There is a great romance website (http://www.ireadromance.com/) and they are starting up their own chat list and guess what...they will talk about BOOKS. What a concept, a romance list actually talks about books.
No drive by author promos, no random promotional companies spamming you with ads...
The grand opening is Friday and I will be one of the featured authors! So stop on by because I'll be posting exclusive excerpts from Educating Jane Porter and Rites of Spring, the second installment in the Coven series.
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/i_read_romance/)
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Welcome to Winter!
The pretty lights and sparkles of December have given way to the seeming unending darkness of January. In many parts of the world, the cold, bleak winter has settled in now that the holidays are behind us. I know it’s cold and snowy where I live.
Now, that’s great if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. There’s skiing, skating, hitting the trails on your snowmobile and a host of other snow-related activities to participate in. I, however, am not a winter person. I much prefer the sunny, hot days of summer, which is ironic considering I live in a place where there is definitely more winter than summer. This is the time of year I tend to make like a bear and hibernate.
Now it’s not all bad. I do like to go out for walks on those crisp, cold winter days when the wind is not blowing a gale. This is also the time of year I like to stockpile my writing so when it gets warmer I can take some time off. From January to May, I like to write two or three books, depending on length. Summer is an easy time to write as well because of the long days and hours of sunshine. Personally, I find autumn the hardest season of all to get any work done. And you can forget getting anything done during the month of December. You’d think I’d learn, but each year I tell myself I’ll get so much writing done before the holidays hit and wind up disappointed.
Oh well, it’s a new year and winter is a good time to curl up inside and get some good writing done. It’s also a great time to curl up with one of the many books in my TBR pile and enjoy. After all, you can’t work all the time and there are plenty of long, cold nights ahead that are perfect for curling up with a cup of tea, a blanket and a good book.
The wind is howling and rattling the windowpanes, the snow is whipping up outside, and summer is but a distant memory. But I’m nice and toasty inside. All in all, it’s not so bad.
Welcome to Winter.
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
THREAD OF DESTINY—Ellora’s Cave
BY THE BOOK—Samhain Publishing
Now, that’s great if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. There’s skiing, skating, hitting the trails on your snowmobile and a host of other snow-related activities to participate in. I, however, am not a winter person. I much prefer the sunny, hot days of summer, which is ironic considering I live in a place where there is definitely more winter than summer. This is the time of year I tend to make like a bear and hibernate.
Now it’s not all bad. I do like to go out for walks on those crisp, cold winter days when the wind is not blowing a gale. This is also the time of year I like to stockpile my writing so when it gets warmer I can take some time off. From January to May, I like to write two or three books, depending on length. Summer is an easy time to write as well because of the long days and hours of sunshine. Personally, I find autumn the hardest season of all to get any work done. And you can forget getting anything done during the month of December. You’d think I’d learn, but each year I tell myself I’ll get so much writing done before the holidays hit and wind up disappointed.
Oh well, it’s a new year and winter is a good time to curl up inside and get some good writing done. It’s also a great time to curl up with one of the many books in my TBR pile and enjoy. After all, you can’t work all the time and there are plenty of long, cold nights ahead that are perfect for curling up with a cup of tea, a blanket and a good book.
The wind is howling and rattling the windowpanes, the snow is whipping up outside, and summer is but a distant memory. But I’m nice and toasty inside. All in all, it’s not so bad.
Welcome to Winter.
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
THREAD OF DESTINY—Ellora’s Cave
BY THE BOOK—Samhain Publishing
Monday, January 12, 2009
Life goes on
One of the things that still amazes me in a crisis is that life doesn't stand still. Because you want it to. You're in turmoil and you want life to stop coming at you for a few minutes. You want the mundane things to stop going on as you pause.
But it never happens like that.
Life goes on and the cycle must keep turning. Homework must get done. Critters must be fed. Kids must get bussed to and fro. Dinner must be fixed.
And writing must go on.
That's a hard one. Because it's hard to sit down and do what you do every day while your mind is somewhere else.
Yes, life comes at you fast. And it's all in how you react.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
But it never happens like that.
Life goes on and the cycle must keep turning. Homework must get done. Critters must be fed. Kids must get bussed to and fro. Dinner must be fixed.
And writing must go on.
That's a hard one. Because it's hard to sit down and do what you do every day while your mind is somewhere else.
Yes, life comes at you fast. And it's all in how you react.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Hero's Journey
This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Deb Dixon speak on both Goals Motivation and Conflict (a writer's bible of sorts) and the Hero's Journey. She used a lot of movie examples and we dissected movies. LOL she said we'd never be able to watch a movie purely for enjoyment again.
I tend to think of the hero, and by the way, when talking about the Hero's Journey, we're talking simply the protagonist, not specifically male, as going on a quest with this template. But she showed it applied to books without some quest as well. Like a romance. She said in a romance, you can have one character drive the book and another as its heart.
Which of course made me think about my own books. And how to apply this to what I write. I already do that in a lot of ways. I always think about my story as a journey. My character(s) tend to change throughout the novel. Not just romantically but usually the inner workings in some manner as well. I think I'm going to go back and revise an old story and really put this framework to the test. After I've done it (and don't hold your breath...I'm a deadline LOL for another story), I'll come back and report how it went.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
I tend to think of the hero, and by the way, when talking about the Hero's Journey, we're talking simply the protagonist, not specifically male, as going on a quest with this template. But she showed it applied to books without some quest as well. Like a romance. She said in a romance, you can have one character drive the book and another as its heart.
Which of course made me think about my own books. And how to apply this to what I write. I already do that in a lot of ways. I always think about my story as a journey. My character(s) tend to change throughout the novel. Not just romantically but usually the inner workings in some manner as well. I think I'm going to go back and revise an old story and really put this framework to the test. After I've done it (and don't hold your breath...I'm a deadline LOL for another story), I'll come back and report how it went.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Monday, October 13, 2008
Inspiration
It comes in many forms. One of the things I love about attending conferences is that they always seem to inspire. They make me think about the industry and/or about stories and figure out where both are going.
