Allie's Musings

Monday Mentionables: The First Reviews of Summer's Song!

2009-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

The first reviews of Summer's Song are in, and well, let's just say that I'm reminded yet again of how subjective readers can be.

It got 4.5/5 stars from Single Titles review site (apparently a new sub-site of the well-known CataNetwork review site). In part, the reviewer said, "Summer's Song is an engrossing story about hidden pasts, lost memories, and finding love despite everything else. Summer is a complex character who you will grow to care about; her vulnerability is beautifully described throughout the story. Damian, the protector, is compelling as you read his internal struggle with his attraction to Summer..."

You can read the whole review here.

Then, it got killed - and I mean slaughtered - by Mrs. Giggles, who is notorious for her snark but up to this point didn't really destroy my books. Until now. She hated the bookSummer's Song and gave it a 56/100, claiming it was entirely too melodramatic from start to finish. Ouch. The tagline she has posted on her website is the tiniest preview: "Wow, lots of angst and drama here. Everyone has at least two issues to deal with in this story. I don't know why nobody has attempted to put down the hysterical heroine, however. "

If you want to read the whole thing, 5 miserable paragraphs about how awful my heroine is, then go ahead. You can read it here.

And in the meantime, I will be off toughening up my skin...

Writers' Weekend: An Interview with Joanna Challis

2009-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a special author interview with Joanna Challis. Her brand new novel, MURDER ON THE CLIFFS, is the first in the Daphne du Maurier series. Today she's visiting with me for a look at the woman behind the book...and at the end of the interview, you'll find a hint at how you can win a copy of it!

Hi, Joanna, and thanks for joining us here today! So, when did you first begin writing?

As soon as I could hold a pen in my hand! My parents' house is littered with my early attempts. Growing up, I loved English and History and any chance to write a story. I finished my first novel at 15 and never looked back. If I'm not writing something then I don't feel normal!

Tell us about your latest published title.

MURDER ON THE CLIFFS is the first in a new murder mystery series featuring Daphne du Maurier. It has all my favorite elements: history, mystery, a touch of romance, and the setting is the Cornish coast and an Elizabethan mansion full of secrets.

How do you go about developing your characters?

Characters come out first for me. I have a sketchy plot in mind but the characters lead it once they're fleshed out and I learn their motivations. They become real and seem to take over :)

What advice would you give to new authors just starting out?

To love what you do. To never give up.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When at home, read and watch favorite movies. When not at home, travel, particularly the overseas kind: Europe for its scenery and history.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inpsire your writing in any way?

REBECCA, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, THE PRINCESS BRIDE...I seem to love a blend of the old classics with a good mystery/suspense and a touch of the fairy-tale is always nice too!

Joanna, thank you so much for your time! Now, readers, for a chance to win a copy of her new book, MURDER ON THE CLIFFS, simply go to Joanna's book tour page and enter this distinct PIN #: 3829. Have a great weekend...hope you win!!

Friday Fun Facts

2009-12-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen?" ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Received my Romance Writers Report the other day...I'm always interested to see what articles are featured. Here are some of the highlights in December:

What Can Internet Communities do for You?
Hook those Readers with a Great Scene
Writing by Committee?
There is No Such Thing as Bad Publicity and Other Famous Lies
The Warrior Writer: Using Green Beret Techniques as an Author

The most interesting for me, though, was an interview with best-selling author Christina Dodd. A couple of my favorite excerpts:

"The most important thing an author can have is an absolutely brutish belief in herself and her talent, and she can never, ever allow the facts to change that faith..."

"...on any given day, successful writers write the best way they can, and if what they're doing doesn't work, they adapt. Best way to write a book, I guess. But, I admit, I spend an incredible amount of time thinking I know nothing. That seems to be part of the job."

Please note: Tomorrow I'll be featuring a special Weekend Writer's Interview with author Joanna Challis. Stop back on Saturday to read her interview and find out how to win a copy of her new book!

Writers' Wednesday: What to Give, What to Give?

2009-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." ~Jeff Valdez

'Tis the season to start shopping - if you're lucky enough to either have ideas for your recipients, or a specific list from them. But what do you do when you have neither?

