Creating A Cover For Your Book... What You SHOULD Do - Thursdays with the Author

Creating a Cover For Your Book

What You Should Do

Back in my post Creating a Cover For Your Book - What Not To Do, I went over some humorous and important things to avoid when creating a cover. 

Today's post will contain some things you should definitely be sure to include while making your cover. 

If you can afford it, hire a reputable cover designer, and let them create the masterpiece for you. But if you're like me, and spending the money is NOT an option for you, check all these tips to make sure you're doing it right! :)

1) Quality Images

300 DPI (dots per inch) is the minimal requirement for nearly every self-publishing company. When searching for images online, typing HDR (high definition resolution) will (usually) weed out any low quality images. 

2) Don't Sacrifice Quality for Size

If keeping the quality of an image means the image won't fill the front cover, stick with quality. Quality of the image, even the font, should never be lost. It's better to have a beautiful and clear picture, than something blurry or grainy.

3) Title and Author Must be Easy to Read

No crazy, confusing fonts. No small font size. The title and author name should be clear and very easy to read. Some authors like to have their name larger than their title, while others prefer the opposite, or equal sizes. If you are a new, or relatively unknown author, your name should NOT be bigger than the title. When you are well-known enough that your NAME is what sells the book, THEN you can have your name equal or greater in size than the cover. Examples: Steven King, Tom Clancy, Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks. 

4) Pick a Theme and Stick With It

Your cover shouldn't be tying to explain every theme that happens in your novel. Pick a main theme or general appearance you'd like to convey, and stick with it. This goes for images, fonts, and general colors. Ever heard of the saying, 'less is more'? This applies to your book cover as well. Sometimes the simplest cover is the most stunning. 

This tip also goes for series. Each cover should be different but fit the overall theme of the series. Here's what my series covers look like:

5) Have Something in the Background 

Color, texture, a background image. DO NOT leave the background white UNLESS you have a border around the cover. A white background will be lost on retailer websites. 

6) Use Contrast
White on black, black over white, red on black, orange over blue, etc. A central image, a line of text... make it stand out from the rest of your novel. Perfect examples of this are the Twilight Saga Book Covers.

7) Put Your Cover Next to the Same Genre at the Store and See How Well it Fits In AND How Well it Stands Out!
You don't want your book to seem like it doesn't belong on that shelf but you do want to make sure it can be noticed when surrounded by all the other books out there. A good idea to try (and this goes for ANY genre) is going to your local store (grocery, book, etc), find the book aisles and the section with your genre. Take a picture of the shelves to take home and compare with your novel or the imagine in your head what your cover will look like, sitting on those shelves between all those other titles. If your cover won't stand out among the others, you probably need to change it. If it's stands out in a bad way, you probably need to change it.

Writing the Ugly Into Your Romance Novel - Thursdays with the Author

Have you ever been reading a romance and nearly choked on the sweetness coming from the pages? Have you ever finished a novel and wished, just once, one of the characters actually seemed real?

We know it's a romance... We know a HEA (happily ever after) is required. But that doesn't mean the characters are just chasing butterflies and smelling roses the entire time. 

In my first novel, Dark Mountains, the front cover blurb says it all. It states: "Not every happily ever after comes easily. Some love stories are born in the dark."

In that book, the main heroine comes from a violent, and abusive family situation that follows her to adulthood. The hero has to stop playing the knight in shining armor to serve his country in Iraq, where he nearly dies. Both characters have to overcome extreme situations, both physically and emotionally damaging, to get to their HEA. 

In my second novel, Irish Strength, the heroine is running from her violent, soon-to-be ex, when she finds the road to her HEA.

All my books contain real life struggles and situations that affect everyday people. True love doesn't just fall in their lap, especially right after living out a 'perfect life'. 

Your writing needs to reflect real life as well. Multiple failed relationships, abuse, drug or alcohol addiction, low self esteem, miscarriage, infertility, unemployed, stubborness, obesity, etc. etc. etc. 

A reader will never be able to connect with your character(s) if they are larger than life and 'perfect'. They will sympathize with the mother that's lost her child, feel the shame of the woman who's been beaten, carry the regret when the hero realizes his pride may have cost him the one thing he truly needs, struggle with the man who just can't leave the bottle in the cabinet. 

Those are the type of characters readers will connect with. Those are the HEA's that are believable. Those are the stories that are unforgettable. 

Are you writing enough 'ugly' in your romance?

Writing a Children's Book - Thursdays with the Author

I've heard some people claim that writing a children's book has to be easier than writing for adults. There's hardly any words. Children aren't picky and so on. Well I'm a romance author currently working on a children's picture book series and I have to say, that assumption is very wrong. Writing for children is HARD!

Just like with adult books, particularly romance, there are a TON of sub-genres in children's books. Picture books, easy reader books, early chapter books, biographies, science and nature books, young adult books (which have their own mess of sub-genres). Not only do you have to ask who your audience will be but how old they are and what level of reading are you writing for. 

Children, especially young children, might not be picky about what they're reading but the children aren't the ones buying the books. Adults are buying FOR the children. Which gives the author just another hurdle to jump through. 

And if you're writing for young adults, your job just got a whole lot harder. Pre-teens and teens have more say in the books they read and some are even buying their books themselves. You won't get away with writing that's sub-par.  

Now if you're writing picture books you run into a whole new set of problems. Can it compete with other picture books? Can you illustrate and is your artwork good enough? Do you pay money and have someone else illustrate? Do you self-publish? Do you send out queries? Will the agent hate your illustrations? Will they scrap the ones you paid money for and go with someone else? 

There are so many obstacles to overcome. Especially if you choose to self-publish. If you go that route, put your story and artwork up against already published and successful books. How does it compare? Can it stand against the traditionally published and professionally illustrated? 

For example, my children's books are about zoo animals. I can draw animals fairly well, with pencil, but haven't been able to master any other mediums. I drew some rough sketches for my first book and then shelled out a few hundred dollars for an art program and tablet for my computer with the hope I would be able to modify my sketches with other computer generated mediums. So far they loom ok but the general consensus is that my pencil sketches actually look better. Only problem? You don't see many children's books with no color or only pencil sketches. :/ 

Now I'm in a funk as to what to do or if I should give in and shell out way more than the few hundred I seemed to have wasted in computer tech for a professional illustrator. I'd like to self-publish so my options are limited, especially financially speaking. 

