Tag Archives: amreading

4-16-2016 #WritingPrompt – Improvement

Writing Prompt word of the day…. drum roll, please… okay, okay… but what kind of Improvement… heck, peeps.. we writers know this word inside and out… we improve with each book we read, with each story we tell, with each workshop we participate in… even beta reading for another author helps us to improve … we may see things in others that we didn’t realize that we also needed to work on… like weak word usage… or overuse… this is where the find and replace buttons come in handy… muhahahaha

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from the MC point of view there is always something to work on, especial if you write a recurring character, or a series… working on showing vs telling is important… but that’s more of a writer improvement… but then, our characters depend on us to be at the top of our game… lol… (HA… that is what edits are for) … but working on realistic emotions, thoughts, and dialogue improve both our writing, and the Character on the page…

the next couple of lists, well if you want to use them to improve your own life have at it… but from a MC pov these are excellent ways to affect change… I really like the one for getting out of your comfort zone… if you combine this prompt with the one about fear, you have a way to help your character grow, and to possibly take your story in a new direction… or heck… maybe you just want to mess with your literary peeps… either way it can work to make a better story… woo who…

there are people out there (or so I have been led to believe) that enjoy exercise… and it is usually on a lot of new years resolutions … but what about your MC… if there is action in your story at all, your character needs to be in shape… do they enjoy the task, or would they rather run the other way when the bar bells are brought out??? are they leading the exercises or the are they the on being forced (ummm… to enjoy???) the activity?? lol

and finally, home improvement…I think I will have one of my MCs build a shed (an ugly shed that they are insanely proud of) and then when the action starts, bye bye shed… my love interest/hero with be secretly happy to see it go… du du duduuuu…. yep… MC is so gonna make an ugly shed…

what can your MC do for home/yard improvements… and are they any good at the task…

finally… here is your pinterest writing prompt… I loved this, and just had to include it… happy wordage, tracey

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4-15-2016 #WritingPrompt – Character

I thought we could focus this writing prompt on character… and not just your MC… to me, adding character to something, or someone, means ‘to make stand out’… something with character is something that will be memorable… it is okay to go a little over the top with your MC’s actions and emotions sometimes… I mean, which would your rather have happen??? your reader closes the book and forgets half of what they read, or they end up replaying one of the scenes in their head while they anxiously await the next book???

try to picture your favorite actors… what  movies or tv shows did you rewatch time and again just to see the perfect moment … that scene that had you wiping your eye, or laughing out loud… oh, hey… looks like my mind is on eye candy… 😛

but from pretty boys to astounding acting, bringing their looks from normal to amazing for that scene, actors/actress can give us a visual aid to improve our book characters… we need our reader to be picturing Matthew McConaughey when they read that scene about our MC saving the day…(sorry guys, but there are some alpha males in my latest book, and I keep thinking of him in Sahara) … but what about Sean Connery … omg, the man is older than dirt and still he has character that pulls me in…

but you need to make sure that your entire book has Character… the good guys, the saviors, the kid that sounds the alarm, even the jewelry/setting/housing/food that makes your MC stop and go huh… but remember to flesh out the bad guys … it is soooo easy for me to merely say, Mr. X is trying to kill them… now lets focus on the hero… but the hero doesn’t have a true purpose unless we understand and grow to hate Mr. X… so be sure to make ever scene count… add a little definition to your people and places… just don’t over do it, guys… there is nothing worse than your reader becoming bored with page after page of room layouts… (hey, I actually read a series that every book was description, descriptions, descriptions… and book two would repeat *at length* what was said in book one… give me the cliff notes, please… I ended up skipping ahead to get to new info… )

Check out Bryn Donovan’s Master List of Physical Descriptions to help add a little more character to your characters… and here is your pinterest writing prompt… we all need more women of power… even if it is evil power… muahahahaha … happy wordage, tracey

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4-14-2016 #WritingPrompt – Forest

Living in Kentucky, I am well acquainted with the feeling of being surrounded by trees/woods… I love the coloring of the leaves in fall, or the smell of honey suckle in spring… I love the fact that what most would considered forest animals feel right at home in walking through my back yard, even though I live a stones throw away from the mall, the railroad tracks, and AK steel… so for this writing prompt I am going with forest… and what would your MC do when surrounded by trees??? 

a forest has the ability to be magical even if you are writing a contemporary themed novel… with out without a hidden waterfall or stream, walking through a forest in fall or spring you are surrounded by beauty… and the sight of the stars through otherwise dead tree limbs is a sight that is hard to describe…

but a forest can also scare the crap out of your MC… some are full of closely packed trees and brush that you have no choice but to go where the forest wants you to go, and the light wouldn’t dare break through the leaves, to noon on a summer day appears like midnight without a star in the sky… add a little fog and you have a place that demands quiet… your quiet, because the forest will be making all kinds of creepy sounds… muhahahaha

don’t forget the animals and bugs that are found in a forest… is you MC afraid of spiders??? well a forest would be a hell of a place for them to end up… and I didn’t add a picture, but a forest is an excellent place to come across a skunk… omg… my dog riled one up while we were camping, one time… we all woke up to the smell… both dog and skunk were under the camper… I ran out to get the dog to come out and leave the a skunk alone before we all suffocated… before mom could finish screaming for me to stay back, both the dog and I were covered in renewed skunk spray… it wasn’t pretty… needless to say, I washed and still mom made me sleep in the car…

