Layering: It’s Not Just about Clothes to Take Off

Mar 9, 2012 by Mary O'Gara

My guest today is Sidney Bristol, author of Flirting with Rescue, an Ellora’s Caves romance with a horse rescue background that will tug at the hearts of any reader who’s ever saved or loved an animal.  Sidney’s sharing her secrets about using her story’s background to layer a story with unique flavor and meaning.

Thanks to Mary for having me here today!

Have you ever read a book, maybe the heroine had a cat, and during the course of her adventurous story she had to go out of town to avoid certain death, despite making plans with a friend of hers or filing for PTO. As exciting as our heroine’s death defying tale might be, I always wonder about the cat. What happened to the poor kitty?

A really great book can suffer if the details aren’t there. Layering conflict and paying attention to the small things can really set your work apart from the rest. How do you do this?

Well, first you want to come up with your major plot arc. Maybe you’re a planner, so you’re going to plot out that whole story. If you’re a pantser, maybe you’ve already written the book and now you have to make it better.

How you layer in your subplots and details will depend a lot on your particular story. You need to figure out who the important people are to your characters, how their job and family and pets interact with them on a daily basis.

Does the setting mean you’re dealing with bad weather, which means your characters have to worry about fixing a leaky roof on top of defeating the big baddie?

What about family? Pets? Friends? How can these average, daily things you and I deal with, create more drama for your plot? This doesn’t just pertain to writing a contemporary tale, even in fantasy, science fiction or any other genre, characters must face a battery of daily, normal life.

Think about the last really great book you read. Can you think of any plot elements that might not have impacted the overall arc, but created something the hero or heroine had to handle or overcome?

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And Your Favorite Superstition Is???

Jan 13, 2012 by Mary O'Gara

Happy Friday the 13^th! Were you watching for black cats to cross the road this morning on the way to work, maybe being extra cautious not to break a mirror as you wrestled with your makeup and hair? Break one and it’s 7 years of bad luck! Good thing I’m not superstitious because I have–at last count–29 mirrors on my walls.

Superstition has been around for probably as long as humans have. Even people who claim they aren’t will sometimes cringe if a black cat darts in front of their car.  I think part of the reason is that people are always looking for answers. If something bad happens, we look for reasons. Somewhere back in history, something terrible probably happened and someone likely remembered seeing a black cat cross the road just before. Poor cat was probably just coming home from a night of mousing and mating. And I think most of us believe there’s some sort of supernatural element to our world.

The warriors in my Connor Clan series aren’t superstitious and they’re not afraid of black cats or breaking mirrors, but they know a thing or two about the supernatural. Part of secret society of warriors who’ve been in existence since time began; their mission is to protect humans from demons who are hiding among us, often disguised as neighbors or friends.

There’s Faelan, the only warrior who’s ever been assigned two ancient demons. Born in the 19^th century, Faelan was most powerful warrior of his time. He was trapped in a time vault and slept for 150 years, waking to a strange world filled with modern technology and even stranger…modern females. For God’s sakes, they’re even warriors, now. What will they do next, he ponders, send children into battle?

Then there’s Ronan, 6’3 inches of raw, sexy warrior, better than Robin Hood with his bow, and equally at home with a sword or a bonny lass. Cody, the only other warrior who’s been assigned an ancient demon, might have pretended to be the tough boy next door, and he’s good at hiding secrets, but his world will never be the same when he finds out what’s been hidden from him.

Shane is quiet but the fastest with a sword, and Niall is a one-man army, with legs like tree trunks. Tomas is a clan medic and Brodie’s the prankster of the bunch, always getting into trouble. Duncan is brooding and frustrated, and Sorcha likes flirting almost as much as killing demons. Anna, a stunning beauty, has chosen to remain a warrior forever, but destiny has some surprises in store.

And my heroines are more than just mates to these sexy warriors. They have talents that will shock even them. Come along as Cody encounters something shocking in the woods.

___________

Cody gripped his sword and stepped lightly on the forest floor, ears tuned for any sound that didn’t belong. He sniffed, eyes searching the shadows. Something was there; he could feel it. A soft laugh whispered through the trees. He whirled. A man materialized a few yards away, watching him with red eyes. He smiled, and sharp teeth flashed in the dark. Fangs. A vampire! What the hell was it doing here? Before Cody could lift his sword, the man rushed at him like a streak, moving so fast Cody couldn’t track it.

