, the writer. I was no longer writing inadvertent ‘fanfiction.’

But would I have the guts to show it to people?

How I got my contract

I started with writing contests, judged by people I’d never meet. I won the first contest I entered, and finaled in many, many more as I continued to tweak. After a while, it became apparent I was using contests and tweaking as an excuse to avoid putting my work before “real” people. So I found a few beta readers willing to tear my manuscript to pieces. While they didn’t offer much in terms of suggestions for improvement, they did stroke my ego. Most importantly, my inner Darynda Jones had been disguised by a unique plot and unique characters, and only one reader even brought up her name.

Still shying away from sending my book to agents and editors, I signed up for a couple of courses and a mentorship, designed to help me write a synopsis, a query letter, loglines, and fifty other torture devices designed by industry professionals to sift out the weak from the ones who are truly hungry for writing success. My mentor was incredibly thoughtful and encouraging, and I was nearly ready to submit to agents. Nearly. Something held me back. My old insecurities reared their ugly heads with those beady eyes that squint at you as if saying, “Go ahead. I dare you. Just be ready for the soul-crushing rejections piling up in your computer’s inbox.”

After a good talking-to from my writing partner, I presented my pitch to a number of acquiring editors. Casual-like. No pressure.

Success.

Excuse me?

Yup, soon I had a contract. I was ecstatic. But confused. What about all the submitting to agents malarkey I was definitely going to do at some non-specific point in the future if the weather conditions were right?

Well, I liked the editor, trusted her, and nothing else mattered. I’d found someone who accepted my work as it was. Who accepted my voice and my slightly unusual plot.

Looking back, Charley Davidson changed my life more than any other series. It was the start of my journey to discover who I was as a writer.

I wish writers used humor more extensively. Some are trickling it in effectively, like Mary Buckham. Many rely on snarky tough talk, which also has its appeal. As a reader, my criteria are different. Snarky, tough, funny, silly – I read them all. But as a writer, my confidence soared the minute I picked up Darynda Jones’s book and understood my voice might, just might, be heard one day.

I hope you too had an inspiration like I had. An author or a book or a family member. Please do share.

October 25, 2014 Interests and hobbies, Promotion 2 Comments

MAKE YOUR OWN FACEBOOK BANNER

Social media made easy

Just a real quick post today. Fancy making your own Facebook banner? Tired of using landscapes as banner backgrounds, and ready to add some spice to your profile?

This is a template I made myself that’s worked well in the past. You can use it too. It’s easy.

I’ve separated the Facebook banner template into different boxes, but make sure you don’t get too close to the edges so nothing gets cut off. The square at the bottom left is where your photo will appear, so make sure you don’t cover it. The boxes are meant to guide you. No need to adhere to them rigidly.

Here’s an example of what you can do (fill in your name etc.). Feel free to use it for yourself or to try it out. Making it took me less than 10 minutes.

Here are a couple for readers:

If you’ve read my article about creating your own book trailer on a budget (i.e. for free), you’ll know I use an iPad app called TouchDraw for most of my ‘creations.’

Try to keep your colors neutral and in line with those you use on your website. Also, make sure to use the same photo on all your social media accounts. Most of all, make it unique. Whether you’re an author or a reader or something else entirely, show us who you are.

As always, if you need help, let me know. Good luck.

October 16, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH with S.C. Arscott

THe Write Path

S.C. Arscott

In my series The Write Path, my guests talk to me about their books. Today I welcome author S.C. Arscott, who will be discussing End of Normal with me.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Susan’s.

1. What is your book about?

End of Normal is an action/science fiction young adult novel, which takes place on the fictional island of Orion in the Gulf or Mexico. It’s the story of 16-year old Olivia Richards, her twin brother Charlie, and their friends, Axel, Sawyer, and Clara.

The book begins on Olivia’s last day of normal, and her day is simply that, normal. She spends her entire morning dressing to get noticed by Sawyer Rising, the hottest guy in school. She argues with her mother about her skinny jeans being too tight, which Olivia considers ridiculous because isn’t that the point of skinny jeans? Sometimes mothers make no sense. Olivia’s normal world also includes her gentle astrophysicist father and her twin brother Charlie, who is deaf.

