Fun Friday – Fun Happenings!

logo-villanova-universityWe have three fun things for this Friday!

The first comes from my pal Gretchen who is trying to help out a friend replace a lost bass. If you like dangly earrings, check out this blog post by clicking here or using this link: http://www.gretchenjones.com/?p=293

Second – root with me on Saturday night for my alma mater as the Villanova Wildcats battle UNC in the Final Four round in Detroit. GO NOVA!! GO CATS!!

Third – but not the least – join me and some friends on a brand new loop for some fun and prizes. Here are the details for you:

9 Dangerous Women Writing!
3 days of fun and prizes!
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It’s a launch party with tons of prizes and great fun!

Starting at 3pm central time Friday April 3rd with scheduled fun all the way through Sunday the 6th!!

To join us send a blank email to [email protected]

Who are the DANGEROUS WOMEN WRITING?

The Authors are…

Nina Bruhns, Anna DeStefano, Donna Grant,
Rita Herron, Caridad Pineiro, Lisa Marie Rice,
Debra Webb, Lori Wilde, Lisa Renee Jones/Faith Winter

Available Now!
Dangerous Women Writing!

Lastly, I’ll be picking winners for all the blog contests this weekend, so look for the announcement on Monday!

Undead Uprising

ww.jpgThis Wicked Wednesday I’m doing something different – the excerpt for the first chapter of Undead Uprising is taking part in the Full Moon of Werewolves being run by my friend and fellow author Lori Devoti!

Also one lucky commenter will win a a SINS OF THE FLESH t-shirt along with a copy of TEMPTATION CALLS. Just leave a comment on my blog post to be entered. Winner will be announced at end of the Full Moon promotion. Last day to enter Saturday, March 25th at midnight central U.S. time.

To visit my blog post at Lori’s Full Moon of Werewolves, just click here or cut and past this link into your browser window: http://loridevoti.com/blog/2009/03/25/full-moon-of-werewolves-excerpt-from-caridad-pineiros-undead-uprising-prize/

Fun Friday – Flowers on the First Day of Spring

It’s the first day of Spring and it’s snowing!!! Luckily it looks like the snow is letting up and the crocuses, daffodils and other spring flowers are starting to emerge.

Since it is the first day of Spring, I’d thought I’d share some flower photos with you from my trip to the Philadelphia Flower show this year.

Also remember that the extended contest week continues until midnight EST on March 20th (Today!!). Visit any of these blogs and leave a message and you could win a copy of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD, an autographed ARC of SINS OF THE FLESH and a CALLING T-shirt. Also drop by Fresh Fiction on March 20th because they are featuring FURY CALLS as their Fresh Pick! (So excited about this!)

Share some coffee and chat with me at Over Coffee:
http://siamckye.blogspot.com/2009/03/balancing-work-and-passion.html

Single Titles Interview:
http://singletitles.com/?p=1607

Loves Romances and More:
http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-caridad-pineiros-guest-blog.html

The Dreaded Info Dump

dumpI was rewriting a chapter yesterday and when I read it to my critique group, I didn’t need them to tell me what I was doing wrong.

I knew I was doing the Dreaded Info Dump.

What’s that? you might ask.

Well, if you’re a reader it’s something you hopefully will not see in a book. It goes something like this:

Mary realized that it was Dr. Smith. He had treated her for bunions three years ago. Then again two years later for a heel spur. Now she was there to see him for an ingrown nail, but suspected it was much more than that. For two weeks her toe had been hurting. It had first been a slightly pink color. Then a few days later a little brighter red. Then after a week it had started getting really nasty. Finally a day ago she realized it was time to go see her favorite foot doctor.

Yes, I know we wouldn’t be interested in a story about her feet, but imagine that the story was a romantic suspense and all that information was about what had happened to the heroine in the last three months – an info dump.

Much like the person in the photo I posted, info dumps inundate a reader with too much info at one shot and in general, are boring. It’s like reading an encyclopedia entry for your hero or heroine.

