Speculative Friction

Fairies in February Schedule

2012-01-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

Fairies in February

come out and play

with the

trilogy blog tour

Prizes!!

Each day will be hosted by a different blog. Comment on the post to be entered into a daily drawing for a pdf copy of any book from my backlist.

GRAND PRIZE: each stop you comment on will earn you one entry into the final drawing for print copies of all three books: A Moth in Darkness, The Fly in Paradise, and Spiders from Memory.

Tour Schedule:

2/2 The Far Edge of Normal

http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/

2/3 Kaye Manro’s Blog

http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/

2/4 Heidi Ruby Miller

http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/

2/5 Adriane Ceallaigh’s Blog

http://adrianeceallaigh.blogspot.com/

2/6 Krista D. Ball’s Blog

http://kristadball.com/ramblings/

2/7 Skyla Dawn Cameron’s Blog

http://www.skyladawncameron.com/blog

2/8 Romance Lives Forever

http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.com

2/9 Kadian Tracey’s Blog

http://kadiantracey.blogspot.com

2/9 Pippa Jay’s Blog

http://pippajay.blogspot.com/

2/10 Greta van der Rol’s Blog

http://gretavanderrol.net

2/11 *Valentine Blog Hop Stop*

http://Francespauli.blogspot.com

2/12 JC Cassels blog

http://jccassels.wordpress.com/

2/13 Lisa Lane’s Blog

http://www.cerebralwriter.com/blog.html

2/14 Writers Gone Wild

http://writersgonewild.blogspot.com/

Release Day: Changeling Race: book Three. Spiders from Memory

2012-01-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

The last installment in the Changeling Race trilogy is now available.

Spiders from Memory

Blurb:

The Seelie court is gone, and the Tower has fallen into darker hands. Now nightmare creatures terrorize the Fey races, and the whole Fey world turns to frost and shadow.

Liz Larson holds the last remnant of the Seelie Sidhe's power. The elves look to her for guidance, but all she has to offer them is the disturbing story of their origin, the final truth that will turn many of them against her. With her dwindling number of allies, Liz needs to reopen the borders, to find the missing Marcus Bramble, and to avoid the sudden, terrifying attention of the new Fey ruler, the Unseelie Speaker and new master of the Sidhe Tower.

While her friends in Mundanity race to pry open the gates, and Marcus searches for the answer to a puzzle that could save or damn them all, the Unseelie Speaker marches north, bringing his army and his wrath to focus on Elizabeth.

What can one, fairy-touched human do in the face of the Unseelie court's full fury? How can she fight when the enemy's anger is only partly blind, when she can see all too clearly the traces of justice behind it?

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Hoof beats rang like gunfire down the alley. Their sharp echoes ricocheted along the side of the dumpster, rattling the metal and waking the woman who leaned against it. She groaned and wrapped the rags more tightly across her shoulders. Shadows wove across the alley, and the woman shivered against the cold as much as the unfamiliar sound of hooves on asphalt.

She listened to the beats, pressed her thin frame closer to the brick wall and waited for the authorities to dislodge her. When the noise stopped and no cold voice shouted for her to be up and moving, curiosity got the best of her. She ventured a peek around the dumpster’s rusted corner and squinted against the darkness until she’d nearly written off the sound to her unreliable brain’s imaginings.

Then the blackness snorted. It moved, shifting its weight from one gleaming hoof to the other. It lowered its head as if it knew she watched, as if it waited for her to move. She sighed. A wave of excitement swarmed from the depths of her despair, and she responded, drawn by the flick of an ear and the twitch of a velvet muzzle. Her hand reached out. Her fingers curled toward the temptation of horse flesh.

The beast’s nose stretched closer, and she caught the gleam of an arched neck, the cascade of tangled, black mane. Her hand brushed satin. One of the hooves stamped, loud and hollow against the night. The lips tensed and pulled back from a row of jagged teeth.

The woman froze. She felt the first stutter of panic as the horse’s head tilted to regard her with fiery, red eyes. The silky nostrils vibrated, and a snort like thunder echoed against the bricks. The lips pulled back further, killing the equine resemblance completely. She saw the shoulders, the broad ebony chest, and the thick thighs that bent in the wrong direction. Her panic exploded in a scream, cut short by the first flash of pointed teeth.

****

More of chapter one at : http://mundania.com/book.php?title=Spiders+From+Memory

The End of the Story...

2012-01-19T22:34:00.001-08:00

Well I got a bit of a start today when I noticed the date. Five days from now is the scheduled release of Spiders from Memory, book three in the Changeling Race. The final chapter. The last book in the trilogy. The end.

eeep.

It's been a long, crazy road, and one that was full of surprises, change, chaos. The fairies would be so tickled.
Anyway, I'll be having a tour, release etc in Feb. But I wanted to share the series video here... if you watch close, you'll catch a sneak peek at Spider's cover. :)

~ Frances

Guest Author, Kadian Tracey

2012-01-11T04:28:00.000-08:00

I'm so tickled to be hosting today's guest, a fellow Devine Destinies/Extasy author and all-around wonderful person. Please join me in welcoming, Kadian Tracey!

Hi, My name is Kadian Tracey and I also write under the pen name, Kendra Mei Chailyn.

First, thanks to Francis for letting me crash her digs. I really do appreciate it. And Happy New Year to everyone! I am hoping this year brings you joy and happiness.

What should I blog about today? Well, I stewed over the that and finally came up with second chances. Many of you, who've been reading my stuff since my first release, know Destiny's Cowboy. It was my first everything lol. Once the contract was up--well a couple of years after the contract was up, I got the rights back from my publisher and was going to just give up on it. Then you guys wrote asking if I was going to re-release it and well...voila! The brand spanking new cover done by my cover guru and new edits--it's now available for your Kindle. If you wish for paperback copies then I can make that available for you as well.

The re-release for Destiny's Cowboy is the second chance--a chance to have new eyes see the work. I am so excited with that because, everything and everyone deserves a second chance. The cover makes me smile every time I look at it.

Ok, so here's the Blurb:

The last thing, ex-football player Gage Everette wanted to do was go back to Montana and the Cold Blazes Ranch. But one can only run from their lives and themselves for so long. When he is forced to return to the Cold Blazes Ranch, he simply wish to do what is expected and leave again. But fate has a strange way of sticking it's nose in where it doesn't belong.

Jasmine Cole is running with her daughter Kleo. She is hurt, afraid and alone. Meeting the sexy cowboy with the icy blue eyes wasn't in her plans but when both her and her daughter begin falling for him she must now learn to trust him too and she was making progress--that is until an old flame turns up, turns her life upsided down and her baby goes missing. All the progress she's made with Gage goes out the window and things go downhill from there.

The buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Destinys-Cowboy-ebook/dp/B00515LRYW/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324745354&sr=1-3

Broken Wings was never with a publishing house. There was a reason for that. I wanted it to be personal--something from me. A part of the story is my life story and a part of it is fiction. I wanted it to come across a certain way and I didn't want all the language and accents and attitude and darkness to be edited out of it. It's not easy to put this story in a genre...it is romance with inspirational and general fiction attributes. I took great pains into writing this tale--It took me almost three years from inception to actually sit down and began putting it on paper as they say. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it but since I got the idea in church, I felt it would be kind of horrid not to actually use the inspiration I was given.

Blurb: When Monique Winston’s world collapsed with the death of her mother she knows now that she has to stand on her own two feet. But before her mother left this world, she taught Monique two important things. One, Monique should Never trust a black man. Two, Monique will never be good enough for any man. And if Devaughn Cole think he’s just going to waltz in and murky her life more he has another thing coming.

Devaughn Cole is laid back, handsome and stinking rich. He is the latest brotha to leave the hood and make it big in the music industry. Afraid of loosing who he was, he returned to the hood to build a house. After his latest tour, he just wants to go home and relax. But when he meets Monique Winston, he finds that there's more to this full figured beauty than meets the eyes but she is broken, mind, body and soul.

Will he be able to fight her demon past? And can she open up herself to a whole new world of possibilities.

The Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Wings-ebook/dp/B006H4FZUS/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324745856&sr=1-2

Made to Bend Not Break this story is one of my pride and joys. It's about a woman who loses everything--or think she did and what she had to do, the journey she had to take in order to pull herself and everything back together. It shows that second chances may not come when you think its time or when society dictates it should. I wrote this story--well more like the story tumbled from me while I was in university, hearing of so many divorces and break ups.

I recieved so many reviews for this. Majority of them are positive with room for improvement, some are just horrid. Well one was particularly bad because the woman who reviewed it bought the story without reading the description. Her one and only complaint--or valid complainted was that there was no sex until the end...I'm sorry but if that's your beef with my work, I'm cool with that. Anywho, I recieved one review from the ARE cafe that made my cry - in a good way. It was thorough and carefully written. The reviewer really saw what I was trying to put out there andw as appreciative of that.

Blurb: Macy Hines has the perfect marriage, a beautiful, Manga drawing teenage daughter and she lives in a town filled the perfect stepford wives--that is until her life takes on a dramatic turn. Her husbands leaves her for a younger woman, her daughter hates her, she becomes best friends with vodka, and the community she had been so involved with suddenly turns their backs on her. After trying desperately to put her life back together and failing miserably, Macy decides to take her best friend's offer of an all expense paid trip to Italy for all three of them in order to breathe and work out her issues. At this rate, it feels like it will take a miracle to save her.

Draco De Luca is at that age where he's looking for a woman to spend the rest of his life with and so far, he hasn't been having much luck. That is until he visits his mother's house for a dinner and meets the ebony goddess with the sad brown eyes. But her past demons are getting in the way--she has been damage and now he has to decide if he has to let her go to be whole again or should he help.

Excerpt: The breeze off the sea travelled upward and brushed over my face. I lifted my face and closed my eyes. I was so far into the simple pleasure of it all that when he walked up behind me I did not sense him.

“Buonasera.”

I gasped and swirled around. There he was. This time, however, he wore more than a speedo-esque bathing suit. He was dressed in a pair of jeans, a graphic t-shirt that I couldn’t really see well in the dim light, and a suit jacket. His hair was finger-raked backward and he hadn’t shaved. Draco De Luca cleaned up very well. I glanced around him, then up into his eyes. He was so tall. “Draco? What are you doing here?”

“My mother is this party’s hostess,” he explained.

“Your mother? Who’s your mother?”

“Capri.”

That rang false to me for Tricia never recognized him on the beach, yet she was such good friends with Capri. Of the five years Tricia had been visiting Camogli, had Capri not spoken about her son? That would seem strange, considering.

“You do not believe me. I can see it in your eyes. May I sit here?”

I nodded feebly and shuffled over so he could sit and I could face him. I did not know if I liked a man who could read me so readily. It was quite unnerving knowing someone knew what you were thinking before you voiced it. It was as though he was snooping around in my head and I suddenly felt invaded. If it was anything I prised above all else, was the sanctity of my thoughts. Those were things that could not be taken from me no matter what else was stolen.

“I met Tricia the first time tonight. For the first few years my mother spoke about this woman, Tricia Mantle, I was living in England. For the past couple of years, I started a business in Paris. Besides, I travel a great deal at the moment. This would be the first time that I am here the same time she is.”

“Oh.” I felt like a fool. “I’m sorry. It’s just that on the beach she didn’t know who you were and I figured she would know you since her and Capri seemed such close friends.”

“No need to be sorry. Even if my mother had spoken about me, she probably introduced me as Dragon.” He spoke so softly it was almost like a breath.

My gaze fell to his lips and I found myself wondering what would happen should I just reach in and brush those luscious lips with my own. I jerked away when I caught myself and rubbed a hand over my face.

“I do not bite, Macy. I promise. I only seek conversation.”

“It’s not that.” I lied. “What would you like to talk about?”

He smirked.

My breath caught in my throat.

“I am going to go out on a limb and say that talking about why I see fear in your eyes each time you look at me is off limits. How about you tell me a little about yourself?”

“There isn’t much to tell.” I turned from him. “I’m a mother.”

“A wife, I assume?”

“Not any more,” I whispered. There—I said it. It was out in the universe and no matter how much I wanted to take it back, I couldn’t. It felt like saying that I was no longer Kevin’s wife made it true. The admission felt like I was speaking something dirty and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I wasn’t sure if we were divorced yet for I had a chance to give Martin a call. It was pretty much a done deal since Kevin wanted Sharon and me gone. I took a deep breath and lifted my eyes to the dark spot where the ocean should be and stared.

“This may sound harsh, but I am happy you’re no longer married,” he said.

I felt his breath against my ear and I shivered. I didn’t jerk away, though for it felt so good. A little intimacy after so long felt like heaven. “Why is that?” I managed.

“I have travelled a lot, Macy, and I have met more women than I can count. But I have never met anyone like you.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No. I do not speak just to hear myself or because I love the sound of my voice. I speak the truth. There is something so exotic and breathtaking about you…the way the moon glows off your dark skin, the look in your eyes when you are wondering should you kiss me or not.”

“Egotistic, much?”

“I saw the way your eyes trailed over my lips, Macy. Do you deny it?”

What could I say? I could lie. He was so close, I could scarcely think. Each time I turned to him and inhaled his scent being carried on the air, filling my body, it drove me to dizziness. I couldn’t deny it and on the same breathe I would never admit it. I couldn’t. I refused to go there again with Kevin or Draco. My heart was on the mend and I could not risk it getting broken again.

“I fear I must let my intentions known,” Draco said. He moved mouth from side to side so that his breath caressed my ear, my neck and behind my ear. “I have every intention of having you by my side, in my arms—in my bed.”

“You’re full of yourself.” I drew away reluctantly.

“No—just determined.”

The Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Made-to-Bend-Not-Break-ebook/dp/B003TU24KM/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324746078&sr=1-4

So those are my stories about second chances. I hope you see something you liked. My website is at http://trueloveiscolourblind.yolasite.com and please join my blog is at http://kadiantracey.blogspot.com you can aslo follow me on twitter @kendramechailyn

Thanks for stopping by! *hugs*

Kendra Mei Chailyn/Kadian Tracey

Fairies in February Blog Tour

2012-01-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Well, the last book in the Changeling Race trilogy is coming out soon--very soon. I'm thrilled, and also, in mourning. So to celebrate, I'm having a Fairies in February blog tour. I'll be traveling the blogosphere chatting about the books and giving away copies and for one, Grand Prize winner: print copies of the entire trilogy.

I hope you all will join me. Ill be posting the schedule here on Feb. 1st so that you can hit as many stops (and enter as many times) as possible.

~ Frances

Interview with author, Jenna McCormick

2012-01-05T02:32:00.000-08:00

I have the immense honor of hosting a stop on Jenna McCormick's blog tour for her brand new release, No Limits. Please join me in giving her a warm and enthusiastic welcome!

You write in a futuristic setting with a very original premise, can you tell us a little about the word and the different types living there?

No Limits starts out on Earth in New New York City at the dawn of the 22^nd century. Technology has changed drastically, but people are pretty much the same. The biggest difference is that the advent of the personal health guard or, germ shield has virtually eliminated diseases and protection in no longer illegal. In fact, it’s very mainstream, ordering up a lover for the night along with your pizza. Casual sex is no longer the taboo it once was and my heroine is something of a throwback because at the start of the book she’s never engaged a male companion before.

What draws you to writing in the SFR genre? How did you get started there?

I’m one of those obnoxious people who needs a reasonable explanation for every plot twist. I don’t accept much on faith alone and science fiction, when done well gives me that credibility factor that I really need to enjoy a satisfying love story.

What would you say is the most challenging thing about the genre?

Finding readers willing to roll the dice! It makes no sense because romance readers are ravenous and science fiction readers are loyal yet the cross over between the two genres is small. But I have hope because well-established authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon and Suzanne Brockman are dipping into SFR, so I think the genre is growing!

Do you have a favorite SFR or SF series? (Movie/TV or book)

I’m old skool, Star Trek The Next Generation. The first Sci Fi Romance I ever loved was Peter David’s Imazdi, which explored the history of Will Riker and Deanna Troi. Also a big fan of Firefly and Farscape.

Are you a planner or a pantser or a little of both?

I’m a pantser who tries really hard to be a planner. LOL! But I have a hard time sticking to an outline and if I fight it the characters stop talking to me.

Your new release looks amazing, and I hope you'll tell us more about it below, what else are you working on now? Anything in progress or coming up you'd like to share?

I’m working on the sequel to No Limits, No Mercy, featuring Zan the Space Pirate (how can you not love a space pirate?) and Also the third installment of my post-apocalyptic novella trilogy, B Cubed Book Three: Borg.

No Limits ISBN 13 978-0758272850

All Genevieve Luzon wants is to be loved by one man, a seemingly impossible task in New-New York City at the start of the twenty second century. Sure, she can buy sex as easily as order a pizza on a Friday night, but finding a forever kind of love among her self-centered peers is no easy feat for the unemployed off-world vacation coordinator. When an old friend offers her the position of secret shopper to test out the male prostitutes, Gen can’t think of a good reason to refuse. Hell, if she can’t find Mr. Right, she might as well try on a sampler of Mr. Right Nows.

Yet the perks of her new position don’t compare to the strange attraction she has, not for one of the prostitutes, but a candle that seems to warm places of her she never knew existed. When a man appears out of the flame, Gen is sure she's found the one. Rhys is an empath, made a slave by the Illustra Corporation and he’s everything Gen could ever want. Except available. Because Rhys is on a mission. One that might claim his life. He must try to free his people, consequences be damned. Now, Gen must choose between turning her back on the only man she’s ever loved and the monumental task he has set for himself. Should she risk her life fighting a war hidden from polite society against those who wish to control us all?

Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Is love really worth fighting for?

~Join the No Limits Blog Tour in January for a chance to win great prizes including a Kindle Fire! Visithttp://www.authorjennamac.com/ for more information!

Write 1 Sub 1

2012-01-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when you procrastinate...it's a good thing.

I mean, not so much for productivity, but wandering aimlessly can lead you to all sorts of new adventures. I'm big on adventures, and I like new ones best of all.

Let me preface by saying, while I love Nanorwrimo with a passion, after five years of participation, and three years as Municipal Liaison, the event has dulled a bit for me. The luster has faded in the cultish popularity (which I'm allergic to) and the continuing celebration of ways to write as many words as possible with NO qualms about them being drivel. That's a great concept to get you started in the literary world, write fast, don't censor, fix it later...but as you go along--eventually--quality is supposed to count. The next step is supposed to count.

And like it or not, editing out five thousand words of recipes, song lyrics, or your comments to yourself that you "padded" your nano novel with actually makes things way harder than they need to be.

So, I've been feeling a bit luke-warm about the idea of doing nano next year. Also, I've been mourning that a little.

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Write 1 Sub 1 today. I was procrastinating. See above--it's what I do. Regardless of my short attention span, it worked in my favor today. One great blog led to another, and as I followed my nose, I found this: http://www.write1sub1.com/p/details.html

Yes, I'm repeatedly linking to it. I'm excited.

The idea is to write AND SUBMIT one story a week (or a month in the "lite" version) for one year.
It's like Nano with goals.

