


Are you a panster or a plotter?
I’m a plotser. A plotting, panster. I have a general outline of where the story needs to go and certain things that need to happen, but I still let inspiration take me where it needs to. It doesn’t always work out the way I think it’s going to, but I know that’s where the story needs to be. I will also write scenes completely out of sequence. I have one of those water proof note pads in my shower because I would get so many ideas for a scene or a conversation & then forget them as soon as I was dry (I would really like to see a scientific study one day as to why so many great ideas occur in the shower. Seriously, someone fund this.). How did my characters get to that point? Where do they go from there? I don’t always know where those scenes will end up in the story, but part of the fun is figuring that out.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block? If so, how do you kick its arse?
If Writer’s Block exists, it hasn’t hit me yet. Lack of motivation and/or time? Those exist. As a full-time working, single mom of young twins time is a commodity I have very little of and sometimes I want to turn off my brain and veg. So I let myself indulge for a day or two and then I get right back to it. People are always astounded when they find out I write in addition to everything else and ask when I find the time to write. You know those long, boring staff meetings that suck time out of your day that you’ll never get back? Perfect time to write! Everyone likely thinks you’re taking notes on something important, so it has the added benefit of making it appear as if you’re actively engaged. The trick is to look up every now and then and actually listen to what someone is saying, then go back to writing.
What book is your comfort read on a bad day? The one you go back to reread over and over.
For an emotional punch, it’s Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley. For pure suspense and storytelling, one book that I’ve read many, many times is one that my step-mother lent me when I was 15 – Lightening by Dean Koontz. It made me an instant fan. One of my all time favorite series is the Belgariad by David Eddings – I love it for the world building. For pure classic romance, it’s Pride and Prejudice. It almost broke my heart when my niece said she’d never read it. So I sent her a copy and there will be a test.
Describe your perfect writing space:
I’m one of those people that has to have some kind of noise in the background so I look for spaces that provide that — a busy coffee shop, a boring staff meeting, the Pandora app… In a crunch I’ll put on a movie I’ve seen a thousand times just to have some white noise.
When I wrote my first book, I was an instructor and when classes were going on, I had to be IN the classroom whether I was on the podium or not. So when I wasn’t in front of the class I was writing in my note book in the back of the room. I probably wrote 75% of the book while at work (I couldn’t do actual work because the keyboards clicked too loud and students complained they were distracting).
Do you write your title first or story first?
This question stumped a little and I had to think about it. I have come up with titles first and then think, “What would that book be about?” Then I try to figure out that story. A lot of times though, I imagine a scene or a conversation between two characters and wonder what got them to that point. Most of my notes for future books are simply that — a scene with little to no context and I’ll have to work forward and backward to get to that point. It may stay the same, it may not, but so far they’ve all ended up in the books.
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/tarinadeatonauthor
FB Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/authortarinadeaton/
FB Reader Groups
https://www.facebook.com/groups/A2T2ReaderGroup/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TarinasDeats
Twitter
https://www.twitter.com/tarinadeaton
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/tarinadeaton
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tarina-Deaton/e/B01K03H19Y/
Bookbub
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tarina-deaton
Newsletter
http://bit.ly/1sUVDJA
Are you a panster or a plotter?
Definitely plotter. I plot in excruciating detail. To me, it’s the best part of the writing process. Once I start writing, it gets complicated since English is only my second language. Thankfully, I have a fantastic team of editors, betas, and proofreaders.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block? If so, how do you kick its arse?
I don’t believe in writer’s block, but I do believe in procrastination. Sadly 😉
What book is your comfort read on a bad day? The one you go back to reread over and over.
Oh, I wish I had the time to reread some of my all-time favorites. But with my day job, writing my own novels, and all the books on my TBR, that’s just not possible.
Describe your perfect writing space:
Easy. Next to my horses’ pasture. Nothing soothes, relaxes, and grounds me like the sight and sound of grazing horses.
Do you write your title first or story first?
