Sadly, I’m not one of those who will be heading to San Francisco this year. I’ll be hanging out at the Divas, for the NGTCC (Not Going To Conference Conference) but I have to wonder. Was this my year? I’ve only attended one so far, and had such an awesome time doing it, meeting so many of the people I know on-line. It was like a reunion of sorts.

And I have to miss this year’s.

This year, I think NOT going to conference though, made a difference on my writing. I put off a lot of stuff, worked on whatever struck me. No rhyme, and certainly no reason. I still have the book that I want to send to New York. It’s still with me. And it’s not done. Would I have finished it if I was going? Likely. What the outcome would have been, your guess is as good as mine. Love it, hate it, it’s too hard to say. I also fell into a huge writing slump. Did going to conference last year help that? Create it? I don’t know. Did not having the pressure to break out of it matter? Very probably.

See, there’s all kinds of factors that affect writing, and they don’t all come from family or jobs. At least for me.

Did going or not going to conference affect your writing this year? It’s safe to say it did have an impact on mine. Whether it was good or bad, it’s hard to say. I’ve accomplished a lot that conference may have otherwise distracted me from. Always the good with the bad, I guess.

This is my last post at Romantic Inks, and I wanted to say thanks to all the Inkers for making me so welcome. It’s been fun hanging out here - no doubt you’ll see me flitting in and out once I return from my holiday.

When I first started writing, I learned there were specific rules to follow. This puzzled me because I couldn’t find a definitive list of these rules anywhere, yet fellow writers and contest judges were quick to fill me in.

No Rock Stars: I learned this one after I’d completed a story called Follow That Dream. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t have a rock star hero. No sports settings. Hmm, I had one of those, too. Evidently there are several occupations on the no-no list. Politicians and artists, please step this way.

The hero and heroine should meet in the first few pages. This one made a little more sense if the book was a short story or category romance, because we want the hero and heroine center stage. But what about a 100,000 word novel? Surely it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t meet straight away?

The hero and heroines shouldn’t be deformed in any way. One of my favorite reads is A Man Like Mac by Fay Robinson. The hero is confined to a wheelchair. Heck, I have scars – not in-your-face scars, it’s true, but they’re there. Did this mean a character like me couldn’t step between the pages of a book?

Everyone has to write alpha heroes. I love alpha heroes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a beta hero. The beta hero might be less obvious, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less “heroic”. Variety is good, right?

There should be only one point of view per scene or chapter. Hello! Can I say Nora Roberts? Also, if you’ve read my books, you’ll know the POV character doesn’t follow this rule. You should only use the hero and heroine’s POV in your story. Nope, I didn’t follow this rule either.

No foreign settings. I like to thumb my nose at this one. New Zealand is not a foreign country! I love to read books set in different countries. It follows that I’d like to write them as well.

Historicals should only be set in Scotland or Britain. While I enjoy British-set historicals, variety is the spice of life.

Formatting a manuscript – Courier 12 pt with 25 lines per page. I had a judge knock off points in a contest because I put one space between my full stops and the next sentence. Evidently I was meant to put two spaces. I’ve also had a few contest judges who circled was every time I used it in a sentence. Poor maligned was!

Write what you know – I don’t think so because that would be a very boring story. For me, writing is about learning new things, discovering new occupations and traveling in my imagination. I bet there are other writers like me who enjoy writing about things and places they’re not familiar with. That’s why there are so many articles about research for writers.

At conferences, I’ve heard authors ask editors and agents what sort of book they’re looking for. The answer is usually the same: a good read. They’re not concerned about rules because all they want is a good book.

In the e-pub world just about anything goes. Authors are given the chance to experiment, to combine genres and write about any setting or occupation. Although the same freedom isn’t available with New York publishers, this shouldn’t stop an author from writing the book they want to write. Take a look at the publisher’s submission guidelines and follow their instructions. These are the only rules that matter. Add a little imagination, write the best book you can and submit with confidence.

Have you come up against these writing rules? Are there any I’ve missed?

Who doesn’t love a man in a kilt?  I don’t know what it is…  Is it because we know he’s naked underneath?  Or because it brings to mind strong warriors?  Or is it that his muscles bulge on his torso, arms and legs…  Why do you like a man in a kilt?

I just recieved my latest cover, Warrior In A Box, and I must say I am most pleased… **wiping drool from lips**

What do you think?

Looks like a total hottie…and he is!

Here’s a blurb:

Lainie Shaw, travel writer, workalholic, has no time for men. Even if she did, no man could match up to the one in her imagination. A man who makes her blood heat, her body weep and her heart clench with love. Instead, she is almost content drooling over sexy paintings of highland warriors while working in Inverness, Scotland. An unexpected purchase in the way of an antique box delivers the man of her dreams right at Lainie’s feet. Her wildest fantasies are realized when the highlander shows her up close and personal what he doesn’t wear under his kilt. Not only do they click physically, but emotionally, Lainie finds herself falling hard and fast for this sensual, sweep her off her feet, man from the past.

