Another Mid-year Review

 So, waaay back in June I  took a look at my goals for the rest of the year. I was pretty happy with the way things were turning out. I had a solid plan for the rest of the year, books to write, a release schedule, things were working out. It was nice. 

Then July happened and all of that went out the window. For a while there it looked like the only thing I'd be dealing with for the rest of the year were health issues and multiple surgeries. Which led to my backing out of a couple of projects, and seriously considering calling it quits on everything publishing related. 

Thanks to second opinions and non-knife-happy surgeons, that phase didn't last very long, but it did make me stop and think about what's really important to me and what kind of writing career (if any)  I wanted going forward.

I figured out a few things about myself this month. The first was that, no matter how hard I tried, I probably wasn't ever going to train myself to write short. I mean, yes, I have a few novellas that I'm not unhappy with, but most of them would probably have been better books if they'd been longer. And for books and short stories that have a maximum word count, I'm always bumping up against that upper limit. I always end up going over the story multiple times, cutting out every non-essential word, and looking back, I'm not sure how non-essential they really were.

So that's gonna stop. I have a couple of short stories I'm still hoping to release this year, but after that, if I can't write the long version, I'm probably going to release the stories as serials only. 

And, yeah, not putting out short books every few weeks means rapid releases are probably also not in my future. But, hey, it is what it is.

The final thing I realized is that I'm probably not going to write every book on my WIP list. There are too many and they're too diverse. I've always been a big fan of diversity and I  have fallen in love with every story idea I've come up with, but realistically, I don't have the time or the energy to continue spreading myself that thin. So, for now, I'm going to consolidate. I'm'm going to concentrate on the books and series that are most on-brand for me. Which, at the moment are contemporary romances with a paranormal twist and straight up paranormal stories with strong romantic elements; all of which share a core focus on family, friends, and feels. 

Maybe it won't look all that different from the outside, but from my perspective, it's a pretty radical shift. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. 

But that's my plan going forward--at least until the next crisis. 

Additional Scene from THE GIFTED, a Contemporary Sci-Fi Romance by Linda Mooney

This month, I'm offering up a FREE additional scene from THE GIFTED, a Contemporary Sci-Fi Romance!

Robin takes great care to note what Sah'Reena eats and drinks. Because of her alien metabolism, some foods humans take for granted can be toxic for her. In spite of the inherent dangers, she's always willing to try new things. 

It's when they're invited to a business dinner party that they discover that some toxicities aren't always deadly. In fact, some can be quite...sexy.

HERE BE NEWS for Monday July 26, 2021

 

                            

Monday July 26, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

Tuesday July 20th: Author Deborah Bailey shares some interesting websites for writing research

              

Love's Curse
A Paranormal Romance Collection

The heart is treacherous. Love is cursed. Dive into this collection of paranormal romance to find loves strong enough to break the veil between realms.

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NOTE: by downloading this collection you are agreeing to sign up for the mailing lists of the participating authors:

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Mandy Melanson, Elle Ryan, Lisa Wood, Helena Novak, PG Forte, Angelique Jordonna, Mira Kane, Dusty Grein, AJ Mullican, Rhetoric Askew, LLC

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https://books.bookfunnel.com/late-july-all.../w6xf4akr5w

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 https://books.bookfunnel.com/steamyromancefree.../y067uqo4bq

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https://books.bookfunnel.com/late-july.../3k62g4bnuh

Interesting Websites for Writing Research

 Lots of writers get asked where they get their ideas. In my experience they come to me from various places. One thing leads to another, and I get an idea for a potential story. Usually I'll write them down someplace - with the hope that I can find my notes again when I need them! 

But often when I'm looking for a specific thing online, I end up finding a lot of other interesting things. That's why online research can end up taking much more time than I've planned. I start looking for one thing, then end up in a completely different place.

In my internet searches, I've come across a few interesting sites. 

Messy Nessy's Cabinet of Chic Curiosities

Run by a blogger named Vanessa, and her small team, most of it is free to read. Other parts of the site require a membership to access. It's entertaining, quirky and loaded with topics that you might have wondered about, but didn't know who to ask. It covers things from history to pop culture, to food, fashion and topics that are hard to characterize. 

Topics include things like:

"How Humans Have Toyed with Time'

"How did the Heart Become the Symbol of Love anyway?"

"A Bewitching Compendium of Victorians Letting their Hair Down"

Even if you're not necessarily looking for story ideas, it's a fun place to pass the time. 

https://www.messynessychic.com/

Atlas Obscura

Described as "the definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders," there's also a Gastro Obscura section covering food and cooking topics. 

The site includes courses, travel opportunities and stories about local attractions in various countries. 