Olivia and Charlie’s normal ends that night when strange lights shoot out of the sky and turn into stinging drones, killing their parents. Forced to flee, the twins join forces with friends Axel, Clara, and Sawyer, to search for answers about the strange invasion. Along the way, they uncover a conspiracy to hide the coolest thing ever—a second Earth.

2. What do you think attracts readers to your main characters?

The main character, Olivia Richards, is in her own words average, average height, average weight, average face, but in reality she’s anything but. It’s her tough determination that helps them survive. She also loves her brother, Charlie, fiercely and despite her declaring that his deafness is no big deal, deep inside she feels it is a big deal and that it’s her duty to protect him.

Twin brother Charlie Richards is my personal favorite. He doesn’t allow his deafness to stop him or get in his way. He’s a super smart science nerd, and is kind, loving and brave. He’s also tall and skinny, my favorite look in a boy.

Clara Patel is Olivia and Charlie’s best friend. She’s spoiled, annoying, slightly neurotic, and a loyal friend to the twins. We all have friends like Clara; friends we love with all our heart despite their annoying habits driving us a little nuts.

Axel Cortez is a close friend to both Charlie and Olivia, and plays on the high school football team. He’s the true gentle giant, the guy we take for granted until one day something happens and we see him in his true light and realize how much we love and need him.

Sawyer Rising is the ultimate popular guy, he has a killer crooked smile, blue eyes and shaggy brown hair (be still my heart). He’s a star on the soccer team and a member of the most famous family on Orion. He is also Olivia’s big crush until she comes to her senses and falls for Axel. Of course, as with all of life, things happen and Olivia learns that Sawyer is not as obnoxious as he at first seems.

3. What message do you hope the reader takes away from your book?

From the very beginning, I wanted to include Charlie as a deaf person because, as far as I know, no one has written about a strong, heroic semi-superhero deaf person. Charlie is my salute to those unable to hear the rest of us as we babble on and on. Plus, he’s just someone you would like.

As the book progressed and progressed and progressed, I also added a very basic message about the negative effects of pollution and how each of us should attempt to do our part to clean up our place on earth. Not preachy, I simply included a few relevant actions for the characters.

4. What do you think was it about your book that attracted your editor?

Several things attracted my editor, including Olivia’s voice and spirit, the idea of the possibility of a second Earth and, best of all, the idea of the moon landing being a conspiracy. How fun is that?

5. Comparing the ideas you had before writing the book with the finished product, would you change anything if you could travel back in time?

If I could figure out Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity, I know it could help me figure out the whole time travel conundrum—too bad my brain doesn’t work that way. Personally, I would love to travel back to 12th Century France and England.

I started this book under a different title in the second semester of my MFA program a couple of years ago. It has gone through dozens of transformations, most of them related to my coursework. Much as I would have liked for the book in its present form to have occurred during those semester, I guess I just didn’t have enough skill as a writer to put it on paper. If I could do anything over again book-wise (not life-wise, life-wise is a different ball of wax completely), I would focus more on exposing Olivia’s feelings throughout the novel. It wasn’t until my editor dragged them out of me that Olivia developed into a more believable and real person instead of a one-dimensional girl no one really cared about. It would have been nice to have figured that out a year or so ago.

Bio

Susan Arscott

I worked as a high school teacher until I thought my head would explode from all the ideas and questions my students asked. Thinking it would be easier, I foolishly switched from teaching to the ridiculous job of professional fundraiser. After spending more years than I want to admit begging strangers for money, I gathered what pride I had left and enrolled in Spalding University’s MFA program where I became blissfully happy working with other writers and improving my writing. I live and write in Seabrook, Texas with my husband Mike, our two children, Vlad the cat, and Bob the stray.

My first YA novel, End of Normal, will be available October 6, 2014 by Burst Publishing and can be purchased through any online bookstore, or click the link below. I am in the process of developing a new, and much better website, so look out for that. My current site has my bi-weekly blog and books I’m working on.

You can order End of Normal at: http://www.amazon.com/End-Normal-S-C-Arscott-ebook/dp/B00N46WY38?tag=literescap-20

Check out any of my sites. I get kind of lonely and hope you’ll come by.

www.susanarscott.com (Currently under revision, but should be up and running by November 2014)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/S-C-Arscott/182957018422127?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/susancarscott

https://www.goodreads.com/susan_arscott

October 13, 2014 The Write Path 2 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with author Celia Breslin

THe Write Path

Celia Breslin

In my series The Write Path, my guests talk to me about their books. Today I welcome author Celia Breslin, who will be discussing Destiny, part three of her Tranquilli Bloodline series, with me. Preorder it now. It’s out November 3, giving you just enough time to read Haven, part one of her series. Celia has amazed me with her generosity and humor, and her series is totally my cup of tea. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Celia’s.