Let that settle in for a second. Okay, sure, its probably work, and it may be less fun--who knows? But you also may get a bunch of stuff published, may build some pub credits, and probably will have the fun/great time along the way that most of these events seem to engender.

I'm pretty psyched. I'm going to try it and see how it turns out.

Anyone else want to play?

~ Frances

Holiday Romance Blog

2011-12-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm over at the Long and Short Reviews blog today, talking about holiday magic and *Romance.* Stop by and comment for a chance to win a copy of Twelve Dances.

~ Frances

Have a Holly Jolly...or two.

2011-12-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing all my friends, fans, and fellow authors a wonderful holiday and happiest of new years!

LOOK WHAT I GOT!

~Frances

Join in the 2012 SFR Reading Challenge!

2011-12-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

This year's SFR (that's science fiction romance) reading challenge is posted and gearing up for a great year of reading in my favorite genre!

Come on by and sign up to play, and if you need any ideas to fill out that TBR list....have I got some suggestions for you. ;)

follow the link and blast off to SFR awesomeness!

Best of Luck!

~ Frances

Stuff Your Stocking Blog Hop

2011-12-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Stuff Your Stockings Christmas blog giveaway hop. This is running from the 16 to 18 December 2011.

I will be offering a print copy of A Moth in Darkness to one commentor, and a pdf copy of any book from my back list to a runner up.

Make sure you follow the rest of the hop, but clicking here or on the blog hop poster to see the rest of the participating authors, and have a Happy Holiday!!

~Frances~

Nutcracker Crazy

2011-12-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

Twelve Dances
by Frances Pauli

Excerpt

She stared at the parting mist. A flat sheet lay before her, gleaming like ice, but too smooth to be a natural creation, too perfectly square. Behind it, a wide stair rose and there, in fragments between the swirling clouds, she saw portions of a castle. Here a turret lifted from the mist. There an arch or crenellation peeked, but most of the building remained hidden. In truth, Clara couldn’t say if an entire building stood there, or if some ragtag collection of castle parts danced behind the wall of vapors.

The music rose in volume. She turned her head from side to side. The sound drifted from both directions, played by an unseen orchestra just beyond sight. She reached a toe forward and tested the smooth floor. She feared it might crack or splinter at her touch. Instead, it glowed and shifted, sprouting a pattern of diamond tiles. The music paused, and trumpets blared from the castle wall. Clara lifted her gaze from the floor and stepped forward onto the surface.

She heard steps marching, the click of booted heels approaching. She watched the stairs and listened to the rhythm of the advance. The princes, her soldiers, came down in formation. They lined up along the edge of the floor, and Clara knew each and every one of them. Eleven well-dressed princes stood along the bottom stair, and behind them, watching over their heads at the very center, her newest nutcracker waited. His wooden body had miraculously transformed to flesh, and though he wore the same tall hat, the exact same uniform as he had when standing on her little shelf, his blue eyes sparkled for real here. And his smile held nothing of the stiff, contraption he’d once been.

All of them, each collected soldier, stood in the flesh, human and life-sized and waiting—she knew it now without a doubt—for her. The trumpets blasted out another fanfare, and her feet moved. She took two steps closer, and the music kicked in again.

The line of soldiers pulled her in. She walked across the floor, light on her feet and entranced by her decoration come to life. Her eyes inventoried the group, named each prince and remembered each purchase, gift or discovery. Each time they moved along the line, they would dart quickly to the man who stood above the group. Each time, they found him staring, sapphire eyes glinting in her direction.

Clara held her breath. She stopped before them, centered and watching the newest nutcracker. Her pulse raced, and she could feel the rhythm of her heart quicken. The fog spun and rolled around the scene, and the music lifted and vibrated through the cool air. Something was about to happen. She understood instinctively.

Now available at Devine Destinies

Tomorrow's Christmas Release! Twelve Dances

2011-12-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

My story, Twelve Dances is coming out tomorrow through Devine Destinies. The story combines two of my favorite traditional tales, The Nutcracker and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and I had so much fun writing it. I've worn out my welcome with cover puzzles, but give this one a shimmer and see if you like it better. :D

Twelve Dances
by Frances Pauli

Some dreams are too good to be true. Is Clara's too true to be good?

Blurb:
When Clara adds a brand new nutcracker to her favorite Christmas collection, she immediately starts having vivid, recurring dreams about her twelve wooden princes. As the holiday nears, her infatuation with the new nutcracker grows into a flirtation that sets the rest of the little soldiers against her. Dancing through an impossibly real battle in her sleep and dodging her infuriating family during the day, Clara’s holidays take a spin toward disaster. If she can survive both and make it to Christmas Eve in one piece, will Clara get to dance with the one prince she actually wants? And even if she does, what happens when the holiday passes, and the nutcrackers are packed away for another year?

Checking it Twice

2011-12-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

I can't help but love the hustle and bustle before the holidays. Even with Nanowrimo dominating the majority of my traditional pre-Christmas prep time, I still manage to hit the ground running on Dec. 1. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Today is the eighth, eight days into my amazing virtual advent calendar (JacquieLawson.com and I recommend them!) and I have the house twinkling with lights, the tree up, and the first round of presents wrapped. My lists are assembled. (though not entirely checked off) I'm stocked up on cocoa and candy canes, and I've got Elvis Christmas in the boom box.

It's just not Christmas without Elvis.

On the literary front, I have a finished science fiction romance to be shopped (and shopped and shopped) a fresh, raw sequel waiting for its turn under the knife (edits) and a sparkling new work in progress that beckons to me, even as we speak. :)

I am expecting editorial notation (thrashing) on my upcoming release any day now, and I have a ready to hit the shelves holiday romance that I should be crowing about soon--very soon.

To keep things interesting, there are at least five short stories circulating in the ether that I could be hearing the "yay" or "nay" on any second.

Is that enough bustle for one holiday?
Nah.

So, join me for some more. This weekend, both days, all day long we'll be having the annual Devine Destinies and Extasy books holiday party. They have a brand spanking new chatroom, and boy is it full of bells and whistles. :)

I'll be giving away a few ebooks each day to my readers who stop in and participate.
I hope to see you there: http://extasychat.com/
put in any ol user name you want, but don't pop in a password or it won't let you in.
It's tricky that way.

And did I mention that they're giving away a laptop?
:)
~ Frances

Aspect Ratio Nominated at The Romance Reviews

2011-11-16T08:43:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful thing to wake up to in my inbox! Aspect Ratio, book two of the Shift Happens series has been nominated for best Paranormal Romance in the Aliens category. :)
Voting is going on now, should anyone feel inclined to toss a yay in my direction, you can do so here: http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php

I am currently finishing up book three for Nanowrimo, and I can't think of a better motivator to get my word count in. :D

Thanks everyone,

~Frances

Treading the Nanowrimo Waters

2011-11-07T09:43:00.001-08:00

This year, Nanowrimo just might be the death of me. I know I say that every year, but this time, I almost mean it. We are looking week two straight in the face, one week down, ten thousand words added to the stubborn, WIP of doom, and I'm doing it. I'm getting the words out, filling the plot out, catching my stride. Still, so far, I've barely managed to keep my head above water.

Each night since the Nov. 1 kick off, I have slid like a runner into home plate, nattering off my final word count seconds before midnight. I've yet to lag behind, but it's not like I'm cruising ahead either. In fact, this may be the most lackluster, low energy, sort of blah nano I've ever experienced.

I worried that the story might be suffering for my lack of enthusiasm, but so far, according to a quick re-read this morning, it seems to be faring okay. It's just my spirit that's flagging, I suppose. It's just my fingers that tap sluggishly away at that count, making the grade each day, but only just.

Perhaps, I'm suffering from week two ahead of time. If so, maybe when the clock turns over tonight, I will catch an early week three puff of steam and write like the wind again. Here's to hoping. Here's to keeping my head above water, even if it is just barely above water. At least there are words coming out.

So tell me how your nano is going? Perhaps your flood of creative inspiration will wash over and inspire me to greater daily counts. Perhaps, your insanely high word count will spark a competitive nerve and get me hustling to keep up. Either way, it can't hurt.

I'd love to hear some positive...or commiserate, should you be suffering the slow path with moi this year.

Still going, still going,

~ Frances

Thrice Shy

2011-11-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

Excerpt:

The dog spun and leapt the nearest hay bale. It bolted, a dark, shaggy streak still trailing a tangle of red silk, through the nearest opening and disappeared into the maze depths. Jane shivered and held perfectly still. The voice had sounded far too near. Her heart stuttered. She reminded herself this was a scam, an act for tourists, and good sport for the yokels who set it up. The blood in her veins didn't listen. Her pulse throbbed and her lungs struggled to hold enough air to breathe properly.
“That's a neat trick.” She managed to choke it out, but her bravado had vanished.
“It's no trick.” A man's voice, low and breathy, whispered near her shoulder.
Jane twisted away, back peddling toward the center of the clearing. No one stood against the cornstalks, but the voice had come from there, from just beside the spot she'd vacated. There had to be someone hiding in the stalks. But who would go through that much trouble for a Halloween gag? She'd felt the sharp leaf edges. Even through her shirt, they'd scratched.
“Cut it out.” She kept backing until she stood in the open beside a bale of straw and the cheesy vampire. “Your dog just stole a very expensive piece of clothing, buster.”
“Lupis is no dog.”
“What?” Jane turned again. The voice had circled around behind her. How could anyone move that quickly through the corn? Maybe they knew the maze, maybe they had a map, but either way, she doubted anyone could move that fast. “How many of you are there?” She stood stiff again and glared at the corn, one toe tapping. “I know a very good lawyer, and this is borderline, folks. I didn't pay for the maze and I'm not here for the show.”
“I know why you're here, Jane Johnston.” He was behind her, in the open. He had to be.
When she turned again, however, she found no sign of the voice's owner. Speakers. They had the whole maze wired, then.
“I don't know how you found out my name, but if you've gone through my car, I'll own this place. Understand?”
“I understand you, Jane.”
She caught him that time, or rather, he stayed put and faced her. His pale face shone like the full moon overhead, and a black cape whipped and billowed around his ankles. The high collar was a dead give-away.
“I thought you were a prop.” Jane scanned sideways just to be sure. At least she wasn't going crazy. The decoration had been moving. “Nice outfit.”
The vampire tilted his head and bent one knee, dropping into a deep bow and flourishing the cape for effect. He was good. She felt goose bumps peak on her forearms. He had style. A bit too much, maybe, but then in a haunted maze, overly dramatic probably wouldn't count as a flaw. His voice flowed, as well. He drew out the words, and made each syllable stretch. “Gooooood Eeeeevening.”
“Yeah. Nice touch.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. Aside from the pallor, he had a gorgeous face, prominent cheekbones, and a long aquiline nose. His eyes looked dark from a few steps away, but the gaze pierced just the same. Charisma, that was it. No doubt, he stole the lead in all the little, po-dunk, community plays. “How do you know my name?”
“I heard it on the wind, Jane Johnston.” He moved to the side, circling her and keeping his gaze lowered and fixed on her position. “You've come to wake me, Jane. After all these years of waiting, you have come.”
“Uh, yeah.” Jane shrugged. He moved more like a dancer than an actor. “Here I am. Now, what are the odds you'll just drop the act and show me the exit?”
“You wish to leave?” He appeared at her shoulder, just like that. His voice whispered, but she caught each word and a thread of something else behind them.
“I have a conference to get to,” she said. “My boss' car.” She could smell him, he stood so close. His aftershave had a sweet tang to it, and something familiar that she couldn't pin down. He never stopped moving either. One second he was on her right, the next, her left, and trying to keep track was making her dizzy. “Listen, I really need to get out of here.”
“You do not wish to leave,” he said.
“I don't?”
“You were looking for me.”
“Was I?” She shook her head, heard the corn rattle, and remembered she still had a car to deliver. “Listen, you've got a great ego or stage presence or what have you, but you really could do better than a corn maze in the middle of nowhere. Maybe try modeling?” She took a step back, far enough away that she could breathe again, and turned to go.
“Stop!” He stood directly in front of her.
“How the hell do you do that?”
The vampire didn't answer. Instead, he flung one arm up and threw his cape wide. The material fluttered and then fell around her, dark, smelling of sweet, familiar musk, and blocking out any thoughts of leaving.

OUT NOW! :) http://www.extasybooks.com/thrice-shy/

Filking a Moth in Darkness

2011-10-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

I've been filked.

It's not what you think. I was confused at first too. Actually, filking is a type of fannish folk music borne from a typo in a convention program long ago. (or a few decades, I'm not sure.)

So, I'm greatly honored and super excited to share my first ever filk, both written and performed by the talented Voss Foster. From my Changeling Race trilogy: book one, A Moth in Darkness, here is Revel, revel. :D

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Revel, revel

Step ye into the mushroom ring
Revel, revel high
Dance ye now with the faerie folk
Revel, revel, die

Food and drink we give to you
Drink our faerie wine
Fast within the circle spin
Revel, revel, die

Under the spell of the faerie food
Look into our eyes
Man and fae alike are here
Everyone shall die

Revel, revel, revel, now
Revel, revel high
Save your coin for the ferryman
Revel, revel, die

(SLOWER)
Insanity engulfs you now
Revel, revel high
Addiction carries you back again
Revel, revel, die

The dancers come to their resting place
Revel, revel high
Their souls are gone, their minds erased
Revel, revel…

Free Audio Story - Science Fiction

2011-10-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well I've been mucking about for awhile now trying to sort out podcasting. You'll remember after I did that romance radio interview, I had a bit of the bug for it. I am happy to say that I finally put together something productive. :)
I bribed (fed) a voice actor, wrangled an account on podbean (they're free) and downloaded (also free) a bunch of software to record, convert, rip and tear into the audio world.
It was a blast, let me tell ya.

So here is my first audio story offering. It's a freebie (there's a theme here) and introduces one of my favorite no good, lazy, next to worthless characters. I hope y'all enjoy: Sector Seven.

Dylan, meet the world. World, meet Dylan Lowwater.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

I've also added a new podcasts page to my website. It features this story, the romance radio interview, and will host new audio tales in the future.

Signing out
~ Frances

Honey Bee tour with Rachel Leigh

2011-10-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Today we are joined by our second Honey Bee blog tour guest, Rachel Leigh.
Welcome Rachel!

Who would you think of if someone asked you to name your favorite screen orliterary couple? Would it be Rhett & Scarlett, Elizabeth Bennett & Mr. Darcy,Lancelot & Guinevere? My favorite is none of the above as much as I love all theirstories and have read and re-read, watched and re-watched the adaptations ofGone With The Wind, Pride & Prejudice and The Legend of King Arthur over andover again.

As much as I love them, and it’s interesting that all my favorites are set in thepast, they don’t quite hit the romantic spot that puts my absolute favorite does.This is a couple I wish I’d created, a couple whose story I wish had come into myimagination fully-formed and ready to tell. It has everything.

My favorite on screen couple were the hero and heroine from a movie releasedin 1997. A movie that earned the actress and director an Oscar and at the time, Ithink topped all previous box office ticket sales for a single movie. Any guesses?

No? Drum roll please…

My favorite onscreen couple are Jack and Rose from Titanic. Played to perfectionby the beautiful Kate Winslet and gorgeously handsome Leonardo DiCaprio.

These two are the perfect romantic couple from their entirely differentbackgrounds, to the passion they can’t contain, the internal demons that hauntthem and their ultimate fight to be together. Titanic is an epic film in every sensebecause it has something for everyone, male or female, young or old.

As well-known as the setting for this romantic tale is, it is Jack and Rose whomake the movie. We are routing for them from the very first scenes, even beforethey come together and when the do meet…woo-hoo, sexual fireworks abound!

Great movie, great couple, great story – in fact, I’m going to put the DVD on rightnow, lol!
Rachel Leigh’s latest release is “Coming Back” which is available right now fromThe Wild Rose Press. Here is the blurb:

Kelly Hampton loved once...and lost. After two years of looking for Sean MacKenziein other men--and failing miserably--she takes a vow of celibacy. No sex until shefinds love. Then Sean strolls back into her bar, reigniting old flames. No one hascome close to understanding or satisfying her like he did. Her body burns for thepassion they once shared, but her heart still remembers the pain.

Sean escaped Jessop Hill and his father's fists in the middle of the night without aword--even to his love, Kelly--to protect his battered mother, but he never forgot theexplosively erotic relationship he left behind. Now his father is dead and Sean is backfor the only woman he's ever wanted. Their reunion is full of fire – but can sexualattraction and noble intentions overcome years of heartache or will Kelly walk awayto protect her heart this time.

http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=837
She loves hearing from readers!

http://www.rachelleigh.co.uk/

http://www.rachelleighromance.blogspot.com/

http://www.twitter.com/rachelwriter r.com/rachelwriter

Trick or Treat

2011-10-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I promise I won't torture you with too many puzzles, but this is really fun. I couldn't resist one more. Just one.

I have a short vampire romance coming out for Halloween, and it really does make a nice puzzle. :) I used bigger pieces, so it should be a snap, and I've thrown in the blurb as well.

Trick or Treat,
~ Frances

Jane Johnston has always nursed her crush on the boss in silence. Then a rare invitation to the company conference drops a golden opportunity in her lap. She’s got the dress, she’s got a plan, but when she gets lost along the way, a roadside attraction leads her to a sexy Vampire who thinks Jane is the answer to his prayers. When he shows up at the conference hotel, all her plans go right out the window. Will Jane choose the man she’s always wanted, or the one who claims to own her soul?

provided by flash-gear.com

Guest Author: Iris Deorre

2011-10-16T01:15:00.000-07:00

Please give a big welcome to today's guest, author, Iris Deorre. She is here participating in the Honey Bee blog Trick or Treat tour, and will be followed later this month by a second Honey Bee author. So, without further ado...

Meet author Iris Deorre, as she tells us about one of her favourite books.
Dracula is one of my favourite books. I loved that when Dracula first
sets foot on English soil it’s in Whitby, a place I can relate to, a place
I know and have visited myself even though the story does start with
Jonathan Harker visiting Count Dracula in Transylvania.

Every time I visit Whitby this story always comes to mind,
Dracula is like some sort of urban legend, did he or didn’t he exist and
this for me made the story exciting; a story that’s fictional but is full of
history and lovely use of the English language. I guess I’m drawn to
books that carry a story from a different time. Literature has always
been my favourite subject, the use of similes, metaphors and irony,
excites me. Even though I could never write so beautifully, I’ve always
loved the use of imagery used in this book, one example early in the
book when Jonathan Harker is on his way to count Dracula’s home, ‘All
at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had some
peculiar effect on them.’ Love that! It just can’t be copied or said in
just any way, can it? It has to work and Bram Stoker has made it
work. I love to find the meaning behind the words, the emotions. How
people dealt with things in that time compared to how we deal things
now, one example is when Lucy gets the blood transfusion. Was there
blood type testing then? Or was it – roll up your sleeve and let’s do
this –like it was done with Lucy. This is how my mind works, crazy
hah, but I always wonder.