No, that isn't a rhetorical question...I'd really like to know! Every year my husband and I are faced with the dilemma of buying holiday gifts for relatives who give us no clue as to what they'd like. You might think this makes things easy; after all, a gift card or two, and you're done. But it's not. We struggle every year.

So I'm asking for ideas. Anyone have a foolproof (or nearly foolproof) idea for buying at holiday time for those loved ones who either (a) have everything or (b) don't know what to ask for??

************

In a sidenote, here are two ways you can give this holiday season and benefit animal shelters!

Send an Ecard, Help an Animal

Give a Dog (without really giving a dog)

Monday Mentionables

2009-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space." ~ Dave Barry

Sooo...did you survive Thanksgiving and Black Friday? Were you brave enough to risk the stores and the sales, or did you stay in the comfort of your home? Are your holiday decorations up yet? Holiday cards ready to be sent?

Yikes...so much to do, and such a busy season! Last night I tackled the order for our Christmas cards. Last year we sent out simply a photo card, but I was surprised at how many people said they wished for the yearly update "letter" I usually send out with them. Since my father was so sick this time last year, it was all I could do to manage a card. But this year, I'm returning to the letter. It's a bit tricky, you know: you want to sound friendly and newsy but not pushy or overly annoying with all the wonderful things you've spent your year doing :) I tried to keep it short and sweet, but we'll see. I'll read it over in a day or two and see what I think with fresh eyes.

The Romance Studio is having a terrific holiday promotional event. Many, many authors are giving away all sorts of books and goodies, so if you're not a regular visitor to their site, bookmark it for December and give it a try! I have several giveaways and promos being featured there between now and the end of 2009.

Finally and most exciting, I received the covers of my 2 books that AudioLark is making into audio books, One Night in Memphis and Lost in Paradise! I have to say, it's a funny thing, seeing new covers for books that have been out for awhile with another publisher (but since they are new rights, this company can do whatever they want with the covers). I love what they did , though...check them out!!

Friday Fun Facts: Black Friday

2009-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sooo.....how was your Thanksgiving?? Did you celebrate with family and/or friends? Were you home, or did you travel? And the big question, of course: will you be doing any shopping today, Black Friday?

********

My husband and I usually do tackle the stores on this day, though we aren't with the crazy troops who brave the cold and the dark sometime after midnight to wait in line for hours. No, we scan the flyers, figure out what we might like to get that everyone and their mother isn't gunning for, and we hit the stores around 6 or 7 am. Usually, we're back to the house by 9, and while the stores themselves are pretty full, and the lines pretty long, there's still a bit of a thrill to finding that awesome deal and scooping up the last of a super-sale item.

Some interesting facts about this day:

Although most people think the meaning of "Black Friday" is the day that retailers finally move from the red into the black, the term originated in Philadelphia because of the heavy traffic on that day!

However, the term has also been associated with financial crises, as far back as the 19th century.

Of course, it can also be a rather ugly day, as crowds of people are willing to literally stampede each other to get to that elusive, rare gift. Last year, a temporary Walmart worker on Long Island (NY) actually died when people trampled him to death as the store doors opened. Horrific. As a result, many Walmarts (at least in our area) are open 24 hours this year.

This day is also known as Blitz Day, and the official site for sales can be found here.

However you spend this day (maybe just recovering from yesterday??), I hope it's a good one!

Writers' Wednesday: Things I am Thankful For

2009-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." ~Meister Eckhart

On the day before Thanksgiving, it seems fitting that I should mention some of the many things for which I'm thankful. So here goes:

I am thankful for...

My good health.
My family members, especially my mom, my sister, and my husband.
The friends I have rediscovered this year thanks to Facebook!
The new friends I have made this year, especially the girls at the gym who love Zumba as much as I do :)
My job, where I get to laugh and touch young people's lives every day.
The roof over my head and the comfortable, lovely home I live in.
My community, which is safe and pretty and friendly and close to the hometown where I grew up.
My inherent talents, especially for creating books and creating music.
My optimism.
My perseverance.
My cats, who love me unconditionally no matter what.

What about you? What are you most thankful for this year?

Monday Mentionables: The Monday Before Thanksgiving: 'Nuff Said

2009-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Friday Fun Facts: Audio Books!