So word to the wise, any of you considering writing for children, it's not as simple as it looks!

How to Do a Book Signing - Thursdays with the Author

How to Do a Book Signing

I suppose first, I should make clear that I've never done a huge book signing at a major library or bookstore. But I have done a book signing at my local library and it was one of the funnest nights I've had in a long time.

Our local librarian, like most great librarians, is uber-supportive of writers. Especially local writers. We live in a small town so a visit to the library isn't just about checking out books. It's social time with one of the coolest ladies in our town. When I was first publishing Dark Mountains, she told me she wanted to host a book signing for me after it was published. I told her that would be cool and kind of blew it off. I was a soon-to-be self-published author from a teeny-tiny town in the middle of Illinois. No one would want me to sign their books for them.

Shortly after publishing, she asked again and I said yes and we set a date for a few months later. It would be in the evening, after most people would be off work, and not as busy as they would be on the weekend. She agreed to provide cake and punch and I told her I would plan all the advertising. She offered to help hand out fliers and spread the word. In the two months leading up to my book signing, I made a checklist of what I wanted to do.

Before Your Event

1) Make Flyers

These flyers should include your name, the name of your book and the date, time and location of the book signing and contact information for you or for the location of the event. Include anything pertinent, like if you were hosting a give-away or door prizes. Put the flyers everywhere. Gas Stations, restaurants, libraries, book stores, public notice areas, etc.

2) Make a sign-up sheet for reserved copies. 

I was slightly worried that I wouldn't order enough books and thought this would help ensure the people that were coming, that they'd have a copy. I left a copy at the library and kept one at home. You can also have them write their preferences for how they'd like it personalized. It may save you time writing the messages out before hand and just signing them in person.

3) Order plenty of books in plenty of time to have them printed and shipped. 

I ordered 50, really not expecting to need any more than that. A month out from the event, my tally sheets for reserved copies were already nearing 30 so I ordered another 25 books

4) Make bookmarks or leaflets.

Bookmarks are best since they can actually be used by your readers. On one side, your name, book title and contact info (website, email, blog, etc). On the other side you can have the blurb from your book, quotes from reviews of your book, your author bio, etc.

5) Raffle Prize

I chose to do this to draw in more people. I gave away two prizes. Anyone that came to the book signing could fill out a slip for a chance to win one of the prizes and wouldn't have to be present to win. The prizes I got were a Kindle Paperwhite eReader and a $25 Amazon gift card (for anyone that already had an eReader). Also both prizes came with a signed copy of my book.

6) Mailing List

This is an important way to keep in touch with the people who attend your book signing. They are your readers and will want to know when you have more books coming out. Make it simple with just their name and email address.

7) Invite on Social Media and local news

Let me be very clear: This should NOT be the only thing you do to reach people. Neither should it be something you miss. Social media is a powerful tool. If you live in or close to a major city, this could skyrocket the number of people at your event. Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Shelfari, your blog, Google+, etc. Put the event invite and all the details on every site you are active on. Also, contact your local papers, radio stations and TV stations. Let them know you are a local author with a book signing coming up. Who knows? You might end up getting interviewed by one of them!

8) Make a sign to put up outside of the event. 

This will vary depending on where your event is at but if they have room for a sign, get one made. Some businesses and library will have a board already set up and can put up your event info prior to the date. Be aware of how much money you spend and what you spend it on. Signs can be expensive to make. I had a canvas sign printed with weatherproofing and extra strength ties and it blew away over a week before the event. (Thank you stupid Illinois winds). It would've been cheaper to make a sturdy plywood sign myself and paint the information on it by hand.

9) Stay in Contact with Your Host

Whether it be a store, library or whatever, keep in contact with your host. Chances are, this won't be their first event so they will have plenty of advice and ideas on how to make it a success.

10) Food

If your host isn't providing something, you need to. Food is a major draw to people. If your event is in a major bookstore, the lure of a free cookie or piece of cake may be the one thing that gets someone to check out your set-up and may end up with a sale and a new fan. Cookies and cupcakes are great and easy to feed a lot of people with. My host ordered a cake from a local bakery that supports the library. She had them decorate the cake to match the cover of my book (which was amazing) and provided punch.

11) Figure out if you are only SIGNING or if you will be speaking as well.

For me, I knew my book signing was going to be smaller in terms of attendance and unless the people coming lived IN my town, they'd be driving at least 10 minutes to come. So I wanted to give them all that I could for making the effort to come. I flirted with the idea of doing a little talk on self-publishing but I had to remind myself that I wasn't at a writer's conference where people wanted and needed to hear that kind of information. This was a small town book signing with a majority of people being family and friends. So I decided to do a question and answer session. This worried me a bit because I wasn't sure if anyone would ask anything. Also, you never know what people will ask, so if you aren't comfortable with speaking in public or coming up with answers on-the-fly, this option might not be for you. As it was, I had lots of questions like where I got my inspiration, coming up with names for characters, being an author and a full-time mom, what it's like to write, specific questions about characters (which pleased me to no end that a lot of the people had actually READ the book before coming), and what I was going to publish next. It was a lot of fun and it really is an enjoyable experience being able to interact with your readers and fans.

12) Write a message in your books.

First decide on WHAT you want to write. It can be as simple as Best Wishes! or Thanks for your support, or more elaborate. In Dark Mountains, I wrote: 'Never give up on a happily ever after!' in all my books. It fit in really well with what the story was about. Messages should be written on the cover page or first blank page of your book. DON'T sign your book yet. Save that for the event. But you'll save a TON of time by pre-writing your message (not to mention avoiding a horrible hand cramp!). Make sure you save room for any personal massages you may want to write and for your signature.

At the Book Signing

I can't begin to tell you how nervous I was. I figured no one would show up. Boy was I wrong. I had nearly 40 people show up in my town of 400 and sold even more books than that. I had a few people buy more than 4 copies to give as gifts. I was so busy that I ended up forgetting to be nervous as soon as the event started. Have a few helpers that know you and your book to help people buy books, show them where to sign up for things, direct them to your table, take pictures, etc.

1) Have them sign up for anything as soon as they walk in.

Raffle prizes, mailing list, bookmarks, buying your book. This should all be done when they first walk in or towards where you are set-up. Have someone else in charge of selling books and explaining things. You will be way too busy greeting people. 

