by Sarah | Jun 8, 2012 | Books, Masked Hearts, Writing
[flickr id=”6270890485″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Sometimes it’s love at first sight. Or, in a writer’s case, it can be love at first thought.
Sometimes there is a ‘getting to know you’ period. You meet them, ask questions – dive into their back-stories and learn what makes them tick – and that helps you see where the love is.
Today, eleven chapters in, I finally fell in love. The moment my characters fell in love – so did I.
Yes, I liked them before. Their back-stories wrenched at my heart and just added to my intense admiration for their existence. They were both strong and resilient and so very lost.
Still with all of that I still felt like I didn’t know them. Like all of our efforts were in vain because I just didn’t get them.
Today they stopped fighting their feelings and fell in love. At that moment we all relaxed and I got it.
Now I’m as in love with them as they are with each other. It’s a beautiful thing to have two characters like this.
I never thought that I’d have a Hero like him…I tend to specialize in the Alpha Male. Roy? Not quite an alpha male…but Minnie needs a lot more than that. He is a good man and perfect for her. I’m liking the not-alpha hero he’s turning out to be.
What’s your favorite ‘falling in love’ story? Was it love at first thought? Or did you have to work for your relationship?
by Sarah | Jun 6, 2012 | Books, Guest Authors, Guest Post, Reviews, Wednesday Writers, Writing
[flickr id=”6030468849″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]A few weeks ago I had the great joy of having Rachel visit (side note: I think she’ll be back in July for her new book launch!). I love having other authors visit and reveal their awesomeness.
I also love to read. A lot. When I get in ‘the zone’ I read many books super fast. Other times I struggle to find the time to complete books. I’m in one of those times now – so to counteract I sort of signed up for something that will force me to get a few books in a month.
You may have noticed by now that lovely large button in my sidebar for “Bewitching Blog Tours”. So excited to say that I’ll be working with them, having authors stop by, or just reviewing their books. I have a few in my TBR pile already.
So I can finally do what I’d hoped to do for a couple of months now. I’m officially designating the middle of the week as “Wednesday Writers”. Whatever gets posted on Wednesday will have to do with an author or a published book. I know many of them will be linked to the BBT – but some will just be friends I’ve made along the way that I’ve asked to visit. I’m not restricting these posts to just Wednesday (sometimes there’s just too much awesomeness to keep on one day) – but I will be using every Wednesday for it. Already June is filled, and I can’t wait to see what July brings.
So keep your eyes peeled. I’ll be having some great guests – and some great book recommendations coming up!
by Sarah | Jun 3, 2012 | All About Me, Blogging Life, Books, Changing Tracks, Indiana Family of Farmers, Indiana Fever, Indy Geek Girls, Writing
[flickr id=”5074952547″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]The past twenty four hours have been a whirlwind. A crazy whirlwind of amazing awesomeness that I can hardly begin to describe.
Seeing as this is blog specifically for that, I’m going to try. All of the awesomeness will see its own post (or two) this week, so for now I’m going to bullet point the awesomeness and then start prepping posts for the rest of the week to fill you up.
* First my husband and I went to Vintage Indiana (Thank you, Indiana Family of Farmers). We sampled, we walked, we ate and we bought. We discovered a winery we didn’t know about and brought home a few bottles of deliciousness.
* After that I met my friend and neighbor and went to an Indiana Fever Game. They put us up in the Legends suite and it was amazing. Good food, good drinks, good friends, good game (side note: we won!)
* The ever beautiful Casey had a phone that I could replace mine with after the loss I suffered last week. My Thunderbolt is gone, but I welcome in the Droid Bionic w/ open arms. We came this close to agreeing to a date to see Barry Manilow together…but alas she will be at Blogher. Such a shame…we could have been part-time Fanilow’s together.
* Did I mention the Fever game? Yeah, that meant I got to hang out with the awesomeness that is the Indy Geek Girls. The blogging community in Indy is Da-Bom’…and I loves me ladies.
* After all of that fun I came home and checked my email – to find an offer on my novel!!! I literally fell off the couch when I read the email. Yes, literally. Just ask Erik or Denver – they were there.
* Once I finally got to sleep – I woke up to find another requested full for my novel. I’d entered a pitch contest on a whim and a tiny prayer – & that publisher wants to see it too!
* Today I found out what was causing Erik’s phone to be painfully slow and it appears to be fixed. The man is very happy.
So today I’ve been sending out emails, fulls and updates to those that have my work. I’ve contacted a lawyer to look at the contract I received to help me make this difficult decision (I may not like the contract, or get the answers I want to my questions). Even though I’ve waited a very long time for an offer – I won’t just jump on it. There are a lot of points to weigh and I plan on weighing each of them carefully and with as clear a head as I can.
So as the week goes on, you’ll learn more about much of the events of the past 24 hours. right now I’m still a bit giddy so you get the info dump! More soon, I promise!
by Sarah | May 30, 2012 | Books, General, Masked Hearts, Writing, writing tips
[flickr id=”6065425471″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Real Life has has been insane lately. So many things popping up, so many events and activities to keep me and mine busy. It seems impossible that I have all of these stories just waiting for me to write.
Out of all of them, one has stood out. Masked Hearts, even though it is a brand new idea, forced its way to the top. I started writing it just over a week ago. At first the going was incredibly slow. Unlike most of my stories this one had not sat on the ‘drawing board’ as it were. In fact I started writing within a week of getting the idea.
