Don’t try to be topical. That’s what writers, agents, and editors say. By the time you’re done with the book and it’s in stores, it could be over two years since you came up with the idea for the story. So when I wrote my debut novel, The Ark, what were the odds that, a couple of weeks before the novel’s release, two attention-grabbing news stories would relate directly to the plot of my book? Apparently, the odds were very good, because that’s exactly what happened. I wasn’t trying to be topical, but I did want to explore universal themes like the dangers of religious fanaticism and recovery from personal loss, which makes The Ark sound like a PBS documentary combined with a Very Special Episode of Blossom. It’s not. The Ark is a thriller about a former combat engineer named Tyler Locke who must find Noah’s Ark in seven days to stop the end of the world. There were some eerie links to my book that made the news in the weeks leading up to the release. At the beginning of The Ark, Tyler is on an oil rig in the north Atlantic when he discovers that bombs have…
Good morning world! After 2 showers I feel alive but not too smart. 4 hours sleep and 3 or 4 states will do that. #Ffrwa10 # Fresh Pick is A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC by Joy Nash http://ow.ly/2gpZ7 one of Fresh Fiction's favorite titles of 2009 # Getting basket GA peaches. Yummy #FFrwa10 — at Lane's Southern Orchards http://gowal.la/r/XxAT # Photo: Lane peach orchard hdq market — at Lane's Southern Orchards http://gowal.la/r/XxBS # Waiting for Equinox to get here so we can EAT. Why do we have half the food in each car? — at Florida Welcome Center http://gowal.la/r/XEfa # #FFrwa10 chevrolet leaves La Quinta to make stop at Dunkin Doughnuts. We're trying to catch up with Fresh Fiction Team 1 with a 2hr strt # Lunch over ready for last sprint to Disney. #Ffrwa10 # Stopping for sweet tea to keep self fueled. Ah refreshment — at McDonald's http://gowal.la/r/XG5o # #FFrwa10 @patcatbooks is down for the count taking a nap before we get to Orlando # Woo hoo upgraded! I love wdw! — at Disney's BoardWalk Inn http://gowal.la/r/XHp1 # Photo: Chris is so helpful getting us upgraded #FFrwa10 — at Disney's BoardWalk Inn http://gowal.la/r/XHqy # Finally dinner. It's gonna be…
All The King’s Men #2 December 2009 On Sale: December 1, 2009 Featuring: Sir Stephen Carleton; Lady Isobel Hume 400 pages ISBN: 0446553387 EAN: 9780446553384 Mass Market Paperback $6.99 Add to Wish List Romance Historical Buy at Amazon.com A Fresh Fiction favorite is a finalist for the 2010 RWA RITA category Historical Romance. Knight Of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory THE GREATEST PASSION Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that’s before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country. IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure…and that love can conquer all. Love reigns during turmulent times. Excerpt Whish! Whish! Whish! The sound interrupted Sir Stephen Carletonfs thoughts as he passed the storeroom. Drawing his sword, he eased the low wooden door open…
I admit it. I love my villains. In fact, if I have a book with a villain in it, I have to make sure I have my villain in place before I consider my hero and heroine complete. Because, if you think about it, the way I show the heroism of my protagonists is to match them against an equal opposing force. And that force had better be three-dimensional and compelling in some way, or else it’s pointless. The way I usually put it when I’m teaching is that the villain has to be worthy of the hero, and vice versa. If there is one complaint I have when I read a book, it’s that the author doesn’t spend enough time or attention on the creation of their villains. It isn’t enough that a person is evil. So what? That isn’t interesting. The villain has to have a reason for doing what he(or she) does. It also has to be a compelling reason, at least to the villain. But here’s the secret. It’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten about villains. No villain is truly villainous in his own eyes. He always has what he considers to be a perfectly…
I'm up I'm up. Last minute packing for #FFrwa10 then leaving to join caravan. Meetup scheduled for 7am Garland # Only 30 minutes late not too bad for a Sunday departure. Lex is still lethargic so might be a dog er visit today #FFrwa10 # Mega Mega Christmas in July Contests. LAST CHANCE, http://ow.ly/274V7 Books, Gift Cards, Baskets of goodies and so much more! # RT @sandishilhanek @patcatbooks says I should have just eaten cheetos for breakfast #ffrwa10 <~ yes it will a good trip # Made it to the border 1st day on #FFrwa10 Lost the Equinox they are still in Texas hahaha — at Louisiana State Line http://gowal.la/r/XhM4 # Refuel stop, 1st of day. Busy for a hot Sunday morning. A truck welcomed us to LA with a huge rock so — at Murphy USA http://gowal.la/r/XhYX # Well not nice area. Soap weird need sanitizer after washing and we won't mention the condition avoid — at Rest Stop http://gowal.la/r/Xjas # A beautiful spot. Good place for a picnic lunch #Ffrwa10 — at Mississippi State Visitors Center http://gowal.la/r/XksM # Photo: — at Mississippi State Visitors Center http://gowal.la/r/Xktg # Oops the sandwich meat packages too flimsy so need to get…
