Saturday, May 26, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample: Spinster's Folly continues

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Today I'm showing you a family in turmoil. I hope you enjoy it.
~~~

Bill's long strides took him within earshot of Rod Owen's cabin before he paused and took off his hat. In the half-light, he noticed that his hand was shaking, making his hat shiver like a giant aspen leaf. He ran his other hand through his hair, re-seated the hat, and took several deep breaths to steady himself.

As he was about to move toward the cabin again, he heard a cry that reminded him of a panther he'd heard in Texas once. However, even as he squinted towards the woods behind him, he realized the sound hadn't come from that location. It had come from the cabin, and it continued as he gathered his wits and sprinted across the meadow, leaping the creek to arrive in the yard.

Bill barely knocked before he threw caution to the wind and hauled on the latch string to open the door. He put his shoulder against the wood and stopped himself from entering the room as it swung open.

Mrs. Owen stood nearly in the fireplace, her head bowed over a piece of pink paper. It was she who made the keening wail. The younger Owen girl was on her knees beside her, face in her hands, sobbing. Rod Owen bent over his wife, his brows drawn together, strong emotions chasing themselves across his face. The two younger sons, Clay and Albert, stood at their places at the table, breakfast forgotten as Clay bent to right the chair he must have overturned just moments before.
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Blog Tour Book Review: The Most Important Catch, by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Today is my turn on the blog tour for a new romantic suspense novel by Jaclyn M. Hawkes, The Most Important Catch.

Here are the publication facts and the back cover copy:

About the Book

Title: The Most Important Catch
Author: Jaclyn M. Hawkes
Date Released: March 2012
Publisher: Spirit Dancer Books
Genre: LDS/Romantic Suspense

She knew too much, and she’d seen too much. And the police refused to help. Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life.

When the weather turned cold, she turned south. She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn’t know that. She thought he was a businessman. Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him. Or was she?

His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn’t nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. Except for her heart.

Last year, I wrote a review of Jaclyn M. Hawkes's debut novel, Journey of Honor. She has published a second novel, The Outer Edge of Heaven, between that book and this one, a book I haven't had the chance to read. However, I can see that Ms. Hawkes has made tremendous strides in learning more about the writing craft.

I enjoyed the majority of The Most Important Catch, which initially passed my "keep me reading" test. Unfortunately, the ending didn't hold together for me.

At first, when I moved from page 272 to page 273, I thought someone had mis-edited the piece to delete a key scene. But then I came across the missing scene, and it was not only out of place, but the timeline elements were mixed up. A thorough editing should have caught the flaw in sequence and mended it before publication.

After the author spent so much time building up the threat to Kelly's life in conversations with others and narration, I was disappointed in the resolution of that threat.Too much actual tension and conflict were missing. In addition, I didn't find any evidence of the physical pain one character should have been experiencing.

Another disappointment came when too much time was spent on one character attempting to overcome another character's misunderstanding of the actual situation between them. In fact, the pleas and explanations went on for an uncomfortably long time in a public place, with few clues that other characters were present. For me, too many questions remained unanswered, and the ending felt thin.

Because of Ms. Hawkes demonstrably increased writing skills in other areas, I hope I can be assured that she will continue to work on plot structure skills and solve this weakness.

Despite my quibbles, I found most of the book to be a pleasant romantic tale.

Learn more about the author from her website here, and click on the links below to purchase The Most Important Catch.

Purchase the Book

Monday, May 21, 2012

The link below is a must-read!

Are you a reader who thinks authors are making big bucks because, well, because you pay a lot of money for books (or eBooks) from the big publishers?

Are you a writer who has spent years sending out queries to agents so you can sign with one--who you then hope will sell your novel to a big publisher...in a few more years?

Are you a writer who has thrown in the towel because the struggle to get an agent has given you heartburn and discouraged you from even wanting to write anymore?

If you fit into any of the categories above, YOU NEED TO READ THIS POST!

I haven't heard a more clear explanation of why writers don't earn big bucks, or why the publishing industry, despite millions of hopeful wanna-be-published writers, is in such a turmoil right now.

Oh, you didn't know the publishing industry is in a turmoil, or that the Department of Justice has launched a lawsuit against several big publishers because of alleged collusion to fix prices of eBooks?


The title is "Exploited Writers in an Unfair Industry," written in his usual hard-hitting fashion by Joe (J A) Konrath. I don't believe I have ever read a more on-point, powerful historical dissection and current events view of how publishers and agents came to hold all the cards in the (inter)national book industry, and why writers can't make a living wage from their WORK.

Let this post sink into your mind and open your eyes.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Sweet Saturday Samples: Just a tidbit this week

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Today I offer just a tiny sample, because, well, just because. I'm working hard to get this book finished, edited, and published. Here's Bill Henry:
~~~