2009-11-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force..." ~Anonymous

Happy Friday! I'm happy to share the news that I recently signed contracts to put 2 of my books, Lost in Paradise and One Night in Memphis, into audio book format!

This will be a new venture for me -- and it's a new company, AudioLark, so I am approachinhg it with caution. However, I'm interested in seeing how making the books available in audio format might help sales (or not). I've had a few friends say to me in the past, "Oh, I'm too busy to sit down and read your book. Now if it was in audio and I could take it on the run, then..." Of course, they might just be making excuses (!), but I do think that with the rise of iPods, along with people's inability to sit down for any length of time, having books available in audio can't hurt. And I have friends who borrow books on tape from the library all the time, to listen to in the car.

Anyway, a fellow author I had done signings with before emailed me about AudioLarkto let me know they were looking for all romance genres, but especially sweet/sensual as opposed to erotic, which was awfully nice of her (you never know how those contacts are going to pay off!). I believe they're still looking for ebooks to put into audio, so if you're interested, follow the submission guidelines at their website.

The publisher is quite professional and agreed to a couple of changes in the contracts I requested. She was also VERY fast in responding to my inital query.

So, the release date for both my audio books will be March 1, 2010. I'm excited and will keep you posted!

Question: Do any of you listen to audio books now?

Writers' Wednesday: Announcing the Release of Summer's Song!

2009-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"What if everything you knew about the past turned out to be...wrong?" ~Summer's Song by Allie Boniface

My latest contemporary romance novel, Summer's Song, released in ebook yesterday over at Samhain's My Bookstore and More! Very exciting. This means it will be in print roughly ten months from now, or September 2010. Mark your calendars!

Today, there's a character interview with my heroine over at Emma Lai's blog today, so please stop by and take a look!

Monday Mentionables: An Author to Watch For

2009-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

I'm thrilled to share the news that fellow Samhain author, Rebecca James, has hit it big in the publishing world, in her home country of Australia. Rebecca released her debut book, Nightswimming, with Samhain Publishing back in 2007. Now she's being called "the next Stephenie Meyer" [of Twilight fame] and has enjoyed a million-dollar advance for her upcoming novel, Beautiful Malice, a YA thriller. Here's a link to an article that tells more, including the fact that the book was first rejected by "pretty much every literary agency in America" for being unmarketable.

I got to know Rebecca a little bit in cyber-world when we were both newbies at Samhain, and as another non-erotic contemporary author, I'm so excited to see that she didn't give up on her dream to break into the mainstream market.

*************

Now, in other exciting news, my newest novel, Summer's Song, releases in ebook TOMORROW! And guess what? I and 4 other authors are having a very cool release-eve party in the Samhain Cafe this evening, beginning at 8:00 pm (EST). We're featuring character interviews and a scavenger hunt, with the prize being...of course...free ebooks! Come on over and play, will you?

Friday Fun Facts: It's Friday the 13th!!

2009-11-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday the 13th! How many of you are superstitious??

Fun Fact #1: Interestingly enough, there were 3 Friday the 13ths in 2009 (Feb, March, and Nov), but the next time we will have 3 in one year will be 2015.

Fun Fact #2: The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, and the fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekephobia - try saying those out loud!

Fun Fact #3: The roots of this fear go back at least to the 14th century's Canterbury Tales (most bad things seemed to happen on Fridays); the Knights Templar were supposedly mass arrested on a Friday the 13th in 1307, and even earlier than both of those, of course, for followers of Christianity, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

It's interesting how superstitions and belief systems take root and grow, isn't it?

******

In other, non-superstitious news, I'm not sure the following is a "fun" fact, but since I'm active in my local animal shelter and I do what I can to raise awareness about animal rights, I wanted to share this video with you (plus I love the music!).

Please watch and, if you're so inclined, share with others on your own blogs/Facebook pages/etc....

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Tracy Ruckman

2009-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! We haven't had an author interview here in a while, so I'm thrilled to have Tracy Ruckman join me. Grab your coffee, sit back, and enjoy!

Hi, Tracy! First off, can you tell us a little about your background?

