I thought long and hard about what I wanted to write today. Normally, I have the column up before midnight but last night I went to bed early. I had spent the day at a RWA meeting then went over a friend’s home to float in her pool. Even though I was only out for two hours in the hot sun and in water, I came home completely wiped. I did a few things, had dinner then promptly fell into bed before nine last night. A first for me in many, many months.
So, sitting here thinking this morning about what I want to write about got me worried. See I was so tired I woke up with a fuzzy brain and no thought patterns. Yeah, I know I haven’t had my coffee this morning but I really need to write something...LOL!
In light of this fact, I decided I wanted to give you ten things about me you may or may not know. This can give you time to speculate then ask me questions about my life. Have fun!
- I was born in Ohio. I do keep this to myself mainly because there are so many of us transplanted elsewhere.
- The most scary place I went to growing up was called Serpent Mound. There was something odd about it and while I don’t get creeped out like I used to the place does set my mind to whirl. And the stories which are going to come from that experience makes me want to write them all now.
- My two children are sixteen years apart. What was I thinking? LOL!
- I love romantic comedies and try to get people to go with me to the movies every time I notice one I might like. It’s then I remember I live in a house filled with all men. Sigh.
- I love sci-fi space thrillers like Alien and Predators. Gotta love those kick ass women! Matter of fact, they are my favorite movies. Probably the reason I write so many of them.
- I’ve been in RWA off and on since 1985. There was a period where my mother was ill and I didn’t belong but I’ve seen the organization grow from about 300 people to where it is today.
- I’ve run the contests for two international writing groups – RWA and EPIC. Those were very thrilling to do but hard work. My husband told me when I was doing the RWA one that he had never seen me work as hard even when I got paid. Leave it to a man!
- I used to write screenplays for the Star Trek franchises. This was a hoot and something that made me know those people in Hollywood can be scary if you don’t have your head on straight. While it was the experience of a lifetime, once truly has been enough.
- I’m a pantser by nature but plan all my books longer than 50K for almost a month before I start writing them. By planning, I mean write down what I want to happen chapter by chapter. Sometimes I go deeper than that but I have to have every step in my mind of where the story is going before I put more than a few words on paper. Weird, I know.
- I have six completed books in my virtual file cabinet which haven’t seen the light of day since the mid-90s. The whys are complicated but suffice it to say, some of them are coming out of that closet very, very soon. These are long stories that need work and at the time they were completed, didn’t have a market. Things like fantasy romance, stories about women off-road racers and lingerie shop owners. I think I can find them homes now.
So there you have it. Ten things to know about me. I’ll give you more of course in time but I think these are enough to get you to think about all the questions you might have. So don’t hesitate to ask me those questions...I look forward to them!
See you all tomorrow!
Lynn
Happy Saturday everyone! I have an all day writers meeting today which leaves me very little time to put together a huge blog. It’s something called Plotapalooza and you guessed, we have a full day of plotting for us in store. It should be a good day as I always learned something new. I’ll be talking about it in tomorrow’s blog, which brings me to the subject of today’s blog.
As many of you know, I belong to an online writing group called EPIC. The organization has the longest running ebook contest and need judges to fulfill their commitment to that contest. Here’s the plea they put out for judges and contest entries:
EPIC is seeking industry professionals for judges; people who enjoy seeing what mischief their peers have gotten up to this past year. We are seeking judges for all genres from fiction, romance, erotic romance, non-fiction, poetry, to children's and YA. Judging information is available at: http://bit.ly/eBookJudges.
There are lots of great books to be read and new authors to be discovered. Aren't you curious?
EPIC's eBook Awards is open for entries. Interested? The entry rules and guidelines are at http://bit.ly/eBook2011. Entries are accepted until midnight, Aug. 15, 2010.
Please help if you can. This contest is wonderful and I’ve been a finalist in it, which was a wonderful experience.
That’s about all for today! Sorry I couldn’t be more talkative...I’ve been writing...and my brain is mush. Yuppers, you will see some of this in unedited form the moment I turn it all into my publisher.
See ya tomorrow!
Lynn
I’m here today with the wonderful Angela Caperton. I’ve known Angela through our publisher, eXtasy Books and the writer’s group, EPIC. Please help me in welcoming her to XtraOrdinary Romance. Welcome, Angela!
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing stories since I was about 8 years old. Of course, in those early days, the stories were about my deepest, truest love in the entire world - horses!