Bio

Iris Deorre started to write when she was seventeen. At the time it was a form
of escapism. By the time she hit her twenties she was writing short stories and
got one published in a women’s magazine. She went on to write short plays but
after meeting a well-known author who taught a writers class her focus changed
to Erotica. Her love for paranormal is what makes her combine the two.

She resides in the UK with her little girl.

The Whitby Ghost is the latest story from Iris Deorre.

Blurb
Roy has a past he'd rather forget. To overcome it he takes his girlfriend Melisa
to Whitby, the very place of his past that he is trying to forget. Roy believes it's
the only way to move on and to forget it by moving on with his future, Melisa.

But something is lurking in Whitby, something that Melisa becomes sensitive
to the minute they arrive. What she discovers is hard to swallow. What follows
is a journey to the other side. Something she'd rather forget.

Will Melisa marry her boyfriend who refuses to talk about his past? Or will his
past bring them closer?

Buy links
The Whitby Ghost Amazon UK

The Whitby Ghost Amazon US

The Whitby Ghost DE

New Release Scramble

2011-10-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

SO, I have three new releases coming before the end of the year, and a couple of them have been a real scramble to get to the presses on time. :D So, while I have covers already, I also found this really cool flash ap. And of course, figured I'd share it. Here is the first one, Divine Intervention, a short Sword & Sorcery story that will be out exclusively at Trapezium ebooks...any day now.

Have fun.

provided by flash-gear.com

The Best Things in Life are Free

2011-10-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's true.
Case in point: I just finished up the week-long Muse Online Writer's Convention, and like every year, I am floored by how much effort goes into making this an awesome, and yes, free event for authors in any genre.

If you've never been, never heard of, or never had any interest in this conference, let me tell you what you're missing. Seven days full of classes, chats, forums, networking, pitch sessions, give-aways and camaraderie with like-minded folks who really know how to put on a good event.
There is so much information to be had, that it's impossible to see or do it all in one week. Good news, they do this every year. So stake out next year's date and your slot at the con by clicking on the link below.

http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/

follow the site links to the forum and at the bottom of the page you'll see a thread marked: Register for 2012. Jump on that chance folks. Then bookmark the site and visit often because all year long, the folks at Muse It Up! schedule events, chats and pitches for the aspiring author.

They do this why? Because they pretty much rock.

I'll be there next year with bells on.
See you then,

~Frances

Yes! A Party

2011-10-02T14:14:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be participating in this event, which is loaded with fun and freebies! Put it on your calendar. The parties at TRR are always great.

Out of This World GUEST

2011-09-22T02:01:00.000-07:00

It's time for us to host the day's author, and I am tickled to death to have Great van der Rol here today on the blog! Please give her a warm welcome and read on for a change to win some great SFR. Welcome, Greta!

Thanks so much for giving me room on your blog. I'm really excited to announce the imminent publication of the second, and concluding, “Iron Admiral” book.In the first novel, “The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy”, hostility is growing between the vast Ptorix Empire and the Human Confederacy. Admiral Chaka Saahren, hero of the Confederacy, is dismissed from his post after he is blamed for the massacre of ptorix miners on an obscure planet.On a search for the real culprits he accepts a job as a security guard on the mysterious planet Tisyphor. There, he meets brilliant systems engineer Allysha Marten. Saahren never had much time for women but he falls head over heels in love with this one. Allysha has taken one last job to rid her of debts and her cheating husband and despite her misgivings soon finds herself falling for the man she knows as Brad Stone. When she learns that Brad Stone is really Chaka Saahren her world falls apart – she believes he is responsible for the deaths of millions of civilians, among them, her father.

Here's a brief excerpt from the book, when Saahren meets Allysha after he has saved her from an assault by a drunken miner.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.” He glanced over his shoulder at his fallen opponent. “Let me see you to your quarters.”

The alarm faded from her face as she sized him up. “I’m Allysha Marten.”

“I know. I’m Brad Stone.” He’d very nearly said Chaka Saahren. He’d better keep that fact to himself until he could find out what her objection was.

She smiled and his heart fluttered. “Thank you, Brad Stone.” “Where do you live?”

“The mine.In the old ptorix mine manager’s quarters.”

He walked beside her, not too close, not too fast, through the tunnel of jungle that led to the mine. “You’re comfortable with the ptorix?”

“Yes. Very. Where I come from—Carnessa—we live together peaceably. Well… mostly. I grew up with Tors.”

Tors. That must be her word for ptorix. “And that’s how you understand their computer systems?”

“I suppose. I can speak their language and that always helps.”

He almost stopped. “Their language? But that’s very difficult.”

She laughed, a low, musical chuckle. “Not too bad if you learn as a child.”

The mine’s metal doors gleamed in the lights around the entrance. Saahren pressed the lock and the personnel door slid open. He stood aside to let her go first, along the wide central tunnel that led to the control room.

She turned off into a side tunnel. A few more steps and she stopped in front of a stairway. “I live up there. Thanks again.”

Those wonderful eyes held him for just a moment and then she was gone. He stared after her. He should have asked her to dinner or a drink or … or… Idiot. Fool. Standing there like a tongue-tied teenager. She smiles at me and I melt. She speaks and I just listen to the lilt in her words. He sighed. I’m in love.

If you'd like an idea of what I think Saahren might look like, you might enjoy this post from my blog. Or just enjoy
perving at him.

Things (of course) get worse before they get better. At the end of the book, Saahren has been re-instated and he and Allysha have averted a cataclysmic viral attack on her home planet. She is certainly not open to Saahren's suggestion of marriage, but things are much too volatile for her to go home, so she accepts his offer of a half-year contract with the Star Fleet.That's where book two - “The Iron Admiral: Deception” - begins. Allysha is working for the Star Fleet in the Confederacy's capital city. Everybody still wants a piece of her. Saahren has been promoted to Grand Admiral but that doesn't bring him any closer to winning Allysha. Allysha's husband has been dragooned once again to deliver his wife so she can complete a job for the shadowy Galactic People's Republic. If he fails, he dies. We follow Saahren and Allysha as he learns he can't order her around or keep her in a cocoon, while she learns that truth is so very often a matter of perception. Eventually, she must confront the issues of the past and deal with them on her own. Before it's over both Allysha and Saahren will be confronted with excruciating decisions. I'm proud of the book. I'm sure you'll find it's a worthy successor to Book One and all your questions will be answered. To celebrate, I'd like to offer your readers a chance to win one of two e-books as soon as the novel is published.

(Comment below for an entry, and Greta will tell us all how her give-away will work)

Greta van der Rol loves writing science fiction with a large dollop of good old, healthy romance.She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn't bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours.

Buy "The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy" from
Smashwords for Kindle, ePub and more as well as print
Amazon US for Kindle and print
Omnilit
Barnes & Noble for your Nook
Website: http://gretavanderrol.com/

Facebook: Author – Greta van der Rol

Twitter: @GretavdR

Out of This World

2011-09-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Coming to a blog tour near you...

I'm going to be participating in the Out of this World blog tour this year along with some fantastic SFR authors with a bevy of awesome books to promote and topics to prattle on about. The event should be a lot of fun and full of great info. I'm posting the schedule below. I'll be guesting afield as well as hosting an author on our site here.

I hope you all will follow along, there should be some give-aways in the works as well.

~ Frances

SCHEDULE:

September 17Diane Dooley at Amber Norris’ bloghttp://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/
September 18Gary Starta at Melisse Aires’ bloghttp://melisseaires.blogspot.com
September 19Frances Pauli at Diane Dooley’s bloghttp://dianedooley.wordpress.com/
September 20Amber Norris at Greta van der Rol’sbloghttp://gretavanderrol.com/
September 21 Lilly Cain at Anne Kane’s bloghttp://www.annekane.wordpress.com/
September 22Greta van der Rol at Frances Pauli’s bloghttp://francespauli.blogspot.com/
September 23 Lisa Lane at Gary Starta’s bloghttp://praisegods.blogspot.com/
September 24 Melisse Aires at Lilly Cain’s bloghttp://www.annekane.wordpress.com/
September 25Anne Kane at Lisa Lane’s bloghttp://newsensuality.blogspot.com

New Trailer

2011-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

New Canterbury Affair
from Devine Destinies

The Smoking Gun

2011-09-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been having a little difficulty with my current work in progress. I won't call it writer's block, because I don't believe in that, but let's say that the novel in question was not exactly cooperating. My motivation had gone past "flagging" straight to "rest in peace," and in short, productivity had ground to an all out stop.

Shit.

My plot was thin, and I knew it. The problem was, I didn't want to add a big, super villain and crime for solving this time. This is book three in a series, and I've already done something like that in books one and two.
My super genius plan was to NOT do that, and I stand by that choice, but what I forgot to do was fill the gap with something else.

Thankfully, my subconscious instincts know what makes a good story. (I mean, one of us should, right?) And, all this time that I've been wasting, banging my head on the desk and rambling about pointless, irrelevant garbage, was in fact, a message from my own brain.

Last week, as I stared at the single sentence I'd produced for the day, it occured to me that I've been going on and on about this one thing that had NOTHING to do with my plot arc. Okay, I'd noticed before, but what I got (finally) was that is SHOULD have to do with my plot. You see, it was the key situation that could flesh out and add a new sub-story to my very thin excuse for a novel.

I read once that an author (possibly Steven King?) advised: if you bring out a gun on page 1, it better go off by page three...or something terribly paraphrased along that line. Well, what I'd done in this WIP was hint around about a proposed danger (the gun) and hinted and hinted and etc. and I had NO INTENTION of using it.

I know, I know. It just didn't really fit into my original plan for the story line. But, considering that I already knew that story needed something else, something big and conflicted...well the pieces all came nicely together for me at last.

And I only wasted around three months figuring that out.
So maybe I don't get a medal for being the sharpest cookie around. Still, problem solved and back to work, this time, with a lot more potential for success.

I hope. Cross your fingers for me and the bloody book.
I don't have any more months to waste.

~ Frances

The Ugly Duckling

2011-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

Ive been fortunate thus far in my books' reception by readers. For the most part my work has been well met, and commented on fairly and positively. Most of the few complaints have been qualified by something along the lines of "its not really romance, but I loved it." As you can imagine, I'm pretty happy with all of the above.

I think the criticisms have been fair, often spot on, and always incredibly helpful both from readers and from reviewers and critiquers. Then again, I've never been opposed to critique, as I've stated on more than one occasion.

But there's this one book, it seems, that no one really adores but me. You know how it goes, right? Shoot your darlings? But I love this book. I'm not going to lie. It's also the only thing I've ever written that got an outright poor review. Readers' responses have been lukewarm at best.

So I think about it a lot, this book of mine, because oddly enough, I still adore it.
I know, I know...I probably missed at least one beta reader's advice that I should have taken. I probably forgot a crucial element, made a wrong decision, rushed.
I can't see it clearly, I'm too close to it, etc. etc. etc.
Except I've put it aside, waited. I've achieved distance and such, and I still love it.
How the heck did that happen?

Well, as far as I can tell, in this case, it just did. Taste comes into play, I'm sure. But I'm just as sure that I made mistakes with it.
I also know that I made some decisions while writing this particular tale that I still stand by completely. They aren't popular choices, but they still mean something to me. I wouldn't make them any differently now--even with the hindsight--and that makes me scratch my head a little.

Don't take me wrong here, I still believe wholeheartedly in feedback and critique and being wide open to accept input and make the appropriate changes. Actually listening and responding to critique is something akin to a religion in my world. It's important. Vital.

But every once in awhile, that artist I've buried deep beneath the surface rears her head and puts her foot down. She says, nope. This one, you do your way. You have a reason, and it doesn't matter if anyone else gets it. This one is for me.

This one is for me.
Every once in awhile, I think that's just fine.

~Frances

Expanding Conventions

2011-08-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I've just returned from Spocon again, and it's time to report. The "what I learned at the con" bit is getting old, and my roving on the spot reports from Norwecon were, well, hard and time consuming. So, lucky you, you get the regular vanilla, "hey, this is what happened."
Enjoy.

This was my third Spocon, but my first as an "attending pro." I had five panels, and my first happened to be with the guest of honor. Sounds stressful? Thank heavens the author in question, as I've mentioned before, is kind, friendly and professional. Of all the panels I had, this one scared me the most, and yet, after the initial terror wore off, I think was possibly the most enjoyable one. It certainly broke through that nervousness and prepared me for the rest.

Those were a mixed bag ranging from an awful one where none of us had a clue what the panel was about, (the one person who suggested and invented the topic chose not to show up) to a fantastic, fun Nanowrimo discussion. How can you go wrong with Nano on deck?

The other authors ranged a bit as well. I got a few "who the heck are you and what business do you have at this table" looks. Then again, due to a snafu at registration, I was sporting a members at large badge instead of a pretty, yellow "I'm rightfully here" one, so I can't entirely blame them. (though, hardly nice, was it?) But for the most part that was not the norm.

The weekend had some fantastic bonuses as well. I met the amazing Lilith Saintcrow and was awed by both her intelligence and her friendliness which, as you can imagine, I appreciated a great deal. I also encountered a fellow Devine Destinies author, Courtney Breazile, who is both stunningly beautiful and kind.

I also discovered the gaming room, a place I'd nervously avoided at previous cons. To my surprise the esoteric workings at those packed tables are not so difficult to join. The gaming room staff were amazing about sharing information and their time with a group of lost con-goers eager to give something new a try. I intend to spend a little time in the gaming room whenever possible at future cons.

And of course there were the usual convention perks. Good times with great friends. Late night Potter Puppet Pal giggle fests in the hotel room. Early morning showing of Rent...(it should be illegal to cry before 8am) and the costumes, events and wonders that make up a three day fan-fest.

Spocon is still my favorite. They put on amazing opening ceremonies every year. They are sharp, organized, and sincerely out to do the best they can for fandom and for their members. The staff is polite--even when under stress, and for the most part, tolerant of a sometimes romance writing pseudo-pro in their midst.

I hope I can keep attending, and as usual, I miss the fun already.

Good times.
~ Frances

Book Two: Release Day

2011-08-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Fly In Paradise
Frances Pauli

978-1-60659-260-1
EBook$4.99
63,700 words

978-1-60659-261-8
Trade Paperback$12.95

Something's rotten in the Fey lands. While Marcus Bramble tracks the lunatic who started it all, Elizabeth and the crew at the Embassy sort through the evidence he left behind. With Lockland back, and the revels behind her, Liz's world is slowly returning to normal. But on both sides of the borders, shadow creatures spring out of nowhere, and the dark legends surrounding the fey take on a whole new meaning.

Now time is against them. On the mortal side of things, protesters rally to close the borders, politicians descend on the Embassy, and something that shouldn't exist stalks Elizabeth through the city. In his world, Marcus faces a madman with answers he doesn't want to hear. The Fey rulers turn a blind eye on forests teeming with imaginary monsters, and the Sidhe tower stands silent amidst the chaos.

Will the race to uncover its secrets solve the mystery of the elves' past or unleash even more horrors on them all?

Book 2 of the Changeling Race series

Double Dose of Speculative Fiction

2011-08-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

We're in for a treat today. Please join me in welcoming both Stacey Kennedy and Jaz Primo, two rocking, Paranormal authors on the Romancing your Darkside tour. They've put together a great post for us on world building. Thanks so much to them both!

~*~

For authors, particularly those writing science fiction and fantasy, effective world creation becomes the foundation for establishing a believable backdrop to set your characters in. However, once that's complete, the characters, beings, and creatures that are created fit seamlessly into the fabric of the story. With Jaz’s and Stacey’s novels, our storylines and characters are immersed into the fabric of a present-day planet that readers actually operate in. Therefore, world creation becomes "world simulation." Our vampires and demons need to be drawn into reality in a manner that seems both plausible and engaging. Therein lies our challenge!

(Jaz) My Sunset Vampire Series is based in the United States, primarily focused in and around Atlanta, Georgia. However, in the first novel, Sunrise at Sunset, I not only had to be intimately familiar with Atlanta, but with remote regions in parts of Pennsylvania, as well. I have driven through Atlanta, so I already had a sense of the feel of the place. I also have acquaintances from there, both past and present, so I was able to leverage knowledge from them, as well. As for Pennsylvania and the unfamiliar parts of Atlanta, I had a treasure trove of information available to me...most via the Internet. Everything from online road and topographical maps to official and personal photographs of cityscapes and tourist destinations. Finally, you can learn a lot about an area by perusing detailed information from regional historic sites and tourist attractions, as well as blogs that specialize in describing regional travel experiences in the areas I was writing about. All-in-all, I was able to competently and intimately describe the areas that my characters were operating within.

(Stacey) I had it easy when it came to world building in Whatnots & Doodads because the world had already been established. This story is part of the Strange Hollow line with Liquid Silver Books.
Strange Hollow is located at the base of Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and was established by a fairy, Jacinda Fergus on April 11, 1900. She welcomes the strange and unusual into her town.
World building can be tough so the fact that this element was removed made writing the story fun! I had the chance to take a world that someone else created but apply it how I envisioned the town. I had a “bible” to follow, which had maps, rules and just about everything I needed to create Whatnots & Doodads. And boy-oh-boy did I enjoy writing in the dark, old, little town. It felt like every time I wrote a word I expected the Leaky Cauldron to show up.

(Jaz) The plausible manner that vampires can exist in the world today is via striving to maintain their anonymity by maintaining a low social profile and changing their geographic locations and identity to elude those who may notice their lack of aging. This is reflected a couple of times in Sunrise at Sunset as follows:
"Amber owned Columbus Mortgage, a small mortgage processing company that she didn’t run directly, though she maintained the power of strategic decision making. She found that the more humans she involved herself with, the more questions were asked about her over time. Keeping a low profile with humanity was a necessary part of a vampire’s continued survival. It was part of the reason being a vampire could be a lonely existence. The implied glamour from the numerous Hollywood films involving vampires was altogether wrong."
"Finally, Amber had to disappear, and a new identity needed to be forged. She sold her company to Bob Fletcher, whom she had been carefully grooming for the role."

Here we see how vampires are constantly needing to look ahead to future events in planning their continued existence:
“The here and now is always easier for people to indulge in carelessly. But I have to consider the future at all times prior to my actions. The future is always just around the corner for me,” she explained. “The concept of eternity demands careful planning at most levels. Small decisions today take on larger impact and meaning tomorrow.”