I don’t have a release date yet, but I’m guessing sometime in early fall.

So speaking of men in a kilt… I went to reggae wine festival this weekend with some girlfriends.  Bizarre as it was, a man in a kilt showed up.  Not your typical hottie, but all the same, he was wearing a kilt.  I dared one of my girlfriends to go as him what he had under the kilt…  She said she would after having several more glasses of wine.  By the time she was ready he was no where in sight, but here is a list of answers I’m guessing he would have given her from the Real Men Wear Kilts website: 

“WHAT DO YOU WEAR UNDER YOUR KILT?”

• How badly do you want to know?
• How warm are your hands?
• Me mother once told me a real lady wouldn’t ask. She was right, God bless ‘er.
• My Scottish pride.
• On a good day, lipstick.
• Play your cards right and you can find out.
• Tell me madam , would you go jogging without a bra? If so, where do you jog and when?
• Sorry, I’m a bit shy and not much good with words. Give me your hand…
• Talcum powder

“WHAT’S UNDER YOUR KILT?”

• A wee set of pipes.
• Bagpipes, wanna give ‘em a blow?
• It’s the smallest airport in the world…..2 hangars and a night fighter.
• My shoes and socks.
• String — I had to tie it up so it didn’t hang below the kilt.
• What God graced me with.

“WHAT’S WORN UNDER YOUR KILT?”

• Nothing is worn, everything is in perfect working order.

Cheers!

Eliza

www.elizaknight.com / www.myspace.com/elizaknight / www.historyundressed.blogspot.com

Since I’m celebrating my return to the classic historical romance with my new Avon release SOME LIKE IT WICKED this month, I thought I’d share some of my techniques for dealing with those who just don’t “get” our genre and aren’t shy about revealing their prejudices. You can use these techniques with readers and reporters.

Several times I’ve had readers cruising a signing or bookfair lean over my table and say something like, “Oh, I just love trashy novels!” or “Sorry. I don’t read smut.” I lean across the table, make eye contact (and it’s very important that you look earnest and genuinely interested in their reply here) and say something like, “I’m fascinated by that label.” (Note: You NEVER repeat the word itself. Never let the words trash, smut, pornography, etc., come out of your mouth and that’s doubly true if you’re doing an interview with the media because they can and WILL misquote you.) Then continue with, “Why do you think society uses a word like that to describe novels about two people falling in love and forming a family?” This puts THEM on the spot instead of you. People love attention and if it looks like you’re genuinely interested, they’ll probably stick around and try to stammer out some sort of reply. Occasionally, they’ll even buy your book.

Another question you’re likely to get is, “Aren’t all romances written to formula?” or “Aren’t these books all alike?” My reply (given very gently) is that: “The only formula necessary to make a book a romance is that it contain a romance, just as a mystery novel must contain a mystery.” I might go on to explain that, “Within the genre itself, you can find a vast variety of sub-genres–historical, contemporary, suspense, inspirational, vampire books, ghost stories, medical thrillers. In some ways, we have far more creative freedom than the authors of any other type of book. We also provide a positive world view to counteract the cynicism of post-modernism. We give our readers the satisfaction of knowing the good guys are going to win in the end.”

And if you have some really pushy and annoying pseudo-intellectual insulting you, you should try reciting the mantra taught me by fellow romance author Valerie Kane: “What romances are REALLY all about is the archetypal human struggle to integrate the masculine and feminine aspects of our psyches.” This generally makes their eyes glaze over and they’ll go away believing you’re actually much smarter than you are!

(SOME LIKE IT WICKED will hit the bookstores on July 29th with the sequel SOME LIKE IT WILD to follow in April 2009. You can visit Teresa’s website for all the details at www.teresamedeiros.com.)

I am closer to being ready to send out my manuscript and with it a query letter. (Or in some cases, only a query letter) For some time I have been debating as to whether I should try for an agent and have them usher me along the path to publication, or try my luck straight through to the publisher. To help me make that decision, I’ve consulted friends and colleagues. Perhaps, however, my writer’s handbook would be handy. In the 1994 edition on page 566 it is asked Why do you need an agent? Edward Novak (an agent) answers: “One of the duties…in publishing was to read unsolicited mansuscripts sent…directly from writers….Not one unagented manuscript I read caught the fancy of an editor.” He further states that editors duties are so vast that they might squeeze in a read on a rare free hour over the weekend. Novak explains that an editor would rather read something by an agent, one familiar with that house, than to be passed something by an inexperience author.

