All About the Writing

Spring Fling Blog Hop!

Ahh, spring. The time of year when a woman's thoughts turn to a man with big muscle-y biceps, clad in mythological garb showcasing those muscle-y biceps.

Okay, I guess Thor, the Dark World really has nothing to do with spring. Wait. There was that frozen world which had to be vanquished, and that's pretty much what spring does to winter. So let's go with that, shall we?

I had meant to watch this in the movie theatre, because I knew it's epicness would be awesome to see on a huge screen. And by epicness, I mean Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. #ofcourse

I never made it to the movie theatre, but thanks to modern technology, I was able to rent it recently from B&N online. Even better, it allowed me to watch it on my laptop as many times in a 24-hour period as I wanted.

Still, my romance writer self craved something a bit more. I know it's an action-adventure movie, with a romance element thrown in. But if I were in charge, here's how I would change things:

• More scenes with Chris Hemsworth's shirt off. I truly appreciated the one little snippet where he was bathing, and then he stood looking at some kind of majestic scenic vista. I paused the movie at that point--to get a better idea of what he was looking at while his nekkid muscular back was to the camera, but I got distracted by what *I* was looking at. It would just be easier for everyone if there were a few (dozen) more scenes like that, without that caped costume blocking his magnificent musculature throughout the movie.
• More of Loki's voice. There needs to be tons more Loki, no matter what the movie is. Heck, even if he isn't a character in other movies, he still needs to be in them. When he first appears and says, "Hello, Mother", all while clad in leather and draped with chains to prevent his escape. . .well, that silky seductive voice just made crazy wild thoughts bounce all through my brain. And everywhere else. None of those thoughts were maternal ones. #obviously
• MORE kissing. Oh boy, is this movie deficient when it comes to kissing. I was forced to rewind and replay that last kiss with Thor and Jane, at least a zillion times. That improved the kissing-to-action ratio a bit. But there were plenty of missed opportunities for kissing, and I'm not even talking about me wanting to kiss Loki every time he uttered a word. I think at least 1/3 of the action scenes could have been changed to "action scenes". You know what I'm saying.

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Now let's talk prizes!

Make sure you go to the Hops with Heart site so you can find all the other great blogs to visit during this hop. Each blog has its own individual giveaway. There are also some great prizes to be won by filling out the Rafflecopter at the main site. So get to hoppin'!

I'm offering a $10 gift card to one random commenter -- winner's choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble or Starbucks. Just leave a comment about your favorite spring flower. You already know mine. It's Loki. Er, I mean Thor. . . uh, I mean both of them. Wait, that's a bouquet. Why don't you go ahead without me. I'm going to need to put some more thought into this.

Visiting Literary Lagniappe Today

I'm a guest at the Literary Lagniappe blog today. It's a great site that showcases the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of romance novels. I'm chatting about writing prompts, and how they helped with Lord Rakehell's Love. Stop by and see what I have to say. There's also a $10 gift card to be won!

Writing Process Blog Hop

I'm always fascinated with the writing process, because it's so different for each writer. Virginia Kelly invited me to participate in this blog hop--how could I say no? I couldn't! So thanks, Virginia, for giving me a chance to ramble on about one of my favorite topics. Without further ado, here are my questions, and answers.

1.       What am I working on?

Right now my primary focus is a Regency historical titled Lord Wastrel. Yep, that's him, over there. I'll wait while you have a chance to swoon over his cover. Okay, all set? This book has taken longer than I expected, partly because I had to set it aside while I finished writing, and then publishing, a few other books. It also got pushed aside because a novella, Lord Rakehell's Love, decided it should start this Curse of True Love series. Hey, I'm just here to do what the characters want! I'm just glad they still think I'm a necessary part of the process. :)

2.       How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I'm not really sure. I think the more popular books at the moment tend to be ones that have more angst and emotional drama. I write humorously-ever-after romance, so the characters do have emotional things to deal with, but it is done with more humor, less angst. I guess I'm a palate cleanser, so if you need to read something lighter between the heavier books, I'm your gal!

3.       Why do I write what I do?

I've always loved books with humor. I started writing Regencies a zillion years ago, primarily because I love witty banter between characters, as well as the humorous situations that arise from the stuffy rules Society imposes on the hero and heroine's behavior. I also write contemporary romances, and those are fun because some situations can only work in the modern era, and there is definitely a ton of humorous things happening in this timeframe.

4.       How does my writing process work?

Whew. How to answer this? It always involves a lot of staring out the window, and lately it feels like a ton of hand-wringing has been added to the mix.

The process actually changes from book to book, which can be aggravating, because just when I think I've figured out how all of this works, I realize that I've actually learned how to write the LAST book I wrote, not the one I'm working on now!

I'm a pantser, so I get an idea, or a scene flashes into my mind, and then I listen to the characters chat and I type what they're saying, like I'm an invisible court reporter or something. Then I have to figure out more about them, and what their story is going to be. Little snippets of dialogue or character development occur to me at the oddest times, so I scribble them on sticky notes or the back of envelopes I find in my purse.