2) Greet your guests

Feel free to wander around and greet your guests. Chances are you'll know most of them but say hello, shake hands and make eye contact anyway! If you are in a major store or library, walk around and introduce yourself to people before the event starts. Hand them a free bookmark. Let them know there are snacks once the event starts. You may just pull in a new reader that didn't even realize you were having an event!

3) Have Them Enjoy Refreshments During #2

This one's pretty self-explanatory.

4) Begin With Speaking

Introduce yourself and your book. If you aren't speaking, this is where you stop. If you are speaking, then start your session: question and answer, talk about writing, or something else related to you and your book. This is a good ice breaker, a good way for you to get to know the people at your event, and a great way for them to get to know you.

5) Sign Your Books

If you know the reader personally or if they ask for a more personal note, add it under what you've already written. Sign your name and date it. TRY to use your best handwriting! ;) This would be a great time to remind you to bring plenty of high quality pens! I will tell you this: Try not to talk to people as you're writing. I kept answering questions while talking with readers and two books were ruined as a result of. I started writing what we were talking about! Seriously! You wouldn't believe how hard it is to focus on signing your name or writing a short note when someone is asking you a question!

6) Thank your guests and your host.

Both these things are very important. No one HAD to come to your event so make sure you sincerely thank them for attending your book signing and supporting you. At the same time, you never would've HAD a book signing if it hadn't been for your host so be SURE to thank them properly as well!

After the book signing

1) Make sure you sent a heart-felt thank you note to your host. 

If you had your book signing in a small town store or library, consider donating them a copy of your book with the thank you.

2) Write a newsletter and send it out with all your new contacts gained by the sign-up sheet at your event.

Newsletters are a whole other blog post but I'll give you this little gem for now: Newsletters are exclusive to people who go out of their way to sign up for them. DO NOT put the same info in them that you've been putting on your blog or Facebook. You can put the links in for those things, but make sure your newsletter is containing new and fresh information for your readers.

3) Thank everyone again for attending via social media and post some of the great pictures you took during the event.

4) Notify your prize winners and get their prizes to them. :)

How Social Media Can Help You Become A Better Writer - Thursdays with the Author

How Social Media Can Help You Become A Better Writer

So before I start giving you examples of how Social Media can help you become a better writer, I will give you a general warning: Social Media can also HINDER you as a writer.

Most of us, by now, have visited Pinterest and if you're like most of the world in general, you've become addicted. You've planned your 6 year old daughter's wedding already, you've made a list of places you want to see in the world, compiled a million recipes to try. The list goes on and on. You could get lost in Pinterest for hours, believe me, I know. I've done it. You wake up from your inspired daydreaming and realize you were planning on writing for a few hours and that those few hours are now gone.

The same thing can happen (though not as quickly or easily as with Pinterest) with other sites such as Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Goodreads, etc. I once devoted 45 minutes to reading the Twitter feed of the fictional character Severus Snape because I found it so entertaining. Seriously. 

Using Social Media has it's perils. There's nothing like being sucked into the never-ending vortex of crafts, humor and vacation paradises to waste a few hours of productive writing time.

Set a timer while you're browsing the various sites. If it goes off and you're still lost in la-la-land, close the browser and start writing. If you're actually learning something writing related from your wanderings, save it for later. You have to start applying what you just learned, which means, WRITE!

So now that you have been properly warned, we can get on with the good stuff. How Social Media can HELP you! Below, I'll post some of the websites I frequent and what can be gleaned from them to improve your writing and your writing career. Not only can you learn something, it will help you enlarge your internet platform as an author!

Facebook:

This site is more communication and marketing than a learning experience, but if you know WHERE to look, you can learn something.

1) Friend other authors, especially best-selling, well-known authors. How they communicate with their readers, run contests and give-a-ways, give snippets of their works-in-process, book launches and their over-all writing process, can be a well of insight to what it takes to be a successful and recognizable author.

2) Make your author page is SEPARATE from your private page. Your readers (or potential readers) don't want to read about your relationship dramas, hear about the epic fight with your sister or how much you can't stand your mother-in-law. Your author page should be professional with only a snapshot of your personal life. You should also have a separate author email to link this page to. All of your social media connections should be listed with this page as well.

3) Make your author page public (without revealing any personal information besides your contact email and other page links). You WANT your readers to be able to get a hold of you, ask questions, comment on your book, etc. IF a reader contacts you (barring any crazy stalker-type behavior), make a big deal out of it. They took the time to find your page and write to you and you SHOULD be thankful.  Even if they were writing you to give you a negative critique, take it as a blessing in disguise. They contacted you because they want to help, even if it's with an unfavorable opinion of your work. If they caught something wrong, fix it. But whatever the case, thank the reader for contacting you and for their opinion.

4) Make sure you've linked all your social media sites to your Facebook page. Instead of reporting to every site, one status update can cover most of them. Also, make sure you don't forget to post links, book updates/releases, new blog posts, etc. 

Twitter:

A lot like Facebook, only more short-winded. No less important for making an impact with your internet presence. 

Biggest tip: follow other authors, agents, publishers, etc. You won't believe the amazing publishing and writing tips you can find from literary agents that post to Twitter!

Blog:

Blogspot.com, blogger.com, etc. the list goes on. Blogging is an important tool for

writers to use. I know, I know... More writing? But it is important. Writing a blog is like exercising for the mind. A weight lifter isn't going to do any heavy lifting if they've never even carried a dumbbell. Same concept for writers. The journalistic and opinion-related blog posts are different from writing novels, but ANY writing is good exercise!

Try to write at least one blogpost a week. It can be anything. Your writing process, sneak peeks, writing advice, etc. 

Make sure you put links, pictures, and contact information in each post!

Also: follow other writing related blogs. Comment on their posts, ask questions. The more involved you are, the better chance they will then read, comment and reshare your blog. 

Goodreads (and the amazon counterpart, Shelfari):

Both these sites are great places for readers to leave reviews. They are also great for creating an author page, which can be linked to your other social media sites, creating free giveaways, connecting with readers and reading and responding to reviews. 

Remember, amazon reviews can only be left after a verified purchase. So what if a reader gets your book somewhere else,  wins a copy, picks up a signed edition at an author event or rents it from the library? Shelfari and Goodreads all allow reviews no matter where the book came from. 