For the Deadly DNA Series it was stories first, for my upcoming Everdark Crossroads Series it was titles first.
And lastly, write a one or two paragraph flash fiction inspired by the last photo or text you got on your phone:
Why in the ever-loving hell had he agreed to visit this hilltop castle? Climbing 120+ flights of rough-terrain stairs in the pouring rain, acting as if they were petty human tourists. Three flaps of his wings would have taken them both there.
But she’d opted against it, not because the voice of reason told her. Or because she was afraid they might be discovered. No. Her point: What’s the fun in it. Really? Fun? To this day, he thought he knew her. But apparently, he hadn’t been aware of her masochistic tendencies. Wait. That wicked smile she tossed him made him think twice. Make that sadistic tendencies.
Bio:
Carolyn Reilly has been working for the German Federal Foreign Office (aka Department of State) for more than 20 years. A good part of that time she was assigned to German Embassies in civil war Lagos/ Nigeria and Khartoum/ Sudan, with the German Consulate General in New York and with German Embassies in Central Asian countries Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan. She still works part-time for the Foreign Office, but has meanwhile exchanged those restless and not exactly hazard-free postings abroad with a quieter life in the Bavarian countryside.
When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her Icelandic horses. She advocates animal welfare and a percentage of the proceeds of her books goes to Farmed Animal Sanctuary Hof Butenland in Northern Germany.
Are you a panster or a plotter?
I do a basic plot outline. But I write where my heart feels, so if I feel like writing the last chapter when I am only five chapters into my book, I will do that.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block? If so, how do you kick its arse?
Writers block is just another form of stunted motivation. As a creative, it is easy to get sidetracked and let self-doubt get the better of you. I don’t stress when I am not motivated, I just jot down any ideas I do have and work on marketing or self promotion. There’s always something to do!
But if I take to long to get back to the keyboard, I try to remember how much I actually love writing.
What book is your comfort read on a bad day? The one you go back to reread over and over.
I stopped re-reading books when the Indie book community became so huge. I was too busy gobbling up all the new reads! So it’s not a book I will go to on a bad day, its a particular Author. And there are many that I favor, it’s dependent on what type of read I want; paranormal, contemporary, young adult, new adult, hot alpha… oh the list goes on. And of course I do have a long TBR.
Describe your perfect writing space:
Quiet early mornings at my dining room table when the juices are freshly flowing or One AM’s in bed when I get my second wind. But I also enjoy a picnic blanket in the park, some snacks and a handy laptop.
Do you write your title first or story first?
I’m either or. I could hear a word, think it would make a great title and then build a story around it. Or I could develop a story then chop and change till the right title comes to mind.
And lastly, write a one or two paragraph flash fiction inspired by the last photo or text you got on your phone
The cat sat in his bowl, patiently waiting for his human to pay him some attention. He licked his paw in anticipation of the meal ahead. The wait seemed endless in the chilly winter air. He let off a loud “Meow,” in pleading for his much-anticipated tuna.
After what seemed like five cat years his Human left her seat and joined Kitty in the kitchen. Human offered sweet-sounding platitudes that Kitty was sure was meant to soothe him after his lengthy wait for his meal. He hissed in response, angry at being ignored for so long. He stubbornly remained in the food bowl while Human attempted to lift him out. After allowing Human to hum compliments, of “How pretty you are Kitty,” followed by the human begging of kitty-strokes and chin tickles, Kitty decided a sufficient period of time had lapsed. Kitty finally relented and slowly and languorously stepped out of the bowl.
Kitty watched with a satisfied smirk as Human had to clean out the food bowl that was now filled with Kitty’s long black fur. Then came out the can of tuna. Kitty couldn’t help but purr at the smell invading his receptive nostrils, causing the most pleasurable anticipation. Now, this? This was the reason why Kitty tolerated Human. Every King needed his serf!
About the Author:
Ella Williams is a self published author of raw, sassy and slightly savage romance. Ella has years of experience slogging away in various education fields, but her ever thriving passion for reading led Ella on the path to becoming a writer.
