Valentines Blog Tour Winners

Our Week Four winner was Rebecca Booth, who won a $15 AND a $20 gift card from The Wild Rose Press.


And our Grand Prize Winner was Maria Yerton! Maria won a $15 AND a $25 gift card from The Wild Rose Press, PLUS a full size Shower Gel and Body Lotion from The Bath and Body Works in Night-Blooming Jasmine! Congratulations, Maria!

I hope this was as much fun for all of you as it was for me!


Stay tuned. I will be announcing a new contest next Tuesday and, from my lips to God's ears, writing a blog post filling you in on what's been going on in my world!

Valentines Blog Tour featuring Amy Corwin

Today is the last day in the Valentine's Day Blog Tour. I am so glad I participated. Not only did I get to read some pretty interesting, and informative, blog posts, I met some terrific and talented women. If you haven't stopped at any of the posts, you're missing out. Trust me.

And if the fabulous posts weren't enough, and they are, commenting on any of the posts enters you in a drawing to win $40 in gift certificates and a chance to win the  GRAND prize (it's so big I had to use all caps) worth $50.

Today, I have Amy Corwin on my blog talking about how to Develop unique characters. Amy is an award-winning author who published her first historical mystery, I Bid One American, in 2008 and has since published two more historical mysteries featuring the Archer family. In 2012, Amy’s first cozy contemporary mystery, Whacked, will be released. She writes for The Wild Rose Press and Five Star/Gale.


Without further ado, (love that word) here's Amy!



Developing Unique Characters


There is nothing easy about writing and one of the hardest things is developing characters that resonate with readers. The people who populate our fiction need to be memorable, larger than life, and real.

When I was first starting out, there was a lot of advice for creating unique characters circulating around the Internet that basically consisted of one or more of the following:

• Write up a biography or life history of your characters, including their past traumas, aspirations, and goals;

• Make him/her one of the standard archetypes like “optimistic cheerleader” type or “Fearless Leader” type;

• Give him/her some unexpected hobby or trait, like the Fearless Leader has an entire basement devoted to O-scale model trains; and

• And if you have problems making him/her sympathetic, give him a pet.

It almost sounds easy, doesn’t it? A regular four step plan. Unfortunately, while I do take the time to write out a brief history of each character so I know ages, schools, physical description, etc, none of these things is ever really enough. Not to mention that I’ve seen the “unexpected hobby/trait” abused in uber-obvious attempts by authors to make their characters different. They often end up picking a hobby that just doesn’t really go with the basic character they’ve built so it winds up creating a patchwork/hodgepodge effect that doesn’t really work.

What works for me is just…writing. The first three chapters of every book I write are the “getting to know you phase”. I can detail characters, plot out the personality traits, hobbies, facts of their life, and even give them a pet schnauzer, but until those first three chapters are down on paper, the character remains an amorphous blob without a true identity or personality.

But once I start writing, well… The characters take over. They develop their own patterns of speech and behavior and often simply refuse to “play along” with the hobbies I’ve tried to give them. They toss them out and seek out their own forms of entertainment. Unfortunately for me, this usually means that I have to delete or completely rewrite the first three chapters of every book because they are my idea of who the characters should be, before they show me who they really are.

This is not to say, however, that there aren’t techniques I use because there are. Once I finish the first three chapters ad have a pretty good idea who the characters are and how they interact with each other, I stop to note their personality quirks. Each one has pet phrases or a turn of speech that is habitual, and I make sure I annotate my information to ensure I keep those peculiarities straight. Each character interacts and learns from the world around him/her in a different manner. Some are thinkers and need to intellectualize events to learn. Others are more physical and need to “work through” things in a physical way. And those sensory patterns are often reflected in their speech. For example, someone who needs to work physically with something in order to learn about it, may use physically-oriented figures of speech, e.g. “I just can’t seem to get a grip today.” Someone who relies more on learning and interacting through their auditory senses may say, “I hear you.”

I could go on, but I don’t want to bore you. Suffice to say, building characters is a process of layering details that combined with create a character who readers can sympathize with and yet who stands out in some way that makes her stand out in a way that makes her worthy of the title: heroine.