as an added piece of character, what would happen if your MC lost their food and water while in the forest… would they know what to eat… if they were hurt, would they know what to use to ease pain… and what if they ate something poisonous??? or heck… your MC could live in the forest, growing their own medicines…

finally, why is your MC in the forest to begin with… are they searching for a cabin deep in the wood, the home of some recluse??? is there some cave or ruin hidden in the trees cover area??? and what types of bridges and trails will they come across on the way… or will they need to create their own… I know there is a cave at Carter Caves that had used the trunk of a tree as a kind of ladder for more than twenty years before it broke… not sure if another was ever brought in, but it was pretty cool… not so much when it broke but otherwise, pretty cool… (and okay, that one pic is actually dark forest cheese cake, but ymmmm)

and for your Pinterest writing prompt… here are some substitutes for ‘look’… if there is a word that you find yourself overusing, see if you can find some substitutes that you enjoy using just as much… happy wordage, tracey

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4-13-2016 #WritingPrompt – Emotion

Showing that your MC has emotion/feelings/passion is one of the most important ingredients for great writing… I know I enjoy a story that has emotion over something flat and informational… think of the children’s story ‘Jack and Jill’… while cute and fun to read as a child, as an adult wouldn’t it be more interesting to know what Jill was thinking, how the hill felt as she tumbled down after Jack, what emotions were evoked by the fall…

for this writing prompt, I suggest you take an emotion that you don’t feel at home with when writing, and play with it… push yourself to learn more about that emotion and then write the a scene with it…

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Emotions can be seen and felt… from quiet pain/loss, to overwhelming grief… what type of character are you dealing with…  does your MC hold it all in, or wear their heart on their sleeve???

and while you are learning more about your chosen emotions, remember to look up some visuals… these are just a few I came across on Pinterest…

if everything you write down still doesn’t feel right to you, remember that there are times that what your character shows to the world is only the tip of the iceberg… from stoic on the outside to explosive on the inside, or maybe your character is frozen in helpless tears by on the inside those tears are a release, a freedom…  

okay…. now here is the pinterest writing prompt… lol… I thought it went perfectly with this post…. why??? because sometimes your emotions can lead to behavior that is out of character… at least that is what I thought of when I saw this… what do you see…. happy wordage, tracey…

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4-12-2016 #WritingPrompt – Dream

all writer’s are dreamers… we dream of love, adventure, chaos, heartache, reality, and the unbelievable… we dream up stories and we dream about the readers that will enjoy them… but because I know personally that ‘writer’s depression’ is very real, here are a few quotes and sayings to keep you going… and then back to the writing prompt…

Does your MC have a specific place they go to in order to dream??? like a child’s clubhouse, do they have a place to get away from it all and dream??? do they dream of that perfect vacations or home improvement like an upgraded kitchen??? or maybe a library to beat all libraries???

What does your MC do in order to save up for their dreams??? do they have a system that can add some quirk to your story??? orrrr, if there is evil afoot, what happens when their hard earned savings are stolen???

And finally, I had to add dreamcatchers to the mix… I don’t know much about my Cherokee heritage, but I have always loved dreamcatchers… in a paranormal story, you could have a mystical dreamcatcher that protects your MC from evil… or your dreamcatcher could transport you to another realm… or in a contemporary, you MC could make them… I have had some beautiful ones in my lifetime… play around with it, and give your MC a ‘Dream’….

And for the Pinterest writing prompt, here is something that most people consider the opposite of dreaming… Spring cleaning… does your MC enjoy this yearly task, or do they despise it… do they need help, or do they prefer to take it all on alone… happy wordage, tracey

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4-11-2016 #WritingPrompt – Build

I love words… one simple word can be taken in so many different directions… take today’s writing prompt ‘Build’… for starters, I’m building this post… build is a word that can be applied physically, emotionally, or even mentally… soooo many different ways…

you can have your MC be a master craftsman, or a newbie attempting a DIY project… or just have the act of building be something in the background of a dialogue … you can build a garden, furniture, a home, a greenhouse, decorations or items to sell…

or your character could be building a relationship (either romantic or friendship or unknown)… they could be building a fighting group, a band, a working staff, or any number of groups… but mainly, as a writer, you are building your story… and if you write series, with each book you build your characters and your world… I like to introduce characters that will have a front seat as the MC in previous stories…

A writer is always building… we sit in a place that relaxes us and allow our minds to wonder, to build on the story we’re working on… I like to take a relaxing bath and just dream about my characters… we build worlds for others to enjoy… but never give up… building a story is a process… the first draft is merely your first building block…

And now for a Pinterest Writing Prompt… you can use this to build a character that appears bad, but underneath is redeemable… muhahahaha … happy wordage, tracey

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4-10-2016 #WritingPrompt – Wedding

For the most part, it seems that wedding scenes are useful as quickly mentioned and then something happens… like the reception, or the honey moon… or their can be a short story about a hiccup that almost derails the nuptials… the point is that most people want to get through the vows as quickly as possible, and if you don’t enjoy something in real life, why in the world would you want to read about it… so who can you add a wedding scene without losing some of your readers…

a scene from the dressing room, the nervous, the cold feet, or even the giddiness… then in the next chapter, summarize the vows and get to the good stuff… the shower or the honey moon…

and why are they getting married… is this a true love match or is it a one night stand that resulted in pregnancy but after getting married they will fall for each other… or is the marriage all for show (because of work, family, green card) and then there is love… or a drunken night in vagas… what caused the wedding and how do they deal with it…

and just for fun, here are some Oh-crap moments that I found on pinterest… some can be added into a wedding scene but most are for any story you are working on… happy wordage, tracey…

