On Writing & Publishing by Robin D. Owens

Personal notes on writing techniques, writing a novel, my writing career and threading your way through publishing a book.

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Location: Denver, United States

RITA Award Winning Author -- that's like the Oscar, folks! Futuristic/Fantasy Romance and Fantasy with Romantic Subplots.

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Friday, October 31, 2008

Touring -- The Darkest Touch

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THE DARKEST TOUCH by Jaci Burton

He’s a hunter, a savior, a seducer.


And she just can’t get enough…

THE DARKEST TOUCH

Ryder. The man was just as sexy as she remembered him:

Tall, lean and dangerous, a demon hunter with the body of a god…

But archaeologist Angelique Deveraux has little time for lust. She’s been hiding a gleaming black diamond, a prize everyone wants—including Ryder—and now she’s running for her life. Hot on her trail is Ryder, a legendary demon hunter she desires but can’t quite trust, a man with an insatiable need for danger and a few dark secrets of his own…

As sparks ignite between the rogue hunter and his latest prey, Angie’s world is rocked again when her twin sister vanishes, stolen away by the same dark forces stalking Angie and the black diamond. With Ryder offering protection— and more —suddenly a woman who’s never trusted anyone is falling for a man who isn’t afraid of anything…except losing his heart. Now, as an all-out demon war erupts and Angie’s family secrets unravel, Ryder’s demon-hunt and Angie’s quest to save her sister are about to collide. And when they do, it’ll send these two wary hearts on the wildest adventure of their lives—and maybe even save humankind in the process…

Excerpt: http://jaciburton.com/thedarkesttouch.html
ABOUT JACI BURTON

Jaci Burton was born and raised in Missouri but now lives on an acre-and-a-half in Oklahoma with her husband Charlie and five unruly dogs. Jaci loves to write about passionate relationships with sometimes stormy outcomes but always a happily ever after.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

NaNoWriMo

I've decided to join National Novel Writing Month this year. I like writing in the same room as other people. The synergy is great.

So, if you're on, feel free to buddy me.

May you enjoy all your friends today.
Robin

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

First View

That took my breath last year.
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May you have a wonderful breathless moment.
Robin

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I'm Here!

Have finished critiquing and am about to take the first walk on the beach. Feel fabulous.

You should too.
Robin

Up -- Running Late

Up and running late, have about an hour to do last minute packing and cleaning I didn't do while I had the time. Smooches to you all. Will post photos of SC and the beach!

May you enjoy the sun or the shade in your life today.
Robin

Monday, October 27, 2008

Monday October 27 -- Backups and Story Magic

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All right, I should be cleaning but I've been messing around on the computer all morning. I scanned some old handwritten notes from my last story magic session with my friends a couple of years ago for the urban fantasy, and got some things transferred from this desktop to the laptop.

I have several gmail writing accounts, one is for my personal backup use; one can be accessed by my editors and a couple of friends where I upload rough drafts, edits, proposals etc. -- "just in case." One is for writing/promo stuff like RWA conference proposals...and all can just be leaking all over the place. Anyway I double and triple backed up so I can access stuff online if anything, god forbid, happens to the laptop.

I've decided to take baby, but to pack her, and my heavens the amount of cords I have! Most of them will be packed, too. The camera (and both instruction booklets) will be coming with me in the laptop case....

Urgh.

So, I probably will write just before my trip tomorrow.

Have fun!
Robin

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Mile Hi Con

Well, I'm exhausted. I did pick up a couple of pieces of art, one for my upcoming neice...I think her mother is decorating the room too ... blah ... so it's going to her for Xmas, she should have arrived by then. ;)

Panel on architecture went well was interesting if not especially lively. Reading went VERY well, nice amount of folks showing up for Jeanne Stein and me, and the software panel went so-so since it wasn't advertised.

That's it, cleaning and getting ready for the trip tomorrow.

May you be pleased with yourself.
Robin

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Excerpt from Sorceress of Faith

At Improvocation at Mile Hi Con we did an exercise that I used in Sorceress of Faith, so here it is:
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"Next test," Bossgond said, raising his hands, palms vertical again.

