I just had my second novella published and I've realised something. Writing a book is very similar to a pregnancy, and having it published is like giving birth.
When I wrote my first book I planned, I actually looked up baby name sites to help choose the names of the characters and then I didn't use any of the ones that I saw. Just like real life and naming my children. The same can be said for choosing a name for the book itself. It's so important. That book has to have that name for as long as it's a book or rather an Ebook. It has to be a good fit for the story.
As the book was an erotica romance, there was the sex. There has to be sex in order for there to be a baby, well mostly and there has to be sex for an erotic romance.
Anyhoo I won't go into a blow by blow of ALL the similarities, but there are a lot. One of the big ones is the worry. I worried that my plot was good enough like I worried that I'd done the right things and eaten the right things in my pregnancy. The day your book finally does come out is like the day you give birth. All the worry, the planning, the preparing, and you can't wait to see that face. The face of your child or the cover of your book.
Once your baby is there in front of you and you've cuddled it and kissed it and fallen in love, you want to share. You want other people to see how clever you were to grow this little person, like you want other people to read your book. You want other people to TELL you how beautiful your baby is, like you want other people to TELL you how good your book was or at least tell you that they liked it.
So I guess the moral is, if you take the time to read a book, try and find something nice to say about it. The person that wrote it has been nurturing it for some time. A constructive review isn't about tearing people down, it's about telling people what they did well so they can build on that and get better.
Oh and the last similarity I have discovered is that your next book is just as important to you as the first. It's a little different, but it means just as much. MY new book is called An Unexpected Husband. links below.
Amazon Kindle US An Unexpected Husband
Amazon Kindle UK An Unexpected Husband
Blushing Books An Unexpected Husband
Amazon Kindle US Becky's Last Chance
Amazon Kindle UK Becky's Last Chance
Blushing Books Becky's Last Chance
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Time to Talk About Writing
It's time to talk about writing, like the heading said.
I realised I've waffled on and never really talked about my first book, Becky's Last Chance.
Becky's Last Chance starts with Becky laying in bed on her eighteenth birthday in a dorm room of a strict Catholic boarding school.
Becky lost her mother when she was six and subsequently was very indulged by her father who was desperate to erase the pain that his little girl had suffered from the loss of her mother. It also eased his own pain to throw himself into giving his daughter everything. The result? A spoiled teenager with no self control that got herself into trouble at school.
Her arch nemesis was Tracy Dean, the school Principal who was determined to make her tow the line. Unfortunately Becky was just as determined to make her Principal see who was boss. In her own mind anyway. After the Principal who was in her late thirties banned her from Prom, she was furious and determined to get revenge.
Her revenge though landed her in even deeper trouble with the Principal and with her Dad who was at his wits end. Feeling like he'd done a mediocre job of raising his daughter, he took the advice of the principal and sent her away to boarding school in the hope that her stubborn nature could be reigned in before she reached adulthood which was fast approaching.
This is where we first meet Becky on her eighteenth birthday as she remembers the events that led her to where she was. She also remembers Ryan her fathers right hand man who she has had a crush on for years. She has a very spicy fantasy while imagining how she would like her relationship to be with Ryan.
After Becky left for Boarding school, her Dad was devastated and Tracy Dean the Principal steps in to assure him that he's done the right thing for Becky. She really does believe that in the right hands Becky is redeemable. The two spend a lot of time together and fall in love.
Geoff (the Dad) knows this is not going to be popular with Becky who still hasn't spoken to him or Ryan. She holds nothing but animosity for Tracy and believes that she has ruined her life. He knows though that Becky and Ryan are meant to be a couple and he hatches a plot to get them together. He moves to New York taking Tracy with him. He leaves Ryan in charge of all the finances so that Becky has no choice but to follow his rules. Geoff knew that given enough time together the two would fall in love.
That is where the first chapter ends and the real story begins. There are fun and games with Becky, Ryan, Becky's friend Kendall and the Ryan's friend a deputy sheriff. The first chapter can be read for free at Blushing Books, Amazon both UK and US and on Barnes & Noble.
I am currently working on a sequel.
My new book An Unexpected Husband is due to be released tomorrow. This though is not the sequel but a new romantic tale.
Becky's Last Chance at Blushing Books
And at Amazon Kindle US
amazon.co.uk/Beckys-Last-Ch… UK
My Fanfics can be found here...
I realised I've waffled on and never really talked about my first book, Becky's Last Chance.
Becky's Last Chance starts with Becky laying in bed on her eighteenth birthday in a dorm room of a strict Catholic boarding school.
Becky lost her mother when she was six and subsequently was very indulged by her father who was desperate to erase the pain that his little girl had suffered from the loss of her mother. It also eased his own pain to throw himself into giving his daughter everything. The result? A spoiled teenager with no self control that got herself into trouble at school.
Her arch nemesis was Tracy Dean, the school Principal who was determined to make her tow the line. Unfortunately Becky was just as determined to make her Principal see who was boss. In her own mind anyway. After the Principal who was in her late thirties banned her from Prom, she was furious and determined to get revenge.
Her revenge though landed her in even deeper trouble with the Principal and with her Dad who was at his wits end. Feeling like he'd done a mediocre job of raising his daughter, he took the advice of the principal and sent her away to boarding school in the hope that her stubborn nature could be reigned in before she reached adulthood which was fast approaching.
This is where we first meet Becky on her eighteenth birthday as she remembers the events that led her to where she was. She also remembers Ryan her fathers right hand man who she has had a crush on for years. She has a very spicy fantasy while imagining how she would like her relationship to be with Ryan.