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4-9-2016 #WritingPrompt – Activity

What activities fill your MC’s down time… since spring is here, here is a list of spring related activities for you character to be involved in… you could start a scene with either an activity that will relate to the story, or just something random everyday activity that will be interrupted by either the villain or the love interest… something on the list that a lot of people feel the need to do as soon as the sun starts making itself know is ‘wash the car’… buffing up and making your ride shine is a ritual that some hate, and some seem to enjoy…

if the love interest interrupts it can lead to water fights (the inevitable wet t-shirt issue), or the villain can interrupt and the MC will be more worried about avoiding bullet holes in the car than being shot…

think about the time of year in your story, and then sit down and make your own list… how can those activities work in your story… like my MC paints with oil paints, she loses herself in the activity, but she uses it in her work (as well as artistically) … the paint gets everywhere, it takes forever to dry, and is very forgiving and easily to fix when there is a mistake… and if you use something you do often, you can add the little insights into the activity that most people don’t think of..

I would use a side character to screw up with his first time using oils… trying everything to dry his painting (sun, fan, hair dryer) but I would have it in the underlying story… the MC would mostly ignore while he complains or whines…

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having an underlying activity can help to move the story along… I mean.. you don’t want your MC just standing in the room for every scene…

and what about your Villain??? what is their motivation??? why are they striking out??? for most stories, the emotion and understanding comes from the good guys, but the villains are there, and if you understand why they are attacking your MC you can better write their actions and reactions… so ask yourself to give your villain a motivation… here’s a list to go by… just have fun with it… their motivation can be typical evil logic, or you can take something that can be found in your MC, like romance or justice, and twist how the villain goes about to achieve their goal… muhahahahaha…. happy wordage, tracey

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4-8-2016 #WritingPrompt – Gradening

alrighty… this may sound like a boring Prompt, but the simplest thing can add definition to your character…. I have a favorite series that I read… (Eileen Wilks) and the MC can be found pulling weeds when life is overwhelming… she wont say a word, just go into her grandmother’s back yard and start pulling…

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so think of it this way… what does your MC do to relieve stress??? how do they keep from exploding…

but also, their is the beauty and feeling of accomplishment that can come from gardening… is your MC a landscaper… do they add flowers, hedges, and definition to a boring yard, creating something magical??? or do they work the land to get food for their family, or to sell at the local market…. or maybe they have a large operation that contributes to grocery stores??? I’m not a yard working gal, but I think we all appreciate the end results that come from both landscapers and farmers… the hardship of working outdoors can add definition to your MC… so don’t be afraid to add some hardships…

alright… that is it for now… here is a Pinterest writing prompt for the fantasy/paranormal set… happy wordage, tracey

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4-7-2016 #WritingPrompt – Passion

ooo la la…. today’s prompt is Passion… that blush of a first kiss, the love at first sight that grows into a need to grow old together, or a blazing heat that never seems to cool… every time you touch, a tingling breaks out and catches fire…

but passion doesn’t stop there… you MC could have a passion to create, a passion for justice, or a passion to explore/to find answers… not all passion is about sex… it is about a need that refuses to be ignored… have your MC cross a sign that clearly says Danger/do not cross, just because they want to know what happened… have they stop an attack without thought or reservations for their own safety… or maybe climb down the side of a cliff to the ledge below because there is a picture/stone/animal that they just have to help or have for their art… find your MC’s passion…

and finally… here is the pinterest writing prompt… you can use fear while looking for your MC’s passion… what do they have to face in order to accomplish their goals… (I’m sure there are more fears… just play around with it) make your MC as real as possible… happy wordage, tracey…

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4-5-2016 #WritingPrompt – Flippy

lol… this seems like a hard word to build a writing prompt around but bare with me … since it is spring, I think of Flippy Skirts… I love long flowing skirts with lots of folds… and the wind is everywhere, flipping the skirt all over the place… soooo, does your MC like wearing flippy skirts… or is it her first time and the wind is causing all kinds of problems… just ask Marilyn Manroe… stay away from heating grates ladies… lol

something else that is flippy??? Hair… women flip and toss their hair, especially to show attitude…but with long hair, a certain amount of flipping is necessary … and lets not forget the masculine hair flip… especially if they have wavy hair… but hey…paranormal men tend to have long hair, so flip away…

and  lastly, we have flip-flops… they are definitely flippy… and it is about time to start wearing less and less on our feet… at least round here… personally, my feet hate being encased in shoes and socks… what about your Character… do they love flip-flops, insist on going bare foot, or maybe they have to have the best shoes and look down on anyone in flip-flops… hmmmm…. what is your Character wearing…

oooo…I just thought of one more clothing  ‘flip’… lol… a kilt… who doesn’t love a man in a kilt… and those are right up there with flippy clothing…

In the non-clothing flippy category, I think of acrobats and cheerleaders… or maybe a ninja or karate expert … those peeps are always flipping about…

okay… I think that is enough for today… here is your pinterest writing prompt… happy wordage, tracey … ooo… wait… don’t forget ‘flipping out’… lol