(Stacey) Strange Hollow is home to all supernatural creatures who are a little different. I wanted to make the characters, Zeke, a demon gone good, and Bryanna, a witch with unruly magic, believable and sympathetic. How did I do that? Well, I added humor and a big wallop of emotions into the steamy romance.
In a world where they are considered flawed it was necessary to lighten the mood a little and give them both a journey that didn’t involve action or dangerous moments. But took them on the journey of self-discovery to find the one thing that we all want—our very own happily ever after! Below you’ll see how Zeke, a demon who could very well steal your soul is in fact anything but that.
“Just because you’re born as something doesn’t mean you have to live by those
rules.”
It surprised him that the statement made her laugh. “Seriously? You just what,
woke up one day and said, ‘Hmm, nope, I’m done with this whole soul eatin’ bit’.”
“That’s exactly right.”
Her eyes shifted from bewilderment to amazement. He could only wonder what
she saw on his face that made her believe him so quickly. “Why … and how?”
“It’s quite a simple story.” But it wasn’t a simple act that brought him to the
decision that forever altered his path. It was a memory he held close. Yet, for the oddest of reasons, he wanted her to know. “I grew tired of it all—tired of creating fear and causing death.”
She examined him a moment, her expression showing nothing of what she was
thinking. Her stare so penetrating, he wondered if she liked what she’d heard or didn’t.
“So, just like that you up and quit.”
He laughed at the simple way she put it. If only it’d been so easy. “It’s not really
something you just up and quit.”

Jaz’s Bio:

Jaz Primo is an author, history aficionado, "pun-master", and all-around fan of things vampire and urban fantasy. Fueled by an active imagination, cold Coca-Cola, and chocolate, he strives to bring a new voice to today's array of vampire fiction. He's an avid book worm, resulting in the constant tug-of-war between reading and writing his next novel. When not pouring over a keyboard or Kindle, Jaz can be found tending a veggie garden or casting a variety of colorful lures into bodies of water as he urges the bass to bite, often using his best fish puns. He has enjoyed a fulfilling background and career in higher education, including his passionate hobby of teaching U.S. History classes during evenings. He is a native of Oklahoma where he lives with his wife and a talkative, long-lived cat. Visit his website at www.jazprimo.com and his blog is at primovampires.blogspot.com.

Sunrise at Sunset Buy Links - Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sunrise-Sunset- -Vampire-Book-ebook/dp/B0043M4SKY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1312599111&sr=8-2
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunrise-at-sunset-jaz-primo/1100226524

Stacey’s Bio:

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

Whatnots & Doodads buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whatnots-doodads/

Releases and Sales

2011-08-04T13:53:00.001-07:00

Well, I have a little bit of news and a secret code. Not a bad thing, either way.

Aspect Ratio is now available in trade paperback from Mundania Press, and book two in the Changeling Race trilogy, The Fly in Paradise is due out next week. :)

Just in time, Mundania is running an anniversary sale. The house is celebrating its ninth year in business by offering a 29% discount to anyone who uses the code NINE at check out.

Great deal and perfect timing. I love it.

So for now, that's the news that's fit to print. I am off to Spocon next weekend, so, I'm sure I will have a great deal more to talk about soon.

Wish me luck,

~Frances

Teamwork

2011-07-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have toddlers, so I can't really type that word, teamwork, without hearing the Wonder Pets' theme song in my head, but I'll try to purge it as best I can. I'm not really a fan of awkwardly animated preschool superheroes, but I do want to talk a little bit about teamwork.

You see, I'm going through edits again...
That probably says enough, but as usual, I'm going to choose to ramble instead.

Did you ever do that thing in grade school where you break out into groups? Okay, maybe everyone did. I think they keep doing that to you up through higher grades as well. Whatever. The point is, I loved those sessions. Weren't expecting that, were you?

Okay, maybe you were. Still, why, right? Well, there is something very appealing about putting more than one mind to a task. Creative minds, in particular, tend to play well off one another. Simple ideas can blossom and manifest in wholly different, often better ways. A group brainstorming session, a group project, can take a simple good idea and transform it into something greater.

That's all well and good for schoolwork, but it doesn't apply to my novel, you say. My novel, is mine. I created it. I slaved over it. It's "my baby." And that is exactly why it applies. Oh it applies so well. Your baby is far too precious to you, no matter how objective and open minded and self-critical you are. Novels, like school projects, need multiple minds.

But, I have good news. This group project thing can be a lot of fun. Seriously, it's really enjoyable to knuckle down with a partner and scrub away at your manuscript with the assistance of their fresh perspective. If, that is, you come at it from the teamwork spirit/perspective. If, on the other hand, you aproach the editing process from an adversarial angle, ready to argue and confront every suggestion. Editing can be excruciating.

Just imagine when your novel is turned into a movie. (oh, I KNOW you already have--we all do) You'll be asked to get directly involved, of course, (Its a fantasy after all) but you'll have to work with directors, producers, art directors, set designers, costumers, casting directors.....you get the idea. NOW, tell me that idea doesn't give you shivers of delight? It does. I know it does.

Of course for the teamwork thing to work well, you'll need an editor that you trust and respect....another post in itself, and one I'll leave to someone else.
But I will say, I've been very lucky so far. :)

Happy collaboration! Go forth with a smile.

~Frances

Martin Sharlow - Shades of Blood

2011-07-08T03:15:00.000-07:00

Please join me in welcoming author, Martin Sharlow, as today's guest blogger. :)

I am thrilled to have him stop by and visit. He is also giving away an ebook copy of his recent book, Shades of Blood. Leave him a comment to participate.

***

I want to thank you for having me here.

One of the things I like to do in a lot of what I write, is mix reality with fantasy. Now I know most books and movies attempt to do that, and some succeed. Yet, how many scary movies do we see people do things that no one in their right mind would ever do if they had ever watched any horror. Too many times, it just seems the people in the show or book really aren't in the real world. So with my books I try to think of how someone would actually react in any situation. I think I'm a pretty good judge of people, and so I try to give the personalities of people I know to my characters. They're not always 100% correct, but they're close enough for me to recognize.

The same goes for locations. My current series is based in Hazel Dell Washington. It's kind of like a suburb or unincorporated town just outside Vancouver Washington. Every landmark I give in the series actually exists. As an example, the park that a lot of crazy stuff happens at is here in Hazel Dell. I chose it specifically because it's supposed to be haunted in real life. I went there myself, and sure enough the place just didn't feel right. We even had a couple of amateur ghost hunters stakeout the place and get some pretty weird pictures and sounds. So, it may very well actually be haunted.

That's why I chose that park. I actually had in mind that maybe one day someone may actually go to some of these places because of my books. I thought it would be cool if they could actually see where all the events took place. Even the restaurant where Melissa works is there. I actually can't think of any place in the book that does not really exist. So I hope some of the fans of the series will appreciate that someday. It really helps with the visualization for writing purposes. I would suggest any writer if you're having difficulty coming up with scenes for your book, find some place you know, even in your past, and use it. It does wonders, I mean look at Lord of the Rings. The film looked around the world for a place that was as close to Middle Earth as they could find.

At least with me it helps, and I also find it actually makes writing more fun for me. It's funny, how whenever I drive through the area in town that Melissa lives and works at, I now feel like I'm passing through her section of town. I almost feel like I could just walk up to her door and knock, and she would be there. It's a real weird feeling. I'm sure my family is sick of me pointing out, “hey look, we're in Melissa's neighborhood.”

I hope that gives your readers a little inside peek into my life and my writing habits. But I really would suggest converting real world places that you've been into your book, if you're having difficulties coming up with scenes. I want to thank you again for having me here, I really appreciate it.

Shades of Blood

"Melissa, Michael and Debbie's evening of celebration and victory ends with a chilling realization: something out there is still taking people off of the quiet streets of Hazel Dell. While searching for answers, Melissa's other friend, Sarah, is dragged into the mess with them. and soon Melissa must divide her time between solving the mystery of the disappearances, figuring out what it means to have a vampire boyfriend, and finding a way to protect both of her friends from the new and unknown dangers of Portland's nightlife. But even if Melissa can muster the strength and resolve to try, can she really protect the people she cares about from vampires and the monsters that still lurk in Hazel Dell Park, when even Michael is keeping dangerous secrets from her? What do Melissa's dreams mean? Who are the robed men that slink through the shadows of Hazel Dell? And just what isn't Michael telling her about vampire blood? Melissa must discover the answers to all of these questions herself, or even her vampire protector might not be able to save her and her friends from the dangers that stalk through the shadows of Hazel Dell. Shades of Blood is book two of Shades of Twilight. "

The art of the No-Show

2011-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of puppetry. My blog serial (now in book form) originated from a short puppet play. I collect old puppets, and I frequented puppet shows for awhile when I still lived in the 'happening' part of the state.
They're few and far between on this side, but I catch them when I can.
The art form fascinates me. We Americans tend to lump it into children's entertainment, but in truth it has a much loftier, and often bawdier, history.

For me, the illusion was the hook. I attended my first show and within moments of the lights dimming, the stage grew to gigantic proportions, the sets were life-sized, the puppets living, breathing individuals. Afterwards, when they allow you to approach and examine them, the tiny size was such a shock. I'd experienced something magic, and I fell in love with it.

They say actors usually don't care for puppetry, and I can understand that. The puppeteer is anonymous, his face unimportant. It's the illusion that matters.
I also believe, to an extent, the world looks for the same thing from its authors.

I think a lot about the hostility aimed at authors who over-promote. Granted, most of them are rude and/or downright stupid about it. But the strength of the venom from readers who are just plain sick of hearing authors speak--of seeing their faces--seems exaggerated in proportion. maybe not, some of these folks behave pretty badly,
but I have another theory too.

I think by speaking up too loudly the author is breaking the illusion. I suspect, the ability for the reader to immerse in the story, to believe in the world and the characters as real, living creatures is endangered by too much author input.
How can I suspend my disbelief, and dive fully into a book, when someone keeps reminding me they made it all up?

Is the illusion shattered by knowing the person who created it? Maybe not, but what if they repeatedly pop up to remind you about it? Is it like seeing that wizened old man working the controls behind the curtain?

There has to be a balance. I mean, people love Stephen King, the adore J.K. Rowling...but not as much as they love Harry. Most of them, I suspect, would rather think Harry told his own story. Hell, even I like to think, somewhere in the quiet, childlike places of my mind, that Daigon Alley really hides in a London back alley.

I mean, talk about shopping fantasy.

Okay, obviously the hard sell, used car salesman approach is annoying no matter what, but I'm curious what you all think about the rest of it. Can you keep the illusion if the author is too present? Or do you like to know about the process and the person behind the story?
Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed?

And just for me, who's your favorite puppet?

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. :)

~ Frances

Reviews and News

2011-06-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

Aspect Ratio was reviewed and the Long and Short review site, and received five books, which puts it in the running for Book of the Week. Info and voting can be found at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/index.htm
and the review is here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/aspect-ratio-by-frances-pauli.html

I have delved into book trailer land again, this time for Roarke.
:)

and if you're a SPACE SLUGS fan, hop over here: http://spaceslugserial.blogspot.com
and grab your free goodies before July 1

Thanks everyone!

~ Frances

Working hard or Hardly working?

2011-06-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I managed to wrangle a work day today...a whole day to get some projects tidied up and finish something. It's amazing how they nag at you when you leave them sit too long. Some days the whispering of things unfinished can be ignored, and some days its a dull roar that interrupts just about any attempt to procrastinate.

And, trust me, I'm a world class procrastinator.

But today, I'm working. Really. Blogging counts too. And I get to thinking, when I'm jonesing for a work day, how much tone and perception can change a word's meaning. I love my work. I beg for time to do it. I covet working hours like they were covered in Belgian chocolate. I use the term "my work" to signify my art, my books, the product of my labor. I also use it to indicate the activity that I love, writing. I want to work. Can I have some time to work today? Oh, man, I need to work.

Can you relate?

I used to use the word like profanity. Man, I gotta go to work. What are you doing today? I have to work. The weight of that single word could bring a whole cascade of depression down on the stoutest of shoulders.

Perspective, eh?

In art school, a student was encouraged to produce a "body of work." You said, this is my work with pride in your voice.

It's all in the tone. But today, I GET to work, and I'm tickled as hell about it. Even with a moment away to blog, I'll finish this novella before dark. phew. On to the next work...and on.

I showed my husband my notes. Half way through the story's timeline the pen marks get messy. There are scribbles, extra layers, crammed-in letters. I said to him, "Hey, do you suppose this is a good sign? Does it mean my plot is thickening?"

His answer: "It looks to me like you're powerful confused."

Perspective is everything. Chin up folks, keep your tone joyful. I'm back to work.

Happily,

~ Frances

The Western Front

2011-06-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

All is not quiet. Okay, I'm obsessed with WWI right now, and that was a lame reference. sue me.

I have an interview up at the moment at the Charleston examiner: http://www.examiner.com/paranormal-fiction-in-charleston-sc/interview-with-author-frances-pauli

and closer to home, I have slipped back into video land for one more trailer. (I swear, I'm going to find a support group or something--eventually)
But first, I shall torture y'all with it. :)

Fire!

Frances

A Hive of Scum and Villainy

2011-06-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night, June 5th, from 7-9 central time, there will be a release chat party for the Villainy anthology put out through Hall Brothers Entertainment.

These are great guys and worthy of support, plus it promises to be a fun time. I should be there for most if not all of the time, schedule allowing.(It's my daughter's third birthday) There is also a release party special price for the antho, so if you plan on picking up a copy (you do, right?) make sure you stop on by. Just go to: http://www.hallbrosentertainment.com/
and follow the little link in the party announcement.

Closer to home, the Space Slugs, revision is darn close to finished. The bonus short story has been selected, written and added in. So keep your eyes tuned and we should have another release bash soon. I'm planning on putting out the print book as close as possible to a Kindle/smashwords release, so we'll try to accomodate your format of preference.

That's the news from my end of things, I hope to see y'all at the party tomorrow.

:)
Frances

Made of Awesome Contest

2011-05-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is a fun time. Hop over here, and sign up for the contest.
Then come back...I'll wait... and read my entry below.
I'd appreciate feedback/comments, but even more fun, come and play in the
contest with me.

thanks all,

~ Frances

My Entry:

Shrouded
Science Fiction Romance
80,380 words

Opening excerpt:

Vashia pressed her spine against the steel wall and watched the transport slide to a stop between her and the Comet’s back entrance. The alley she’d snuck down reeked of grease and sweat, and she held her breath for more than just a need for silence. A gutter lizard slithered up the wall opposite, snapping its purple tongue at invisible insects. Vashia cringed and slid a half step back down the way she’d come.
The hover sled powered to idle, and the long door panel slid open. Her father’s insignia disappeared into the housing as the gap widened and Jarn stepped out of the vehicle. Vasia’s mouth twisted in distaste at the same time she did her best to merge with the alley wall. Jarn knew about the Comet. Damn it. He’d managed to cut her off four steps from sanctuary.
He tugged at his gloves and sneered down the street in both directions, his vulture eyes picking through the riff-raff for any trace of her. Vasia’s skin crawled. She froze in the alley’s shadows, couldn’t risk the sound another step away from the governor’s aide might make. Instead she watched his shorn head shake and heard him bark out orders to the driver and the armed thugs standing at either side of his car. “Wait. Keep your eyes sharp.”
She held her breath until Jarn disappeared into the Comet, until he’d slid his skinny, uniformed shoulders through the nightclub’s entrance and the blast of music faded once more into the clatter and hum of normal street noises. The hover car whined in front of her, blocking the route she’d intended to take. Jarn’s toadies might not have genius level IQs, but they couldn’t miss an attempt to slip past them in the full light of Eclipsis’ primary moon. Vassia backed further into the alley and let out a slow, silent exhale. She was screwed.

Coffee and Romance

2011-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm blogging abroad today over at Coffee and Romance.
Stop by and chat with me about series and trilogies and how long is toooooooo long.

;-)
Frances

Its me on WKRP!

2011-05-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who loves that show? Johnny Fever? Dropping Turkeys out of a plane on thanksgiving? Awesome.

Anyway...I got to play on the radio the other day, and I had a fabulous time. You can hear the interview here, at the Romance Radio Network. Part of the reason I had such a great time, is the show's host, Desmond Haas, who is an angel and an intellectual and a wonderful author. He made me feel so at ease. . . though, you might not be able to tell as I apparently say, "Um, and UH" a lot more than I ever guessed! :-) You'll see. Check out the show, if for no other reason than to count my ums.

While you're there, follow Desmond, listen to some other shows, (with more eloquent authors) and enjoy my newest addiction. The Romance Radio Network.

You can listen there, or on the player below.
Thanks

~Frances

DOWNLOAD for mp3 portable devices: http://rrn.me/kzX52L

Follow that lead!

2011-05-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the weirdest things can take you on a journey.

This morning, a lovely lazy Saturday, I decided to take a break from work and just relax. . . mind you, I havent written a single word all week and despite my best efforts at attempting to force the fingers to get busy, nothing has magically appeared on my computer screen. My current Works in Progress have forgotten my name.

Still, I felt compelled to take a break. Hey, don't judge me.

Back to the point...I sat in my rocking chair with a hot mug of coffee and decided to turn my attention to a recent gift from a good friend. Two back issues of the AKC dog magazine, Family Dog. (did I mention I'm a dog person? Well, follow me on facebook and you'll see what I mean.)
Anyway. I liesurely thumbed through the issues, admiring the many breeds and imagining a future time when I had more time to spend on things like training and showing and doing more than tossing a squeaky for my hound between paragraphs.

Then I turned the page and stared at something different. The article was titled, All K-9s on the Western Front, and the picture was an old black and white war photo of a group of soldiers and their service dogs, judging from the crosses worn by both, I'm guessing they were medical rescue dogs.

Something about that picture grabbed me. This happens on occaision, and I tend to pay attention. I mean, I have next to zero interst in war, and I know next to nothing about World War One, in particular, but here I was, immediately obsessed with the photograph and desperate for more information.

So I dove on it. I know better than to ignore that kind of reaction. I read the article twice, hit the internet and followed my nose. I didn't know there at the start what was happening. Not really. I could have guessed there was a story to be had in there somewhere, but I could just have easily chalked it up to a triggered past life memory...I still may, you never know.

Either way, however, there is a story now. It's a biggie, and it's going to require a lot more research than I usually enjoy. No matter, the gates have opened. One click leads to another and before I know it I have the webpage devoted to the history of dogs in the military bookmarked. I have the public record scanned copy of Colonel Edwin H. Richardsons manual on training war dogs. (he's a big name in military dog history, let me tell ya) Im more excited than I have been since....since...

Well, since this happened the last time. It's kind of a pattern.

Anyway, you may have zero interest in war dogs, or basket weaving, or martian ice, but you never really know what might strike a nerve--or what great story might be waiting for you to unearth it. I thinks its that element of surprise that makes this the best job in the world--at least for me.

Keep your eyes and your mind open, and listen for that whisper.

Here's to following the thoughts that tickle,
~Frances

Moth Review

2011-05-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

A really nice review for A Moth In Darkness.
Thanks, Melissa, for the nice words. :-)

http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/2011/05/book-review-moth-in-darkness.html

Book Signing

2011-05-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'll be up at Hastings' bookstore in Moses Lake, WA on Sat. from 1-4pm.
Chatting and signing copies of A Moth in Darkness and handing out fairy candy (highly addictive) and trading cards, bookmarks etc.

I'd love to see some friendly faces.

On the 18th The Dimensional Shift will come out in print and book two: Aspect Ratio will release in ebook. I have a guest blog spot that day, a radio/podcast interview on the 19th, and a few interviews coming up over the next few months.

Also, the sequel to Moth is due out this summer. Stay tuned and have a great day!