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
Wow..biggest? Probably my early years growing up on a sailboat. When we were sailing between ports, there’s plenty of time to read and dream. I quickly became enamored with words and worlds of my own making.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
What? You didn’t hear the shriek of euphoric joy? Seriously, I was ecstatic. I had been writing stories for years, had even had the courage to submit a few to publications, but had never managed to get that final stamp of approval. The fact that I tend to write unconventional stories made my first contract (for my erotic historical Inspiration from eXtasy Books) sweet indeed.
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
I currently have one novel – my Eppie winner, Woman of the Mountain - and three novellas available, and many short stories in various erotica anthologies. My first sale was Inspiration in 2006.
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book. OR Tell me about your upcoming release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book.
My latest release is my paranormal romance Green Flash (buy link: http://tinyurl.com/yeyb98o) from eXtasy Books. Green Flash is a stand alone story, although I have been poked at to do a sequel. We’ll see if Claire has more adventures she wants me to share!
What was your inspiration for this book?
The green flash is a visual phenomena sometimes observed at sunset over open water when the horizon is clear. I watched many sunsets when I lived on the boat and saw one very small green flash. It has stayed with me all this time. The memory of the thrill of seeing that small green aura on the horizon gave birth to Green Flash.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
Hmm… I think I’m the illicit love child of a Pantser clan chief and Empress Plotter. It’s been a tough road trying to bridge the differences... Seriously, it really depends on the story. I am probably more a plotter, but some stories seem to breathe on their own and no outline, no jotted notes are needed to produce results. A good example is “Timbre” in Best Women’s Erotica 2010. That story literally flew from my brain onto the screen in record time and without a conscious path of where the story was going. I’m VERY proud of that story.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
I’ve learned from experience that a writer can indeed edit a story to death. I have nearly 100K words of a fantasy series in my files, but having edited, re-written and revised over and over again, I can hardly stand to look at it. What’s terrible is that I think it’s a good story. Maybe someday I’ll find the original vision and try again.
Now, when I write the story, I give it a rest for a couple days (deadline permitting!), then go back through it again, reading it very carefully to try and catch errors. I am lucky too, that I have another set of eyes – my partner Drake. His eagle eyes have been invaluable.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
Like just about all authors, I love great reviews! I’ve gotten a few, and they definitely make my day, and I am quite pleased to shout about them all over the net! Why not? What author doesn’t like to hear that her work is liked and that it has struck a chord with at least one reader? I think good reviews provide energy to a writer, and even reviews that aren’t so great can provide insight and serve to remind us that writing and reading preferences are diamonds – full of facets, flashes of light, and sultry shadows to make up the spectrum.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
Not necessarily odd, but educational and entertaining! Claire, the heroine of Green Flash, is a sexton of a historical cemetery in Florida. I learned so much about sextons and cemeteries in my research. Most of the information was factual and interesting, but a few of the sites I visited were filled with great spooky stories!
How much of yourself can we find in one of these books? Do you ever make yourself a character?
I think there are definitely elements of me in all my books. I drew on my early life living on a boat in “Timbre” and my years on the boat also provided the inspiration for Green Flash. There are definitely other elements of myself in various characters in my stories, but I tend to draw more from my life experiences than from my personality.
How do you get your ideas for your stories? Do they come all at one or in bits and pieces over a period of time?
They pretty much come all at once and then evolve. For example, “Calendar Girl,” my story in the anthology Peep Show, came to me all at once but the ending changed as I wrote. Really depends on the idea and how complex the story is.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
Okay, I could say Berlin 1928 to see life in the most decadent modern city or 1860 at Red House, to dine with Willie Morris and Jane, and hope to meet that fascinating Dante Rossetti, but no. I’m easy. Give me the late Cretaceous Period and a couple of hours to watch a Tyrannosaurus and I’d be happy.
If you could spend the day with anyone in the world who is famous, who would it be? Why did you choose them and what would you do?
Tough one. Someone smart and funny. Maybe Guillermo del Toro, the film director. He seems like very amusing company from the interviews I’ve read with him and I could tell him how much I’ve loved his movies.
Share a little bit of the ‘real’ you with our readers. What do you do besides writing? Any hobbies? Dark secrets?
