Category Archives: Randoms

Writing Prompt: Fragile- My Gosh I feel Fragile Today!#amwriting

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Fragile

The adjective FRAGILE has 3 senses:

1. easily broken or damaged or destroyed
2. vulnerably delicate
3. lacking solidity or strength and liable to break ( Dictionary definition)

Today’s WordPress writing prompt word is fragile, and my gosh I feel fragile tonight, I feel like point #3 above. it’s only 23.59pm at the time of writing this, and I’m  about ready to sleep….. for at least a week.  Us creatives and bloggers all over the world just don’t know when to stop! Who has that problem? Or are you like me- you work best at night, that’s your creative hour?

I’ve been writing around the clock,  with late nights and early mornings. Each day this week, I’ve started my day job  job at 7.30a.m. I’ve had a 5.00a.m wake up every day. I don’t remember the last time I saw the backs of my eyelids for a full 8 hours sleep. If this is you to here’s a little poem for you…

FRIDAY IS HERE,

Rest is sure to come,

At the moment you’re too tired  and fragile- you simply just can’t  can’t crack on,

Go on with caution, don’t burn the candle at both ends  You need  to recover and bounce back fully on the mend,

I can see my bed, this vision is not in my head,

Late at night all us bloggers and creatives we sit here an type but,

Everyone, I think my job here is done. But while I’m gone have fun.

Well good night, and if you feel as fragile as me… take a beak this weekend relax and unwind.

 

YOU Decide What Genre Story I Should #Write For #Standup2cancer #Author #Charity Project- Please Vote!

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Evening guys,

So a few days ago I told you all about the charity writing project I’m participating in with my publisher, to help raise some money. Myself and a few other authors will write a short story to publish together in one book. The book will be on sale from February 2017, all proceeds from the book sales go to the charity Standup2cancer, we (authors) will not see a penny of it. You can read more about what I’m doing and the project   here  if you missed my blog on this.

 Today, I’d like to invite you  help or  decide for me what genre story  I should  write?  I thought this may be fun and also I can’t decide! But today I  got my deadline, so I better get cracking.With your vote, tell me should I write a romance or thriller genre short story to include for publication in February 2017? Our stories can only be 15k max in words, so it’s pretty short. Place a quick vote in below. This vote will be open until the 30th September only.

Thanks in advance.

Have a good weekend

Writing Prompt: Day #11 The Learning Sandwich- Served By My Guest Author Tammy Tate.

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Sandwich

So today’s WordPress writing prompt is sandwich, and I was served a rather tasty sandwich by a bestselling author. In my sandwich was lots of advice on writing and general editing and how to look at your work in a new light.As a few readers have asked me questions on my journey /for some general thoughts and advice, here’s some of the highlights on what I’ve learned on my road to a published author – in addition to my last post  which you can read here. Which is a Q and A from a reader on publishing. I’m not selfish,  and far from an expert but I’ll share my sandwich  with you that’s handmade by Tammy Tate. Since Tammy is a busy lady over in the USA and I don’t want to disrupt her research and writing time, this guest blog I’ve done myself with her  permission to quote her from the organic conversations we’ve had. It is my pleasure to share with you a guest blog with Mrs Tammy Tate – Romance Author from the USA.

 Creating The Villain in Your Writing:

 This really depends on what genre you write in and whether a villain falls naturally. I write across two genres, and in romance you don’t often see a villain really do you? Have you ever thought of or have you already wrote a villain in one of your stories and wondered if you should keep him/her in? In A Stranger in France you will meet a villain – Danny a complete asshole no one is meant to like him, I really dislike him myself and wrote him in a bad light on purpose. I was nervous about him as I thought having a villain in a romance story may spoil it or turn readers off. To me it was a risk, but he’s central to the story and has a rather dramatic part that spices up the story, alongside Nicholas the hero (and my dream man!). Tammy (without even knowing) helped to calm my nerves about Danny and including a villain.  I am now no longer nervous and would do this again in this genre.This happened during an organic conversation, when she touched on this subject, here’s what she said.

“Sometimes we take risks when we create a bad guy who plays a big part knowing our readers will hate them. Who could blame them? Truth is, we hate them, too! It reminds me of a character I created in Off-Duty Christmas. Ethan. He was an arrogant cop who thought he was god’s gift to women. My readers hated him. By the end, everyone liked him, including me 🙂

Now in my case didn’t aim to make Danny likeable in anyway, but to hear this from Tammy made me realise – take a risk a villain is OK (in romance), and may even spark great discussion and debate for readers. If it works, hey it works even if it’s not the norm.

 Writing From What You Know:

I find that this can make stories realistic if you use a little of what you know or have witnessed/experienced in life. Again, via an organic conversation we touched on this subject, and I’m not sure how Tammy guessed I may have done this! But I guess that’s what happens when you’ve wrote and published five books- you just know. Tammy says

“They say our DNA is etched into every character we create.  I truly believe that to be true.”