June 2009 On Sale: May 26, 2009 Featuring: Nick Santangelo; Tori Morgan 336 pages ISBN: 050552693X EAN: 9780505526939 Paperback $7.99 Add to Wish List Romance Contemporary Buy at Amazon.com A Fresh Fiction favorite is a finalist for the 2010 RWA RITA category Contemporary Single Title. A Little Light Magic by Joy Nash When a girl with no family meets a guy with too much… For Tori Morgan, family’s a blessing the universe hasn’t sent her way. Her parents are long gone, her chance of having a baby is slipping away, and the only thing she can call her own is a neglected old house. What she wants more than anything is a place where she belongs…and a big, noisy clan to share her life. For Nick Santangelo, family’s more like a curse. His nonna is a closet kleptomaniac, his mom’s a menopausal time bomb and his motherless daughter is headed for serious boy trouble. The last thing Nick needs is another female making demands on his time. But summer on the Jersey shore can be an enchanted season, when life’s hurts are soothed by the ebb and flow of the tides and love can bring together the most unlikely prospects….
Intangible Evidence of MAGIC by NYT best seller Dianna Love Have you ever experienced something you can’t easily explain? INTANGIBLE EVIDENCE is actually the title of a book I read back in the late 80’s that was fascinating. Authors Bernard Gittelson and Laura Torbet documented accounts of the strange and unusual, but qualified everything as having no hard evidence, thus the title. I’ve had quite a few unusual things happen in my life since my childhood, but like many other people, I realized at a young age to keep odd things to myself. Still, the supernatural always fascinated me. Here’s an example: I’ll admit to being absent minded, an inconvenient and frustrating trait many artists have. I developed ways to work around it so it didn’t drive me and everyone around me crazy. I especially hate to lose my keys (you know THE keys to your life – car, house, whatever). I had just moved into a house back in the early 80s during a very stressful time. I wanted my recently-booted boyfriend out of my life (this was right before I met my terrific husband) and had agreed to meet so we could discuss how to divide up some…
We always hear about the millionaire playboy, but seriously. Trotting the globe alone. Sounds kind of sad and pathetic, doesn’t it? How much fun could a man have, bedding different women every night? No man wants to do that! After a while, arm candy would make a millionaire sick. Or at least, it would a millionaire of character, like Adam Duke, the hero of my latest book, The Millionaire Meets His Match. Adam has no intention of ever settling down, but that’s because he doesn’t realize how much a wife-the right wife – would add to his life. So here are the Top 10 Reasons Why Every Millionaire Needs a Wife 10. She makes a fabulous tax deduction. When you’re raking in the bucks, you need every tax deduction you can get. Which brings us to… 9. He needs someone to bear his insanely gorgeous heirs. No mansion is complete without the sound of children laughing as they play in the bowling alley or build a fort in the wine cellar. Of course, it will be a while before the children inherit because… 8. Married men live longer. He needs time to enjoy all that money. And of course, he…
It’s that time of year again. Stress levels are getting higher, interviews are being scheduled, road trip preparations are hectic, and yes, the intern has a whole lot more work to do. Haha, not that I’m complaining, just surprised about all the work that goes into preparing and attending an RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference for an online company like FreshFiction.com. But, you know what this means? While the staff is off having fun at Disney I get to sleep in, work from home, and dance in my living room in between breaks. It’s going to be a blast. I am writing today’s blog because Sandi is busy on that big road trip I mentioned above. I believe everyone left early this morning around 6am. Crazy; but then again, the early bird gets the worm. I’m just glad I get to sleep in. Working from home actually isn’t so bad. So far, I just have to make sure I’m not too distracted. Motivation definitely dwindles when the TV happens to be in the same room as me. It’s a good challenge, one that will help my future ventures at owning my own company. Yesterday was my first official “work…
I'm talking about our Fresh Fiction Road Trip today http://bit.ly/aaBXjI #FFrwa10 and giving away something too! # Fresh Pick is NOTHING LIKE YOU by Lauren Strasnick http://bit.ly/9wKnEV Doing our RITA countdown! # @SummerSharp I wish I could have done the 3 hours. Nope. Work calls. 5 am comes VERY early! in reply to SummerSharp # Powered by Twitter Tools