Marian didn't think she could twitch a finger, but managed to tilt her hands up from her wrists.

"To see how well we will do as Circlet and Apprentice," Bossgond said.

Marian suppressed a grimace. She knew the word "apprentice." It made her feel like she was ten again – maybe younger, just starting elementary school– though, she was a beginner at magic.

She didn't even have the basic socialization of any child brought up in this culture – what constituted rules of magic.

But Alexa seemed to have managed a position of high status, and in a relatively short a time, if Marian's recollection of the coat Alexa had worn in the vision was right. It was last winter's jacket, so she would have purchased it no earlier than the fall . . .

A sting against her palms brought her back to find her teacher frowning at her from under silver eyebrows. Her cheeks flamed. She'd let her attention wander! Oh yes, just like a kindergartner. Heat flushed her neck, too. She'd disappointed a prof – not good. She prided herself on being an exceptional student.

So she dipped her head in apology. "Excusez moi."

Bossgond nodded solemnly. "Attencion," he said.

She nodded again, kept her gaze fastened on his face, her mind on what would come next. Her stomach tightened. She hated pop quizzes. How could you get a perfect score without practice?

"Follow me," Bossgond said. He moved his hands far apart, cocked his head.
Intent on him, she moved her hands apart, too. Then he began gesturing, doing odd things with his hands, arms, face. Marian mirrored him, watching. Finally, he returned to his original position.

"Now you move and I will follow," he said.

This was the strangest activity Marian had ever done with a teacher. Tentatively she set her hands together as if in prayer. He did the same. A little bolder, she tilted her head, grinned. He did the same. So they continued, Marian leading, until he said "Fini."

When her eyes met his, he said, "Now we move together, but neither of us leads."
That sounded very strange. So she watched him and when he moved his hands a little she followed, but leaned to one side, and he did so, too. It was . . . . balance.

More than that it was a connection, knowing how they should move together, and in her mind she began to hear a stream of musical notes weaving into a melody. A couple of minutes later, they brought their hands together, palm to palm, and a huge flare of energy burst from her, dazzling her with its lightning brightness, its orchestral chord thundering in her ears, her mind.

She spun free. Suddenly she was looking down on her body, hand-to-hand with Bossgond, in a round tower room. Then she was in the room above them, where she saw the star pentagram that had brought her. She rose above the tower to see a large island, the green coast of an unfamiliar land, then drifted even higher until she saw how the world curved.

Free.

Terrified.
********************************************************

May you have a productive day.
robin

Friday, October 24, 2008

Mile Hi Con Flier

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Enjoy your weekend!
Robin

Writing Software -- Janice

Janice, most of these programs are importable/exportable to word processing programs. Only a couple include word processing systems of their own, Power Writer, the one I'm continuing to explore, is one of those.

Enjoy your day,
Robin

Mile Hi Con - Day 1

Today is the beginning of Mile Hi Con. I need to be there at 5:30 for Improvocation, warm up improv games that get the con off to a good start! I did my flyer to put up, and will attach it here a little later so that you all see it.

I've had some health issues with Tommy, so that's sucked up a lot of my time and I'm going to really hit the writing software thing hard today (and maybe go vote since I'll be away). We have a very long list of ballot measures this year, and a couple of races that are close besides Pres.

For the first time ever, Colorado is a swing state which amuses us all.

Anyway, I might not be spending much time at the con this year just because I have to get ready for SC, and work on the worldbuilding seminar (or get some notes out of ones I've given and ones I've gone to). The seminar on writing software will be at 11 am tomorrow and my signing at 1. Sunday I'm on a noon panel regarding architecture (and I may take a copy of our mystery house).

May you enjoy the anticipation of the weekend today.
Robin

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Camera Working Slightly

Finally got the software installed and downloaded to the laptop. So here's one. Haven't read BOTH books to figure out how to get more than 72 dpi, but that may be in using their imaging software and not Fireworks, which is what I work with.