Google+ :

It's a little like Facebook, only a bit more mature. You can post a status, pictures, links, etc. just like Facebook and with a blend of tagging and hashtags like Twitter. Only Google+ takes it a step forward with communities. Communities are groups with specific subjects, and rules about posting, where users can ask and answer questions, share their work, get advice, connect with other authors, agents, publishers and more. The amount of information that pertains to writing on Google+ is mind boggling. Try for specific communities that relate to your style of writing: fantasy writer groups, children's book groups, romance writers, self-publishing groups, you name it, there's probably a group for it!

Google+ can also connect to all your other social media sites, making for easy sharing and reposting. 

Pinterest:

Ah, an angel and demon all wrapped in one. As mentioned above, Pinterest can be a quicksand pit of wasted time. But it can also be an amazing source of knowledge. Pins with writing and editing tips, author and blog links, amazing pictures for inspiration, writing prompts, and more. 

When creating your own author Pinterest page, the same rule applies as to Facebook. Use a separate page as an author and personally. 

When setting up your boards, categorize and place according to importance. Your first boards should be your contact information, links to your books, and your blog. Then boards for other writing blogs, writing tips, story inspiration, motivational quotes, favorite books/quotes and more. Leave the wedding planning to your personal page. Your author Pinterest should be writing related. 

So there are some of the internet pages that have helped me become a better writer and author and learn how to navigate the deep waters of publishing and marketing. There are many more websites out there! Just make sure you aren't getting pulled away from actually writing with all the things you're discovering!

Avoiding the "Info Dump" - Thursdays with the Author

I finally got a review on my newest book and although it was a positive 4 star review, one comment had me thinking about what NOT to do as I finish writing the series. 

The comment goes like this: "I gave it 4 stars because I thought it started off a little slow. Sometimes it is a little harder to get into when the author is trying to get her story line set up, especially when this is the first of four books. Once I got into the "meat" of the story, I really enjoyed it."

This is one thing I didn't want to do while writing my books. The dreaded 'Info Dump'.

The first few drafts of this particular book were the worst when it came to inundating the reader with information to set up not only the book, but the rest of the series. In subsequent revisions, some information was moved further into the story, some taken out completely. I was aware that the beginning might start slow for some readers but after trying to move more things around, I realized that the story would have been more negatively affected if I had changed anything else. So I bit the proverbial bullet and left the beginning how it was. 

Being the first in a four part saga didn't help matters. The entire series had to be set up, at least partially in the first book. All the characters, not just the ones in that first book, but the following three as well, needed to be introduced to a certain extent. Then there was the main characters of that first book. It was a lot to try and place in one book. 

Even though this particular reader had a slow start to this book, she eventually got to the point where she could enjoy the story instead of storing and processing all the information I was giving. So I don't see it as a failure. More as a opportunity to learn. 

Many books, particularly with series and fantasy/science fiction books, are filled with more information and back story than most novels. A lot of authors fail to see the information overload they are writing and many readers are left bored, or at the very least, feeling like they're slogging through a biography instead of a fiction novel.

At the same time, the writer can make the mistake of not giving enough information. You don't want a reader going 'huh?' or 'where did that come from?' while reading your book. 

There's a fine line between the two and my hope for this blog post is to help you navigate that line and make your story great. 

So how does the writer avoid the dreaded 'Info Dump' and the incredulous 'huh?' Here's a few tips:

1) Start with Action

Even if it's just in the prologue or first chapter. Action, as well as setting up the conflict, is essential to hooking the reader well enough to get them through the information to come. 

2) Introduce the Main Characters Right Away

This is one thing you shouldn't make your readers wait for. If one of the characters doesn't come until later in the novel you should at least introduce the other main character right away. You can also do a prologue, dream sequence, etc. to introduce the other main character before going with the more solo viewpoint for a while. 

3) Back-story Should be Minimal

A lot of books have one or both of the characters with their own back-story before the main story starts. If the hero and heroine meet each other immediately and it's all sunshine and roses, the reader has nothing to read and will not be able to connect with the characters. The back-story is how we relate, connect and become emotionally invested in the characters. In the beginning of a novel however, the initial back-story that should be introduced is only what is crucial to the characters and their story. Other back-story can come later in the story, when it becomes relevant. Flashbacks, a long-lost letter to the character, and telling the back-story through dialog are good ways to get this done. 

4) Make an Outline of What is Absolutely Necessary To Know Right Away

You don't have to say everything at once. Unless you only want your novel to be a few chapters long, there's no hurry to tell the reader everything. If the first chapter gets the reader interested and invested in the story, they will keep reading. 

5) Who? What? When? Where? Why?

You don't want to give the reader the answers to these question right away. You want them to be asking those questions. The beginning of a book gets the reader curious to find out the answers and that is exactly how you want to write. 

6) Show, Don't Tell

You've heard this before as a general writing tip but it can also be used when explaining worlds and history. Particularly for fantasy and science fiction. 
Don't tell the reader what the world looks like or about the creatures/plants/people in it. Show it. 
Have a character(s) reacting to it, talking about it, experiencing it. 
At the same time, you don't want your characters 'telling' each other things that should have been obvious to them in the first place. The reader will not only see your veiled attempt to hide an info dump, but may quit reading altogether. Ways to avoid that particular trap is by introducing a new character that wouldn't know the information. A story with the info told to a group of children, inviting a new-comer, explaining how it works to a foreigner, writing/finding a letter, etc. are all good ways of adding back-story and information.

7) Tell the 'What' But Save the 'Why'. 

Make sure the reader knows what the character is doing while they're reading. But in some cases, especially when there's a lengthy explanation, save the why for later in the story. Another character can ask why and it can be explained through the character at any time. 

8) If It Affects the Character's Decisions, Write It. 

What is the character's opinion about what is going on? Does the character have to react to the information being presented? Does the setting help or hinder the character's actions? Is the knowledge (or lack thereof) contributing to the character succeeding or failing? These are all questions you need to ask before adding (or not adding) the information to your book. 

9) Never Start a Book With the Words 'As You Know' or 'In The Beginning'. 

Seriously. The Bible is pretty much the only book that can pull this off. 

So there's some tips on how to get your novel started on the right track! Good luck and happy writing!