I’m a full-time freelance writer, editor, and photographer. In the past two years, I’ve been editing more than writing, for financial reasons, but I always seem to dabble with words in some form or another. I offer full editing services through my company Write Integrity Editorial Services, and earlier this summer we began WIES Workshops – online writing courses for anyone interested in writing for the Christian market. I also own the popular Pix-N-Pens blog where a team of us offers book reviews; freelance writing, editing, and marketing advice; photography tips and assignments; writing prompts; and even frequent contests!

I’m married to THE Prince Charming, and we live with our spoiled dog, in Alabama. I’m proud mom of two grown sons who live in metro Atlanta.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

I’m so excited about this beautiful book. Christmas Miracles is a powerful collection of heartwarming stories written by many authors – I’m honored that my story was chosen as one of them. The book is co-authored by Cecil Murphey, bestselling author of 112 books, including the book he coauthored with Don Piper, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and Marley Gibson, author of the Sorority 101 series.

About the book: Many ordinary people experience Christmas miracles—those special moments during the season of giving and receiving when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson share the stories of those who have recognized the special moments that transcend daily experience and transform their lives. In these stories, people overcome desperate situations through a miraculous twist of fate—all during the most wonderful time of the year. A young boy sits down to read a Christmas book and discovers that his learning disability has vanished. A woman stranded in a blizzard is rescued by a mysterious stranger who she suspects is an angel. And a woman living far from home gets an answer to her prayer in the form of an unexpected gift.

My story, “Miracle of the Nativity” reminds us all that God is still very much with us today, even in the smallest details of our lives during the hardest of times.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Join writers groups, critique groups with writers more advanced than you, study writing as a craft. Learn as much about the craft as you can learn, with a mindset that you’ll never know even a fraction of what you need to know. Develop the habit of writing daily – no matter the circumstances. Even if it’s only 500 words per day – that’s an entire novel over a year’s time. It’s oversimplified, but if you’re going to be a writer, you must write.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

Writing in general is more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. I’ve held some tough jobs in my lifetime, and writing is by far the most difficult. My brain tends to generate an idea every hour – but learning which ones are workable, feasible ideas is a feat in itself. Then, taking that idea and putting it onto paper – sure, you can just slam it down on paper and type “The End.” But that’s really only the beginning. To get a manuscript to the publishable stage you have to rewrite, edit, hone, tighten, delete, add to, rearrange, and much more. And like most writers I know, the middle of the book is always the hardest to write.

The most exciting and rewarding part has to be the characters. Getting to know my characters so intimately that they become part of my family, and when I speak aloud and call out one of their names, my family doesn’t ask, “Who?” They KNOW. In the early stages of a book, my husband will question me as we run errands, “What kind of car does your character drive? What kind of cereal does he eat?” This helps me know my characters, and they become friends.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I edit almost full-time these days, so being able to write is special time. But when I try to take a break from either, you’ll usually find me exploring some town somewhere – I love to travel – camera in hand. I also love to garden, although my thumbs are more brown than green. We did manage to grow some tomatoes and peppers this year, and I grew some herbs for the first time. I LOVE fresh dill and basil – yum. I also like to cook – just about anything. It’s a good thing my hubby and I like to eat! And even though I don’t get to do it very often, I’m an avid freshwater fisherman. I’ve been fishing since I was five years old, and it is the greatest escape, greatest relaxation of all time.

When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

Definitely by computer – I just don’t know how books were created before the invention! If I were still having to use a typewriter, I’d probably have a different career. The backspace key is one of my favorites! I have heard of writers who dictate – and sometimes wonder if that would work for me, but my brain and typing fingers tend to work faster than my voice, so it probably wouldn’t work.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

I like action/adventure movies and shows – 24, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, Executive Decision, and many others like them. With the first book I completed – I knew NOTHING about writing, and had the story in my head, but didn’t really know where I was going with it. If/when I decide to go back and edit it – totally rewrite it is more likely – it will probably be the action/adventure category. The third novel I’m currently writing is definitely an action/adventure detective novel. It has some fast-paced scenes that are my favorite, and my crit partners say I’ve found my “voice,” so I guess all those movies did indeed inspire my writing.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

I’m giving away a copy of the book, and some other awesome goodies, in a fun contest this month! Just drop by my Web site, look for the Contest tab, and leave a comment to enter.