But my work is brilliant, you think. It’s the next ‘The Notebook.’ (which was a rarity, first novel out for Sparks and for which he was signed a mutlimillion dollar contract. Yay for him.) “Editors …have come to rely on agents to discover the next [writer] and bring them to publishers.”

Ok. Great. So, if I were to follow this advice, I’d only submit to Agents. It is sound reasoning. There are several other reasons to go this route. They know the market, and to whom said MS is appropriate. They also act as a middle-man to help negotiate contracts and the like. It’s kind of like insurance. I don’t know exactly what I need, but Allstate can get me there.

But could I do it on my own? Sure. The process is similar but here are Novak’s suggestions for submission (to agent, but it would follow for publisher as well.)

#1. Do a little research. Look for reputable agents or publishers. (he recommends Literary Market Place) I recommend Preditors and Editors. But you can find the requirements for these agents/houses for submission and get a feel as to what it is they want.

#2. Write a query. This is just a little “hey I want to write for you, here’s who I am and what I do.” When doing this, if by mail, send a SASE.

#3. I think this is most important: Keep it up. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t keep trying. Even if you get rejected, again, and again, the next one might just say yes. Also, sometimes they’ll tell you why not, and that gives you fodder for growth. Steven King was rejected at one time, as were many published authors.

#4 Go to conferences. I think this is an excellent suggestion. There are a plethora of workshops to be had. Afterall, one must hone his craft. But not only that. It is an awesome opportunity to network with fellow authors, agents and publishers. The PERFECT time to pitch.

These are excellent points, Mr. Novak. An agent may be down the road for me in the future. And I agree, I’ll need one. But I have decided to submit to a smaller house publisher and have that be as a stepping stone.

My goal is to query them next month! (wish me luck, y’all.)

Hello everybody! It’s so nice to be here. Since this is my first day, I would use it to tell you all about myself (fascinating information I tell you), but all that’s on the The Ladies page. Besides, nationals are nearly here and something about being remembered could be of better use to everyone.

So anyway, about being remembered. I was having a chat with Christie Craig yesterday and we were talking about being pregnant and workshops, and one thing led to another as things happen to do. I typed in, hey if I’m pregnant at the conference, I can add that to my query letter. I could see it all typed out in my head:

We met at NOLA STARs Written in the Stars conference this past March. You might remember me, I was the pregnant one.

Christie responded back saying, ‘going a bit far to remembered, don’t cha think?’ To which, I laughed enormously and did a little of that hand rubbing together as my mind churned.

I hadn’t thought of it that way. So now, I’m all over the calendar counting months and wondering what’s the latest month I can get pregnant so that I’m a rounded ball of glowing joy during the conference. I remember what it was like on my first pregnancy. That big belly not only draws some positive attention, you also get in front of the lines at the food table. People will carry things for you. See if you need a chair to sit on and another for your feet. Not to mention the huge ice-breaker it is.

Kidding…mostly. Keep in mind this started out as innocent, so I can play it that way all the way through.

I might remember a person by a huge spider brooch on their shoulder. Might have been because I liked the colors. Maybe the wearer was banking on this article to be a remembrance piece or hey, maybe they liked the colors, too. Or I might be remembering because at first glance, I thought a ginormous bug crawled on you and I nearly slapped you on the shoulder to get it off.

I might remember you because I think you know how to dress and I want the shirt you’re wearing so bad I’m considering breaking in your room for it. Could have been what the wearer had in mind to project. But then again, I could be remembering you because I think you really need help dressing and I can’t help but wonder if your bulbs were burned out in your hotel room.

So, how do you remember people? Are you a face person? Name? Clothing? Conversation? Do you wear something in particular so you’ll be remembered?

keri—who hopes to be pregnant at her next conference. But of course, the next pregnancy probably won’t be anywhere as easy as the last, so she’ll be remembered as the pregnant lady who spent most of the conference gripping the big white porcelain ring. Hey, a pity query! Sorry I missed our scheduled appointment, I was pregnant and in the bathroom…

WARNING: Book will cause uncomfortable glares if read in public!

Book: Bobbie Faye’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Day
Author: Toni McGee Causey
Author’s Website: http://tonimcgeecausey.com/
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: May 2007

Bobbie Faye Sumrall is a disaster waiting to happen! However, this “can’t take no for an answer” woman never needs anyone, EVER. But when she wakes up in the middle of the night and finds her trailer has been newly renovated as a pool, she calls her brother, Roy. After all, he had promised her to fix the source of the problem. Finally getting Roy on the phone, he claims to have been kidnapped and they are demanding she had over her plain metal Contraband Queen tiara, the only thing her momma left her.