I attended the James River Writer's Conference this past weekend. I had a good time and really enjoyed the speakers. I learned a bit and stared considering my career and what I want to do over the next year.
David Balducci was Friday's speaker. He's really funny and an inspiration. Sent his book, Absolute Power to six agents. Six agents wanted it. I couldn't help but think...all I need is one. One will do fine! LOL. But I digress. I enjoyed listening to his stories. He had one about being on a train LOL and discussing poisoning. I'm going to have to find that book.
Adriana Trigiani was Saturday's speaker. I could have listened to her, too for several more hours. She's a very funny, gregarious woman. And very giving. When she was being told it was over, she kept saying, "I don't feel like I've done enough." Her advice, "Finish the damn book!" She said you can do anything once you finish.
I enjoyed seeing several of the agents in action. And several speakers. The panel on first page critiques for Fiction was interesting. The seminar on Romance was so much fun. I definitely feel inspired to start the "next thing."
Amazing how a few days with other writers refills the well.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany Of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
I attended the James River Writer's Conference this past weekend. I had a good time and really enjoyed the speakers. I learned a bit and stared considering my career and what I want to do over the next year.
David Balducci was Friday's speaker. He's really funny and an inspiration. Sent his book, Absolute Power to six agents. Six agents wanted it. I couldn't help but think...all I need is one. One will do fine! LOL. But I digress. I enjoyed listening to his stories. He had one about being on a train LOL and discussing poisoning. I'm going to have to find that book.
Adriana Trigiani was Saturday's speaker. I could have listened to her, too for several more hours. She's a very funny, gregarious woman. And very giving. When she was being told it was over, she kept saying, "I don't feel like I've done enough." Her advice, "Finish the damn book!" She said you can do anything once you finish.
I enjoyed seeing several of the agents in action. And several speakers. The panel on first page critiques for Fiction was interesting. The seminar on Romance was so much fun. I definitely feel inspired to start the "next thing."
Amazing how a few days with other writers refills the well.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany Of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Dog Days…
Am I the only one who finds it hard to write in summer?
I’m not really sure why it’s so. The kids are out of school, admittedly, and vacation time does break up the days and weeks. Vacation traveling is wonderful, and I love it, but tends to leave me wasted for a while.
But it’s not really those things. And it’s certainly not the lure of the garden calling me to dig my fingers into the earth and get beautiful things to grow. Not in August in North Carolina. In fact, very few activities are appealing enough to lure me out of my air-conditioned office in the month of August.
Nonetheless, it seems as if the oppressive heat and humidity somehow slip into my spirit and suck at my energy even with air conditioning running and doors closed. And when I do force myself to scratch out a few sentences, they don’t satisfy me. I’m pretty sure that everything I write in August is total crap.
Fortunately I know September is coming. Oddly, the cooler air of fall brings a sense of renewal for me. My energy returns even as the world prepares for activity to slow down, trees to go dormant and animals to hibernate.
The leaves explode in a blaze of color, new terms start at school, and I’m ready to get moving again. That includes writing. After a few weeks of producing little, I know it will start flowing again with the coming of Autumn.
Katherine Kingston
I’m not really sure why it’s so. The kids are out of school, admittedly, and vacation time does break up the days and weeks. Vacation traveling is wonderful, and I love it, but tends to leave me wasted for a while.
But it’s not really those things. And it’s certainly not the lure of the garden calling me to dig my fingers into the earth and get beautiful things to grow. Not in August in North Carolina. In fact, very few activities are appealing enough to lure me out of my air-conditioned office in the month of August.
Nonetheless, it seems as if the oppressive heat and humidity somehow slip into my spirit and suck at my energy even with air conditioning running and doors closed. And when I do force myself to scratch out a few sentences, they don’t satisfy me. I’m pretty sure that everything I write in August is total crap.
Fortunately I know September is coming. Oddly, the cooler air of fall brings a sense of renewal for me. My energy returns even as the world prepares for activity to slow down, trees to go dormant and animals to hibernate.
The leaves explode in a blaze of color, new terms start at school, and I’m ready to get moving again. That includes writing. After a few weeks of producing little, I know it will start flowing again with the coming of Autumn.
Katherine Kingston
Monday, August 11, 2008
Voice Check
A unique voice. Every writer wants one. We all hear about distinctive voices in writing. Last week, I got a lesson in voice.
I was already reading Tempted by Megan Hart (finally!) and got the Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen from the library.
The words Gerritsen uses come together in short sentences and paragraphs. It makes for a quick, fast paced voice. All words are used to ratchet up the suspense. To make you keep reading at a frenetic pace. It draws you into the world with its suddenness. With the complexity.
Hart's prose is...the only way I have to describe it is lush. Each word choice flings the senses into abandon. Hart's writing is beautiful and elegant, yet not overly wordy. I'm also drawn into Hart's world but it's a more laid back, sensual affair than Gerritsen's.
Reading them both definitely gave me a lesson in what voice is. Two very distinct voices that do different things for me, yet I love them both.
Now if I could only figure out what exactly my voice is...
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
I was already reading Tempted by Megan Hart (finally!) and got the Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen from the library.
The words Gerritsen uses come together in short sentences and paragraphs. It makes for a quick, fast paced voice. All words are used to ratchet up the suspense. To make you keep reading at a frenetic pace. It draws you into the world with its suddenness. With the complexity.
Hart's prose is...the only way I have to describe it is lush. Each word choice flings the senses into abandon. Hart's writing is beautiful and elegant, yet not overly wordy. I'm also drawn into Hart's world but it's a more laid back, sensual affair than Gerritsen's.
Reading them both definitely gave me a lesson in what voice is. Two very distinct voices that do different things for me, yet I love them both.
Now if I could only figure out what exactly my voice is...
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Wounded Hero
by N.J. Walters
What is it about the wounded hero that sucks us in as both readers and writers?
