MFRW Book Hooks: Loving Boone #MFRWHooks #MFRWAuthor #ParanormalRomance

I'm joining the Marketing For Romance Writers Book Hooks this week! Today, I'm going to share an excerpt from my paranormal shifter romance, Loving Boone. This is the first book in the Cougar Shifters series.

Blurb:

Beth-Ann Miller returns to her Tennessee mountain home to find chaos erupting between her survivalist family and their shape-shifting neighbors. Her father is convinced the were-cougar clan is responsible for the murders occurring in their area and interrogates one of the shifters, Boone Evans, her childhood sweetheart. When Boone declares several members of his shifter family have gone missing including his little brother, Beth-Ann suspects someone else is behind both the murders and abductions.

Boone never expected to see Beth-Ann again. When she frees him from her father's cabin and promises to help him find his brother, Boone doesn't plan on rekindling their passionate love affair or facing the pain of past mistakes. Nor does he plan on coming face to face with the man responsible for altering his family's life forever.

With men hunting the were-cougars, can Beth-Ann and Boone risk all to have a future together? Or is loving Boone too high a price to pay?

Excerpt:

          Boone returned her stare, his green-eyed gaze boring fiercely into her heart, her father's rage reflected there. It wounded her to see him look at her with such fury.
          Although they hadn't parted on the best of terms when she left for college, she had done nothing to hurt his people. And she didn't believe her father would either.
          But Boone stared with such accusation, he didn't need to verbalize his thoughts.
          She was one of them.
          Beth-Ann parted her lips, trying to think of something appropriate to say. Nothing seemed right. What words could she say to fix this? To fix what happened between them.
          There was nothing.
          So, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
          When she opened her eyes, he remained straining against his bonds and staring as if he wanted to cut her apart.
          But this was Boone.
          He'd never hurt her.
          She stepped forward. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her Uncle Travis about to protest, but she raised her hand to silence him. She stopped when she was an arm's length away from Boone.
          He kept his gaze fastened with hers, not even blinking as she approached.
          Beth-Ann gently pushed a few sweat-soaked strands of hair out of his face so she could view his injuries better.
          She gasped at the blood seeping from several cuts on his cheeks and around his eyes. Redness discolored his cheekbones from the impact of her father's fists and swelling was not far behind.
          His face was going to be one big bruise.
          Even as she stared, the flesh around his left eye was growing puffy.
          "You're going to need ice," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
          "I'm going to need that knife," he answered, nodding to the dagger still sunk into the floorboards.
          "Not here," she said with a shake of her head. Her father wouldn't kill him. It wasn't in his nature. "No one will hurt you here."
          "Not anymore?"
          She flinched.
          This wasn't the Boone she left behind. It was as if she gazed into a stranger's face expecting to see the boy she remembered. He might look the same, but his eyes had changed. His soul had changed. He'd been wounded in ways she couldn't comprehend.
          And, he had it right. Despite her beliefs, he'd been hurt by her father's hand. Geoffrey already inflicted injuries on him that might have killed a normal human.
          But Boone wasn't human, was he?
   

AMAZON

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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Be sure to check out the other Book Hooks!

Happy Reading! 

~Tricia

Life Beyond Writing #MFRWAuthor #writinglife

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2019 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 32: "For an author, does life exist outside of writing?"

Writing is a reflection of life. And life is why I write. When I was a teenager, I turned to writing to sort through the trauma of losing my mother at a young age. Although I didn't realize it at the time, all of the heroines in my stories during those years lost their mothers, too. Many of the stories that I wrote dealt with those characters trying to find their way through life after such a life-altering experience.

Even as an adult, I find that many of my stories reflect certain issues that I might be dealing with at that certain moment in my life. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm writing it. My subconscious often weaves those things in without my notice. I usually don't see it until later.

Also, there are some characters, settings and details that are inspired by real life. In The Witch's Thief, the hero, Basil Merriweather, breaks into a wealthy estate to use the vast amount of ornate mirrors inside to cast a spell. That setting was inspired by the beautifully decorated castles and manor houses that I toured while on visiting Germany one year.