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4-4-2016 #WritingPrompt – Drink

Day four of Camp NaNoWriMo… and today’s Prompt is Drink… immediately I think of mixed drinks… something yummy, and maybe a little strong… maybe your MC is a light weight, and embarrasses themselves… or a strong constitution and can drink anyone and everyone under the table… or maybe your MC is a hot bartender that can flip the bottles and mix up anything you want…

Drink could also mean that your MC is drinking someone in… totally drawn to someone… or they have a thirst that for adventure… or they are dang dehydrated from working or from being lost in the middle of nowhere without anything to drink…

a refreshing drink like iced tea, or lemonade is very important here in Kentucky… but you could also focus on an addiction to coffee or liquor…

this is a short one… here is your Pinterest writing Prompt… happy wordage… tracey

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4-3-2016 #WritingPrompt – Beauty

What do you find beautiful??? my mind always goes to nature first… from the sky to the land… I see beauty all over the place… especially in spring and fall… I really love when the leaves turn colors and fall to the ground… use the landscape, something that stands out to you to comment on your MC’s surroundings… personally, I get bored if there is too much info on rooms or landscapes but something is needed to make your story come to life…

Maybe your MC is lusting after a car or a boat… or maybe a horse with fine lines… what is your MC into??? what will they look at when they think of beauty… does your MC favor the newest, shiniest toy… or are they more into antiques… and don’t forget the energy saver cars that usually look like something your five year old would rive…  

 And lastly, there is human beauty… I write romance, and there is always something about the person your MC lusts after that they find beautiful… and it doesn’t have to be physical… it can be a talent, or maybe the way they speak or laugh… maybe they create art that calls to the MC, or their caring/personality shines for all to see… what exactly draws your MC to this person???

okay… that’s it for today… here’s your pinterest writing prompt…. happy wordage, tracey

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Self pubbing???

Southern Discoveries…

well … it looks like Finder’s Keepers Book Two : Southern Discoveries will have to be a self pub novel… the first book got some positive attention but not enough for my indie publisher to spend more on book two, even though she read it and enjoyed what she saw… thankfully, she also read my contemporary romance and loved it… so while she helps me to publish my first Skymann novel, I will be learning about self-publishing…

it is my goal to become a hybrid author… getting my books out there through indie publishing, self-publishing, and eventually traditional publishing… one would think that this would be a perfect time to query publishing house to try the traditional route, but I don’t want my readers to have to wait for me to find an agent/publishing house… especially when I fear they will want the rights to the character/series… I would rather try them with a book that doesn’t touch either the Finder’s Keepers novels, or the Skymann novels…

so for now, Southern Discoveries will be in my unknowledgeable hands… wish me luck… I already know how the Ebook format works, but I will have to look into the paper back version… especially since I would like to get both Shocking Finds and Southern Discoveries ordered in paper back for my coming book signings…

okay… I need to go because I have been blogging all night on my Multiple Sclerosis site… and I am exhausted… later guys…

happy wordage, tracey

#EggcerptExchange – Alina K. Field

less an a month left for the Eggcerpt exchanges… then blog life will slow down… HA…

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writing comes with a needed dose of mental illness, especially if the voices in our heads get too loud… 😛 I don’t know about the rest of my fellow authors, but my head is usually buzzing with activity… very loud activity… but from that insanity come entertainment… from my personal favorite in the romance genre – fantasy, paranormal, and contempory… to historical, regency, sci-fi, Christian, new adult, goth… the list goes on and on…

Alina K. Field has stopped by today to give us a taste of what happens when the voices start screaming about Regency Romance… I hope everyone enjoys her blurb, excerpt, and an author interview that will give you a peek inside the main character of…

Liliana’s Letters….

THE MATCHMAKER MEETS

THE MATCHBREAKER

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Liliana’s Letter

The Matchmaker

Lord Grigsby wants nothing more than to retreat to his study, but a promise to his long-dead sister has forced him back into society to broker the marriage of his nephew to the heiress whose money can save the young man’s estate. If only the young lady’s starchy hired companion would move out of the way.

The Matchbreaker

Hired to launch an heiress’s society debut, seemingly straitlaced spinster Liliana Ashford’s future as a professional chaperone depends on the girl’s successful marriage. But Liliana had her own close encounter with a scoundrel years ago, and she won’t let her charge be forced into marriage to the same kind of rogue, no matter how hard the man’s widowed uncle tries to woo Liliana around to the match.

Secrets and a Scandalous Murder

A shadow from Liliana’s past appears bearing an unfortunate letter she wrote long ago, and then the earl is murdered, evoking the scandal of the season. While she scrambles to make a respectable match for her charge before her own past can be exposed, Grigsby sets about finding his nephew’s killer—and Liliana’s secrets.

EXCERPT

“You clearly don’t approve of the match. Do you intend to openly oppose it?”

Her head whipped around, and she glared. “It’s not for me to approve or disapprove. Katie—Miss Mercer—will decide.”

Passion flashed in her eyes, sending an answering spark through him. She was magnificent, though so very mistaken. “Really? Then her father is more liberal than I expected.”

She looked him over more closely. “What do you know of this matter?”

I might ask you the same question. Her tone had been stiff, like the crystallized dome covering bubbling lava. He fixed her with his sternest glare, not entirely surprised at her cheek.

