Guest Blogger - Author Jill James

Please join me in welcoming Indie Author Jill James to Conversations today!  Jill is the author of Divorce, Interupted (love that title) and Someone to Trust.  Jill will be giving away a copy of book Divorce, Interupted, which is book 1 in the series, today to one lucky commenter.  So don't be shy.  Grab a cup of coffee and join the conversation!

Lisa

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Jill James BIO:

Jill has loved to write since she first began putting on puppet shows in her garage for a nickel a person. Her first love was poetry until she picked up her first romance novel, after that it was all romance. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She is a member of RWA since 2004 and a member of the From The Heart chapter, Black Diamond chapter, Kiss of Death chapter, and ESPAN chapter. She has been writing romance for a few years with a few poetry contest wins and a published short story, Lunch Break. When Jill isn’t writing you will find her reading, her other passion. She lives in Northern California with her husband, who is the inspiration for all her heroes. Her debut novel, Tempting Adam, released February 2011, from The Wild Rose Press. She has Indie published with Divorce, Interrupted. Book 1 of the Second Chances series.

WRITING A SERIES by JILL JAMES

A series is a set of interconnecting stories. They are usually connected by people, place, or things. Most writers go into a series with an idea of what will entwine the tales. Some use people, like sisters, brothers, or a family. Some use things, like a piece of jewelry or a music box. I’m not most writers; I didn’t start with a plan.


When I started writing Divorce, Interrupted it was not with the idea to do a series. But, as the story unfolded an idea started taking shape. The idea of second chances and of a place for that to happen developed; Lake Willowbee. By the time Divorce, Interrupted was almost finished I realized it was the start of a series.


All of a sudden it blossomed into a three book series. The story of Todd and Lisa Miller, a newly-divorced couple forced to work together to survive in freezing weather, a torrid flash flood, and their anger with each other the only warmth they have. The story of Evie Grimes, a former abused wife, happily single until hunky carpenter, Brady Jackson comes into her life, ready to do anything to protect the woman he loves. The story of wrongfully accused embezzler Megan Kirby, her husband who hasn’t been with her in three years, and their little girl who doesn’t know her mother at all.


In all the stories, the couples find their second chance at love, romance, and family at Lake Willowbee, California. I used Auburn, California as the basis of the fictional town and nearby lake. I loved the idea of a place having the power to heal and bring back feelings the couples thought were lost. I love the idea of Second Chances.

Order Someone To Trust at these online sites: 


Amazon http://tinyurl.com/7txssb5
BN.com http://tinyurl.com/85rtjxk
Smashwords http://tinyurl.com/87l85ah

Interview with Guest Blogger: Debra Holland

It is my pleasure to have Indie Author Debra Holland back on my blog this month. I am currently reading the first book in her God's Dream Trilogy and LOVING it. I'm sure readers will too! I asked Debra about her current series, what she's working on now and, since she writes screenplays too, a little bit about her screenwriting.

Lisa: What inspired you to write Sower of Dreams?

Debra: I wrote a short story for Andre Norton’s Witchworld Anthology. When I queried her, she wrote that she no longer did the anthology. So I changed the world to one of my own, expanded the story to a book and entered it in the Golden Heart, where it finaled. Then I made it a long book, with two more in the trilogy. All the time I was writing the Sower of Dreams, I continued to correspond with Andre, and she ended up reading the book and giving me suggestions. Then she gave me an endorsement--one of the last ones before she died.

Lisa: I know you write screenplays as well. Can you tell us a little bit about that project too and how you got into it?

Debra: When you take plotting classes, most teachers use screenplays as examples because more people have seen the same movie than read the same book. The structure for screenplays and novels are the same.

I started writing screenplays when an actor friend introduced me to his director and asked that I help with the movie, which was a Western. I went to a meeting with the director (who wrote the original) and the man who was the writer at the time. I’d marked up my version because even though I didn’t know much about screenplays, I did know about motivation and visuals and other important details. In the meeting the other writer would argue with me. For example, we spent 45 minutes on the concept that if a man is going to change from being a good man to being a bad man, that has to be motivated. He can’t just wake up the next day and be bad. Luckily, the director kept siding with me and the other writer quit in frustration.

