Defending Glory: iBookBuzz's Book of the Month!

Book of the month. Book. Of. The. Month!

Those four little words are guaranteed to bring a smile to an author’s face, and I’ve been smiling since Saturday when I learned DEFENDING GLORY, first book of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series, is November’s Book of the Month at iBookBuzz.

A huge thank you to everyone who voted. Your support and encouragement is truly inspiring.

A special thank you goes to my publisher, Vanilla Heart Publishing, who created this Youtube video to commemorate the occasion. What a surprise! The really cool thing is work began on it when Defending Glory was one of four finalists, not the winner. How’s that for having complete confidence in the outcome, in the story, and in the author?!

As for my smile? Well, let’s just say my cheeks HURT! :)

The fun begins online at iBookBuzz November 1. I hope to see you there. I’ll drop by daily to chat and answer your questions. In the meantime, happy reading iBookBuzz's Book of the Month: Defending Glory!

* * *

Characters: Flower or Weed?

Authors continually strive to create memorable characters that walk off the page like Scrooge, Harry Potter, or Grandma Mazur.

Some writers complete lengthy character questionaires. Others interview their characters.

I understand the reason for this process. It's vital to give characters flaws, foibles, and bad habits. But there's just one problem. I'm a pantser. Nothing kills my creativity or desire to write quicker than a questionaire!

So, how do I tackle characterization?

I ask one (and only one) question: Is this person a flower or weed?

This short, simple query gives me a clear indication of who this character is, yet it allows me to flesh them out more fully as I write the first draft. I'm neither restrained nor confined by this technique. It's flexible, insightful, and did I mention simple?!

It's also subjective. While you may view a particular flower beautiful, I might find it repulsive. The same works with weeds. Gardeners despise dandilions, but I adore them. They signify springtime and the end of winter. They're resilient, tenacious and cheery. Even sunny! All traits than can easily be applied to a person.

Is your character a flower or weed? The answer may just be somewhere in the middle, and how fascinating is that?

* * *

iBookBuzz's Book of the Month

DEFENDING GLORY, book 1 of the Piedmont Island Trilogy, has been chosen one of the final four in the Inspirational category, and could be iBookBuzz's Book of the Month for November, 2011. 

How cool is that?! This is a wonderful opportunity, and I couldn't be happier. Neither can my editor and publisher! 

If you have not already voted for Defending Glory, please go to http://bit.ly/pKWjBN. You can vote between now and October 13th, (but please, the sooner the better!)

The book accumulating the most votes will be announced on October 15th.

Fingers crossed it will be DEFENDING GLORY.  :)

Thanks so much for your support, and as always, happy reading!

* * *

Book Fair Celebrating Writers and Readers.

Mark your calendars! This Saturday, October 15, from 11 to 3, the Deltona Florida Regional Library will host its second Annual Authors Book Fair - Celebrating Writers and Readers. The book fair attracted 70 authors last year and served as an introduction to authors and poets in Florida or those who call Central Florida readers their audience.

Vanilla Heart Publishing author Melinda Clayton will be there, and she will also help represent the other in absentia VHP authors (including me) at the VHP table. All participating VHP authors (that includes me!) are offering giveaways and will have books available for purchase. If you're in the area, please drop by, say hello to Melinda, and treat yourself to one (or more) VHP books!

* * *

Winner - Banned Books Giveaway Hop

Thank you to everyone who dropped by during the Banned Books Weed Giveaway Hop. This wonderful hop was graciously hosted by the ladies at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and I Read Banned Books and celebrates the freedom to read. As for me, it's an honor to have so many new and exciting Fun, Fantastic Friends and Followers!

The winner of an e-copy of one of my books (Defending Glory, Protecting Hope or Frank, Incense and Muriel) is Lolawid.

Congratulations, Lolawid! Please email me within the next 48 hours with the book title of your choice. I'll forward it asap!

If you did not win, why not download a free novel sampler www.bit.ly/jQaGu9? It includes the first chapters of Defending Glory and Frank, Incense and Muriel. Coming soon - the release of Protecting Hope. Watch for it.

Happy reading!

* * *

Vanilla Heart Publishing Goodreads

 

Q&A with Vanilla Heart Publishing Authors

There's a new group at Goodreads. Come chat, ask questions, discuss writing and discover a super collection of books written by VHP authors, including moi!

The group is open to all.

Please join.

October 01, 2011 to October 31, 2011

http://bit.ly/qI81E0

* * *

Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my blog. I'm honored to take part in the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop. I’m #156 on the blog hop list.

Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer for organizing this event. It’s a great way to connect with other readers, authors and bloggers, highlight Banned Books Week, and win some super giveaways at the same time.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom and benefit of access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books.

A sampling of banned and/or challenged books I’ve read are:

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
1984, by George Orwell
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

This year readers are able to participate virtually in Banned Books Week by proclaiming the virtues of their favorite banned books by posting videos of themselves reading excerpts to a dedicated YouTube channel.

Videos (no more than two minutes long) can be submitted by anyone as long as the video includes a reading from a banned or challenged book. (A list of banned literary classics can be found at http://tinyurl.com/kwxwdz.) Alternatively, videos of up to three minutes can be submitted giving eyewitness accounts of local challenges.

Now, onto the giveaway...

My giveaway is an e-copy of one of my romantic suspense or mystery books (your choice).

You can choose from:

DEFENDING GLORY, book one of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series.

PROTECTING HOPE, book two of the same series. Please note, if you select this title, you'll have to wait! I'm still writing it, however, it will be released later this year.

FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL, book one of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries

To enter your name in the giveaway draw:

(1) follow my blog,
(2) "like" my Facebook Fan Page - HERE.
(3) leave a comment and your email addy

I’ll announce the winner October 6.

Enjoy the freedom to read and please continue to the next blog on the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop.

* * *

Five Steps to Getting Published

Today I'm a guest blogger at author Shirley Kiger Connolly's A Pen For Your Thoughts. If you're looking for the formula on how to become a published author, walk this way! It's there. In black and white. Just five, count 'em, 5 simple steps.

* * *