#FunFriday – Book Signing at Liberty States Fiction Writers

So excited that our conference starts tomorrow! Today is all about getting ready for it by packing up tote bags for the attendees and getting everything prepped for Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re in the area on Saturday, please come by to the book fair which is open to the general public. Admission is free and we’ve got over 50 authors who will be signing and selling their books, including J. Kenner and Dee Davis! For more information, please visit www.lsfwriters.com.

Liberty States Fiction Writers Book Fair

A trip back to the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference

I always look forward to my local group’s conference! It’s always a great experience to spend time with readers and writers and to attend the awesome workshops and be inspired about something I love to do: Writing!

This is a picture of me taken at the book fair which is open to the general public.

This year’s conference is from March 24-25 and if you’ll be in the area, I hope that you’ll consider joining me! For more information on the conference and the book fair, which is open to the general public, please visit www.lsfwriters.com

Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras! Did you know that Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” and that the day earned its name because people would eat richer foods (and probably more of them) in preparation for the fasting that would occur during Lent? As you know, Mardi Gras is also celebrated with various parades and festivals across the world like New Orleans. It also happens to be New Orleans’ 300th Birthday!

If you can’t make it to New Orleans how about joining me at the Mardi Gras themed party at the Liberty States Fiction Writers Reader and Writer conference? We’ll be dancing and raffling off gift baskets and I’ve got some beads and masks for you all! So check it out at www.lsfwriters.com!

5 Tips for Getting Past Writer’s Block #WriteWed

Another two hour commute into work today thanks to the derailment in Penn Station on Monday. Two derailments in just over two weeks. Gotta wonder what’s going on.

If there’s one silver lining in that ominous transit cloud, it’s that it’s given me a chance to work through a block I was having in Book #2 in the At the Shore series.

It’s actually funny considering that I’m giving a workshop this weekend at the Liberty States Fiction Writers monthly meeting on plotting using the Hero’s Journey. I should heed my own advice on what’s essential in the story when the heroes reach that first black moment.

In my story, it actually starts with a black moment, but I won’t spill on what that is and spoil it for you. What I will do is offer up some tips on what to do when you’ve hit a block in your writing and how to work past it.

1. Watch a fav movie or read a fav book. There’s a reason why they’re a favorite. Maybe it’s the characters. Maybe it’s a surprise you didn’t expect or that warm feeling you had that stayed with you long after the story was over. Tap into that magic to find out what’s missing in your story.

2. Read a new book not in your genre. Sometimes you’re too caught up in what you think is expected in your genre and you need something different to blast you past the expected.

3. Read a book in your genre. Whether the book turns out to be bad or good, what was it you liked or disliked? As a reader of that genre, did it meet your expectations and if not, why? If it did, how does what you’re writing work in comparison? For me, I always turn to a master in contemporary romance: Nora Roberts. No matter what I get a good read and her stories make me take a step back and wonder about how I can touch readers with the same kind of magic she brings to the stories.

4. Take a long walk or a shower. I don’t know why, but both of these somehow make me focus on the problem at hand and how to work through it. Maybe it’s the ions in the water or those at the beach, my favorite place to stroll.

5. Visualize the scene before you try to write it. People often ask how I can write so fast and part of it is that I often visualize the scene in my head before I even sit down to write. It prevents just staring at a blank screen for way too long. When I do have a block about that scene, I will often see it in my head multiple times and from different perspectives. Oftentimes I will have to rewind it and play it again, altering the direction of what’s happening. Erasing what doesn’t work and starting again until there are enough good bones that I can finally sit down and flesh out the scene when I’m writing.

I hope these tips help you work past any writer’s block. If you’d like to know more about the Hero’s Journey, visit my Resources for Writers Page with lots of good tips or if you’re in the area, come by the Liberty States monthly meeting. If you’re not in the area, think about joining and listening to one of the many recorded workshops we have for members. My workshop this weekend is being recorded!

Writer's Block

Jenn Nixon’s Trust Me, Tell Me & a #giveaway

Jenn NixonIt’s always great for me to share my friends and fellow writers with you and today it is my pleasure to have with us Jenn Nixon! Jenn Nixon is one of my wonderful friends at the Liberty States Fiction Writers and she is here today to tell us about her latest release, TRUST ME, TELL ME. Jenn is also offering up a copy of one her e-books to one lucky person who leaves a comment on this blog by midnight PST on Thursday, January 19. Without further ado, here is a little teaser for Jenn’s book.

Mason Storm is set to marry Veronica Chance in seven days. When he receives a mysterious text message he immediately packs and leaves without saying a word to anyone. After meeting with his former boss, Mason knows his past has finally caught up with him. In order to clear his name of false charges he returns home to Boston ready to put the issues to bed. Veronica, however, isn’t making it easy. She’s determined to help despite his claims of being the only one to make things right. As the investigation intensifies, Mason is captured and Veronica holds the key to his release. Will she make it there in time to save him and their wedding or will everything fall apart?


Excerpt

Mason sat on the edge of the bed, pulled out the pre-paid, and stared at it for a few minutes, trying to think of the right words to say so he wouldn’t outright piss Veronica off. Eventually he tapped her number into the phone and hit call. He didn’t even hear it ring on his end.