Frances

Guest Author: Voss Foster

2011-04-29T00:28:00.000-07:00

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to my dear friend and fellow author, Voss Foster, who has agreed to stop by and share some wisdom from the trenches.
:-)

Well, my dear Frances asked me to guest blog and she threw out a lovely suggestion for a topic to boot - what it's like to be a beginner in the world of professional writing. It seems like a pretty valid topic to cover, don't you think? You don't think so? Are you sure? That's what I thought. As I said, it seems like a pretty valid topic to cover, so I thought to myself as I was filling a bottle of lemonade - since bottles always seem to inspire me to write blog posts - “People love top five stuff.” It's a nice, compact way to get across a buttload of information (that's a technical measurement, by the way) and have people be able to just go “Tip number three…”

So, long story short (Too late, I know.), I have this nifty little list of things to tell people who were where I was not too long ago. Just to be extra mushy and pile lots of love on her, I owe a lot of where I am to Frances Pauli, Jaleta Clegg (http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com), and Adriane Caelleigh (http://blackstoneandmoonskins.blogspot.com). Okay, now really without further ado (I hope), here's the list (By the way, that translates to “LOOK AT ME! I'M A TRANSITION!”)

1 - Write the Freaking Thing!

I know you'll get the same advice from any author out there. I've heard from a wide variety of people. Mercedes Lackey, Patricia Briggs - I think I even may have heard C.J. Cherryh say it at the last convention. If she didn't, I'm pretty damn sure she would have said it if the situation arose. If you're going to be a painter, you paint. If you're going to be a singer, you sing. If you're going to be an epidemiologist, you study outbreaks and emergent diseases…okay, that one didn't exactly fit the motif, but you can still figure this out. If painters paint and singers sing, what do you have to do to be a writer? Be crazy…well, yes, but I was looking for WRITE! You can't do anything but dream until you actually write a *bleep* *bleep* manuscript (That was a censor, if you didn't catch that.). It really is a lesson that everyone has to learn if they ever want to release anything to a publisher. If your only writing aspiration is to write for your friends and give stuff away online that's wonderful. Have fun with your writing. I'm really not being sarcastic. I did the same thing, much to the chagrin of my writing group, but then I got a wild hair up my hind end and decided I wanted a little bit more. I'd always wanted to try something a little more ambitious than writing steamy love scenes for my friends, so I started to really write.

2 - Edit the Freaking Thing!

Now, if you were like me, editing didn't exist before you decided to try and get in with the big boys and girls in the publishing world…okay, the larger than you boys and girls. I honestly never had a thought about it. I used to just sit down, bang something out in Word, make sure my spelling and grammar check wasn't totally having a seizure, and then off it went to make me no money. Can you tell I'm resentful about giving everything away for free now? That's not the point, though. The point is this: I was sitting, nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs, in my first period class one day and I happened to have a piece of my work in my bag. I pulled it out to read it and I found that, by reading it, I could find errors that the computer had missed. Now, I'd heard of this happening before, but I never actually tested the theory. I snatched a highlighter and a pen and stated to go through it like that. Then I noticed something else - I wasn't very visceral here, here, or here. I grabbed another highlighter and started to tear up that page. Now, it admittedly took me two hours to get through the first round of editing and revision on that little four page story, but that should just show you how hideous your first draft is. I'm not saying to hate your first draft of a work, but treat it like a person with a really fast-spreading case of leprosy. The bones (the basic lines of your story) remain pretty much the same, but you have to slice off that infected finger and give your story a prosthetic, stat. What I mean to say is that editing will save your story. If you leave that little leprous finger (Having Jim-Bob in three places during one paragraph, for example), it will just open the door to leaving other mistakes in your manuscript, and if you pick and choose which mistakes to edit, why edit in the first place? Now, I know I had a point…right! The bottom line is this: that little, annoying voice in your head that tells you that all of your writing is crap and you should throw yourself into a lake - he's mostly right, now. Don't throw yourself in a lake, though - unless it's to swim. Just accept that you have a steaming pile of crap wrapped around a tiny diamond and, with the pressure of editing and revising, you can turn that surrounding, carbon rich shell of crap into an even bigger diamond.

3 - You are your own Worst Enemy

It's true. Now that you have everything written and edited, you read through it and say, “It's bloody brilliant! I'll be a multi-quasi-septillionaire in no time!” You smile when you send off that little gem you just formed and wait, champagne at the ready, for that acceptance letter. You just know they'll take “The Adventures of Alex the Ankle-Licking Werewolf”. Who wouldn't? Your email pings and it's from Awesomesauce Press. You open the letter and it says, “Thank you for sending us your submission. Sadly, it's not for us. I think you need to sit on something sharp.” You are officially devastated (more on rejections later). You wonder how such a brilliant masterpiece could have been turned down. It must be a mistake. You call your writing guru, whoever that may be, and cry and whine and complain. They ask you one, simple question, “Who was your beta-reader?”

That blank look you have right there is the general answer for beginning authors. I lucked out and already knew what one was, but for most aspiring authors a beta-reader is some long-forgotten myth. In short, it's the other pair of eyes. Find some - they'll help, I promise - and tell them to read the story and see what they think. If you're lucky you can have people who actually write and/or read in that genre, but most anyone will do in most cases. If you can, make sure they don't know that it's yours. They might be too sympathetic if it's yours. I can't tell you how much my beta-readers do for me. Sure, I want to stab them in the face whenever I start editing - at least usually - but deep down I know it's for the best. A good beta-reader will point out any weirdness in your plot/characterization/style. Hell, I didn't even know about passive verbs until someone told me to fix them - then I had to learn. When push comes to shove, whether you hate them or love them, beta-readers are your biggest necessity. Manuscripts are like children - they're always cute to you, but not everyone overlooks the third nostril and missing eyebrow.

4 - The Big Moment

That could mean a lot of things depending on context, but I'm talking about submission. You've spent, likely, at least a week or two on your short story, between writing, editing, and beta-reading. You now hold your tiny, feeble baby in your hand (by baby I mean manuscript). It's crying and covered in a warm blanket. Now throw that little, sweet, innocent child into a hungry pack of wolves. Acid-spitting wolves. With lasers. A hungry pack of acid-spitting laser wolves. You need to submit it. Next to writing the freaking thing and editing the freaking thing, submitting the freaking thing is the most important step to getting it published. I mean, look at it, you need to submit it somewhere if it's going to get out to the public. Yes, it's a terrifying thing, most of the time. I mean, you're unsure of what to do in this industry. Do you even belong? What if the editor hates it? Do they have some kind of secret editor's club where they all decide who gets in and who gets the boot? As far as I know, that's not actually true, but everything else could actually happen. The editor might absolutely despise it and throw it into the furnace just so they can watch it burn. I'm not going to say that every editor for every publishing company is made of sugar and marshmallows. I'm also not going to say that they're all acid-spitting laser wolves. In actuality, most of the editors I know of are actually writers with a good eye for spelling, grammar, flow, continuity, and the like. They understand what you've had to put into this.

Now, I get that there's some serious anxiety making that first submission. Mine wasn't that long ago. The best way to do it is to find something that you've written (but never published) and track down a market with Duotrope's Digest (any search engine should be able to find it without issue.). They have a full listing of open submissions that are separated by bunches and bunches of different categories (genre, subgenre, category, length, et cetera). Then just grit your teeth and send in the file (make sure you look at their requirements to make sure everything is in order). A lot of publishers get back fairly quickly (within three months), so you won't be chomping at the bit all too long. I wish I could tell you to do something special to make it easier, but there isn't a magical trick to it. You have to bite the bullet and submit.

5 - It's Just Not for Us

When you write to send things off, you need to know that there are only two possibilities. They can say “yippee” and take your manuscript, or they can say “no” and deny your manuscript. Sure you can get on the shortlist, but all that means is “no, but if you change it here, here, and here we can probably take it”. Now, I understand exactly the feeling of my first rejection letter. It was on a Halloween horror story and, when I got the “no” back, even though I was halfway expecting it, I came close to just never submitting to that press again. Bottom line is rejection letters suck, especially the first one. After that it's not so bad, but that first rejection makes you question your entire skill with a pencil (or keyboard - whatever). Now, we're in luck in this day and age. It used to be that every potential manuscript had to be sent through snail mail. Now, some of them still do, but so many are online submissions. I know it doesn't seem important, but think of it like this. We're all pretty used to internet slams at this point, so we recover more quickly. People tell us to feck off and die on the internet on a pretty regular basis, depending on what sites you go to, so hearing “no” just seems far less hideous. The first rejection letter sucks, yes, but I think my recovery for it was something like 7-8 hours, then I was ready to resubmit the story to another place. Now, when you get that rejection, there are a few things I recommend:

Your writing buddies w/hugs and chocolate

Chocolate

Coffee

…I think that's all you really need to get over that rejection. Really though, what rejection comes down to is a rite of passage. That's the best way to see it. My band director in high school gave me some of the greatest advice I've ever gotten: “If you act like you're having fun, you'll have fun.” That applies to rejection letters as well. You can either sit there and mope and bemoan your lack of writing skills, which is an admittedly healthy way to handle rejection, or you can take that rejection, buy a pretty frame, and throw it up next to your first release. They're both important enough to keep.

Now, I know how inconsequential all of this seems, I do. You'll think, if you're new, that I'm a blithering idiot. You already know how to write. You don't need to edit. You don't need a beta-reader. You sure as all hell won't get turned down. Let me ask you, though - if you know it all, why did you read this article? Is that a bit of an egotistical statement? Perhaps a touch, but it's also a very valid question.

Now, if I had to give out one more little bit of advice, right quick, here's what it would be: Someone wants to read your story. I know it might take twenty tries to get it out there, but there is someone that wants to see what the hell you wrote, no matter how many rejection letters you get for it. Stack them up and print your next manuscript on the backs of the papers. Obviously you don't want to submit it on that paper (if you submit through snail mail), but it's a way to turn that hideousness (assuming you don't want to throw them all in frames or wallpaper your bedroom with rejection letters) into a thing of beauty.

Merry ye meet and merry ye part,

Voss
BLOG: http://vossfoster.blogspot.com
deviantART: http://raven-838.deviantart.com

Upcoming Print Release & Trailer

2011-04-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Dimensional Shift is coming out in print on May 18th. On the same day, book two, Aspect Ratio, will release in e-book. I'm so excited. So, I figured It was time to make up a trailer for the first book. :) See you on the other side.

~Frances

2011-04-23T17:18:00.001-07:00

Ride home on the train. Completely unrelated, but totally cool. 5 points.

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2011-04-23T16:29:00.001-07:00

Holding a con on easter weekend so mommy has to leave a day early: minus 5 points. :-(

2011-04-22T21:57:00.001-07:00

Won a Godiva white chocolate bar at the Broad Universe reading...five more points!

2011-04-22T20:03:00.003-07:00

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2011-04-22T20:03:00.001-07:00

Stormtroopers. Con bonus: 50 points. :-)

Patricia McKillip

2011-04-22T13:21:00.001-07:00

Greatest author of all time: 20 bonus points.

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2011-04-22T12:00:00.001-07:00

Day two: great start. Norwescon officially has the cleanest, best stocked hospitality suite ever. Lovely. Found the free coffee. Happy happy. Con:5 bonus points

The con is on!

2011-04-21T19:12:00.001-07:00

So the score is: norwescon 1 bad flashback from last year 0

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2011-04-21T18:27:00.001-07:00

First panel: friendly AND fun. Its a good sign.

Heading out...

2011-04-21T09:22:00.001-07:00

Between us and the con....a whole lot of nothing.

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2011-04-21T09:20:00.001-07:00

So, this will be my first ever, roving blog report. Stay tuned for pics and scoop on: Norwescon, 2011

2011-04-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

On the road again.... Instead of another session of "what I learned at the con" I figured we'd try something a little different this time.

A second chance to Con...

2011-04-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

So, despite all my whining last year, I am heading out this week to attend Norwescon again. I am dubious, but I have disposable shoes this year, even more chocolate, and a thermos for coffee that doesn't cost five dollars and take forty five minutes to obtain....

With those minor corrections in place, I'm hoping for a good time.

Cross your fingers for me, and I'll report on the results when I get back.

~Frances

Supers Trailer: Friend or Foe

2011-04-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

Here's the book trailer for my new release:

If you're on Youtube, come by and friend me, I'm addicted. I think I need a trailer for each book too. . . If anyone has ideas for scripts or has suggestions for a particular book, let me know. ;-)

Frances

Is this a Kissing Book?

2011-04-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

I started out this whole writing venture still denying the fact that I wrote romance. Oh, I'd admit it to a degree--if you caught me in a good mood. I'd say I wrote "romantic" stories, but primarily speculative fiction. It took me a good long while to fess up. Yes, they are romances. Yes, on purpose.
Yes, I like them that way.

About the time I got adjusted to the idea, the reviews started rolling in. Not bad reviews, but all pretty much in agreement on one thing. It's not romance, they said. Not really.

Well, I'll be damned.

We know that labels are important, right? Without genre labels, the bookstores would be in chaos. The readers would be lost. The shelving alone would give any average obsessive/compulsive librarian a case of the hives.

So this "romance or not" issue has to be decided. Doesn't it? I mean, if I continued on my merry way just writing almost romance speculative fiction willy nilly, whole cataloguing systems might crash. We could be looking at another Y2---mmm'kay.
Or maybe not.
Still, readers would be happier, I suspect, knowing what it was they were buying. Grudgingly, I must admit that the labels do have a purpose. . . . I suppose.

Now what?

There are a few of my books that fall quite neatly into the romance category, and no review is going to convince me otherwise. But, there are those others too, those that just aren't..not quite, not really.
I could put them on the straight science fiction shelf, I imagine, but I suspect that would give a wrong impression as well. I suspect a great many readers will have the same reaction that my husband does, when reading my rough drafts.

You see, the same thing happens every time. I'm not sure why. You'd think he'd expect it by now, but still he reads them. He gets half way through, sets the manuscript in his lap and gives me "that look."

"What?" I ask. (also not sure why. I know what's coming.)

He sighs and shakes his head. "Is this," he says. "Is this a kissing book?"

"Why yes, honey. Yes it is."

But not quite a romance. Or is it? I'm still stumped. I know there are rules with romance, like any genre. They too, serve a purpose. But I like to break them. I like to break them a great deal. Not the Happily-ever-After, mind you. I keep that one. But pretty much the rest of it, for the most part, I tend to chuck out the window. If I looked at my work as science fiction, it would probably be a similar story.
"romantic science fiction."
"science fiction romance."

Does it make as much of a difference to the reader as it does to the shelving system? I wonder. I read everything from Herbert to Harlequin. Maybe I'm just not that discriminating. I mean, I have different moods, why not different tastes to suit them?

What about you? If you picked something up expecting one thing, and it turned out to be a little different, would it matter so much if the story really rocked?
Or if you wanted a harlequin and you got a hitchhikers guide, would you turn off and close the book? Even if it was good? Would it have to be extra good?

I know what the experts say, but I'm curious if readers are really that cut and dry... If they are, heaven help me. I never could pick a horse. Not one. Not when I could have two.

Genre greedy,

~Frances

Goings On...

2011-04-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today, I have an interview up over at Sarah-Jane Lehoux's Work in Progress Come on by and comment.

I've also put up another book video... I can't seem to stop.
Anyway, that one, I'll share here:

Moth Trailer

2011-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

Friend or Foe

2011-03-31T20:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened, I finished the work in progress and returned to the real world. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it's release day!!!

Friend or Foe, my take on Super Hero romance, is now available from Devine Destines.

Here's a excerpt:

“Hello, Simon.”

Her voice pulled him into step beside her, but she turned back to Mayor Lee almost immediately. The spell held just the same and Simon continued along at her right shoulder, rapt and watching the highlights shimmer in her hair while she listened to the mayor go on about something or another.

“I’m thrilled that you’re here,” the mayor said.

Simon nodded agreement, but the woman continued to watch Lee instead of him.

“A chance to show our gratitude,” Lee continued. “For all that you’ve done for the town.”

“There’s no need.” She shook her head, protesting the attention. Simon approved wholeheartedly.

“Surely there is, my dear.” Mayor Lee waved an arm toward the library across the street. As he did so, he caught site of Simon alongside of them. “Oh good, Maxwell. Thought I’d lost you there for a moment. The new library.” He continued his argument. “Your generous check for the parks foundation.”

“Anonymous check,” the woman corrected. “If you please, Mayor Lee.”

Simon swooned inside. He managed to keep walking, resisted the temptation to run a hand through the mysterious town benefactor’s silky hair. He tuned out the mayor and focused on imagining what their children would look like. He’d almost chosen a name for their firstborn by the time they reached the platform.

Spaulding’s voice, whiny and trembling with anger, broke through his trance. “It’s about damn time you got here!”

Simon started up the stairs, intent on defending the mayor and the future Mrs. Maxwell, but a strong feminine hand wrapped around his forearm. The contact sent enough electricity through him to stop his feet. He turned and found a pair of brown eyes appraising him. She stepped closer and the hand on his arm tightened. Her lovely face turned to either side in a gentle reproof. Of course, Simon thought, restraint.

Mayor Lee passed them, took the stairs to the podium with nothing more than a scowl of disapproval for Spaulding. Simon frowned, but resisted the urge to throttle Rutherford for his insolence.

“Now,” Mayor Lee waved for them to join him. “Since we’re all here, we can get this year’s competition started.”

“No.” Simon found his voice, remembered his predicament in a rush of clarity. He hadn’t had a chance to run the plan by Lee, but there’d be no help for it now. He shook his head. “I don’t intend to compete against Agnes. I suggest we postpone.”

“Simon, Simon,” the woman at his elbow whispered. She stepped away from him and laughed softly. “It’s cute, really, but there’s no need.”

The mayor nodded agreement from the podium. Behind him, Spaulding sneered and rubbed his hands together. Simon looked from one to the other. He looked at the woman beside him and then back to Spaulding. He squinted and looked at her again. His bride-to-be had Spaulding’s high cheekbones. She had a strong, Rutherford jaw. The satisfied smile, however, was all hers.

“As for intentions,” she said. “I fully intend to leave you in the dust.”

Coming Up....

2011-03-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have a few new releases on the horizon, and being up to my eyeballs in the current work in progress, I'm flat out empty of blog topics. SO, I'll share some pretty covers, teasers and my hopes that soon, very soon, I'll be able to pull my head out of a finished rough draft and surface for air.

Enjoy
~ Frances

Friend or Foe
supers romance
from Devine Destinies

"Can they save the town without losing each other?"

When Simon Maxwell’s arch enemy backs out of the annual competition, he thinks the prize is in the bag. But a surprise appearance from The Spartan’s long-lost sister leaves Simon scrambling for a foot hold. He’s sworn to protect the town, but the girl from his past has him spinning in circles from the start. Is she here to help her brother, or are her motives pure? When every turn hides another trap, and each twist holds a new secret, Simon risks more than just his honor. Can he win the girl before the finish line? And how can he save the town, when winning the race means losing his heart?