He stared at the paper until the lines of script began to wiggle before his eyes, pain surging from the part of his hair to his toenails. He knew he looked a fool with his mouth open, but if he was going to breathe again, the happenstance of his jaw having gone slack might help him drag in some air, if he could remember how that was done.
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

A New Bit from Spinster's Folly

He stared at the paper until the lines of script began to wiggle before his eyes, pain surging from the part of his hair to his toenails. He knew he looked a fool with his mouth open, but if he was going to breathe again, the happenstance of his jaw having gone slack might help him drag in some air, if he could remember how that was done.
~~~

Do you suppose Bill Henry's had some bad news?

Sweet Saturday Samples: Something new

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Today we're eavesdropping in the middle of a conversation between Bill Henry and Chico Henderson in my WIP, Spinster's Folly. Chico leads off:

"You got to gather the reins and use the spurs to make the horse run, Henry. I'm knowin' you ain't afeared of a little slip of a gal, nor her pappy, neither. Speak at her."

Bill chewed a mouthful of beans. "I ain't usually a coward, Chico," he said once he'd swallowed it.

"No, you ain't. Not in my experience of you."

"I'm unmanned by the cold she breathes out."

Chico stared at Bill for a while, then swallowed his own mouthful. "It happens. A girl has the power. Howsomeever, you know you're the better man for her, and mayhap she knows it, as well. Tell her you got feelings. Show her you got the grit to be tender."

Bill exhaled a long breath. "It's got to be done. Today's as good as tomorrow." He arose and gripped Chico's shoulder, then left the bunkhouse with long strides.
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Things I learned at a recent Writers Conference

A week ago I attended a writers conference in Utah, from which I learned quite a lot of things. Let me get out my "Hannah Montana" notebook so I can go over my notes (Don't mock me; it was a cheap remainder at the dollar store):

  • One presenter reminded me that "You don't fall in love with the plot, you fall in love with the characters," and "If you have a strong plot you'll write a great book, but if you have strong characters, you'll have a great career."
  • Another borrowed an acronym from me and gave me credit. Thanks! BIC HOK TAM
  • I need to buckle down and create a budget, not only for my personal life, but for my business.
  • I really need to learn how to do Styles in MSWord.
  • If your name is big enough, you can turn your class into a commercial.
  • Book signings are most often a waste of time for mid-list to niche authors.
  • Kevin's Eleven Tips rock! Now, where is that digital recorder hiding?
  • I should have gone to some #2 choice classes instead of my first choices. I should have stuck with my #1 choice at least once. Live and learn.
  • If your hands hurt, practice a self-preservation technique when extending one for a handshake. Or surprise a new acquaintance with a hug instead? Or give them the Colombian elbow? I'll try those out next year.
  • It's time to experiment with a podcast. (Let's see, that's Styles, podcasting...and PowerPower is already on the list to master. What else?)
  • When you're exhausted, ditching class makes good sense.
  • It is such a treat to see existing friends and make new ones.
  • Contacts can be THE key pathway to a successful career, along with "Yes, I can do that." Ask Kevin J. Anderson.
  • I like chicken you can cut with a fork.
  • Don't put in the bookstore more than two copies each of novels that are not YA, dystopian, or thrillers.
  • Write the damn ahem, darn book!

And how was your week?

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample: More Goodies from Spinster's Folly

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Here's a bit I wrote last week showing some interaction between Rod Owen and his former neighbor from Virginia, Edward Morgan.
~~~

Rod Owen encountered Edward Morgan in his corn field.

"You're lookin' a mite long in the mouth, Ed. What's ailin' you?"

Ed looked up from chopping weeds around a shock of corn, straightened his back and leaned on the hoe. He rubbed his upper lip with a knuckle, then dropped his hand and rubbed his thigh.

"It's the missus," he said, shaking his head. "She's bothered, so she shares with me."

"Humph," Rod commiserated. "Womenfolk." He doffed his hat and began to feel along the scab above his ear, then let his own hand descend as he reseated his hat. "What's she bothered about?"

"Lizzie don't like it much out here. She says it's too dusty. Then the wind comes up and blows the dust away, and she complains it's too windy."

"What are you doing about it?"

Ed humphed on his own accord. "Mostly staying out of her way! She'll hunt me down, though, time to time. I got cornered last week, and ended up promisin' to dig her a well." He flung his hand outward. "She's got a perfectly good river just yards away, and she wants a well!"

Rod's hand wandered toward his head again, but he tugged on his earlobe instead. "That does make a man weary. You've got your work ahead of you."

Ed nodded. "Your woman minding her manners?"

"Mostly," Rod said, nodding in concert with Ed. "She's worried some about the girl."

"Which one?"

"The older. Marie. To tell you the truth, that's why I come a callin'." Rod drew himself to his full height. "That Tom of yours. Does he have plans?"
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.
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