Sara Reyes | What's a book club?

Book club dynamics. Hmm, interesting topic. This past Wednesday I realized we've been meeting at my house for four years. A long time but something has evolved. As people come and go we have a core group of women who monthly come and spend three to five hours every third Wednesday at my house. First putting together a meal, followed by eating, followed by a talk with an author on a speaker phone then followed by lots more time "visiting."

I also watched as the dinner was put together. We've been meeting so long it's like a family: everyone assumes a role, chore and position. And you don't mess with the status too much. We've had new people come every month, so we have a "hostess" who makes them feel at home and puts a drink in their hand. Also gets them out of the temperamental chefs way. (I say this with GREAT affection, so if you're one of those temperamental chefs you will NOT kill me in the near or far future! okay?) I've learned my place is to sit at the breakfast table aka my office desk and observe. I no longer make any comments about the cooking, as I value my life and enjoy the food too much!

After the food is assembled we sit down. We have to be eating by 7:15 because the author will call at 7:30 and it's so impolite to talk with your mouth full or to try to converse over clicking flatware and plates. Those phones pick up everything! We have the author talk down to a science as well: introduction, summary of book, prepared questions, general conversation, and closing. Then we finish eating, have the dessert and coffee, a refill of the glasses and settle in to talk or what my mother and grandmother would call 'visiting."

We talk about the author and their books. What we liked, didn't like. What the author said that may change our perceptions and whether we agree or not. Did I mention some of us are contrarians. We always have copies of the author's books on the table, so they'll get passed around and more comments pursue. Then eventually we get to our lives! That's always interesting. Then a bit more coffee, talk about future and it's 10pm and time to go home...or in my case, to clean up.

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All this became relevant because our author guest this week, Laura Griffin asked about our club. What we do at meetings, how we're organized, pick books and generally curious about our set-up. As I said, we're different than most in we never require the members to read the book. I know enough will to have a lively discussion, besides it's certain that the members who suggested this author and are required to prepare questions will have read the book. Plus we ask for author suggestions a couple of time a year so it's not as if we're coming into an author cold. And if the author is interesting (and who isn't talking about their "baby"), we'll go out of the dinner with converts who have been known to stop by a Barnes & Noble or Wal-Mart on the way home and buy her current book, they'll hunt down her last books and be sure to buy all her future ones. I've seen it happen over and over. And the author got to do her presentation in her jammies (possible) and with a glass of wine (we encourage it)! What a deal for both of us!

So, if you attend a book club, tell me what it's like, after all, we like to share stories, no? And as a special prize from our book club...I'll give away a brand-new copy of something in our treasure trove of new arrivals! Just enter here or better yet, leave a comment!

Sara Reyes
DFW Tea Readers Group
Join us at Readers 'n 'ritas in 2009!

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Jessica Andersen | DAWNKEEPERS... Novels of the Final Prophecy

Hi!  Jessica Andersen here, author of the Novels of the Final Prophecy.  Thanks for joining me today!

Here’s a quick blurb on the series, and particularly Dawnkeepers, which came out this month to rave reviews (yay!):

The final four-year countdown to the end of days has begun.  According to ancient Maya prophecy, demons from the underworld will arise on December 21, 2012.  Only the Nightkeepers, mortal descendants of an ancient race of magic-wielding warrior-priests, can prevent the apocalypse by stopping the demons from bringing the old legends to life.

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Unlike his fellow Nightkeepers, Nate Blackhawk isn’t about to let the gods determine his destiny- especially when it comes to his feelings for Alexis Gray, his ex-lover and nemesis.  But when they’re forced to work together, racing to recover seven antiquities before the demons get their claws on the vital artifacts, Nate and Alexis will have to face their feelings - and their past - in order to defeat a dire and ancient enemy.

One of the questions I’m frequently asked about these books is whether I set out to write strong heroines, and the answer is: absolutely, yes! 

In part, that’s because I write the sort of stories I love to read, and watch on TV or in the movies: big, fat, complex love stories in which the heroine stands up for herself, and even rescues herself now and then, rather than waiting for the hero to come save her.  But at the same time, I love a big, strong macho guy who has his own opinions, and doesn’t just roll over on his convictions because he’s looking to get some.  I want to believe that my hero and heroine are not only going to live happily ever after, but that they’re also going to do it as individuals, too, meaning that they’re going to stay themselves rather than one of them being subsumed or changed too far by the other. 