Aspect Ratio
Romantic Science Fiction
sequel to The Dimensional Shift
from Awe-Struck Publishing

Chloe Watson has finally adjusted to her inter-dimensional career, her covert relationship with the boss and her life as a cross-dimensional traveler. But a last minute promotion, a galaxy wide tournament and an unauthorized stow away manage to throw a serious monkey wrench in her status quo. Now she’s left to sort out a string of parallel abductions, deal with an infestation of Lemurian bedbugs and get her local pet store employee back home before the woman blows the whistle on everything Chloe has going for her. In between juggling her new duties, accidently joining an alien abductee chapter and trying to track down a nuclear insect the size of a bowling ball, Chloe discovers her boyfriend/boss is keeping secrets that could cost them both a lot more than just their salaries.

In Praise of Editors

2011-03-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

I tend to bitch a lot. I'm sure you all haven't noticed, right?
Okay, fine. Still, today I'm not going to complain at all. Promise.

In fact, I want to praise praise praise, the one individual in the traditional, publishing process that I believe is not only absolutely essential, but worth at least twice their weight in gold.
Even if you take the road to self-publishing, let me recommend wholeheartedly that you acquaint yourself with at least one good editor. Maybe two.

Here's why. Your manuscript is ugly. Even if you're the reincarnation of Hemingway, it is.
Don't shake your head at me, I'm not kidding. Even if you've edited it twenty times at least, used fifteen beta readers that don't know you and who are grammar Nazis and very very picky. It's homely as hell. It's not professional yet. I guarantee it.

So, you send it out and it becomes, a gangly stray puppy. You know the one, it has fleas....and ticks. Worms and mange and it shivers. One of its front teeth sticks out and the thing snorts and piddles when you look at it.
Is that a strong enough visual? Okay.
So you send this puppy to the pound. (Okay, first off, shame on you, but this it metaphor, so we're okay) By the pound, I mean slush. It's tossed into a slurry of other puppies, all equally hideous and all just as desperate for a home.

Now, you might think. "I'm screwed!"
Go ahead, think it.
I never said this business was easy. You're screwed, but you're determined. You keep sending that dog out, even when it comes dragging its behind home again and again and again.

Don't worry about him. I write romance--which pretty much guarantees him a happily ever after ending. :)

Eventually some soft-hearted soul plucks your puppy from the rubbage heap. This angel sees the big, shiny puppy eyes, the wagging tail, and interprets them as potential. I know, I know, but it's my metaphor here.
They give it a bath, flea dip, maybe a shave or groom, and they take it to the dentist for major oral surgery (which isn't cheap or easy--see... nice huh?)
Anyway, the end result is a different puppy. A fluffy, shiny, non piddling puppy that people can't help but pick up and cuddle.

Ha ha! See. Happy ending.
I love editors. Even when they make me cry.
Which isn't very often, I promise.

Don't ever think you can get away with skipping out on that particular step. It matters.
Your puppy deserves a flea dip.

And today one of my fabulous editors, whom I owe more to than I can ever tell you in a blog, (It would require chocolate, coffee, and probably tissue) had posted my guest spot on her blog. If you'd like to Check it Out.

She's also giving away a copy of Moth on Goodreads.com

Now, go hug your dog!
~Frances

Trading Covers

2011-03-06T16:19:00.001-08:00

A long long time ago, a brilliant friend of mine had this idea.
She said, you know, with ebooks all you're really missing is the pretty cover to hold, sign, etc.
Why not make little collectible cards of all your books?

Now, I mentioned she was brilliant, but she's also generous and didn't mind for a second that I stole the idea and ran with it. (I did ask permission first) So, I've had the trading cards printed, and I've taken them to a convention and they seemed to go over pretty well.
It was a great idea.

And like all great ideas, eventually, someone else has the same great idea.
Today, I saw this link: http://romancetradingcards.com
and I had to text and break the bad news to her.

Still, in celebration of HER great idea. :-) I still have my cards. You can find them at any convention I appear at, or go here: http://francespauli.com/tradingcards.htm
and read how to get yours for free.

And a round of applause for clever friends everywhere.

~ Frances

Goodreads Give-Away

2011-03-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

A Moth
in Darkness

by Frances Pauli

Giveaway ends April 05, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

2011-02-28T07:23:00.001-08:00

You’re invited!

From March 1 – 31, 2011

at http://www.theromancereviews.com

It’s The Romance Reviews’ Grand Opening!

Play the games. Explore new books.

Chat with authors. Vote for Best Books of 2010.

Rack up your points!

CAN YOU UNLOCK THE PUZZLE?

Visit everyday to increase your chances to win awesome prizes!

134 participating authors!
Over 200 prizes waiting for you!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes
$10 Gift Cards – 32 winners!

(8 winners each week)

Over 150 Book Giveaways in total

(paperback, hardback, ebook)

Major Prizes
Grand Prize: $100 Gift Card

2nd Prize: $70 Gift Card

3rd Prize: $50 Gift Card

For Authors
(based on results of book votes)

Grand Prize: $200 TRR Advertising Package

2nd Prize: $100 TRR Advertising Package

3rd Prize: $50 TRR Advertising Package

Main Sponsor

Dorchester Publishing

Participating authors
(in no particular order)

Kat Martin Beth Kery Susan Lyons Madison Blake

Ashley March Karen Rose Smith LK Rigel Gini Rifkin

Sandra Edwards Grace Elliot Suzanne Barrett Jessica Chambers

Maeve Greyson Sable Hunter Josie Arlington Tanya Stowe

Laura Tolomei Kristen Painter Renee Rearden Elaine Cantrell

Susanna Ives Amy Corwin Keta Diablo Suzette Stone

Suzanne Tyrpak TL Schaefer Monique Martin Kari Gregg

Susan Meier Laura Moore Susan Roebuck Kathy Carmichael

Brita Addams KT Grant Winslow Eliot Ingela F. Hyatt

Jan Scarbrough Victoria Blisse Sharon Buchbinder PG Forte

Bronwyn Storm Patricia Preston Alice Gaines Cate Rowan

Ann Tracy Marr Joan Beth Erickson Tara Lain Terri Reid

L.J. McDonald Lucinda Brant Eden Baylee Hayley B. James

Jason W. Chan Pat Amsden Linda Morris DH Starr

Kaylea Cross Lee Benoit Kayelle Allen Beth Trissel Viviane Brentanos Morgan Rice Ashley Ladd Jennifer Labelle

Rita Hestand Mahalia Levey LK Below Gale Stanley

Sarah J. Bradley Joanne Troppello Rhonda L. Print Pamela Jackson

Jenny Schwartz Mary Manners Eve Silver Jennifer Crusie

T.C. Archer Jocelyn Modo Sloan Parker Kerri Williams Elaine Hopper Stacey Espino Linda Mooney Victoria Howard

Heather Matthews Marcia James Cherie De Sues Savannah Chase

Simone Eden Lauren Fraser Annie Nicholas JoAnne Kenrick

E.D. Walker Rachel Haimowitz HP Mallory Suzanne Rock

Andrea Speed Elle Amery Nichelle Gregory Eden Bradley

Shermaine Williams Berengaria Brown Tina Donahue Taryn Kincaid

Red Haircrow Virginia Cavanaugh Hailey Edwards Elle Druskin

Rachel Brimble Frances Pauli Nancy J Cohen Tarah Scott

Em Petrova Heather Wardell Cara Marsi CJ Archer

Mary Eason Skhye Moncrief Jana Richards Jill James

Alison Chambers LoRee Peery Gail Pallotta Alison Henderson

Nicki Greenwood Alianne Donnelly Tiffany Ashley Michael Davis

Gem Sivad Stacy Juba Tory Richards Darcia Helle

LaVerne Clark Sibel Hodge

A Cold Dark Place

2011-02-22T05:01:00.000-08:00

Please give a warm welcome to guest author: HD Hatcher :-)

Leave a comment for a chance to win the free ebook of A Cold Dark Place.

thanks

~ Frances

HD Hatcher- A Cold Dark Place

A Cold Dark place was a labor of love for me. I wanted to create a story that would appeal to both gay and straight readers. I am fully aware of the stigma that surrounds gay themed literary works. I am sure that a lot of people assume that between the cover lies nothing more than a rehashed drug habit, a promiscuous adventure with countless faceless strangers, and a two hundred page circuit party that never seems to end.

I have read gay themed stories such as these, and the one thing I wanted to do, was create something completely different. I am not a fan of most gay works for this very reason. I am not saying that all gay writing is this way. But, the vast majority of it is. I am not naïve enough to think that readers will rush out and buy a copy just to see what the difference is. I am however, hopeful that if someone that has never been exposed to a gay literary piece in the past, will be able to read A Cold Dark Place, and find themselves forgetting that this is a love story between two men.

I tried to make A Cold Dark Place as realistic as possible. I wanted people to understand that gay love can (and often is) just as complicated as the love between a man and a woman.

I will warn you. I am a literary writer and not a technical writer. If you are a stickler for “proper” grammar and find yourself wanting to insert a comma here or there, you will not like A Cold Dark Place.

I chose to write A Cold Dark Place in literary form for a reason. I wanted readers to feel as though they were reading the diary of a close friend. I also wanted readers to get caught up in the emotion of the story as opposed to the technical aspect of it.

Before I go, I would like to offer aspiring writers a word of advice. Never give up your dream. You may find your work rejected by publisher after publisher. Do not give up. Hang in there and keep writing from the heart. Rejection is the name of the game. A Cold Dark Place was rejected multiple times. But, it eventually found a home with an absolutely amazing publisher. Eventually, your work will find a home as well.

About HD:

Author HD Hatcher is no newcomer on the literary scene.He is author of In the Heart of the Closet, apiece nominated for both the 2006 Stonewall BookAward and the 2005 Lambda Literary Award. He isan avid supporter of gay and lesbian causes, suicideprevention programs, as well as Animal Rights.Hatcher currently resides in the Grand Strand areaof South Carolina, near his hometown of Conway,with his Life Partner of ten years, Jerry.

About A Cold Dark Place:

On a chance meeting, (at a mutual friend's house) Luke finds the love of his life. Andy is what Luke has been longing for all of his adult years: the perfect man. But, this perfect man is not only straight-he is married to a woman who is more devilish than Satan himself.In a bittersweet journey that will change his life forever, Luke must reach deep inside and find the strength he never knew existed. A Cold Dark Place is the story of a man who must pick up the pieces of his broken heart after a lifetime of heartbreak and betrayal.

A Cold Dark Place
One Too Many (a short)

Off to see the Zombie Wizard....

2011-02-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

This week is convention prep. Yep, its that time again. I'm heading off to a new one, however, and I'm as nervous as a thanksgiving turkey on Nov. 20.

I'll report in afterwards as usual, but in the meantime I have a guest post up at The Steam Room, where a few other Romance authors and myself have weighed in on Love and Romance.

We'll be hosting a guest author here on Nov. 22, and I think you'll find its something outside of the usual box here.

Other than that, I'm going to try to get off a new episode of Slug Opera before I go on Friday, but no guarantees. There are things to pack, etc etc. I'll do my best.

thanks and I'll see you on the other side of the con!
~Frances

Fairy Frenzy

2011-02-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

"Three times backwards in the ring,

Three times round and fairies bring..."

A Moth in Darkness is out in electronic and print formats at: Mundania Press

The fairies have escaped and are wreaking havoc pretty much everywhere.

But then, that's what fairies do best.

If you must go to the revel....

Whatever you do,

Don't drink the wine....

Don't eat the offering....

and if they ask you to Dance,

"run. run now."

Revel, Revel...

The boundaries between the worlds have fallen. Forced to integrate the creatures of fantasy into real life, humanity struggles against its disillusionment, prejudice and an inevitable feeling of inadequacy.
Once an agent for the embassy that mediates between the worlds, Elizabeth Larson has abandoned her past and slipped into a world of nostalgic addiction to fairy revels, dancing, and the dark lure of her own memories. But when Lockland Sheen, her former partner and lover, goes missing, she is pulled reluctantly back into service. She must venture once more across the borders, into the land that haunts her, facing a string of gruesome murders, the imposing Sidhe rulers and her own addiction in the process.
While the Embassy’s agents attempt to soothe tensions between the races, Liz and her new partner search the fairy realm for Lockland. Fighting the constant temptation of the revels, they piece together the trail of an unknown enemy. But the longer they follow it, the more it appears that the man they came to rescue is more villain than victim. And the more they rely on Elizabeth’s ties to the fairies, the closer she inches toward the madness that lurks behind her fantasies.

A Moth In Darkness

Contests and Free Books

2011-02-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Romance Reviews is holding a contest at the moment (one more day to enter) that gives away a free PDF copy of New Canterbury Affair. If you'd like a copy, here's a chance to win one.

Next week they'll run another contest for a copy of The Dimensional Shift as well, so keep an eye on their CONTEST link.

http://www.theromancereviews.com/contest.php

I'll be participating in their upcoming Grand Opening event as well with give-aways and prizes.

On Feb. 13th, I'll be at Long and Short Romance Reviews with a valentines special post and on Feb. 4th, I have a guest post coming for Moth's release.

I'll post links as we go!
Thanks,

Frances

Keeping the Mystery Alive

2011-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

As a science fiction writer I often think about science. That’s something of a no-brainer. I’ve always felt that science has suffered from bad PR. I’ve mentioned it here before. If the sciences had the popularity of the arts, they might be able to pull off some of the amazing things we science fiction writers watch the headlines anxiously looking for—like hover cars.

I’m still a bit sore about the lack of hover cars.

I mean there was a time when scientists were rock stars. At least, that’s what I hear. Einstein had quite the following. Of course, there was a time a bit earlier than that when scientists were considered complete fringe weirdoes too. When the sum of scientific knowledge was treated something like a gypsy’s understanding of the tarot--looked on with suspicion at best. (It’s ROUND? What are you smoking?) But then, once we sorted out that they were on to something, they got some respect. Science got some respect. Things were good. Inventions and discoveries were rampant. And the world was on pins and needles. What will they come up with next?

I’m not sure if we just got jaded, or if they got a little too cocky, but sometime after that science suffered from a sudden and devastating lack of interest. We felt like we’d pretty much figured everything out. We could explain everything. We knew everything. I suspect science encouraged this attitude a bit, but I could be wrong.
The sciences and the world suffered from an attitude that said, there really isn’t anything amazing left to discover. They killed the mystery. They drained away all the suspense, and what happened? Everyone turned the channel. They picked up a different book, one with a surprise ending.

But something cool is happening again isn’t it? It started with a little thing called Quantum Physics.

People know about Quantum Physics. They talk about it--people who aren’t scientists or science fiction writers. String theory, (while maybe a little flash back to the gypsy fringe) is becoming a subject of conversation and debate outside of the university or laboratory. Michio Kaku, is cool. I’m not the only one who thinks so. Not even close.

I think it’s because Quantum Physics stood up and said, uh, we don’t know anything about the way things work. Anything is possible, and who the heck knows what we’ll work out next. They brought back the mystery, the suspense. String Theory is the Steven King of science. How many dimensions are possible today?

I hope it keeps going. I hope the next generation is so fired up about the possibilities that they dive into science and we take a huge innovative leap forward. I hope we get interested en masse, but I think to do it, we need to keep that adventurous, anything can happen attitude. I think, to keep the viewer’s attention, we need mystery more than mastery. To keep them reading, to keep them watching, there has to be at least the potential for a surprise ending.

If I told you all the secrets on page one, would you keep turning pages?

...and in honor of Moth's release tomorrow, here's a random fairy. Don't let it get you!

~ Frances

Fit for Print

2011-01-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

The news, that is... Though, stay tuned, print is on its way.

Rather than pull something intelligent out of my exhausted, er, pocket this week. :-) I figured I'd do updates and work on a cognitive thought for next week.
It seemed like a good plan at the time.

So, both Lords of Oak and Holly and New Canterburry Affair have hit Kindle of late. You can see all my Kindle friendly books on my author central page here:
http://www.amazon.com/Frances-Pauli/e/B003DIIW38/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The Dreamspell Fangs! vol. 1 anthology came out this week with my story, Forbidden. Pay no attention to the cover...avert your gaze, because this little antho is full of awesome tales. Really. My good friend Jaleta Clegg has a fantastic vampire fiasco inside and all four of the stories are fun and worth a seriously un-serious read.

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dreamspellfangsvolume1-507430-139.html

I'm looking forward to next week's releas of Undiscovered on the 27th from Hall Bros Entertainment. This is going to be my print debut with a reprint of my story Alien Embrace. The anthology will be available from the site and on Amazon, I believe and has a great mix of genre stories with the theme of discovery.

And on that theme, print that is... A Moth in Darkness is coming on Feb. 1st. Have you seen this cover?
Okay, the story is an Urban Fantasy and kicks off the Changeling Race trilogy, which I just finished for NaNo if you keep track. I love this book. I'm so excited. Just look at it. . .

Thanks to everyone for support, beta-reads and all the work that made it possible!
~Frances

Really Bad Advice

2011-01-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

What is the first thing you'll hear when you dive into the crazy business of trying to be a professional author? Write a great book? Get a great critique group? Stay positive and don't let rejection get you down?

Well, maybe it should be one of those things, but more and more you'll hear something about "promotion." In fact, you'll probably hear it more than once. They'll chant it like a mantra, promo promo promo. It's all about the promotion...right?

sigh.

A friend recently pointed me in the direction of an Amazon forum discussion where the readers (read that, our PRIMARY CONSUMER) were up in arms about the author promo on their discussion groups (you can read that SPAM) She was confused because everything she'd come across in author/publishing circles said PROMO in huge red letters...promo promo promo. She'd been told repeatedly to start promo-ing before the book came out...hit the ground running, etc.
The confusion was about the Hostility and Rage exhibited by the readers who were sick and tired of hearing authors pop in and say, Hey, BUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKBUYMYBOOKPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE.

.......

Now, I'm not a marketing genius, and I don't claim to have any answers or even any monumental sales tricks. (or sales for that matter) But it seems like a no brainer that if your PRIMARY CONSUMER is irritated, its a bad thing. Amazingly on this discussion there were authors with the audacity (stupidity) to pop in and defend their right to promo wherever the heck they darn well choose.

..................................
.................
.....????????

Seriously? Let's argue with the person who we want to woo, tell them we HAVE to irritate them because a "professional" has told us that's what we HAVE to do, and then Spam the crap out of them despite their raging and pleas for escape.
That'll get em to buy your book.

??

What is going on here? I'm stumped. I know that the industry stresses author promotion right now...I'm not sure why. Maybe because the houses can no longer afford to do it for their authors and they want to shift that responsibility over. Fine. I'll buy the adds and the bag stuffers and advertise in appropriate outlets. I'll use a facebook page (a professional one, not the one my friends are subjected to) as a bulletin board to post my news of note, reviews, releases etc.
But when these professionals recommend to every author in America that they should (rush rush promo promo) promo like their life depended on it...

I'm guessing they didn't mean for us to rush out and piss off basically everyone who might have been interested in our product. Just a guess, but you know, I think it's sound.