I don’t know if you can say this here… I…crochet. Yes, it’s true. I take yarn and turn it into blankets! Don’t tell. It could shatter illusions. I also love to watch all kinds of movies, read, listen to music and I enjoy art of all kinds.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
Fans can find me at:
My blog (best source for up-to-date information): http://blog.angelacaperton.com
My Web Page: http://www.angelacaperton.com
Twitter: @AngelaCaperton (https://twitter.com/AngelaCaperton)
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/angelacaperton
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela-Caperton/100000314757856
Coffeetime Romance Forum: http://coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=269
Angela’s BIO:
Born in Virginia and raised on a sailboat, Angela Caperton has spent extended periods of her life traveling and living abroad. Her travels have given her an appreciation of the world in all its forms and she is always on the lookout for the next adventure. Her eclectic erotica spans many genres to include romance, horror, fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, hard-edged noir, whimsical and what she calls contemporary-with-a-twist. Her erotic fantasy Woman of the Mountain won the 2008 Eppie for Best Erotica. Look for her stories published with Cleis, Circlet Press, Drollerie Press, eXtasy Books, and in the indie magazine Out of the Gutter.
Thanks, Angela, for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I really enjoyed it!
Lynn
There will be a few times where I interview a dual personality...LOL! Today, I inteview my good friend, Debbie Fritter. Debbie and I have know each other for a few years. A while ago, she asked me to critique the first book of what would become the Blue Moon Magic series. I pouted because I wanted to play with her and the other two authors in the series. I came up with a secret brother and was very lucky they invited me to play. The Blue Moon Magic series from Loose Id still garners a lot of attention to this day.
So help me in welcoming my good friend, Debbie Fritter/Debi Wilder to XtraOrdinary Romance!
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I dabbled a bit in high school when I took a creative writing class, at that time I did more poetry and songwriting. It wasn’t until a friend’s sister became published in the 1980s that I figured I could do it too…and I did.
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
I don’t know if I can pinpoint one particular person or event. I believe a writer was somewhere inside just waiting for the right moment, so maybe is was Cori that influenced me in the ‘80s.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
The third greatest thing to happen to me … behind giving birth to my son and then marrying the love of my life.
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
My tenth publication came out this past September by Red Rose Publishing. My first book was published in 2005 by Whiskey Creek Press.
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a stand alone book.
HEARTBEAT is the sequel to the adult romance, Eternal Pleasures. It tells Paige’s story about finding her own sexual freedom with Russell. See Paige feels responsible for putting her best friend, CJ, in the hospital. CJ was always giving herself pleasure, and Paige just couldn’t figure out what the big deal was and she kept criticizing her for it. When CJ was ready to come home, Paige promised her that she’d shed her inhibitions…problem is she doesn’t know how. But Dr. Russell Canterbury is more than happy to teach Paige his wicked ways. Russell wants to use Paige by making her thirst for him sexual and take his revenue on CJ for getting his closest friend killed.
What was your inspiration for this book?
It felt like Paige and Russell needed their own story, one that made them complete.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
If by “pantser” you mean by the seat of my pants, that’s me. I tend to let my characters guide me through their world. I may have an idea of where I want to go with a new book, but ultimately it’s the characters that give me direction…I only suggest.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
As you know, I have a couple of writing buddies (Honey Jans, Sherry Derr-Wille, and yourself) I’ll run things past before submitting to the editor of that particular house. All my editors have free rein to change any doing with grammar—my big downfall—anything else they need to run past me first. I usually give them a quick turnaround, usually within 72 hours.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
Thank you. I’ve received some not so glowing ones as well. Reviews are subjective to the reviewer. What one reviewer may not get, the next one will. I think it’s a way of knowing how your readers might look at your story.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
Not on this particular one, One of my other stories BY THE BLUE MOON, is based on a legend where I live about werewolves living in the area. That “what if” became a four book series, Blue Moon Series, with three other talented authors.
How do you get your ideas for your stories? Do they come all at one or in bits and pieces over a period of time?
From just about anywhere, and usually when I’m in the middle of my current project. I’ve got an idea in my database that came from a story on the front of one of our local papers about the roller derby, too bad I didn’t beat Drew Barrymore to the punch though. A another one came while my husband and I were on vacation in St. Louis and we were looking around Union Station. I get that glazed over look in my eye when it happens, my husband gives me a minute, and then we talk a few minutes about it. I usually get some sort of opening for a new idea. Sometimes characters will come to me first, then the rest follows. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, just happens.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
There are two time periods that are my favorite … medieval and Victorian eras. I’ve always loved the lure of castles and the whole idea of knights, etc. Riding through the countryside on a big black Fressian…SIGH. The Victorian age was pretty carefree and elegant in its own right. But then so was the Deco age (20s/30s).