A Whisper from the Grave, that is due to be published this fall, takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Again, I was inspired by the sights of St. Jackson's Square to describe my characters and that setting.

In Cupid's Arrow, a short story included in A Wink and a Smile, the main characters meet at a wedding. This particular story was inspired by one of my Waldenbooks co-worker's wedding. As I sat at the round table, observing the guests with my writer's mind, the story started and evolved. I might not have even created these characters or this story if I hadn't gone to this wedding.

For me, life feeds my writing.

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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Plotter, Pantser or Something in Between? #MFRWAuthor #writingprocess

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2019 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 19: "Plotter or Pantzer, and why?"

Let's get some terminology out of the way:

Plotter - a writer who writes a detailed outline or synopsis before writing the story; one who plans out what will happen in the story before actually writing the story 

Pantser/Pantster/Pantzer - a writer who makes no preparations before beginning to write the story; one who writes by the seat of his/her pants 

Okay, I'll admit it. I would love to be a plotter. Those writers seem to have the knack for working out the kinks before they even begin to write the story! To plot out the entire story (and even series!) is something I admire and wish I could do. It feels like it would make the whole writing process faster and I would love to write faster to produce more books. I have so many stories to tell!

However, my brain doesn't work like that.

I began my writing life as a pantser. Well, at least, that's what I thought anyway, back when I was just learning about the differences between plotters and pantsers.

I never worked from an outline. I never had chapters organized or thought out in detail.

I wrote straight from the seat of my pants.

As I matured as a writer, I realized, that wasn't necessarily true either.

I did have a sort of framework that I worked from, even if it was strictly inside my imagination. You see, many of my stories originate from dreams. There's typically a seed or kernel of an idea planted in my dreams and they blossom during the next day as I think and think and think about it.

Since I was a kid, I've been writing my dreams into notebooks that I dub, Dream Journals. From those images that come to me at night, I've discovered several that have stories in them, whether there are characters, plots, scenes or just vague images that lead to something more.

In the morning, I write everything that happened in my dream and while doing this, more ideas blossom in my brain and I write those down, too. Soon, I have the workings of a story.

And that's pretty much how I begin each of my stories, whether it's from a dream or an idea that popped into my brain. I write down everything that I know. Everything about the characters, the setting, the plot, everything that my brain has already figured out for me.

Then I'll start writing. I'll take what I have and connect the pieces as I go. Like a complicated puzzle of writing material. Sometimes, the beginning is already pieced together for me, but the end is a mysterious fog. Sometimes, I have no idea what happens at the beginning, but I definitely know what happens at the end. Either way, I'll write and write until I figure it out.

So, in some ways, I have a rough outline that's more or less pieces of a puzzle. While I'm writing, I'm pantsing them together.

Does that make sense?

I think there are more writers than we know who are probably a combination of both pantser and plotter. I think I've heard them called Plantsers. You have some pieces of the story figured out, whether its just in your head or you wrote that information down. It's there, hovering in your brain, ready to be spilled out onto the page.

Then you just have to write the story, putting the pieces together in a way that makes sense for the reader.

Whatever method works for you, go for it. As long as you're enjoying the ride. For me, writing is sometimes a complicated mess, but I absolutely love it! I love discovering what happens next to these characters who I've come to love.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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Childhood Memories: A Walk Back in Time #MFRWAuthor

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2019 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 2: "Childhood Memories: A Walk Back in Time"

Before my mother died, I had a fantastic childhood. Being two years younger, my little brother was my best friend/worst enemy. When we weren't fighting, we were creating all sorts of imaginative things to do. Although I was born in the '70s, I was an '80s child. We enjoyed playing with toys before the internet, before cellphones, before tablets and limitless television watching.

My dad worked second shift in a factory and my mom spent her days attending college classes and her nights either reading, doing homework or talking to her mom on the phone or at her house. This left my brother and I with a lot of time with just each other to keep us occupied.