Monday Mentionables: Revisiting Rejection Letters

2009-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Never, never, never give up!" ~Winston Churchill

Happy Monday! I FINALLY got around to sorting the piles of stuff in our office over the weekend - hooray! And as I was moving files from one file cabinet to another, I came across my folder of rejection letters. They're from both agents and editors/publishing houses, and I vowed always to keep them so I could remember how hard it was to get a contract and how many times I had to pick myself up from disappointment. As I was flipping through, I found some that made me smile, and I thought I'd share them with you:

Rejections for One Night in Boston

"I regret having to tell you that I've decided to pass on this. I wasn't convinced enough of being able to place this manuscript, considering the very tight and demanding conditions of the market."

"Thanks but because of your location, I suggest you would be better served by a NYC agent."

Rejections for One Night in Memphis (which went on to become an EPPIE finalist and earn 4 stars from Romantic Times)

"Unfortunately, we have problems with this story. [Our house's] contemporary romances are generally more light-hearted in tone than your novel."

"When it comes to contemporary romances, I am very picky about what I am looking for. I really want to feel a strong connection with the characters and to truly want to see them together. I also look for a story that has a strong purpose and sense of place. Unfortunately, I just did not see what I was looking for in this story."

"You are a good writer, but somehow the story did not strike the right chord with me."

Rejections for Lost in Paradise

"Unfortunately, I just did not fall in love with the story."

"I just was not enthusiastic about this story."

"As I conduct a legal practice in addition to my work as an agent, I am forced to be very selective in the literary projects I take on to represent. While I am eagerly looking for quality women's fiction, I ultimately concluded that your writing was not strong enough to make this a clearly marketable project."

***

Then I went through my folder of "Fan Mail" and pulled out 2 emails at random:

"Just finished reading 'One Night in Boston' last night, well this morning at 1:10 am. It was great and I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to order 'One Night in Memphis' and 'Lost in Paradise'!"

"I just read your first two books and loved them both! You have amazing characters, gripping plots, a fantastic vocabulary, and fresh comparisons. I just had to drop you a note to let you know."

***

Sooo...don't ever give up! One person's rejection is simply that: one person's. The next letter (or email) may be the one you've been waiting for, the one with the wonderful news that says, "I am happy to offer you a contract for..."

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

2009-11-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out. " ~Alfred Hitchcock

Today: I am in NYC on a field trip with my students. It's supposed to be chilly but sunny...I'll be back with a full report (and maybe some pictures!) soon.

Tomorrow: I am getting rid of my Facebook account. Sigh. I loved keeping in touch with people, especially as I was planning my high school reunion last summer, but there got to be too much drama recently - leave it at that. Anyone else experience anything similar, on FB or Twitter or another social networking site?

Writers' Wednesday: Links for Writers

2009-11-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Wednesday! Okay, not every link today is for writers. Some are for readers too...

First off, check out the Book Video Contest over at JK Coi's blog and vote for your favorite!

The Meadowland Review is a small, new online literary journal that's accepting submissions for its spring 2010 issue. Details here.

Revelry Magazine is another small, online magazine that's just starting out and welcoming submissions from authors ~ in their words, "anything that relates to the literary world."

Since there were a couple of articles in last month's Writer's Digest about using small markets to boost your writing resume, I highly recommend checking out either of the above and submitting anything you might have. Those publications look great when writing your query letters to dream agents!

Finally, Summer's Song releases in ebook two weeks from yesterday...very exciting...and I'm currently thinking up some kind of cool giveaway events. Oh, I'll be promoting the book in a variety of places that week, too, so stay tuned for the places and times as release week gets nearer. Many cool prizes to be given away, including (of course) the ebook itself!

Monday Mentionables: Thoughts on Halloween and Daylight Savings Time

2009-11-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place." ~Emily Dickinson

How was your Halloween? Do you get a lot of trick-or-treaters? None at all? Somewhere in the middle? I've found there are 2 theories to people who hand out candy (or, in the case of my best friend from high school, who hands out candy to the kids and jello shots to the adults bringing them around): you either buy candy you like, so whatever's left you'll eat yourself...or you buy candy you hate, so whatever's left won't tempt you.

