Tag Archives: fiction

May 7, 2016 · 10:17 am

Where ideas for stories REALLY come from!!

I need to share a recent Facebook page status with you all as a preface to today’s blog:

“Okay, so remember the other day when I told you about almost passing out at the gym because I hadn’t eaten anything before going? Well, here’s today’s Planet Fitness nightmare.

I’m on the treadmill, my iPod blasting in my ears and a really fast tune comes on, so I jack up the treadmill speed to match the beat of the music. Now I’m going fast and loving it. Then I remember that I should be moving my arms to the music as well so that I get a full body workout, so I start to pump my fists to the beat and I am in heaven. Well…

All of a sudden my fist connects with the earpiece string and – like a karate chop because I’m pumping my arms – I swipe it, the iPod jumps off the treadmill ledge, disconnects from the ear piece and hits the guy on the treadmill next to mine square in the center of his chest, and bounces. And I mean bounces. The universe couldn’t have seen fit to put some overweight out of shape slob like me next to me. No. I had to have Captain America next to me, all toned, and tan and hard bodied.

So, the iPod bounces of his substantially ripped chest and flies forward to land under the treadmill in front of his that has a girl running at a marathon rate on it.

So now I’ve not only maimed the guy next to me, but I have to ask the girl running like her life depended on it to stop so I can retrieve my iPod from under her machine.

I think this is the universe’s way of telling me I shouldn’t be going to the gym so I’m going to take a nap now. I just wanted to give you that I Love Lucy update before I lie down.”

I garnered sososososo many comments from people telling me that this is the way my hero and heroine should meet in my next book that I’ve finally relinquished and am going to write it.

So, the title of today’s blog – Where ideas for stories really come from!! – yeah, everyday life, people. Everyday life.

I have now answered that question for the last time EVAH!!!!

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Friends, Life challenges, love, research, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as Contemporary Romance, Exercise, fiction, I Love Lucy, Planet Fitness, Romance, Story Ideas, writer

March 15, 2016 · 10:48 am

Meta- what??!!

So at a recent NHRWA chapter meeting, this really cute guy named Mike came and talked to the group about Social Media and Internet marketing. Did I mention he was cute? He was also a treasure trove of technical info that, for a total tech-NO savvy writer such as me – opened my eyes to how valuable social media and the internet can be to someone in my profession.

The very first and most important thing we need as writers in today’s cut-throat market is a website that has key words and phrases congruent with “searches” that will bring people to our site. One piece of key info I didn’t know was that Google is responsible for 67% of all searches on the internet. That’s 2/3 of all – ALL – searches being conducted. As a romance writer I need to know which words or phrases are the most beneficial to get my site, my books, my name, the first thing to pop-up on a search.

This is invaluable information, folks, for any writer who wants to sell a book.

Another point he made was telling our group the power of Google Analytics. You can glean so much knowledge about your readers and your website visitors from this, and also who will be more likely to buy your type of book than another.

Informational gold, people. Gold!

I will admit this freely – I am a facebook junkie. Mike ( did I mention he was cute?) is a big proponent of using FB as a marketing tool. This, at least, I had some idea about! You can reach so many people through FB, it’s crazy. But crazy-good. One of the points I learned about FB that I had no clue of before this little lecture? You should always LIKE and SHARE your own posts. Right away, and then several hours later. So for instance, suppose I post this blog at 7 am. I should like and share it then and again at noon because the FB news line will roll with it, thereby getting people to see that “Oh, PJ liked this, let me take a look!.” That person may not have been awake at 7 am when I did the original post, so I missed out on a potential “looker” at that time.

Again, gold, people. Informational gold.

There were a whole bunch of other goodies Mike gave us, too many for me to list in a quick blog. But he has published books of his own on this stuff, so you click here and see what he’s published: Mike Dolpies. p.s. Did I mention he was cute?

Stuff like this is the reason I never miss an NHRWA meeting.

Now, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t hawk my own stuff?
Here’s the newest release:

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

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Blank, blocked, and bored….

Can you guess what today’s blog is about? Here’s a hint: it’s not Cookie Monster’s version of a dictionary filled with the letter B!

For the past three weeks, I have been in the throes of a blockage the likes of which I have never experienced before in my adult – or even childhood- life. NOOOOOO – get your minds out of the gutter and the bathroom! I have a severe case of writer’s BLOCK and it is driving me batty.

I would think this is funny – and by funny I mean hahaha funny, not “oh-shit-I’m-terrified-I’ll-never-wrte-again-funny” if I had nothing going on for the next few months; if I had time on my hands to just wait for inspiration to flow through my fingers, piped directly from my brain again.