We only had 13 channels on TV to choose from so if it wasn't Saturday morning cartoons, then my brother and I were playing game boards, toys, bike riding or creating our own fun. We played tag and hide-and-seek. We rode bikes at our grandmother's house. We chased each other around with squirt guns.

A lot of time we played pretend. We pretended we were Radio DJ's, we were soldiers, we were sword-fighters, we were theater actors, we were newspaper reporters, we were adventurers searching for gold, we were fishermen being attacked by sharks (the shark was often played by my dog, Reva), we were also astronauts exploring new worlds. We tore my mother's sofa apart and used the cushions and blankets to make tents/cabins where we were attacked by Big Foot, werewolves, aliens or whatever monster seemed the most ferocious.

Our imaginations took us everywhere in the world and beyond, all from the comfort of our little 3 bedroom house in Southern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Writing for fun, profit or other? #MFRWAuthor #writerslife

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2019 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 1: "Writing - Doing it for fun, profit or other?"

I started a little late this year, but I plan to get caught up with the Marketing For Romance Author's 2019 Blog Challenge. Here goes...

I started writing for fun. Writing was another form of imaginative play when I was a child. My first series was about my brother's pet turtle, Gonzo, who was a detective, solving mysteries in our grandmother's backyard.

Eventually, my stories developed along with my own growth as a child into a teenager into an adult. After my mother died when I was 11, I found myself writing stories about a young girl with a troubling home life, usually with no mother. Writing became therapy for me. It helped me work through the struggles that I was facing. As a matter of fact, that hasn't really changed at all. I still consider my writing to be very therapeutic.

I didn't consider writing for profit until my senior year in high school when my creative writing teacher, Mr. McCormick, took me aside after class the one day. He told me that the short story that I had handed in had great potential to become a novel and I should consider publication one day. Up to that point in my life, I'd never considered writing as a career choice. Until then, writing was just for fun.

After that fateful day, I began reading books on the writing craft, I took writing courses and workshops, and I attended writing conferences. I began crafting my novels and submitting them to the big New York publishers. Although I received rejections, all of my submissions were returned with helpful insight and constructive criticism on how to strengthen my writing and requests to keep trying and resubmit.

I never gave up. It took a while before my confidence in my writing strengthened, but I continue to grow as a writer every day. I think we all do with each story we write. We learn distinct lessons from each manuscript we write.

Each year, my writing income grows. I consider myself blessed to be able to make money doing something that I love. Not everyone has that kind of opportunity.

So, in answer to the question... Yes. I write for fun, profit and therapy. All three.

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

You can Follow me on ...

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Happy Writing!

~Tricia

What's After THE END? #MFRWAuthor

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 41: "Epilogue or No?"

I read and write mostly romance and there's always a moment after you get to the end of a really good book that you want to be reassured that the characters you invested so much of your life and time in will definitely turn out fine. And sometimes it's just because it's so difficult to let go of those wonderful characters. The Epilogue can set some of your worries at ease.

What is an Epilogue?

The section at the end of the book. It usually takes place after the action of the story, sometimes a few days later, sometimes a few years. If you're reading a romance, then sometimes the author fast forwards a few years to let the reader glimpse the life of the hero and heroine after they connected at the end of the story. Maybe they're married and have children.

Why Write an Epilogue? 

By giving a glimpse of the character's life after the events of the book you bring a sense of closure to your reader. Readers are reassured that all is well with their characters who, frankly, if an author does it well enough, seem like real-life friends.

This is also a great place to tie up some of those elusive loose threads. Maybe those unanswered questions didn't find a place in the story, but readers deserve to know those answers.

What Do I think?

Personally, I enjoy reading epilogues. In fact, my favorite epilogues are written by Julia Quinn who then went on to publish an entire book of them. Her stories of the Bridgertons are simply wonderful and it's difficult to let go of those characters after you're finished reading them. Those epilogues bring a sense of satisfaction and contentment and definitely leave me smiling and wanting to read another of her books.

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Work Attire for Writers = Clothing is Optional #MFRWAuthor #writinglife

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 40: "What I Wear When I Write"

I bet that got your attention!

