My book, The Hungarian, releases on 1 MAY 2010 with Desert Breeze, and I just got the book trailer for it. *hehehe* I'm very excited about it and I just want to gush about Kerri Nelson's work. She does a great job with it. You can find the trailer on You Tube, but I've also enclosed it here. Enjoy! *smiles* Steph
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Promo Wednesday - Be Mused
I'm very excited. The Be Mused anthology releases tomorrow with Desert Breeze. Here's an excerpt from my Story, "Matchmaking Amusements." Jane meets Antonio. Enjoy!
*****
"So, Ms. Ryan, would you like to go out to lunch?"
Jane glanced at her wristwatch and groaned. "I'm ten minutes late for a meeting with my editor."
He raised a curious eyebrow. "You're a writer?"
"Yes."
Sandra Bullock, my inspiration for Jane
"So am I."
Jane's smile broadened. Adonis was a writer! "Well, ah, I'd like to have lunch with you, but I – oh, heck. Let me call Gus and reschedule."
"Your editor won't be mad?"
"I'm sure he'll be upset, but he'll reschedule." She paused. "I scare him."
"You do?"
David Ponce, my inspiration for Antonio
"He's 5'6," said Jane. Thank God Adonis was taller than her.
"Ah, that explains it," said Antonio, grinning.
Jane reached into her purse and dialed a number on her cell phone, rescheduling her meeting for tomorrow. Then she spied Isolde sitting on the flower cart next to a male muse. They were holding hands and grinning from ear to ear. A male muse? Antonio's muse, perhaps? Holding hands? What was Isolde up to? Jane flashed her muse a disapproving grin. Isolde looked like a cat caught in the middle of a flower garden.
***
Be Mused will be available at the Desert Breeze Publishing website, The Amazon Kindle store, and All Romance Books - tomorrow!
*Isolde does the happy dance!*
Smiles
Steph
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Genre Writing Tuesday - Romantic Conflict
I write the Romance/Love Newsletter for Writing.com and I wanted to share this bit about romantic conflict, especially for new writers, just starting to "hone" their craft.
Conflict must have layers. It's not satisifying if the hero and heroine and tackling a problem and getting along great. They have a problem to solve together, but no conflict.
So what is conflict? Honest to goodness meaty romantic conflict?
It's not:
Fighting or aruging - this is superfiscal.
Let's face it, fighting is not romantic.
A delay - where's the conflict in a delay?
A failure to communicate - your heo and heroine must be able to make a decision. They must know what they want.
Another person meddling - if this is the cause of the conflict, then hero/heroine might appear too passive to take charge of their lives.
ULITMATELY, confict centerrs around the type of character the hero and heroine are.
Short Term Conflict
This is the problem that brings your hero and heroine together.
Long Term Conflict
This conflict challenges them to find happiness.
Short term conflict is an external problem that usually oepns up the romance in your story. The long term conflict is the interal conflict that the characters have - lack of trust for example, or a painful past. This is the conflict the hero and heroine have to overcome to come together as a couple.
Trust issues, a fear of rejection, these are examples of the "meat and potatoes" of romantic conflict.
Once you get past the short term conflict, you need to explore the long term conflict. Then you ca draw out the deep emotions in your characters.
Mastering conflict can be challenging, but very rewarding in the end.
*smiles*
Steph
Monday 29 March 2010
Excerpt Monday - Jane & Antonio from "Be Mused" Available 1 APR
The Be Mused Anthology is a collection of 5 lighthearted short stories about muses, their writers, and love. My story in the anthology is called, "Matchmaking Amusement."
The Set up:
In this scene, Isolde, Jane's muse, made Jane sneeze. Jane tripped and fell - right into Antonio's arms.
*********
Jane fell into the strong arms of the man walking behind her. Then she looked into his soft hazel eyes and smiled. "Ah, hi."
"Hi," he replied, his voice deep and rich.
Sandra Bullock, my inspiration for "Jane Ryan."
Her handsome stranger helped her to her feet. She tried to stand up, but only had on one pump and stumbled again – right into Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. He wrapped his arms around her again. Their eyes caught. Jane's breath hitched. He was Adonis brought to life. He nipped at his lower lip with his teeth as he drank her in.
The urge to kiss those pouty red lips washed over her like a river current. Someone slap her silly. She'd just made a fool out of herself! Slowly, she disengaged from his muscular arms and stepped out of her good pump so she stood flat footed on the ground. "I'm sorry, I seem to have lost my shoe when I sneezed."
He playfully nodded his head as he smiled at her. She knew that type of smile. He was admiring her from head to toe. It had been a while since a man admired her. Two years? Three? Longer?
David Ponce, my inspiration for "Antonio."
