Monthly Archives: June 2012

Welcome, Lori Corsentino!

Posted in Blog, Books, Guest Blogger by

 Welcome, Lori! We are so glad to have you here on HerStoryCalls. Please checkout Lori’s newest release, Destiny’s Awakening, and perhaps win your very own copy!

Bio: Lori’s love of reading has transcended to include penning her own tales of romance. She is experimenting with writing in several different genres, including paranormal – a definite favorite. “There is just so much you can do when you step outside the known world,” she explains “and creating a paranormal story allows you to take yourself and your readers anywhere your imagination wants to go!”

Destiny’s Awakening is Lori’s first foray into the “Tales of the Fey” paranormal romance trilogy. Visit her website at www.loricorsentino.com and follow her on Twitter @LoriCorsentino and on Facebook.com/LoriCorsentino. Also check out her blog weekly for a Manic Monday, Wicked Writer Wednesday, or Favorite Friday entry.

Take it away, Lori, and thanks again for coming on HerstoryCalls! You’re such a delight.

Thank you, Summer.

As a reader, I always wondered how authors developed their characters. In the books I truly enjoyed, the characters seemed to walk of the page, sit down next to me, and tell me their story. As I read, I would find myself associating with the heroine and falling in love with the hero. I would root for both of them to overcome their trials and would sigh with relief and satisfaction at the happily ever after. As a romantic, that’s what I love.

Destiny’s Awakening, my first novel in the Tales of the Fey trilogy, is filled with interesting characters. Each of them introduced themselves to me at different times during my writing journey.

Alexander, my hero, was first. He walked right in one morning and started telling me all about how he was waiting for his love, The One, to awaken him. And could I please get a move on, because he had things to do, namely capturing an evil Wizard and stopping an inter-world war.

Evelyn came soon afterwards. I was working with my critique group at the time when she finally noticed I’d been calling for her. She strode over and immediately introduced herself, saying, “Hello. I’m Evelyn. Evelyn Wright. But you can call me Evie.” Looking over my shoulder she watched me write notes. “What are you doing?” she asked.

My villain, Claudius came sometime in between. He’s a truly twisted individual that is like a breath of fresh air to write. I know that sounds odd, but it’s true. Having such a character truly lets you open up and write with no boundaries.

I love that!

I’ve discovered that Evie is a true study of contrasts. She’s hesitant, even suspicious at first, but once she embraces something, she gives it her all. She is strong, independent, and willful, except of course when has a weaker moment and needs to be held and comforted and surrounded by love. I loved Evie’s her quips and one-liners. She made me laugh out loud at times. What a pleasure she was to write!

Alexander, on the other hand, is strong, steadfast, and true. He’s hard working and not above getting his hands dirty. He’s loyal to his people and does whatever it takes to protect those who he considers his, namely Evelyn and his two sisters, Annora and Analiese. He’s also regal, arrogant, and haughty, but what else would you expect from a Prince? So, I supposed in his own way, he’s also a study of contrasts.

Getting my hero and heroine together was quite interesting. I had a basic idea of where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to so, and once I put it in motion, they just picked everything up and ran off with it! It’s been quite an interesting ride, with many twists and turns. Claudius caused a lot of mayhem and chaos, and made things quite interesting for all involved.

Destiny’s Awakening is the beginning of something magical for me, and hopefully for all those that read these tales. I hope the characters of this first book touch my reader’s hearts as much as they did mine.

Enjoy! Lori

P.S. I’m please to give away some swag including an eBook or print copy of Destiny’s Awakening to one lucky commenter!

Here’s an excerpt for your enjoyment!

“You have heard the story of Claudius?” At Evie’s confirming grunt, he continued. “Things will become difficult for us with him preparing to spread his mischief.”

“Sorry.” She needed to get her bearings. It was time to talk about his world. “Where is here?”

“Here is Sha’Mir, my realm.” Alexander’s voice changed again, this time it was infused with pride.

“Sha-meer,” Evie repeated. “That’s beautiful! Is it what you call your world?”

“No. Sha’Mir is my realm. It is a city-state in Ma’hir’ra, my world.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Evie answered. “Reggie did say that. What do you call my world?”

“Ga’el’ania.”

“Nice.” She propped her chin on her hand, giving him her full attention. “I like the way you say it.”

“Thank you.” His good humor was back, evidenced by the appearance of the tiny dimple. It immediately drew her attention and tempted her. He may not be trying, but he was still seducing her. At this rate, she’d be on her back, legs in the air in less than ten minutes. She shook her head, in obvious need of a distraction. A vocabulary lesson on Shameerize words and pronunciation might fit the bill.

“So my world is called Goll-an-eeya,” Evie parroted. At his affirmation she tried it again. “Goll-an-eeya.”

Alexander inclined his head, indicating his approval. “Very good.”

Although pleased with the first lesson, Evie was getting wound up again. Damn quickening stuff, she bet. She was never this mercurial. The intense pull between them made her crazy. He was attractive, kind, and seemed to be gentle. She loved the combination. He was also arrogant, imperious and haughty. She wasn’t so fond of those traits. They raised her hackles and pissed her off. No wonder she was confused. On the one hand, she was attracted to him. On the other, she wanted to smack him. What was it about Mr. Hottie Prince that drew her to him so strongly?

Thank you again, Lori, for joining us!

Be sure to leave your comments for a chance to win!

Finished or Abandoned?