The first step to understanding this question is to ask another one. What exactly is a wounded hero?
The wounded hero is a man who’s been hurt, emotionally and/or physically. Maybe a trusted comrade has betrayed him. Or perhaps it is someone he loves who has offered him the greatest betrayal. He’s a man who had endured great pain and suffering. He can be rough and tough, or hide his hurt behind a suave exterior. But deep inside, the heart of the wounded warrior beats strong. And you can be certain he’s never forgotten the betrayals he’s suffered or his enemies.
The wounded hero has another aspect to him. He has a sense of honor. It might not match the norms of society, but it is his and he lives by it. At times he will appear cruel and heartless, but in truth, he is protecting himself or someone else by acting that way. He might come across as simple to understand, but you quickly discover he has more layers than an onion.
That’s what drew me to Zane York, the wounded hero of Eternal Brothers. He’s a man who’s endured the horror of watching his parents descend into madness. Alone in the world, he works as a cop to help keep the streets safe. Tortured by his past, he now faces his biggest challenge yet—the Dalakis vampires. In the midst of his investigation, he stumbles across Sophia Daring, who had been pulled into the twisted web of a murderous serial killer. Zane must keep her safe while uncovering the truth about the Dalakis brothers, and facing his past once and for all.
How could you not love a guy like this?
I know I can’t help myself. I think it’s the innate sense of honor beneath the cold armor that draws me in. The hint of hope struggling for life beneath the layers of despair. The story of the wounded hero is a story of redemption and hope.
All he needs is the right woman to help uncover who he really is. After all, this is romance I’m talking about and a happily ever after is a given. The wounded hero will step up to any challenges that arise and help the heroine in spite of himself. In doing so, he learns more about himself and who he really is. In doing so, he can break or transcend the pain of the past.
The heroine will have her own challenges to deal with, but that is a subject for another day.
Do you have a favorite wounded hero?
I know that the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward is at the top of my list!
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com/
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
A Legal Affair—Samhain Publishing—July 15th
Jackson’s Jewel—Ellora’s Cave—July 25th
by N.J. Walters
What is it about the wounded hero that sucks us in as both readers and writers?
The first step to understanding this question is to ask another one. What exactly is a wounded hero?
The wounded hero is a man who’s been hurt, emotionally and/or physically. Maybe a trusted comrade has betrayed him. Or perhaps it is someone he loves who has offered him the greatest betrayal. He’s a man who had endured great pain and suffering. He can be rough and tough, or hide his hurt behind a suave exterior. But deep inside, the heart of the wounded warrior beats strong. And you can be certain he’s never forgotten the betrayals he’s suffered or his enemies.
The wounded hero has another aspect to him. He has a sense of honor. It might not match the norms of society, but it is his and he lives by it. At times he will appear cruel and heartless, but in truth, he is protecting himself or someone else by acting that way. He might come across as simple to understand, but you quickly discover he has more layers than an onion.
That’s what drew me to Zane York, the wounded hero of Eternal Brothers. He’s a man who’s endured the horror of watching his parents descend into madness. Alone in the world, he works as a cop to help keep the streets safe. Tortured by his past, he now faces his biggest challenge yet—the Dalakis vampires. In the midst of his investigation, he stumbles across Sophia Daring, who had been pulled into the twisted web of a murderous serial killer. Zane must keep her safe while uncovering the truth about the Dalakis brothers, and facing his past once and for all.
How could you not love a guy like this?
I know I can’t help myself. I think it’s the innate sense of honor beneath the cold armor that draws me in. The hint of hope struggling for life beneath the layers of despair. The story of the wounded hero is a story of redemption and hope.
All he needs is the right woman to help uncover who he really is. After all, this is romance I’m talking about and a happily ever after is a given. The wounded hero will step up to any challenges that arise and help the heroine in spite of himself. In doing so, he learns more about himself and who he really is. In doing so, he can break or transcend the pain of the past.
The heroine will have her own challenges to deal with, but that is a subject for another day.
Do you have a favorite wounded hero?
I know that the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward is at the top of my list!
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com/
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
A Legal Affair—Samhain Publishing—July 15th
Jackson’s Jewel—Ellora’s Cave—July 25th
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Want to help crown a Diva?
Go to the Romance Studio's Studio Diva contest and cast your vote for the best entry.
The linky
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
The linky
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How to write a synopsis
Fantasy author Joshua Palmatier got tired of fielding the same questions phrased slightly differently about how to write synopses, and decided to follow the writing maxim of Show Don't Tell. So he convinced a whole bunch of writers to post examples of synopses that sold.
The examples include fantasy, romance, and science fiction stories, and even one Hollywood screenwriting synopsis.
I posted not only the synopsis for Raven's Heart, the first novel I sold (although it was the third one I wrote), but also the original ending that didn't sell. When you compare the two, the flaws in the original are obvious. People do things for no reason, events hang upon coincidences, the hero is selfish (and shows all the emotional sensitivity of a future spouse abuser) and the heroine's fate is determined by the men around her. By the time it was rewritten and sold, however, everything happens for a reason, the hero is willing to sacrifice everything that matters for the heroine, and everyone around her waits eagerly for her to make a decision that will tell them how to proceed.
I also posted a Question and Answer interview regarding my synopsis writing style. I actually like writing synopses, because they let me make my mistakes early in the process. It's a whole lot easier to change a few paragraphs in a synopsis than it is to throw out and rewrite entire chapters in the finished book.
The examples include fantasy, romance, and science fiction stories, and even one Hollywood screenwriting synopsis.
I posted not only the synopsis for Raven's Heart, the first novel I sold (although it was the third one I wrote), but also the original ending that didn't sell. When you compare the two, the flaws in the original are obvious. People do things for no reason, events hang upon coincidences, the hero is selfish (and shows all the emotional sensitivity of a future spouse abuser) and the heroine's fate is determined by the men around her. By the time it was rewritten and sold, however, everything happens for a reason, the hero is willing to sacrifice everything that matters for the heroine, and everyone around her waits eagerly for her to make a decision that will tell them how to proceed.