He learned in the battle at Druan’s castle that the only sure way to kill a vampire was beheading or a direct stab through the heart. Talismans didn’t work on them. He swung his sword as the thing zoomed past, but he missed. Whirling, it came back. Just as it slammed Cody to the ground, it went solid again, with fangs an inch long, hitting Cody like a semi truck. He rolled to his feet, grabbed his fallen sword, and braced for the next attack. This time when it struck, he was ready. As he fell, he thrust his sword upward, into its heart. The creature turned to dust in mid-air, particles settling all around him.

Hisses filled the air as more creatures emerged from the trees. They stood out of sword’s reach, their fangs bared. Cody searched out where each one stood, identifying the leader, who stood a little apart from the others, his stance cockier, more sure. When one of the others came at Cody, he turned aside and drove his sword into the leader’s heart. The others hissed and looked at each other. They hadn’t expected him to take the offensive when he was so outnumbered, but he was used to fighting against the odds.

They came at him like bullets, nothing but a blur, until they slowed. He swung left and drove his sword into what he hoped was the thing’s heart, and dust rained down, covering his sword. Two of them hit him at once, flinging him in the air like a rag doll. His bones felt like they shattered, but he clung to his sword. They came at him again, and he rolled painfully to his feet, his blade catching another one in the neck. The swing wasn’t strong enough. The vampire screeched and kept going. If he could just see the bloody things. Cody ducked as another one attacked and then swung harder, finishing off the one he missed. He was tiring, but he had to kill them all before they discovered Shay.

Two were left, but they kept attacking so close together that he couldn’t strike them both. He waited for the first to attack. Using the side of a tree to spring clear, he flipped through the air, leveling his blade at what he thought was its neck. It disappeared, leaving only one.

“Come on, you bastard.”

The vampire stood fifty feet away in human form. He turned his head, looking at the path leading to the cabin, and Cody followed his gaze. Shay stood there, her face pale, eyes wide with shock.

“We’ve found you at last,” the vampire said.

Cody’s blood felt like shards of ice.

“We?” Shay asked, her voice strong. “You’re the only one left.”

The vampire grinned. “Too bad I can’t have a taste of you. The feisty ones are always better. I’ll have to settle for him.” Its fangs lengthened. “No one cares about him.”

Shay’s face darkened; her back straightened; her shoulders squared. “I care about him.”

The vampire turned and streaked toward Cody. Shay ran after the vampire, moving just as fast. She tackled it, and they both rolled into the trees, a mix of swirling colors. Cody stood rooted in place, his mouth hanging open. What the hell? Pushing away his shock, he ran after her. How was she doing that?

The vampire looked as stunned as Cody felt. It attacked again, catching Cody off guard, slamming him into a tree. Through the thick fog pushing at the edges of his brain, he registered several things at once. The vampire rushing at him, and Shay, farther away, scooping up a stick and running after the vampire. No, what she did was faster than running. She streaked after the vampire, driving the stick right into the middle of it. It went solid, its fangs elongated, red eyes wide with shock. The vampire disintegrated, but Shay kept coming, moving too fast to stop. She hit the ground and rolled, her stick driven deep into the earth, vibrating, four inches from Cody’s face.

 

Embrace the Highland Warrior – available now!

They were driven apart by a timeless secret…

Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…

But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…

Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…:

http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Highland-Warrior-Anita-Clenney/dp/1402251262

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-highland-warrior-anita-clenney/1100076266

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Embrace-Highland-Warrior/Anita-Clenney/9781402251269

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/embrace-the-highland-warrior/id468777516?mt=11

 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney grew up an avid reader, devouring Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books before moving on to mysteries and romance. After working as a secretary, a Realtor, teacher’s assistant, booking agent for Aztec Fire Dancers, and a brief stint in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel–lasted half a day)…she realized she’d missed the fork in the road that led to her destiny. Now she spends her days writing mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense about Secret Warriors, Ancient Evil and Destined Love. Anita lives in suburban Virginia, outside Washington DC, with her husband and two kids.

http://www.anitaclenney.com

http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR

http://www.twitter.com/anitaclenney

http://www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/anitaclenney

http://www.redroom.com/anitaclenney

My publisher will give away a copy of Embrace the Highland Warrior to one commenter, US or Canada only. My question, of course…are you superstitious?

 

 

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Meggan Connors: Romance Novels Give Us Hope

Jan 6, 2012 by Mary O'Gara

I thought long and hard about what I was going to write about for this blog post.