One of the benefits of working at home is you don't have to wear a uniform, a business suit or anything at all for that matter! Yes. If that's your thing, clothing is definitely optional when you're working in the privacy of your own home. No one will ever know if the latest novel you wrote was written while wearing your Birthday Suit. Unless, of course, you tell them!

For me, I have what I lovingly refer to as lounge wear. I have several pairs of yoga and running pants, along with a variety of comfy t-shirts. Among those are littered with sayings or designs from Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, The Walking Dead or several Disney Princesses. I think I may have a Star Wars shirt, too.

There are times when casual is just too casual and I don't feel in a work mood. Those days, I shower and get dressed in stretchy jeans and a nice button-down shirt. To get in the mood to write, I sometimes need to pretend that I have an actual job to go to, so I'll dress nicely for that. 

Still comfy though. Comfy is a priority in my life. I'm not a glamorous writer who wears sexy dresses and high heels. In fact, I don't really think I have any high heels, at all. I'm tall enough and sometimes those thing hurt! Sneakers are my thing. Barefoot is great, too, but I have little kids and there's always the terrifying threat of stepping on Lego's or Matchbox cars.

I'm about what feels good. If I wear skin-tight clothing, then it must be stretchy, because no way is my post 4x C-Section body in any shape for sexy skin-tight. I exercise, but I'm not a super model. I'm a mom with wide hips, big boobs and stretch marks. I realized several years ago that there are some clothes that I will never fit into again.

Which again, comes back to if you're a writer working from home, you can wear whatever you darn well please! As long as the kids are at school, anyway. Then have at it, by all means! Just get those words written!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Why I Read Romance #MFRWAuthor #booklovers

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 5: "A book that has influenced my life"

As soon as I learned my alphabet I've been a reader. The first books I remember reading were Dr. Seuss. Throughout my life I've read so many books both fiction and nonfiction that have influenced my life in one way or another. My mother was an avid romance reader, so when I was a teenager I decided to give reading romance a try. I bought my first romance novel at Hills Department store. It was a Harlequin Historical romance novel named The Romance of the Rose by Claire Delacroix. With one book, I fell instantly in love with the romance genre. Because of this book, I went on to read as many romance novels as I could and eventually when I decided to give writing a try, it was a romance story.

Armand d'Avigny would always associate Alexandria de Fontaine with the smell of roses. Indeed, the knight had carried the memory of the beautiful healer with him to the Crusades. Now, as he looked upon the same sweet face once more, he vowed that never again would she be taken from his side. Alex's heart soared when she recognized the green-eyed gaze of her would-be rescuer. Yet even as they sped to safety, she knew that she could not accept the promise of Armand's love. For to do so would expose him to the danger of her enemy. And as long as Pierre de Villiers remained alive, Alexandria de Fontaine would never be free. 

 Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Reading!

Tricia

My Earliest Memories #MFRWAuthor #childhood

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 1: "My earliest memory"

I have a lot of memories of my childhood where I really don't know how old I was, so it's difficult to say what my earliest memory could be, but I was 2 years-old when my brother was born and I remember my mom and dad coming home with him as a baby. I have a clear memory of thinking that my parents brought me a baby doll. I was excited to have a new toy. I was at my grandparent's house (I probably stayed there while my mom was in the hospital), and I recall them walking in carrying a bundle wrapped in blankets. My mom sat beside me to show me my new brother. Yes, I thought, definitely a new doll to play with. And, I suppose, I was partially right. I have many, many memories of the games my brother and I played together. I was lucky to have a wonderful and happy childhood. 

I also have a few precious memories of my grandfather. He died shortly after my brother was born. I wasn't quite 3 years-old when my grandfather passed away. One time, I remember walking into my grandparents house, having to lift my legs really high to step up the porch stairs to their front door. I was in front of my mom and dad who helped me open the door. And there my Pappap Bud as I called him, was sitting in a chair by the window. He leaned over as he heard the door open. As soon as he saw me, his face lit into a bright smile. I loved that smile! He slid off the chair and greeted me on the floor with a hug.