I adapted my first book, Wild Montana Sky, into a screenplay. It’s won some awards, but I haven’t done anything with it.

Lisa: How does writing novels and screenplays differ?
Debra: The biggest difference is no interior thoughts in screenplays. You have to show the emotion or have it expressed in dialogue. It’s hard for screenwriters to switch to writing books because they tend to gloss over this.

In some ways, screenplays are easier because they are shorter. But you have to make everything count.

Lisa: Is there anything in particular that you find challenging about writing? How do you overcome it?

Debra: Actually doing it. I avoid writing as much as possible. J About three months ago, a friend (who also wasn’t writing) started coming over, and we sit at opposite ends of the table and work on our own stories.

Lisa: Plotter, pantser, puzzler or linear writer? (For the record I am a puzzler. I write completely out of order.)

Debra: More of a plotter than a panster. I have some books well plotted out and others the outline is vague.

Lisa: Do you have a routine when you write? Must have coffee in hand? Must sit in the same chair at the coffee shop? Must eat donut before you get started?

Debra: No routine, although I write better after a nap. J

Lisa: Speaking of coffee...Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

Debra: Lol. Green tea. So I’ll go to Starbucks for that. But mostly I make it at home.

(Note from Lisa: No coffee? I wouldn't survive! If I could put a Dunkin Donuts in my front yard I'd be thrilled!)

Lisa: What is the most interesting thing you have done to research a book?

Debra: I think it’s what I’m about to do in researching my current book--Harvest of Dreams. My heroine competes with the saber. I’m going to have to go and learn a bit about the weapon.

(Note from Lisa: Very cool!)

Lisa: Tell us about your current series? What do you have coming up next?

Debra: I’m working on the third book of The Gods’ Dream Trilogy, which is fantasy romance. I hope to have it out in three months.

I’m finishing up the last edits for Stormy Montana Sky--my sweet historical Western romance series. I should have it out next week.

The first book in my space opera trilogy is ready to publish. I’m waiting for the cover for Lywin’s Quest, then it will be available. Hopefully next week.

(Note from Lisa: Space opera trilogy? I can't wait!)

Excerpt from Sower of Dreams:

 

Dream threads wrapped around Daria, tugging her away from Seagem to an unfamiliar place.

She stood on a hilly desert, gritty beige sand under her bare feet. Overhead, a yellow sun blazed in an arching azure sky. The starkness of the color dried the air from her lungs, making her lightheaded.

Daria fought the dizziness. Where is this place? What am I doing here?

She’d curbed herself of dream walking without the presence of Yadarius, ever since Indaran’s death. Somehow her blocks must have slipped.

Trepidation, like cold fingers, clutched her stomach, chilling her in spite of the blistering heat.

She shaded her eyes with one hand, staring at the vast blueness. She wasn’t in Seagem anymore; she doubted a sky of such a hue existed anywhere on her world. Was this Yadarius’ doing? Had He sent her somewhere? For what purpose?

Turning in a small circle, she scanned her surroundings, searching for signs of the SeaGod’s presence.

Nothing. Not even a hint of brine in the parched air.

She took deep breaths, striving for calm. To break her paralysis, she forced herself to take a step. The hot sand slithered under her feet. At least being in a dream protected the soles of her feet from burning.

The act of moving freed her from the bonds of her childhood fears. I’m a woman grown. A warrior. This is an entirely different dream walk than my last meeting with Indaran. She tried to believe her words.

Trudging to the top of the hill, Daria looked around. Sand dunes ringed this barren, rocky outcropping, scarce of vegetation. A sense of purpose unfurled tendrils of knowingness. There must be a reason for her being here, and she needed to find out what.

Her ears caught a rhythmic sound, then the scrape of a shod hoof on a stone.

More curious than apprehensive, she waited.

A rider on an ebony stallion, leading a pack mare, appeared between two ridges, The man wore a loose, light-colored garment over trews, and a head-covering that looked like a cap with a long cloth shielding the back of his neck. She noted the bow hooked close to his hand on the saddle and the fletches of what must be a quiver of arrows on his back. No sword, though.