I also posted a Question and Answer interview regarding my synopsis writing style. I actually like writing synopses, because they let me make my mistakes early in the process. It's a whole lot easier to change a few paragraphs in a synopsis than it is to throw out and rewrite entire chapters in the finished book.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Come vs. Cum
To me, cum (pronounced 'kūm) is a Latin conjunction meaning "with" or "and." For instance, magna cum laude means "with high praise" and office cum library is another way of saying "office/library."
Cum used as another word for orgasm or semen was something I only saw in poorly written free fiction. In my opinion, come is the correct spelling for both verb and noun. However, this topic was brought up in an on-line author group and apparently cum as both verb and noun is acceptable for some publishing houses.
Color me scandalized!
I had published authors telling me they used cum and cumming in their writings ALL THE TIME! And their editors accepted it!
Now, I can go on and on about why I believe this is wrong, but I have insufficient time to rant properly.
So, here's the question I posed to these authors: What's the past tense of cum?
Their answer: came.
Not cumed or cummed but came.
So, uh, shouldn't the present tense be come?
(Yes, I'm anal retentive. Did you catch my rant about ménage? How about the rant about poor research? And the one about TSTL heroines?)
Cum used as another word for orgasm or semen was something I only saw in poorly written free fiction. In my opinion, come is the correct spelling for both verb and noun. However, this topic was brought up in an on-line author group and apparently cum as both verb and noun is acceptable for some publishing houses.
Color me scandalized!
I had published authors telling me they used cum and cumming in their writings ALL THE TIME! And their editors accepted it!
Now, I can go on and on about why I believe this is wrong, but I have insufficient time to rant properly.
So, here's the question I posed to these authors: What's the past tense of cum?
Their answer: came.
Not cumed or cummed but came.
So, uh, shouldn't the present tense be come?
(Yes, I'm anal retentive. Did you catch my rant about ménage? How about the rant about poor research? And the one about TSTL heroines?)
Monday, March 10, 2008
What makes a hero a hero?
I was thinking of this for a couple of reasons. I just read Angela Knight's Passionate Ink about writing erotic romance and also read a blog somewhere about what an Alpha hero was. The characteristics in both were a little different.
I thought I wonder what makes a hero a hero? And started thinking about what makes one for me. In no particular order...
I thought I wonder what makes a hero a hero? And started thinking about what makes one for me. In no particular order...
- Intelligence is a big one for me. I want a smart guy.
- Humor is another biggie. My husband can make me laugh on the worst of days. And I love him for that.
- Peseverence. When the tough get going, they keep pace right beside. They also do what they say they will.
- Loyalty. They keep the faith.
- Leadership. People follow them, sometimes though they don't really want to.
Some of my favorite heroes include Chris from This is all I ask, Julian from Fantasy Lover, Ramiel from The Lady's Tutor, Mal from Firefly and Serenity, and Jack from Torchwood. There are others, LOL. This is the short list.
So what makes a hero a hero for you? And who are some of your favorites?
Mechele aka Lany of Melany Logen
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Mastabas and Other Strange Facts
Mastaba.
You might be tempted to say gesundheit, but please refrain. There is no need to pull out a tissue or a hanky. There are no runny noses here. I didn’t just sneeze, but I did make a fascinating discovery.
I didn’t know what a mastaba was until I started researching for my upcoming book, Amethyst Moon. The main character, Olivia Fifield, is an archeologist on a dig in the deserts of Egypt, who ends up time-traveling to another planet. But that is neither here nor there. In my poking around on the Internet, I discovered mastabas, which are, in fact, ancient Egyptian burial tombs that predate the pyramids.
The definition of mastaba is: an Egyptian tomb with a rectangular base, sloping sides and a flat roof. Built of mud brick, or, later, stone, it has a deep shaft, which descends to underground burial and offering chambers. It comes from the Arabic word for “bench”.
They started simply enough, but later versions were more elaborate, often having false doors and hidden chambers. They often contained a statue of the deceased and had several rooms. Filled with food and equipment they grew more elaborate over time. The mighty pyramids evolved from the mastaba.
Most people know that the pyramids were the burial place of the kings of Egypt, but what many didn’t realize was that some mastabas held the mummies and possession of kings as well, although as a rule it was usually high-ranking advisors and members of the royal court.
While the walls of the pyramids were generally bare, mastabas were filled with images depicting scenes from everyday life—an actual social history of the people. In many ways, they were more important then the pyramids, offering an actual glimpse into the lives of everyday people.
Like most authors, I find myself researching all manner of strange facts. Like, what exactly does a 911 operator do? Or what other structures would an archeologist be fascinated with in Egypt besides the pyramids?
I found myself at an on-line class this weekend where the participants asked such questions as: If my heroine is given poison, what would her symptoms be? What would the EMTs give her when they arrived? And, If the hero is shot in the shoulder, would it have to hit bone? Would it cause problems with the dexterity of his hand.
It's amazing what kinds of questions arise when you're in the middle of writing a book. I always end up with a list of questions that I have to research when I complete my first draft. It certainly keeps my job interesting. *g*
Which leads me back to Mastabas.
My latest Ellora's Cave novella, Amethyst Moon, is due out this Wednesday on February 20th. If you want to know what happens to Olivia when she enters the mastaba, you'll have to read it. *g*
Check out:
http://www.answers.com/topic/mastaba
http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/burialcustoms/mastaba.html
You might be tempted to say gesundheit, but please refrain. There is no need to pull out a tissue or a hanky. There are no runny noses here. I didn’t just sneeze, but I did make a fascinating discovery.
I didn’t know what a mastaba was until I started researching for my upcoming book, Amethyst Moon. The main character, Olivia Fifield, is an archeologist on a dig in the deserts of Egypt, who ends up time-traveling to another planet. But that is neither here nor there. In my poking around on the Internet, I discovered mastabas, which are, in fact, ancient Egyptian burial tombs that predate the pyramids.