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May you enjoy the season of your day.
Robin

Rules of Magic

I did a seminar on this, on writing fantasy, and I'm thinking about this as I'm working on my writing software seminar (banging out rules of magic for the new proposals) and my worldbuilding seminar next week (eeeeekkkk).

Take a book of evil magic spells. This can work a couple of ways. Is the book itself negative, does it have nasty vibrations? Or is it only a compendium of knowledge, holding spells but vibrationally neutral? Do the spells make it evil, or does it carry the vibrational energy of those who have used it -- evil mages?

If the book itself gives off negative energy, everyone who is sensitive to it will react to it.

Interesting exercise, right?

May you enjoy mental exercises today.
Robin

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Our Outline is Better than YOUR Outline! -- Writing Software

Writing software. Like I've said, I've been working on this seminar (1/2 hour). And I'm basing it on my work I did in 2003 and the review site above.

I bought Dramatica first, after hearing interesting things about it and doing a long 3 weekend session with the download demo, and used it first, and use it a couple of times a year. A friend had demonstrated Writers Blocks for me earlier.

I also bought Power Structure and Story Base (and Inspiration) and Truby's Blockbuster. Of the new programs on that top 10 list since 2003, I've purchased Write Way (last year?).

So that leaves some of the others to take a look at, and play with the download demos, if possible.

I worked on Power Writer yesterday and made notes before it froze my machine.

I messed around with StoryBase for a while, a good brainstorming thing but a little lacking in the fantasy genre...there was no "Tage (hero, son of a dryad and satyr, full blooded LightFolk) convinces Jenni, his ex-lover (half-blooded LightFolk and human) to go on a mission to .... stop the development of the incredible evil." It did spark an idea for who the antagonist is, though.

But back to outlines. Power Structure is a story development, outline software. So is PowerWriter (going to trudge on with the tutorial), and Story View is too -- complete with I. A. etc.

If I had to use this outline structure to write my book, I'd stop writing. I can't conceive of anything so boring as filling in the same bits over and over again for each chapter, or even each act -- opening hook, conflict, particular subplot to be explored, major plot to be advanced, characters in the chapter. Or even writing the chapter and marking off the points -- WE'LL KEEP TRACK OF IT FOR YOU, ISN'T THAT GREAT! Urgh.

So I never used Power Structure (and the manual didn't quite match the tutorial which was frustrating), though it did have this cool story-tension graphic.

I'll continue with the PowerWriter and Story View demos to take a look and see if there's anything interesting, and what the differences are, of course, but I really don't think I'll be buying them.

Then I'll brush up on Writer's Blocks, and maybe peek at Dramatica. I think I have the beginnings of Jenni and Tage's story on it already.

May you enjoy your work today.
Robin

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Favorite Quote

I've been thinking about what is my favorite quote, and I think this is it:


First you jump off the cliff and you build wings on the way down. -- Ray Bradbury

May you enjoy the flight.
Robin

Monday, October 20, 2008

D'Marigold Residence

Like I said in one of the comments, I've used pale yellow a lot in the Heart books regarding Residences (ok, currently sitting in a pale yellow dining room...all the downstairs floor of my house is pale yellow except the back porch which is panelled.

So I've decided the D'Marigold Residence will be peach, and again, it will be on a stark type cliff and no mountains in the background.

Once again, I do NOT know the photographer or Lake Como villa shown, anyone who gives me that information will get a gift....

Here's the tinkered version...of course it's a nasty spring and not summer...

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May you enjoy your hobbies today.
Robin

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Finessing mistakes in print

Well, you can't fix them, so they must be finessed. For instance, a mistake I heard a lot about was Saille's (Heart Dance) HeartGift stated as a perfume ball in Heart Quest and a thimble in Heart Dance.

I "fixed" that between the trade paperback and mass market edition of Heart Dance, saying the thimble was embedded in a perfume ball (semi-solid perfume is what I'd envisioned) that melted away as it made the rounds of Druida.

This morning I realized that I've screwed up (a little) Laev Hawthorn's heritage on his mother's side. In Heart Duel I say his mother was a Grove. In Heart Fate, I say his MotherSire is an Oak. So, I'll have to do a little dancing around when it comes to his story. If I could, I'd change Heart Duel, but that is out of the question. Meanwhile I need to get it straight in Heart Fate.

