Moonlight Romance Authors

Friday, June 20, 2008

Ebooks and print books

I have been experimenting with ebooks for the past year or two, because there are books that I have on computer that would probably not have been published. I love writing and write far more stuff than any one publisher would want to put out. So far I have had a best seller in A Shameful Secret/ Anne Ireland/Amira Press. Of course the sales are not anywhere near what you expect from a mainstream papberback or hardback, but it was a book I loved and I am happy for it to be out there. I think on the whole that is the way to look at ebooks for the moment. Enjoy them being out there. However, I am convinced that evetually ebook will overtake print if only to save the trees!

My book Too Hot To Handle, a sensual contemporary as Linda Sole and out with Eternal Press is a book I would never have produced just as it is had it not been for ebooks. I find it such fun to promote. fingers crossed it will do well!

Monday, June 16, 2008

First Sentences, Redux

Last week the lovely Sarah McNeal blogged about beginnings, and the first sentence of each book. Thinking about what to say this week, I decided I'd piggyback off her and share the opening lines to some of my work, and some of my books to read.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - "I have just returned from a visit to my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with."

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens - "My father's family name being Pirrip, and my christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip."

The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner - "Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting."

I do disagree with Ms. McNeal's statement that stories like these would never sell today. I think the first line is important, true, but not the end all, be all. In fact, it's near impossible to judge a book by its first line. Are we a culture of decreasingly short attention spans? Yep. But I think lovers of books still know the game, so to speak. So here are my first lines:

Svetkavista - "The night air was damp and cool on her bare arms as she approached the flickering light of the bonfire, a distant beacon lighting her way across the field."

Leading Her to Heaven - "Lady Susanna Cavendish paced her antechamber like a tiger in the London Zoo."

Caging Kat - "Kat did her best to suppress a groan as she took a quick survey of the ballroom."

Unspeakable - "The ballroom was insufferably hot, and Trevor's mood, foul to begin with, was worsening rapidly."

Eyes Like Yours - "The dream is the same night after night, so startlingly vivid that at times I wake convinced it is real."

A Scandalous Arrangement - "Anna blinked back the tears that clouded her vision and shook her head, trying to banish the thoughts that plagued her."

Woman of the Forest - "She fled to the forest."

Reckless Liaisons - "The horse’s hooves beat a clamorous tattoo against the cobbled streets, stirring the low fog that had settled like a blanket."

A Compromising Evening - "Bloody hell, he was bored."

Endings

ENDINGS

Just like real life, endings in our books are sometimes dramatic, occasionally sudden, once in a while drug out in like a terminal illness but then, just every now and then, they are sweet, just and better than you ever thought they could be.

I love it when the story gets the main characters into a deeper and ever deeper mess. There just doesn't seem to be any way out, until the characters just throw in everything but the kitchen sink, against all odds, giving it one last shot, all or nothing and then, despite all the cards stacked against them, they come out on top, win the woman or man of their dreams, become the town hero and win the day. Even better, because of their enormous effort and noble character, they win the lottery or find the gold at the end of the rainbow as well as winning their true love and defeating the enemy.

I've written some good endings and some so-so endings. I have two favorites. The first is from the first short story I wrote that was published by Rhapsody Romance back in the day. It's about a woman with a horrible scar on her face who has discovered a way to surgically implant artificial optics to help the blind see. The hero is a man of the future whose people are all born blind--except him. At the very end the heroine is embarrassed that he can see her horrible scarred face. Here is the ending from BLIND INTUITION.

"Oh, Maria," Roth whispered as he kissed me and cupped my face in his hands, "Everything will work itself out."
He brushed my cheek gently with the back of his hand, "And the scar, well, who doesn't have a scar of some kind or other? A scar is just a place that hurt once then healed."

The second ending is from THE VIOLIN published this year by Amira Press. Of course, I might just wait to share that one with you since it would ruin the story for you. But you get my point I'm sure that endings are as important as beginnings. If that story doesn't end the way you promised, readers are going to howl with disappointment and I can't blame them. I've quit reading books by authors who left me high and dry at the end. I read Stephen King's IT. It was a fat book filled with clues about a monster that no one could see but children. There were so many wonderful clues about innocence, water and the lack of response by adults. I knew the end was going to be something spectacular. Well, disappointment reigns because the wonderful clues were just red herrings leading nowhere and the monster turned out to be a lame space spider. Yep. Space spider. That was the last Stephen King I ever read. As much as I respect him, it's like he just got tired of writing the story and dumped me off at the curb.

Endings are difficult to write, as difficult as beginnings. But when it's done right, it's the cake, the icing and the plate!

I hope you've read or written some great endings and I would be glad if you would share those endings with me. Bring 'em on.

All good things to your corner of the universe.