1. What is your book about?

Short answer: vampires, love, and mayhem. Lots of mayhem. 🙂

Destiny is the third installment in the Tranquilli Bloodline series.

In Haven, the first book, Carina’s vampire family resurfaces in her life, bringing with them a slew of enemies to upset her carefully crafted world. Her fated mate shows up, too. That’s a big plus in Carina’s book–if only Team Evil would leave them alone for two seconds, so they could have some sexy fun time…

In the next installment, a short story prequel titled Vampire Code, we get up close and personal with Jonas, one of Carina’s vampire family members. He’s none too happy when a vampire attacks Carina. His retribution is swift and brutal.

In Destiny, the second full-length novel in the series, Carina’s archnemesis shows up, kidnaps two of her best friends and blackmails Carina to do his bidding…or her friends bite it. Pun intended. Meanwhile, Carina’s fated soul mate is out of town and acting odd. With her friends in mortal peril and her relationship on the rocks, Carina must make some tough choices…

2. What do you think attracts readers to your main characters?

Carina and Alexander are a fun pair.

Dance club owner Carina is a strong, snarky, 20-something heroine with a heart as big as the San Francisco Bay. She loves her family and her fated mate with a ferocity that makes her willing to do whatever it takes to protect them.

Alexander is sexy, sexy, sexy. He’s also a kickass musician. But it’s his love and loyalty to Carina that makes him the most appealing.

3. What message do you hope the reader takes away from your book?

My series explores the themes of Love and Home.

Haven, defined, means “a place of safety or refuge.” Carina creates a home for herself with her best friends. And with her friend and business partner Adrian, she builds Haven, a dance club in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. Her club is a safe space where *everyone* – regardless of race, religion, sexual preference – is welcome. In Destiny, Carina and Adrian open Club Destiny, creating a new place where all preternatural creatures (and humans in-the-know) are welcome to relax, unwind, and, of course, dance, dance, dance.

Love of family, friends, and soul mates is explored in the series, along with the question – just how far will you go to protect your loved ones? When you read the series, you’ll see just what my characters do to keep each other safe. 😉

4. What do you think was it about your book that made it so easy to attract your editor?

My series is character-driven, and my characters are a fun bunch. I think they have good curb appeal. I introduce some new characters in Destiny that I think readers will enjoy (spoiler: they’re not vampires). I know I had a ton of fun meeting them myself!

5. Comparing the ideas you had before writing the book with the finished product, would you change anything if you could travel back in time?

Nope. I’m good. I consulted Carina and Alexander on this one, too. Carina said, “I’ll skin you alive if you mess with Destiny, Celia.” Alexander shot me his smokin’ hot, sexy grin, complete with fangs, and added, “What she said.”

Contact Celia here:

http://www.celiabreslin.com/blog/
http://www.twitter.com/CeliaBreslin
https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBreslinAuthor
http://www.goodreads.com/CeliaBreslin

Bio

Celia lives in California with her husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for vampires and the Fae. When not writing, you’ll find her exercising, reading a good book or indulging her addiction to Joss Whedon’s TV shows and movies.

Destiny blurb

In HAVEN, San Francisco nightclub owner Carina Tranquilli survives a vicious attack by her vampire family’s longtime archenemies. Several weeks later, as she struggles with PTSD and survivor’s guilt, supervillain Dixon resurfaces and kidnaps two of her best friends. To save them, Carina must comply with the evil bastard’s unusual demands. The kicker? She must tell no one what she is up to.

Meanwhile, she has a new dance club to open for the preternatural community, a fated soul mate acting secretive and distant, and a sexy, new, undead friend who’d love to take Alexander’s place in her heart and bed.

Blackmailed, betrayed, tempted…sometimes destiny has a wicked sense of humor.

October 8, 2014 The Read Path 4 Comments

THE READ PATH with Teresa D.

The Read Path – Teresa D.

In this series, guest bloggers spill all about their roles as gatekeepers between authors and readers. They review books on blogs, websites, podcasts or booksellers’ webpages, influence buyers and connect with authors. My guest today is Teresa D., a reviewer and reader who is fully aware of the importance of what she does.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Teresa’s.

