Research? That’s it…

Good Friday morning! I know I’ve been away from the posts for a lot, but it’s been really busy around here. I’ve finished Maggie, she’s in edits and I’m busy working on the Christmas edition that will end the series…

This morning as I sat here, writing and sipping coffee by the Christmas tree, I watched Breaking Dawn, Part 2. When I’m alone and writing, I love to listen to music or watch a romantic movie, keeping the inspiration flowing. So this morning it was the last Twilight movie. Yes, I cried at the end. You have to admit, the moment Bella sends Edward through the history of their romance and that beautiful song, A Thousand Years plays in the background, it touches you. My fingers were flying over the keys as it inspired the romantic thoughts.

Some say movies are not research, but I call foul. They’re great research. Just watch how the plot plays out, how the couple’s relationship is planned out. It’s the perfect research material and enjoyable at that.

I listen to the dialogue between characters, the way they work with one another and flow. Watch how the intense moments come about and how the writer/director has made it into a nail-biter that pulls you in. Try using it in your story, it will help.

So, do you watch movies to inspire?

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Five Oaks Ranch Coming to a Close!

It’s hard to believe it, but my Five Oaks Ranch is coming to a close soon. Maggie is in editing and will be out in a little over a week, then the Christmas edition will be out before Christmas. I’m excited about the Christmas book. It will feature recipes and so much more, but there will be romance as always…

I’ve grown to love all of the Cauthen’s and will miss their lively banter and all the fun they have. But they’ll live on in fiction.

My new series is already in the works, without a name of course, but in the works. The first book in a chapter in and I can’t wait for you to get a glimpse of it. It’s something I’ve been playing with for a while, so start looking for tidbits before Christmas.

Keep a watch out for bundle specials on the Five Oaks Ranch! Some great deals will be coming before Christmas so don’t miss a post. If you haven’t caught a Five Oaks book, then get one soon. The Cauthen’s are a fun, loving family and you’ll love their stories as they unfold in each book.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Release for Luke

release ad

Writing Fun…

It’s finally Friday… hope you have an awesome weekend planned. My son is out of school for 10 days so I’m happy to spend time with him.

As for writing, do you have fun with it? Me, yes I love to write. It’s a big part of me that get’s to flow from my fingers daily. Some days I struggle when something is on my mind, but I still enjoy it. Writing is a stress reliever, which is great therapy for me.

I’ve heard writers say that writing isn’t fun, it’s just something they have to do. What? I just don’t understand that frame of mind at all. For me, writing is fun and I think it’s what helps me stay sane in this insane world we live in. After a busy day, I can sit down at my laptop and lose myself. Even if it’s just an hour or so, but it helps clear my head.

Don’t forget all the fun of meeting such wonderful people, other writers, bloggers and reviewers. Then you have the great fans that fill your inbox with wonderful words that make you want to write even more. It’s a wonderful life, the life of a writer.

Writing is fun, if you don’t think it’s fun, then maybe you need to get lost in it for a minute, then rethink it.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You… Thanksgiving Cowboy

At Series End…

Good morning! Hope all is well…

I’m working on the last of the Five Oaks Series and feel a bit out of sorts. Not sure if it’s a feeling of being glad it’s almost at an end or sad about it. When you pour your heart into a series and the characters are part of your daily life for over a year, it’s hard to say goodbye.

Then again, as a writer, I’m ready to begin the new series and stand-alone manuscripts that are outlined and ready to come alive. With the plan of putting this series to bed by the end of this year, it’s played with my mind.

How do you feel as you get to the end of your series? Do you start to mourn the end or relish in the thought of it?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Stepping back …

Good Sunday morning! Here in Georgia it’s chilly but sunny. It will be a beautiful day. For me, I’m sitting by the fire, enjoying the early morning quiet.

This morning’s post is about the rough draft. I’ve had the rough draft completed and turned into my editor for a week. I haven’t looked at the rough draft since I handed it over. But it has work to be done. I want to embellish on the story, add several elements to help bring his story alive, but I had to step back.