But NO. I don’t have the luxury of time. What I do have are deadlines. 4 big ones, in fact!!! And no ideas…no inspiration…no insights. Nothing. Nada. Niente.

Even my dreams have been boring and uninspired of late. I have listened to many writers’ treatments to cure writer’s block. I’ve walked away from the laptop for a time; I’ve forced myself to sit down at it and write something, ANYTHING, just to keep my hands and fingers busy. I’ve taken a walk – too many, in fact. I’ve got shin splints. I’ve taken a nap; I’ve made enough soothing cups of tea until my teeth need to be whitened professionally, they are so stained.

I’ve read, watched tv, painted, cooked. I’ve had a manicure, pedicure, gotten my blonde hair dyed. I’ve gone grocery shopping, therapy shopping ( women will get this!) and cleaned my house until it glows like a binary nuclear assault has come. Oh, and I’ve procrastinated myself into a stupor and still – STILL – nothing.

So here’s what I’m going to do…….

Sorry, I fell asleep because I’m boring myself…. For the sake of discussion,( because, really? What else do I have to do?) how do you get through writer’s blockage if you suffer from it? And if you don’t – I hate you. Just saying.

While I wait for inspiration, at least I have a new release coming out on 3/11/16 that I can talk and write about. Here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from THE VOICE OF ANGELS and the buy links if you are so inclined….please be inclined!THE VOICE OF ANGELS and the buy links if you are so inclined….please be inclined!

Blurb

Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Excerpt

“Now for a check on the weather. Carl?”
When the monitor light changed colors, Mike turned back to her. “Well done.”
“Thanks for being so patient. I almost lost it for a second there.”
Her beautiful mouth quirked at the corners, and his own went drought-desert dry. He swallowed and ran his suddenly sandpapered tongue across his lips.

“You know, I read parts of your book last night as prep,” he said as she stood, noticing how long and shapely her legs were under her short green skirt. “I was taken with the stories and the details in it.”

“Thanks.” She glanced down at her wristwatch and then offered her hand. The shockwave electrifying through his body at her touch staggered him. A bolt of lightning, hot, fast, and bright surged straight to his core.

What seemed like confusion clouded her eyes as she looked at him. “I-I have to go. I’ve got to be across town by nine. God only knows what the traffic’s like. Thanks again for plugging my book. Tell Sharon I’ll call her soon. Bye. And thanks, again.”

Mike watched her bolt through the studio doors and was only brought out of his musings by the director calling him back to the news desk.

For the rest of the broadcast he was distracted by thoughts of her, resulting in him flubbing some of his lines and intro’s, something he rarely-if ever-did. How compassionate and warm her face had been as she’d told her touching story; the subtle fragrance of roses surrounding her; the deep coppery sheen of her hair as the hot, bright studio lights intensified its color.

By the end of the program he vowed he’d find a way to see her again.

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Filed under Alpha Hero, Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as contemporary romance writer, fiction, Fiction writer, The MacQuire Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press Author, writer's block

January 15, 2016 · 9:14 am

A visit with Kayden Claremont

I’d like you to meet CandyHearts Romance author Kayden Claremont, author or RED HOT. I wanted to get to know her a little better and she answered a few questions for me today. You can read an excerpt of her new Candy Hearts release RED HOT below, and remember to enter the WILD ROSE PRESS RAFFLECOPTER at the end of this blog for a chance at a KINDLE FIRE.

Here’s Kayden:

What drives you to write?

The characters. I know that sounds crazy but it’s true. Since I was a kid characters haunted my brain. They won’t leave me alone until their story is finished. Then there are more characters wanting me to tell their story. Even when I decide to quit, and we all do, within hours I’m typing again.

What genre(s) of Romance do your write, and why?

I write Paranormal Erotic Romance. Paranormal because that’s the geek in me. I’m labeled erotic because the characters like having sex, and romance because I believe everyone and thing deserves to be in love.

How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP?

Red Hot is set in a western theme park. The family went to Arizona and we took a day trip to Tombstone. I fell in love with the idea of spending my day reenacting the Old West. I wanted to pack up and move there, but my husband and the kids didn’t like the idea. This story just blossomed in my mind while I was walking around this fascinating town.

RED HOT

Blurb:

Treena Stanton, artistic coordinator of Sierra’s Cowboy Theme Park, wants to exact revenge on Clayton Wagner. She had a crush on him in school, but he never acknowledged her existence. Revenge is sweet but not as sweet as the pleasure of his touch.

Strategic accounts manager, Clayton Wagner lost a bet and has to work the next twenty-four hours at his buddy’s theme park. But when his “boss for the day” with mouth-watering curves demands he wear a cowboy costume, all he can think about is finding out what’s under her petticoat. But when the truth is revealed about their past, will the sparks of passion fizzle or burst into Red Hot flames?

