Guest Post by Liz DeJesus

Today we have a guest post by author Liz DeJesus. She's got a great post for us with her top ten bits of advice for new authors.

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I want to take a moment and thank Dorothy for having me on her blog today. I really appreciate the time she has taken to be a part of my mini blog tour.

Anyway, today I’m going to talk about writing advice for new authors. Hopefully you can learn some of the tricks I use to help me with my writing.

Top ten bits of advice for New Authors.

1. One of the things I get asked the most is where I get my ideas from. That’s easy. Everywhere. Everything. Anything. Dreams. A song on the radio. A commercial on the television (which is where I got the idea for First Frost). A poem.

But my favorite way to get inspiration is from my dreams. It’s a treasure trove for me. Sometimes I get the most strange and random dreams that sometimes I wonder where they came from.

2. Another question I get asked a lot is how I overcome writer’s block. Normally when the weather allows I go to a nearby park and walk. I tend to let my mind wander and more often than not I’ll either get a new idea for a story or I’ll find a way out a certain plot hole. Another thing I do (when it’s too cold for a walk in the park) I’ll doodle on my notebook or write silly sentences like ‘The black cat sat on the mat’ anything to get my hand moving. Anything to have a pen in my hand. Or I listen to music. My favorite singer is Imogen Heap and she has a way of getting my mind to a dreamlike state. I’ll latch onto a certain lyric and just write a story based on that. Anything to get me back to what I love…writing.

3. A challenge I face on a regular basis is time. I’m a stay at home mom to two little boys (a four year old and a 1 ½ year old), I also take care of my two nephews three days a week. So it’s safe to say that time is an issue for me. What do I do? I carry my notebook and a pen with me everywhere I go. I’m never without it. I write while I’m in the kitchen cooking. I write while I’m waiting in the parking lot for my son to get out of preschool (ditto for when I’m picking up my nephews). I write while I’m folding laundry (a lot of character development happens that way). While I’m washing dishes (my characters have a lot of snarky comebacks and are often hilarious). I even write while I’m driving.

And after I’m done writing on my notebook I transfer it all to my computer when my husband comes home from work. I usually take an hour after dinner to get this done. I try to make sense out of my crazy handwriting. Somehow it turns into an entire novel.

What I’m trying to get to is that if you love something enough, if you’re passionate about the actual craft of writing, you make time for it. You do anything you can to carve out time for it no matter how busy your schedule is.

4. Once you have a short story or your novel written don’t just send your first draft to agents and publishers. Your first draft is exactly that…a first draft. You need to revise it. There is no such thing as a completed novel, trust me even after it’s in print you will always want to go back to it because you will never ever be able to let your novel go. Best thing you can do is go over it a few more times and have a beta reader look over it. Not your friend because they’ll just pat you on the back and tell you how great you are. You need someone who will be honest with you. You might want to try joining a writing or critique group. I joined one once and that’s where I met my best friend (who is awesome by the way) but I also came across this really mean person who basically hated everything I wrote and had no useful critiques for me. There is a difference between pointing a few things out and being criticized. So be sure you find a group that works well for you.

5. Read. Read. Read…and oh yeah…read some more. I spend most of my time in the reference section at Barnes and Noble. I buy books on how to become a better author because I’m always learning. I read books on how to write dialogue, description, setting, and character development. I’m subscribed to The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazines. Why? Because I want to learn as much as possible. I want to be a better story teller. I want to entertain my readers. I want their full attention and more importantly I want them to have fun while reading one of my stories.

6. Before you submit your work, be sure to read the agent’s or publisher’s submission guidelines. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Take your time and work on your query letter and/or synopsis (if one is required) you don’t want your work to be rejected because you couldn’t follow a few simple rules.

7. Should you get an acceptance letter? Rejoice! Do a happy dance! Eat chocolate. Celebrate.

And once you get all that out of the way come back to reality, sit down and read your contract before you sign anything. Trust me. I lost a novel this way. Can’t get the rights back. The publisher won’t answer my emails. So please, take my advice and read the contract before you sign anything. And if you don’t understand what you’re reading, then have someone else sit down and explain it to you.