 The message I got from this is if you want a realistic feel, it’s OK to use what you know. Just go for it dramatise it if need be but use it.

Editing Your Own Work

I have been in a constant paranoid state and labour with no pain relief for about seven months over A Stranger in France LOL- is the story EVER good enough? And I found that sometimes when I read, and re-read, wrote and re-wrote I started to read what I WANTED to read maybe not what was there.  The next day I’d go back and be like what is THAT? Tammy says…

“You are so right about not being able to edit your own manuscript! Your brain will fill in words that aren’t there. Mine does too, even after 5 books. What I like to do, is take it to another room or step outside. If you read it somewhere other then where you wrote it, you’ll see it in a different light! No pun intended…LOL I’ve heard other authors say the same thing.” 

 I did this, I went to another area of the room….

Paranoid State and Nervous To Share:

Nervous some? Yes, very. Whenever I do a short story for a writing prompt/ poem for my blog or write a full novel  as a published bit of work for commercial sale. Whatever I write to share I don’t know how to calm my nerves. Tammy says

“I don’t blame you. I was the same way, especially with my first one. You’re going to be a published author on the Sept. 20th! Of course, you’re nervous

 :-)”

What I took from this is – Just take a chill pill and move on to the next book leave this one alone. This is never going to be easy, it is not designed to be easy to be good, just keep practising and work hard. Maybe one day you nerves will ease.

So my learning curve has been very steep to say the least, but I feel that I have some key things I’ve learned from the writing and editing of book #1, that I will apply to book #2 which is what I’m on now the editing stage now I have it back.

Hope this advice helps an aspiring writer and author out there!Best of luck.

Thank you Tammy!

Here is where you can find Tammy:

Amazon: 

 

 

Thank you from Kim

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Good morning guys!

Happy Sunday, just a short note from me to say, thank you to every follower, liker and silent blog reader. I can see that slowly and steadily my author site is growing and I really appreciate each and everyone of you. I love reading your blogs also,  sometimes I sit behind the PC cackling with laughter, smiling or nodding my head or become inspired myself so please keep posting great stuff!

As a writer, it is easy to just sit here and write s*hit and think it’s great. Honestly, that’s not me, I’m modest and always so nervous when I write a short story or poem and share it with the whole world. I don’t think this will ever leave me, many of you know that I never even really saw myself as a published author  just someone who wrote stuff as they love it and thought they are OK at it. But  it just happened! What kicked me up the butt to submit my work to a USA based publisher  was a massive life changing event, as I had time to refocus on Kim again and not other issues,  I had time also  bond even further with my beautiful 2 year old son who is my everything. I hope that when he is older he is proud of his mama.

 As my release date for my first novel nears, my nerves are increasing !  But so is my creativity for other stories.I just like to write ( and read)  so I will keep going  now I’m on a roll and see what the future holds !

Thank you for your support!

ps. If you are a blogger that does writing challenges and prompts keep me posted I love doing those email me or comment or Tweet me!

With love,

Kim

 

Day #17: When Creativity Goes Side Ways!

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Sidewalk
Sidewalk

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Today’s WordPress word writing prompt is sidewalk. You can interpret this word as sidewalk = the street the more American term for what we English  call a pavement. Or you can (if you’re a bit nuts like me)  have another take on this word.  Meaning to literally go or walk sideways, to make a sideways move as opposed to forwards or backwards.

Is it Ok in life to sometimes not walk forward but side ways? And do a ‘‘sidewalk?” I sure hope so! I just did, well my creative side of my brain did and I didn’t even call on the creative side I was trying to have a break from it. So it’s day #17 of my count down until the ” big day” , yesterday I wrote about my long to do list and that today I have the whole day to sit and write my heart out, which I have done. I’ve working on my romance-thriller story. I’ve been writing and editing my work since around 11:00a.m it’s now 4: 30p.m London time. I’ve  now drafted the first 4 chapters to a completeish stage and I’m happy -great news right.I took a five minute break  to make a cup of tea, and just have a break from the screen but my creativity didn’t switch off, even though I was trying to switch off just for a moment. My creativity  walked sideways ….instead of progressing my story forwards, it shifted it side ways in a new direction.

 While waiting for the kettle to boil, I thought about my dilemma  over whether it’s OK for a writer to write in two very different genres after publishing two books in one, panic set in again, and the back and fourth started again over whether to even finish this story idea, even though a few weeks back I had clearly made up my mind that I was ganna do it! Complete my love story which has an element of crime and it would sit in the romance- thriller/crime genre . Read all about that word writing prompt and dilemma here.  Guess what happened this afternoon while  waiting for the kettle to boil? Yep into my head popped a different version of the ending or second half of my original story. I grabbed my note book and jot it down quickly before it escaped me, and a smile crept across my face. Randomly, my creativity made a sideways move without me even really trying or thinking about it and now  book #3 I’m working on is more refocused on romance( if I change the second half slightly).Looks like I’m back to square one and back in my original genre writing a romance-suspense, there is a crime yes I won’t change that, but with this new second half that randomly popped into my head the  focus  is on romance if I write it in that direction, one that I never thought just by switching around a few things. I feel happier with this re-vamped mental draft of the second half and ending. 

