It’s More Than Finding the Words by Paty Jager

I’m a self-publish or Indie author. It means I make my own deadlines. I almost did myself in, with a heavy schedule to get three books published the first three months of 2019. When I set the deadline, I didn’t realize how much family was going to play into taking time away from my writing.

Thankfully, I was able to get a couple of week-long retreats at the beach which allowed me to finish a book and get another one well started. I’m happy to say, my deadline will soon be over and I do believe, barring any complications, book 3 will publish on time.

But as I stressed and worried over making my deadline, I also realized that while I can work on a hard deadline and produce a good book, I don’t like doing it. The rest of my year, I have loose deadlines. I know how many books I want to finish by December 31^st, 2019, but I’m not putting out definite dates, knowing that this will be another transitional year for my family and I’ll not have as many days of writing as I’d like.

While I have ideas and characters all lined out for 3 more novellas, 4-5 more books in the Silver Dollar Saloon series, and 2 more Shandra Higheagle books and 3 more Gabriel Hawke books, with more ideas coming at me. I know I’ll be lucky to get one more of each out this year. Even though before all the changes in our family, I’d planned to get more than those 4 projects written.

Right now, I’m focusing on writing the best book I can. I’m digging into the research, sifting through, looking for some wonderful nuggets that will enhance the next book I write and coming up with characters that will make the reader glad they read the book and look for the next one.

I had 2 book signings over the weekend and at each, readers asked how I come up with the ideas. The ideas are easy. It’s finding the time to put those ideas into an entertaining story that is the hard part. From the first draft, to the finished product it takes commitment and staying in the story to bring it to completion. When I’m pulled out of the story for several days it’s harder to keep the flow. I’m hoping to get projects accomplished in between other responsibilities and stay focused.

And that’s why writing is more than the words.

  

 https://patyjager.net

https://writingintothesunset

A Blast From the Past is Blowing Me Away

~~ by Vonnie Davis

Calvin and I used to belong to a local writers' group that met every Tuesday. For awhile, we did writers' prompts and shared our short, short stories. One prompt was: "Write 500 words about someone finding something hidden in a tin can."

I wrote a tale about a carpenter doing a remodeling job and tearing out a wall. Behind it he finds an advertising tin box filled with love letters, a charm bracelet, and other mementos from WW II. He takes the tin home, reads the letters of an ill-fated love, and decides to find the owner of this tin can. Doing an online search, he discovers the man has passed away, but the woman who married another to give their baby a name and a father figure is still living.

The carpenter calls her to explain what he's found. Would she like to have it back? Her reply is very positive and he visits her in a nursing home. As she pours over the items, she shares long-held secrets. He returns to see her every week and a friendship blooms.

I kept thinking, with some changes, wouldn't this make a great romance? From time to time, the story would rise to the forefront of what gray matter I have left and I'd think, "yeah, I'll have to get around to that story sometime."

Well, ladies, sometime arrived and parked it's rusty RV in my front yard. Not really, but you know what I mean. The story bugged me constantly until I stopped working on the two bear shifter stories I was writing--one in the Scottish Highlands and the other on a fictitious island off of Scotland--and wrote Chapter One of The Golden Charm. That was two weeks ago and I'm on Chapter Nine now.

My biggest decision was whose romance would I focus on? The one told of in the letters between Mary Beth and Jimmy  or one between the carpenter and Mary Beth's granddaughter? I decided on both. What was I thinking?

I changed the war to the Vietnam War and had Mary Beth graduate in 1966 when I did. I recall vividly the hairstyles, dress, and social attitudes of that time. Mary Beth is the daughter of a strict and physically abusive minister. So, when she finds out she's pregnant with Jimmy's child and he's in Vietnam, she's in fear.

Eli Golden, the carpenter, is a widower with a spoiled retriever, Toby. Melanie Stone for various reasons is living with her grandma Mary Beth. Eli and Melanie meet when he stops to help her change a flat tire on her red Mustang.