8. Once you’ve signed your contract, it’s time for you to learn the ins and outs of marketing your book. Depending on the type of publisher you’ve signed with (especially true if it’s an indie publisher). This means printing out business cards, sending your book to be reviewed and building a platform for your book. Things you need to work on:

1. Website. Keep it simple. No crazy colors that might give someone a seizure.
2. Social media. What does that mean? It means getting on facebook, twitter, goodreads, livejournal, wordpress, etc. The point is to get your name out there.
3. When you submit your book to reviewers, be sure to read their guidelines. Don’t send your nonfiction book to a reviewer that prefers young adult/fantasy.

9. Help other authors and they will help you. I often invite other authors as guest bloggers on my livejournal blog (it’s the one that’s most active). If they have a book being released, I do the best I can to share their links on my facebook page and tweet about their book. Why? First of all, it’s the nice thing to do. You should help other authors out. And second? They always return the favor. Every week I’m on someone’s blog sharing my thoughts about writing or an excerpt of my book.

10. Don’t give up. Never, ever give up. Trust me, I had days when I would wake up wondering if this was what really what I wanted to do with my life. But then I’d get a positive review for my book or a letter from a fan saying how much they enjoyed my book and that gave me the biggest burst of energy. Sometimes it’s exactly what I need to get me to pick up my pen and get back to what I love doing the most. Writing. It’s just what comes naturally to me. I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like if I couldn’t write.

Anyway thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope you found some of this information helpful and if you have more questions please feel free to email me at lizdejesus23@yahoo.com

If you would like to find out more about Liz DeJesus please visit her website www.lizdejesus.webs.com

Interview with Michelle Franklin

Author Michelle Franklin is here to talk to us about her novel, KHANTARA.

Welcome, Michelle! Tell us about yourself.

I am a small woman of moderate consequence who writes many, many literary fantasy books involving giants, romance, and chocolate. I'm a rather boring woman in life, but that only gives me permission to be more interesting on the page. I'm meant to be read and not seen anyway. I am also excessively sarcastic, but never serious, and I do my utmost to be as quiet and polite as possible when being forced to leave the commons. I adore people, but am not fond of the public. Such is an author's burden: to be a hermit and a crone, blessed with all the joys of unquietness.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since grade 4. The very first story I wrote was about cat people and it was rather atrocious, but from there I moved on to writing novels. I wrote my first novel in grade 7, which was a historical fantasy about Irish immigrants coming to Ellis Island. It was also quite horrid, but here is where I began to understand the discipline of writing every day. I wrote in class, out of class, at home, while I was supposed to be studying, on my washroom floor, in the attic, etc. Eventually, I won some prestigious old thing for best story and then won four literary awards in my county. I haven't missed a day of writing in fifteen years.

Tell us about KHANTARA: VOLUME 1. What’s the story about?

Khantara is a Haanta conqueror, meant to wage war and rule over the enemy nation of Thellis, but after vanquishing Thellis and occupying a construction of a Haanta outpost, he meets Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people bearing a brand of servitude on her neck. Khantara contrives to save her from a cruel home and bring her to the refuge his people can provide, but how can he do so successfully when the eyes of Thellis are upon him?

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have three editors: one for content, one for line edits, and another for both, just as a fail safe. I type quickly and have difficulties with my eyes, so I have a few people to help me with mistakes.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I pretend to plot books, and then I laugh at myself and just write it as it comes.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Stopping.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Tea, dark chocolate, all the accouterments that I have received from readers over the years.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

My humble thanks to my publisher for putting up with me, to all the readers for enjoying the series, and to Twisk for making all the wonderful artwork for the series while being paid in pancakes and hugs.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

You can find the book online at these retailers:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Books-A-Million
Booktopia
Diesel
Indiebound
iTunes
Kobo
Powell's
Smashwords
Sony Reader Store

Book Launch: Straight Jacket by Meredith Towbin

Today marks the launch of Meredith Towbin's novel, STRAIGHT JACKET.

Eighteen-year-old Anna has lived her whole life in shame, losing herself in books to cope with crippling panic attacks triggered by her abusive parents. Forced into a psychiatric hospital, she can’t imagine a future that’s anything but bleak—until she meets Caleb, a gifted, 19-year-old artist who insists he’s an angel.