I don’t like stories in which one character has to give up too much or lose too much of herself make me sad. . . and imho, this happens more often with heroines than vice versa.  In the stories I love and write, I want to feel that the hero and heroine are stronger together than apart, and that both of them contribute to that strength. 

In Dawnkeepers, Alexis is a type A overachiever determined to become an advisor to the king, as her mother had been before her.  She has her insecurities (don’t we all?) but they don’t stop her from functioning and being a fully realized person, even when she’s being forced to work with the ex she hasn’t managed to get out of her system.  She stands up for herself, asks for what she wants and needs, and demands not that she and Nate meet each other halfway, but rather that they propel each other to greater heights. . . both in and out of the bedroom.  That is, in part, what makes Dawnkeepers my favorite of the books I’ve written so far.  I love that Nate and Alexis empower each other.

So tell me. . . anyone have recommendations for some stories in which awesomely strong heroines are matched with equally awesome heroes?  Anyone who posts is entered to win a signed copy of Dawnkeepers!

Jessica Andersen
JessicaAndersen.com

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Kelley Armstrong | The Joys of Serialized Storytelling

January marks two big milestones in my e-serial writing career.  On the 15^th, I posted the prologue for the first e-serial in my YA series.  And next week will see the release of Men of the Otherworld, containing three of my early e-serials (and a new story.)

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, an e-serial is a story published in segments on the internet.  When I do them, I’m posting as I write, on a set schedule, usually a chapter every couple of weeks.  There are ways to charge for the downloads, but most—like mine—are done as reader freebies.

I started writing e-serials shortly after launching my website in 2002.  A web guru at my publisher suggested I find ways to make my site “sticky”—bring people back between books.  It was a time in my life when I was looking for more storytelling opportunities.  I’d finished maternity leave and decided to quit my job (two kids under the age of two plus a new career as a novelist meant something had to give.)  I decided to write an e-serial novella for my site.  I polled readers for a topic, then started Savage, a prequel telling the back-story of my male lead.

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I loved the e-serials.  They brought a freshness to writing that I missed, taking me back to the days when I’d show a work-in-progress to family and friends, getting that instant reader feedback and gut-reaction constructive criticism.  They brought the reader into the process and they allowed me to tell stories I couldn’t do in the published series.

I also discovered that posting the stories free online didn’t satisfy every reader.  I’ll be honest—I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of publishing these.  They were meant to be a gift for readers.  So I started saying “I’ll publish them when I’m in a position to do it as a charity endeavor.”  That opportunity came last year, and when Men of the Otherworld comes out next week (and Tales of the Otherworld in 2010) all my proceeds will go to World Literacy of Canada.  I get to re-gift these stories to a worthy cause, and that feels almost as good as writing them the first time.

I took a year off e-serial writing last year.  Anyone who sees my publication schedule for 2009 will know why!  But I started again this month, switching to my new young adult series, to give a little something extra to those readers.  And I’m already having a blast, regretting that year off.  Although e-serial writing isn’t for everyone, it’s something I’d urge writers to try.  It may not pay the bills, but it pays off in so many other ways.

Kelley Armstrong
KelleyArmstrong.com

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Laura Griffin | Breaking in this New Year: Tips for Aspiring Writers

Are you one of those voracious readers who believes that somewhere, deep down, you have a book inside you? If you are, I’ve got some tips about how to break into the business this year.

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As Susan Sontag once said, “Writers begin as bewitched readers,” and I know this was certainly the case for me. I can remember combing the dusty bookshelves in my grandmother’s house and making a discovery that would impact my life: a complete collection of Nancy Drew mysteries. What books influenced you as a kid? I love asking book lovers this question, and I’m always amazed by the varied responses.