Years later, I mentioned this memory to my grandmother. She always sat at the chair by the window and it became known as Nana's chair. I told her that I remember Pappap Bud sitting there and wondered why he'd be sitting in her chair. She told me, of course, it was his chair back then. I realized at that moment, that memory wasn't something I had created about my grandfather. It was real. I had only been 2 years-old!

I remember my grandfather's funeral, too. Well, not the funeral exactly, but the viewing. My father was carrying me in a room full of people who were all dressed up. I was wearing a dress, too. I saw my Pappap Bud sleeping in a box. I wanted him to wake up so he could play with me. But, he didn't.

Another memory of my grandfather has confused me for most of my life. I'm not even sure if it was a memory or a dream. I hadn't seen my Pappap Bud in a while and I missed him. I was in my grandparents house when I saw him in the dining room. I chased him, wanting to play with him. He went upstairs, so I followed. He wanted me to follow him, because he kept looking back at me and waving for me to keep going. When I reached the top of the stairs, he had disappeared. I walked down the hallway to find him in my grandmother's bedroom. He was sitting on the floor with a brown puppy dog stuffed animal toy. He handed it to me. Then he went on to say that he loved me very much and wanted me to be a good girl. I promised him that I would.

That was the last time I remember seeing him. The thing about this memory that has trouble me is that I have the distinct impression that this memory occurred after he died. I remember being so happy to see him because I hadn't seen him for a while and I missed him so much. I told my grandmother about it years later, probably when I asked her about the chair. When I mentioned the brown puppy dog toy, she told me that my Pappap Bud had given me that stuffed animal. At that point, I was older and had no idea the stuffed animal was from him. It was one of my favorites, though, and I kept it on my bed all the time. For some reason, I got chills when she told me this. Was this a memory or a dream? Or had he come back to say good-bye?

My family has some interesting stories about my grandparents house. Strange noises. Things moving when no one was there. I had my own share of experiences there. My grandmother said the house was haunted, but everyone who had died there was from our family, so there was no reason to be frightened of anything otherworldly. And, I was comforted by that. I lived in that house on and off when I was young while my parents tried to find a house of their own and then again when I was a young adult. I've never felt more safe or loved than when I was in that house. And I think its because the ghosts of my family were always watching over me. I hope they still are. 

Since I'm posting today (Jan. 11), I'd like to mention that today is my mother's birthday. If she had lived, she would've been 60 years-old. I try to imagine her as an older woman, but its a difficult thing. She's forever 31 in my mind. She passed away when I was 11. She graduated from college (Summa cum laude) and achieved her dream of becoming a teacher. A year later, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Four months after that she was gone. Words cannot express how much I miss her. I cherish every single memory I have of her and I wish I had more. Sadly, I best remember the many days she was in the hospital before she died. I remember the very last time I spoke to her. The very last time I saw her alive. These memories are difficult, but I cherish each one because I'll never have new memories of her. 

Mom, I love you!

My Favorite Story #MFRWAuthor #writing

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 1: "Favorite thing I've written, and why"

I've heard many authors say that their favorite book is the one they're currently writing. Before I became published, I couldn't understand how they could feel that way. I cherished each story I wrote. How could I possibly pick a favorite among them?

After being published for 8 years now, I understand better. A writer continues to learn her craft and grow with each written word. The skill of the author grows with each book, so the newest book should be the best book. Which could explain why the story they're currently writing is their favorite.

Not to mention that the book that is currently being written is the one that is uppermost in the author's mind. Those characters are the people the author is most involved with at that moment. Everything is new and fresh and exciting. Writing a new book is like riding a roller coaster. It's a thrilling whirlwind ride filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, you're not even sure if you'll make it to the end. But, when you do, its a relief and your're proud that you survived it!

Because I'm a complicated person, I have more than one favorite book that I wrote.

The Witch and the Wolf will always be a favorite because it was the first book I published. I sent it in to the Wild Rose Press for a submission call they had posted for an anthology. They didn't accept it for the anthology, but the editor who read it liked it enough to offer me a contract as a regular submission. My first book published! I still remember reading the email and dancing with my two little boys in the dining room.