One problem, she’s standing in a flooded trailer and the power company has just shut off her lights, unless she can pay a deposit, and the tiara is at the bank in a safety deposit box. On top of that, she has to get her niece, Stacey, to school.

After stopping off to get an advance from her boss, Bobbie Faye heads to the bank just as her car sputters to a stop and dies in the bank parking lot. Getting her check cashed and securing the tiara, Bobbie Faye starts to leave the bank but is robbed of both. In order to chase after the bandits, Bobbie Faye forces a guy at gun-point to follow, but not before firing off a “warning” shot.

Not wanting her brother to be killed before she gets the honors, Bobbie Faye must retrieve the tiara and give it to the kidnappers, all the while dealing with an ever so handsome hostage. A car chase ensues between the thieves, Bobbie Faye with her hostage and now ex-boyfriend, Cam, a local cop.

Before the day is over, Bobbie Faye will have more than her fill of irate ex-boyfriends, infested swamps, FBI, explosions and her attractive captive, all the while wearing a “Shuck Me, Suck Me, Eat Me Raw” t-shirt from a local restaurant. The day just couldn’t get any worse?

Could it?

Toni McGee Causey will have you laughing out loud as her insane characters take you on a ride of pure chaos. This book could only be described as a rollercoaster ride with dynamite! You’ll want to keep Bobbie Faye’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Day around for any bad day you might have!

Do they go into your stories?

So this has been a terrible week. One of the worst in memory, and I have looooooooong memory. Everything from lack of sleep over the husband being out of town to a mucked up cell phone bill that I had no control over, and a lot of disasters in between that had me begging for a vat of anything ice cream. The thing is, it’s life and yeah, it sucks in glorious colors when you least expect it. And it’s also kind of normal. People can relate to getting a bill messed up, or having the mail redirected to the wrong address when someone changes something when you weren’t looking. Thus the mucked up phone bill.

Do you use these little everyday nuggets in your writing? Have you read a story and grinned or shook your head because you thought “Oh my god! I’ve had that happen!”

It’s happened a few times to me, but it seems as writers we convey a world of make believe yet don’t use some of the most common irritations or foibles to make our characters real either. What’s your experience with that? I will admit I read a majority of paranormal authors, so no, I don’t expect to be awakened at two a.m. by a werewolf, but hearing sirens at the time of the morning is very possible.

With my trip coming up soon, packing is looming. Here is a list of packing tips…

1. Make a list a few weeks beforehand of the things you think you’ll need to take with you.

2. Lay out the clothes you think you want to take, along with toiletries, shoes etc.

3. Consider your list and look at the items you have to pack into your bag. Do you really need each item? The biggest secret is to pack lightly to save your back. Those bags don’t carry themselves you know.

4. Mix and match! If an item of clothing doesn’t work with the rest of your outfits leave it at home. Mix and match means all your blouses, shirts etc go with all the skirts or trousers or shorts you’re packing. Mix and match makes for a lighter bag and a healthy back

5. I hate to say it, since I’m not a fan of the color black, but it’s great for mixing and matching and doesn’t show the dirt. Lesson learned in Africa. That red dust gets everywhere. White undies don’t work and soon look hideous, even after washing. Go for black!

6. Plan for the weather. San Francisco isn’t a warm place in the summer. Experience again! It can be freezing and possibly very foggy. Bring some warm clothes. Layering is good. A lightweight raincoat or a travel umbrella is a great thing to have when it’s raining.

7. Flip Flops - very handy things, especially for showers with unidentifiable icky bits growing on the floors.

8. If you’re staying in a hostel consider some earplugs. Musical snoring is only funny for the first five minutes, not so much in the wee small hours of the morning.

9. Rolling clothes prevents wrinkling. It’s true!

10. Here’s another underwear trick. (Rest assured I’m bringing my nice undies for the conference.) Save up your older undies and take them on your trip - clean, of course! Wear them and throw them away during the course of the holiday leaving extra room in your bag for souvenirs.

11. Don’t forget to pack liquids and makeup in your checked luggage instead of your carry on. You don’t want them confiscated! Ditto with the scissors, Swiss Army knife and sharp objects.

12. Don’t pack your passport in your checked luggage. Just don’t, okay. But do check that your passport is safe. You don’t want to lose that sucker because you’ll end up with mega headaches getting a temp one to get home.

13. Pack toiletries etc in plastic bags so if there are spills, the damage is minimized. Take the small travel sizes in toiletries or decant large bottles into smaller ones for your trip.

Do you have any packing tips to add?

Come join us as we chat with Teresa DAmrio, MK Mancos/Kathleen Scott, RI’s very own Diana, plus a few others who happen to drop in!

Hope to see you there!!

Chat Room Link