I'm bouncing between a romance set in 1966 and one in present day. So far, I'm not confusing myself and I'm hoping that's a good sign that I won't be confusing my readers. The story is flowing quite fast. Thank goodness. Because I have two Scottish shifters who are a wee bit miffed with me for ignoring them, so they are.

Melanie and Mary Beth decide to go for haircuts and manicures. The older lady uses a cane to walk since a stroke and is practically housebound. Here's an unedited snippet.

The door to the beauty shop opened. All female heads swiveled toward the muscled man whose shoulders practically filled the doorway. The yellow t-shirt he wore with “Golden’s Home Improvements” printed in black was stretched tight over muscles made from hard work and not time spent in a gym. He glanced around and then slowly sauntered in.

“He’s my next customer,” one stylist breathed.

“Like hell,” another growled.

One customer fanned herself with a magazine. “I think I just popped an ovary.”

Ignoring all their remarks, his brown-eyed gaze locked on Melanie’s as he approached. Her heart rate kicked up a notch or two. Her stylist had stilled to watch as he hunkered in front of the beautician’s chair.

“I recognized your car out front.” He tapped her capri clad knee twice with one fingertip. “Did you take your flat tire to a repair center yet?”

A spark of anger flamed. After all, she wasn’t incompetent or stupid. “Who named you my father?” Yes, she sounded bitchy, but the man was a total stranger whether he’d helped her, or not. “And how did you just happen to spot my car?” Stalk women much?

“I was on my way to Home Depot for supplies. It’s two blocks away. Want me to pick you up a hammer so you can whack me on the head next time you see me? That’ll save you from your usual mulish greeting. I think they’re in aisle ten.” He flashed a smile that made her melt—just a tad.

Gram snorted before she leaned her head back and laughed like a fool. Melanie shot her a dirty look to which the older woman flashed her a thumbs up.

“Yes, I dropped off my tire. No, I don’t need a hammer,” she replied through clenched jaws.

“Are you the bastard who beat her? The bruises may be fading, but everyone can still see them.” Melanie’s hairdresser waved her comb at Eli.

“No ma’am. I’d like to get my hands on the son of a bitch who did though. I’d teach him how to treat a woman. The only reason I brought up the topic of a hammer is every time I see this lady, she’s ready to rip my eyebrows off.” He flattened a palm over his large pecs. “Me. A nice guy like me. Can you imagine?”

The customer with the magazine leaned forward. “She must be a fool. Come sit by me.”

A dog barked frantically. “Is that Toby I hear raising hell?” Melanie wanted to get him out of there. God, he was so good looking. If she didn’t hang onto her resentment of men, she be vulnerable again.

He stood. “Yeah. The big cry baby. I had to get special permission last year to take him into Home Depot. He likes riding in the cart.” He winked at her. Is he flirting with me?

For more information about my writing, visit my website: www.vonniedavis.com 

Rehab an Old Buffet

Some of you know my husband and I have been building a house. We are getting so close to finishing, I stare at walls trying to figure out what I want to put where. The decorating and pulling colors together has been good for my creative nature, but I swear I'm having DT's from not being able to sit down and write every day.

One of my favorite projects for the house is an old 1880's buffet/sideboard I discovered in a used furniture store. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. But we're on a budget building the house and I had to run it and the price by my husband(who can't buy anything for the asking price or at least try to get it for a lesser price).  Hubby told me I could get it if I talked the person down in price.  I would say this part of my acquisition is a lot like when a writer comes up with a story idea or a fabulous new character. But then the realization hits that while they have a great idea or character they have nothing else and need to dig deep within to come up with a plausible story and believable but interesting character. I dug deep and managed to haggle the guy down $50. 

We brought it home and I began stripping the dark, ugly brown paint off and discovered beautiful oak beneath.  This is like writing the first draft of a book. It’s okay and gets the story spilled out, but when you go back through and pull out the unnecessary words and details you find the real story.

After the buffet was stripped, we cut a hole for the sink to fit in and added a piece of hardy backer. On our trips to the building outlet stores I haunted the tile aisles until I found the perfect accent tiles. The main part of the top would be the tile used in the shower, but I wanted an accent on the edges that would work with the rounded front of the furniture.  Finding the right accents is a lot like the final run through of a manuscript. You add the touches that make the character’s dialog sparkle, the narrative read crisp, and the story come alive.