And, of course, my current favorite is the book that I'm working on right now. It's tentatively titled, Into the Dark. I've been working on this one for a long while. Its been a difficult journey because it took a while for all of the pieces to come together, but finally everything is falling into place. I'm pleased to say that an editor has requested this one on proposal so I'm eager to finish it and sent it out!

Another favorite is the very first book that I ever wrote that to this day still remains untitled and hidden in a box under my bed. It came from a vivid dream one summer when I was 15. I wrote the dream into a notebook, but even after that the people and places I'd seen remained in my mind all day long. Soon, I was scribbling more notes and scenes about the dream. Eventually, it blossomed into a 50,000 word novel that I wrote in one week! This is the book that made me begin to study the writing craft and take classes and workshops. I fell in love with writing because of this one. I still think of going back and trying to re-work it into something I might publish one day.

My favorite book with a vampire is The Witch and the Vampire because I simply love Sebastian Collins. Vampires are such fun to write and I plan to work with more soon.

And, of course, my newest favorite is To Kiss a Pirate which is a short story in Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly anthology. I'm excited to be involved in an anthology with so many outstanding authors and I can't wait to read everyone's stories!

 Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Reading!

Tricia

Looking for a Hero #MFRWauthor #writing #characters

 Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2017 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 18: "The Ideal Romance Hero"

When I think of the ideal romance hero, I imagine a man who is flawed or in need of redemption. Isn't that the perfect hero for a woman to rescue? There's more...brave, honorable, loyal, and funny. He needs to make me laugh. Very important. What else? He doesn't necessarily need to be handsome. I know, most women look for Mr. Tall, Dark and Sexy, but I look for more than a person's face to make them attractive. Intelligence is far sexier. That's not to say that I don't mind a good-looking guy. I'm just pointing out that its not necessarily a priority.

Let me give you some examples of what I think of as a romance hero. I'll use characters from movies and television as examples, since those are the ones that most people can easily relate to.

Han Solo 

Movie: Star Wars (Episodes 4, 5, 6 ,7)

Occupation: Smuggler

Portrayed by Harrison Ford

This man has been my hero since I was a child. I fell in love with this scruffy-looking Nerfherder right alongside Princess Leia. When he first met Luke Skywalker, Han was all about making a profit to save his hide from Jabba. It was a long road of redemption for this guy as with each turn, he thought about his own welfare before anyone else. But, it was difficult not to fall in love with the charming and witty rogue even when the rational side of your brain keeps telling you that he's not the type of guy for a decent girl. That doesn't stop Princess Leia from nudging Han and encouraging him (in her own sassy and sarcastic way, of course) to be a better man. By the end, this roguish hero redeems himself by returning to rescue Luke right when he needs help, thereby saving the galaxy from the evil Empire. And, that's just the first episode. In my opinion, Han has more developmental growth than any other character in these movies.

Indiana Jones

Movie: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; 

Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark; 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 

Occupation: Professor and Archaeologist 

Portrayed by Harrison Ford

You might think I have a thing for Harrison Ford (and, really, you're not wrong), but its just a fact that when I think of heroes, these are the first two that pop into my brain. I grew up wanting to be an archaeologist because of this guy. He's probably one of the inspirations for my love of history and learning languages. Indy is a lot of things. Brave, intelligent, resourceful, quick-witted, loyal and with a sense of humor and humility. He's a tweed-jacket wearing professor as well as a whip-cracking adventurer. But, he's also a man with faults. He doesn't always have the answers. He makes mistakes. Misjudges people and distances (as when he tries to jump across a chasm). He has a strained relationship with his father. He falls kinda easily for a pretty face, and on the same note, he's not a decent fellow at first to any of the ladies of his acquaintance. He's stubborn and materialistic (think fortune and glory). And, he hates snakes. Really, Jock. He hates 'em. Even Reggie. In each movie, the character development grows as Indy learns about his place in the world, his abilities, his strengths and weaknesses, and his relationships with those close to him, whether its Marion, Marcus or his father which makes falling in love with this guy inevitable.