I hope that you’ll forgive me, as my blog posts tend to be pretty personal. I’m not some fountain of wisdom, and I can’t hope to say anything that will change the way you look at the world. I can only tell you about me, and what changed mine.

So, to introduce myself, I’m Meggan Connors, and I write romance.

I was sixteen when I read my first romance novel. Sure, the love story is important, but that’s not what

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What can you do in 5 minutes a day?

Dec 11, 2011 by Mary O'Gara

Like a phone call home, five minutes with your muse keeps a vital creative connection alive.

Sometimes that’s five minutes to move an important project ahead.

Sometimes five minutes of word play is just what you need.   Word play for your muse is like jacks or Parcheesi for a child.   Or maybe wor

d play is more like a slinky toy because once it’s in motion, who knows how far it might go?

Our left brains organize ad revise and nurture the inner critic.   We don’t hae to worry about time for the left brain; it’s in charge of the schedule.

Five minutes of play keeps the juices flowing, the ideas moving, the characters talking.   And it’s fun.

You can sketch, write a poem, make a list of character names, freewrite about your next scene, or send yourself a text in five minutes or less.   You can take a picture for research, clip images from a magazine, or find color names in a thesaurus.

It’s the daily “call” to the core of your being that keeps something important alive until the next time you sit down for focused work.

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Deborah Riley-Magnus is my Guest Today

Nov 11, 2011 by Mary O'Gara

My guest author today is Deborah Riley-Magnus, author Finding Author Success.  Deborah is a coach who focuses on helping authors take that final leap into successful marketing.  And today she’s giving away a free PDF file filled with ideas for successful book marketing, one step at a time.

We can all do one step.  And then another.  It’s how we write our stories, how we find publishers, how we can learn to market.  Thanks, Deborah!

 

A long time ago I discovered the joy of empowering other people, no matter what they do in life or how many difficulties they face. Simple kindness and a little advice when I had it went far to help a person accomplish what they wanted. It was easy for me, I got to stand back and smile while they managed to overcome an obstacle. Whether helping my little brother learn to ride a bike when I was twelve, or helping authors find success today, it’s still fun and actually pretty cool.

In a lot of ways, a frightened child learning to balance on two wheels and an author facing the responsibilities of marketing and promoting their own book are the same. Both require a gentle hand, patience and a lot of encouragement. Authors are even more terrified than they want to admit and I’m here say, there’s nothing to be so afraid of.

A writer is a courageous, dynamic and amazing creature! They manage story, plot and character development, editing and finding publication. These are monumental accomplishments for anyone. Combine all this with the fact that the average writer is a bit of a recluse who would rather sit at their keyboard in fuzzy bunny slippers and write, write, write … and what have we got when it’s time to market? Double terror. Not only do they need to understand techniques and processes foreign to them, they need to do it in the open. *Shiver*

Authors, one step at a time works best with everything. You’ve already creatively solved the problems of the world you imagined for the characters and situations you invented. Why not look at marketing and promotions as the next phase of that creativity? A book must sell for real author success, otherwise what’s the point of writing another book?

Success is what an author sees it to be, and that’s the first step to overcoming the fears that stall us at the starting gate. Think long and hard about this, (well, at least as long and hard as you thought about every plot twist in your book). What do you really want from your writing? A career? You can have that. A little extra spending money? You can have that. A top ten best seller? Yes, you can have that too.

But none of it will happen if you don’t know how successful you want your book sales to be. These things don’t just happen, and being afraid to approach the market is foolish. Look at what you’ve done! You’ve written a well crafted, wonderful book. Whatever the genre, whether fiction or non-fiction, no matter how it has been or will be published, you’ve done something remarkable and guess what? There’s no point in stopping all that wonderfulness now. Continue to be the spectacular, creative person who wrote that book. Market. Promote. Use publicity well and explore cross markets for larger audiences. Develop wonderful platforms and a spectacular fan base. You can do this. You just need to do it one step at a time and with the same creative excitement you found when you jotted the first sentence of your manuscript on a paper napkin.

Come on, take the challenge. You CAN ride this bike!

To help get you started, I’d like to offer you a FREE 10 Tools for Author Success PDF handbook. Just go to http://theauthorsuccesscoach.com/ and click on the downloadable link.

I’m also offering a free ebook copy of my book, Finding Author Success – the winner will be drawn from those commenting on this blog.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Finding Author Success: Discovering and Uncovering the Marketing Power Within Your Manuscript.