"That sounds lame, doesn't it?" she asked.
"A little. I’m Antonio Martinez."
"Jane Ryan."
"It's nice to meet you, Jane," he said.
Jane took a deep breath as she ran her eyes over him. Again. He was older, late thirties, early forties maybe, and he had a grin that could light up a moonless night. She wasn't quite sure what to do next, but she knew she wanted to redeem herself. She didn't want Adonis thinking she was a ditz.
*******
Be Mused will be avail on 1 APR 2010 through Desert Breeze Publishing; http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com, at the Amazon Kindle store, and at all Romance Books
Saturday 27 March 2010
Hikaru no Go Japanese anime pictures wallpapers
Hikaru no Go is a popular Japanese manga and anime coming of age story based on the board game Go written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The production of the series' Go games was supervised by Go professional Yukari Umezawa. The manga is largely responsible for popularizing Go among the youth of Japan since its debut, and in other areas such as mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Neo Ranga Anime Pictures
Neo Ranga is an anime television series created by Studio Pierrot which consists of two seasons, totaling forty-eight episodes. The story is about the three orphaned sisters who have, through a mysterious twist of fate, inherited their very own god - the 18 meter tall Neo Ranga.
Neo Ranga was originally aired in Japan as part of the omnibus show Anime Complex.
Tenchi Muyo manga wallpapers
Tenchi Muyo anime wallpaper
Tenchi Muyo manga wallpapers
Tenchi Muyo! is an anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi about a boy named Tenchi Masaki, which has grown into a larger franchise. Tenchi Muyo! was one of the early successes for AIC, the animation company behind it, which went on to create El-Hazard, Battle Athletes, Oh My Goddess!, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure and many other anime series.
New Detective Conan Best Wallpaper
New Detective Conan Best Wallpaper #1
New Detective Conan Best Wallpaper #2
Friday 26 March 2010
The Friday Review - "The Phoenix Rebellion, Book 1, Revolution"
I just finished this awesome book by Gail Delaney. If you enjoy a good science fiction story, you'll love this. *smiles* Steph
***
Book Review for: "The Phoenix Rebellion, Book 1: Revolution"
Written by: Gail Delaney
Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 1-936000-08-3
Released: Oct 1, 2009
Ebook Format
$5.99
5 Stars
Delaney scores with Book One of the Phoenix Rebellion, "Revolution." Set in the near future, Delaney puts together an ensemble cast of characters and pits them against the Areth for the survival of the human race.
The Areth come from outer space and appear human. They've come to Earth and shared medical technology with us, but little else. A group of humans, "The Phoenix Rebellion," believe the Areth do not have peaceful intentions toward the human race. Covertly, a member of the Rebellion, Dr. Caitlin Montgomery, infiltrates the Areth's medical complex in New Mexico. Caitlin learns that an Areth scientist, Kathleen, gave birth to a half-human, half-Areth child, Michael. Michael's father is a human, Col. Nick Tanner. Caitlin finds Nick in Maine and shares the information with him. He's stunned. He thought his wife and son had died in childbirth. Without a second thought, Tanner joins the Rebellion, despite the fact that his feelings for Caitlin are complicated due to their previous affair which ended badly.
Nick finds General Castleton in Colorado and meets other members of the Rebellion – a married couple, Lilly, who is a doctor and her pilot husband, Jace. There's also an empath, Dr. Beverly Surimoto. After a carefully coordinated plan, the Rebellion attack the Areth's complex in New Mexico, hoping to free the Areth's subjects – including Michael. An Areth scientist, Victor, has befriended Michael and helps the Rebellion. All is not well with Victor though, as he begins having a mental breakdown. The escape from the Areth's complex in New Mexico is a thrill ride, but one of the Rebellion loses his life and the fate of the human race hangs precariously in the balance.
Delaney's writing is sharp. After a quick introduction to the Areth, Delaney jumps into the story. The plot flows well, never lingering. Delaney uses a good economy of words to paint descriptions. It's easy for the reader to visualize her futuristic world.
Delaney's characters are what makes this science fiction story shine. Col. Nick Tanner is a passionate man who has been hurt deeply in the past. Learning to trust Caitlin again is a struggle. Caitlin, for her part, realizes the folly of her youth, and tries to make up for it. The couple's chemistry is on a slow, smoldering burn that threatens to consume both when ignited. Victor's plight is heartbreaking, especially since he's an alien who shows Michael compassion. Michael's condition is intriguing. It's never fully explored in this book, leaving the reader wanting to discover more about him.
The story is "sophisticated" for romance readers. Delaney's love scenes are intense, yet tasteful. Book One: Revolution is a story packed with adventure, excitement, and love, making it a thrilling start to "The Phoenix Rebellion" series.
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