The Doctor

TV series: Doctor Who

Occupation: Time Lord

Currently portrayed by Peter Capaldi 

Ah, the Doctor! I have a few memories of Tom Baker with his incredibly long, multi-colored scarf from my childhood, but I didn't become a true Whovian until the reboot starring Christopher Eccleston. Each regeneration brings different qualities to the character but in essence, The Doctor is mysterious, adventurous, brave, extremely intelligent, eccentric, and compassionate. He's also rude, arrogant, cowardly, ruthless and selfish. He is full of hope and regret. He is both fun and terrifying. Throughout it all, his companions are what help him become a better person. He needs them. He can barely survive without them. It's proven in a few episodes that when he travels alone for too long he becomes rash, judgemental, wild and reckless. He needs someone to hold him back, like when Rose stops him from killing the Dalek in the 6th episode of the reboot. And, he also needs someone to push him in the right direction as Donna did in "The Fires of Pompeii" when she asked him to save at least one family from Volcano Day. He's the kind of guy that a girl would dream of going on any adventure with, but he'll keep her on her toes! There's very little down-time with the Doctor. Instead, there's running. An outrageous amount of running involved.

Nathan Drake

Video Game: The Uncharted Series

Occupation: Treasure Hunter

Voiced by Nolan North

I know I said I'd restrict this to movie and television shows, but I just had to include Nathan Drake in my list of heroes. I've never actually played the game (my husband did), but I watched it like it was a movie, especially all those wonderful cut scenes. Nathan Drake is another lovable adventurer (maybe I have type?) with an incredible sense of humor and sharp wit. He's fun, easy-going and charming. A bit roguish and rough around the edgings but in a boyishly adorable sort of way. As with any other well-drawn character, Nathan Drake has his flaws, too. He's had a rough childhood with only his brother to help him guide him to adulthood. He's a thief, a liar, and a miscreant. He's an extremely human character by making many mistakes in his adventures. His sarcasm is rather legendary. And he has an unhealthy obsession with treasure that leads him into unending trouble. However, he's loyal and extremely protective of those people he deems close to him such as Sully, Elena and his brother, Sam.       

Sam and Dean Winchester

TV Show: Supernatural

Occupation: Hunters

Portrayed by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

I admit, I might be slightly obsessed with Supernatural in more ways than one and maybe I'll delve further into that obsession with a future blog post. Today, however, I'll try to limit my views on the main characters as romantic heroes. These two have been to Hell and back, literally. After their mother was murdered by a demon, their father kept them traveling throughout their childhood as he hunted the thing that killed their mother. Dean was taught to protect his brother, Sam, at all cost, a trait that continues into his adulthood. As adults, Sam and Dean continue their father's work and hunt the supernatural monsters that people don't know exist in this world thereby saving lives by sacrificing themselves. They are brave, loyal, trustworthy, resourceful, and strong. They're both gifted with a sense of humor that keeps the show light and fun-loving even during the darker moments. However, their lives are not exactly filled with black and white. They wade through several shades of gray as they determine who is good and who is evil, which isn't always easy. They make mistakes and sometimes need to make tough choices that aren't always right. They lie, steal and impersonate FBI agents to get to the monsters. They kill and torture and sometimes innocents are sacrificed or caught in the crossfire. And despite all the good they do, all the people they save, they suffer from guilt and regret for those they've lost. These are the kind of guys that you just want to hug close to your heart and keep them safe from the evil they expose themselves to.

Want some more heroes? 

Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly

John Crichton in Farscape

Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows

Tony Stark in Iron Man

Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock

Rick O'Connell in The Mummy

Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean

What qualities do you look for in an ideal hero? Can you suggest any heroes that readers should either watch or read? I'd love to discover more heroes to add to my list!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Reading!

Tricia

When I Need a Laugh #MFRWauthor

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2017 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 18: "What makes me laugh out loud?"