His glower didn’t impress her. She lifted her shoulders higher. Stood a little taller, proud, lovely, and filled with indignation.

Quite righteous indignation. He gave into an unmanly sigh, truly weary of his responsibility for Thomas. “I know a good deal, Miss Ashford. I have been negotiating for these nuptials. The arrangement is my doing as much as Mr. Mercer’s. Much more than it is my nephew’s. He is probably the least culpable, except for his abominable behavior.”

She clenched her hands tightly. “I see.”

“Thomas’s mother was my older sister. I made a promise to her that I would look after him.” Her gaze softened, and she bit her lip in a way that made him want to taste the part that she was nipping.

And where had that thought come from?

“And your nephew needs money and an heir.”

He nodded. As a woman of the ton, of course she would understand how marriage worked. Marriage wasn’t about love, or the bride’s approval, or a plump lower lip that begged to be kissed.

“He needs money most of all. He has a younger brother in the army who would make a far more dutiful earl.”

He covered his mouth with his hand. The words had rolled out, shocking him. He rarely spoke this frankly with any woman.

Very well, he never spoke this frankly with any woman.

She released a soft breath. “And there is the matter of the ore.”

His mouth gaped and he quickly closed it. Mr. Mercer had shared that information? Well. “That part of the county is rich with newly discovered veins of iron.”

That information brought her up straighter. She looked away, gazing intently at a thick, dark spot of foliage, making him want to pry into that sharp mind.

“I see,” she said. “I believe we should go back in now.”

Not yet. He tucked her hand over his arm but did not move.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VBXAld

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/liliana-s-letter

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lilianas-letter/id1046400564?mt=11

Nook: http://bit.ly/1k81CX3

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Alina K. Field Bio and links:

Award winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she found her true passion in reading and writing romance. Though her roots are in the Midwest, after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband and a blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.

Her debut novella, Rosalyn’s Ring, was the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner in the novella category.

Visit her at:

http://alinakfield.com/

https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield

https://twitter.com/AlinaKField

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Field

 

Interview with Liliana Ashford, heroine of Liliana’s Letter

Nickname

My brother and his friends always called me “Lil” as a nickname.

Job

Sadly, I was forced by circumstances to take employment as a companion to a wealthy young woman coming out into society. My job was to help her make a very good marriage.

Level of schooling, or self-taught

Like most of the girls of my class, I did not attend school. From time to time I had a governess or tutor, and I found solace, and much education, in books.

Birthdate

Must a lady as old as I am and still unmarried share her date of birth? No, I think not.

Most important goal

Before my marriage, my most important goal was to prevent my young lady from marrying Grigsby’s dreadful nephew. Now, I shall do my best to help my husband discover his nephew’s murderer.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Yes, we do have lotteries, but ladies do not generally participate. Still, if I could dream and find myself with a pot of money, I would establish a charity to help the young girls from the London rookeries into a better life.

 

#LittleThings Blog Hop – Freebies

Hey guys… I need help… and not mental… though that is definitely in question… I mean… what have I gotten myself into… Oh, not this hop… this is easy and fun… no I am talking about one of the book signings I will be at this year… one that I will be needed a costume for, for the costume ball… But I am getting ahead of myself… let me introduce the Hop and then Please, for the love of mud, help a girl out… 😛

little things

Little Things Blog Hop

Hi everyone Tracey Clark here and I am one of over 100 authors/bloggers/ on

the Little Things Blog Hop! This hop has over 200 chances to win prizes, the rafflecopter for the overall event has a ton of prizes just waiting to be won… and each of the 100+ blog stops will have their own give away…

My Giveaway

Make sure you visit each stop and enter the posted giveaway… for this stop, I am giving away an eBook copy of Shocking Finds (epub, pdf, or mobi)… to be entered to win, simply answer the follow:

—If you had to pick a book/movie character to dress up as, who would it be (description of outfit would be great)?

lol… sounds silly, but I am in serious need her peeps… I will be going to a costume ball at the Imaginarium Convention… I am already nervous about being on one of the panels (not sure what they want me to do) and being in front of a lot of people for any reason always throws my system into whack… I can see it now… sweating, red in the face, about to throw up, when I just kill over and pass out…. yep… that would so be my luck… to help me out… use the comment section below and give me some ideas… and be entered to win …

And not to worry… if you already have a copy of Shocking Finds, I will be sure to send you an Arc of Southern Discoveries (Book Two – Finder’s Keepers) when all the bugs are worked out…

And be sure to enter the amazing rafflecopter too which has a ton of prizes to be won!

For those of you don’t already know me, I am the author of Shocking Finds (A Finder’s Keepers Novel), I plan to be attending three book signings this year (Wild in West Virginia – June in Charleston, WV; Imaginarium Convention – Oct in Louisville, ky; & Rebels and Readers RARAE – Nov in Huntington, WV) And I am working to get two more novels ready for the signings… and as stated above, I will be attending the Imaginarium Costume Ball (EKK) I hope to see you all there…

Now… let’s keep this Hop hopping…

Next name on the list: PJ Fiala’s Little Things

Rafflecoptor Link : a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join the Little Things Blog Hop Event for more fun https://www.facebook.com/events/562506680576207/

Link to all the Blog Hop spots: http://theclubbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/02/LittleThingsBlogHop.html

Thank you for hopping by! Happy Wordage, Tracey

Winner (s) will be chosen by random and announced on this page and on the Little Things Event Page by April 6th.

