Emma Paul’s Top Ten Editor’s Notes

by Sarah | Sep 16, 2013 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing

One of the most difficult things about being an author is taking criticism. It’s one thing to get a critical review, because as authors we expect those. However, it’s quite something else to get critiqued and edited by your editor.

Your editor is an extension of yourself. What I mean is that he is the extra pair of eyes that will pick up on any errors you have missed. He or she will tell you exactly what is wrong with the story regarding, flow, plot, characterization and other technical parts of writing. Now unless you write a perfectly balanced piece every time, chances are you are going to need an editor to correct and help you polish your story for publishing.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not perfect. With each new book, I’ve gotten better thanks to the awesome editing skills of my Sensei.(the nickname I gave my editor.)

However the secret to getting that book polished up and ready for my readers is my ability to take the advice and constructive criticism my favorite editor gives me.

However, sometimes that advice comes with some very witty quotes, I have made a list of my most favorite quotes that my editor has given me while working on my manuscript.

Here are ten of them.

1. You are a writer not a painter. –in response to a scene where I described the man’s male part in as “a turgid work of art.” Ew….WTF was I thinking.
2. Cock hole IS NOT SEXY.—in response to a term I used for a certain part of the female anatomy during a love scene.
3. F___ing Really?—in response to my writing a toilet scene into one of my stories.
4. You gotta change this! Hahahaha—in response to my description of a “pearl necklace” given to my heroine… (heheheh)
5. Meat?  LOL!  No.—in response to me trying to sneak in that “male” term into one of my sex scenes.
6. I KNEW I wasn’t drunk.  This is a POV switch without making it obvious.—in response to something I’ve been trying to perfect and finally did! 
7. Petals? Really? Females do not have petals, Flowers have petals.—one of the many responses to horrible prose I used to use.
8. ???—in response to a piece of dialogue that made no sense what so ever.
9. WTF oh God no.—remember the “cock hole” term, this was in response to me trying to change it to Cock pocket. He also told me to burn that edit and never used it again. Heh…
10. Bwaaahaaahaaaaahaaaaa….Oh wait this is a serious scene?—he really thought it was a comedic scene, then realized I was trying to be dramatic and sort of over did it. There is such a thing as over use of adjectives in one sentence…Who knew?

 My Editor has a way with words at times but to me that’s what makes working on his edits more fun. After all if we can’t laugh at ourselves and accept our own mistakes, how can we ever become better writers?

*~*

| [amazon_link id=”B00CIKK6Y0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] |

On Corbin’s world women are desperately needed as Breeding-mates to keep his race from extinction. Having been betrayed by his former Breeder, Corbin has given up on ever having another Breeding-mate in his life.

On one of his trips to the hedonistic planet Azuri, Corbin runs into Princess Yani, a beautiful woman who calls to him in a way he can not understand.

Princess Yani hates her life, and the man she is being forced to marry for the sake of politics.

Fleeing the nuptial feast, Yani runs straight into one of the planet’s most popular dives, where sex and sensuality abound. There she meets Corbin and sparks fly. One night of bliss in which he takes complete possession of her seems to offer the possibility for escape from her marriage – until Yani learns Corbin’s deepest, darkest secrets and needs. Needs she isn’t sure she can fulfill.

Can Yani and Corbin find love together, or will Fate tear them apart, dooming each to to a dull, lonely existence?

*~*

Bio

Emma Paul lives happily in Connecticut with her husband, daughter and a very pampered Himalayan cat named Chyenne. She loves creating the fantastical tales that seem to manifest every second of every day within the confines of her mind.  Emma loves writing and sharing her imagination with anyone willing to read or listen to her stories. She is passionate about her writing and loves pushing the limits if her imagination. Erotic romance is her favorite genre. Combined with her love of fantasy and science fiction, she found her calling. Her entertaining tales are hot, fun and wildly creative.

Emma is currently published with Renaissance E Books and their imprint Sizzler Editions.

She is also published with Silver Publishing Inc.

Her Works Include,

Soulmate’s Touch– Erotic Paranormal Romance- Sizzler Editions (First book in the Gargoyle Soulmate Series)

Kaden’s Breeder – Erotic Science Fiction Romance- Sizzler Editions (First book in the Galactic Breeders Series)

Prisoner of Darkhaven – Fantasy-Erotic Romance Fairytale- Sizzler Editions

Personal Tutor- Contemporary Erotic Romance- Silver Publishing

Reviews,  What readers are saying about Emma Paul’s Books,

Prisoner Of Darkhaven,

“ With all of the shows and movies about the beloved children’s fairy tales, the Prisoner of Darkhaven offers an erotic flavor for a classic. Damien’s character is everything I think a demon would be in human form, and when his demon persona comes to the surface I was still able to see and feel the sexuality. Elise is a very headstrong and independent character who just happened to be in a bad situation. I loved that Elise didn’t shrink in fear when Damien showed his demon self or when the goblins were around. The sex between Damien and Elise is very hot, spicy, dirty…and did I mention hot and just plan old sexy as heck.”