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

http://amirapresssays.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Homeless Heiress

The Homeless Heiress/ Anne Herries is my new Regency coming in July from Harlequin Mills and Boon. I have another Regency in December and two more books from Severn House this year. The Lie/Linda Sole is the first in a series called the Family Feud. Forbidden Love/Anne Herries is the third in the Upstairs Downstairs series.

On the ebook side I have just had a book published by Eternal Press. Too Hot To Handle/Linda Sole. They are bringing an Anne Ireland book out in September hopefully, which is a historical time slip. I still have a couple more contracted books to do for Red rose Publishing.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Beginnings

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Now that is truly a great beginning in so many ways. But the classics in literature have not always been so wonderful.

Moby Dick: "My name is..."

David Copperfield: "I was born..."

If we started off books like this today, do you really think they would sell? Nope. No way. Granted, the classics got nice and juicy after you waded through the monotony of the first two to three chapters but, in our world, there is a whole lot of competition. We have televisions, movies and video games. On top of that, we have to compete with all the other talented writers.

Writers know that the first line in our story is our one big chance to snatch a reader's interest and the first paragraph must reel them into wanting to know more about our story. We worry over it and suffer if we don't get it right.

I'm right there with the rest of the authors wanting the reader to find my stories entertaining and interesting.

Here are the first lines from my books:

THE VIOLIN: "Genevieve tossed restlessly in the bed, her breath quickening as she fell into the familiar dream."

THE DARK ISLE: "Deep, deep beneath the ancient crumbling stones of the black castle, seated on the Dark Isle in the middle of the Lake of Sorrows, there below the dust and cobwebs lay Mahara, the creature of the Black Blood and the Old Clan."

LAKE OF SORROWS: "Hawk leaned back in his chair and propped his booted feet on Noratuke's saddle.

LIGHT OF VALMORA (WIP): "Death whispered to him its dark, seductive song."

Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride (WIP): " 'This place is spooky as hell,' Lola whispered to herself as she climbed the narrow span of wooden stairs in the back of the closet that led up to the attic."

Some of my opening lines are good and some, not so much. I try to improve as I write.

So I invite you to reply with your favorite first lines whether they are your own or by someone else. What grabbed your attention to the book you are presently reading? Did the first line in the beginning make a difference to you?

I look forward to hearing from anyone out there who cares to respond with their favorite first line.

All good things to your corner of the universe.

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Progress on Destiny's Decisions...

Well I've been making some pretty good progress on Destiny's Decisions, this one might actually wind up being quite a bit longer than Destiny's Choices which I think will make fans happy. Especially since so many expressed interest in knowing more about Tiana and James and their lives. I at first didn't think I had much more of their story in me, but as I've been working on the piece I discovered that those who expressed this interest were right, there was more! Amazing how a little thing like a tiny kernal or a few words from those who read the first book could take root and then blossom into a whole other sequel. I may actually finish this one in the next month or so and then it's back to Doomed to Be Charmed.

Stay tuned for an exerpt here pretty soon. :-)

Friday, June 6, 2008

Too Hot To Handle Published!

Too Hot To Handle/Linda Sole/Eternal Press
Sylvie is Vulnerable. Rafe is angry. Sparks will fly!
Available from http://www.eternalpress.ca/

Published 7th June

Enjoy!

Sylvie knew that most of her friends settled for sex and a mutual liking, companionship and someone to share their lives. They went in for relationships that were never intended to be permanent, which might last for a few months or a few years, but would eventually end as one partner moved on to a new relationship.
"Marriage doesn’t matter anymore," was the general theory, and Sylvie had gone along with it, but in her heart she couldn’t help wanting more.
Well, you’re not likely to find it with Rafe Wilde, she told herself firmly. He simply isn’t the marrying kind.
She sighed, then smiled at her own thoughts. Mr. Wilde was just too attractive for her peace of mind.
And yet there had been a moment in his arms when she would have given herself and not though twice about it. Even now there was a tender, sensitized feeling between her thighs, a need that she had never felt before.

http://www.lindasole.co.uk/

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Regina Paul

Natalie-Nicole Bates

Natalie-Nicole Bates may be new to the world of publishing, but she’s always been a fan of books and is an active book reviewer. Now she gets to see what’s it’s like on the other side of the book fence when her paranormal romance, Antique Charming, is released through Books To Go Now Publishing this fall and her contemporary romance, Change of Address, will be published in January 2012 by Secret Cravings Publishing.