Even the odds for authors with this one-of-a-kind guide to marketing success! Deborah Riley-Magnus takes tried and true marketing, publicity and promotional strategies and tailors them for the unique needs of today’s author. Every element is outlined and explained for easy implementation. You will learn:

•    How to develop a functional and strong book business plan
•    The power of developing effective, targeted platforms
•    The basics of publicity, marketing and promotion
•    How cross marketing works and why it’s magic for an author
•    How to personalize it all to your book

Finding Author Success will take away the mystery about gaining sales and increasing exposure for your book and you as a professional author.

A portion of the sales of this book will be donated to the American Literacy Council. The American Literacy Council’s main purpose is to convey information on new solutions, innovative technologies, and tools for engaging more boldly in the battle for literacy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Riley-Magnus is an author and an Author Success Coach. She has a twenty-seven year professional background in marketing, advertising and public relations as a writer for print, television and radio. She writes fiction in several genres as well as non-fiction. She’s lived on both the east and west coast of the United States and has traveled the country widely. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and just returned after living in Los Angeles, California for several years.

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Saturn: Leaden Foot, Bottom Line Planet

Nov 9, 2011 by Mary O'Gara

 

Saturn’s metal is lead. The origins of planetary correspondences are lost in time, but they come down to us in metaphorical language as well as in ancient wisdom.

Saturn is one of the two primary planets in the business cycle, where we see Saturn as the accountant, accountability, responsibility, and the bottom line.

Saturn’s association with death is actually closely related to its connection with business accountability. Saturn isn’t death by violence; it’s simply the boundary, the end of life in the body. From Saturn as old age and death, we get Saturn as Father Time and the end of the old year on New Year’s Eve and Saturn as aging, the heavy hand of time and limitation.

When you think about Saturn, you may turn to metaphors like leaden, heavy, weighty or depressing. Whole books have been written about Saturn as life’s adversary and limiter.

But Saturn is also focus. Like the lead cloths that protect healthy tissue from X-rays and radiation, Saturn blocks out distractions so we can focus our creative work. Saturn is the form of poetry, the word length limit of a novel, and the meticulous copyediting every book deserves.

When I studied poetry with Karl Shapiro, the master of free verse made us work on form. We were shocked, dismayed. At least I was. And then Karl told us a secret: the most creative work is done within limitations.

Focus does something good for creative work. For one thing, it gets the work finished. There’s that Saturn finality again. For another, the boundaries provide a shape that makes the story easier for the reader to understand and assimilate.

So while Saturn is heavy equipment (and heavy going), dull in color and leaden by feel, it is also the safe confines and rules that provide the foundation for the flowering of creative work. Who would have expected lead to lead to lighthearted creations?

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In Time of Flood

Jun 14, 2011 by Mary O'Gara

The river on my website is the East Nishnabotna, which empties into the Missouri near Hamburg, Iowa.  The river’s peaceful in my photograph, but Hamburg is under water this year.

I remember the daily trips to the bridge north of town where we could watch the river rising or falling, gauge it by marks on the bridge, and estimate how’d get flooded out and how bad it would be.

Rivers aren’t the only ways we experience floods, though.   Spiritual teachers know floods often wash out old patterns and bring us to the experiences that end with initiation also known as empowerment on a new level.

So how do you live through a flood?  Physically, of course, you say what you can, then you either go back to rebuild or start again.

As creative people, we do three things:

1.  We work through the flood times.   If you write, as I do, you continue to work in your journal, add words to your story, or create poems out of strong emotions.   You let the habit sustain you … and there will be time later for editing and revision.   You make your stake by showing up at the page just as those facing physical floods make their by boarding up windows and building dams.

2.  You reach out to others–through groups like the Red Cross for physical floods or prayers, hugs, and showing up in social media during the more personal flood times.   Isolation doesn’t make us more human, and all humans have flood times.   We grow by sharing, not by hiding.

3.  In the end, you make art.   A flood from my childhood became the opening paragraph of a short story.   I used the rain I remembered and realized later how well that rain and that threatened flood stood as a metaphor for the emotional change my heroine and her friend faced.   That’s the great thing about art.   Life gives us raw materials, and our own experience composts them into the material of our work.

4.  Gratitude for what remains.   And something always does remain.  Sometimes it’s just memories.   Sometimes it’s family.   But there’s always something.   A gratitude journal–five daily records of things or people that spark gratitude in your life–keeps hope thriving and sponsors renewal.

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