Topics include things like:

"How a Canadian Beekeeper Breeds New Queens"

"Bake Victory Cake, the Simple, Inspiring Treat of Wartime America"

Similar to Messy Nessy, it features articles and items of interest that you may have wondered about. The items about international cultural spots and places of interest are especially fascinating. 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Fairytalez.com

Described as "the largest collection of fairy tales, folk tales, and fables online," it's been my go-to place for information and ideas about fairy tales. In fact there's so much information it's easy to get lost on the site and fall down the rabbit hole (pun intended). 

https://fairytalez.com/

Writing the Other

Described as a place to "learn to write characters very different than you sensitively and convincingly" the site offers classes and resources for writers, teachers and students. Certainly an excellent place to start any research when writing about people who have different experiences. There's also a book available in addition to videos and podcasts. 

https://writingtheother.com/

Other sites that I've used for research include Pinterest (a good place to keep track of information I've found and books to read), family or baby name sites (to get inspiration for character names) and Wikepedia. And yes, I know that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, but I usually use it to find posts about mythology or fantasy topics. And it's also a great source when I want to read about episodes on my favorite TV shows. :)

These are just a few of the sites I regularly check out, either for research or for reading up on obscure topics. If you have any favorites you'd like to share, please do! 

HERE BE NEWS for Monday July 19, 2021

 

                            

Monday July 19, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

NEW RELEASES:

CALL TO ME

Contemporary SciFi/Fantasy Romance

by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 29.7K

$2.99 e / $9.99 p

Now in the Tennessee National Guard after serving in the military, Brix Rhodes and his team are called to assist the sheriff’s department and highway patrol after a sinkhole appears at the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Since losing his wife, Samra, in a car accident four months ago, he’s been left to raise their baby girl alone, but fortunately his dad is always there to help care for her while he’s away. Brix promises to return soon from this deployment, but he discovers that’s a promise he may not be able to keep.

After another cave-in, Brix is sent down into the sinkhole to attempt a rescue, and soon finds himself being rescued by…himself. There’s another Brix Rhodes. A Brix who is similar, and yet different from himself. What’s more, his beloved Samra exists here as well. She’s not dead, but she belongs to the other Brix. Is he in a parallel universe or some alternate reality? What is happening? Is he dreaming or delusional?

He has to get back to his own world and his baby daughter, but can he survive losing Samra a second time? His questions are answered when the other Brix makes that decision for him, and puts everyone’s lives at risk.

Warning! Contains pain medication, a loose helmet, gale-force winds, grief, lying by omission, a change of clothes, and two people getting a chance to correct their past in order to have a future together.

  EXCERPT AND BUY LINKS

 

            IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Be A Dork Day:  Author Maureen Bonatch talks about a fun holiday and links to some contests.

 

Tropes: Five Man Band and Smurfette: Author Nicole Luiken talks about the gender ratio in tropes like Five Man Band and Smurfette.

 

Be a Dork Day

 By Maureen Bonatch 

 

July 15th? Where has this month gone already? I, for one, have no idea. For a moment in a conversation with my husband I realized that I didn’t even know what month it was. I blame it on too much time spent on the computer working at the day job, or escaping into the fiction worlds of my characters. 

Even though often the days rush by in a blur, I try to take a moment to cherish each day and consider it special on its own. 

I raised my head up out of the fog to wonder just what might be significant about July 15th? Although it seems that often when I seek out those quirky holiday calendars, the day in question has is represented in an unusual, or dorky, way. 

 Yes. July 15th is Be a Dork Day. 

Dork is a word I might’ve tossed around some in my youth, but not one that I can recall using anytime recently. Adjectives said to be associated with being a dork are odd, clumsy, ridiculous, awkward, silly, etc. 

But, in my opinion, there is someone for everyone. One person’s dork, is another’s prince charming. Or at least someone who makes you laugh, or if you’re the dork, then perhaps you can laugh at yourself. 

 Because Who Doesn’t Love to Laugh

I’ve always felt that laughter is the best medicine. I try to include humor into my everyday by watching humorous television shows or movies. You know the ones that you can watch again and again and still laugh. A few old favorites include: 

Television Shows 

• Seinfeld 
• King of Queens 
• Mike and Molly 
• Mama’s Family 
• My Name is Earl 
• Martin 

Movies 

• Dodgeball 
• Folks 
• Her Alibi 
• Stepbrothers 
• Bridesmaids 
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 

I do love my comedy, so I kept the list short or I could go on for quite some time. I also enjoy reading and writing characters that make me laugh. Because what would life be if we were all serious all the time? Boring, if you ask me. 

 Embrace your inner dork today and be a little silly, or figure out what’s to love about those that you feel are awkward, clumsy or ridiculous. If someone asks you what’s going on, tell them it’s Be a Dork Day and invite them to join in on the silliness. 

 Guess what? July 15th is Also Give Something Away Day. 

 I have a few contests for you below where you can win something that’s being given away 

Enter Here for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards.

Enter here for a chance to win the Charmed Cocktail Cozy Mystery Giveaway.

 Enter here for a chance to win the Peach Plains Paranormal Giveaway.

 Share Your Favorite Funny/Dorky Shows in The Comments

Just a small-town girl, Maureen Bonatch leads a double life. She lives in a magical world as a novelist, and as a nurse leader in reality. Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a new-fangled thing. She’s since changed her focus to writing paranormal cozy mysteries as 

M.L. Bonatch and urban fantasy as Maureen Bonatch. 

While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s a mom to her twin daughters, bicycling in the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby, doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, and dancing as much as possible. She believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and that caffeine and wine are essential for survival. 

