Tag: writer

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#WriteWed – Playing Genre Roulette

Some people may know that I started out writing contemporary romance. Eight of them in fact for Kensington Publishing’s defunct ENCANTO romance line. I had written those novels over the course of about three years and I wanted to challenge myself by writing something totally new and different. Being a fan of The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I wondered what I would do if I mashed the two genres — suspense and vampires — and tossed in some romance as well. That’s how THE CALLING IS REBORN series was created. Little did I know I would be sucked into a world of both regular and paranormal suspense for the next ten years. WOW! But like I had before, I felt myself craving doing some different and definitely something lighter. That’s how ONE SUMMER NIGHT and WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER came about as well as the TAKE A CHANCE Military Romance novellas.

It is a risk to mix genres like that. For an author it’s like playing roulette because you never know if you’re going to have a winner and make a reader happy. Ultimately, that’s one of the big end goals – happy readers. But there is also another goal: loving what you do as a writer.

Will writing in multiple genres work? It has for some people, but I always caution first-time authors to focus on one genre for at least a few books. Develop a following before you go off and try something different. If readers like you, they will follow. If not…

Publishing is a crap shoot for sure. If you’re going to be a winner in the long run the most important thing is to be passionate about what you write.

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#FunFriday Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference

I’m looking forward to the Liberty States Fiction Writers Reader and Writers Conference in March! I’ll be a speaker there, will attend the book fair, and I’m sponsoring the Mardi Gras themed after party on Saturday. It looks like it’s going to be a great conference and I hope some of you will be able to make it. Did I forget to mention we have giveaways for you, like free books from some of our speakers? Thanks to awesome Dee Davis for this donation, but also look for donations from the wonderful Julie Kenner, myself and others like Sourcebooks! For more information on the conference and to register, please visit http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference/.

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#WisdomWednesday – Take the First Step

It’s hard to think about taking that first step into the unknown. Whether it’s a new relationship, a new book, or even revisiting something old that you’ve been trying to forget, it takes courage. But taking that first step is a necessary part of a journey that could be truly rewarding. So as hard as it is, take that first step.

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#WineWednesday What People Think I do as a Writer with Wine

You’ll have to excuse as I’m a little punch drunk today. No, not too much wine, just a lot of work! I was up until close to midnight finishing up a project!

But speaking of wine . . . Some wine fun for you today!

Have a great Wednesday and don’t forget to check out all the giveaways going on for ONE SUMMER NIGHT! You can find them all on my Facebook Page and on Twitter and on Instagram.

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#ThrowbackThursday Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference

Today’s Throwback is to the 2010 conference! These are some of our volunteers helping to fill up the conference bag with goodies for attendees.

It’s hard to believe that the one coming up is our 8th Annual Conference. For more info on the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference, you can visit http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference/. This conference is for both readers and writers and I hope you will check it out.
Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference

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#WriteWed Thank you!

I can’t say this enough, but one of the best things about being a writer is getting to meet all of you. I love going to conferences and events and getting to spend time with you. It’s totally awesome. I love hearing from you on the comments and in e-mails.

So this Write Wednesday, all I’ve got is a big THANK YOU! for your support. THANK YOU for taking the time to reach out to me. THANK YOU for the reviews because they really really really do help.

thankyou

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#WriteWed I was a reader before I was a writer

Prince ValiantLong before I was a writer, I was a reader. Some of my fondest memories are of reading the Sunday paper with the comics, going to the library, or anxiously standing on the corner waiting for the bookmobile to arrive.

Prince Valiant was my all time fav comic. I lost myself in those amazing images by Hal Foster of Valiant fighting to save his people while falling in love with the fair Aleta. The illustrations in the strip are amazing and I loved reading the stories and making up my own action-adventure romance as I fell asleep at night. I should have known then that I was meant to put my stories on paper in the future.

This strip was first published in 1937 and is still syndicated today to 300 American newspapers. The creator, Hal Forest, is a Hall of Fame cartoonist and illustrator. Thank you, Mr. Forest, for such wonderful memories.

As I mentioned earlier, another memory is of the blue Levittown bookmobile rolling up to the corner. I’d dash in to return the books I had borrowed and to find new books! I always had a book in my hands and when I wasn’t reading a book, I was reading the cereal box. LOL!

Here’s a picture of an early version of the library bookmobile.
Bookmobile

I hope you enjoyed this Write Wednesday look at my days as a reader before I became a writer.

Prince Valiant Photo Credit: http://www.alvarezperea.com/alberto/images/prince_valiant.jpg http://www.schrijvergezocht.com/viewtopic.php?p=13868&sid=949d10039a50efca4d09d9d0e842e2ee This is fair use under US Copyright law because (1) It is only a small portion of the Prince Valiant body of work; (2) It should not affect the commercial value of Prince Valiant; and (3) It is used for non-commercial purposes.

Levittown Bookmobile Photo Credit: Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown, N.Y. 11756

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