FB is not in any way responsible or affiliated with this giveaway or the Little Things Blog Hop

 

 

#EggcerptExchange – Maryann Miller

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ooo… Maryann’s blurb is excellent… you have intrigue, a woman wrongly accused, and mob bosses…

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Will the sheriff get his man??? or maybe his girl??? in more ways than one, Maryann seems to pulling in drama lovers… it sounds like everyone will be walking along a slippery slope… hmmmm….

#EggcerptExchange Boxes For Beds by Maryann Miller

BLURB

The 1960s were a time of peace and love in California, but not so in Hot Springs, Arkansas where the mob still ruled. In Boxes For Beds, babies are being kidnapped, and the local sheriff has to put this case to bed before the bosses come down from Chicago for a big meeting. They don’t need the heat of an open investigation that could interest the Feds, and they have the local sheriff under their control. He thinks it’s a good move to arrest Leslie Richards, the new woman in town, even though there’s only thin circumstantial evidence against her. Better for it to be a stranger taking those babies and not one of their own. Leslie has left New York with her ten-year-old daughter, Mandy, hoping to escape from her past and the ruins of a relationship, only to discover that there is little peace for her in Pine Hollow, Arkansas.

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EXCERPT

January 1936

“Hush little baby, don’t you cry … ” The plaintive melody whispered in the otherwise resounding silence.

One small candle flickered atop the dust-encrusted chest of drawers, the feeble light unable to dispel the gloom born of the murky darkness. The yellow flame wafted in a sudden draft, casting macabre patterns on a precarious stack of old boxes supported by an intricate network of cobwebs. The pale light briefly touched a figure hunched over an open trunk.

The figure loomed more like a shadow than a real person and reached out a hand to lightly trace the features of the tiny bundle nestled within the trunk’s musty interior.

“Would you listen to me? Singing to a doll-baby just like you was real.”

Wide, unblinking eyes stared back.

“Sometimes I wish … but no. It’s better this way. If you was real, then I’d have to tell you to hush for sure. The Man don’t let me play with no real babies. Says I might hurt ’em. But he don’t know. I can be real gentle. Ain’t my fault those others broke. You ain’t gonna do that are you?”

Silence.

March 6, 1961

Leslie Richards sat on the ground, idly picking at the strands of dry grass beside her. No sign of green yet, not even in Pine Hollow, Arkansas. Not that she really expected it. Early March is still winter whether in Arkansas or New York, but at least the breeze blew a little warmer here. She definitely wouldn’t be sitting on the ground if she were still in New York.

Easing herself against the thick trunk of the old oak, which stretched leafless branches high into a shimmering blue sky, Leslie thought of how her agent had reacted to the news of her impending move. Merrill had stolen the response Leslie had expected from her parents.

“What on earth do you want to leave New York for?” Merrill rolled a well-chewed pencil between her slim fingers, staring at Leslie in frank astonishment.

“You’re the one who keeps telling me a writer should be well-traveled. Let’s just say I’m broadening my horizons.”

“Some podunk town in the South is hardly what I had in mind.”

“That ‘podunk town’, as you so colorfully put it, is part of my heritage. My grandmother was raised there. I can reconnect with my roots.”

“Right. Like that’s been a burning issue in your life.” Merrill flashed one of her lopsided smiles. “I think you’re holding out on me, kid.”

“Oh, Merrill,” The tears Leslie had vowed not to burden her friend with welled in her eyes and spilled unbidden down her cheeks. “Everything’s such a mess. Since Ronald … I can’t think. I can’t work.”

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AUTHOR BIO

Maryann Miller is a best-selling author of books, screenplays and stage plays. Boxes for Beds is her first indie release. Her previous books include a police-procedural mystery, Open Season, which is the first in a new series that features two women homicide detectives. Think “Lethal Weapon” set in Dallas with female leads. Miller has won numerous awards for her screenplays and short fiction, including the Page Edwards Short Fiction Award, the New York Library Best Books for Teens Award, and first place in the screenwriting competition at the Houston Writer’s Conference.

BUY LINK – Boxes for Beds is available in paper, electronic, and audio. Links to all formats are on Maryann’s Book Page on her website:

http://maryannwrites.com/books/boxes-for-beds/

AUTHOR LINKS – Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Miller/e/B001JP7Y1S/

Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/Maryann-Miller-176896965725974/

Author Website http://maryannwrites.com/

Character Questions:

What would I do if I won the lottery? What a great question. We all fantasize about that, don’t we? First, I’d endow the Winnsboro Center For the Arts where I have been the theatre director for many years. WCA offers live concerts, theatre, exhibits, classes and workshops in all areas of creativity, and it has brought so much cultural enrichment and joy to the people in this rural area where I live. Then I would gift my church and my children. Lest I sound too altruistic, I would buy myself a bigger ranch and hire some people full-time to help with the animals.