Hello, My name is Teresa and I am the Lead Reviewer for VampireRomanceBooks.com and ThatsErotica.com; you will find my reviews under the name Teresa D. I began writing reviews for Vampire Romance Books in late 2011, and I have reviewed for That’s Erotica since it’s launch in 2012.

1. How did you get to like books?

My parents are both avid readers. My Mom made sure I had a room full of books. Even before I was old enough to read I had a set of books that had records with them (remember those?). I would do my best to follow along. I was actually reading some on my own before I started Kindergarten.

I love all different genres of books from biographies to romance. By the time I was in Jr. High School I was reading everything I could get my hands on. Even during my teenage rebellious years I always made time for books.

2. Why did you start reviewing on a review site?

One day I was browsing the internet looking for paranormal books. I had just discovered The Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward. I stumbled on Vampire Romance Books and joined the forum. I loved all the ladies there, and had a great time sharing books and cutting up with everyone. Rhonda Valverde, who is owner of the site, was looking for a couple of extra hands. She convinced me to give reviewing a try, and I loved it! It took a few reviews to find my own style and to gain confidence, but once I got into it I realized that I had found “My Thing.” I know I still have more to learn and room to grow, and I really like that fact. It is something that challenges me. When Rhonda launched That’s Erotica, helping out with it was a no brainer. I had never really read erotica until Rhonda introduced me to Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers. I knew that reviewing in a genre I wasn’t familiar with would take me a little out of my comfort zone. I am really glad I decided to do it.

Things just progressed for me after my first review. I never did casual reviews for goodreads or amazon first because I just kind of fell into it. I will say that the whole experience has been very rewarding.

3. What makes the sites special?

The thing that makes the sites special to me is that we deliver honest reviews to readers, and we work with some really great authors. We also do promotional tours, and giveaways. Those are things that as a reader I love to see. We try to do good by the authors as well. Not only do we post to the websites, we post to amazon, goodreads, and our social media sites, and give their work as much attention as possible. Behind the scenes, Rhonda is very supportive. I really appreciate her input and guidance. On the other hand, I have the freedom to develop my own way of writing, and I can try new things.

4. How do you go about writing a review?

First, I try not to give too much away! I try to give readers enough to get excited about the book without them saying “Oh Hell, Jake dies at the end???? Well I won’t be reading that one!” Sometimes it is a fine line for me, giving too much vs. not enough. I do my best to give the reader a little bit of insight about the main characters and of the authors themselves.

I write my reviews as soon as I am done with the book. I like to type it up while it is still fresh in my mind. After that I give it a quick go over and forward it on. At least one other person goes over it to catch any typos or half finished thoughts I have hanging because my brain was working faster than my fingers!

5. How do you balance reader expectations vs. writer expectations?

I know I will love some books that not all readers will like. I will also review books that may not be a style that I like, but some readers will go nuts over it. All I can do is give my honest opinion. I know I am not going to please everyone. If I am reading something that is not necessarily my taste, but is a well written story I can find positive things about the book. If my review is not favorable (below three stars) I will pass it to another reviewer for a second opinion, or we will send it to the author. I make sure my reviews have constructive criticism. I will not post anything that will tear down an author.

I have great respect for authors. I don’t know that I could write a book and put myself out there like they do. I would never do anything that would deter a new author from following their dream. What I can do is offer constructive criticism from a reader’s point of view. It is always my goal to be as professional as I possibly can, and I really hope that I succeed in doing that.

6. What positive or negative trends have you observed recently?

I am very happy about the fact that indie authors out there are really starting to shine. There are some incredibly talented writers that don’t have a publishing deal for whatever reason. Now we have the opportunity to see their work.

When it comes to self publishing my advice as a reader is edit, spell check, and then do it some more. Then pass it along and let someone else help you pick up what you looked over. Most readers can look over a typo or two in a story, but when the book is full of them, it distracts from what could be a really fantastic novel. We all make errors in spelling and editing; I know because I am horrible at editing. There is no shame in asking for help on that front!