He turned his head. A strong face, unlike any she’d ever seen. Hawk-like features. Dark skin. Penetrating brown eyes.

His gaze shot to hers, like an arrow through her heart.

Daria felt the impact and stumbled back, her hand flying to cover her chest. Beneath her palm, her heartbeat stuttered, then quickened, like a horse kicked into a canter. Warmth spread under her fingers, racing throughout her body. Her knees weakened.

The man reined in his stallion, watching her, his eyes narrowed. Slowly, he extended his hand to her, palm up, a clear invitation to come to him.

She reached out her hand.

A chain of connection forged across the distance between them.

Then she saw darkness stain the horizon behind him. A clear warning of danger swept through her othersense. She lowered her hand and backed away.

Then the dream threads unraveled. Daria slept on, dreamless.

Visit Debra Holland at http://www.DrDebraHolland.com

Guest Blogger: A Day in the Life of Christy Hayes

**Giveaway**

Yes, today we're having another giveaway!  I do love giveaways and today this one is coming from my Guest Blogger, Indie Author Christy Hayes!

It is my pleasure to feature Christy Hayes on my website today.  As an Indie Author, she has an interesting life and we're going to hear about it today.  Truthfully, people think that writers sit around all day having their maids bring them martinis and chocolate while they dream up tales of adventure and romance and immediately become New York Times Best Selling authors.  We get our nails done.  The maid does the laundry and grocery shopping for us, and the nanny carts the kids around all day.  Well, one can dream.  But we all need a clean toilet and food on the table when the family gets home and most of us don't have a maid or a nanny to help us get through the day.

In truth, writers are like everyone else.  We just get to hang out with our imaginary friends all day when everyone else is at work.  And we don't have to wear panty hose. (One of the many perks of the full time writer.  But I'm going to let Christy tell you about her day herself. 

Before I do, let me tell you that Christy Hayes is giving one lucky commenter a choice of one of her books.  So don't be shy.  Make sure you leave a comment.  If you'd like to learn more about Christy's books, click on the carousel below.

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A Day In The Life

I’m up at 6:00 am every day, seven days a week because I get so much done before everyone else gets up. As the mother of two tweens and two dogs, just getting a head start on email can help me have time to write later. And I’m bad—I baby my kids, so nothing gets done until they are up and on the bus at 7:30.

I catch up on more email before the dogs start bugging me and force me to take them for their morning walk around 9:00. They drag me around the block and I’m back in the chair by 9:30.

I eat (I’m a total cereal addict) and finally look over the writing I did the day before in order to get back into the story. If all goes well, I can get a good hour or two in before my ADD kicks in and I have to exercise.

Thank goodness for technology. I love my iPad and use it while I work out to read blogs, stay abreast of publishing industry news, and read.

After showering, I typically run a few errands, usually to the grocery store, otherwise known as my home away from home. And I don’t even like to cook!

I head back and try to get another hour or so of work done before the kids get home at 4:00.

The moment the kids get home, my real job kicks in. I help with homework, do laundry, chauffeur kids to practice or a friend’s house or run an errand for a school supply they needed yesterday. I could have picked up said supply on my earlier errands if only I’d known they needed it.

Back home to make dinner around 6:00. My husband will eat and enjoy anything (love him!) but my kids tend to wrinkle their noses at whatever is placed before their discriminating palates. Go figure!

After cleaning up the kitchen, the dogs need another walk around the block. I try to get anyone from the family to come with me and suddenly everyone has a million things they have to do.

As soon as the sun goes down, I’m in my pajamas. I make sure the kids have all their homework done, try to get them to read instead of watch TV, and eventually make them go to bed. I check email one last time and try to spend a little time with the hubby IF he hasn’t already fallen asleep watching Storm Chasers!

I’ll end the day with a good book on my iPad, knowing my eyesight is paying for all the hours I spend looking at a computer screen. I’m usually asleep by 11:00 because I’ve got to do it all again the next day!

As you can see, I lead a very exciting, adventure-filled life! All kidding aside, I’m truly blessed to be able to work at home with the love and support of my family. Even if they do drive me crazy!