Better late than never, Ella mostly known as E, Weezy or Mo-m, has a love of art and colour and anything idiosyncratic.
Ella lives in Cape Town South Africa with her high school sweetheart and husband , three of their five children, their googly-eyed puppy, two grumpy cats and of course their pet killer lobster. Their full house is never lacking in quirky inspirations and even weirder friendships. A mother and small business owner by day Ella cannot resist the call of the written word and is either reading or weaving a story by night.
She is always and forever a doodler, a dreamer and now a writer.
LINKS:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HLyXXg
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2pxFj1m
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_ella_williams/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorellawilliams/
Ella’s Sassy Savages:https://bit.ly/2I1tTLO
A strong hand grips my wrist before I can yank it away. Heart monitors whir out of control and I gasp at the amber eyes staring at me.
No one stays dead long when you’re in the mafia.
➙Amazon US: amzn.to/2ClKSEl
➙All Retailers: books2read.com/exonerated
#Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed304/
Can second chances really exist for a bad boy mobster and the only woman to ever steal his heart?
There’s a hit out on Cameron Shearer’s life, his mafia ties dragging him down the path of darkness once more. After a harrowing meeting, he discovers no one ever stays dead when you’re in the mafia. Determined not to lose the only woman he’s loved, Cameron turns to the Del Rossi mob for one last favor. Unfortunately for him, the ending may not be as happy as he once hoped.
Joci Dorous has it all. She’s happy, engaged, and just started her own law firm with her best friend. Everything appears perfect, until she discovers a suspicious trail of money in her business accounts and her once dutiful fiancé suddenly turns as shady as his mob boss. When strangers clash amid mobs, Joci is left to decipher who her heart truly belongs to.
>>> Start Joci and Cameron’s story in Appointed by Fate (#1), while it’s only 99c.<<<
➙Amazon US: amzn.to/2w4UaSs
➙All Retailers: books2read.com/fate
Skye McNeil began writing at the age of seventeen and has been lost in a love affair ever since. During the day, she moonlights as a paralegal at a law firm favoring criminal law.
Skye enjoys writing romantic suspense and contemporary romance that leaves readers craving more. Her contemporary and historical novels range from sweet and sassy to steamy and sultry.
Her constant writing companions are two cats and two dogs. When she’s not writing, Skye enjoys spending time with family, photography, volleyball, traveling, and curling up with a cup of coffee and reading.
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyesthelimitwriting
Website: www.skyemcneil.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mcneilskye
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/skyemcneil
Are you a panster or a plotter?
Plotter all the way. I tried writing a book once as a pantser. It wasn’t pretty, and I don’t have the patience to rewrite that much. I try to get it as well-written as I can the first time around, which requires a lot of planning.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block? If so, how do you kick its arse?
No. I don’t. Normally the problem is in thinking, not in writing. But since I think while writing, it’s the same thing for me. If I need to write, “I need to write, I need to write, I need to write,” I’ll do that. Sometimes the pump needs priming, so I’ll just write junk until I get the word count down and then I try another day.
What book is your comfort read on a bad day? The one you go back to reread over and over.
Only one? A House Like A Lotus by Madeline L’Engle. Followed closely by anything by Kristen Ashley or R.L. Mathewson.
Describe your perfect writing space:
Do you write your title first or story first?
Nearly always the title. I often construct a story based on the title.
And lastly, write a one or two paragraph flash fiction inspired by the last photo or text you got on your phone:
Bio
Leslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance, Little Dude, and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small children. Leslie always encourages her kids to be themselves – even if it means letting her daughter wear leopard print from head to toe. An avid reader from a young age, she will always trade watching TV for reading a book, unless it’s Top Gear. Or football. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing about the men you fantasize about. She’s unapologetically sarcastic and notoriously terrible at comma placement.
Always up for a laugh, Leslie tries to see humor in all things. When she’s not in the writing cave you’ll find her fangirling over Beck, camping with her family, or mixing up oil paints to depict her love of outdoors on canvas.