Which one are you?

We don't get any trick-or-treaters at all, which always makes me a little sad, but I guess that's OK. We did go to a party Saturday night, which turned out to be a little more raucous than I expected: one of our friends is recently separated and dating a much younger woman (24), so all of her friends were there...and let me just say that it's been a long time since I was 24 and partied like that. Hmm. I don't really miss it, either, truth be told - though it was good for some character ideas for future books. Of course, what isn't good for character ideas?

*****

And then there's Daylight Savings Time. OK, while I do appreciate the extra hour when it comes to early morning (I suppose), this day in fall always seems like f-o-r-e-v-e-r long. Doesn't it? I was ready for bed at 6:3o, and not just because it was pitch back outside. Ugh. It really does just make me want to crawl into bed after work for the next 4 months!

But enough about me. How was your weekend??

Friday Fun Facts: Random Pages from Entwined

2009-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." ~Anais Nin

So NaNoWriMo is nigh upon us...for those of you writers out there, that means that November is the month in which if you're crazy enough, you sign up to write a 50,000-word novel by the end of the thirty days. Yes, many people do it every year. No, I have not ever been one of them, though last year I chose December as my own month to attempt to do the same. That produced the first 30,000 words of Entwined...and now here I am a year later, trying to finish it. Yikes!! Where does the time go?

Anyway, for kicks, and also to motivate myself to finally finish this story, I thought I'd have my husband choose 5 random page numbers and then post the first 2 sentences on each one. I thought, I don't know, that maybe it would kick start me into remembering why I like this story and where I still have to go with it. Here they are...

5 - Edward Meacham stands to the side, watching. He waits until the sea of black parts and only Alex Smithson and his wife Trinity stand beside Natasha.

86 - His smile changes a little, grows rueful. “If I tell you I don’t really believe in that sort of thing, will you still have dinner with me?”

157 - Of course she wants to know. But it has taken so much effort to heal her heart that she suspects reading Maggie’s journal will undo all the work of the last six months.

211 - “Listen, I’ve got it bad,” she confesses. Her smile is a half-moon singing to him.

234 - There are truths that reach beyond what we can see or read or believe in consciousness. There are truths that should stay hidden, truths that belong to no one except the people who create and hide them in the first place.

Ooh, now I'm excited again! OK, how about you? Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Do tell, and your reasons why or why not!

Writers' Wednesday: A Blog Post from Yours Truly!

2009-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

"If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good." ~Steven Galloway

Well, I'm blogging over at the Samhain Publishing Blog today....do stop by and visit me there, would you? Love to hear from you!

Monday Mentionables: Pics from the Boston Trip!

2009-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you didn't check in with my blog last week, I traveled to Boston for a whirlwind 2 days. While there, I accepted a teaching award at Boston College and visited with 3 friends from high school/college. had a WONDERFUL time! So, here are some pics...

With (from left to right) the former student who nominated me for the award, the Dean of the BC School of Education, and the president of the BC Student Senate

With my husband, standing in front of the BC flowers (there were a few of these, all around campus). Boston College has a gorgeous campus, and the weather on the day we visited was 70 degrees~

With my former student, Kerry, in front of one of the many beautiful buildings on campus

A view in Boston Public Garden

In Boston Common, downtown

One of a few squirrels foraging in the now-empty flower beds in Boston Public Garden - they each had their own, by the way. No sharing. Hmm..wonder if it's a squirrel-etiquette thing

They do love posing for pictures

And this duck was hard at work catching something for lunch...

Friday Fun Facts

2009-10-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Three things give the student the the possibility of surpassing her teacher: ask a lot of questions, remember the answers, teach." ~Jan Amos Comenius

I'm in Boston today! Pictures from yesterday's teacher awards ceremony to come next week :)

In the meantime, here's some info from the latest Romance Writers' Report:

The first annual National Bookstore Day, "devoted to celebrating bookselling and the vibrant culture of bookstores," is scheduled for November 7. Wonder if my local stores know this and are doing anything to celebrate? I'm thinking an open wine tasting, 50% discount on best-sellers, etc....