Using Pictures to Help Describe Characters - Thursdays with the Author

I recently created a Pinterest board full of pictures of people. Celebrities/actors mostly. You can see it here: Basis for Characters. Why would I have a board filled with the Hollywood elite on my author Pinterest page? Was it just to look at some eye candy when I get bored? Nope. Although a lot of the men ARE actual eye candy.

It's for inspiration. For Characters.

We're writers, so creating a character isn't that hard. We can emotionally connect, get into the heads of each one of them, write like we ARE them. But are we describing their physical features as well as their emotions and minds? The color of their hair, the sculpt of their cheekbones, the expression of their eyes, the angle of the jaw? How about the shapes of their bodies, the lift of their eyebrows, the way they look when they move, laugh, smile, smirk, frown. That's a lot of physical attributes to imagine up in your head.

That's why having a picture to help you SEE those details makes it a hell of a lot easier to describe. Does this mean all my characters have to look like that person in that picture? No.
Yes, authors ten to make their characters stunning, beautiful and sexy, but they don't HAVE to be. You can have the muscle of Chris Hemsworth, the brooding eyes of Christian Bale, the gorgeous smile of Jake Gyllenhal all rolled into one character. But to really describe those attributes, it's nice to have a visual cue to go off of.

Again, they don't all have to be celebrities. Take some pictures out of your family's photo album. The dreamy look you gave your husband on your wedding day. The exhausted and overjoyed smile right after you gave birth to your first child. The look of wonder on your husband's face when he held you child for the first time. The bubbly laughter of your children, captured forever on film.

Find at least three words to describe your character's hair color, eye color, skin tone. Find new ways to weave the image of them with your words. Having pictures to look at while doing this will help you immensely.

Here's some examples of descriptions I came up with from pictures on that board:





This Liv Tyler picture is perfect for the amount of faces she gives you.

"She brushed her tongue across her top lip as she watched me with half-lidded eyes. Her intent was clear. She wanted me to come home with her."

"She looked over her shoulder at me with that smile that I'd come to love. The slight upward quirk of her lips, outlining her cheekbones, making her eyes sparkle with a silent laughter."






This picture of Emma Watson gives a great example of a surprised look.



"Her eyebrows winged up as her mouth popped open in surprise. She clearly hadn't expected to see me here."









Anne Hathaway



"Her large brown eyes were so full of sadness. They were her most dominant feature. I felt as if I would drown in the pool of despair I could clearly see behind them."....








"But then she looked up at me and smiled and her face transformed. Her beautiful eyes crinkled as her smile widened, the lines around her mouth deepening. She really was beautiful and when she looked at me, I couldn't help but smile back."






Tom Hiddleston



"His eyebrows scrunched together as tears welled in his eyes. His anger was palpable as his face grew red. "You lied to me!" he screamed. "

What Am I Working On? - Thursdays with the Author

What Am I Working On - Thursdays With The Author

Exclusive Sneak Peeks!

Boy, you guys are in for a treat today! ;) 

I recently did my first newspaper interview and one of the questions I was asked was what I'm currently working on. The interviewer seemed a bit surprised to hear that I had a lot of irons in the fire when it came to works-in-process. She asked me how I keep them all organized, how I find the time to write so many things, how I made a deadline if I had multiple projects taking up my focus, how do I stay inspired while writing so many different things at once?

Well the first answer is my organization skills are sadly lacking. You could ask any of my family members and get plenty of proof, my life is a mess! When I open my laptop, there's at least 3 manuscripts already open, from different genres of fiction, that I hop back and forth from. The ones where the 'deadline' is approaching, are always open, and I try to add something to them every day. Even if it's only 50 words, that's better than nothing. I have my writing folder divided into different things. There's a folder for The Irish Treasures Saga, including sub-folders for each book in the series. There's a folder for Dark Mountains. There's a folder for a historical romance I'm working on, a contemporary beach romance, another romance centered on a up and coming country singer. There's a folder for my Children's series and another for guest blog posts that I've written. That's about as far as my organization goes.

The second answer touched on finding the time to write. As a wife, mom and a writer that currently has another day-job, the time is pretty limited. Luckily for me, all my daycare kids like to take naps right after lunch which means an hour, maybe a bit more, of complete quiet (minus the snoring) that I can sit with my laptop and write. There's usually an hour, maybe less, each night, after my kids go to sleep but before I do, to write. Then there's more time on the weekend. When writing isn't your day job, you have to use the time you get, no matter how small, to write something.

The third answer concerned deadlines. I don't technically have any, just a vague inclination of when I'd like things done, or to be published. I put a 6-9 month space between publishing the books of The Irish Treasures Saga. I have no idea if I'll be able to actually accomplish that goal but that's the great thing about self-publishing. The freedom to be flexible, to change your mind, to go another direction. Deadlines aren't an agent or publishing house breathing down my neck, an editor telling me they want my manuscript finished by a certain date. Deadlines are merely a goal I can strive for and not worry if I don't meet them.

The fourth answer was probably the easiest. Inspiration. I can't pinpoint exactly what inspires me. It could be a picture I see while browsing through a magazine. It could be a snippet of conversation I hear. It could be a small piece of my own life. It's anything and everything. That's probably WHY I write so many different things. I write when I'm inspired. Even if it's only a very broad story line, I write it down and come back to it later. I don't write to churn out a new novel every 6 months. I don't write to make money or garner fame. I write because I love to write. I write because I need to: to tell a story, to create a new world, to provide an escape from reality. Writing feels like breathing to me. If I can't do it, I will suffocate. So when some idea hits me, even just a snippet of something that could be a whole story, I start writing it down. Even if I have other works that I wanted done sooner. I have to write what I'm inspired to write. It may take me years to finish it. And that's fine. I'd rather take my time and write something good, then add a bunch of fluff just to get it done sooner. It took a total of 9 years to write, edit and ultimately self-publish my first novel, Dark Mountains. And I couldn't be happier with it.

So back to what I'm currently working on! The Irish Treasures Saga is at the top of the list. Book 1, Irish Strength, was released at the end of 2013 and my goal is to have Book 2, Irish Heart, released in June of this year. The 3rd book, Irish Sight, is set for the end of 2014 and the 4th book, Irish Truth, is set for June 2015. I'm also working on a yet-unnamed historical romance set in the late 1800's England. Another project is an also unnamed contemporary romance with a beach setting. I also have a Children's picture book series called Zoo Adventures, with three finished stories so far. I can throw in another contemporary romance, tentatively called Sweet Melody, into the mix. I have some ideas for other things as well but those are the ones that are either done, or at least have a good start.