Here is a blurb for Amy's book, THE BRICKLAYER'S HELPER

What would you do if you were a young girl, orphaned during the early years of the 19th century? Without a family and references, you’d find pitifully few jobs for women, leaving you to face a desperate life of thievery or prostitution.

Sarah faces this terrible situation in The Bricklayer’s Helper.

Her story was based on the actual life of Catherine Wilson, who was orphaned at fourteen and faced a bleak future. Catherine refused to accept the social restrictions of her day and donned her deceased brother’s clothes to find work under the name of John Thomson.

Just like Catherine, Sarah finds herself orphaned and alone when a suspicious fire burns down her home with her family trapped inside. All she can remember about the horrific event is the warning to “run and hide,” and hide she does. Sarah cuts her hair and dons the garb of a young boy, hoping to survive on her own. In this disguise, she’s obtains a job as a bricklayer’s helper and remains safe for thirteen years.

When work takes her to London, a man from her past recognizes her and arranges a meeting, only to be murdered before they can speak. Desperate that she may be vulnerable, Sarah hires an inquiry agent from the Second Sons Inquiry Agency.

However, the inquiry agent, William Trenchard, is far too frippery for Sarah’s taste. In her experience, attractive men can rarely do more than fumble their way beneath a lady’s skirt, but she fears he may be her last chance. And William is so sick of being labeled a “Bedroom Bantam” that the look of disdain in Sarah’s eyes drives him to prove his worth.

Unfortunately, their decisions may prove to be dangerous to their hearts…if not downright fatal.

"This first novel by Ms. Corwin revealed her abilities to grip the reader’s attention…” – The Romance Studio

Visit Amy Corwin on the web at http://www.amycorwin.com/ or amycorwin.blogspot.com.

And don't forget the other stops in the Valentine's Tour!


Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/




Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/ (that's me!)



Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/




Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/



Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/



Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/



Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout



Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at lindakage.blogspot.com/



Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/



Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

LAST CHANCE!!!!!

The final week of the month-long blog tour. Commenters this week are up for a weekly prize worth $40 and/or a Grand Prize worth over $50! Topic this week - Developing Unique Characters

Tomorrow, February 23th:

Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/

Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/

Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/

Meet author Amy Corwin at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/

Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/

Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/

Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/

Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout

Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at lindakage.blogspot.com/

Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

WEEK TWO WINNER!!!

Week 2 Winner: Sherry Cahill!


Sherry won 2 TWRP gift cards worth $25! Sherry not only won Week 2's prizes, but she's also entered twice for the Grand Prize at the end of the month! Other grand prize entrants from Week 2 are: Darlene Fredette (also entered twice!), Judy, Michelle Miller, S. Denson, Zequeatta Jaques, Jennifer Shirk and Ciara Knight.

Don't miss the awesome next installment of the Valentine Blog tour this Wednesday 02/16/11!

And.... 2 DAYS UNTIL THE RELEASE OF CREATIVE LICENSE!!!!!!!

WEEK ONE WINNER

We have a Week 1 Winner of the Valentine Blog Tour –  drum roll, please!
                                    
                                      *******************
 The winner of a $15 gift certificate to TWRP and a $5 gift certificate to Samhain is…..Marci!!!

Thank you for your comment, Marci!

Next week's prizes are gift certificates valued at $25! Continue to comment to enter the weekly prizes and the Grand Prize!

Valentines Blog Tour: The Significance of First Lines featuring Amie Louellen

Please join me in welcoming Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance as she talks about the significance of first lines!

“The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail.”

When anyone says first lines, this immediately comes to mind. This is the first line from Jaws.

Jaws terrified me.

It stunted my growth.

It scarred me for life.

An effective first line sets the tone for the entire book. This line says DANGER.

First lines are no less important to the romance genre. In fact, every word of the romance is crucial. We already know the hero and heroine are going to get together, it’s the journey we’re after. What the author does with the first line tells us what to expect from this journey. Will it have murder? Mystery? Mayhem? (Sorry, couldn’t help myself!) My books are funny—no great fish, no night waters, no danger. My first lines are chosen to set that tone—light hearted, fun, and whimsical.