“Prisoner of Darkhaven is a very fun book that will have you searching for your very own demon.”  –Just Erotic Reviews

Soulmate’s Touch,

“There is just one word for Ms. Paul’s Soulmate’s Touch…juicy!  From the first page to the last, it keeps the reader enthralled.  Soulmate’s Touch demands the reader’s full attention.  One skipped page and you’ll be lost.  It’s not often that you see this level of complexity in the erotic romance genre.  This felt more on par with something written by leading authors in the mainstream suspense genre.”

“Brava to Ms. Paul for reminding readers that erotic romance isn’t just about the bump and grind, but about the journey the characters take to earn their HEA!  Soulmate’s Touch was a joy to read and very deserving of a JERR Gold Star Award.”

–T.S. Peters, Erotic Romance Reviews

 T

Kaden’s Breeder,

“This story is a rocking 18+ read 🙂 A woman gets abducted by aliens from Earth, she is then cleaned and prepared to be in a breeding event. Stupidity she leaves the path made for the females to run on and ends up in danger, but wonderfully the man who decided to make her his came to her rescue 🙂 The man who rescued her is apart of a planet that has no females any more, so they rely highly on the breeder event to find fertile females to have their young. Talk about hot aliens, they are drool worthy in many ways 😀 God why can’t all males have those Dredlocks 🙂 You will see what I mean”

–Amazon Customer—Review by Beth

Top Ten Reasons to Write by author Kristy Tate

by Sarah | Sep 9, 2013 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing

Elizabeth George once said that she writes to stay sane. I do that, too. I also do it to keep everyone around me sane.
1.     Writing keeps me from obsessing. Here’s me when I’m not writing: Carol drops by with a pan of brownies. She looks like a teenager in that halter top. She says, “I brought these for your husband to thank him for helping me fix that broken window.” I say thank you, but inside I’m thinking I really wish she’d wear more clothes. I wonder what she was wearing when Larry was at her house, for how long was that? I can’t compare myself to her—I had six kids and she has a dog. Maybe my abs would look like that if I had countless hours to spend at the gym. Does she work out at the same gym as Larry? Why does she call him all the time? He doesn’t even like brownies. But, I love them. I bet she knows that. She knows that I’m going to eat this entire pan of brownies because now I’m so depressed and one or two or five brownies isn’t going to matter because I’m going to be divorced and single and fat. I better call Larry, although I just talked to him and he’ll be home for lunch in twenty minutes, I need to hear his voice.

 Here’s me when I’m writing: the doorbell rings but I don’t hear it because I’m deep into my story. Somehow Mercy has to stop Eloise from going on a drive with horrid Mr. Steele. What can she do—should she confide in Eloise? In the real world, my dog is pawing at me. No. Eloise is a blabber mouth. She can’t be trusted. My dog knows someone has come to the door and she pulls at my sock with her teeth. I shake her off, but she’s so annoying that I have to investigate. Someone has left brownies on my front porch with a thank you note. It’s from Carol, that darling girl from across the street. I consider the brownies and inspiration hits—Mercy will bake Eloise a pie laced with a draught that will make her sleep through her rendezvous with Steele. I put the brownies on the counter and save them for when Larry comes home for lunch. I hurry back to Mercy, Eloise and Mr. Steele, wondering how to make a sleeping draught.

(FYI- Neighbor Carol is fictional, used to make a point about my own lunacy and not a commentary on my highly respectable, modestly clothed and admirable neighbors or my good husband who always lets me eat more than my fair share of brownies.)

2.     Writing gives me someplace to put my head. As a mom, I do a lot of mindless things—driving, stirring, ironing, cleaning toilets—and while I’m doing these mindless tasks, it’s nice to have something to think about (other than my neighbor’s halter top.) I also love research. It’s like a treasure hunt that just keeps going. The internet is an endless source of information and if I can’t find what I need there, I try to think of people who might know and I call and ask them. No one has ever been annoyed. People love to believe that they’re experts and when I call with a question, they’re always happy to chat.

3.     Writing gives me hope. Remember how I said that as a mom I do a lot of mindless things? I don’t really enjoy most of them. I do them because they have to be done, but I’d really rather not iron, clean toilets and mop floors. I’d like to pay someone else to do those things, but since my husband makes several dollars an hour and I make pennies, I can’t pay someone to do those mindless chores that must be done. It wouldn’t be fair. I’ve promised myself that when I’m making several dollars an hour that I’ll hire a chore person. I hope to someday make enough with my writing to justify that expense.