Excerpt: Treena smiled at him. How could she not smile at that head of thick, black hair and those mahogany-colored eyes that had driven all the girls wild in school?

Clayton had been the captain of the football team and Treena had been–well, totally invisible to him.

She stood, straightened her shoulders to make her C-cups seem bigger, moved her hand down her navy skirt to accentuate her hips, and pointed to the costume. “No. I’m not kidding.” She took a step closer, tucking her long, red hair behind her ear as his spicy aftershave enticed her. “You applied for a job at Sierra’s Cowboy Theme Park and you’re confused about working as a character?” Darting her tongue across her bottom lip, she waited for her words to pierce his pride. “What kind of work did you think you’d be doing here?”

He tensed, as every fiber in his masculine body screamed not this. Satisfaction danced deep inside her. Even in his Italian suit, she could see that he was still athletic, with muscular arms and thighs. Clay still made her pulse race.

By the way he looked at her, she could tell she still had no effect on him at all. He stood inches away from her, looking her right in the eye, and hadn’t recognized her. Should she wave? Chant the school’s victory song?

Buy LInks:

Amazon The WIld Rose press

About the Author:

Kayden loves sexy, well-crafted stories of lust and love. Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps. When she is not crafting erotic romantic stories, she can be found crocheting or making jewelry.

Kayden is a member of Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers, and Writing Community of Durham Region.

She hopes you enjoy her other books, Hell’s Bounty, and Timeless Passion, all published by The Wild Rose Press.

Kayden loves to hear from her readers. You can find her here:

Website/ Blog/ Twitter/ facebook

Enter to win a KINDLE FIRE courtesy of THE WILD ROSE PRESS clinck the http://link

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Filed under Candy Hearts, love, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, Uncategorized, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as fiction, Kayden CLremont, red Hot, Romance, The Wild Rose Press

December 8, 2014 · 10:50 am

As a writer, what are your favorite words?

I wasn’t a normal kid. By that I don’t mean I was abnormal. I didn’t have horns; wasn’t born with three eyes, or two hearts. I experienced the same childhood illnesses and complaints other children did and went to school on the correct chronological spectrum.

Where I was different, though, was in the material things kids want.

Growing up, children my age would ask for Christmas and birthday presents like a new bike, or an Easy Bake Oven. Barbie dolls were big, as were roller skates. When it came to writing out a Christmas wish list every year, I typically had three items:

Rock’em Sock’em Robots
Books
Pencils and paper

I was never going to get Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots, my mother explained, because that was a present for boys, not girls. Hey, this was the ‘60’s. People were still unbersexist and not afraid to talk about it.

But I did get the books I asked for and the writing instruments. My favorite present when I turned 8? A Webster’s Dictionary.

See? Not a normal kid.

Even as a child I loved words. Words lived in dictionaries. Words led to sentences, which turned into pages, then chapters in a book. And I loved books. More than anything.

I used to try and learn a new word everyday after I received my dictionary. Words like escarole and calliope; diminutive and xanthene. These wounds rolled off my tongue, harsh and alien at first, but after practicing them a thousand times, they were familiar friends.

So, with all the hundreds of thousands of words in our language, which are my favorites?

If you ask a parent “which child is your favorite,”what response do you get?

If you ask a chef what is their favorite taste, or flavor profile, what do they tell you?

Can an ornithologist choose their favorite bird? Will a philatelist be able to select a favored stamp?

My response would probably be the same as these: I don’t have a favorite because I love them all.

Words have power. They have depth. The can signify courage, fear; describe emotions and colors. They can make you think of a thousand reasons “why” and answer a thousand more times “why not?”

As a writer I use words to tell a story. But I use them for so much more, really.

Here’s a quick story: John meets Mary, falls in love with her, and they marry. Eleven words that tell a story. None of the words are repeated, all but two are monosyllabic, and yet they complete a circle – beginning to end.

It should be enough. But you know it’s not. How did John and Mary meet? Why did they, with the millions of other people on the planet to choose from, fall in love with each other? When did they marry? Who are their children? Their families? What do they do to make a living? All of this is the actual story I can tell with – you got it – words.

Quite simply put, words make me happy. I like reading them on the page, speaking them out loud, hearing them, learning them, using them and playing with them.

I can’t chose a favorite. It’s impossible for me. But then, maybe my favorite word is…words.

Tag Archives: fiction

Where ideas for stories REALLY come from!!

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Meta- what??!!

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Blank, blocked, and bored….

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A visit with Kayden Claremont

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As a writer, what are your favorite words?

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