Wrangling For Control

Long ago I said world building for paranormal romance novels is the best solution for... Control Freaks! I can say that with absolute confidence because I am a control freak. To try and convince you I'm reformed or in the process of reforming would be a work of fiction beyond any of my currently published novels.

While I may be better about actually going with the flow, wanting to be in control remains a fact of my life and personality. I've stopped fighting it.

Writing novels is one way

Read more ...

Recognizing Stand Out Alpha Female Characters

For those of you unfamiliar with my urban fantasy novels set in 2096, those titles 'star' some seriously alpha female characters. What can I say? These days I let my dreams of being wild and adventurous play out on the pages by women who won't fall apart if they take a kick-boxing class, race into (or out of) a burning building, or rappel from a helicopter (something that looks like great fun!)

[caption id="attachment_913" align="alignleft" width="139" caption="Book one in the Shadows of

Read more ...

Making Stand Out Characters

Fair warning, I'm on another Avengers kick. For Mother's Day, I asked to go back and see it again and my son eagerly agreed. Last year I made him watch Disney's Enchanted with me. He's a great kid and a good sport, but I guarantee he was happier with this year's movie selection.

This was my second time viewing the movie and I walked out as happy and energized - and in awe - as I did the first time. The characterization in this movie - through the writing, directing, and acting, is simply

Read more ...

Meet The Book Marketing Specialist!

To paraphrase the oh-so-clever Dos Equis advertising team: I don't always post on a Friday, but when I do, it's worth the visit. ;)

It's a pleasure today to bring authors someone special, someone who loves books and authors so much she's assembled a team and developed a program to help authors write more. NO, that doesn't mean she has chains to keep your butt in the chair and your hands on the keyboard. It means she's using her special skills and expertise in marketing to help get your book

Read more ...

Super Power World Building in Avengers

Okay, call me a geek, a fan, or even a fan-geek, but ever since I saw the Avengers movie on Saturday in IMAX 3D I've been hard pressed to think of much beyond else but how soon I can go back. This may be the first Mother's Day when my son won't groan over what I want to do most.

Don't worry you won't find spoilers here - just the shock and awe over the story, the characterization, the world building, and the eye-candy. (hey, I'm human!)

This film was clearly a huge undertaking and the

Read more ...

Reading Romances May Challenge

It's May! When did that happen? I know, it follows April, but it seems like the days are just flying by lately! So I met the April Reading Romances Challenge and I went over to Reading Romances for the May challenge. There are lots of books out this month by some of my fave authors. Here's hoping one of them will fit one of the challenge categories below.

TOPICS: 1) Read a futuristic or sci-fi romance.



THEMES: 2) Read a book by a favorite author or from a favorite genre. 3) Read

Read more ...

When Lightning Strikes

Writers are supposed to be idea people. Maybe the ideas only apply to imaginary people populating a pretend universe, but it's still a matter of ideas. I don't know about you, but sometimes my ideas feel lame, or incomplete. Or like they need a shot of B-12 or Vitamin D to be 'real enough' to work with.

Other times, lightning strikes.

We were recently out to dinner celebrating some wonderful news. Our son was accepted to an elite high school and we couldn't be prouder. It was our son who

Read more ...