So here's the treat I suggested at the beginning of this post. Below, I will be posting snippets from some of the stories I just listed above. Anyone that reads this blog will be some of the VERY FIRST people to read any of these excerpts! So I hope you enjoy them! :)


Irish Heart - Irish Treasures Saga - Book 2

Dermot walked into the clinic before lunch and was relieved that the waiting room was empty. Not even bothering to stop at the counter, he walked through the doors and headed straight to his sister’s office. She was sitting at her desk, burping her newest baby.

“How’s the little man doing today?” he asked, getting a slobbery squeal in response.

“Just finished his lunch, actually,” Becca told him.

“I’ll burp him for you,” Dermot offered, holding out his hands. Becca laid the towel on his least injured shoulder and gently passed him the gurgling baby.

“Hey there, Dillon. Are you happy to see your Uncle Dermot?” he asked, getting another squeal.

“What brings you to the office today?” Becca asked as she stacked the pile of charts on her desk. “Are you feeling all right?”

“Pain pills are working, if that’s what you’re asking,” he answered as he patted Dillon’s back.

“Are you in a lot of pain then?” she asked.

“Nothing I haven’t felt before,” he answered but sighed at the look she gave him. “No, ‘tis fine. I was just hoping you’d look me over and make sure I’m healing well enough.” As if on cue, Dillon spit up, missing the towel and hitting Dermot’s shoulder. Becca wrinkled her nose in sympathy but Dermot just laughed. “That a boy,” he chuckled.

“Well you had to take your shirt off anyway,” Becca giggled as she took Dillon and set him in his portable crib. Dermot took his shirt off, wincing as the damaged muscles cramped in response.

“Stitches and staples look fine,” Becca murmured as she probed and prodded Dermot’s upper body. “As long as you don’t over-exert yourself, you shouldn’t tear anything. That means no chopping firewood,” she scolded, wagging a finger at him.

“I have to chop firewood, Becca,” he complained. “Do you want me to freeze my arse off?”

“Maybe you’ll freeze off some of your temper,” she retorted. “I’ve asked Ian to come over and chop some for you since he’s right down the lane.” Dermot groaned, not looking forward to any encounters with Brigid’s brother.

“None of the wounds look infected. Are you taking your antibiotics?” Dermot nodded as she continued to examine him. “I want to check them out every other day, just to be on the safe side. These are deep,” she commented, checking the gashes across his shoulder and chest. “Did they use internal stitches?”

“About a hundred,” Dermot answered as she prodded the muscle.

“This’ll be sore for a while,” she murmured. “You know, Brigid’s got a poultice that would help this heal faster and cleaner. As your physician, I would recommend you going to see her about it.”

“And as my sister?” Dermot asked softly. She sighed and smiled at how quick her brother was.

“You need to talk to her, Dermot.”

“I’ve tried,” he groaned. “I guess I still haven’t learned how to say the right thing.”

“Aww, poor baby,” Becca cooed with sarcasm. “Dermot, you’re almost thirty years old. Pull your head out of your arse grow up.”

“Jaysus, Becca. I came for healing, not new wounds.”

“Sorry,” she apologized, giving him a quick kiss on his forehead. “You’re just so stubborn sometimes.”

“What are brothers for?” he asked, standing up to stretch and wincing as his muscles pulled. “When I saw her this morning, she was pretty shocked when she finally looked at me. Why didn’t you tell her about the explosion?”

“You asked me not to say anything to her.”

“I didn’t think you’d actually do as I asked!” Dermot sighed, as his sister gently patted his shoulder.

“It wasn’t easy, Dermot. She’s my best friend and it’s... difficult to keep things from her,” she paused, chewing on her lip. “She can sense when someone is hiding something.” Just then, the office door swung open and Brigid walked in with a box of jars.

“Hey Becca, I’ve brought those liniments you asked for,” she stopped suddenly when she realized Becca wasn’t alone. “Oh, I’m sorry...” she trailed off when she saw who it was. Her mind instantly focused on the fresh and gruesome lesions on his body. She saw the crosshatches of stitches and staples; the black and purple bruises and felt the bile rising in her throat.

Her face went pale when she realized that the gashes she had seen on his face earlier that morning was nothing compared to the injuries to the rest of his body. She jerked back her powers when they instinctively welled up.

“I’m sorry, Becca,” she whispered. “I should’ve left these at the counter.”

“Tis fine,” Becca answered, seeing how Brigid was reacting to Dermot’s injuries. “I have a few questions about them anyway. Dermot, why don’t you put your shirt on while I talk with Brigid.” Dermot nodded, noticing Brigid looked like she was going to be sick. He carefully put his shirt on while they spoke and watched as Brigid bent over the box, pointing out different jars. He quickly recovered from staring at her bum when the two women turned around.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Brigid said, as she backed towards the door. Her face had more color now and her voice was once again steady.

“Aye, tomorrow.” Becca waved and waited until she heard the clinic doors swing shut before turning to her brother. “Go after her,” she commanded.

“What?”

“Go after her, you bloody amadán.”

“Why would I go after her? She’s so mad she looked like she was going to hurl!”

“She was going to hurl!” Becca yelled. “She’s a healer, you stupid, stupid arse! Seeing your injuries and knowing you wouldn’t let her heal them was literally making her ill.” Dermot’s eyes widened as his sister’s words sunk in. “She can’t change what she is, Dermot. Even for you,” she whispered, laying a hand on her his injured cheek. “Now go after her.”

Irish Sight- Irish Treasures Saga - Book 3

Breandán guided the boat to the dock with practiced ease.

“I’ll get the line,” his father called from the port bow.

“Aye,” He smiled and eased back on the throttle, letting the boat’s momentum carry it to the dock. His father stepped onto the wood planks without missing a beat and quickly tied the rope to the post.

“Tis a shame Sean and Sophie are still at school,” his dad mused as he looked at their catch lying in the aft storage bay. “Could’a used the help.”

“It’s not too bad,” he answered, killing the engine. “We can handle it.”