He swears his mission is to help Anna break free from her parents’ control and fulfill a destiny that she can only dream of. The doctors, however, are convinced that Caleb is delusional.

Anna doesn’t want to be that girl who’s in love with the crazy guy, but when she sees his stunning portraits of her and the way he risks everything to keep her safe, she can’t help but imagine a new future for both of them, filled with hope. But just when it seems they’ve created heaven on earth, Caleb’s past emerges full force, threatening to destroy their tiny, blissful world. And Anna has to decide if she should follow her heart, or if Caleb’s really as troubled as his doctors say…

Check it out!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Interview with Tressa Messenger

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Today we're featuring author Tressa Messenger and talking about her novel, THE PROTECTOR. Tressa is a seasoned health professional in Polysomnography as well as an author. She lives outside of her hometown of New Bern, North Carolina, with her husband and daughter.

Welcome to We Do Write, Tressa! How long have you been writing?

I have always loved to write ever since I can remember. Then it was mostly poetry, songs and letters. I think writing letters was my favorite thing. Sometimes they were even to myself, and usually I wouldn't even give it to the person, but rather burn it or throw it away. It was a great was to get out emotions.

Tell us about THE PROTECTOR. What’s the story about?

Anna-Marie has spent almost her whole life in love with the boy across the creek. From the age of five they have been in each others lives, so when Anna-Marie’s boyfriend, Dylan, dies under mysterious circumstances it drives her into a deep depression. She desperately clings to his memories for solace.

After reports come out of a another mysterious death, Anna-Marie climbs her way out of despair as she throws herself into a search for the assailant, who is callously tearing so many lives apart. During Anna-Marie’s search, she has a chance encounter with a mysterious man who flips her world upside down once again. Alessandro Pierre, the deadly son of the vampire leader of the Brotherhood Order, appears to be just as normal as the next guy, but he is far from it.

The further Anna-Marie digs into Dylan's death she is plunged into a world she isn’t quite prepared for. She gets caught up in a deadly game from her worst nightmares, and eventually learns that it is her own world as well.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

The story just kind of happened. I had tried to write a book a few times in the past, but they never took so I was nervous that the same thing would happen with this one. I had no clue what I wanted to write, all I knew was I wanted to write something, but once I started, it took on a life of its own.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I send it to one or two very close friends to review it. They are good with giving me their honest opinion. I’m very good with accepting constructive criticism. My mom actually proof reads all of my stuff. I figure who better than someone who knows me the best. After she is done I send it to my mother in-law who writes grants and such for a government agency.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Kind of both I guess. When I get a story idea I type it out, but I usually don’t even look at it again. I know it seems like “what’s the point” but I tend to remember how I want the story to go.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

While writing my first novel, Protector, I found out that I am dyslexic. My mom was going through it and kept having to rearrange my sentences to make them make sense. I always knew that I wrote sentence structures backwards and it would even come out when I spoke sometimes, but I never knew it was a thing; I actually thought I was just dumb. School was NEVER easy for me and I loathed it so much. I even dropped out in 9th grade and got my GED. I did go back for a medical degree after the birth of my daughter, but even as an adult, it still wasn’t easy. I guess I know why now.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

It seems to change all the time. While writing my 1st and 2nd novels I had to listen to music while writing; screaming metal in my ears. Here recently I was given a few crystals that are supposed to promote creativity and prolong attention span, which I think is awesome. I do believe in the power of crystals. I have had a Quarts crystal with me for the past 14 years and it has really helped me through the years.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Oh gezz, there are so many, maybe read minds. I’m a nosey person by nature so it would fit me

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

While doing research for my murder mystery I googled autopsy reports. I really didn’t think I would find actual reports but I did. It was pretty trippy.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: protest, tendency, and dance.

I have the tendency to protest the notion that everyone should conform, I am unique, and you are unique so be you and laugh a lot and dance.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Working or taking care of my family. It’s who I am and what I do.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I want to thank my mom who taught me that I can be myself and dream big. You let me make mistakes and have always stood by me.
My husband for always pushing me, sometimes kicking and screaming, to be better than I am.
My daughter who I strive everyday to be the person she can look up to.
My mother in-law for helping me make my stories perfect.
Nancy Hudson Hall who lit a fire under me.
Devyn Dawson who showed me the right path.
You all are AWESOME!