“Must be a dream, Savanna Morgan thought lazily. And what a remarkable dream he was. ” (from Brodie’s Bride. WARNING—shameless bit of self-promotion ahead… Brodie’s Bride available soon from the Wild Rose Press.) (And yes, I know this is two sentences, but it’s my blog and my book. So hey…whadayagonnado?)

Ahem…that’s not to say all books start off perfectly—if that’s even possible. But I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been deceived by a first line. I’ve also lost count of how many of these I didn’t finish—most probably all of them. A first line that doesn’t set the book’s tone is like false advertising. It cheats the author as well as the reader.

Going back to Jaws. This first line illustrates a wealth of information. There’s the villain—the shark. She’s big, and she has stealth. This is her domain, and no one is safe. And the most clever part? All of this information comes from seventeen words. Consider—“The shark swam through the water.” Has the same basic information. And yet it doesn’t give me goosebumps. (well, okay… it does. But that’s my phobia and has nothing to do with good writing.) When compared to Benchley’s work, it pales in comparison.

Not every first line will be as memorable as “Call me Ishmael.” (from Moby Dick) But its job isn’t necessarily to be quotable. The first line should be captivating. It should pull you into the story and evoke some level of emotion (even crippling fear, as is the case with me and sharks). It should make you ask questions and intrigue you keep reading until you find the answers.

So when I say first lines, what comes to your mind? Leave a comment and get entered into a drawing featuring great prizes (Woooo…). What’s your favorite first line and why?



DISCLAIMER—for those of you who are interested, this is NOT my favorite first line. In fact it gives me the heebie-jeebies. (Did I mention the growth-stunting?) No, my favorite first line is “Kenny Traveler was lazy.” From Lady Be Good by the incomparable Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Or at least that’s my favorite today…)



Here's a sneak peak at Amie Louellen's Brodie's Bride

Blurb--

Waking up next to a beautiful golden-haired stranger isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to Brodie Harper, but staying in a fake marriage in order to gain a new construction contract could very well be.


Savanna Morgan just wanted a way out of an engagement to a man she didn’t love. Marrying Brodie seemed liked the perfect answer at the time. Less perfect the next morning when she finds herself disowned by her father and flat broke. Now she must make it through the weekend. Monday they can get it all annulled and forget it ever happened.

The real problem may be keeping their hands off each other until then.



Excerpt--

“Married,” the official supplied with a happy nod.

For the first time since the blonde had screamed and set off the pounding in his head, Brodie noticed the band that circled the fourth finger of his left hand. Married. Images of a scarlet chapel and gold rings flitted through his mind. Lost in the fog of straight shots of tequila, the whole ordeal seemed liked a dream. But if what the man said was true...

Holy heaven. The last time Brodie had gotten drunk had been the day his grandfather died. Then, he’d only acquired a tattoo, but this time... Married? And to a hooker? A gorgeous hooker. An expensive hooker by the depleted state of his wallet, but a hooker none-the-less.

“Where’s my dress?”

Brodie half-turned as his hooker-bride stumped down the stairs, her naked glory covered by the rumpled satin sheet. One red, high-rise pump was missing.

“I wouldn’t know,” he replied, his headache tripling.

“You took it off. You find it.” She punched him hard in the chest with one red lacquered fingernail.

“You want it. You find it,” he countered.

“That dress was an Armani. And you—”

Brodie leaned away from the blonde and closer to the man behind the counter. “Are you sure we’re married?”

“Quite certain.”

“Married?” she squeaked.

“One hundred percent sure?” Brodie added.

“It was a lovely ceremony.”

“Married?”

Damn, Brodie thought. He was too nice of a guy, but he couldn’t stand the panic he heard in her voice. He faced her and took her left hand in his own, turning them both so she could see their identical rings. “Seems we tied the knot last night, sunshine.”


Amie Louellen loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and shoes. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list. When she's not creating quirky characters and happy endings she enjoys going to little league baseball games and boy scout meetings. Born and bred in Mississippi, Amie is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, a spoiled cat, and one very hyper beagle.



She'd love to hear from you. Contact her on her website, blog, or find her on FaceBook.




Don't forget, comment for a chance to win a great prize and don't miss these other great author blogs!


Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/

Meet contemporary, paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/

Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/

Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/

Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/

Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/blog

Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout

Meet author Amy Corwin at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/

Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com