Harper Collins Presents:

Today I get the chance to sit down and interview Wendy Higgins. I found her, by accident, while stalking....I mean, trolling Twitter and I looked at her website and messaged her and she responded. I'm always surprised when authors respond to me (as I am sure people are, when I reply to them) Anyway, she agreed to do an interview with me, sight unseen. That was until I was at the Montgomery County Writers Association meeting last weekend (June 1). I was nervous but I dived in and although I don't swim, she was gracious enough to allow me to use my arm floats and answered my questions.

How did you come up with the characters in your novels?

            ~ I wrote this book for the 16-year-old me, so I thought about how I was back then—kind of naive about a lot of things. I wrote Anna, who I would have been able to be great friends with back then. And as for her counterpart, the male love interest, he was easy. I just thought of every sexy trait I could imagine—all   the attributes I lust for wrapped into one, lol. That’s Kaidan Rowe.

 <!--[endif]-->Are your books stand alone or do they have to read in order?

            ~ They definitely follow chronologically, so I do not recommend reading them out of order. The trilogy is one story following one girl, broken into three parts.

What is the biggest surprise that you have learned while being an author?

            ~ How long everything in publishing takes, and how little authors get paid.

You are with a big publisher; which is every authors dream.  What is the biggest surprise you learned while being with one of major publishers?

            ~ Publishers are a business. Yes, they make dreams come true, but they are looking at the numbers, primarily.

 <!--[endif]-->How did you come up with the concept of the cover for your first book?

            ~ The publisher came up with it. I had no hand in the covers. Thankfully, I loved it. It’s not exactly true to the events in the story, but the overall tone is spot-on.

How do you keep your audience wanting more?

            ~ It’s all about the romantic tension. ;)

 <!--[endif]-->Do you have dedicated writing time and when is it?

            ~ I write when both my kids are in school. This past year has been Mondays,       Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9-12. It’s not very much time, but my mother-in-law and husband have set times where they keep the kids for a few      hours while I write, so I get about 15 hours a week, give or take.

 <!--[endif]-->Do you need quiet or lots of noise when you write?

            ~ I’m totally ADD.  I need to be alone with no distractions, and it needs to be silent.

Tell us about your favorite moment being an author.

            ~ My favorite moments have been when I've received touching fan letters about how my book has helped people get through a tough time, like a high-schooler who’s had her heart broken over and over by a certain boy who she now realizes is no good for her, and a female soldier who had a difficult time acclimating          back into society when she returned home from Iraq and said my book helped her. Those letters have meant the world to me, and made it all worthwhile.

Give us the links to your social media footprint.

            ~ https://twitter.com/Wendy_Higgins

            ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Evil-novel-by-Wendy-Higgins/118348174915427

            ~ http://www.wendyhigginswrites.com

This blog is about books and shoes and writing. Tell us what are you most beloved pair of shoes, and book.

            ~ My black, flat, flip-flops. I’m all about comfort and ease.

            ~ Some of my favorites Young Adult books are Poison Princess by Kresley Cole,  and Obsidian (the Lux series) by Jennifer Armentrout.

Thank you so much Wendy and you all need to take a look at her website, it is amazing and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. 

What's your excuse?

I recently guest blogged on a friends blog. Mr. Camacho asked me to present a blog for him and of course I jumped at the chance.

After posting to it, I realized that I had every excuse, well not all of the excuses, but most of them; not to write. I thought about it and then said, well why aren't you writing. And the simple answer is; because I'm so very busy.

Ok, well not real busy but busy enough that I can't dedicate a lot of time to writing. Now if you read his blog you saw that I'm the marketing director of Intrigue Publishing; and that is a serious job. I need to make sure that I am helping all the other authors out there.

Then there are the grandbabies. Five of them and one of them is a girl. So of course I need to spend time with them and teach the boys how to protect their girl cousin and teach my granddaughter how to be a diva. (side note: she just turned one and she is a diva; all by herself)
Then there is the football season; need I say more? I mean, really? Seriously? How can I concentrate on writing when there is so much to do.

Oh look, there is another distraction. I need to wash clothes, clean the house, go shopping, do homework (did I mention that I am a FULL TIME college student).
Whew, after all of that now its time for me to check 'my status' on Facebook, and then there is the mindless 'tweeting' that needs to be done. But wait, I need to 'connect' on LinkedIn.
Ah, now here is some time that I can just chill. To sit on the porch and look aimlessly at the clouds forming.
Oooohh, look it looks like a big pillow. Will you look at the time; I need to run to Lowes to get some fall flowers before the store closes, in 4 hours!

Wait...did you hear that? It's me, pumping my brakes. Everything I just said (typed) is an excuse. I had at least two good hours to work on my novel and I decided to sit on the porch and look at the sky.
Ok, well sometimes we call it "inspiration" today I call it, an excuse.

So I am going to just do it! I'm going to sit down in this chair and start working on my novel...that is right after I re-arrange my sitting room.

Ooops, I'm doing it again; aren't I? I promise, right after writing this blog, I'm going to start working on my novel....
check back here in two days and find out what I really did with my free time.

What's your writing process

Today we welcome back "author in the making" Jade. She gives us a little glimpse of her writing process.
Grab your cup of tea, coffee or 'other' refreshment', sit back and take a read.

            When B first asked me to blog about my writing process I was shy about sharing.  Writing is such an intimate and private affair. No one had inquired about my process before. You only hear about a writer’s method once they’ve received a check and thus earned the title author.  I may not have a contract yet but I do have a set of writing rituals that include, setting time, a designated space, and outlining. All of these things allow me to get lost in the world I create.

