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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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Celta Thursday Cut Scene from Heart Change

After Cratag shoveled in a few mouthfuls of egg and a couple of porcine strips, he asked, "What's Bright Brigid's Day Fair?"

Avellana stabbed into her vegetable omlette. "It's a Fair for women. You take offerings to the goddess as Brigid."

"What kind of offerings?" he asked.

"Things you've made with your creative Flair."

"Why?"

She looked at him, brows lowered. "I don't know." Her bottom lip poked out. "Vinni's there today, too. And my mother and sister, though not at the same Fair as Signet, I don't think." The girl tilted her head to the side, "But I think that Vinni is at Signet's fair, wherever that may be."

"Why?"

"It's a tradition." Avellana glared at him.

The Residence said smoothly, "It is a spring holiday celebrating the aspects of the ancient goddess Brigid: creativity, prophecy, smithing."

"T'Ash is there?" asked Cratag.

"No, he isn't," Avellana said.

"Yes, he attends the Women of the Arts Bright Brigid's Day Fair in Meadowsweet temple."

"I didn't know that," Avellana said. "I don't think D'Hazel knows that either, or any of the FirstFamily Ladies." She messed around with her eggs, but didn't eat. "Signet doesn't do arts. She's a cobbler."

"She supports the arts," the Residence said and now it sounded offended. "And she's a fashion designer."

Avellana made another noise but the Residence rolled over her. "We will discuss some of the ancient goddesses today in our lessons," the Residence said. "Their Earthan history and the generation of Druida's Bright Brigid Day Fair and the number of fairs taking place today."

Cratag just knew in his bones that the day was going to go downhill.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Pronunciation Question

Am drafting info for my narrator for the Heart books! Okay...I have an Ogham pronunciation guide, but I didn't use it a lot mostly because I found it a little late in my process. Tinne for me is Tin. The reason I'm posting this is Saille (Maidens of Saille House For Orphans, and Saille T'Willow). The guide states it should be Sahl (Saul), and THAT one I said to myself when writing Heart Dance....however before that it was Sail (like Sail a boat), or even, perhaps, Zail. What do you all think?

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Give Away by The Reading Cafe

I do this occasionally (when someone asks, then nags).
The Reading Cafe
.

TRC link here:

You do need to be on FB or twitter, to like or tweet. However when I joined/liked The Reading Cafe, they only asked for my website URL, not all my friends or something I felt was extreme.

And...say...if, when I talk to a winner, they want something different than the prize, I tend to do that....

Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again! (It's a very gray day).

Robin

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Celta Thursday

Cut from Heart Change:

Celta Thursday, cut from Heart Change: "I wanted to live in the Turquoise House, the house becoming a Residence, thought it might be fun. But Nivea didn't." He looked with confused eyes on his bride and Cratag ached for the young man and the revelations of his wife's character to come. Laev would never divorce her. The first scandalous GreatHouse divorce had taken place a few months earlier, but that was not an example Laev would follow. Nivea would never allow it either.

"FatherSire offered us the house in Gael City. I can keep better watch on our cinnamon fields there, and she liked that idea." He frowned. "I'd never thought of living out of Druida."

"You'll survive."

Laev's smile flashed as he glanced at Cratag and he saw the young boy he'd known. "I'm sure. But I had really wanted to try the Turquoise House."

"How long has your Family had the house and estate in Gael City? Could you bring it along from a House to a Residence?" Cratag had no notion where that idea had come from. But, like Laev, he'd heard stories of the Turquoise House when training at The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon. "

But I've heard a house-turning-into-a-Residence can be like a child, and maybe you're planning to have children right away." Cratag glanced at Nivea's two sisters. Three children, unusually prolific for a Celtan Family, maybe Laev was luckier than he knew. Now that Cratag wasn't seeing Avellana and Vinni often, he understood that he missed them.

Laev shrugged, didn't meet Cratag's eyes. "Nivea wants to enjoy herself first before she becomes a mother."

Cratag still couldn't believe that the couple hadn't had sex before marriage. Unheard of. How did they know they'd be compatible. There was more to a person than physical beauty and appeal.

So much more to Signet. He ached for her.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Celta Thursday, Cut Scene from Heart Duel


Passiflora Holly looked thin, her prominent cheekbones only adding to her beauty. She held Holm's hand in both her own. "I can't deny your father's will," she whispered, her mouth turning down.

""Of course not. He's your HeartMate. I know what that means, now." The surge of dizzying love he had for his Bellá circled to her through their linked hands. When the loving pulse returned to him, magnified and enhanced by her love for him, his knees trembled.

Nothing was as important as Bellá. If he'd failed as a son, he hadn't as a lover. Would never fail her as a husband or a HeartMate. He vowed never to fail as a father, either.

As this sentiment surged* to Bellá, she squeezed his hand.

His Mamá's eyes widened as she caught a little backwash of his and Bellá's love. The strain around her mouth eased. Her smile dazzled.

She took Bellá's hand and they formed an intimate circle of three -- love flowed unimpeded between them all. Jus when Holm's lust bloomed, Bellá caught* the urge and transformed it into sweet Healing energy that she funneled to his Mamá. Passiflora's skin turned rosey and she dropped Holm's hand with a laugh that held her music.