The definition of mastaba is: an Egyptian tomb with a rectangular base, sloping sides and a flat roof. Built of mud brick, or, later, stone, it has a deep shaft, which descends to underground burial and offering chambers. It comes from the Arabic word for “bench”.
They started simply enough, but later versions were more elaborate, often having false doors and hidden chambers. They often contained a statue of the deceased and had several rooms. Filled with food and equipment they grew more elaborate over time. The mighty pyramids evolved from the mastaba.
Most people know that the pyramids were the burial place of the kings of Egypt, but what many didn’t realize was that some mastabas held the mummies and possession of kings as well, although as a rule it was usually high-ranking advisors and members of the royal court.
While the walls of the pyramids were generally bare, mastabas were filled with images depicting scenes from everyday life—an actual social history of the people. In many ways, they were more important then the pyramids, offering an actual glimpse into the lives of everyday people.
Like most authors, I find myself researching all manner of strange facts. Like, what exactly does a 911 operator do? Or what other structures would an archeologist be fascinated with in Egypt besides the pyramids?
I found myself at an on-line class this weekend where the participants asked such questions as: If my heroine is given poison, what would her symptoms be? What would the EMTs give her when they arrived? And, If the hero is shot in the shoulder, would it have to hit bone? Would it cause problems with the dexterity of his hand.
It's amazing what kinds of questions arise when you're in the middle of writing a book. I always end up with a list of questions that I have to research when I complete my first draft. It certainly keeps my job interesting. *g*
Which leads me back to Mastabas.
My latest Ellora's Cave novella, Amethyst Moon, is due out this Wednesday on February 20th. If you want to know what happens to Olivia when she enters the mastaba, you'll have to read it. *g*
Check out:
http://www.answers.com/topic/mastaba
http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/burialcustoms/mastaba.html
Friday, January 18, 2008
Fear is a funny thing
I was talking to my "submission buddy" the other day. A submission buddy, for those who don't have one, is like a diet buddy. They're the person to whom you tell your goal, and who keeps riding you, asking how you're doing on that goal, until you achieve it.
My buddy was supposed to send in a submission by the end of 2007. We discussed the likelihood of an editor being in the office and reading slush between Christmas and New Years, and agreed that a submission the first week of 2008 would still count as having been done by the end of 2007. We even worked out which day to mail the package for optimum chance of it being read.
The day approached. I did my buddy part, asking if everything was in readiness. It was. The manuscript needed only to be printed out, the revisions I'd suggested made to the cover letter, and then the whole thing popped in an envelope. About two hours of effort, my buddy estimated.
The day came. And went. Somehow, despite discussing this for three weeks, my buddy scheduled a business trip for the day when the submission was supposed to occur, completely forgetting about the submission. It was "an accident".
Uh-huh. How many of you believe that? I didn't either.
But, I gave my buddy the benefit of the doubt. If it was mailed the first day my buddy was home, I'd still give credit for having met the 2007 submission goal.
Do I need to tell you what happened? Or rather, what didn't happen?
Clearly, something else was going on. The material was good. I'd read it, and loved it. The cover letter was as good as we could make it. We'd double-checked all the submission protocols. There were no more reasons not to send it out. So my buddy was inventing reasons.
After a lengthy discussion, during which I refused to accept any of the offered excuses (that's the advantage of a submission buddy who's also a writer -- we know which excuses sound good but aren't true, where someone unfamiliar with the industry might fall for it), we eventually got to the crux of the matter. Fear.
"What if I send it to everyone that rejected the first version four years ago, and they still hate it? I'll have wasted all that time and money!" my buddy wailed.
"You'll definitely have wasted those four years if you never send it out at all," I countered. "But if you submit it, there's a chance that you'll be rewarded for your efforts."
When we're in the grips of fear, all we can see is the downside, and what will happen if our fears come true. It's much harder to look for the upside, and take a chance that it might happen. In our heart of hearts, we believe the worst will occur, and we'd rather spend our future years talking about the book that "might have been" published, rather than face that fact that it was never going to be published.
Which would be a reasonable reaction, except for one little thing. Every published author had to sell a first book sometime. Why can't it be you? Why can't it be now?
PS - the story has a happy ending. I just received an email from my submission buddy, telling me that the manuscript is in the mail. :-)
My buddy was supposed to send in a submission by the end of 2007. We discussed the likelihood of an editor being in the office and reading slush between Christmas and New Years, and agreed that a submission the first week of 2008 would still count as having been done by the end of 2007. We even worked out which day to mail the package for optimum chance of it being read.
The day approached. I did my buddy part, asking if everything was in readiness. It was. The manuscript needed only to be printed out, the revisions I'd suggested made to the cover letter, and then the whole thing popped in an envelope. About two hours of effort, my buddy estimated.
The day came. And went. Somehow, despite discussing this for three weeks, my buddy scheduled a business trip for the day when the submission was supposed to occur, completely forgetting about the submission. It was "an accident".
Uh-huh. How many of you believe that? I didn't either.
But, I gave my buddy the benefit of the doubt. If it was mailed the first day my buddy was home, I'd still give credit for having met the 2007 submission goal.
Do I need to tell you what happened? Or rather, what didn't happen?
Clearly, something else was going on. The material was good. I'd read it, and loved it. The cover letter was as good as we could make it. We'd double-checked all the submission protocols. There were no more reasons not to send it out. So my buddy was inventing reasons.
After a lengthy discussion, during which I refused to accept any of the offered excuses (that's the advantage of a submission buddy who's also a writer -- we know which excuses sound good but aren't true, where someone unfamiliar with the industry might fall for it), we eventually got to the crux of the matter. Fear.
"What if I send it to everyone that rejected the first version four years ago, and they still hate it? I'll have wasted all that time and money!" my buddy wailed.
"You'll definitely have wasted those four years if you never send it out at all," I countered. "But if you submit it, there's a chance that you'll be rewarded for your efforts."