May all your ducks line up nicely today.
Robin

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Do You Know This Residence? Or Photographer?

This is a Villa on Lake Como in Italy, photo taken by someone unknown. I DID check with the magazine publisher (tour group), and they had no information on the exact house or photographer. I've done some internet searching, but have decided any more will be just as fruitless as the previous four times. ;)

Anyway, it is the current setting for Heart Change, but sits on a rocky cliff. I've also added a couple of wings.

AND FINALLY I HAVE MANAGED TO REINSTALL MY SCANNING SOFTWARE (sort of), the driver I installed from the website still asks me to install from the disk, but if I keep hitting, cancel on the frustrating little blue boxes BEHIND the hp logo, it will work. Sigh, but better a work-around than nothing.

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May you be pleased with yourself today.
Robin

Pantzer 8-8A through 9B-bit

I've been writing more or less chronologically, but haven't been putting the scenes together in chapters or courier new. So now that I'm pondering going through all of day 3 or 4 (losing track here, too), I figured it was time to sew them together.

This always takes time, usually a day or so, and I usually get little "wordcount" out of it, so I put it off until it really needs to be done. So. I have 8 working, and 8A through 8F-Revised 2. And 9A and 9B-bit.

Probably at least 2 or three chapters.

At a conference I heard another writer say that when authors got together they always talked about two things: the writing process (which is unique to each one of us, and maybe unique to each story) and the publishing business. ;)

May the process of your life be satisfactory today.
Robin

Friday, October 17, 2008

Writing Software

A few years ago I worked hard on a seminar (and spent mucho bucks) about writing software. RWA didn't choose it and I did a seminar at RMFW.

Well it's now on the program for Mile Hi Con, next week. Problem is, writing software ages fast. So I'm doing more research... I still have Dramatica, Power Structure and Truby's Blockbuster. I occasionally use Dramatica for plotting.

More on that later.

It's hard to believe that I'll be in Isle of Palms in a little more than a week. So much to do before then! Mile Hi Con (on 3 things), get ready for the Master Class, and make sure the cats are ok. Tommy is on medicine twice a day and a yogurt diet. I have lined up my regular sitter, but I still worry.

That's all for now, since I have a full day -- writing and outing with Mom to corn maze and dinner with friends.

May your Friday go smootly.
Robin

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Printers, Dreams, and Meanding Plots

I think one of the first entries on this blog was about my printer. A Brother *shudder* I will never buy another Brother ANYTHING.

I am happy with the printers I have now, HPs, EXCEPT the effing yoyo who spent time on the phone with me really screwed them up royally.

And, I was told, that HP products aren't set to work with wordperfect.

Urgh.

So there will have to be a Great Unearthing of the office to find and re-install the software.

I also think the hp stuff (like Update Now!), hangs my system when starting.

So, I suppose I am grumpy today. I had a dream this am that I boarded a bus (haven't commuted for a while), and all this STUFF, I'd left a while back was on the seat, so I scrambled to get it together. 3 umbrellas...a briefcase in the precise shade of green I loathe, forty-five bucks (in the denomination of a forty-dollar bill and a five)...I guess the subconscious is not liking the writing out of order. I had anticipated "two weeks later" but I've just set sex up for the afternoon, so it looks like I may be hanging around day 3 forever, too.

Or maybe I don't know what I am doing with this book, and can it possibly be interesting? Well, there's a lot of interaction. Not much angsting about what would keep our lovers apart (he has the problem and don't think of it much). Not a whole lot of action. Sigh.

Better follow my own advice to just write it and shake it out later...

I haven't gotten my wordcount done for the day, but I have made the (lower) wordcount for the week. So that pleases me.

May you know what you're doing today.
Robin

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Waking with Scenes

Before I got up this am I thought about Heart Change and what scenes I'd like to write. For the last couple of days I've given myself permission to write out of order..mostly because I'm going to have to go back to HeartMate and other books to look at Passage info (and make sure my Celta World personal notes are up to date), and to Heart Duel to check on T'Hawthorn's Residence Den and his mannerisms... anyway, I had a couple of scenes in my head, with snatches of dialogue.