After Becky left for Boarding school, her Dad was devastated and Tracy Dean the Principal steps in to assure him that he's done the right thing for Becky. She really does believe that in the right hands Becky is redeemable. The two spend a lot of time together and fall in love.
Geoff (the Dad) knows this is not going to be popular with Becky who still hasn't spoken to him or Ryan. She holds nothing but animosity for Tracy and believes that she has ruined her life. He knows though that Becky and Ryan are meant to be a couple and he hatches a plot to get them together. He moves to New York taking Tracy with him. He leaves Ryan in charge of all the finances so that Becky has no choice but to follow his rules. Geoff knew that given enough time together the two would fall in love.
That is where the first chapter ends and the real story begins. There are fun and games with Becky, Ryan, Becky's friend Kendall and the Ryan's friend a deputy sheriff. The first chapter can be read for free at Blushing Books, Amazon both UK and US and on Barnes & Noble.
I am currently working on a sequel.
My new book An Unexpected Husband is due to be released tomorrow. This though is not the sequel but a new romantic tale.
Becky's Last Chance at Blushing Books
And at Amazon Kindle US
amazon.co.uk/Beckys-Last-Ch… UK
My Fanfics can be found here...
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Survival of the Fittest
Last night we had a impromptu family celebration at the local 'all you can eat' restaurant. This would not be the restaurant of choice for most of us, but the particular child that chose it loves the place. It was his birthday, so his choice.
There are several factors that determine the kind of experience you'll have at this restaurant...
Number one? Saturday night. Apparently the night that every family in the greater area that feels like eating chinese food without restraint goes out.
Number two? Saturday night is seafood night....multiply the amount of people by about ten, it's Australia and people here like seafood...a lot...
Number three? Early session. Every person who likes seafood and is very hungry with a dozen or so screaming children that should be in bed already.... they're there too, mostly throwing their food on the floor to trip up the people that are running towards the huge stacks of food...there's something about seeing a lot of food in one place that makes people a little crazy...
Number four? The two hour session. It makes people panic and panicked people aren't pretty. Once again...crazy people. These people are worried they might not get in their money's worth by the end of the session.
Number five? This is the most important factor of all. The ability to block out everything negative and have a good time with your family.
Watching the kids enjoyment makes it all worth while. Who cares if someone stepped on your foot or spilled sweet and sour pork down your favourite jeans, if you can't get on the line for the sushi train or an old lady and her grandson pushed in in front of the roast bar. You will survive. Here are a few tips to help if you ever find yourself fighting for survival at an all you can eat restaurant...
Use your patience while trying to get near the food. People are less likely to really harm you if you're nice to them.
Don't be fussy...grab what you can and take note of the stuff you want that you can't get to. You can always send the kids in later, they're little they can climb under the adults without being seen.
Don't jump the cue if the person behind you has picked up a fresh knife and fork. As previously stated hungry people are crazy.
Eat slowly and chew your food. You're going to need all of your strength to fight your way to the dessert bar. Even more to carry back your haul.
Let your kids serve themselves. They have a greater chance of survival on their own. Crazy people with a fear of starving are generally tolerant of children.
Last but not least...KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
IT was all worth while. If for no other reason it was amazing to see the birthday boy devour sushi and fruit on the same plate with a smile on his face. This was after he'd already been at the ice cream and the chocolate fountain. Nothing like a child's cast iron stomach.
Becky's Last Chance at Blushing Books
And at Amazon Kindle
My Fanfics can be found here...
There are several factors that determine the kind of experience you'll have at this restaurant...
Number one? Saturday night. Apparently the night that every family in the greater area that feels like eating chinese food without restraint goes out.
Number two? Saturday night is seafood night....multiply the amount of people by about ten, it's Australia and people here like seafood...a lot...
Number three? Early session. Every person who likes seafood and is very hungry with a dozen or so screaming children that should be in bed already.... they're there too, mostly throwing their food on the floor to trip up the people that are running towards the huge stacks of food...there's something about seeing a lot of food in one place that makes people a little crazy...
Number four? The two hour session. It makes people panic and panicked people aren't pretty. Once again...crazy people. These people are worried they might not get in their money's worth by the end of the session.
Number five? This is the most important factor of all. The ability to block out everything negative and have a good time with your family.
Watching the kids enjoyment makes it all worth while. Who cares if someone stepped on your foot or spilled sweet and sour pork down your favourite jeans, if you can't get on the line for the sushi train or an old lady and her grandson pushed in in front of the roast bar. You will survive. Here are a few tips to help if you ever find yourself fighting for survival at an all you can eat restaurant...
Use your patience while trying to get near the food. People are less likely to really harm you if you're nice to them.
Don't be fussy...grab what you can and take note of the stuff you want that you can't get to. You can always send the kids in later, they're little they can climb under the adults without being seen.
Don't jump the cue if the person behind you has picked up a fresh knife and fork. As previously stated hungry people are crazy.
Eat slowly and chew your food. You're going to need all of your strength to fight your way to the dessert bar. Even more to carry back your haul.
Let your kids serve themselves. They have a greater chance of survival on their own. Crazy people with a fear of starving are generally tolerant of children.
Last but not least...KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
IT was all worth while. If for no other reason it was amazing to see the birthday boy devour sushi and fruit on the same plate with a smile on his face. This was after he'd already been at the ice cream and the chocolate fountain. Nothing like a child's cast iron stomach.
Becky's Last Chance at Blushing Books
And at Amazon Kindle
My Fanfics can be found here...