When we're in the grips of fear, all we can see is the downside, and what will happen if our fears come true. It's much harder to look for the upside, and take a chance that it might happen. In our heart of hearts, we believe the worst will occur, and we'd rather spend our future years talking about the book that "might have been" published, rather than face that fact that it was never going to be published.
Which would be a reasonable reaction, except for one little thing. Every published author had to sell a first book sometime. Why can't it be you? Why can't it be now?
PS - the story has a happy ending. I just received an email from my submission buddy, telling me that the manuscript is in the mail. :-)
Monday, January 14, 2008
The year of living dangerously
This year, I've resolved to do a lot of things for myself. See, last year, I used to promise myself rewards for writing and never follow through. It had gotten to the point that I didn't belive myself. No more. I'm going to do things for me and write outside my comfort zone. Those were my New Year's Resolutions.
And I've already started. I'm taking an online class on Ireland. Why? Because I want to. It sounds interesting. I have no idea when I'll use it, but I'm so excited to be taking it.
I'm working on a story that will fulfill a goal that I've had for two years that I haven't had nerve enough to do. Not this year. Even if I get rejected, I'm going to finish this story and submit.
I'm feeling rather happy about these two resolutions and as I just wrote 3 K, well, I think my muse is happy, too. I feel like I'm getting my groove back on.
What are you doing or planning to do these days to get your groove back on?
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/
http://www.melanylogen.com/
And I've already started. I'm taking an online class on Ireland. Why? Because I want to. It sounds interesting. I have no idea when I'll use it, but I'm so excited to be taking it.
I'm working on a story that will fulfill a goal that I've had for two years that I haven't had nerve enough to do. Not this year. Even if I get rejected, I'm going to finish this story and submit.
I'm feeling rather happy about these two resolutions and as I just wrote 3 K, well, I think my muse is happy, too. I feel like I'm getting my groove back on.
What are you doing or planning to do these days to get your groove back on?
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/
http://www.melanylogen.com/
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hollywood Writer's Strike
I’m sure by now everyone has heard that the Writer’s Guild of America is on strike. Other than some of your favorite shows going on an early hiatus, what does this mean to you?
Say you’re a cake decorator and you’ve spent six months perfecting your recipe and your design. The bakery, who pays your check, compensates you for your time, then proceeds to sell your recipe, your design and pieces of your cake while they rake in the cash. They’re making money (and publicity) off your product while you receive nothing extra.
Messed up isn’t it?
In a simplified fashion, this is what is going on with the Hollywood Writers.
Ten years ago DVDs, internet streaming downloads, and internet purchase downloads didn’t exist. Now that the movie / tv studios are making money hand over fist with these new technologies while the writer is making nothing more than their standard pay.
A good example is the HBO show, The Sopranos. HBO took in 300 million on Sopranos DVD sales then took in another 200 million when they sold the series to the A&E channel. Yes, I said, 500 million dollars.
What did the writers receive?
Nothing. Not even a kiss on the cheek.
The very popular show, UGLY BETTY, can be viewed online for free and there are commercials embedded in the feed. Commercials that advertisers paid for. The studio claims it is promotional while the writers receive…nothing. Now, how can the studios pull in monies from advertising yet tell the writers that is promotional. Trust me, the IRS doesn’t recognize ‘promotional’ income any differently than income from straight sales.
The fiction / non-fiction writing market is also dealing with this issue. Fifteen years ago there were two basic markets, Audio and Print. Now that the electronic media has come into being, what some publishers are doing with regards to paying the authors for this new venue is a crime, IMHO.
A standard NY house pay scale is between 2 – 10% of a paperback sale price. So here comes the e-market which has quite a few advantages for the publisher: – intangible asset, no warehousing required – low overhead, the file is already 90% in line with the ebook format when its sent to the printer. At this point all it needs is a reformat to the standards and it’s a saleable product. – no editing, paper, supplies etc – only space on a website
So how much (on average) are the authors receiving for this new, viable media?
4 – 6%.
Now, reread the paragaph above about the standard NY house pay scales, I’ll wait.
Do you see what I’m getting at? The house is still making the usual paperback rate for this new media (which is crazy IMO – but lets not go there) while the author gets the same or LESS than the rate for a paperback – a product with considerable overhead.
I think it’s safe to say the days of most companies looking out for their writers has gone the way of the dinosaurs. We are no longer artists, we’ve been forced into the role of content providers. What they do is special, magical, and they shouldn’t have to deal with their employers giving their work away for free. While I do not write for the television / movie industry, I support their strike wholeheartedly. It’s past time for writers to stand up and remind the industry of the value of their work.
Besides, when your favorite shows go into repeats, what would be better than supporting your favorite writers and picking up a book? :)
Say you’re a cake decorator and you’ve spent six months perfecting your recipe and your design. The bakery, who pays your check, compensates you for your time, then proceeds to sell your recipe, your design and pieces of your cake while they rake in the cash. They’re making money (and publicity) off your product while you receive nothing extra.
Messed up isn’t it?
In a simplified fashion, this is what is going on with the Hollywood Writers.
Ten years ago DVDs, internet streaming downloads, and internet purchase downloads didn’t exist. Now that the movie / tv studios are making money hand over fist with these new technologies while the writer is making nothing more than their standard pay.
A good example is the HBO show, The Sopranos. HBO took in 300 million on Sopranos DVD sales then took in another 200 million when they sold the series to the A&E channel. Yes, I said, 500 million dollars.
What did the writers receive?
Nothing. Not even a kiss on the cheek.
The very popular show, UGLY BETTY, can be viewed online for free and there are commercials embedded in the feed. Commercials that advertisers paid for. The studio claims it is promotional while the writers receive…nothing. Now, how can the studios pull in monies from advertising yet tell the writers that is promotional. Trust me, the IRS doesn’t recognize ‘promotional’ income any differently than income from straight sales.