So I got out of bed, and putting the darn thing down, esp. the parts I HADN'T thought deeply of but had to be there, took an hour and a half. Whew.

The cats wanted more food, they wanted petting, they wanted to know where the sun had gone (again), and why it was so much colder and wetter outside than last week.

Currently they are napping on the warm waterbed.

Now I have to take care of promo errands and starting to research my 1/2 hour tight focus on writing software for Mile Hi con, and reading stuff I have said I would read.

May you have an imaginative day,
Robin

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Ladies -- First POV in a Novel

In a comment a while back, I spoke about why I chose (or they chose me) to open with the men's POV in the Heart Books.

Now the women:

Heart Duel: Lark Hawthorn Collinson, she was a Dr. awakened by a STAT, which is a hook, and her life would change the most. I did originally open with Holm talking to his parents, but that isn't as dynamic a scene as life and death and First Meet.

Heart Dance: Dufleur Thyme. Once I got the line "This experiment with time was not going at all well," I couldn't let it go and wanted it as a hook. She's the one most against change.

Heart Fate: Lahsin Burdock D'Yew (man, the spell checker is hating this). Both Lahsin and Tinne have very intense scenes (warning, and Tinne suffers through several chapters, things just keep getting worse...). I'm not sure why I chose Lahsin except the scene came to me and it IS more uplifting. Like I said, Tinne's fate just plain deteriorates.

Heart Change (current title) -- Signet D'Marigold. I may change this because she is depressed and it isn't good to start with a depressed heroine (at least she isn't suicidal anymore -- that really is bad). But the scene with Cratag is, again, a talking scene, so it's not very hook-like.

Heart Journey (current title) -- Helen(a) D'Elcampane, She has the most going on in her life, is changing it by looking for her HeartMate.

That's it, may genders not confuse you today!
Robin

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Secondary Characters

All right. I'm reading a mystery series with a couple of irritating secondary characters. They DO complicate the hero's life, but I'm fast reaching a point that I may close the book if they show up again.

So, be careful of your secondary characters. I believe some people find my cats Too Cute. Secondary characters should be there for a purpose and not overly...irritating, cute, scene stealing, etc.

May all the people in your life please you today.
Robin

Friday, October 10, 2008

Workshop -- Fantasy & Romance

At the Romance Divas this weekend, free, all questions welcome!

May you have a pleasurably exciting day!

Robin

Thursday, October 09, 2008

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RED FIRE by Deidre Knight

“Powerfully sensual and mind-blowing,”* Deidre Knight’s novels have set the standard for boldly erotic paranormal romance. Now she unleashes an electrifying new series in which seven Spartan warriors, immortal protectors of humankind, battle their passions—a collective weakness that could lead to their downfall.

Eternity has become a prison for Ajax Petrakos. Centuries after he and his Spartan brothers made their bargain for immortality, Ajax struggles to maintain his warrior’s discipline. His only source of strength is his hope that he will soon meet the woman once foretold to him—the other half of his soul, Shay Angel.

Ajax searches for his destined mate on the haunted streets of modern-day Savannah, but he isn’t the first to find her. Shay, the youngest of a powerful demon-hunting clan, can see the monsters that stalk the steamy Southern night—an ability that draws the deadly attention of Ajax’s worst enemy.

As she and Ajax race to solve a chilling prophecy—one that could spell Ajax’s death if they don’t succeed—a fated passion arises, threatening to sweep away everything in its path.

*Romance B(u)y the Book


Cover: http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/27450000/27456218.jpg

Excerpt: http://deidreknight.com/red_fire_excerpt.html


ABOUT DEIDRE KNIGHT
Deidre Knight is president of The Knight Agency, which she founded in 1996. Since that time, she has grown the agency to national prominence, landing authors on every major bestseller list. Deidre began her writing career at age nine, when her award-winning essay on Barbie was published in her hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She has been writing in one form or another ever since. After nearly a decade of working with Knight Agency clients, helping them discover their creative potential, her fiction debut with NAL in 2006 marked the fulfillment of her own lifelong writing dream. She is excited to embark on yet another new and fulfilling creative journey.



