Day: March 25, 2015

Writing Wednesday: Reviews

Authors live for reviews. Especially new authors. I check my Amazon and Goodread pages every day, looking for reviews. (And if you’ve read my books and haven’t left a review, why not?)

So imagine my delight when I opened my email a few weeks ago and learned Night Owl Reviews had reviewed my first book, Moonlight Serenade. The review is now up. You can read it here. If you don’t want to do that, here’s what the reviewer wrote:

The scenes and details are well written and capture the imagination and the intriguing events certainly arouse the reader’s curiosity. The author has created a fascinating setting full of intriguing and sexy characters with some interesting elements. I was completely caught up in the story from the very beginning and I am looking forward to visiting with the Toke Lobo and the Pack band again.

Doesn’t that just put a smile on this face.

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Month End Goal Check

The high points:

  • And Jericho Burned is out!
  • Author copies of Moonlight Serenade received!
  • Moonlight Serenade is now available in paperback from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble (see links in middle column).
  • additional steps taken on finding a home for my baseball books.

I’ve had a Fabulous February, career-wise.

 

The Book Report

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I have always known I am a writer. Always.  Here’s an example:

In third grade, I was supposed to write a book report. I hadn’t read any books worth doing a report on, so I wrote a book report on a book I would have like to have read. I made it up. All of it. All I remember about it was there was something about fairies and ponies in it. The teacher never checked on the title, the author, or anything else. I got an A+ on the paper, too.

How cool is that?

But the night before the last day of school, my conscience starting tweaking me. Badly. After my dad left for work that morning, I crawled in bed with my mom to tell her the awful, dishonest thing I had done. She told me I needed to tell the teacher. On the last day of school. Oh boy.

Except when I got up for school a little while later, I noticed my stomach was covered in red spots. Sure enough, I had the “three-day measles.” I couldn’t go to school and confess my transgression.

I have come to terms with what I did. You know why? I write fiction.

WIP Wednesday: Samanthya Wyatt

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It gives me a great deal of pleasure to have Samanthya Wyatt as my guest today.

MJ: Samanthya, can you share a life memory you recall frequently and tell us why you think about it.

Samanthya: “Granddaddy, are you my friend?”

We took our granddaughter to Myrtle Beach on vacation when she was 4yrs. We were in the hotel pool and she looks at my husband and asked this question. We were so awed. I’ve never forgotten and when it often comes to mind. I’m around children a lot. They are so open and so innocent. And you never know what goes through their little minds or what may come out of their mouths.

MJ: That is too precious! What are your top three destinations, and why?

Samanthya: Scotland, Ireland, New York City.

I would love to see the country and castles. There is so much history and so many stories behind those walls. As for New York, I want to see the Statue of Liberty.

MJ: What’s your secret talent?

Samanthya: Writing romance. My family and friends do not know.

MJ: Wow. That’s a pretty big secret. What’s the top book on your TBR pile?

Samanthya: The True One – Stephen’s story, the sequel to The Right One.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

Samanthya: Painting. I’ve done some Tri-chem pictures, and I love working on family photo albums – decorations, adding memorabilia.

MJ: Other than writing, what would be your dream job?

Samanthya: When I retire, I will be doing my dream job of writing romance novels.

MJ: If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

Samanthya:  Anyone who owned a totally private farm and had a pool where I could relax, do nothing and have no interruptions.

MJ: I think all writers long for that! Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

Samanthya: Gone With The Wind. It is the greatest movie of all time. Everyone knows it. I don’t think that could be said about any book.

MJ: Interesting answer. What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

Samanthya: Coffee – coffee- and coffee!

MJ: Let’s talk a little more about  your writing. Can you describe your ideal or dream writing space?

Samanthya: A library full of books and a huge desk with lots of space. A wall of current research books, a shelf of cubby holes for all my projects and an assistant to file and keep up with my sticky notes. I am a very organized person. But with my writing, my fingers can’t keep up with the sporadic thoughts running through my brain, so I jot down notes and desperately need them sorted or filed. LOL.

MJ: Briefly describe your writing day and your process.

Samanthya: Get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and go to my computer. Of course this is only on the weekends and when no one else is in the house.

MJ: Name one writing-related website you use a lot.

Samanthya: I use many, and I google topics searching for new sites to get all the information I can.

MJ: Plotter or pantser?

Samanthya: A little of both. Typing my thoughts without trying to perfect what I’m writing works best. But I still make a plot and do a character sheet and work on GMC. I have some type of sketch or idea of where my story is headed.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Samanthya: Of course. If nothing comes to mind, I leave, go do something else and come back.

MJ: Love and true love – what is the difference and what do your characters believe about LOVE?

Samanthya: I love a lot of things. I love a lot of people. But true love – in love – with the man of your dreams is a feeling like no other – and what every reader wants. I try to capture that with my characters.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

Samanthya: No. Having a publisher gives me the assurance my work is good enough to be published.

MJ: Do you listen to music while you write?

Samanthya: Some days I have the house Rockin’. The music is in the living room and I am in the bedroom/office.

MJ: Synopsis: love them or hate them:

Samanthya: Before I perfected my first one, I hated them. Now, they are okay. Most publishers want a pitch/hook before they even consider a synopsis. Hooks drive me crazy.

MJ: OK, now it’s time for the lightning round. Addams Family or Munsters?

Samanthya: Munsters.

MJ: Wine–red or white?

Samanthya: Red

MJ: Beer–can or bottle?

Samanthya: bottle/glass

MJ: Stephanie Plum or Eve Dallas?

Samanthya: either

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

Samanthya: Love both!

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

Samanthya: Thor

MJ: Favorite TV show?

Samanthya: Person of Interest

MJ: Paper or e-books?

Samanthya: paperback

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school?

Samanthya: The Commodores

MJ: Coke or Pepsi?

Samanthya: Coke

MJ: Introvert or extrovert?

Samanthya: Extrovert.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

Samanthya: I love Italian.

MJ: Now for the nitty-gritty. Please share the opening lines of your current work in progress.

Samanthya: I’m currently working on Firemen of Station 8 series.

A red image appeared in Cassie’s peripheral vision. Turning, her gaze landed on a Portsmouth fire truck. Right in front of the building.

A silent alarm went off in her brain – the same way it did every time she heard a siren or any emergency vehicle roaring down the road. Ever since her cousin’s house burned a few months ago. The shock of flames climbing six feet above the roof had paralyzed her and brought reality crashing down. She remembered the desolation seeing their home in ruins. The sudden realization of how quickly one could lose everything.

No lights.  No siren.

Still, a little pang of fear sent her pulse racing.

MJ: You’ve got my attention! I understand you have a book coming out today?

Samanthya: Yes, today is release day for my second book, Something More. You can purchase it here:

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And my first book, The Right One, is still available —  http://amzn.to/1lEk2qY

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MJ: And how can readers stay in touch with you?

Samanthya: Through my website and blog – www.samanthyawyatt.com or on Goodreads.

MJ: Thanks again for joining me. Good luck!

Turkey and the Trimmings

TV Stevie (my husband) and I have been discussing this a lot lately: why are there so many “Thanksgiving Dinner” events leading up to Thanksgiving?

TV Stevie and I have both been invited to Thanksgiving Dinner events last week and this week. We just don’t understand it.

When I was in school, the cafeteria always served turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce the day before Thanksgiving break.

When X-Chromo and Y-Chromo were in school, one of their teachers always had the children prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for their parents — served the week of Thanksgiving. It was a lovely event, don’t get me wrong, but doesn’t overloading on traditional Thanksgiving foods before the holiday diminish the anticipation and enjoyment of the feast?