The fiction / non-fiction writing market is also dealing with this issue. Fifteen years ago there were two basic markets, Audio and Print. Now that the electronic media has come into being, what some publishers are doing with regards to paying the authors for this new venue is a crime, IMHO.
A standard NY house pay scale is between 2 – 10% of a paperback sale price. So here comes the e-market which has quite a few advantages for the publisher: – intangible asset, no warehousing required – low overhead, the file is already 90% in line with the ebook format when its sent to the printer. At this point all it needs is a reformat to the standards and it’s a saleable product. – no editing, paper, supplies etc – only space on a website
So how much (on average) are the authors receiving for this new, viable media?
4 – 6%.
Now, reread the paragaph above about the standard NY house pay scales, I’ll wait.
Do you see what I’m getting at? The house is still making the usual paperback rate for this new media (which is crazy IMO – but lets not go there) while the author gets the same or LESS than the rate for a paperback – a product with considerable overhead.
I think it’s safe to say the days of most companies looking out for their writers has gone the way of the dinosaurs. We are no longer artists, we’ve been forced into the role of content providers. What they do is special, magical, and they shouldn’t have to deal with their employers giving their work away for free. While I do not write for the television / movie industry, I support their strike wholeheartedly. It’s past time for writers to stand up and remind the industry of the value of their work.
Besides, when your favorite shows go into repeats, what would be better than supporting your favorite writers and picking up a book? :)
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
30 Days, 50 Thousand Words...It can be done.
November is National Novel Writing Month. Did you know? I didn't until last week. Apparently, tens of thousands of people (2006 had 79,000 participants) use the seat-of-your-pants approach to writing. They throw quality out the window because it's all about quantity, baby. You have 30 days to churn out 50,000 words (and, no, you can't copy and paste "the" 50,000 times).
Have a story kicking around in your head? Ever read something and thought you can do better? Well, go for it! Check 'em out at www.nanowrimo.org.
Have a story kicking around in your head? Ever read something and thought you can do better? Well, go for it! Check 'em out at www.nanowrimo.org.
Monday, October 8, 2007
I feel so writerly
For the past two years, I've been writing where ever I can. Mostly the couch or kitchen table. A few months ago, my hubby saw me trying to get together a package to mail out. He blinked because my stuff was spread across three separate rooms and I had to walk back and forth.
Since then, he's been trying to talk me into setting up an office at home. We finally took the plunge this past weekend, getting a desk.
I still have a lot to set up, but I'm very excited to have my "own space." Yeah, it's shared with both the kids and cat, but LOL it's much more my own than the kitchen table.
Am I any more an author than I was yesterday? Nah, still the same. I just have a spot to do it in. I plan to set it up with my favorite pictures and get some nice feng shui going.
Mechele aka Lany of Melany Logen
Since then, he's been trying to talk me into setting up an office at home. We finally took the plunge this past weekend, getting a desk.
I still have a lot to set up, but I'm very excited to have my "own space." Yeah, it's shared with both the kids and cat, but LOL it's much more my own than the kitchen table.
Am I any more an author than I was yesterday? Nah, still the same. I just have a spot to do it in. I plan to set it up with my favorite pictures and get some nice feng shui going.
Mechele aka Lany of Melany Logen
Friday, September 21, 2007
Historical Facts and Fiction
I’ve been reading quite a bit lately about writers and readers who are disappointed by the latest historical romance novels they’ve read because the facts were not 100% accurate. Like most readers, I want the stories I read to be authentic. Like most writers, I strive to make sure my details are accurate (even though I don’t write historicals).
BUT, and this is a big one, if you’re reading historical romance, you’re already accepting a lapse of historical details. Let me explain…
Take the pirate novel. We all love the handsome swashbuckler, who is secretly a British Lord or comes from some kind of wealthy family. Through circumstance—either he’s disowned by his family for a crime he didn’t commit or he was stolen from his family as a boy and has no idea of his true heritage—this man has been robbed of his life and has taken to a life of piracy. This pirate captain is tamed by the feisty female who becomes his captive. All is revealed in the end and the couple can live happily ever after.
Okay. Stop. Before you take another step or read another word, think about this.
This is already a historical lie. Pirates were not long-lost lords who were restored to the bosom of their families. Nor were they well educated and cultured. They certainly didn’t bathe on a regular basis. And any young woman who was captured by one, I’m sorry, but her first thought wasn’t that he was handsome and she wanted to bed them. And don’t get me started on the rest of the crew.
Yes, there are pirate books out there that show the situation in a much more truthful light, but there are just as many that don’t—and we love them all.
I’m not saying that I don’t want accuracy in the period. I do, but I will forgive certain thinks.
Let’s look at the medieval romance next. I love books about knights in shining armor and the woman who tame them. But in truth, women of that time period had little rights, the men were gone a lot, sometimes years on end, and they weren’t particular enamored of personal hygiene. Do I want to read about an overbearing knight who treats the women in his life as if they were of no consequence? Only if he changes by the end of the book. Otherwise, he’s no hero in my books.
Once again, the details vary from author to author, from decade to decade, and from one historical period to another. Historical accuracy was expected more back in the seventies—The Wolf and The Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss springs to mind. But again, as a reader, I’m willing to give the author some artistic license. I’ve read many medieval romances where the heroine takes the knight on a wild ride, while in truth, she’d probably have been beaten and locked away.
Then there is the Regency novel. This is a time period that requires quite a bit of study. Rules of Society were extremely important. But you know what? I’ve never understood the British Peerage. I'm never 100% certain who is over who, who should be called “My Lord” and who should be “My Lady.” Unless and author make a glaring mistake, I’ll never know. But I do love the era and how intelligent the ladies had to be to get ahead and get the man they wanted. Even within this genre you have the “true” regencies, which are very correct in the history of the times. Then you have the large books, which tend to stretch conventions somewhat. And you know what? That’s okay by me.