REVIEWS
“White-hot immortal warriors, heart-pounding romance, and thrilling action. It doesn't get any better than this!” --Gena Showalter, New York Times Bestselling author of The Darkest Pleasure

"Deidre Knight has created a fascinating world of gods, demons, and immortal warriors. Her heroine, Shay Angel, is both strong and sympathetic, a woman discovering powers she never knew she had. Legendary Spartan Ajax is handsome, seductive and haunted -- a hero to inspire delicious dreams. I can't wait for more!" –Angela Knight, New York Times Bestselling author of Master of Dragons



“Hot Gates, hot men, myth and magic in modern day... Red Fire flies above the rest. Sign me up for more Gods of Midnight!” – Jessica Andersen, bestselling author of Nightkeepers

"Scorching hot with a pace that never lets up." --Christina Dodd, New York Times Bestselling author of Touch of Darkness

“Knight provides an intriguing new twist to both Greek mythology and legendary Spartan warriors with this searing new series, as she sets up an alternate world that begs to be explored.” – Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“Here is a story as rich and as vibrant as any myth, and for those who are interested in the paranormal, Red Fire is a real feast for the hungry and a no holds barred winner.”—RomanceAtHeart.com

May your day be warm.
Robin

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Characters vs. People

I was thinking about a writer acquaintance of mine and what I've seen with her...on the surface. She is a writer, but I wouldn't judge her to be impassioned (my opinion). She's a stay at home Mom and I found her interactions with her husband and children to be stereotypical. And if I gauge it right, she may be having marital problems soon.

But all of that is on the outside looking in. My observations. I don't know her well enough to know her secret desires, or how she truly feels about her family. She will have depths that I don't know of.

Unlike characters. Characters need to be just complex enough to intrique the reader, but simple enough that the reader can understand them. Their motivations must be clear and believable.

Real people also have contradictions and inconsistencies, and, again, characters shouldn't because you usually don't have the pages to explain them. Or two conflicting motivations.

So characters really aren't people. They don't have the depth. They are more consistent, well-motivated, and believable. :)

May you enjoy people watching today.
Robin

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Live Chat tonight!

Coffee Time Romance

9 PM EST/8 PM CST/6 PM PST on Tuesday October 7. Liadan and Di
will be our moderators!

To get to the chat room...click on this
link:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ctr_chat.htm

Drop by if you like,

Thanks, and may you enjoy any chats you have today with others.
Robin

Monday, October 06, 2008

Photo Meme 2

I did this again and it's just a little HUH? Surreal? Whatsis? That I like it. It makes so little sense it seems fun, can take it several different ways, become, like, abstruse.

PHOTO BY nick.garrod
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

You then take the pic and add text to it.


Pic Meme 2

May you be as quirky as you want today.
Robin

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Stopping In The Middle Of A Scene

I did this yesterday, I knew I could go on, but I stopped. I think it was because I knew I could make my wordcount today if I stopped, but if I wrote until the scene(s) were finished I might get stuck.

So, not sure what advice to give, except do what makes sense to you.

May your day be pleasant.
Robin

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Heart Fate Voting

You all know I don't usually ask you to vote on something like this,
but I'd like to let you know about it this time. What can I say, I'm
feeling a little needy. ;)

Anyway, Heart Fate is in the Best Fantasy/Futuristic/Off World Romance
- Fall 2008 Category, top RIGHT of the third columns.

I'll be posting this message to my chat and mailing list, too,


http://tinyurl.com/4fsj2l


Many thanks and may you enjoy all the worlds you visit.
Robin

Writing Outside

I've tried this before and had a terrible time, most notably when I wanted to write outside on the decks at the SC retreat last year (coming up at the end of the month). So I've purchased a couple of shades. Since this laptop is smaller (12 inch across screen), both shades are a little big, but I like them and will probably take both of them with me. They fold flat.