After the vanity was tiled, I had to wait to add the grout. This is the same phase in a manuscript where you let the story rest a week or two then go through and proof read it. Adding the grout to the tile was the finishing touch to the piece.

My husband still has to revamp two drawers, but we’re waiting for the plumbing to be done to see how much of the drawers will have to be cut out. This process equates to writers who send their books off to agents or editors. Those people will determine how much of the book stays as is and what will need to be cut or added.

I’m happy with my new vanity and look forward to finishing the house and moving in so I can get back to writing my new mystery series. My first book in the series released on the 10^th. You can now purchase Double Duplicity in ebook or print.

Double Duplicity Blurb

On the eve of the biggest art event at Huckleberry Mountain Resort, potter Shandra Higheagle finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. She’s ruled out as a suspect, but now it’s up to her to prove the friend she witnessed fleeing the scene was just as innocent. With help from her recently deceased Nez Perce grandmother, Shandra becomes more confused than ever but just as determined to discover the truth.

Detective Ryan Greer prides himself on solving crimes and refuses to ignore a single clue, including Shandra Higheagle’s visions. While Shandra is hesitant to trust her dreams, Ryan believes in them and believes in her.

Can the pair uncover enough clues for Ryan to make an arrest before one of them becomes the next victim?

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Double-Duplicity-Shandra-Higheagle-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00PFWPHPQ

Kobo  http://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Double+Duplicity

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-duplicity-paty-jager/1120790322

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id942249867

patyjager.net

Writing into the Sunset Blog

How Do Writers Show Body Language by Vonnie Davis

Writers have various ways of expressing emotion. I mostly use dialogue. Maybe because I like to talk, my characters talk a lot too. But, as writers, we also show emotions through body language. We all know hands on hips indicates a bad mood or anger. Think back to when your children were small. What things did they do to indicate they were fibbing or getting ready to plead for something they knew they shouldn't have?

ANGER?

Anger is one expression of fight-or-flight mode. It's an automatic, instinctive reaction to a threat. In many cases, there is an underlying fear of being harmed. Thanks to autonomic nervous system arousal, the heart rate increases, pupils dilate, and the face may flush. I have trouble remembering to use all these. I often add them on my second or third round of edits. Other signs of anger are:

• Balling the fists
• Crossing the arms tightly
• Clenching the fists once arms are crossed
• Tight-lipped smile
• Clenched teeth
• Shaking a finger like a club.
• Stabbing or jabbing a finger at someone

ATTRACTION:

• Pupils dilate
• Women will cross and uncross legs to draw attention to them
• Mirroring (usually unconsciously) mimicking the other person's body language

CLOSED TO CONVERSATION:

• Keeping the hands in the pockets (esp. men)
• Arms and legs crossed
• Sitting back
• Folding the hands together on a table (creates a barrier)
• The "figure-four" leg cross (setting the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other) and then grabbing the lower half of the top leg with both hands.

OPENESS AND HONESTY:

• Exposure of the palms
• Arms and legs unfolded
• Leaning forward

SUBMISSIVE SIGNALS:

• Smiling, which is why some people smile when they're upset or afraid
• Slumping the shoulders
• Do anything to appear smaller

DISTRESS:

• Men in particular have a tendency to stroke or rub the nape of the neck when they're upset. It acts as a self-soothing gesture to deal with a "pain in the neck."
• Crossed arms, which act like a protective barrier.
• Self-hugger--arms are crossed, hands gripping upper arms
• Clutching a purse, briefcase or bag with both arms
• Adjusting cuffs or cuff-links
• Folding the hands together in front of the crotch (men)

LYING:

• Lying causes a subtle tingling in the face and neck, so the gesture below are attempts to eliminate that feeling.
• Covering the mouth--can be like a shh gesture, or they may cover the mouth completely, perhaps by coughing. My ex used to yawn. Didn't take me long to figure that tell out.
• Touching or rubbing the nose or just below the nose, often a quick, small gesture...not a scratch.
• Rubbing the eyes...usually the men.
• Scratching the neck with the index finger

SUPERIORITY, CONFIDENCE, POWER, DOMINANCE:

• Steepling of the fingers
• Folding the hands behind the back
• Thumbs sticking out from pockets when hands are in pockets...can be front or back pockets
• Hands on hips
• Straddling a chair
• Hands folded behind the head while sitting up (in men; in women, this thrusts the breasts out and becomes sexual)

Now, as you read body language in books, you'll have a better feel for the language being conveyed. You'll be drawn more into the action.

For more about Vonnie Davis, she blogs at www.vonniedavis.blogspot.com

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!



My Eyes Get Blurry

Vonnie Davis

I really don't know what to write about to grab your interest or entertain you today. Odd, isn't it? I mean, I'm a writer for heaven's sake. I just can't seem to keep my mind focused on one thing. I've got so much to do--and don't we all? How did life get to be so busy?

Right now, I am over-scheduled with contracts, which is a good thing, a grand thing. But ladies, it's all I do. From nine in the morning until one the next morning, my laptop and are I attached at the thighs. There are emails, self-promotion, facebook, twitter, street team management and writing. Around three in the afternoon, my eyes are so tired, I take a nap for an hour, so I can see the print on my computer screen. My eyes get blurry. This is pretty much the life all writers live, especially if they're retired like I am. It's not glamorous. To move forward, it has to be our main focus.

 Right now, I'm writing book two of my "Wild Heat" series about firemen for Harper Impulse--For the Love of a Fireman. At the same time, I'm also going over the edits my editor at Random House Loveswept wants in book two of my paranormal "Highlander Beloved" series. I'll be honest. Signing contracts with two publishers at the same time was not the smartest move on my part. I thought I could handle the stress, the time drain, the mental confusion of switching from writing in a Scottish burr to firemen's lingo in Florida. Just call me foolish...sigh.

I'd love to be able to show you the cover of book two -- A Highlander's Passion, but I'm not allowed. Random House has contracted an exclusive cover reveal with a large blog. But here's the cover for book one, which is already out.

My editor at Random House also wants me to send along chapter one of book three of my next highlander book to insert as a teaser at the end of book two. To be honest, I really haven't given much thought to that book yet. I was hoping for a week of brain rest before I started it. Random House has asked me to write exclusively for them. For self-preservation and to get part of my life back, I agreed.

My editor called the other day to brainstorm on my next series. I was so brain-fried, she did all the brainstorming. I could barely pull together a puff of wind. I just took notes and said, "Okay" a lot. She went over what types of stories were going out of style and what readers are looking for now.

I kept asking myself, how do they know what the average woman wants to read? And, please God, don't let her saddle me with a story concept I can't get behind. So in the later half of 2015 and 2016, I'll be writing three books about returning servicemen -- wounded and with PTSD -- who band together in a small town for the quiet, the remoteness, as they adapt to society again...and, of course, the women they meet. All I have to do is send her four paragraphs about each book, like what you read on the back of a book cover, only in more detail for her approval.

When someone looks at me and says, "I'd like to write a book someday." I want to reply with, "You'll work harder than you ever have in your life."...."You'll also have more fun than you've ever had."

And you'll need to grow a thick skin because some reviewers can be brutal and downright cruel. For example: "Really? This is the piss-poor book you wanted to write?" I bawled. Some can make your day shine like one I got recently. "Vonnie Davis is a modern-day bard of romance. Her mastery of writing mechanics is sublime, elevated to such a high standard that I don't have anything to say about it." I think I'll focus on it instead of one I once received "This woman can only write on the third grade level. I could only stand to read one chapter. Avoid her." Oh, if she only knew how hard I worked to get my bachelors in English while working in a factory at night and raising teenagers as a single mom. Couldn't she just have said, "This book was not my cup of tea?"

Have an awesome day, ladies. Guess what I'll be doing?