Posted in Blog, Editing, Uncategorized, Writing by

There was a very long time where after my books were published in print, I would not read them.  Why?  Other then fearing that they were no good, it was because I knew I would want to change them.  Or I would find a typo and want to change it.  But by then, the book was in print and there was no going back.

It wasn’t until years later when I got the rights back and I was preparing to self publish my novels that I re-read them all.  And, at that point, I did fix typos.  I did make changes.  Not large ones, but I added a paragraph here, deleted a word or two there.  Still, these were things I could not do when the book was in print.

It was Leonardo de Vinci that said “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

This is true with my works.  I could go back and read my novels again and I would still want to add or delete things.  As an author, my work is never truly complete.  Maybe another word would make the scene more vivid.  Maybe less words would make it flow better.  Depending on my mood, would it be a darker scene or maybe a happier scene?  Maybe I’m just insecure.

In the end, the only thing that really matters is the story.  Did I tell the story the way I wanted it to be told? 

Yes.

How about you?  Would you go back and change your manuscript if you had the chance?

Stuck at the Beginning

Posted in Books, Editing, Writing by

 

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After my post last week I started working on my “Believe” story.  I decided to write only on one manuscript which is terribly hard for me.  I picked a Scottish historical that I originally wrote for NaNoWriMo two years ago.  It features a bad ass heroine who knows how to fight like a warrior, an alpha male Laird, and a treasure hunt.  I have the backstory figured out and my originally piece was 65000 words.  It wasn’t until later that I decided to add in the treasure hunt and draw in through the whole story.  Therefore it’s been a manuscript I’ve been tinkering with for nearly the full two years.

Last week I sat down and had a very serious talk with myself.  “Self” I said, “It’s time to get serious.  You need to find a story you really believe in and write it.”  Luckily myself agreed with me.  Then I posed the question, “What do you need to get started?”  The answer was simple start at the beginning, and that is what I did. 

That is also where I stopped.

I started editing my original beginning and found that it was almost to much pacing and nearly unbelievable. There is a carriage crash, the murder of a friend, and my heroine also defends herself against two villainous men, but she also runs into the Hero’s men (though she doesn’t know it at the time) and tries to fight them off.  The hero enters in the second chapter and captures the heroine when all these people before him couldn’t.  See – it’s a bit much for the first 25 pages. 

So I started a second version, giving it a slightly different edge but keeping true what I’ve already written. The heroine now appears after everyone has died and is captured by the Hero’s men.  So basically I cut out the first half of the first chapter to give it a better jumping off point.  Because I changed it however, I had to rewrite chapter two and the whole tone of the story changed.  The Hero became a bit wimpy and jerky and I didn’t like him anymore.  (I know I’m the writer – change it until you like him).  My fatal mistake as reading through the beginning of the first and finding lines and things that I loved and realizing that what I wrote just didn’t have the magic I wanted.

So I dwelled on this for another day and low and behold I came up with a completely different beginning.  I started with the heroine approaching the Lairds land, after she’d already made the escape from all the stuff at the beginning.  I gave her an injury and a saucy warrior attitude and I really began to like her.  When I introduce the Hero he laughs at her and tells her to get out, because he doesn’t believe she is who she says she is…but, she’s injured and they have to fix her wound.   So here I am after 8000 words on the third beginning and I again look back at my original and I decide – crap I’m writing an entirely different story and this is not how I want this one to go.

Now I’m back to rewriting the original.  (I think).

I have never had this problem before.  Normally I sit down and I write and I let the story go where it wants to go.  I know the beginning and the end but how they meet is up to the characters and what I decide to throw at them.  What is stopping me is all the research and craft development I’ve done in the past few years.  I want to have a very powerful hook and engaging, likeable characters, but I don’t want to ruin the integrity of the story.  I am being my own worst enemy.

I reach out to our readers – How do you overcome this?  How do you know you are in the right place with your book?  For readers – have you ever wished for a different beginning to a story.  Better yet, what types of beginnings would make you put down the book and walk away.

Toodles,

Michelle

Sometimes I Communicate, Right?

Posted in Writing by

As a writer, I know what needs to be said…on paper.

But in actual face-to-face speaking?  Not so good.

My husband asks me all the time how can I talk so much and never tell him how I actually feel or what I’m really thinking? Perhaps that’s why I find such ease in writing. I can write how I’m feeling without any worries or judgment. (Perhaps this is why I find I can’t let my work go? A WHOLE other issue.)

See, I don’t believe in flowery compliments. I don’t handle or like confrontation. I trust my gut about people. And, sometimes, I just don’t know what to say about how or what I’m feeling. But with writing? I can always “tell” and “show” how I’m feeling or what I want and need from others.

Saying the words aloud is a hell of a lot harder.

Every so often, words stall in my throat because I don’t want to hurt the feelings of others. The “undo unto others,” saying is always there. Thanks, mom.

Sometimes, words clog because it’s not worth the drama if they slip from between my lips. Thanks, sister.

Sometimes, I just don’t know what to say (rare, but this really does happens).

So how many writers, who write 300+ pages of “total” communication, have this problem? Is talking in your head and through characters simpler than in real life? YES!

Great, deep, meaningful conversations are easy when the delete key is available and can take a year or more to write. ‘The ending’ can be rewritten until just right and rides like a well-broken in saddle.

But in real life there is only one chance to make an impression.

Do you communicate with family and friends easily or do you find yourself with the same problem? Or should I call a therapist right away?