What is my favorite place to visit? I find it interesting that that will change for me depending on the day and my mood. At the top of the list is visiting my family. The bonds I have with siblings, children, grandchildren are strong, and those bonds pull us together. I also love to go to nearby lakes and sit quietly, just absorbing the beauty around me. Sounds sappy, I know. But, hey, I live in a place where Mother Nature has done some of her best work. I also must mention how much I enjoyed visiting the Bath Houses in Hot Springs. We writers do have to suffer for our research. (smile)

Level of Education or self-taught? While I have gone to college, it was not for classes related to writing, although I did audit a Master’s Class in creative writing. My area of study was psychology and sociology, which certainly has helped me in understanding human nature – as much as anyone can understand. I have taken many writing workshops, including a six-week class with Joe Camp on screenwriting. Things that I learned there helped with acting and directing, in addition to what I learned about writing. On stage, or on screen, you don’t always need words. Next time you watch a movie, focus on what an actor can convey with a look or a gesture. I find it challenging, and interesting, to try to translate that into narrative fiction.

 

#EggcerptExchange – Elaine Cantrell

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Check out Elaine’s world of royalty…. princes and princesses…. ooo…. and arranged marriage…

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I have not read The Enchanted yet, but I want to remind you all that after you read any book, be sure to place a review on Goodreads or Amazon… or heck… do both… lol… we writers need time, and appreciate the time you take to tell us what you think… and now off to Elaine’s post…

Elaine Cantrell’s

The Enchanted

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.

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Excerpt:
“Do you see anyone?” Alan whispered. “We must hurry, Morgane. The afternoon grows late.”

“I see no one.”

They eased into the deserted street, but no one appeared to molest them. “Go quickly,” Alan hissed.

They set off at a trot, making good time even though the slap of their feet on the broken sidewalks sounded as loud as thunder to Morgane. One of the cannibal’s arms came free from Nerian s tunic and struck Alan with every step they took, but they dared not stop. The Pool of Lodane had just come into view when Nerian’s grandmother revived.

“She is awake!” Nerian cried as the creature rolled its eyes at him.

Morgane turned around in time to see the thing jerk Alan s handkerchief from its mouth. It wailed and screeched like a soul in torment. Answering howls filled the late afternoon with horror. “Run!” Alan roared.

They ran. Morgane s breath came in gasps. Her chest burned, as did her calves. All of our efforts are doomed! Behind her she heard Nerian scream. From the corner of her eye, she saw him vanish beneath a writhing mass of green, but neither she nor Alan paused in their sprint for life.

Cannibals poured from every building and street. So many of them! The streets were painted in putrid green. Their only hope was to reach the pool.

Alan growled low in his chest, breezing past Morgane as if she were not even moving. With only steps to go, he dove into the pool, with the old cannibal still slung across his shoulders.

Morgane threw herself to the ground with a scream as a huge clap of thunder filled the air. It rolled and echoed across the entire world. Her hands flew up to cover her ears. Would it never stop? Black clouds roiled and churned, turning the sky an inky black.

The pool screamed. Horrible shrieks joined the cacophony of the skies. Green smoke billowed into the air as if the very water had caught fire. Waves almost as tall as her father s castle shot upward from the pool.

The wave expelled Alan and the cannibal from the water. Morgane screamed until her throat felt raw. “Draw a circle!” Alan roared as he jumped into the pool again, his arms still locked around the old sorceress.

Draw a circle? Draw a circle with the cannibals almost within touching distance? The prophecy! Frantically she used her foot to draw a circle in the dirt and stepped inside. Perhaps it would provide some protection from the cannibals.

In the end, she needed no protection. The cannibals stood as if rooted in place. Nothing about them moved. The wind had picked up to gale force. It took all her strength to remain inside the circle, but not even the cannibals’ hair moved in the wind.

Alan shoved the grandmother out of the pool and promptly jerked her back in.

The minute she entered the water for the third time, the sky cleared. A lovely pink and blue sunset shone above them. The green fog disappeared, and the water in which Alan stood became a beautiful, calm blue.

Morgane blinked, and in that brief moment the cannibals dissolved into sand.

Purchase Links:
Amazon
itunes
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords

 

Elaine Cantrell’s Biography

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Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a master’s degree in personnel services from Clemson University. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary society for women educators and is also a member of Romance Writers of America. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, traveling, and collecting vintage Christmas ornaments.

Author Links:

Blog
Book Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Character Interview Princess Morgane from The Enchanted:

… Greetings, kind readers. I am Madame de Barra, and I have been granted the honor of an interview with the Princess Morgane. I am rather nervous even though I am an experienced interviewer. I have read Madame Cantrell’s tale The Enchanted and must confess that I am all atwitter at the thought of meeting the princess. Oh! She comes now.

Madame de Barra scrambles to her feet and bows deeply. “My princess.”

Princess Morgane inclines her head to Madame de Barra. “Please, take a seat, Madame. It is my honor to meet you.”

They both sit in comfortable twin chairs covered in red velvet with an eagle embroidered on the back.

Madame de Barra: “Thank you for granting me an interview, Princess Morgane.”

Princess Morgane: “I am grateful for your interest in my story.”

  1. Madame de Barra: “The entire kingdom is interested in your story. For the benefit of anyone who has not met you, would you introduce yourself and tell us your occupation?”

“I am the Princess Morgane, daughter of King Maccus, wife of Prince Alan who is heir to his father King Bowdyn. My occupation? I am a princess.”

2. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

“Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it is my husband Prince Alan. Our love story did not begin the way most do. Our fathers arranged a marriage for the two of us even though we had never met. I did not expect to even like him, but I grew to love him almost immediately. How could I not? He is everything a man should be. He is kind, generous, clever, protective, and he is fair to look upon.”