They worked in tandem for the next few hours, unloading the fish, cleaning them and putting them in the ice chests to take to the village market.

“I’ll be off then,” his father slapped him on the back with a smile. “Good job today, son.”

“You too, Da.” He chuckled, waving off his father as he got in the truck to drive to the village. He turned and grabbed the hose and began to spray off the cleaning table and boat. He sensed his mother walking down the path before he saw her.

“I’ll just be another minute, Mum,” he shouted as he shut the hose off and stripped off his rain gear. “We had quite a catch today. A hundred Cod,” He lost his smile when he turned to his mother. Her eyes were red rimmed from crying. “What’s wrong?” He ran to her, checking her over for injury.

“Let’s go sit,” she murmured, pointing to the bench at the end of the dock. Colin had built it for her years ago, when Breandán was small and had first started going out on the boat with his father. She would sit and watch for them until they pulled back into the cove.

“Are you alright?” He sat beside her as her hands fidgeted in her pockets.

“I’ve some things to tell you,” she began, her voice shaky.

“You aren’t sick, are you?” he interrupted.

“No, dear,” she answered, giving him a weak smile. “It’s about you, not me.”

“What’s the matter?” He felt chills going down his spine and shivered. His mother reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out the amulet she normally wore around her neck. He’d never seen her take it off.

“Do you remember what I told you when you asked about this?” she whispered as the agate shimmered in the sunlight.

“You told me it was a symbol of the Gemini, the twin, and that you wore it for the sister you lost long ago.”

“Aye,” she murmured, flipping the amulet over and showing him the name etched in the back. “Deirdre was my twin, just two minutes older. We shared a link that I can’t even begin to explain to you. I could hear her speak in my head from miles away with no trouble. We could feel each other’s hurts.”

“What happened to her?” he asked softly.

“She died, a week after you were born.” His mother sighed, slipping the amulet back over her head. “I have a letter for you,” she whispered as she reached into her pocket. “She wrote it to you the day you were born.”

“Why would she write me a letter?” he asked as he took the yellowed paper with trembling hands. She looked out to the sea and took a deep breath before answering.

“Because, Breandán,” she sighed, tears filling her eyes. “She was your mother.”

Irish Truth - Irish Treasures Saga - Book 4

“So what’s going on?” Dermot asked, stealing a piece of bacon from Breandán’s plate. Breandán made a half-hearted attempt to stab him with his fork but Dermot was too quick.

“Ian was just telling me about coming home to find a certain gypsy beauty naked in his shower,” Breandán answered through a mouth full of eggs.

“No shit?” Max, speared a sausage from the plate.

“No shit,” Ian replied dryly.

“Not the best way to greet a guest,” Quinn commented before tossing another potato in his mouth.

“I didn’t know I had a guest,” Ian muttered, giving up on trying to protect his plate and sliding it to the middle of the table.

“That must’ve been a sight,” Dermot chuckled. “She was in the shower?”

“Aye,” Ian answered, making them all chuckle. “And she threw open the curtain, naked as the day she was born.” The men whistled. “Aye, whistle all you want,” Ian chided. “So there she is, dripping wet, gloriously naked and lecturing me for being there.”

“So you just let her stand there, naked?” Quinn asked.

“Of course not,” Ian answered. “I gave her a towel. Then she proceeded to tell me that we could both stay in the house, together.”

“So what are you doing here, mate?” Dermot asked.

“Ha ha,” Ian growled. “She’s very forward for a woman.” Breandán snorted.

“It’s not funny,” Ian growled.

“Sure it is,” Breandán answered. “I’ve met Erin before. She can be a blunt little thing.”

“Blunt is not the word I would use to describe her.” Ian muttered.

“No, naked would be better!” Max snorted, making everyone but Ian laugh.

“Brigid was going to call you,” Dermot spoke after tearing off a chunk of bacon. “But she didn’t think you’d be home anytime soon.”

“That was the other thing we were talking about,” Breandán added, still trying to protect his plate.

“Why did you come home?” Dermot asked, getting up to grab the coffee pot. “You don’t come home unless...”

“Something’s wrong, I know.” Ian muttered and held his cup out for a refill.

“What happened?” Quinn asked. “It wasn’t something here so it had to have been something in Shannon.”

Jamie backed out of the kitchen, his arms loaded with plates. He set them on the table and everyone started grabbing all at once. Jamie chuckled and pulled up a chair next to Max.

“I was going to ask him that last night,” he laughed, grabbing some toast slathered in butter. “But he was too sloshed to get three words straight before nine.”

“And paying for it this morning,” Ian muttered, holding his cup up in salute.

“Are you going to tell us what happened?” Quinn asked. Ian sighed and abandoned the food. He’d suddenly lost his appetite.

“They’re transferring Patrick Flattery to a psychiatric hospital.” Ian whispered.

“What?” Quinn and Jamie nearly choked on their food as they shouted.

“Who the hell is Patrick Flattery?” Max asked, still eating.

“Is he that sick bastard that murdered a bunch of women seven years ago?” Breandán asked, seeing Ian grow pale.

“Wasn’t that your first big case as a barrister, Ian?” Dermot murmured.

“Aye,” Ian answered. “Patrick Joyce Flattery was tried and convicted for the rape, torture, and murder of five women. He was finally sentenced after six years of delays and appeals.”

“Why didn’t they fry the bastard?” Max asked, setting down his food. His appetite was gone as well.

“The death penalty was abolished in 1990.” Quinn whispered. “Though in this case, I wish it hadn’t been.”

“I thought they gave him a life sentence?” Jamie whispered. His usually ruddy face had turned a shade of green.

“He still is.” Ian sighed. “They had a hearing yesterday to argue that he was mentally unfit and needed care at a psychiatric institution. He won.”

“How?” Quinn whispered.

“They wouldn’t let me argue the case.” Ian answered, his head pounding. “I didn’t even know he had appealed for a judge’s decision. They thought I was too personally invested and let another partner handle it.”

“That’s bollocks,” Jamie growled.

“There’s nothing I can do now,” Ian answered. “The judge’s rule is final.”

“There isn’t enough security at a hospital for someone like that,” Quinn’s eyes had darkened.

“I know,” Ian hung his head. “Even the maximum security prison had me doubting, but it’s out of my hands now.”