This never happens.
The reason why is because I’m a free-writer. 95% of the time I just sit down and write. I worry about fine tuning and editing later. In order to sit down and write I have to know where the story is going.
For Masked Hearts I only had the most vague of ideas. I didn’t know the characters beyond their initial descriptions. I had an idea of a conflict, but it was far from clear.
The day I started writing I had my first “Aha!” The MMC’s backstory came into clear view as I finished reading the history of an event during the many years of Indian Wars in the US.
Yesterday, six chapters into the story came the biggest ‘Aha!’. The entire story’s plot line became clear. I knew all the moments of conflict, all the climactic moments, and the way the ending would come about.
So I dug in deep and wrote my ass off…
Only to learn in the middle of writing a chapter that two of my characters were gay.
Wait, what? When did that happen? What the hell? Not that I mind, but a heads up a little earlier would have nice.
Oh, and by the way, those three side characters you thought were footnotes? Totally instrumental in the ending of your novel.
Ah, crap.
Now I have all these extra characters with personalities. No, they aren’t becoming MC’s – but they have a bigger part than I ever expected in this thing.
Now to keep it within my word count goal of 50k.
I’m not good with the low word counts. Think I can make this one stick?
by Sarah | May 15, 2012 | Books, Changing Tracks, Shorts, The Muse, Writing, writing tips
[flickr id=”6818404384″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Thanks to some incredible luck, one beautiful person, and my attempt at a sparkling personality…I have a real editor critiquing my baby right now.
That frees up a lot of time for my muse to alternately panic (OMG will she like it?), and decide to plot up 5,000,000 more books.
Or maybe just two. ~insert the ominous for now here~
On top of the one book I’m in mid-rewrites of, and the other that she dreamed up a few weeks back.
She is insane (but we covered that already).
The problem is, that I now have 3 title-less stories wandering around in the realm of my imagination.
One of those stories has its blurb ready, I have the page built for it even – but no title to gift it with.
Changing Tracks took a long time to come up with – and the train isn’t even a huge part of the story, but the entire series titles revolve around the train. Of course those weren’t the original titles either.
I suck at titles.
Which sucks because I don’t feel like I can get much of anywhere without a title to round out the story.
Now just don’t get me started on the dreaded query…
by Sarah | May 3, 2012 | Books, Changing Tracks, Writing
I was made aware of this competition through some friends. My novel is complete, and with a gentle (or not) shove from them I decided to give it a try. I was thrilled to make their narrow signup window and get my piece into the fray.
Changing Tracks has been a labor of love – and I’m very proud of this book and what it has become.
This contest is a wonderful chance for writers, so please make sure you click that picture over there and go visit some of the other talented people in this competition!
Many thanks to those running this amazing contest: Cupid, Monica, Brenda, and Krista.
Now, without further ado, my submission to the Cupid’s Literary Writer’s Voice post.
My novel is a 94k Historical Western Romance called Changing Tracks. It’s set in the Colorado Territory, 1871.
*~*~*~*
The Query:
There is nothing simple about forgetting your past.
Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in DominionFalls. He makes time with his women, makes a killing gambling, and exerts his power how he pleases. One thing he never does is let anyone in.
Until the day she falls into his saloon bleeding and near death. He saves her from the pine box, and finds he can’t walk away. The problem is, if he lets her get close he could relive his past – and he worked too hard to forget it.
She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief that someone wanted her dead. With no name she keeps ‘Jane Doe’ and tries to carve out a life. She finds herself drawn to Cole, and they start a fiery relationship that sets the whole town talking. Their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – keep them from admitting the depth of their feelings, but they find they only trust each other.
Through the chaos of renegade Indian raids, an abandoned husband and her recurring nightmares they fight to find the truth of what happened to her. She soon learns that sometimes the truth is the last thing you want to learn, and she starts to think it may be best to leave the past where it is.
That past isn’t that willing to let go. A stranger proves that he’s willing to kill to keep his secrets safe. If Jane doesn’t remember soon, everyone she loves will be in danger.
*~*~*~*
First 250 Words of the Manuscript:
Drip. Drop. Drip.
A drop of scarlet hung from the ragged ridge of flesh. White bone poked out, muscle red and oozing around it. The red drip shivered before falling in slow motion into the growing pool of crimson.
White snow cradled the hand like a pillow in the middle of the tracks. Bile rose in her throat, threatening to spill over when a finger twitched.
Her eyes remained glued to the sight, knowing if she looked up she’d see him – the rest of him. Murmurs around her started to sink in, saying she’d pushed him. In an instant time raced forward.
With a gulp she lifted her eyes to the mangled mass of man left over, his blank stare ripping her heart out through her gut. A cold sweat broke on her forehead and she unleashed a terrified scream.
Wrenched deep from her soul, pulling on seven years of horror, suffering, anger, regret, and intense fear – a scream unlike one she’d ever heard. She wanted them to worry, to fear, to take her away and hide her from the continuing evil. They could kill her and it would be less painful than this never ending torment.
The murder had been her undoing and she welcomed the end, letting her screams echo until her voice grew hoarse and not ceasing even then. The sharp sting of a syringe followed by the burning heat of medicine is the only thing that brought silence. That ended the tortured scream.