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Now for those tips I promised. If you follow these suggestions, I can’t guarantee that you’ll land that elusive book deal. But I can guarantee you’ll be several steps closer than you were before:

1. Join a writers group. Surrounding yourself with professional and aspiring authors is a great way to kick your butt into gear. Many writers groups offer monthly seminars about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. Writers groups are a wonderful place to network, gain motivation, and (if you want) get linked up with critique partners who can help you polish your work. Personally, I’m a member of my local chapter of Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America. And for those of you in remote areas, there are many online writers groups.


2. Take a writing class. “Yeah, right. Like I have time for a writing class,” you’re probably saying. Well, are you committed to becoming a professional writer or not? If so, you have to invest some time in honing your skills. Here’s the good news, though. There are hundreds of classes available online. Check out www.writersonlineclasses.com and (for the aspiring mystery writer) www.rwamysterysuspense.org, for an amazing array of classes.


3. Read within your genre. What’s a genre? It’s the type of fiction you’re writing, such as mystery, romance, paranormal romance, thriller, fantasy, erotica, inspirational… the list goes on. You probably already know where your work fits in. I’d be willing to bet that the genre you want to write in is what you like to read. That’s good, by the way, because it’s critical to know what is going on in your genre. What do the fans love, and what do you yourself enjoy as a reader?


4. Write every day! Even if it’s just to jot down a story idea or a scrap of snappy dialogue between two characters who have been rattling around in your head. The more you write, the easier it is. A full length novel is 90,000 words or more, so it’s important to get into the discipline of getting words on a page. But don’t let the sheer size of the task intimidate you. Every single novel begins with a lonely first sentence.


5. Get an agent. Okay, so you’ve written that story that has been percolating in your head for years. Now what? It’s time to get a literary agent. (Please see my web site at www.lauragriffin.com for tips on this very important step.)


6. Don’t give up. I know this sounds trite, but I truly believe it’s the most important tip of all. Publishing is a very competitive business, and talented people get weeded out all the time simply because they allow one or two rejections to derail them. Keep in mind that it only takes one interested editor to buy your book. Almost all successful authors (John Grisham, Stephen King, and Allison Brennan, to name a few) had their first efforts rejected, but the reason you’ve heard of them today is that they persevered. You can, too. So take a deep breath, fire up your computer, and start writing the book from your heart.

Laura Griffin is the award-winning author of numerous romantic suspense novels, including WHISPER OF WARNING, which hits bookshelves on March 31.

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Kate Kingsbury | Summers Past

Many years ago in my distant past, when I was still living on the southeast coast of England, I spent four memorable summers working for my mother in her small seaside hotel. I laid, waited on and cleared dining tables, cleaned rooms, welcomed guests and hauled heavy luggage up two flights of stairs since we had no elevator. It was hard physical work and long hours, made even longer by my mother’s insistence that I entertain the guests on the piano when all the chores were finally done. All I received for my pains were room and board, and tips that were few and far between. A poor return for the efforts I put in. At least, that’s how it seemed at the time, when I was stumbling exhausted to my bed, only to rise a few hours later and do it all over again.

Looking back on that experience much later in my life, I realized it had given me so much more. I made some wonderful friends, met some bizarre characters, and had adventures that would have made my mother’s hair curl if she had ever found out. Life back then was unpredictable, exciting and fun!

More than twenty years later, when I was searching for an idea for a series, I remembered those days. What better background in which to set my Edwardian mysteries! A seaside hotel, run by a strong woman with a dedicated staff, eccentric characters, wild adventures...it was all there, just waiting for me to spin my tales around it.

I have now written seventeen Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries, and each one brings back memories of those bittersweet days. As I write each book, I’m reminded that there’s a positive side to everything. All we have to do is look for it, believe in it and make it work for us. May you all have a wonderful year making your own unforgettable memories.

Victoria Dahl | Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Victoria Dahl

When my agent first asked me to write a straight contemporary romance, I was taken aback. “Me? But I don’t write contemporary.” At that point I was published in historical romance (To Tempt a Scotsman) and distinctly unpublished in paranormal (a vampire trilogy you are unlikely to ever see). My agent was unconcerned. “Your paranormals are sexy and funny and contemporary. I just want you to try it without the vampires.”

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Without vampires? Was she kidding?