Life gets stressful. That's true for any of us. There are days I know I'm near my wits end and when that happens I need a laugh. Desperately. Laughter is the best medicine, as they say.

Today, I awoke to a gray, dreary day. When it still looks dark outside, I have a difficult time crawling out from under the covers. I could hear my 11 year-old and 6 year-old already fighting. They hadn't even gotten out of their bedroom, yet. My 9 year-old had his head hiding under the pillow to block out the noise and chaos his siblings were creating. Wise move. The only one smiling was my 2 year-old. But, really, unless someone takes away his sippy cup of milk, he's always smiling!

Some day's just don't start off well and occasionally it keeps heading downhill. On those days, I know I need to put a halt on my crankiness and in order to do that I have a few tricks up my sleeves to turn my frown upside down.

What do I do when I need a laugh?

My kids

Usually, my kids are a fantastic source of laughter for me. They are goofy, fun and silly. I'm highly entertained by their antics, even when they're up to no good. However, this dose of laughter is usually provided on a daily basis. And, I do my best to make them laugh in return. I love to hear them laugh. Especially, those belly laughs that sometimes turn into snorts! Those are the best!

But, what do I do when my kids are driving me absolutely crazy....?

Graham Norton

When I need a guaranteed dose of laughter that even my kids can't provide (usually because they are the cause of my crankiness), then I turn to a TV program that has never failed me, yet. Graham Norton is the host of a British talk show aptly called The Graham Norton Show. Every week there are new celebrity guests on his couch being interviewed and you never know what is going to happen. There's a lot of laughs and hilarious moments. And Graham, himself, is just too funny for words! He's adorable!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Reading!

Tricia

Travel Dreams #MFRWauthor #BlogChallenge

This week I'm answering Marketing For Romance Writer's 52 Week Blog Challenge. The challenge began in January, but I'm just joining in now. This week's topic is:  

Top 5 Places I'd Like to Visit

Germany 

I've visited Bamberg, Germany several years ago, and I completely fell in love with the history, customs, and people who live there. It was an adventure unlike any other I've experienced (including my first time ever in an airplane!). I've written about my experiences in Germany before, including a bit about the summer palace home of Marie Antoinette. And I've been dreaming of going back ever since!

Anywhere, but especially London, England

 

I'm not sure when it happened, or how exactly, but I've discovered recently that I'm an Anglophile. Maybe it was when I fell in love with Jane Austen's novels spurring me to research everything and anything about the Regency era in England. Or it could be when I first watched Top Gear for the first time, discovering many differences between England in America from the cars to the language. Or, it could be when I first watched a movie featuring Colin Firth. Who knows? Who cares? All I know is that I love England and I've never even set foot there.

I've been researching British history for years and have even set my Regency paranormal romance The Merriweather Witches series in  England. One of my travel dreams is to walk along the same streets in London that my characters have walked. Even if its the present day and not in the Regency era. I just want to be there!

New Orleans, Louisiana

Okay, here's another one. I've visited here several years ago, before Katrina hit. My husband (then boyfriend) and a bunch of our friends drove 19 hours to spend a week in New Orleans. We partied on Bourbon Street, visited a haunted graveyard, boarded a ferry crossing the mighty Mississippi River, and took a tour of the swamp where the crocodiles followed our boat. It was another great adventure that I want to experience again. And there's so much that we didn't get a chance to do, like visit more haunted locations, so I want to go back to check off that on my to-do list.

Rome, Italy

Here's another location that any history lover would be thrilled to explore. The central heart of the Roman Empire. Not only do I want to visit all of the historic sights, but I'd love to learn the Italian language. There's something so enchanting and romantic about this language. Plus, I have some Italian friends who are in desperate need of a vacation. It would be great for us to travel together in a group to explore the home of their ancestors!

Paris, France

Do you sense a historic theme to my choices? I really should just include all of Europe in my travel dreams, because if I want to be honest, I dream of visiting all of the European countries. I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris and visit the Louvre. Here's a list of things to do in Paris that I'd enjoy checking of my list!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Traveling!

Tricia