What do I mean by step back? Well, it’s simple. During the writing process sometimes we get too close to a project, then get burnt out. For some reason, the story started slipping away. I still had the bare bones, but the flesh and all the other things that make it a whole story seemed to go out of my brain. I had to step away from it.

Now, I think I’m almost ready to step back into the story. Of course, I’m in the middle of Maggie’s story, but it helps to get into another story to get the one that slipped away back into your brain. It’s still a little foggy, but I think I’ll do fine.

Have you ever had to step back in order to get the story going?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Maggie’s taking over~

Good Friday everyone! Yes, it’s finally Friday!!! Sorry I haven’t been posting much, but I’m trying to finish Maggie so I can finish the Christmas companion book to the Five Oaks Ranch Series. But, I was sitting here working on Maggie this morning and it’s amazing the difference in writing her story. For one, the four brothers stories were of course written from the man’s point of view. I’m back to writing from the woman’s point of view and she’s sassy that’s for sure.

I’ve enjoyed this series so much and sadly all good things must come to an end. Maggie’s story is intriguing with the secrets she’s kept, the over protectiveness of her brothers and the great love she builds with the forbidden man in her life.

For those that have been inquiring about Luke, he’ll be out really soon. He’s with my editor right now and should surface soon. I think you’ll like his story.

Now, back to Maggie. Have a great Friday!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Monday morning!

It’s Monday morning and my weekend was way too short, but exciting. Saturday was my book signing in Zebulon. It turned out really well and I’m excited about the future events that could spin off of it.

Now to add to my excitement, today the article I wrote for Southern Writers Magazine’s Suite T blog is available on their website. Here’s the link for you to go by to read and share: http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/2015/11/lining-story-up.html. The article goes over the way I line up a story before I write it. I do hope it helps other writers.

My manuscript that is on Wattpad is still racking up the votes and reads. The comments are really good and I hope that helps with the stories success. It’s still in the hands of Harlequin, so fingers crossed that it does well.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Friday, Coffee, and Writing

It’s finally Friday. Wow, what a week! My submission to Harlequin has gone from a ‘Received’ status to a ‘In Progress’ status. Per the help screen, that means it’s on an Editor’s desk. Let’s just say I’ve check my email and status so many times that my laptop should automatically go on the site as soon as it’s opened.

As for the Five Oaks Ranch series, well I’m five chapters in on Maggie, which means the series is almost complete, sadly. I’ve come to know these siblings so well. They’ve been a part of my daily writing for over a year. The last book will be like a keepsake as the final story, the parents will be told. It will include recipes and Christmas goodies. I’m excited about it.

Tomorrow is my local book signing, which excites me. With every book signing, I gain more knowledge on ways to make them better. Since this one is in my hometown, I look forward to seeing old friends. The last one at this bookstore was great. So many friends and family came out to support me. This time I have a really cool gift basket to give away and possibly some books every thirty minutes.

So, enjoy today because the weekend is only hours away!

As always, good writing and May God Bless you..

Let’s face it, it’s inevitable!

Good Wednesday morning! I hope all is with you and yours. This morning as I sat fanning away yet another hot flash, my mind was whirling. A couple of months ago I mentioned that possibly a series devoted to the 40 plus heroine and hero might be on my horizon. Well now that the Five Oaks Ranch series is almost to a close, or will be by Christmas, I’m rethinking that thought.

Face it people, every second we’re aging. I know, you’re making a face at the screen right now, but it’s reality. Most romance novels are written about the younger heroines and heroes, but what about those older adults that want to find love. In today’s world many older people are looking for love, so why not put some romance into it. Hey, I’m nearing that halfway mark and I still love romance. Good thing since I’m a romance author 😉

The series, of course will be about romance, but with a little humor sprinkled in. Since I’m in the lovely throws of menopause I can so relate to the characters that are pushing their way to the front of my writer brain. Why not have a menopausal heroine or a hero going through a midlife crisis? I think it would make good romance material.

So, what are your thoughts?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…