Follow M.L. Bonatch all through cyberspace- she's new in town and can use some friends!

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New! CALL TO ME, a Contemporary Sci-Fi Romance by Linda Mooney

New!

CALL TO ME
Contemporary SciFi/Fantasy Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 29.7K
$2.99 e / $9.99 p

Now in the Tennessee National Guard after serving in the military, Brix Rhodes and his team are called to assist the sheriff’s department and highway patrol after a sinkhole appears at the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Since losing his wife, Samra, in a car accident four months ago, he’s been left to raise their baby girl alone, but fortunately his dad is always there to help care for her while he’s away. Brix promises to return soon from this deployment, but he discovers that’s a promise he may not be able to keep.

After another cave-in, Brix is sent down into the sinkhole to attempt a rescue, and soon finds himself being rescued by…himself. There’s another Brix Rhodes. A Brix who is similar, and yet different from himself. What’s more, his beloved Samra exists here as well. She’s not dead, but she belongs to the other Brix. Is he in a parallel universe or some alternate reality? What is happening? Is he dreaming or delusional?

He has to get back to his own world and his baby daughter, but can he survive losing Samra a second time? His questions are answered when the other Brix makes that decision for him, and puts everyone’s lives at risk.

Warning! Contains pain medication, a loose helmet, gale-force winds, grief, lying by omission, a change of clothes, and two people getting a chance to correct their past in order to have a future together.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Bring It Back(list) - UNDERSILVER, a Sci-Fi Romance by Linda Mooney

UNDERSILVER

Sci-Fi Romance
by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 56.7K

$3.99 e / $9.99 p / $19.95 a
Narrated by Guy Veryzer
Length: 6 hrs, 20 min
Hear a Sample 

The planet had secrets it never revealed, until it was too late.

Centuries ago, mankind's only hope for survival were the seven vessels specially fitted to send the last survivors of Earth to a planet named New Earth. Seven space ships that became floating cities once they landed on the water-only world teeming with edible seafood, as well as dangerous creatures.

Lt. Jace Novick, of the ship UnderPlatinum, is sent to sister ship UnderSilver to see if he can help find a possible solution to their growing problem. Food is beginning to run low, catches are scarcer, and the tension between ships is increasing as starvation becomes imminent.

Lt. Commander Rhone Derth has created a security device called wrap shields to protect Silver from repeated attacks by the planet's hostile monsters. But it seems the shields are also keeping the fish away as well. Jace believes he has an answer, but it means he and Rhone must work together despite Rhone's antagonism toward him, and the short time he's been allotted before he must return to his own ship.

Together, they try to discover a way to survive as the other vessels turn on each other in a desperate battle for the last of the dwindling food supply, not knowing that another, more malevolent being is watching them from the depths.

Warning! Contains loss of oxygen, vicious sea creatures, massive destruction, scientific theories, near-drowning, subsonic bursts, questionable seafood, alien artifacts, and two people trying to survive what could be the complete annihilation of their species.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Tropes, Five Man Band & Smurfette

 Last night my daughter and I were talking about tropes, specifically the Five Man Band, which I'd never heard of before

(If you're not familiar with tropes, they are just recurring story ideas/patterns. For  example in the romance genre you have the Secret Baby trope, Fake Relationship, Enemies to Lovers, etc. In Fantasy you have the Chosen One or Artifact of Power trope. Everyone generally has favourite tropes and tropes they're bored with. I am a sucker for the Amnesia trope for instance.) There's a site tvtropes.org that lists many of them and provides  examples if you ever want to spend a fun hour clicking links.

The Five Man Band is based on a rock band team structure and consists of the Hero, The Lancer (a foil to the hero), The Smart Guy, the Big Guy, and the Chick (also known as the Heart). An example would be Star Wars with Luke as the Hero, Han Solo as the Lancer, Chewie as the Big Guy, Leia as the Chick and the Droids together as The Smart Guy. Whenever you're dealing with a group or team then it's easier for storytelling purposes to slot characters in a specific role. I get that, I do. What bothers me is the gender dynamics.

While there is no reason why you can't gender flip any of the above roles say to Heroine or Smart Girl or have a Heart that's a guy, all too often the default is to male. Somehow it's perfectly okay to have a ratio of four guys to one girl. As if women are all so identical that one can stand for all, but men are allowed to have personality.

There is another trope called Smurfette, which describes this, too. One lone female with a bunch of guys. If you're think, Oh, that was the 80s, it's still  quite prevalent today.

I especially hate to see it in children's movie such as Rise of the Guardians or Madagascar.

And because I have seen this on TV in movies and in books for my entire life, I have sometimes caught myself doing this, too. Right now I have a fantasy book about a queen in a patriarchal society. She has four male regents and they each have a male candidate that they want her to marry. When I went to revise this after a long hiatus (eight years LOL) I was appalled to discover how few female characters I had. I managed to shoehorn in a few more, but it still skews heavily male.

Since then, for every book I write, I make a list of female and male characters and try to make it 50/50 representation. This means a lot of not automatically making walk-on roles such as a cop or a guard or a lawyer male, as well as balancing larger roles.

Now if we could just convince Hollywood to do it, too...