Off to a running start…

Whew! So far we’ve been running around like decapitated chickens!  The year started off with a huge bang with Kevin Hearne’s visit, but was then quickly followed by the  whirlwind of the Blogger Book Fair. Then, because that wasn’t enough, we had the MRFW Bloghop nipping at our heels. But, now it’s back to just me!

Time to catch you all up on the happenings.

SHADOW’S SOUL won First place in the Paranormal category for the 2013 Shooting Star Contest. I was told I’d get a nifty badge for my website, so as soon as I get it, I shall post away. There’s suppose to be a trophy as well.  If that’s true, I’ll take a picture and post so you can share the “Oooohhh/aaaawwww” moment with me.

I was humbled by my nomination for Blogger of the Year by The Book Boost.  The results should be in on Valentine’s Day, so hopefully we’ll get to add this to our list of accomplishments!

SHADOW’S MOON is now out and about in the query world in search of new home, so I’ll keep you posted on what happens there.

Want to spend an exciting hour on Twitter? Then come join me and the awesome Lynn Rush for a Twitter Party on February 20th at 8 pm Eastern time.  We’d love to hear from you and hope you’ll make it.

Thanks to Snarky, I will be making a regular appearance at Castles and Guns each month with posts, so come keep me company and add  in your opinions so I have someone to talk to, besides the voice in my head.  My first post goes up on March 4th!

Don’t forget to check out my Guest Post and Blog page for all my upcoming guests. We have some really awesome authors coming in the next few months so mark the dates!

Now that we’re all caught up, we’ll return to our normal programming next week…

Until then…be good (but not too good!).

BTW–HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

 

Writing a Believable Romance

Again, I typically write fantasy novels, with a little bit of romance mixed in, but I am more and more intrigued about what it takes to create a believable romance.

I recently read two fantasy novels by the same author.  In the first novel, it takes the characters about a quarter of the book to develop their relationship and fall in love.  In the second novel, it takes about two chapters.  For some reason, the second novel just didn’t work for me.  Yes, the author sums things up with “they’d spent the past three months getting to know each other,” or something of that sort, but I didn’t believe the relationship because it occurred while I was reading the book, but I didn’t see it.  The author simply wrote a few paragraphs telling me that the characters had got to know each other, but I never saw it develop.

Now, this isn’t to say I have a problem with romances where the characters have developed a relationship before the start of the story, because I don’t.  I just didn’t particularly like being told about a relationship blossoming and never seeing it.

But then, how do you develop a believable romance in 80-120,000 words?  Friendships can happen quickly or instantly.  “Love” or “lust” can happen quickly or instantly.  But, I feel a whole romantic relationship needs time to develop.  Additionally, I think creating this type of romance takes an ingenious writer, because they need to be clever to use a small amount of space to create something so big.

Honestly, I am still working on this ability myself, but I plan to continue reading and analyzing, to see how other authors create believable romances in so few words.

The Impending Release…

Okay drag your mind out of the gutter and let mine float by!  Not that kind of release, I’m talking about release dates for books!  Oh yes, I finally got my release date for Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of the Kyn Kronicles…

JUNE 23rd, 2012

Some nightmares are born of love…

Raine McCord has no problem taking down the monsters of the world, it’s one of the reasons she’s so good at her job.  So playing bodyguard to Cheveyo, head Magi of the Northwest, as he consults with the Southwest Kyn should be an easy assignment. Unfortunately, simple task turns into a nightmare when Cheveyo is kidnapped and Raine is left for dead by one of the Kyn’s most feared beings, a Soul Stealer.

The Stealer’s attack leaves lasting wounds, undermining Raine’s confidence as a warrior and damaging her unruly magic. Her ability to heal her mind and spirit hinges on the one man who can touch her soul, Gavin Durand.  Compelled to face the emotions raging between them, they must embrace not only their stormy relationship but their evolving magic to escape the twisted threads of murder and betrayal to find Cheveyo.

As Raine and Gavin come together and begin to unravel the complex web of secrets and hidden vendettas haunting the Southwest Kyn, they discover unsettling new truths that threaten their very existence.

Plus, our very own Snarky Dwarf has a title coming out on Friday, April 13, 2012.  For those who love their romance with a bit of bite (I know, over used pun but it works!) check out her title:

BLOODSTORM

Cover Art by the amazingly talented Dawné Dominique

When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn… it bites.

For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him only to face more than she bargained for in a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she’s still a woman. With duties as Keeper of the peace and Sheriff, Shane Spencer must protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war.

When wolves start turning up dead, the tension between the races grows and suspicion falls on Niki. Shane knows she’s not to blame, and it has nothing to do with the primal urges she stirs within him. Working together, they must stop the hostilities from going over the edge. Trouble is, the desires raging between them might prove more dangerous than the surrounding threats.

So on Friday the 13th (yep, you saw that right!) head over to Amber Kallyn’s Blog and join in on the release party.  She even has some cool giveaways! Hope to see you all there!

Reminder:  Blog stops for this week:

4/9/12              Bri Clark’s Belle of Boise where we explore how I learned plotting from soap operas.

4/14/12            I’m visiting with Lindsay Jones’s at Just Another Book Addict to chat about my family.

If you missed last week’s spots, you can still catch them at:

Mona Karel’s blog   The Rise of the Furry Sidekick

Nanny Berry’s Getting Naughty Between the Stacks         You Never Really Grow Up…

 

–Wicked

But you’re published now

I’ve heard from a few writers and a few non-writers recently the above phrase. I’ll be talking about my writer’s group, the 7ED and how I have such and such project in for their critique.

I get a look of wide-eyed disbelief, then the comment, “But you’re published now. Why do you still need a critique group?”

And all I can do is laugh. Yes. I’m published now (with my very own editor, now 2

But that doesn’t mean all of a sudden I transformed into the most awesome, perfect writer ever born. HA!

I need them now more than ever. Talk to most published authors, and they’ll tell you how badly they still need their critique and writers groups. Because even published writers make mistakes. Huge glaring ones. And sometimes, we even forget to write a plot into a short story

I wouldn’t be here without my great, wonderful and totally awesome group.

And I wouldn’t last long in the publishing world without going to the 7ED first with everything I write so they can rip it to shreds. And I love that. Because it makes me a better storyteller and a better writer.

Love to all of them.

~ Amber aka Snarky