I find it remarkably easy to come up with story ideas. Paranormals are no problem. There are vampires, for goodness sake. And werewolves. And maybe even sexy superpowers. Conflict? Well, how easy would it be for you to date if you had fangs? There are built-in complications galore!

Historicals are even simpler. You can do anything to these people. The heroine can be compromised. She can be held captive by a cruel stepfather. She can be kidnapped by a vengeful pirate. Forced into a marriage of convenience. By God, she can be hidden away in the tower of a dark castle for ten years!

And the heroes? They can be dukes or privateers or highwaymen. They might be unstoppably rich, but they can also be knocking on the door of debtors’ prison, and the reader won’t necessarily have any preconceived notions about what it means to have gotten yourself into debt in the nineteenth century.

But with modern characters it’s a bit more sticky. What kind of woman would allow her stepfather to control her life? What kind of hero would find himself $100,000 in debt? That’s not sexy. That’s just real life. And if the heroine is kidnapped, there would be police and SWAT teams and the FBI involved, so you’d have to set it up very carefully if you want the hero to be the actual hero, you know?

Coming up with a contemporary romance idea scared the hell out of me. I like my heroines to be strong, but I want the hero to give his strength as well. I want her to be kick-ass, but not in a secret agent kind of way. And I want her to have issues without being a hot mess. In other words, I want her to be able to solve her own problems. So what to do with the hero?

My first idea was a reunion story. Girl moves back to hometown and stumbles upon her old crush. I decided that she was a roaming kind of gal. She moved from place to place, buying old houses and fixing them up. Real estate flipping! That’s sexy, right? (Clearly, this was an idea born before the economic downturn.) So in my first story idea, the heroine just happened to buy a house next to the hero, a guy she’d gone to school with. He’s a nerd, but he’s a sexy nerd, and her bedroom window looks right down into his shower. She spends her nights fantasizing about him. They start a hot affair, but she’s moving on in a few months, blah, blah, blah.

My agent said she didn’t think the story had enough plot to fill a whole book. My critique partner agreed. I was defeated. This had taken me a whole month to come up with, when an idea usually takes me a week! I dropped it. I had historicals to write. I was busy.

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But then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The spying heroine kept popping into my head. Her constant fantasies about the hero, her childhood crush… I had to find a way to make it work. This was the start of Talk Me Down.

Six painful weeks later, I had a story. It’s a little different from what I started out with, but it definitely fills a whole book. In Talk Me Down the heroine, Molly, moves back to her small hometown because she inherited a house. And she doesn’t flip houses, she writes erotica. (Waaay, sexier, huh?) And her fantasies about the hero are constant and very hot, but they are not based on current spying (he’s a police officer, after all, and I don’t want her to be arrested).  No, Molly’s fantasies are based on one very startling encounter with the hero during their teenage years. An encounter that still makes the hero blush after all these years.

I did manage to use the “spying through her bedroom window” idea though. Throughout the story of Talk Me Down, the heroine is working on her next erotic romance. It’s the story of a Victorian woman who moves into a house next to a sheriff in a Wild-West town. And she has a perfect view of his bed from her bedroom window…

I hope you’ll check out Talk Me Down! The hero is strong, the heroine is independent, she’s definitely got issues, but she’s kind of kick-ass in her own special way. There are no vampires or dukes or pirates… but after all that hard work coming up with the story idea, it turned out to be the easiest writing I’ve ever done. Let’s hope it’s easy reading, as well!

Victoria Dahl
VictoriaDahl.com

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Sandi Shilhanek | Biography

Friday night I went to dinner and a book signing with several members of the DFWTea Readers group. While at the bookstore what kind of reader would I be if I didn’t take a moment to do a quick perusal of the shelves?

That quick look had me spotting two books on Barak Obama. Then I came home to do an online chat with some friends, and again the talk turned to the incoming president. The combination of these two things has me thinking about biographies.

Do you read biographies? How do you decide whom you are going to read about? I personally am not a big biography reader, and if truth be told can’t remember the last time I read one. However, I did recently buy several about Lucille Ball. I also have a biography about the late Princess Diana in my TBR pile. Will I read them anytime soon? Unlikely. However, should I decide to get educated about either of these two women I’m ready!

Sandi Shllhanek
DFW Tea Readers Group
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