Not Going to Nationals blog series

I just found this great blog series, Not Going to Nationals.

Trish Wylie is tweaking Jack Bickham's 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes for romance. Check it out at http://trishwylie.blogspot.com/2009/07/not-at-nationals-common-romance-writing.html

Going Where the Fear Is

I just read this and it really resonated with me, so I thought I'd share.

So much of writing is going where the fear is. Fear is power, and a lot of writers don’t want to go there. It’s absolutely natural. Who, after all, wants to be afraid or hurt? Feelings of fear or pain exist for a reason. They are warnings, and quite effective ones. They’re like the reflex that pulls your hand back before you realize you’ve touched something hot. (Gom jabbar notwithstanding. Ha.)

Harnessing that power, going where the fear is, writing even though your hands are sweating and your heart is in your mouth, is the very least you owe your readers. You have a bargain with them–you tell the truth, they keep reading. Lie, bullshit, pull back or cop out–and they sense it. They smell it. It will get your book thrown across the room faster than anything.

These two paragraphs come from this blog post by Lilith Saintcrow titled "There Is No Bloodless Art": http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/07/this-is-no-bloodless-art/ I hope you'll read the rest of her article.

I realized a while ago that I've been letting fear rule me and get in the way of my writing. I'm still working my way through it, one itty bitty baby half-step at a time. Anyone else suffer from this? How do you deal with it?

This Book Made Me Cry

It's been a long time since a book made me cry. A tears-running-down-my-cheeks, can't breathe, have-to-shut-myself-in-my-bathroom-till-I-pull-myself-together cry.

It happened again about fifteen minutes ago.

The book? Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. A story about a thirty year friendship. A story about mothers and daughters. A story about family.

Read it. Share it with your best friend, with your mom, with your daughter.

I'm Blogging at Helen's Heroes!

Today I'm blogging at Helen's Heroes blog. I do hope you'll stop by http://helensheroes.blogspot.com/2009/06/mondays-hero-derek-from-sapphire-and.html and leave a comment.

I'm blogging about Derek Tremaine. He's the hero of my new release, Sapphire and Gold. Here's a peek at him ---------------->

Sapphire and Gold's Official Release is Today!

It's finally here! Today is the official release date for my first sale, Sapphire and Gold! I am sooo excited! I do hope you will enjoy Derek and Alexandra's story.

If you would like to buy it as a digital book, go to http://www.thewildrosepress.com/sapphire-and-gold-p-1287.html?zenid=85aed8cdffbd4fe81cd86e275443e608.

Sapphire and Gold is also available in paperback through:

• bn.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sapphire-And-Gold/Penny-Rader/e/9781601544759/?itm=2


• amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Gold-Penny-Rader/dp/1601544758/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246028033&sr=8-1.

Here's a blurb and an excerpt of the story.

Blurb

In 1752 Philadelphia, Alexandra Whittaker overhears the man who has raised her--and intends to marry her--admit to kidnapping her. She then uncovers a locket containing a portrait of herself as a child. Confused and frightened, she flees, heading for Williamsburg, Virginia, the place inscribed on the back of the locket. On her way out of Philadelphia, she stumbles across a bear and ends up in the river.

Sea Captain Derek Tremaine is guilt-ridden over the disappearance of a small girl left in his care as a youth. Always searching for her, he hears she may be alive and travels to Philadelphia where he discovers an unconscious young woman in the river. She bears a strong resemblance to the mother of the missing girl who has haunted his dreams. He is drawn to assist and protect her as she sails with him to Williamsburg in her hunt for answers about her life. But will the truth give them peace and allow their growing love for one another to blossom? Or will it drive them apart?

Excerpt

The last vestiges of pain ebbed. She opened her eyes and thought she caught a fleeting glimpse of concern cross his handsome features. Her fingers felt along the bandage on her brow. "What happened to me?"

"You fell into the river and hit your head. Max and I pulled you out."

"Max?"

"My dog. Come, Max."

The Newfoundland eased his large frame between his master and Alexandra. She gasped in surprise--he outweighed her by at least three stone! She tried to sit up.

The man assisted her. "Easy now, lest you cause yourself further injury. Mayhap you should lie still." Impatience crept into his voice again.

She winced at his mild rebuke and lowered her gaze, only to realize she was clad in her bed gown. "Sir, has a woman been caring for me?"

"Nay." Amusement glittered in his eyes. "Women are not allowed on vessels. They bring bad luck."

Heat flooded her cheeks, but she forced herself to continue. "I'm--" She cleared her throat and tried again. "I'm not wearing my pink dress."

"Aye, that is true." He nodded, his expression unfathomable.

Sapphire and Gold Is Available In Print!

I am soooo stoked! I just checked bn.com and Amazon.com. Sapphire and Gold is already showing as available! (The official release date is June 26, 2009.) I gotta get some copies ordered so I can hold it my hands because I don't think it will really be real until then.

In case you want to order a paperback copy, here's the link for bn.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=sapphire+and+gold&box=sapphire%20and%20gol&pos=-1

And here's the link for Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Gold-Penny-Rader/dp/1601544758/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244642204&sr=1-3

Finish Your Shift

I recently listened to a writing workshop given by Jodi Thomas. One of the lessons she learned as a teen and applies to her writing keeps playing in my mind: Finish your shift. Translation: Finish your book. If it's completed, rewrite it. If it's rewritten, submit it.

I love doing revisions, doing research. It's the new stuff that comes hard for me. Getting those words on the page in the first place, that's my struggle.

While listening to Jodi's workshop, I realized that as a kid I loved working on various projects, but sometimes I didn't finish them. Who am I kidding? Most of the time I didn't finish them. I think it's because if I finished it, it would be done. Over. Completed. Then what? I didn't have a money tree in my yard, so I made projects last as long as I could.

I think it's the same with writing. If I finish the story, then what? I'll have to create a new one. Then the fear sets in. What if the words won't come? It's almost easier not writing, than risking the words not coming.