I'm guessing they misjudged how authors would respond. Certainly they didn't intend for us to turn into desperate used car salesmen? Don't they know how much consumers hate a hard sell? Spam? I'm sure they do.
Still, if you can believe the readers, authors are rushing forth en mass in a frantic and pathetic dash to piss off as many customers as possible.

le sigh.

Use some common sense, folks.
Interestingly enough, I read a report on a respected blog recently about effectiveness of the different promo methods when directly compared to sales figures. Guess what?
All that promo did about nothing. If you anger your market, I'd call it less than nothing.
What DID work? Awards and reviews made some spikes in sales. I love reviews. Ive noticed increased sales everywhere Ive had one--good or bad.
What works better?
You're going to hate me for this-- word of mouth.

They talk about this a lot. If we could bottle it, track it or sort it out, we'd all be rich. What in the name of heavens can generate word of mouth??
Nobody knows. Really.

If I had to guess, I'd say write a good book. Then write a better one, keep going till you hit Kick Ass.

And stop spamming your customers.
maybe?

~ Frances

Secret Squirrel

2011-01-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Personally, I liked Morocco Mole...yeeeessss

Anyway. Im having an impromptu give-away.
It's a snap. Just drop a comment here anytime before Friday night at midnight and I'll put your
name in a hat. On Sat. morning I'll draw a winner for a free copy of either Lords of Oak and Holly or New Canterbury Affair.

Now, it's a secret squirrel drawing. So I'm not telling anybody else, but you are free to pass it along. . . if you like. I mean, it'll just lower your chances if everyone comments, right?

Okay, I'll wait while you decide. In the meantime what should we talk about?
On the Secret Squirrel train, lets say old school cartoons. Did you have a favorite? Many? Which animated antic do you miss the most?
I liked the Blue Falcon and Dynomut, Captain Cave man and Up and Attem Atom Ant!

~ Frances

Running Start

2011-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I hit the ground running in 2011. Granted, it was completely by accident, but hey, I'll take it. :-)

First, the night before New Year's Eve, I found out that Lords of Oak and Holly had hit Kindle. Always a good thing, and the reason I keep an eye on my Amazon Author Central page. Those sub releases sneak up on me. I suppose that's forgivable, but when an outright release sneaks up on me, well, I should be flogged.

So guess what happened next? You got it. I was cruising around on New Year's Eve and blammo! My upcoming release is releasing before my very eyes. Somewhere along the way, communications could be improved, BUT...good news just the same.

And, again cruising around on New Year's Eve (I'm such a party animal, you see?) I discovered an awesome review for Dimensional Shift at The Romance Review.

So my announcements list as follows. . . ;-)

New Canterbury Affair

NEW RELEASE

Lords of Oak and Holly

available on Kindle

and a cool review for The Dimensional Shift.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

~Frances

A Dash of Seasoning

2010-12-20T08:33:00.000-08:00

I seem to be running a bit behind as far as the blog is concerned.
Let me tell you, this year Nano just about killed me. It didn't do any good for my fitness level either. Can you still call it "stubborn belly fat" if it migrates to your arms and face?

Anyway...
:-)

The trilogy is finished, the holiday books are released and the next three are in edits. Phew. Anthologies and 'zine stories are spattered throughout the next year and I am one pooped author. Pooped.

On a fun note, I had the pleasure of taking my very first novel (first written, not first through this process) into edits last week. It was ghastly. Not the process, mind you, the novel was ghastly. It was. I almost cried. I lied about the fun part.

I got to thinking as I gaped in horror at the words I, apparently, wrote while under the influence of....stupid, and I started counting years since I wrote the bloody thing. Ooops. Has it really been that long? Now what?

Thank god for good editors. Mind you, they're not all good. But this one book, this one that needs by far the most TLC (read that shredding) happened to hit the jackpot of editorial delight. Phew. I have no doubt that between our two critical eyes (okay four) we can beat, knead and abuse the manuscript into publishable shape. . . I hope. Really.

Cross your fingers for me, okay? I mean, the story is still good. I love the characters, I love this book. I love the trilogy (though I seriously hope the writing gets better as we go!) and I want it to succeed. At the moment, however, I love it like a very ugly child...and I'm considering paying for it's plastic surgery. You know?

I'm a bad parent. :-)

Wish me luck,
Frances

The Undiscovered Country

2010-12-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just can't let a good Star Trek angle go unused. :-) You know me.

But what I want to share with y'all today has nothing to do with the Trek. It's a gorgeous new cover for the Undiscovered anthology put out by the Hall Brothers and including the reprint of my story Alien Embrace which I am THRILLED to have available again, and in print to boot.

phew. That was long winded, eh?

Anyway, I love these guys. They rock. And no, not because they publish my stories, but because they took their love of fiction and did something awesome with it. Their website features a ton of free shorts, is putting out gorgeous (see below) anthos, and has a daily two-sentence story feature that makes me squee. I adore these. They're like twitterfic, but not quite as length restrictive.

So, go check out: http://www.hallbrosentertainment.com/

but first, have a look at this:

Is that freakin' cool or what?

Writing and Publishing Demystified

2010-12-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

This guy may be the most brilliant voice in the industry.

Read his blog: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=860
all of it.

Ah grasshopper, enlightenment. :-)

Thanks to M. Baker for pointing me at him.

Interview and Contest: Lisa Anne Vance

2010-12-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing author, Lisa Anne Vance. She has a great new book coming out from Devine Destinies, and her site, Having a Great Time, Wish I Were Here, is so funny and engaging that it stole several evenings of my writing time because I couldn't tear myself away. Check it out, but clear your schedule in advance. ;-)

So Let's give Lisa a warm welcome! Thanks...

Tell us a little bit about your new book:

Lisa: ‘Passing Whispers’ is a paranormal romance being released by Devine Destinies on December 1, 2010. I have written one other short, sensual story, but this is my first novel. When Detective Endel Sorra is killed during a robbery, the lives of his loved ones are shattered. One year later, his wife Kate, is still filled with anger and bitterness. In a feeble attempt to move on with her life, she decides to give away all their beloved Christmas decorations. She comes across the snow globe Endel had given her on their first Christmas. Before she can smash it against the wall, he finds a way to come back to her. Over a two week period, he helps her to understand the tragedy and other misconceptions that are ruining her life. It’s a tear-jerker, but it has a happy ending.

What genres do you write in and what is it about them that you find
the most attractive?

Lisa: Since my divorce eleven years ago, my primary interest is writing murder mysteries. ;-) I’m fascinated by forensic science, but I guess the story for ‘Passing Whispers’ caught me in a weak, romantic moment.

Are there any genres you would like to try but haven't?

Lisa: I’d like to try writing romance for more mature women. Those who thought it was too late for them to find love.

What was the most challenging part of writing this particular story?

Lisa: I used a few names in my story for which I had to get permission. ‘Desperate Housewives’ (you wouldn’t believe how particular Disney is!), and The Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower and the song ‘I’ll be Home For Christmas’. It took months to get final permission.

Where did the idea for the story come from? Do you have a muse?

Lisa: To tell you the truth, it came to me one day while I was napping on the couch. I haven’t met the man of my dreams yet.

What was the most surprising part of the publishing process for you so far?

Lisa: I had no idea how long it took to get published after a contract was signed.

Do you know what your next project will be? Share a sneak peek with us?

Lisa: My next project will be a romantic mystery. It’s about a nursing supervisor who believes that one of the patients who died in her hospital was actually murdered by her husband.

Do you have a favorite wine? Chocolate? Dangerous man?

Lisa: I am happily addicted to chocolate.

Thanks so much for having me, Frances! I am running a contest to celebrate my book release. Simply sign on to YouTube.com (http://www.youtube.com/) or sign up for an account if you don’t have one (it’s simple, easy and free). Make a comment under my book trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Y8417ZVBE)anytime between December 1 and December 7. You get one entry for every comment you make (no limit). On December 8th one lucky winner will receive a free Kindle and a copy of ‘Passing Whispers’ to start off your E-Book collection.
Thanks for stopping by! Please let us know where we can find you and
your writing online:
Devine Destines (my publisher where you can purchase ‘Passing Whispers’ and ‘Trick or Treat”.
http://www.devinedestinies.com/shopdevine/
My Blog: http://theoccupant.blogspot.com/
My Web Page: http://havingagreattime.net/

Books For Turkey Day

2010-11-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well, as promised All Romance Ebooks had put out the three free anthologies of contest short stories for Thanksgiving!

The link to go snag your copy is here LINK Snag Copy

and my short, Complicated Cargo can be found inside volume three.

And for a Secret Squirrel Surprise, My first Novel and one of my favorite stories, The Dimensional Shift is out TODAY as well. :-)

See it, buy it, etc. HERE

The Dimensional Shift: Housekeeping takes on a Whole New Dimension!

And now, for some pretty pictures....

Guest: The Killer Valentine Ball

2010-11-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

Please join me in welcoming author, C.A. Verstraete on her book tour for: The Killer Valentine Ball!! She's stopped by today to share some great advice!

10 Tips to Better Writing

1. Start Small Big projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Break them into bite-size pieces. I'm guilty of stressing over not writing the 20 pages a week I'd planned. Setting goals smaller, say three pages a day, will get almost the same results, with less stress. And if you don't get the exact amount done, don't beat yourself up. Even one paragraph or page is one more than you had before, and 500 or so words closer to your final word count.

2. Believe in Yourself A bad review can hurt, but the pain is temporary. But that inner critic that tries to hold you back and tear down your efforts (you're a lousy writer, you'll never get anywhere, why are you wasting your time?...) can be worse. Believe in you. Think on what you've accomplished and move forward. One rejection is just that. It's not the end. Don't let rejection stalk you. Send that story or project to another publication and move on to the next one. Having at least a few stories circulating (some say 10 or 12 if you can) will prevent you from obsessing over one.

3. Learn From Others Success comes from listening to others who have already been there. Check out the experiences of other writers in your genre. Study the works of writers you admire to see how they did it. No matter how many years you've been writing, there is always something new to learn.

4. Review Yourself A little self-evaluation can be good to gauge where you are in your writing goals and progress. Be honest; don't be afraid to point out your shortcomings, but also decide on how to improve them. Maybe you've only been published in lower paying markets and are afraid to move to the next level. Pick a market you haven't written for; study the content, and work on a story to submit. Becoming a better writer doesn't mean treading water; test the waters in new markets.

5. Make Goals Goals keep you from stagnating, but make them reasonable. Start with one goal, like planning to get published in a new magazine in your genre, or working on a story in a different genre or field. When that goal is accomplished, make a new goal. Keep moving forward and don't stress over how long achieving that goal may take. It isn't a race. Work at the pace you feel comfortable with.

6. Seize the Day! Swallow your fears. Some opportunities only come once. Don't be afraid to take a chance. You never know where it will lead.

7. Don't Fear Mistakes You'll make mistakes; you'll write less than stellar stories. We all have. It's one mistake. Even if you make the same mistake, it's not the end of the world. Learn from them. Every mistake only makes you stronger.

8. Don't Be a Victim Self-pity leads to depression, which leads to inactivity, self-doubt and can be a vicious spiral that robs you of your energy and happiness. No matter your circumstances, there is no reason to sit still and be unproductive. Don't make excuses, do something. There are tons of free resources available. Use the Internet and computers at the library. See if there is a niche in your community where you can volunteer or provide a service. See #5.

9. Be Happy We all can't be Rockefellers or live like them. Always thinking the grass is greener on the other side will never make you satisfied. Look closer and you'll find crabgrass and weeds there, too. Enjoy your faith, friends, family, pets, and hobbies. Shut off the computer and make time to exercise and have some fun. You'll feel better and be more productive.

10. Think Positive It takes less energy to think positive and will add more to your life and your writing.

The Killer Valentine Ball

Author: C. A. Verstraete
Cover Artist: Delilah K. Stephans
Word Count: 3,094
Pages: 15
ISBN: 978-0-9865875-6-6
Price: $0.99
Release date: September 10, 2010
Warning: Light gore

BUY LINK:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=25&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Blurb:

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser?, Jess thinks. But this is no ordinary party. The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget.
A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser?, Jess thinks. But this is no ordinary party. The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget.

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race. On the dance floor, the same three couples stood, clasped to each other. Jess stared. She swore they never moved.
The music played quietly in the background. When the shadows brightened, Jess caught a quick glimpse of one of the couples. The young man's mouth gaped open. His partner's gown glistened with streams of dark ribbons. The light flashed again and Jess gasped. Those weren't ribbons! The girl's dress shone with dark glimmers. Like-like blood, she thought. No, it can't be! She looked back at Dylan, who shook his head and urged her on.
"Light tricks," he whispered. "It's not real. It's Halloween stuff, like the movie. Don't worry."

C.A. Verstraete

Bio: I grew up with my nose always in a book, so it seemed a natural progression that I wanted to be a writer. A prophetic wish, it seems, judging from my favorite baby photo as seen on my website of me with a newspaper and a pencil behind my ear. I studied journalism and continue to do freelance writing for newspapers.
I also enjoy writing all kinds of fiction, with stories appearing in several anthologies including the recent Steampunk'd from DAW Books (coming out Nov. 2).
My kid's mystery, Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, was #1 on Kindle for Miniatures books and was a 2009 EPPIE Award finalist for best YA/children's ebook by the Epic Foundation.

Links

Website: http://cverstraete.com/
Blog: http://candidcanine.blogspot.com/
Book page: http://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95&Itemid=82

Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

2010-11-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

Today on the Publishing Trove: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publishingtrove/

I am having an all day chat with fellow authors, Jaleta Clegg and Pauline Baird Jones, about Science Fiction Romance, Romantic Science Fiction, and whatever else comes up. Feel free to stop on by and join in.

"you got romance in my sci-fi! you got sci-fi in my Romance! heyyyyyyyy"

Beam me on over there,

Frances

You Might Be an SFR Fan If....

2010-11-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

I make a big deal about all the romance hiding in the science fiction section. It’s probably getting old, but I’m bored, and it’s a pet subject. I write SFR, sue me. Anyway, I was thinking of all the time I wasted believing I was a science fiction fan, when in fact, I was a classic science fiction ROMANCE fan and I decided to compile a list of symptoms that other folks could use to make the distinction for themselves.

I mentioned the bored thing, right?

20 Signs you might actually be a sci-fi ROMANCE fan.

1. You’ve ever rented your boyfriend a Star Fleet uniform.
2. You think Stormtroopers are sexy.
3. You love Barbara Cartland, but most of her books would have been better with some cybernetics or a hot, alien love interest.
4. You’ve ever wondered what style purse would compliment a phaser.
5. The NASA logo turns you on.
6. You think Wall E was “sooo romantic.”
7. Your husband refers to you as seven of nine and you find it flattering.
8. You’ve ever played “Barbie” with Star Wars action figures.
9. You sort of get what Hilary Clinton saw in P-Lod.
10. Your favorite Trek episode involves either an empathic metamorph, a Klingon wedding or the phrase “fully functional.”
11. You understand that Space Opera equals Soap Opera with better tech.
12. You consider both Gone with the Wind and Stranger in a Strange Land classic literature.
13. You figure most traditional sci-fi could benefit from at least one good shopping scene.
14. You’d kill for that electronic fingernail painter from The Fifth Element.
15. Your idea of the perfect date involves: Wine, Chocolate and your old VHS tapes of the Original Battlestar Gallactica
16. You’ve ever said, “Make it so,” in the bedroom.
17. Your love bug has a “my other car is the Millennium Falcon” bumper sticker.
18. “History will call us wives” my butt. When Mua Dib proposed to Irulan, Chani should have fed him to the sandworms.
19. You nickname your car Serenitiy, your cell phone R2 and your boyfriend Dr. Who?
20. The whole “hero’s journey” thing was cute, but you feel very strongly that the Han/Leia storyline was the most significant plot thread in the original trilogy.

Well, those are my favs. I bet there are a lot more to add to the list? What did I miss, and which ones made you go....uh oh.

~Frances

Oh NO! It's up to my...

2010-11-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm being slowly devoured. It's not funny.
You see, there's this forum in the Nanowrimo boards called, Nanowrimo ate my soul.
I think it's happening.

Maybe I've just done the thing too many years, or maybe I made a bad choice writing a novel that needs to be written. . .okay has to be written. Whatever I've done wrong, it's sucking all the fun out of my November.

Not really. Psyche!

What I do have is the week two blues. It happens every year to just about everyone trying to hammer out a full length novel in thirty days. This year, I've got it bad.
I jumped out of the starting gate like a thing possessed. I wrote like lightning and built up a two day cushion of security. I even fell back in love with the story, characters and world that I hadn't fell like working with in some time.

Then it hit. The other shoe dropped. Week two is upon me with a vengeance.

The story sucks. I've made huge errors. My plot holes could drown a whale.
I look at this scene as Im writing it and think, I'm going to have to completely rewrite this entire section. Week Two.

To make things better my good friend has quoted back to me every motivational catchphrase, every word of encouragement and pep and inspiration that Ive ever spewed at her or any other wrimos. If I were them, Id strangle me.

I've hit Nano-rock bottom.
Thank goodness. There's no place to go from there but, well, back to the keyboard.

Up and atem Atom Ant...
Here's hoping todays contribution wont be complete rubbish.

~Frances

Touring the Blogosphere....

2010-11-03T08:11:00.001-07:00

With two releases on the horizon (Nov 24 and Dec. 15) I am off on another virtual tour. Today's stop is a guest post on My Covert History with Romance.

http://romanceauthorhotspot.com/?page_id=28

Stop by and comment for a chance to win a free copy of your choice of my releases.

More stops will be coming and I'll try to get a tour schedule up soon.

Thanks

Frances

Other Sides Review

2010-10-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

If you read the blog last week, and saw MeiLin Miranda's post on webfiction, then you're already familiar with the Other Sides anthology. I hope you've already downloaded it...it's free after all. If not, go do it now. I'll wait.

Okay, got your copy?

So, like, did you read it yet? Well, I'm not waiting for that. Patience isn't my strong point, and what I have gets used up by edits and cover art and release dates and and and.

I'll just tell you about the anthology, and you go read it later, okay?

It rocks.
That's not my proper review, but go ahead and run with me on it.
I'll get ya the details--well, now.

OTHER SIDES anthology: Review

Twelve short speculative stories in a neat, well designed (and free) package. Let me say, I was a teeny bit dubious. Fear not, the Other Sides is a worthy read that went far, far above my expectations.

The book brings together a group of webfiction authors and their incredibly diverse spec fic stories. It manages to provide a broad cross-section of genres and styles and still maintains a choesive feel as a book/theme.

I found the writing inside to be incredibly sophisticated and entertaining. These are not hobby authors folks. The stories are professional and engaging and the voices are very polished.

Out of the twelve tales, all but two really hit a homerun for me. The two that didn't resonate were fine stories, but one just wasn't really my bag, and the other had some distracting and, I felt, clumsy point of view changes. Of the rest, however, the stories were more than just good reads, in fact, I found them impressive, fascinating and enchanting. And while I did find a few tiny typos, the whole book really had a polished, high quality overall feel.

