Friday, August 31, 2012

Reading Romances August 2012 Results

August is almost over! Unbelievable. It marked big changes around here as both our children moved into dorms for the coming school year. So there were days when I had five minutes for reading and more recently, nearly entire days I could devote to a good book.

At the beginning of the month, Nat of ReadingRomances.com handed down exciting challenges:



TOPICS: 1) Read a book that has been made into a movie. 2) Read a book with an older Hero or heroine (AT LEAST mid-to-late

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Staying Power of Strong Female Heroines

One of the biggest compliments I received when Justice Incarnate was originally released (as a paperback in 2005) came from bestselling romantic suspense author Debra Webb: "Move over Lara Croft - Jaden Michaels is the quintessential heroine of the twenty-first century, full of heart and totally lethal!"

Webb's words mattered so much to me because I'd modeled the female heroine of that book after traits I admired in the Lara Croft character. A kick-butt woman on a mission was the only type

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Olympic Sized Expectations

On Sunday evening I watched an insightful interview as Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete ever, sat down with Bob Costas. I'm a fan of Costas' interview style and the interview didn't disappoint. They were candid, positive, and it was a joy to watch.

What surprised me was Phelps' comment that he got exactly what he expected out of his performance in these games. He did not expect to win everything in London, hadn't trained to do so. It was a statement that caught my

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Friday, August 3, 2012

Size Matters In World Building For Paranormal Romance Novels

Size matters! Just visit any fast-food restaurant and you'll discover a wealth of choices just about size. What? Did you think I was going to use a different example? ;)

Regardless of the first thing to pop into your mind at the phrase 'size matters', when it comes to world building for paranormal romance or urban fantasy novels, size - meaning the depth and intensity of the world building - is actually important.

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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Pacing An Essential Life Lesson

Pacing is vital in so many facets of my life. As an author, pacing is vital to deliver a story that keeps readers engaged and entertained. As an Army wife and mother of two, pacing is essential to keep the household running without catapulting into chaos.

Pacing is essential to character development. In my books, I make every effort for readers to engage with my characters, especially those kick-butt female heroines, by showing what they're capable of and how they deal with conflict and

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