Anyway I was out on the miniscule patio yesterday pm and with sun shooting right on the screen and I could see very well with the shade on, so I am chuffed that I'll be able to write, especially since I'm on the 3rd floor and that floor has a balcony facing the sea. It will be perfect.

I found myself staring up at the gray clouds moving in and it was good. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and cold, so it looks like I have today. Sigh.

Wrote this am already, and got, um, 2/3 of my wordcount done, all in one swoop. Taking a break now, then I'll get back to it. I think I've been in Cratag's POV too long.

Still coming to the end of day 2, and may cut some of this stuff if necessary.

So, advice for the day. If you have glare and want to write outside, get shades.

May today be sunny for you and yours.
Robin

Friday, October 03, 2008

A very evocative series!
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VEILED TRUTH by Vivi Anna
(Silhouette Nocturne, October 1, 2008)

Five years ago, virginal Lyra Magice had fled powerful dhampir Theron LeNoir's advances. But now an ancient text the dhampir possesses holds the key to solving murders that have plagued Necropolis. When another body is found and evidence points to the Mistress of the city, duty dictates that Lyra work with Theron—a man she regards as haughty, arrogant and immoral—to translate the symbols left at the crime scenes. But with their forced alliance comes darkly sensual dreams that leave her feeling wanton and achy….

Unwilling to reveal his dark past, the dhampir soon discovers that Lyra—a witch of great power—is to be the sacrificial virgin in a demonic scheme to open a portal to hell itself. Salvation will come only if Theron can win Lyra's trust—and her heart.



Cover: http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/28890000/28896715.jpg

Excerpt: http://vivianna.net/veiledtruth.php#excerpt



ABOUT VIVI ANNA

Canadian author, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in the Amazon jungle, an apocalyptic future, or the otherworld city of Necropolis, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

She writes for Silhouette Nocturne, Kensington Aphrodisia, Avon Red, and epublishers - Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Loose Id and Whispers Publishing.

She’s an active member of RWA, serving as President of her chapter in Calgary.



REVIEWS

RT TOP PICK
“A police detective in Necropolis, witch Lyra Magice works with Theron LeNoir, half-witch/half-vampire, to foil a demon’s plot to take power within the city. Not to be overshadowed by the supernatural storyline of Veiled Truth (41/2), the relationship between Lyra and Theron is full of chemistry. Vivi Anna’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the plot is riveting. This book will definitely hold readers’ attention.”

“Veiled Truth is a captivating, impossible to put down, story filled with mystery, intrigue, and passion that I totally adored.” – Lyonene, Joyfully Reviewed, RECOMMENDED READ

TOP PICK
“Another highly enjoyable urban fantasy romance from Vivi Anna! This series is consistently fun and fabulous—in a dark, crime-solving kind of way, of course”. – Kay, Romance Reader at Heart

May you enjoy the uniqueness of today.
Robin

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Writers At Play Interview

All right, I'm up on Friday. I thought of other blogs for today, but couldn't settle on one...so this is it, the Thursday blog.

I will be having a tour tomorrow.

May you enjoy every moment.
Robin

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

October Website Up!

Photobucket
I've had trouble the last few times with my Free Your Artist Page. I usually pick a theme then search for a quote that might fit the theme, and after seven years that's gotten hard. So I've decided to pick the quote first and it may relate to a theme, or not.

I haven't done a Halloween/Samhain theme this year, either, though I will be doing Yule since I wrote a Yule ritual for Heart Fate.

Anyway, what's up:

Contest is for runes (see above) and the excerpt from Heart Fate is about Runes,

WORLDS Page, under Heart Fate, has a map of the Healing Pool (and shed) in Heart Fate (I don't know if I posted this for you here or not).

BOOKSHELF: I added Book 1 etc. so you know where the book is in the series.

Free Your Artist has a mishmash of links, ;)

No additional excerpts this month. Though I'll probably be doing some cut scenes in the later months. Mostly, of course, from the front of the book... Or would you like to see a couple of them here? Then I could add to the website later.

I did put up my Appearances on my Home page.

Many thanks, and may your work be appreciated today.
Robin

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