It's a big messy process, and I always wish it was cleaner, especially when I have to slash and burn favorite scenes that no longer fit the story. *sob* But I love the fast-drafting aspect, and I've learned to tolerate the slow-revising part--because that's actually where I figure out a lot about the characters, and that's what intrigues me the most. I love when they make me laugh, because most times I only find out what they're going to say right when they say it! 

Okay, enough about me. Here are some writers who will be spilling their secrets for you next week!

Melissa Johnson

My favorite things in romance are often ghosts, time travel, historical settings, plots with amnesia, eccentric secondary characters, humor, and romantic suspense.  These characteristics describe what I love to read and I'm drawn to include them in my own stories. (So far, not quite all have been in one story, but it's close!)  I also put my love of writing and history to use in my blog and I have written The Historical Research Companion to Everything of Interest to a Romance Writer, a research/reference book.

I worked as a legal secretary in Washington, DC for many years before moving back to my small hometown in Northern Minnesota.  In recent years, in addition to my writing and my role as a mom to one, I returned to college for a degree in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology.

Lorraine Paton

I work in a hectic office by day and let loose my passion for writing romance by night! Lately I've been thinking of myself as a fairy godmother bestowing happily-ever-afters on as many people—er, I mean, characters—as possible. I love Alberta, where my contemporary romances are set, and I love the magic of love, so I'm currently developing a paranormal romance series. I can't imagine anything better than writing what I love.

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia Preston

Patricia Preston is a Southern author who writes historical and contemporary romance as well as humorous Southern fiction. Her publishers include New Love Stories, True Romance, Affaire de Coeur, Cloverdale Press, The Blue and Gray Magazine, Sea Oats Review, and Carina Press. She won William Faulkner Award for Short Fiction, the Lone Star Writing Competition for Historical Romance, and Harlequin’s World’s Best Romances Short Story Competition. Her short stories have been best sellers on Amazon and listed on Amazon’s Top 100 in comedy. She is currently working on a historical romance series set in Louisiana and a contemporary series, the Doctors of Desoto Springs.

 

Guest Post: I'm Hanging with S.J. Maylee

Today I'm a guest at S.J. Maylee's blog. She's a fellow coffee addict, and she's invited me over again to talk about whatever kookiness is in my head. I'm actually chatting about my newest release, An Encouraging Word, and how I got started with blogging five years ago. There's also mention of my first solo trip to NYC, and. . . well, stop by and see what else!

Sunday Snippet: LORD MIDNIGHT

It's not always easy being a highwayman. Sometimes the carriages contain people with their own designs on a charming rogue.

Gabriel swung wide the carriage door with an elegant flourish. "Come, my lovelies," he cajoled. "Join me under the stars this beautiful night."

He graciously assisted the pair of portly matrons from the carriage. Despite Marisa's belief to the contrary, Gabriel's gallantry was more often bestowed on ladies such as these, rather than youthful beauties.

Still, the women would suit his purpose just as well. He smiled in his most flirtatious manner, ensuring the moonlight caught his features. It was important they remember the daring man who accosted their carriage, with only a strip of leather covering his eyes.

"Charlotte, this is not the Irish highwayman you said has been plaguing the countryside. This is another one entirely."

Gabriel hid his amusement at the patent disappointment in her voice. "Ah, but he was a bit of a rough fellow," he said, "so I sent him off to parts unknown."

"I had so hoped to see him one day," the woman named Charlotte lamented. "Now it seems we have missed our opportunity, Harriet."

Harriet fixed Gabriel with a baleful stare, giving him a thorough examination.

Gabriel executed a magnificent bow, winking at her when he righted himself. "I trust I shall prove to be an admirable substitution."

Charlotte pressed a hand to her throat as if to keep her words to herself. Yet there was no mistaking the appreciative gleam in her eye. Nor was there a prayer of misinterpreting the bold glance Harriet shot him.

Gabriel could not contain his laughter this time. "I am fortunate to have won your approval, ladies."

"He is quite obviously well-bred," Harriet confided to her companion as if certain Gabriel could not hear her. "I detect a lordly air about him."

Gabriel bowed his head. "I apologize, but I must request your jewelry, much as it grieves me to do so."

"It's quite a civilized demand for our worldly goods," Harriet commented. She removed several strands of pearls from her stout neck and deposited them, lovingly, in Gabriel's hand.

"Indeed," Charlotte said, extending her plump hand so Gabriel could pry the diamond ring from her finger. After several tries, most of them designed by Charlotte to prolong Gabriel's need to hold her hand, he had the jewelry in his pocket.

"Farewell, ladies."

He raised Harriet's fleshy hand to his lips. At Charlotte's pout, he repeated the gallant gesture with her, lingering a fraction longer.

Gabriel led them to their carriage, and took his time ensuring they were comfortable inside. He closed the door, congratulating himself on a good night's work.

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