Have you ever had a situation in life where you have made a side ways move? Rather than going forwards? I guess it’s OK to go sideways in life as it can surprisingly actually move you forward in a way you never thought of.

 

Writing Prompt: Melody -why I love you

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Melody
Melody

I LOVE music, a melody and a good beat  to the bone, I could never live without it. It’s done so many good things for me. I did a writing prompt in this before earlier this year which you can read here for the word prompt music.

This morning as I sat down and mentally drafted my to do list, before I did that I went over to my TV and loaded up Spotify and selected ”easy listening piano beats” under the ”focus” mood, as I have a lot get through today. It’s still playing and I know this background noise has helped me work through 50% of my to do list so far. My music taste is crazy! I have an old soul and like anything from old Motown hits and soul , to classical music and modern day stuff.While writing I never write in silence, in fact I don’t do anything in silence but sleep.  If I do house work the radio is on, I write it’s on ,I read it’s on, I bath it’s on, do my nails it’s on- 24/7 in my home and car. 

Music has also really inspired my writing, in  A Stranger in France  I purposely picked out songs to help set the mood or show what a character is feeling from their point of view (POV). It was a challenge but it really inspired me. Here is an excerpt using music from Nicholas’ POV from A Stranger in France.

 

Pulling out his IPhone he scrolls along his contacts to Kate, just a south London address and email address she left no number. He grips the steering wheel and internally he kicks himself. She of course has his mobile number, office number and home number! Why has she not used them or even sent a postcard? Taking a few more deep breaths to compose himself ready for the long drive over to his apartment on the upper 16th district, one of Paris’ most affluent property areas, with some of the most expensive properties in Paris. He decides he will make contact, he has nothing to lose.

 He cruises at a steady unrushed pace in his air-conditioned BMW X-5 along the motorway, with his shades on and the music loud. Nicholas has a rush of adrenaline, his emotions flipped 360 degrees from disappointment to thrill at the chase and challenge of pursing Kate from 600 odd miles away.

Put things into perspective he tells himself, Kate doesn’t strike him as a coaster, or lay about when it came to work. In his mind he rationalises that she’s probably had a busy return to London and work. He has no doubt about Kate’s hard work ethic from the intimate conversations they had while she was in France. That is it, he convinced himself, she’s just caught up, make contact and claim your lady his inner voice said. Smiling, and physically relaxed cruising along with one hand on the steering wheel and the music up, the Isley Brothers smooth vocals on Summer Breeze fill the car, he sings along at the top of his voice and enjoys the drive home.

 

Day #18: The Writing To Do List- What’s on Yours?

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Morning !

A cloudy one here in London today,I hope the sun hasn’t decided that it’s time to hide now that we’ve reached September. We’re only 2 days in.

Well for day #18 of the count down to ”the big day”  I have quite a to do list, and really glad I don’t return to work until Tuesday. I need to narrow down a from a long list of topics what to write an article on, for  3 guest blog appearances I’ll do as part of my book tour from the 20th September. The list of topics is rather long,  hard to decide but  it’s interesting. 

I also have the next 8 hours free to write my heart out and polish up what I’ve wrote for my romance-thriller book I’ve started and yet to complete. In terms of word count I’m only about 16,000 words in, so not much work produced, but I have my idea mapped out on paper. I hope today is a much more productive day than the last 2 days I’ve been off work and I’ve at down to write. I’ve been messing around behind the screen you see- well that’s not true I’ve been reading blogs and reading a really great romance novel which I’ll do a review for for another romance author. Last night I was up until 1:00 am reading, I’m enjoying the story line so far.

Also, on my list to do is to catch up on my letter writing, I’ve got a pile of unopened snail mail from France, Austria and the UK to reduce! My snail mail pals probably think I’ve dropped of the face of the earth. I hope they’ll understand.

Oh and today’s WordPress writing prompt, I’ll have a crack at when that is posted around lunch time.

This list is long enough as it is, I better get started before I remember something else I need to do .

 What’s on your to do list for  day or weekend writing wise? Let me know what you’re up to? Have a productive writing day bloggers!