It seems from my point of view that genres seem to go through trends. Twilight came out and suddenly the market is flooded with YA paranormal romance. Fifty Shades comes out, and there are a million Christian Greys popping up. I am not saying anything derogatory about these genres because I like both paranormal and erotica. When these “trends” move on to the next big thing, I will still continue to enjoy these genres just like I still enjoy historical novels, horror, mystery, and true crime. I just want to see stories that are fresh and original. I don’t mind when an author is inspired by a story, series, or other authors, but I don’t want to read fifty different stories where someone is getting spanked with kitchen utensils. *chuckles*

7. Out of all the books you’ve read, which two are your top must-read recommendations?

WOW! I am sure most avid readers would agree when I say this question is like asking someone to pick their favorite child. I like a book that brings a reaction in me. If an author can make me laugh out loud or leave me sitting with a box of tissues they have done it right. I like a story that I can get lost in or feel like I am a part of. I love the feeling of escaping to another place in time or space. That is why books will always be better than movies or T.V. for me. I can’t begin to name the writers that have made me feel that way.

There are writers that have really impressed me since I began reviewing. One that comes to mind is Rebekah Armusik who is the author of The Gothic Memoirs series. When I read Memoirs of a Gothic Soul I was floored that this was her first book. It was so full of rich detail, and completely original. I was really in awe because it felt like she had been doing it forever, and she still amazes me because she just gets better with each book.

I also like authors that I have followed since the beginning such as RL Mathewson, Teresa Gabelman, Victoria Danann, Sharon Kay, and too many others to mention. It has been an absolute pleasure watching them grow as writers. I always look forward to seeing where they will go next. I love watching as their fan base grows, and it is really sweet seeing them find success doing what they love.

Even though I review paranormal romance and erotica I still have love for the other genres I have read through the years. I have no qualms about curling up with Stephen King, James Patterson, or Clive Barker. Since I am a proud Aunt with young nieces and nephews we even break out the Dr. Seuss on occasion!

Where To Find Me
http://www.vampireromancebooks.com/
http://www.thatserotica.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VampireRomanceBooks
https://www.facebook.com/ThatsErotica
https://twitter.com/VampireRomBooks
https://twitter.com/ThatsErotica
https://twitter.com/drktwistedbliss
https://www.goodreads.com/VampireRomanceBooksThatsErotica https://www.goodreads.com/darktwistedbliss
google.com/+TeresaDbookreviewer
Pinterest.com/darktwistedblis/

October 6, 2014 Promotion Post a Comment

BLOG GUEST APPEARANCE ETIQUETTE

Promotion for Authors – The Basics

After another reviewer has thrown in the towel due to inappropriate behavior from guest authors, I figured this quick guide might be useful. Print it, pin it, share it. And if you’re lucky enough to find a reviewer who’s still offering their time to help promote you, follow the rules. If you’re not sure, ask in plenty of time.

It’s really simple.

As sad as rude guests are, luckily they’re in a minority. However, some people are naturally shy or have never appeared on a blog before. Again, follow these guidelines, and you should be fine.

The one golden rule is always to make your host’s job easy.

Promo

October 3, 2014 Books, Reviews, Writing craft 6 Comments

WRITING ACTIVE HOOKS REVIEW – DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN

Mary, Mary, Writers’ Fairy, Grant Me A Wish

The wish of being a better writer and of hooking my readers’ attention.

*swish*

“Read this, child, and your wish shall be granted.”

Sadly, outside of Mary’s Invisible Recruits series, magic requires a lot of hard graft. But it just got a little bit easier.

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, some writing rules you’ve always known. “It was a dark and stormy night” has outlived its usefulness. Nowadays, we want to grab agents, editors and readers by the throat from the start.

So you come up with a clever first sentence that attracts the reader’s interest. Next, you set the scene by describing the swooping of the valleys below. And finally you construct the roads that funnel the reader from one scene to the next. Right?

Well, not according to Mary Buckham. Her book tore up the carefully laid infrastructure of my plot like a jackhammer. Has that woman no shame?

I can’t speak to her shame, but there’s no doubting she knows her stuff. Because she not only helped me fill in the freshly excavated holes with a perfect finish, but gave me the tools to build a better and stronger groundwork in the future. From where to place my hooks for optimum benefit to which types work best for my story, she leaves no stone unturned. Practical examples serve as road signs and guide you reliably to your destination: a true page-turner.

So don your hard hats, roll up your sleeves, and let’s dig deep to make the magic happen.

Writing Active Hooks by Mary Buckham is available now.