Relief swept Holm. Again Bellá pressed his fingers, then she pulled her hand away so only she was connected to Passiflora.

"You'll take care of my son," Passiflora said confidently.

"Yes," Bellá answered.

Passiflora held out her free hand to Holm and he took it again. She sandwiched his and Bellás hands between her own. "I give you my blessing. A mother's blessing, a GreatLady's blessing." Golden music-filled mist coalesced around them.

Passiflora dropped her hands and relaxed back on the blue velvet cushions. She met Holm's eyes and raised her eyebrows. "I'll work on your father. It may take years, but you'll be restored your place in this Household. I'll wear him down." She made a face. "He already knows deep inside himself that he's made a mistake."

Holm stared at his mother. It was the first time in his life that Mamá ha ever said his father was less than perfect.

Passiflora sighed and shook her head, then sent a tune rippling through the room -- Holm's Courting Melody. Bellá laughed and even Holm managed a smile.

"Go with the Lady and Lord," Passiflora said, beaming.

Holm kissed her hand, then bowed.

The young cats raced into the sitting room and tumbled to a halt at Passiflora's feet.

She giggled and lifted Meserv -- Holm thought he'd always be fatter than his twin -- and buried her face in his fur. "I'm going to miss this little one." Meserv's purr increased to deep rumbling.

"Zanth always has kittens on the way," Bellá said wryly.

Robin D. Owens's photo.

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Deadly Women: Best Romance Heroines Who Can Defend Themselves

I am so pleased! Pleased enough that I might do a few excerpts...

http://northamericanwordcat.booklikes.com/post/784235/deadly-women-best-romance-heroines-who-can-defend-themselves

Thursday, February 06, 2014

Celta Thursday: Timeline of the Heart Books

This is my personal timeline and the one I'm currently working from...complete with personal notes.

Celta Timeline:
On the Ship and the Discovery of Celta:
Heart And Sword IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS:

HeartMate: Druida City, Celta, 400 years after Colonization, Summer, July, Discovery Day
The Turquoise House becomes aware/is born.
Heart Thief: Druida City, Celta, 400 Years after Colonization, Autumn
Heart Duel: Druida City, Celta, 403 years after Colonization, Summer, Month of Holly
Heart Choice: Druida City, Celta, 404 Years After Colonization, Spring

**Nuin Ash is born late 404

Heart Quest: Druida City, Celta, 405 Years After Colonization, Late Autumn BLACK MAGIC CULT deaths

Heart Dance: Druida City, Celta, 405 Years After Colonization, Early Winter (two months after Heart Quest, i.e. January/)

Heart Story IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS: Druida City, Celta 406 Years After Earth Colonization, Spring

Heart Fate: Druida City, Celta, 406 Years After Colonization, Mid Winter (one year after the end of Heart Dance) SAMHAIN = NEW YEAR, SO JUST A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER THE NEW YEAR

Heart & Soul IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS, Gael City, Celta 406 Years After Colonization, Autumn (Elder/October) the last days of 406

Heart Change: Druida City, Celta, 407 Years After Colonization, Spring (March)

Heart Journey: Druida City, Celta, 407 Years After Colonization, Late Summer

Noble Heart IN THE COLLECTION OF HEARTS AND SWORDS, Druida City, Celta, 411 Years After Colonization, Winter

LAST A'SH BABY BORN IN 412?

417 TAB HOLLY DIES, CAL MARIGOLD IS BORN

14 YEARS PASS BETWEEN HEART JOURNEY AND HEART SEARCH

Heart Search (Laev): Druida City, Celta, 421 Years After Colonization, Late Spring
Nuin Ash is 17

Heart Secret (Garrett Primross and Artemisia Mugwort), Druida City, 421 years after Colonization, Late Summer

NOTE BLACKTHORN, BORN 401? YEW.
YEW GIRL BORN IN 407 (HERBS/HEALERS?)
TIME OF YEW STORY IS 424, SHE IS 17, BECOMING AN ADULT
OK IF GUY/BOY IS 21, HE WAS BORN IN 401 SO WOULD BE 3 IN 404 WHEN HEART CHOICE TOOK PLACE AND HIS FOLKS MOVED TO THE SOUTH, ETC.


HEART FORTUNE (Glyssa Licorice and Race Bayrum), Excavation of Lugh's Spear, the lost starship, 421 years after Colonization, End of Summer

RobinDOwens› oh, 421 after colonization, last book was "late summer" and apparently this one is "end of summer"

06:04:55 ‹RobinDOwens› so end of Aug, I guess, and if the thing takes place over a while, I'll have to move into Sept...hmmm, maybe I can bring storms across the bluegrass plains...

HEART FIRE(Antenn Blackthorn-Moss and Tiana Mugwort), Druida City, 422 years after Colonization, Early Spring) half a year since Heart Secret.

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

NEWS! THE HEART BOOKS ON AUDIO!

Thanks to the hard work of my wonderful agent (and the fact that years ago I "negotiated" for audio rights), I have signed a contract with Audible for the full Heart novels (NOT INCLUDING THE COLLECTION) through Heart Fortune. If I read the contract right, ALL the books should be out by this time next year...

Many thanks for all your support.
Robin

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