“Storm?”

“Yeah, Veronica, it’s me.” He shut his eyes, picturing her face, keeping him calm.

“Good thing you called, I was checking flights,” she said. He smiled, imagining the cute way her brow furrowed when she was ticked. “I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yes, I’m safe…making headway.”

“I found something.”

“What?” His eyes popped open, body leaned forward and tensed. Paper rustled in the background.

“This Todd Jackson guy is on the evidence logs from the Masterson case—”

“I know.”

“Did you know he and Ben Carter worked together during your case?”

“A passing memory of it, but that’s not important.”

She huffed. “Well did you know there are only three business cards logged in from her purse?”

“Three?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck.” Mason knew every single piece of evidence tied to the Masterson case. They accused him of stealing her clothing, the actual police reports, and the lipstick from her purse. The business cards weren’t even mentioned during his trial. More proof his gut was right. Someone was covering up Tiffanie’s murder.

“Yeah,” she replied, snarky. “Still don’t want my help?”

“I appreciate it, but no. I don’t. I’ve got everything under—”

“So you know the other piece of evidence that’s really missing that’s not in your case file?”

Mason sighed. She wasn’t giving up. Deep down he loved her more for it but wished she’d let it go. He’d never forgive himself if she became a target. “No, I haven’t even touched the Masterson file, Veronica. Tell me.”

“The first time we talked about it you said you sent a piece of her skirt with a blood stain to the lab. Well it’s not in the evidence logs or the final lab report. It never got processed.”

“Son of a bitch,” he spat, ran his hand over his skull. He was so screwed. “Anything else?”

“Not much else I can do from here.”

“It’s more than enough already. Thanks.”

“Don’t shut me out, Storm. You know I can help.”

“I’ve already got too much on my mind…you gotta let me do this my way. Give me a little more time—twenty four hours. If I’m not closer to figuring this out you’ll be the first person I call.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said. “I know there’s something you’re not telling me, Storm. I’ve never pried because I didn’t want to be that girl, but you’re not making this easy for me.”

“Please, Veronica, you have to trust me. I need to stay focused.”

“I won’t get in your way, Storm…be careful,” she replied, sniffled.

His gut twisted, but didn’t change his tune. “I will. And I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay.”

“Hey. I love you.”

“Me too,” she said then ended the call.

The pit in his stomach increased, a frown creasing his mouth as he stared at the phone. Her attitude toward him was already changing, and not for the better. He had little time to resolve this and get back to his life before the rift ripped them apart.

Mason refused to let that happen.

About Jenn Nixon

Jenn Nixon resides in New Jersey. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Liberty State Fiction Writers. Her love for thrillers and suspense often finds its way into her novels whether they are Science Fiction or Romance. When not writing, Jenn spends her free time reading, absorbing pop culture and current events, and social networking online.
Website: www.jennnixon.com
Blog: http://jennafern.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor
Purchase at Amazon: Purchase TRUST ME, TELL ME at Amazon
Twitter: @jennnixon

Fun Friday! Countdown 24 hours!

So excited. Only one day left until the Liberty States Fiction Writers conference. I’m on my way later today to help with conference set-up and to hang with all my friends. Please remember that tomorrow’s book fair is open to the public. If you’re in the area, please drop by to say “Hi!”

Barnes & Noble will be handling sales at the book fair. Your membership rewards card will be accepted for B&N sales.

When: March 19, 2011, 5:30–7:00 P.M.
Where: Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel
515 Route 1 South & Gill Lane
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
Phone: 732-634-3600
Fax: 732-634-0258

Additional Authors Attending the Book Fair:

Mary Janice Davidson
Jonathan Maberry
Virginia Kantra
C.H.Admirand
Tina Gabrielle
KA Mitchell
Kathy Kulig
Melina Morel
Chris Redding
Tere Michaels
Shelley Freydont
J. Hali Steele
Cris Anson
Debra Mullins
Lois Winston
E.F. Watkins
Judi McCoy
Sarah Wendell
M. Kate Quinn
Judi Fennell
Caridad Pineiro
Karen Bostrom
Adele Dubois
Stephanie Julian
Trudy Doyle
Lisa Verge Higgins
Jenna Kernan
Jennifer Hubbard
Alison Formento
Keri Mikulski
Veronica Lynch
Erika Sands
Linda J. Parisi
Donna Bolk
John Richard Thompson
M. Flagg
R.A. Vaughn

I’ll have pictures from the conference for you next week! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

This Celt is in the last minute throes of prepping for the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference on Saturday. If you’re in the Woodbridge, New Jersey area, please remember that the book fair is open to the public. The fair runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Now I’m sharing some photos with you of my Celtic nation: Galicia in the north of Spain.

Western most portion Finnesterre

Finisterre

Photo Credit: [email protected]

Celtic Castle


Photo Credit: [email protected]

Spanish bagpipers


Photo Credit: Dario [email protected]

Puentedeume – My family’s paternal hometown


Photo Credit: [email protected]

Orense – My family’s maternal hometown


Photo Credit: Victor Hermida [email protected]

Hope you enjoyed these photos! Have a great St. Patrick’s Day!