             The idea for the novel had been in my head for years but not a word made it to print. To make it happen, I knew I had to set a deadline. I signed up for an Extreme Novel writing course at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. I signed a contract agreeing to write a novel in 8 weeks. For at least 90 minutes per day, 5 days a week I was committed to working on my book. Each Monday night we’d come together and share the good and bad about our journey. The writing advice was great but the best thing for me was the accountability factor. Knowing I had to check in with others about my progress was motivating. Not everyone is willing to plop down $270 to have others shame them into writing but having someone check you from time to time aides in production. I needed a strong support group and the leader of that team started with me.

            I set my deadline and writing hours. People could not reach me between the hours or 9:00am and 1:00pm I was unavailable. That’s my designated writing time. There are few exceptions but I do not answer my phone or do lunch between those hours Monday through Friday.

            I secure my writing space. There are certain rules that my beautiful husband and 7 year-old son understand. If I am in my writing room, you are not. If I am not in my writing room, you are not. That is sacred space designated for one purpose and that’s to write. I don’t go in there if I am not writing. I won’t even edit in that space. It’s that serious. I compose detailed outlines there and talk out loud to my characters. I talk to them using their inflections, accents and attitudes. This helps me create dialogue. I speak the way they do out loud so the words on the page will do the same for the reader. 

            Most importantly I allow the words to flow. Picking them apart is a far more painful process and comes later. I don’t worry about grammar I just let the words spew and keep in mind that I’ll clean up later. All inhibitions leave and I just express raw thoughts. Having an outline sounds rigid and stifling to some but knowing where I’m going gives me the freedom to have fun creating along the way.

Hardest Working Man I Know

Today let me introduce you to the hardest working author that I know. Austin S. Camacho is the hardest working author that I have come across thus far. OK, don't get in a huff; I said MAN...not woman. I can't give you all of the good stuff in one blog; now can I?
I met Mr. Camacho in June of 2009 at Borders in Waldorf Md.
(a moment of silence for Borders please)
Now back to our blog. He came in with his boxes of books, a tray of treats and a burst of energy.
What just happened? I thought to myself. I'm not suppose to be sharing my first signing. I wanted to stomp my feet and act like a three year old, but Mandy (store manager) assured me that I still got top billing. (prime location in any bookstore; being set up at the front door) while Mr. Camacho was relegated to the back of the store, by the children's books.
After witnessing, what I could only describe as a whirlwind of activity, I had to go back and see what was going on and what did I find?
I found a nicely draped table; I had no drape. A nice assortment of cookies; I had no cookies. He had books and was debuting his latest, Russian Roulette that very day. I had one book, Let Me Just Say This sitting on my table. And he had bookmarks, a nice display of colorful bookmarks; OK, I had bookmarks! So it wasn't a lost.
Then it happened. He smiled and talked to me.
Me, little 'ole me. First time author, first time book signing event. He spoke to me and gave me tips on how to keep folks interested. "Never sit down. I never sit down."
Since that meeting, I have been on panels with Mr. Camacho and I have been at events where he is the "Prince of the Novel world" and I am continuously in awe of him.
He puts out a monthly newsletter, he has a fan page on Facebook, he markets like no body's business. He is constantly asked to be on writer's panels and to speak to various book clubs and organizations. Did I also mention, he has a full time job!
Plus,I have it on good authority, that he has a new novel coming out this year!
If you want to know more about Mr. Camacho, pick up his great novels on Amazon.com or visit his website, www.ascamacho.com and you will get to know his characters, just as I have. You will also get to see just how hard working he is.

Author Julius Thompson and Swangin Webster 03/09 by One Karma Authors Lounge | Blog Talk Radio

Author Julius Thompson and Swangin Webster 03/09 at 6pm by One Karma Authors Lounge Blog Talk Radio

Make sure to tune on Friday March 9th for the PWP take over with Authors Julius Thompson & Swangin Webster.

We will find out about their novels and whats in these two talented Authors future plans in literature. 

Call in to speak with the host and the authors.

(646) 200-4542

MY TURN

Today I will feature new author, Nathan Seven Scott; author of "MY TURN: The Knight Affairs" which will be part of a trilogy.

Please help me welcome NathanSevenScott to my blog.

When I decided to write my debut novel My Turn: The Knight Affairs Trilogy, it was based on a dare. A dare to myself to see if I could commit to something and complete it within at least a years time.  Many people around me doubted that I could finish this seemingly daunting task, but I took a page from Obama and wrote "YES I CAN" on post-it notes and placed them in my bathroom, bedroom and on my desk at work.

My process was unique in it's design. I had amazing coaching from a writer named Khadijah. I was then reconnected to a very dear friend Karen Minors, Author of It Is What It Is. Karen challenged me by saying that my stories were like no other and that they needed to be told for a wider audience. Sure my stories were entertaining to those around me but people needed to read what exciting adventures I still had in store. Strangely enough once I had an outline, I found myself ready to go.

I suffered from laziness and writer's block for almost three months. I was so angry at myself for coming close to giving up until my writing coach pushed me to complete my work. She gave me a few suggestions and exercises and that amped me up to complete my book.

Thankfully, God blessed me with multiple talents such as the ability to do graphic design, video editing and a host of other things. Having these gifts allowed me to make an awesome trailer and an eye catching cover.

This is the first of three books and I have already embarked on a new series featuring a female protagonist. I have an exciting twist that will bring both words together taking me to another level in my media empire.

To take a look at my book trailer; please click here:My Turn book trailer

Becoming an author has changed my life and it's only the beginning.

If you want need coaching to produce YOUR BOOK, check out my website www.nathansevenscott.com or email me to find out more about my coaching services.  nathansevenscott@gmail.com