Who and what are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading THE KEY by Jennifer Sturman. It’s an older Red Dress Ink book about a woman whose boys dies right in front of her during a meeting. The thing is everyone in the meeting wouldn’t have minded seeing him dead at one time or another. I picked it up at the local Dollar General. I’ve found that I’ve been picking up more chick lit mysteries these days.
Share a little bit of the ‘real’ you with our readers. What do you do besides writing? Any hobbies? Dark secrets?
I work full time as a legal secretary for a state agency. I’m married to a wonderful man, have four grown children and two beautiful grand-daughters. Being a horse lover, in the early spring I replaced my aged Arabian mare with a younger Quarter Horse gelding…it is definitely Men are from Mars, Woman are from Venus syndrome here. There’s a sort of peace being with horses that’s hard to explain, and I think every horse owner out there would agree.
What does your significant other think about your writing?
Randy’s probably my biggest fan…and critic. He looks at just about everything I write, letting me know where he doesn’t understand something. Although, sometimes he’s just way too literal for the situation…he’s more into the Grisham, Patterson, etc. type of books and sometimes doesn’t understand that romance is written differently. He’s always ready to take me where I need to go for research, making a vacation out of it. When I was writing A LEGACY THROUGH TIME, he said that if I was going to write about the Civil War, I was going to stand on the battlefields. It was amazing and you can’t believe the feeling you get being out there. The area hasn’t changed much over the years.
Debbie writes under two names, Debbie Fritter and Debi Wilder. Here’s there bios:
Debi Wilder
Although some like to think Ms. Wilder lives what she writes, it’s far from the truth. She has shelves filled with research books such as Sex Toy Tales, Lip Service and The Academy, which she gets from her sister-in-law from time to time. Thankfully her husband doesn’t think they have to try everything at least once!
Ms. Wilder loves the freedom that writing erotica brings. There’s a no holds barred attitude that suits her when her imagination and characters take over and run wild on the pages. And like her characters, Ms. Wilder believes romance and sex go hand in hand.
Ms. Wilder currently lives a quiet life with her husband nestled deep among the pyramids of Rock Lake.
Debbie Fritter
Ms. Fritter’s first book, The Perfect Match, was released in April 2005 by Whiskey Creek Press. It was followed by the award winning A Legacy Through Time, Fallen Angels Reviews 2005 Book of the Year, in August; Emerald, a short story in Tales From the Treasure Trove, 2006 EPPIE Winner for Best Anthology, in September 2005. In June 2005, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid published her award winning sci-fi erotica, S.P.A.R., which was voted 2005 Best Erotic Romance Ebook by www.Ecataromance.com. Her next release, By the Blue Moon, Book 1 of the Blue Moon Magic werewolf paranormal anthology, was released in September 2007 by Loose ID. In February of 2008, Whiskey Creek Press will release Joust in Time, a time-travel romance from 15th Century England to modern times. Ms. Fritter’s books are available in ebook and/or print formats, and can be purchased through her websites: http://www.debbiefritter.net/ / http://www.debiwilder.net/.
Ms. Fritter is a member of the Electronic Publishers Internet Connection, Romance Writers of America, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Ms. Fritter became of member of PAN in August 2009. Ms. Fritter has lived in south-central Wisconsin all but six months of her life. She spent most of her days growing up in Madison where she was born, but never forgot about her childhood years in Lake Mills during the early 1960s. She and her husband, Randy, returned to Lake Mills approximately 4 years ago and plan to stay in the area until they retire to Oklahoma.
If it's one thing Debbie’s learned over the years of her life it's that you can never stop dreaming and reaching for the stars, because sooner or later you just may get to touch one and it'll bring you more happiness than you can ever imagine. She feels lucky, and blessed, that over the past couple of years to have been able to reach out and touch two stars ... and she’s still reaching for more.
Readers can find Debbie/Debi at the following places:
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/
http://www.whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com/
http://www.loose-id.com/
http://www.classactbooks.com/
http://www.redrosepublishing.com/
http://www.debbiefritter.net/
http://www.debiwilder.com/
Thanks Debbie/Debi for taking part in my 2 For Thursday promotion. I enjoyed having you here and look forward to hearing more about your future books!
Lynn