In fact, some historical language references, while correct, actually pull me out of the story, because they are something I have to stop and think about. A historical romance is not a historical novel. There is a huge difference. In a historical novel, the details should be 100% accurate. In a historical romance, while I want the details as real and accurate as possible, I don’t want it at the expense of the story.
So, pull out that next yummy historical novel, settle back, and enjoy. And if there are one or two minor details not quite right, ask yourself if it was because the author didn’t know the difference or if it was done for the sake of the story.
I know that everyone has a different opinion on this subject, but that’s okay. There are writers that appeal to all of us out there. Some are all about historical accuracy, while others relax the rules slightly. And then there are those whose books very few will read because they’ve just taken it too far, interspersing too much modernism in a book that is supposed to take us back to the past.
When I read a historical romance, that’s what I want, so the details better take me to another place and time where I can lose myself, if only for a couple of hours. If I want modern, I’ll read a contemporary.
BUT, and this is a big one, if you’re reading historical romance, you’re already accepting a lapse of historical details. Let me explain…
Take the pirate novel. We all love the handsome swashbuckler, who is secretly a British Lord or comes from some kind of wealthy family. Through circumstance—either he’s disowned by his family for a crime he didn’t commit or he was stolen from his family as a boy and has no idea of his true heritage—this man has been robbed of his life and has taken to a life of piracy. This pirate captain is tamed by the feisty female who becomes his captive. All is revealed in the end and the couple can live happily ever after.
Okay. Stop. Before you take another step or read another word, think about this.
This is already a historical lie. Pirates were not long-lost lords who were restored to the bosom of their families. Nor were they well educated and cultured. They certainly didn’t bathe on a regular basis. And any young woman who was captured by one, I’m sorry, but her first thought wasn’t that he was handsome and she wanted to bed them. And don’t get me started on the rest of the crew.
Yes, there are pirate books out there that show the situation in a much more truthful light, but there are just as many that don’t—and we love them all.
I’m not saying that I don’t want accuracy in the period. I do, but I will forgive certain thinks.
Let’s look at the medieval romance next. I love books about knights in shining armor and the woman who tame them. But in truth, women of that time period had little rights, the men were gone a lot, sometimes years on end, and they weren’t particular enamored of personal hygiene. Do I want to read about an overbearing knight who treats the women in his life as if they were of no consequence? Only if he changes by the end of the book. Otherwise, he’s no hero in my books.
Once again, the details vary from author to author, from decade to decade, and from one historical period to another. Historical accuracy was expected more back in the seventies—The Wolf and The Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss springs to mind. But again, as a reader, I’m willing to give the author some artistic license. I’ve read many medieval romances where the heroine takes the knight on a wild ride, while in truth, she’d probably have been beaten and locked away.
Then there is the Regency novel. This is a time period that requires quite a bit of study. Rules of Society were extremely important. But you know what? I’ve never understood the British Peerage. I'm never 100% certain who is over who, who should be called “My Lord” and who should be “My Lady.” Unless and author make a glaring mistake, I’ll never know. But I do love the era and how intelligent the ladies had to be to get ahead and get the man they wanted. Even within this genre you have the “true” regencies, which are very correct in the history of the times. Then you have the large books, which tend to stretch conventions somewhat. And you know what? That’s okay by me.
In fact, some historical language references, while correct, actually pull me out of the story, because they are something I have to stop and think about. A historical romance is not a historical novel. There is a huge difference. In a historical novel, the details should be 100% accurate. In a historical romance, while I want the details as real and accurate as possible, I don’t want it at the expense of the story.
So, pull out that next yummy historical novel, settle back, and enjoy. And if there are one or two minor details not quite right, ask yourself if it was because the author didn’t know the difference or if it was done for the sake of the story.
I know that everyone has a different opinion on this subject, but that’s okay. There are writers that appeal to all of us out there. Some are all about historical accuracy, while others relax the rules slightly. And then there are those whose books very few will read because they’ve just taken it too far, interspersing too much modernism in a book that is supposed to take us back to the past.
When I read a historical romance, that’s what I want, so the details better take me to another place and time where I can lose myself, if only for a couple of hours. If I want modern, I’ll read a contemporary.
Monday, September 10, 2007
When life throws you lemons
Do you make lemonade? do you do as Dr. Drakken does, "I complain about the lemons."? (Dr. Drakken is from Kim Possible, a cartoon on Disney in case you were wondering).
Like a lot of authors, it seems to be going around, I'm on a deadline. It's looooooming.
Needless to say I have reasons for why I'm not done yet. They start at my youngest (her tonsils came out a couple of weeks ago), rear to my oldest (she was bored during the imposed resttime of the tonsils), to my hubby (who wanted to talk new cars last night. *sigh* I so wasn't in the mood but the deal only lasts for a while). It's very hard to write a smoking sex scene with a kidlet sitting at the kitchen table with you.
I've found myself taking little bits of time to write, which isn't something I usually do. Have five minutes, I type out a paragraph. Usually I'm much better when I have blocks of time to write because the muse needs that.
But I've been taking my lemons any way I can get them. I'm trying to read back through the story to edit and look for typos and things that aren't clear. And I'm finding some lemonade in the pages. Yeah, there's some things that need more sugar. But the potential is there.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
Like a lot of authors, it seems to be going around, I'm on a deadline. It's looooooming.
Needless to say I have reasons for why I'm not done yet. They start at my youngest (her tonsils came out a couple of weeks ago), rear to my oldest (she was bored during the imposed resttime of the tonsils), to my hubby (who wanted to talk new cars last night. *sigh* I so wasn't in the mood but the deal only lasts for a while). It's very hard to write a smoking sex scene with a kidlet sitting at the kitchen table with you.
I've found myself taking little bits of time to write, which isn't something I usually do. Have five minutes, I type out a paragraph. Usually I'm much better when I have blocks of time to write because the muse needs that.
But I've been taking my lemons any way I can get them. I'm trying to read back through the story to edit and look for typos and things that aren't clear. And I'm finding some lemonade in the pages. Yeah, there's some things that need more sugar. But the potential is there.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
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