Are you a panster or a plotter?
I’m that rare hybrid bird. I’m a plotting panster. I’ve discovered that I am pulled in so many directions that if I don’t make some scene notes and jot down ideas about the direction the train is headed, I lose them and can’t recall those details when I am writing. So I write out key scenes on index cards, loosely based on a three-act-play sort of structure, and then I know things will move and change as the characters develop more organically.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block? If so, how do you kick its arse?
I definitely do. The only thing I know how to do is to write something unrelated for a while. So write a poem or a blog post. Write flash fic or a letter to someone. The important thing for me is to keep writing, because if I’m blocked and I get out of the habit of writing at the same time, I’m doomed. It’s extremely difficult to get back on the wagon.
What book is your comfort read on a bad day? The one you go back to reread over and over.
You’ll never believe this, but I’m not a comfort reader. I know, that’s not what an author is supposed to say! Sorry. I do have favorite books–Beloved (Toni Morrison), Hamlet, Good Omens (Gaiman and Pratchett), Calvin & Hobbes–but I don’t comfort read. I listen to music when that’s what I’m looking for. I’m a huge music fan.
Describe your perfect writing space:
Lots of natural light, decent speakers, and a clear desk. When I can I like to get a good view – ocean, mountains, park, trees – something to stare at when I’m thinking that’s bigger than I am and full of fresh air.
Do you write your title first or story first?
The story first. Ask any editor I’ve ever had. I am terrible with titles. The story is frequently written and submitted with a “working title” because I can’t come up with them on my own. So stressful!
And lastly, write a one or two paragraph flash fiction inspired by the last photo or text you got on your phone:
Oh my God, I have been so busy lately. And now it’s crazy Tuesday, as I call it., one of the busiest days of the week. It’s up early to drive the kids to school, then it’s off to work, a lunch hour meeting, rushing out in time to pick up the kids after work, hurry to Panera and get them fed, then drop one off here and one off there, by 7:00pm. I have to pick up one at 8:00pm and another at 8:30pm. But in the middle of this crazy day I get to steal one solid, blissfully quiet hour. And you know what I do with it?
I go to Starbucks.
I do. I get a latte, usually with something sweet in it like caramel or vanilla. I take it to a table where I sit, alone, and do something really exciting like watch people out the window running around just like I was.
And I drink it.
I drink it slowly, savoring every uninterrupted sip. Every minute that no one is talking to me. Every second a phone doesn’t ring. One hour of not making myself accountable. I don’t run errands. I don’t catch up on paperwork. That’s my time. Mine.
I jealously protect that hour like Gollum hoards The One Ring.
Bio
Jodi Payne takes herself way too seriously and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likeable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after. For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila any way you pour it.
Website: https://jodipayne.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payne.jodi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodiPayne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodipayne1800/
Email: jodipaynewrites@gmail.com
Latest Release
Blurb for Creative Process:
Best-selling thriller author Reese Kelsey knows his career isn’t conducive to romance. He doesn’t work the normal nine-to-five, and sometimes his characters take hold and demand all his attention, causing him to neglect important appointments… and lovers. Rather than go through another heartbreak, Reese contents himself with his small circle of friends-fellow gay New York City artists-and his dedicated publicist, Chad.
Until he sees Owen Mercado lugging his cello toward the subway and impulsively offers him a ride.
Owen has worked long and hard for a career in the symphony, and success comes with a demanding schedule-something Reese understands. Their desires and lifestyles are surprisingly compatible, and Reese and Owen certainly set the bedroom on fire. They’re both carrying baggage, but they fit, and it’s hard not to hope for a future that once seemed impossible.
But when Reese’s work inevitably pulls him into its dark world and refuses to let go, Owen draws a hard line, and Reese discovers he can’t rely on good intentions alone. He will have to control the obsession that drove his other lovers away or risk losing Owen as well.
Buy Link for Creative Process: http://amzn.to/2HLRZcX
You must be logged in to post a comment.