In addition to her love of books, Natalie also has an uncharacteristic love of hockey which can be attributed to the fact she was born in Russia. Natalie now resides in the UK with a collection of Victorian and Edwardian era photography, her favorites being the post-mortem photographs. Visit Natalie-Nicole online at Natalie-Nicole Bates.com

Tara Fox Hall

I'm an OSHA-certified safety and health inspector at a metal fabrication shop in upstate New York. I have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a double minor in chemistry and biology from Binghamton University. My writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. I am the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. I also coauthored (with Eric Dietrich) the nonfiction book Forbidden Conversations. I divide my free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice. Visit me at Tara Fox Hall.com

Lindsay Townsend

Lindsay lives in Yorkshire, England, where she was born, and started writing stories at an early age. Always a voracious reader, she took a degree in medieval history and worked in a library for a while, then began to write full-time after marriage.

Her first unpublished historical found her an agent and the second got a publisher in London interested. They wanted her to write with a modern setting, which she did – several romantic thrillers set in Greece, Italy or on Dartmoor in the English West Country - and enjoyed it, but historicals are really her first love. Lindsay is currently writing medieval romance for Kensington, who published ‘A Knight’s Vow’in 2008 and are following it with ‘A Knight’s Captive’ in spring, 2009.

She is also fascinated by the ancient world, especially Rome, Egypt and the Bronze Age. ‘Flavia’s Secret’, set in Roman Britain, came out from Bookstrand in 2008, and two more historicals, ‘Blue Gold’, set in ancient Egypt, and ‘Bronze Lightning’, set in Bronze Age Greece and the Britain of Stonehenge, have also just been released early in 2009.

Please visit Lindsay's blog.

Linda Sole

Linda writes as herself and under several other names. As Linda Sole she iscurrently published by Severn House of UK and USA. She also writes as Anne Herries for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She is happily married and lives in England with her husband. Linda enjoys visiting Spain where she loves to walk, swim and lie in the sun. Writing is her passion and she manages a few words every day, but she also loves animals and especially squirrels. She is known as the squirrel lady at her local supermarket because of all the nuts she buys for them!

Visit her website for more information.

Sarah J. McNeal

I became interested in writing at a young age. My parents didn’t allow us to have a television so my sisters and I became avid readers. We read everything from Shakespeare to my mother’s True Detective Stories that, by the way, scared the hell out of me. I submitted my first story and received my first rejection when I was thirteen years old.

I am particularly drawn to writing fantasy and time travel and have created a magical place called Valmora where winged people with various magical abilities are in constant struggle against the evil forces of the Dark Isle. Two of the books in this series are presently available at New Concepts Publishing: THE DARK ISLE and LAKE OF SORROWS. I am writing the third now: THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. I have written a time travel novel in which a woman goes back to the 1920’s to save a man from dying in THE VIOLIN that has been submitted to New Concepts Publishing. I intend to write a series of musical instrument stories including THE PIANO and one that I intend to start in the near future titled, HARMONICA JOE’S RELUCTANT BRIDE.

Until recent years, I wrote short stories, two of which were the early inspiration for the Valmora series and three other stories that were sci-fi and paranormal.

I have also written nonfiction including an article in The Charlotte Observer and a monthly newsletter from the emergency department of CMC Mercy Hospital that, unfortunately, I no longer have time to write.

Writing brings me a joy and fulfillment that nothing else can. I love creating magical worlds and people who want to make a difference. I hope that anyone who reads them will love them, too.

Please visit her website for more information.

Patricia Richardson

My desire to write began at a young age; my mind was always filled with great stories. However, my dreams, and aspirations were put on the back burner and even at times forgotten after I became married with children. Later the divorce came, which meant I had to become both mother and father to my children. I worked overtime and weekends just to support my family. The struggle to survive and give my children a healthy, loving home lasted until they were grown. Late author, Gracie Cornish, Ph.D. inspired me to follow my destiny. I met her at a place of employment, "just sit down and start writing," she told me and I did just that. I wrote every chance I got; at work, on the subway, and in my spare time at home. This all started in the latter part of 1998. That very same year God impressed upon my heart to relocate from New York to Maryland. I was obedient and moved.

The move meant that once again I had to put my writing on hold to become familiar with my new environment and learn to cope with the conditions of a highly stressful job. Most evenings when I arrived home the only thing I wanted to do was turn the ringer off the telephone and sleep. I seldom picked up my manuscript, which was kept under my bed just waiting for me not to be too tired and stressed to write. The time for writing again did not come until late in 2001 when I finally came to the realization I would always be stressed and tired from working and if I did not use the gift God gave me I would never achieve the independent financial freedom I wanted. After this epiphany I set a goal for myself; to have the manuscript completed and sent to my editor in March of 2002. Finally, in March of 2003 the book cover for my first novel, "A Place for Ida," was approved and I was published! This of course came with a price. I lost work, I cried, and I virtually had no social life. I was on a personal lockdown. I was on a mission. Most of my spare time was spent researching publishers, cover letters, and anything else I felt was pertinent to my success. Since then I established Leap of Faith Publishing and republished "A Place for Ida" and soon after published the sequel, "A Time for Jonathan."