3. What is your greatest fear?

Princess Morgane bites her lip. “I fear that one day I might lose the prince. We live in a dangerous world. He promises to take care of himself, but I am still fearful.”

4. “What is your most important goal?”

“I have long been concerned over the lack of opportunities for women. I am doing research to see what can be done about it. I myself have been victimized by men, and I long to live in a world where men and women are treated the same.”

5.”What is your favorite food?”

The princess laughs. “I am overly fond of chocolate. It is so costly that even the king cannot often have it, but he did serve chocolate truffles at the banquet honoring Madame Cantrell. In fact, the entire kingdom honors Madame for her marvelous book The Enchanted.”

Madame deBarra nods her head. “As a representative of the press, I covered the release party that the king gave for Madame Cantrell. If my readers are interested, they can find my coverage of the party at RELEASE DAY: The Enchanted Thank you, Princess Morgane for your time. I have greatly enjoyed meeting you.”

#EggcerptExchange – Tina Gayle

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Alrighty… I am welcoming Tina Gayle to the blog today, the lady behind this egg-tastic exchange…. she herded us all together to share and exchange blog posts… I especially liked her idea to add in character/author interviews… I chose to do two different character interviews, and send them out at random… so that each person I exchange with didn’t have the exact same post… after the exchange is over, I plan to post my interviews for anyone that missed out…

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for now, here is a peek at Tina’s romance novel… and yummy cover… 😛 enjoy

Marketing Exec’s Widow #99cent
Tina Gayle’s #EggcerptExchange

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author of heartwarming romance novels for romance readers.

Four women…
One fatal car wreck…
Everyone’s lives changed…

Marketing Exec’s Widow

Letting go and rebuilding a life comes at a price.

Having come to terms with losing her husband, Jennifer is ready to move on with her life, but she faces opposition from her friends, in-laws, and brother-in-law, who see himself as her future husband. None of them know of Jen’s marital problems and she is afraid of their reaction when they learn she has a date for Friday night?
Hagan Chaney is not anything like Craig. He tempts Jen into the future but is she willing to give love another chance after the heartache she faced the 1st time around.

Excerpt –

“God, you must think I’m awful.”

“Not even in the ballpark as to what I think about you. Because I know you would never have said yes to a night out with me if you’d been happy in your marriage.”

His words hit her like a fist to the face and her head snapped backward, striking the wooden partition between the booths. Wow, how could he have guessed the truth when so many people who knew her hadn’t?

She closed her eyes and searched for an answer. For so long, she’d kept her emotions bottled inside, not allowing anyone to see the loneliness or heartache her unhappy marriage had caused. What now? Lie, or admit the truth?

The vinyl cushion squeaked, and a hand touched her shoulder, pulling her from her stupor. Hagan slipped in beside her, his thigh bumped hers and his arm slid along the back of the seat. In the space of a few seconds, his large athletic body blocked her escape from the confining booth.

Nerves pulsed in an agitated rhythm. She couldn’t sit still, and opened her mouth to tell him to back off, but the thin lines of concern marring his brow killed the comment.

“Hey, there’s no reason to get upset.” He cupped a hand over her shoulder and drew her close. “I’m happy you said yes.”

Jolted by his sudden nearness, she exhaled, and then fought to draw air back into her lungs. His crisp, masculine scent acted like a seductive lure, and she had to fight the urge to bury her nose in the curve of his neck.

Read the 1st chapter of any of my books at www.tinagayle.net

Purchase Links

Marketing Exec’s Widow is available at Amazon,

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Tina’s Bio –
Tina Gayle loves writing and is currently working on finishing her Family Tree series, a contemporary paranormal suspense series.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time with my family and traveling around the country. She hasn’t hit every state, but she hopes to someday. You might also catch her on the golf course with her husband of 30 years.

Also, you can read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website or download an exclusive story “My Future Step Brother” and join her special friend’s list. All on her website http://www.tinagayle.net

Home – http://www.tinagayle.net
Blog – http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle

Character Questions – Pick 5 you want to use.

1. Nickname – Jen
2. Job – realtor
3. Level of schooling, or self-taught – some college
4. Birthdate – August 8
5. Birthplace – Omaha, NE
6. Currently residing in… Elkhorn, NE
7. Favorite type of pet – dog –
8. Favorite place to visit
9. Significant other – Craig but he was killed in a car wreck
10. Most important goal – to be independent
11. Worst fear or nightmare – spending my live alone
12. Favorite food – all
13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between? wealthy now
14. Secret desire or fantasy – to have children15. What would you do if you won the lottery? I won the lottery when Craig died. I now have more money than I’ll ever need but sadly it hasn’t made me happier.

Thanks for hosting me on your blog,
Tina

#LittleThings – Join the Explosion

Little Things Blog Hop Use Me

Personally, I will be giving away an eBook copy of Shocking Finds, or for those that have already read Shocking Finds, you can choose to wait for an ARC copy of Southern Discoveries: Book Two – Finder’s Keepers and read before it comes out to buy…

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If you want to be on the blogger list, or maybe you have a read of your own to enter into this blog-fest, be sure to head to the following link to enter the fun… you have until March 11th to sign up… check out the 70+ list of blog sites already listed to participate, and join the explosion… just click the ‘click here’ button below…

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