4.     Writing gives me places to go. Remember how I said I love research? This summer I spent a day in Seattle visiting all the places that Laine and Ian would go. I walked through the neighborhood on Queen Anne Hill and took pictures of the turn of the century mansions. I stopped at Kerry Park and watched the boats in the harbor. And then I went to the University of Washington’s library, because that’s what Laine does in chapter four. I imagined her running down the steps and bumping into the girl with the smoothie. It’s like spending the day with very good friends.

5.     Writing gives me insight. I like to think I’m sensitive and intuitive to those around me, but when it comes to my own psyche, I’m clueless. Being a baby born late in my parent’s life, I grew up in a house full of teenagers and adults. If I ever lost my temper, I was subjected to ridicule. (Angry or not, I was almost always subjected to ridicule, but that’s a different post.) I learned to shut down my emotions and I’m pretty good at masking and avoiding them. Writing brings them to the forefront. I’ll unconsciously do things like name annoying characters after annoying people. I’ll usually catch the real life and fictional connections on the rewrite and make the necessary changes, because I’m sensitive enough to know it’s unkind and unwise to hurt even annoying people’s feelings.

6.     Writing introduces me to people. Through my writing, I’ve made friends with all sorts of people in all sorts of places. Because of the wonder of the internet, the world is a lot smaller. I have blog readers from just about everywhere. As an example, here is a breakdown of today’s international visitors to my blog:

7.     Writing helps me to connect with like-minded souls. This may sound like a repetition of #6, but it’s not. Avid readers are a rare breed and when I meet a like-minded literary soul, it helps me feel like a part of rare and unique breed. Here are the latest stats, from the Pew Research Center:

• 75% of Americans 16 and older read a book last year.
• The median number of books read by readers last year was 6; the average, pushed up by those always-reading outliers, was 15.
• The percentage of readers declined steadily with age, from 90% of 16 year-olds to just 67% of those 65 and older. Likewise, the percentage of readers increased steadily as household income and education levels rose.
• 81% of women read a book last year, but only 70% of men.

As you can see, if these numbers are to be believed, us bibliophiles are unique.

Here are three reasons for writing (according to George Orwell.) I like to think that none of them apply to me…but maybe they do.

8.   Sheer egoism. 
9.   Aesthetic enthusiasm
10.   Political purpose.

And that’s probably much more than anyone wanted to know about my psyche and why I like to write.

| [amazon_link id=”B005FCFHZ6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN | Smashwords |

Kristy is the author of many novels, but only six are published. Her debut novel, Stealing Mercy, was on Amazon’s historical romance top 100 list for more than fifteen weeks and spent two weeks as number one.   The Rhyme’s Library was a semi-finalist in the 2013 Kindle Books Award contest and Hailey’s Comments was a quarter-finalist in Amazon’s Novel Breakthrough Contest. Kristy studied English literature at Brigham Young University and at BYU’s International Center in London. Although a long time resident of Orange County California where she lives with her family, Kristy’s heart belongs in her hometown of Arlington, Washington, AKA Rose Arbor–the fictional setting of her popular Rose Arbor series.

Roxy Wilson Talks About Her Top Ten Heroes

by Sarah | Aug 12, 2013 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing

Roxy’s Top Ten Heroes for 2013

I’ve been reading romance stories since I was about ten or eleven years old.  First, there were the Sweet Dreams Series I gobbled up every week, starting with Barbara P. Conklin’s P.S. I Love You, and then there was Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High Series which I absolutely adored.  Of course, I graduated to reading more adult romance stories and now I’ve begun writing stories of my own, starting with He’s So Into You.

I know each romance story I’ve come to love is just that, a story.  Yet, I can’t help falling in love with the hero, no matter how flawed, gorgeous, brave, rich or even scary.. yes, scary, he might be.  If a hero is too perfect, or too-good-to-be-true, I wouldn’t dislike him, but he certainly wouldn’t tickle my fancy, because he would just bore me to death.

This year I’ve read dozens and dozens of romance novels and even though there are still a few months to go before the year ends, I’m going to share with you my Top Ten Heroes, so far.  So here goes:

1. 1.     Reluctant Hero – [amazon_link id=”B00C7Z1WWQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Captured by the Bodyguard [/amazon_link]by Dez Burke
   

I don’t think any other hero I’ve read so far tried to fight against the attraction he felt for the heroine as Cane Hutchinson did.