“Why were you so invested that they wouldn’t let you argue?” Breandán asked. Ian looked up, his eyes full of unshed tears.

“Because Patrick Flattery raped and killed the woman that was to be my wife.”

Untitled Historical Romance

“That drunken peacock,” Vic muttered as he walked the colt in the courtyard. “A perfect run ruined by a spoiled heir.” The horse nickered in response and Vic snorted, giving him a pat on the neck.

“Such is our lot in life,” William’s voice, full of humor, called from the stable entrance. “But I will agree, it was a perfect run.”

“Aye, it was, wasn’t it?” Vic smiled, his anger dissolving. “He’s a bit stiff on the landing but with more practice I think he’ll overcome it.”

“Oh, aye,” William agreed, joining him. “You’re filthy now from taking that spill. Why don’t you head down to the river and wash up. I’ll finish cooling him off. Your tutor comes in an hour’s time.” Vic groaned but handed the reins to his father’s outstretched hand.

“I don’t see why I must be tutored, Da,” he complained. “It’s not like I need an education to train horses.” William scowled before sighing and giving him a smile.

“Your mother, bless her soul, would turn in her grave if you didn’t have a proper education.” Vic sobered immediately. His mother had died giving birth to him but he felt the need to please her. Even from beyond the grave. “Now go wash up and hurry back.” Vic nodded to his father and jogged out of the courtyard.

Vic sat on a large boulder near the stream, rinsing the mud off his arms. He really wanted to strip off and jump in but there was too great a chance that someone would see. He took a deep breath, as much as the cloth wrapped around his chest would allow and scrubbed at his arm. He’d taken his cap off, letting his hair, tied in a loose bow, free. Most boys kept their hair short and trimmed, but Vic never did what other boys his age usually would. He didn’t muck stalls without his shirt. He didn’t relieve himself in the bushes outside the stable. He certainly didn’t joke about women the way the other stable boys did.

A branch snapped behind him and he whirled around but a strong hand had grabbed his hair before he could fully turn.

“Get your bloody hands off me!” he cried out, the back of his scalp stinging with pain.

“That’s no way to speak to your betters,” the voice behind him growled, making him freeze. Marcus Maybourne, the next Earl of Chester, pulled again at Vic’s hair. The heir to the earldom wrapped his other hand around Vic’s waist, pulling him close. “What are you doing down here alone?” Vic swallowed, fear making a giant lump in his throat.

“My Lord,” his voice squeaked out and he cleared his throat. “I just came down to wash up before my lessons.”

“Yes, you were quite dirty,” the lord exhaled the word in Vic’s ear, causing him to shudder.

“Aye, my Lord,” Victor answered, trying to pull away. The lord held fast and Vic could feel something hard pressed against the small of his back. Whatever it was, Vic instinctively knew it was bad news. “I’ll just be off now, my Lord.”

“You may call me, Marcus, when we are alone” he murmured, his lips close to Vic’s ear. “It shall be permitted under the circumstances.” Vic held back the bile in his throat. The young lord smelled like whiskey and vomit.

“The circumstances, my Lord?”

“Yes. I left London quite unexpectedly and was unable to bring my entertainment with me. So I need a replacement.” Something wet slid against Vic’s ear and he jumped but the lord’s arms held him tight. “And you, Vic, shall be perfect as a replacement.”

“Perfect for what?” Vic struggled but the man was stronger than he looked.

“Ah, an innocent,” the lord’s voice pitched with excitement. His breath turned raspy. “It’s been a while since I’ve had such a new and unused play thing.” Vic stopped fighting as his heart slammed in his chest. He’d heard the stable hands talk. They had whispered that the young lord had unnatural tastes.

“Let me go you scurvy dog!” Vic bucked in his arms, knowing he needed to escape.

“Oh I don’t think so,” The lord laughed and shoved Vic to the rock he’d been sitting on earlier. His stomach hit the edge, knocking the breath from his lungs. “I might have to make you my regular entertainment for my visits to the country.” Vict felt his breeches being pulled at and he reared up. The back of his head hit the lord in the face and he stumbled back, his nose bleeding. Vic backed away in shock. The lord wiped his sleeve across his nose and got to his feet. He had a murderous gleam in his eye and something else that Vic could not place. “You’ll pay for that, boy,” Marcus growled. “I can play rough too.”

His hand shot out before Vic could duck and the back-handed slap sent him sprawling to the ground. Before he could crawl away, the lord was on top of him, tearing at his shirt.

“No!” Vic screamed, his voice high and loud. “Leave me be!” Suddenly Marcus’ hands stilled with a sharp gasp. Vic’s torn shirt had revealed cloth bindings, wrapped tightly around his chest.

“What is this?” The lord reached a hand down, easily ripping the binding. He pushed the cloth away, revealing firm breasts with rosy nipples. Vic screamed again, struggling to pull the scraps of cloth back in place. Marcus grabbed Vic roughly between the legs and the scream came again. “A woman?” he laughed as Vic started sobbing. “Isn’t that interesting?” He reached up to undo Vic’s breeches. “It makes no difference to me.” Marcus suddenly screamed in pain, falling to the ground beside Vic. William, brandishing a stiff riding crop, struck him again and again until the lord was quiet on the ground. Vic still lay on the rock, sobbing as she tried to keep her shirt closed.

“Victoria?” Her father removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shaking shoulders before pulling her into his arms. “I’m so sorry, child.” She sobbed in his arms, unable to answer. “Jaysus, I think I’ve killed him.” Victoria stiffened and peered under her father’s arm. The lord was still, blood seeping from multiple parts of his body. The vicious gash across his cheek showed the bone beneath the skin.

“He...” Victoria’s voice shook with her body as she shivered uncontrollably. “He was going to rape me.” She looked in her father’s face; it had turned white. “It mattered not if I was a boy or a girl.”

“Ah, Tori,” her father sighed, pulling her close again. “I tried to keep you safe from the horrors of this world. Your mother would have seen to it better.”

“Is he dead?” She squeaked the last word.

“If we’re lucky, aye,” William spat at the still form. “But sick and evil men are never easily rid of.” Victoria shuddered and William pulled her off the rock. “We must leave now, Tori, before he’s found.”

“Leave?” Victoria’s head was spinning.

“Aye.” William answered, his face paling. “I’ll hang for this, I will. Doesn’t matter that I was defending my own child.”