If you need to provide the reader some backstory, it should be layered throughout the chapter and provide subtle hints and information about what’s put the protagonists in their current situation. In fact, the less you say and make the reader intuit, the more they will be drawn into the story you are writing because the reader is participating in the story.

Of course, don’t make it so confusing or obtuse that the reader will say, “I just don’t get it,” and disengage from the story.

The hints should be clear and lead the reader toward an understanding of what’s happening. They should be like the breadcrumbs that Hansel and Gretel leave behind, enough so they can be followed to a particular point where you, the writer, are leading them.

How do you know you are doing the dreaded info dump as a writer? Look for long paragraphs filled with too much information. Dense paragraphs like that are a clear sign that something is up that you should revisit.

I hope you found this Tuesday Tip helpful.

Also, don’t forget this week’s b’day bash. Just visit any of the blogs listed below this week and leave a comment and you’ll be eligible to win a prize from me! At Barbara Vey’s blog, there are tons of other prizes as well!

I’ll be visiting all of these blogs and if you’ve left a comment at any of them, you’ll also be eligible to win a $25 Godiva gift card! The more times I see your name at the different blogs, the more your chances improve to win the gift card. So take a moment and stop by one or all to improve your chances of winning a prize.

The contest ends on Friday, March 13th at midnight EST, so be sure to get your comments in there on time!

Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book Blog for lots of fun and giveaways!
http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/1240041524.html

Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1602

Harlequin Paranormal Romance blog: http://paranormalromanceblog.wordpress.com/

Liberty States Fiction Writers (leave a comment on any of the blog posts): http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/blog-read-around-the-world/

Long and Short Reviews: http://longandshortarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/Caridad%20Pineiro

Guilty Pleasures Monday and a Birthday Bash!

Dennis Quaid - Photo in the Public DomainEvery time I see Dennis Quaid I think, man he’s still got it! Now, his latest movie VANTAGE POINT was so not good, but he looked great in it.

One of my favorite Quaid movies is FREQUENCY which also starred Jim Cavaziel (another cutie!). THE ROOKIE is another good one with a very inspiring message to always follow your dreams!

bday1.gifAs you all may know, I’ve been very lucky to be able to follow my dreams as well. It’s wonderful to be able to write for you and share my books and to celebrate that and my b’day, we are having a birthday bash week!

Just visit any of the blogs listed below this week and leave a comment and you’ll be eligible to win a prize from me! At Barbara Vey’s blog, there are tons of other prizes as well!

I’ll be visiting all of these blogs and if you’ve left a comment at any of them, you’ll also be eligible to win a $25 Godiva gift card! The more times I see your name at the different blogs, the more your chances improve to win the gift card. So take a moment and stop by one or all to improve your chances of winning a prize.

The contest ends on Friday, March 13th at midnight EST, so be sure to get your comments in there on time!

Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book Blog for lots of fun and giveaways!
http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/1240041524.html

Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1602

Harlequin Paranormal Romance blog: http://paranormalromanceblog.wordpress.com/

Liberty States Fiction Writers (leave a comment on any of the blog posts): http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/blog-read-around-the-world/

Long and Short Reviews: http://longandshortarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/Caridad%20Pineiro

Wicked Wednesday – Behind the scenes

FURY CALLS by Caridad Pineiro, March 2009, Silhouette NocturneThis Wicked Wednesday, I’m giving you a behind the scenes look at the characters in FURY CALLS, my March 2009 release from Silhouette Nocturne! Just pop on over to my friends at Fresh Fiction by clicking here or cutting and pasting this link into your browser window: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1602

If you leave a comment on the blog over that Fresh Fiction, you’ll be eligible to win a copy of DESIRE CALLS as well as a CALLING T-shirt.

Also – gearing up here for a week long b’day celebration! Starting on March 9, look for a number of posts with info on where I’ll be guest blogging and how you can win some prizes!!

Fun Friday – Romance

As a romance writer, you get used to being bashed. Some bashing is just too funny not to appreciate and I hope you’ll get a laugh out of this one!

Have a great weekend!

Wanted to give you a heads up that starting March 9, I’ll be visiting a number of places and you’ll have a chance to win some fun prizes. I’ll be posting more details later next week!