AND

Romance fiction generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2008 and was the biggest share of the consumer market, with 13.5%. 7311 new romance titles were published, and 74.8 million Americans read at least one romance novel in 2008. And the "most typical" romance reader is a woman between the ages of 31 and 49 who is currently in a romantic relationship.

Interesting, huh??

Writers' Wednesday: A Contest!!

2009-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

My author friend J.K. Coi is hosting a marvelous book video contest: one entry per person, and she'll post all the submissions on her blog November 2 -6 for voting. What does the winner get? A great basket filled with books and other goodies AND a 50% off coupon for a trailer or a trailer review at Blazing Trailers.

So....if you're an author with a book video, you might want to give it a try. I haven't decided if I'm entering or not, but if I do, which one do you think I should enter? Here are the 4 I currently have:

2009-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

"A gifted teacher is as rare as a gifted doctor, and makes far less money." ~Anonymous

Finished proofreading the galley for One Night in Napa this weekend - thankfully! Whew...but it's always nice, in reading something you've written, to love the story again. I do like this one and can't wait to see it in print!

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Diane Craver wrote me a lovely review of it, by the way. Here's just a snippet:

"I enjoyed the fast moving suspense in One Night in Napa...During the twenty-four hours, the climax explodes with passion and sexual desire between Kira and Grant...I have read all of Allie Boniface's novels and I highly recommend them. Her books, including her latest, are always exciting and satisfying page-turners filled with lots of emotion..."

Thanks, Diane!

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I'm excited: the end of this week, I'm off to Boston where I'm being given a teaching award by Boston College. Can't wait to see the student who nominated me - she's a senior there and looking forward to "showing off" her adopted hometown and school.

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Did you see that 3 people died during the Detroit Marathon yesterday?? Now that's scary...

Friday Fun Facts

2009-10-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Audrey Niffenegger, author of the runaway best-seller The Time Traveler's Wife, received close to $5 million as an advance for her second novel, Her Fearful Symmetry. According to Writer's Digest, it's "a ghost story set in and around London's famed Highgate Cemetery...mirror-image twins inherit their aunt's flat and begin to question their identities, the bonds of sisterhood, and whether their aunt is really gone after all." But $5 million dollars. Wow.

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The holidays will be here before we know it -- I should know by the fact that we had snow yesterday - on October 15th!! Yikes...I'm not ready!

But anyway, as those days of hot cocoa and carols fast approach, what are you going to buy the writers and readers in your life? Books? Bookstore gift cards? A cozy throw and slippers for curling up while reading that shiny new book? I think I'm adding an ebook reader to my list this year. Since my books all release in ebook prior to print, I'm thinking I should support the industry and actually own one. Plus I sort of like the idea of carrying around a bunch of books on an electronic device that can fit in my purse~

Writers' Wednesday: Tackling the Galley

2009-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Before I became published, I didn't have the foggiest notion of all the steps that occurred between submitting a manuscript to a publisher and seeing the finished product on the shelves of a bookstore. Now, 3 books in and 2 more to come in 2010, I have a better idea. And I'll be honest: it's a long, lengthy process. Right now, I'm tackling the galley of One Night in Napa, which will release May 1, 2010.

What is a galley? It's the final author look at his/her manuscript before it's released in print, permanently. This means that the publisher sends you the complete document for you to read through, page by page, to catch any last-minute errors or wording changes before it's immortalized on the page. Ugh. Utter tedium, as far as I'm concerned.

OK, it's nice to have that last look at your words before they release in print. But for me, it requires so much close attention that I can only read through a few chapters at a time. I feel wholly responsible for each word, each letter, and I tend to lose concentration after 30 or 40 minutes or so.

So the reading of my galley is consuming my life this week. I try to tackle it little bits at a time, though October 19 is my deadline, so I don't have too much time to play with.

The nice part about the galley? It allows me to fall in love with my story again, to remember why I love these characters their story so much. So as much as I complain about the close reading, I do like being reminded of why I wrote it in the first place. And I hope you'll feel that way as well!

Less than 7 months until One Night in Napa releases in print...I can hardly wait! Can you??