From my viewpoint, the real shining stars were:

Dalston Junction by MeiLin Miranda: a sort of H.G. Wells meets Arsenic and Old Lace short about some really intriguing time taveling ladies.

The Little Problem by MCM
A fun frolick through the intergalactic war on drugs.

and

New Stories by M.C.A. Hogarth
A race of nomads struggle to learn a new kind of life.

Add to those a pair of Purgatory police, a woman who's clutter gets the best of her, the Peacock King and a thief playing neighborhood watch for vampires, and you'll see what I mean about great entertainment, quality stories and a lot of fun.

Pick it up. Read it. Pick your own favorites.

~Frances

The "Other Sides" of Web Fiction

2010-10-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Please join me in welcoming MeiLin Miranda, a webfiction/weblit author and contributor to the Other Sides anthology. She has agreed to give us a run down on weblit, offered us some great links and an introduction to one of my favorite brands of storytelling!

More info on the anthology will follow her post. Enjoy!

Welcome MeiLin...

What do you get when you add the ancient sociability of campfire storytelling to the serialized novels of the 19th century, and put it up the web? One of the most accessible and fun fiction reads around. Some people call it "web fiction"; some call it by the broader term "web literature," abbreviated as "weblit." Whatever you call it, it's growing in both availability and readership.

People have been publishing fiction on the web since the web began, though. What makes weblit different?

Weblit is usually posted on a weekly, biweekly or even daily basis, an episode at a time. It involves the audience in direct conversation with the writer, as the story is unfolding--not all weblit is written "on the fly," but a good deal of it is. Depending on the writer, an update can be posted hours or even minutes after finishing it; comments start coming in not long after. It's this direct discussion of the story in progress that really makes weblit stand out.

Readers rarely have the chance to influence a story they're reading, but in this case, readers' questions can push a storyline in directions unexpected even by the writer. For instance, I write a novel series called "An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom" that started out as serialized weblit. The questions my readers asked me about the story and its world--everything from why characters were the way they were to what kinds of cheeses they made in the various provinces of my fictional kingdom--helped me build out the world and the story in ways I would never have imagined. Readers tell me that seeing their questions become part of the story is thrilling on their end, too.

Another good part: These stories are almost always free, though I'd suggest throwing a few bucks at the writers now and again for encouragement's sake.

Finding weblit isn't hard. There are several good directories out there, including WebFictionGuide.com and Muses-Success.info, and an ezine that covers nothing but the web fiction scene: Ergofiction. If you're a lover of genre fiction, especially fantasy and science fiction, you'll find endless hours of enjoyable reading inside those guides.

For a quick introduction to weblit, Ergofiction has compiled twelve stories by fourteen weblit writers into a collection called "Other Sides" (including me, full disclosure). All are in the science fiction/fantasy/horror genres and run the gamut from a poet with sentient guns to gender-changing aliens. "Other Sides" is a free download at http://www.ergofiction.com/ebooks/ as well as in paperback at Amazon.

If you read weblit, you won't get smoke up your nose from a campfire, or ink on your fingers from a pennydreadful. But you may get a pretty darn good yarn.

MeiLin Miranda

~~~

Other Sides Anthology:

The advent of digital publishing has seen the rise of a new breed of writers: independent, experimental and unfettered by convention. This brand new anthology features a small sampling of these very writers, in a speculative fiction collection that will capture the imagination and dazzle the senses. The storytelling genius in this collection is most evidenced by its memorable characters: a young woman haunted by her ex-boyfriend's sweater, time travelers with a suspicious interest in babies, a gender-changing alien desperate to heal a loved one... In these stories, fourteen independent authors display the imagination, insight and wonderful originality that characterizes the unique world of online fiction.

Title: Other Sides

Genre: Speculative fiction

Length: 30,000 words / 12 short stories

Publisher: Ergofiction magazine http://www.ergofiction.com/ebooks/

Release Date: October 14 2010

Author Bios

Zoe E. Whitten lives in Milan with her husband. She describes writing as her hobby, but has put enough hours in over the last few years that it may safely be called an obsession instead. She is an avid fan of horror, fantasy and sci-fi, and her writing fuses elements from each genre into her weird fiction amalgams. For more of Zoe’s writing see http://www.zoewhitten.com/

G.L. Drummond is a gun-toting alien with a fetish for fur and four-legged creatures who writes fiction & tweets. She also wields a mean katana and is prepared for the coming zombocalypse. For more of her writing see
http://midnightintentions.com/series/

MeiLin Miranda is the pen name of Lynn Siprelle. She writes a series of novels called “An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom,” and the more comic webserial “Scryer’s Gulch: Magic in the Wild, Wild West.” Both are available in installments free on her website, MeiLinMiranda.com; Gulch updates Wednesdays, and History updates Mondays and Fridays. “History” book one, “Lovers and Beloveds,” is also available as an ebook and a paperback, for those who don’t want to wait an entire year to find out what happens. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two daughters, two cats, a snoring floppy dog, and far too much perfume and yarn.

MCM is the creator of the animated series “RollBots”, and the author of “The Vector”, “Typhoon”, “Fission Chips” and “The New Real”, which features Darvey and Kaps and their adventures in the CSA. He lives at 1889.ca, as well as physically in Ottawa and Victoria, Canada, where he is also insane.

Lyn Thorne-Alder lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York State with her husband and their flesh-eating cat. When she’s not writing, or working her day job, she enjoys hiking gorges and old cemeteries, knitting, sewing, drinking wine, and watching the geekiest television she can find.

Chris Childs studied engineering, but now runs a retail store, and spends his spare time writing. Go figure. When not working on Addergoole with Lyn, he enjoys roleplaying and other creative endeavors, which is to say he spends almost no time actually in reality. When grounded, he lurks in upstate New York. http://addergoole.com/

Isa K is a webfiction author and entrepreneur. She publishes webfiction on community writing platform fluffy-seme (http://www.fluffy-seme.net/) and in the erotica letter series Coquette (http://www.cqtt.us/)

M. Jones is the creator and author of the sci-fi/horror/dramady web series 314 Crescent Manor. When she isn’t busy peeking into parallel universes, she can be found digging up dead Victorians in her series Black Wreath and taking care of the hearts of zombies in the upcoming series Frankie & Formaldehyde. You can find M. Jones and all of her nefarious deeds at her main creative hub: Bloodletters ink (http://bloodlettersink.com/)

Erica Bercegeay goes by Irk in most circles, for ease of use and sometimes for sheer descriptive purposes. She’s been writing and illustrating The Peacock King since 2008 — in her spare time she has a day job. When not doing any of those things, she enjoys bothering her cat. http://peacock-king.infernalshenanigans.com/

Charissa Cotrill goes by Char in most circles. Her persistence in editing, story doctoring and worldbuilding led to The Peacock King being written, finished, and polished. She is the other artist for PK and the website guru that makes sure nothing important goes boom. Char has two kids, a husband, a dog and two cats to ensure that nothing is where she remembers it. http://peacock-king.infernalshenanigans.com/

Terra Whiteman is currently working on her Bachelors in Biology, Pre-health, and Chemistry at Avila University’s School of Science and Health, and also serves as Vice President of Tri-Beta National Biological Honors Society (Phi Iota Chapter). The Spaces in Between is a stand-alone piece based on her web series The Antithesis (http://the-antithesis.net/). In her free time, she enjoys writing, drawing, and reading. Some of her favorite authors are Edgar Allan Poe, Bret Easton Ellis, William Faulkner and Garth Ennis.

M.C.A. Hogarth has been many things—web database architect, product manager, technical writer, massage therapist and rather more side jobs—but is currently a parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens. This excerpt concerns one of them: the Jokka, featured in Strange Horizons and Oceans of the Mind. Her writing has also appeared in the Leading Edge, and her art in RPGs and on book covers. You can keep up with her current projects at her website, http://www.stardancer.org/, or Livejournal, haikujaguar.livejournal.com

A geologist turned web programmer turned writer and graphic artist, Nancy Brauer (http://nancybrauer.com/) has yet to decide what she wants to be when she grows up. She’s been writing, drawing, and cracking open rocks for as long as she can remember. Her latest works are the sci-fi/romance novel Strange Little Band (http://www.strangelittleband.com/) and the paranormal thriller Tori’s Row (http://www.torisrow.com/). Nancy lives in southwestern Virginia with her partner, a dog who’s allergic to nearly everything, and two allergy-free cats.

A.M. Harte is a speculative fiction enthusiast and a chocolate addict. She is the author of DarkSight and the Above Ground series, which is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live underground whilst the infected roam the surface. She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free time’ means, and enjoys procrastinating over at amharte.com.

Published by Ergofiction Magazine (http://www.ergofiction.com/), an ezine for readers and fans of webfiction. Established in December 2009, Ergofiction showcases the impressive depth and breadth of online fiction. The ezine is dedicated to suporting the Free Culture movement, patronage of independent authors and literacy worldwide, because a world without stories is no world at all.

Look What I Found in My Inbox!

2010-10-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

A secret cereal suprise! No, really, it's the new cover for my Holiday story!!
Way better than cereal.

When her interpretation of a traditional holiday scene loses Maris the annual ice sculpting competition, her favorite season takes a turn toward dismal. The rent is due, and her landlady won’t accept a fourth place ribbon. So when the enigmatic, Lord Brayce, arrives with a last minute commission, Maris jumps at the chance. And as her host’s icy exterior begins to melt away, Maris finds there is far more to him than meets the eye, and his attentions leave her wishing this particular job could last forever.
But when Brayce’s family arrives for the holiday, Maris is plunged head over heels into a world of secrets and an age old conflict between brothers.
Can an ordinary girl survive at the center of a battle straight out of myth? And if her impossible suspicions are correct, what are the odds that Maris can win her prince?

COMING IN DECEMBER

from Devine Destinies

I'm Expecting!!

2010-10-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Not a baby, are you nuts?
I've got my hands full already with toddlers and I'm not getting ANY younger.
(despite chanting and tossing herbs on the fire--maybe I should rub them on my face?)

Ahem.

No, but I am expecting... a new release and a new book to bring into the world, a new cover, a new tour, a new everything. sigh.
I just love births. (Especially when I'm not directly involved) There's so much fervor, such excitement, so many things to do. . . ummmmmmmm.

Eeek. The to-dos again.

SO many things to do. So many deadlines to hit, so many things coming in and going out. Things to sign and things to approve and things to change and things to schedule, track, write and purchase and and and.

I'm having more fun than should be legal.
And of course, I'm up to my neck in Nanowrimo prep as well.
A busy soul is a happy one.

Here's hoping I come out on the other side in one piece.
~giddy
Frances

Round Two!

2010-10-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Complicated Cargo survived round one, and is paired up again in round two of the Just One Bite! short story contest at All Romance Ebooks. Thanks to everyone who voted and helped us get this far.

Everything resets for this time round, so if you feel inclined, venture on over to:

http://allromanceebooks.com/contest.html and cast your votes for your favorites in the eight pairings.

Thanks so much!

Frances

The Most Wonderful Time..of the year.

2010-10-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not rushing Christmas. I mean, I love it and all, but I prefer not to see a single bough of holly until the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers everwhere will disagree with me on that point.

No, I'm not talking Yuletide, or even Halloween, which is rapidly encroaching. I'm talking about Novel season, folks. It's time to dust off the ol notebook, do your wrist rolls, your elbow stretches and get the old noggin ready to novel.

It's almost NaNoWriMo time, or as the unitiated call it, November. Silly name, if you ask me.

Never nanoed? Well, you have three weeks to plan. That's waaaaaaaaaay too much time, trust me. Best to wait until the last week, then scratch your head twice, turn in a circle and grab the first novel idea that passes by. Grab it, go ahead.

Then head on over to: http://nanowrimo.org/ and join us for the best time of the year.

~ Frances

Complicated Finalist!

2010-10-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

Today the voting opens for the Just One Bite! contest at All Romance Ebooks.

There are 32 finalists that will be paired up and readers (that's you all, folks) get to vote on their favs. The winners in each pair advance to the next round, etc.

My short Science Fiction Romance story, Complicated Cargo
has finaled and can be read, and judged accordingly, on the site.
:-) GO HERE

Let me know what you think!
~Frances

A Match Made in Heaven

2010-09-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of celebrities. It's not a big secret.
Personally I find it unfathomable that someone would: expect to get out of jail early because "prison made them sad" or demand a million dollars for one day's work, or get plastered and march up and down the street shouting vile things and expect America and the rest of the world to forgive them because they're so darned pretty.

That's not the worst of it, either.

So... :-) When I heard on the news that Kevin Costner had somehow come up with a device to remedy an oil spill, I was dubious. Actually, I laughed and forgot all about it. I don't have anything against him personally, even after Water World, but as far as I knew the only positive thing any celebrity had done was to go on TV and ask with big, sad eyes for the rest of us to contribute to whatever charity they had stamped their name on... you know, the one they could completely fix if they'd just sell one of their houses.

But Costner wouldn't be ignored, would he?

I heard it again, he was serious, you know, and I got to thinking. It seems he owns a company that employs scientists who may have solved this pesky oil spill problem.
Then I thought...well I'll be danged. And...wait! I have an idea.

You see, we have the intellect and the means to solve just about any of our societal problems.(Ive read that somewhere) Cultural, environmental, physical, technological, you name it--we can beat it. But the scientific community lacks two important things to get that job done.

Money and Popular Opinion.hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hey! What are the two things celebrities have obscene amounts of?
Eureka.

I'd like to propose that we initiate my new plan: The Celebrity/Scientist Buddy System.

I'm not kidding. Of course, there are more scientists than celebs, so they'll each get a team. Set em up, fund their research, keep them happy...and when they invent something brilliant, slap your fancy celeb name on it and promo the crap out of it. You can do it. You've done it before, but this time, it'll count big.

Think of it. J. Lo hover cars. The P. Diddy nuclear rocket engine (we'd be on Mars in a year, huh?) The that-guy-who-plays-the-sparkly-vampire solar panels? Every home in America would be solar powered. At the very least, every home with a housewife who likes YA fiction.

The brilliance of this plan amazes even me--and I thought of it. :-)

So now I'm rooting for Kevin Costner big time. Even though I rooted for the sherrif in Robin Hood--come on, it was Alan Rickman for heaven's sake. I hope the device works and he comes out smelling like a rose. I do. And if it does, and if his company keeps their scientist happy and inventing away, by God, I'll take back every bad thing I ever uttered about Water World.

Go, go gadget!
~Frances

Meet Author Clare Dargin

2010-09-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

I have the distinct pleasure of introducing author, Clare Dargin. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome.

Clare Dargin is an author of science fiction and science fiction romance books. Her newest work “Speculative Sky” is available from Red Rose Publishing.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. Speculative Sky was created because I’ve always had a fascination with stories about Extra-Terrestrial Life and S.E.T.I. and I wanted to integrate such a story with a female character as a strong and intelligent lead.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes I do but I am not sure what to call it. When people read my work I want them to feel as if they are right there in the midst of it all. I want them to be able to hear, taste, smell and see the action as if it is happening all around them. I also tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.

What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?

To be honest I’ve always been attracted and fascinated by the abstract and the symbolic. I wanted the title to be symbolic of what April Mullen, the main character, has to deal with as an Astronomer and all that came with her assignment.

What is Speculative Sky about?

It is about a woman who takes a chance and leaves for an assignment on a science colony far away from Earth. As an astronomer it is her job to monitor the stars at night and to record her findings. Nothing more than that. But when she arrives, she notices that her new home is a bit odd, and that though there is evidence of life out there… they don’t want her to either acknowledge it or do anything about it. She of course finds this troubling.

What books have influenced your life most?

To be honest, in fiction category, it would have to be the old star wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development then any book I know! I read them over and over again and learned about non-human creature development, planetary science fiction and description of space travel and not to mention how to write a cool leading man. I still read them!

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.

What book are you reading now?

To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Last night I was thinking about the Friday House about D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff. I think it's cool. And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about. I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it. That way I don't get lonely!

What are your current projects?

Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

The Motown Creative Writers Group-- they helped get on the road to being published. And not to mention the many groups in the Romance community. They really pointed me in the right direction. I'm grateful for that.

Do you see writing as a career?

Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As a child my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yea, getting through the first draft!

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through cause it will stifle your creativity.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!

Excerpt from Speculative Sky:

“I’m sure that’s the case but how can I not be excited over this? It’s the find of a lifetime,” she said reveling in the thought of making contact with extra-terrestrial life.

“You don‘t have to try to impress us. Just do you your work and you‘ll be fine.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you don’t worry about it. There is plenty of research to be done. You could spend your entire lifetime studying the Jugis Star Cluster alone.”

“Haven’t you ever looked up in the sky and wondered if there was anyone else out there?”

“Of course I have. And if anyone back home asks, tell them it’s just us,” he said finishing off his drink.

Speculative Friction

Fairies in February Schedule

Release Day: Changeling Race: book Three. Spiders from Memory

The End of the Story...

Guest Author, Kadian Tracey

Fairies in February Blog Tour

Interview with author, Jenna McCormick

Write 1 Sub 1

Holiday Romance Blog

Have a Holly Jolly...or two.

Join in the 2012 SFR Reading Challenge!

Stuff Your Stocking Blog Hop

Nutcracker Crazy

Tomorrow's Christmas Release! Twelve Dances

Checking it Twice

Aspect Ratio Nominated at The Romance Reviews

Treading the Nanowrimo Waters

Thrice Shy

Filking a Moth in Darkness

Free Audio Story - Science Fiction

Honey Bee tour with Rachel Leigh

Trick or Treat

provided by flash-gear.com

Guest Author: Iris Deorre

New Release Scramble

provided by flash-gear.com

The Best Things in Life are Free

Yes! A Party

Out of This World GUEST

Out of This World

New Trailer

The Smoking Gun

The Ugly Duckling

Expanding Conventions

Book Two: Release Day

Double Dose of Speculative Fiction

Releases and Sales

Teamwork

Martin Sharlow - Shades of Blood

The art of the No-Show

Reviews and News

Working hard or Hardly working?

The Western Front

A Hive of Scum and Villainy

Made of Awesome Contest

Coffee and Romance

Its me on WKRP!

Follow that lead!

Moth Review

Book Signing

Guest Author: Voss Foster

Upcoming Print Release & Trailer

Patricia McKillip

The con is on!

Heading out...

A second chance to Con...

Supers Trailer: Friend or Foe

Is this a Kissing Book?

Goings On...

Moth Trailer

Friend or Foe

Coming Up....

In Praise of Editors

Trading Covers

Goodreads Give-Away

Goodreads Book Giveaway

A Mothin Darkness

by Frances Pauli

A Cold Dark Place

Off to see the Zombie Wizard....

Fairy Frenzy

Contests and Free Books

Keeping the Mystery Alive

Fit for Print

Really Bad Advice

Secret Squirrel

Running Start

A Dash of Seasoning

The Undiscovered Country

Writing and Publishing Demystified

A Moth
in Darkness