 

Kim’s Book Review: Trail Of Sins

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JoyceHey guys, so you all know I’m a massive fan of the romance genre as a reader as well as writer, especially the sub genres of suspense and thriller with romance. I was lucky enough to get a free copy of Trail of Sins by Joyce Mcarthy  an erotic- thriller author. Her book was released earlier this year, and is available on Amazon. I read it and really enjoyed it here’s why:

Trail of Sins is described as “an erotic thriller in a corporate setting with a strong element of suspense and a powerful undercurrent of selfless love.”  There is a huge element of erotic-ness in this book, and I’d rate that  5 stars for the journey you’re  on as a reader in terms of erotic-ness. The author clearly knows how to write this style well, and  place in a reader’s mind a vision of what is taking place between characters, in this respect. I’m not talking 50 Shades of Grey (the book not movie) – soft erotic, I’m talking erotic scenes! If you enjoy this kind of journey and read, this is one for you. I said this to Ms Mcarthy already ” I wish I could write like that!” Meaning,  I don’t (personally feel)  brave enough or skilled in  very erotic writing… I totally clam up so well done and my hat is off to her for Trail of Sins.

While reading I did feel like I was on a journey, trying to find out why things are happening to the main Hero.  I really enjoyed the element of suspense/thrill I was taken on while reading. The ending I never saw coming, and that to me is also a good sign of story telling and writing (as a reader) it was a great twist. I was gripped, could not foresee the future, and surprised by the ending.

The characters I found them pretty 3D, I was able to build in my mind an impression of what the main hero is like as a man, and even make up my mind whether I liked him as a man or not. To me, as a reader (not a writer)  if I ever experience this in a book -being able to imagine a character, and make up my mind about them, if I’m on their side or not is a sign of good writing as the author/writer has given me enough to work with in my imagination.

I enjoyed this ride a lot- trust me there’s a lot of riding *wink

So in summary:

Erotic rating  5/5 stars whooo!

Suspense/thrill rating 4.5 stars yeah baby! Did not see that coming.

Character development rating 4.5 – I would have loved a more detailed description of what the characters look like, (all of them) as they are such sexy people. But this does not take away anything from the story or enjoyment it’s just me as a reader that’s all.

Overall rating : 4.5 stars out of 5, as this is  described as an erotic thriller and that’s exactly what you get.

Look forward to the next book by this author.

 

 

Day #20: The Count Down Begins!

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So the count down begins, over the next 20 days I’ll be posting updates on what’s happening during the run up to the release of my first romance suspense novel A Stranger In France. The big day is  20th September 2016! On Amazon for 90 days and then on Barnes and Nobel.I’m feeling great today, the sun is shining in London and has been so far for a good few weeks. This always puts me in a great mood  and adds a smile to my face, as you can see from my Wednesday selfie posted.

So what’s happening then?  It’s been busy!  Other than doing writing prompts and finalising A Stranger in France, being a mum and trying to sleep, from release day my virtual book tour has been organised. It will  kick off just after the 20th. I will keep you updated on where A Stranger in France will be touring.  I have a ”Release Day Blitz” organised for the cover  of the book across a huge number of romance focused blogs for 3 days from the 20th September, and A Stranger in France will be featured on All Romance Reads blog also!

In October  A Stranger in France  will feature on Coffee Time and Romance. I am super excited about this, to be featured  as a new author on various promotional dates throughout the month.

Moving forward in terms of writing book writing, right I’m  waiting for my second ”feel good” romance novella to be returned to me from my publisher, so I can get the final draft together ready for a Christmas release. While that’s pending, I’ve gone back to re-working my first ever attempt at creative writing. A romance -thriller which I’ve had some worry over where to place it in terms of genre and place myself if I’m honest. But I’m confident I’ve now made the right choice. If you’re wondering well why Kim? Find out here.

This particular story is so special to me as it was my first ever idea for a story, to create into a full blown book, before either of the 2 books about to be released. It’s my baby, in a genre I feel so passionate about so I want to write it, and write it  as bad ass as I can! So I’m taking my time and re- working it in areas, now that I have a little bit of experience behind me. What I’ve found with writing a story with a bit of crime is that accuracy is sooooooo important especially when it comes to police involvement. I have 2 girlfriends who are in the legal profession and will be interviewing them so help me with research. The other challenge for me is the balance of  don’t want to give away ”who dunno it” and  leaving  little droplets of info for readers to open their mouths in shock and  think ” OMG I did not see that coming! I have to keep reading.” 

Writing this particular story is a very different experience for me compared to A Stranger in France, and my second story (which I won’t blurt out the name of). I think it’s because the story focuses on love and romance but there is an element of crime to it it is a different atmosphere to create for the story and reader, with A Stranger in France the story just flowed out of me non stop, this one is a challenge! But I am determine to research and get this idea out my head and completed.

Well I better run, I have a pile of unopened mail aka bills, * sad face* and some letters to write to pen friends overseas *happy face*. While my son is enjoying a day at summer camp I better get cracking with my day.

Have a great day!