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

My books can be found on all electronic book sites, and for those who don’t have an e-reader, they can be found on amazon.com as physical copies.

Interview with Xunaira Javed

Today we're talking with author Xunaira Javed about her novel, THE CURSED CITY.

Welcome, Xunaira! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Islamabad, Pakistan and have spent all 22-years here in this city. My peace-loving nature keeps me stuck here. Moreover, apart from being a writer I simply love programming and because of that, I am pursuing the field of Mobile Computing. Being around siblings takes its toll but I believe I’m gifted to have such a loving family.

How long have you been writing?

About six months now.

Tell us about THE CURSED CITY. What’s the story about?

The Cursed City is a story about a ten year old kid who has been ridiculed since his birth to have brought the cursed to the city of Sweetbriar. It is a story about his adventure as to how he strives hard to lift the curse.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Well, I was going through old scenery and the idea just came to me out of nowhere.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I self edit as I do not belong to beta readers.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am a plotter through and through.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

When I have to end a particular story whose characters are like life to me. I regret saying goodbye to them.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music, music and music.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I wish I could fly as I wouldn't have to travel.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

When I don't understand a particular term and am too shy to ask anyone for it.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: petroleum, clingy, and striped.

He wore a striped white shirt, which was clingy as it was stuck to his body due to being wet and the badge on his chest showed that he belonged to the petroleum sector.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Thinking

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I would like to thank my parents and my friends, especially a very close friend of mine who has to listen to my stupidities and whining while writing, HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

I am quite available on my twitter at http://twitter.com/Xunaira_Javed and my book is available on Amazon at this address: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OLL6UO

Winner of the Three Two One Pitch Contest

Our fantastic judging agent was lightning fast getting her choice for a winner back to me. Here's what she had to say:

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Thanks for the chance to take part in the pitch fest. It was fun! There were some strong entries to choose from, and I went back and forth between a few pitches before making the final decision.

Winner is:

Deborah Kreiser 
THREE WISHES
YA fantasy
71,000 words

On the day she turns 17-1/2, Eugénie Lowry ("Genie" to her friends) is suddenly transformed from lanky to curvy, and discovers she's an honest-to-God, real, live genie, with exactly 6 months to find a master. She wishes more than anything to fall in love and live happily ever after, but is that even possible when a genie is supposed to serve her master? No one's done it before, but Genie's determined to succeed--without losing herself in the process.

Honorable mention goes to these two entries, which both hooked me.

Jen Veldhuyzen (Petre Pan)

Issue 339
YA Offbeat
80,000 words

Comic-book superhero Skye takes on awful plot twists every day, but when his parents die in a nasty cliche, he's had it. He shoots his author. But the cop investigating the murder is Skye's best friend's father--and when the publishing company hires a new writer, Skye must decide whether one more murder will save his world, or damn his soul.

Cardyn Brooks
Dodging Eros
Upmarket Women's Twisted Fiction
57k

Sometimes love's like eating forgotten leftover Halloween candy in February, and sometimes it's like consuming a gift box of freshly handmade luxe chocolates in one sitting. Either way, the consequences of indulging are impossible to escape, while the immediate pleasures seem worth the future complications--at least initially. Moving from past to present, Dodging Eros serves up complicated adults trying to protect themselves from their choices in love and in life.

I'd be happy to review the query & full ms for THREE WISHES.

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Congratulations, Deborah Kreiser! Please send your full ms in an attachment to myrsini@carolmannagency.com with the subject "Requested Material: Three Wishes".
Put your query in the body of the email, and please
 mention that her request came from this contest.

We'll be crossing our fingers for you!

To the honorable mentions and everyone else who took part in the contest,
feel free to query Myrsini in the usual manner.
Honorable mentions can mention the contest as well.

To all, stay tuned this spring for the next pitch contest!

Book Launch: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Today marks the launch of Kasie West's debut novel, PIVOT POINT.

Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier. . . .

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through . . . and who she can't live without.

Congrats on your book release, Kasie!