 2.     Long Distanced Lover – Marine Ever After by Heather Long

Paul Torres was a hero who showed Lily how good love could be, even from a distance.  Click here to read my review.

 3. Hero with Physical and Emotional Scars – Bargain With the Beast by Naima Simone

Because Xavier St. James was so badly scarred during an accident, he built a wall of hostility to protect himself from feeling emotional pain.  However, there was one woman who was capable of melting his heart.

4.  The Lousy Lover – His Right Hand by Silence O’Shea

In the thirty years of reading romance stories, I’ve never, ever met a hero who was so terrible in bed he left not one, or two, but several lovers dissatisfied with his performance.  Yet, you couldn’t help but love Mike Jasper.  Click here to read my review of this story.

 5.  Best Schemer – Persuasion Skills by Laurel Cremant

 Jaxon Grey wanted his woman on his terms, and he made damn sure he got what he wanted.  Boy oh boy, Jax was such a schemer, you actually rooted for him to woo and win Pepper Holts.

 6. Best Friend turned Lover – Give Me You by Tia Kelly

Nothing is sweeter than falling in love with your best friend.  And Donovan Sinclair was determined to prove to Mya that it is a real good thing when friends become lovers.

7.  The Compassionate Hero – Scarred by Jennifer Willows

Benjamin looked beyond Amelia’s physical imperfections and saw her beauty, which lie both within and without.

8.  The Techie – Jaded by M.j. Kane

It was Zachariah Givens’ competence in technology which allowed him to come into Jasmine Phillips’ life, and it was his love for her which kept him there.  Click here to read my review.

9.  Military Hero – The Santinis:  Gianni Book 3 by Melissa Schroeder

Gianni conquered every obstacle (age, ethnicity and educational background) which threatened to keep him from Kianna Jones. Click here to read my review

10.  Lover – Promises Kept by Erosa Knowles

Cannon was so adept in bed, Karyn yearned to make love to him over and over again. 

*~*

| [amazon_link id=”B00CWKHKTU” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | Bookstrand | SCP | ARe |

Blurb:

Being badly injured in a plane crash and feeling responsible for losing his fiancé keep Jordan Cooper from getting involved with another woman, but his best friend Caleb talks him into going on a blind date. He’s surprised that in a short time his feelings for Raina Abbott runs deep. Jordan wants more than just one night with her, but he has to convince her first.

Leaving an abusive ex and ending an unhealthy relationship with food still aren’t enough to help Raina Abbott overcome her feelings of insecurity, but her best friend Jayce convinces her that going on a blind date is the first step to boosting her self-confidence and feeling good about herself again. Jordan Cooper shows her that she’s beautiful, both inside and out, but can a date and one night of passion assure her that he’s really into her?

Excerpt:

“May I ask you a question, Raina?

“Sure.”

“I just wondered why you’re here with me.”

“Because you invited me to your room, remember?”

It was obvious she evaded his question. It was the first time Jordan noticed Raina wasn’t altogether comfortable. So why in the world is she here?

“You know what I mean. Why are you on this date?

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“You’re beautiful, charming and intelligent. I would think you’d have men lining up just to be with you.”

Raina laughed without humor. “The trouble is, the guys I know either don’t want to be romantically involved with a full figured woman or just pretend they do.”

“You’re telling me you’ve never been seriously involved with anyone? Never been in love?”

“What’s love anyway?” she asked mockingly, and then shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe it’s just the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”

“You think quoting Robert Frost is a satisfactory answer?” Jordan shook his head. “Be honest with me.”

Raina stopped swaying to the music and looked at him seriously. “Okay, you want to hear the truth? The truth is, I met a man who threw kindness my way, flowers, late night phone calls, the works. Within three months I moved in with him, much to the angst of my family. It didn’t dawn on me that he never took me anywhere, never invited his family or friends to our apartment, until I had invested so much time and effort in the relationship, I felt I shouldn’t leave him. He treated me like crap, insulted me, nothing I said or did met his approval. I became a chicken-shit, afraid of him, afraid of my freaking shadow, for god’s sake. I felt like such an idiot, because I didn’t even realize what I had become. Everyone noticed but me.”

*~*

Author Bio:

Roxy Wilson is a self-professed junkie whose excessive consumption of traditional and electronic books is legendary.

As a graduate with a degree in Education, she writes blogs which help readers to think critically about and appreciate poetry. In July, 2012, however, she decided to delve into the world of writing romance stories.

When she is not reading or writing, she spends her time cooking, listening to music and visiting the various islands of the Caribbean.

 Follow me on:

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/roxy.wilson.737

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/roxywilson17

My website/blog – https://roxywilson.wordpress.com/

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7094458.Roxy_Wilson