Fiction Writing + Publication Class in #Falmouth #CapeCod #amwriting #writingtips

My "Fiction Writing and Publication" course is coming to Falmouth, MA, this winter!  In this 5-week class, we'll meet on Tuesday evenings beginning January 26th, from 6-8 pm, and we'll cover a multitude of topics related to writing fiction and getting it published.

There's something for writers at every stage in this class.  We'll go over some of the basics, such as identifying genres in commercial fiction (necessary for meeting reader expectations, writing query letters, submitting to small or digital presses, and/or listing your book in Amazon categories), idea inspiration, staying on track and word count goals.  Once we've covered the basics, we'll move on to showing vs. telling, Goal-Motivation-Conflict charts, character development, and the hook. Common pitfalls will be covered, such as info dumps, cliches, Mary Sues, and POV (Point of View) issues/head hopping.

Finally, we'll get to querying agents or presses and writing the dreaded blurbs and synopsis. We'll go over all the different publishing options available as well as promotion and marketing.

Some of the quotes I received in feedback from my latest class: "Sequential and well-planned lectures.  Kathryn gave ample opportunity for discussions and questions...presented a wealth of information"..."Very good class, covered everything"..."Teacher was great!  Knows her subject!"

So if you're near Falmouth, follow the link for registration info: Falmouth Community School.

Hope to see you there!

How Writing Has Changed My Reading #amwriting #amreading

Having undergone the rigorous journey of writing three novels (which always includes a number of rewrites, several attempts at creating intriguing query letters, the painful process of summarizing the stories into 3-page synopses, and--after that amazing contract offer--three additional rounds of edits to produce the final product), I now approach reading for pleasure in a whole new way.  I'm not sure it's better in terms of my enjoyment of my favorite hobby, but after everything I've learned about writing these past 7 years, I think my new frame of reference is here to stay.

A good book, warm covers, and
a glass of wine?  Nothing makes
me happier!

Reading has always been my passion, and I appreciate good stories in all genres.  That hasn't changed.  But when I was younger, I rarely gave up on a book.  I had it in my head that once begun, a book had to be finished.  This applied whether I was enjoying the book or not.  I can only remember one book that I simply had to give up on--Lady Chatterley's Lover.  After discovering a classic novel with a racy title like that, I assumed I was in for a great read.  But I found the writing dry and tedious; the characters boring and one-dimensional.  I have no idea if the sex scenes were of any interest--I simply couldn't go on with the book.  The fact that I remember this, twenty years later, tells me that I still feel a bit guilty for abandoning the story.

But twenty years ago, I did not have a husband, kids, pets, and a house.  I had plenty of time to read.  Now, my reading time is a precious commodity which I refuse to waste on something I don't love.  Once I combine that reality with the knowledge I've gained throughout the writing process, the guilt disappears.  If, after the first few chapters, I'm not looking forward to continuing the book, I don't.  Unless there's a very compelling reason to keep going, it's time for me to move on to the next one.  I want a book I can't wait to read once I finally have some down time; not one I have to slog through because of some imaginary obligation. (For some of my favorites, see my lists from 2012, 2013, and 2014)

There are a couple of things in particular that will make or break a book for me now.  First and foremost, I have to care about the characters.  I want to feel connected to them, to feel their emotions and root for their success.  If I don't care what happens to the main character, I lose interest fairly quickly, even if the plot seems promising.

One of the most useful things I learned when I began writing was the importance of getting the conflict out in the first 3 pages.  I worked very hard to actually get it onto the first page in both my novels--hopefully the reader is hooked and wants to read more.  When reading, I like to see this as well.  However, I don't necessarily give up on a book that takes me a while to "get into"--Outlander was one of my all-time favorite books, and I was definitely not hooked by the first chapter.  But in that case, enough people I trusted had recommended the series, and I'm so glad I kept going.

Point of view problems are another thing that I may not have noticed before writing my books--but now, they will pull me right out of the story.  Occasional head-hopping is sometimes necessary, especially in romance, and I'm okay with that.  It can be done seamlessly in a way that allows the reader to experience what both characters are feeling.  But omniscience bothers me.  If I'm connected to a character, experiencing events through him or her, and suddenly the narrator tells me something the character can't possibly know, I immediately cringe.  It doesn't mean I'll stop reading, but I do notice it, and it disrupts the flow of the story for me.

It's not just negative things that attract my attention.  When a writer uses a fresh, original metaphor or a wonderfully descriptive phrase, I'll read it over a few times with appreciation.  That's a good thing for a writer to note--but as a reader, it still slows me down and takes my focus from the story to the actual writing.  Not necessarily the best practice when reading for pleasure, but it's something I can no longer help.  Funny dialog, powerful sentences, clever segues into flashbacks: these are all things that grab my interest.  While picking up on these things may momentarily break my concentration, it can also serve as inspiration for my future writing endeavors...and that's a price I'm willing to pay.

If you need a good read with a first page that grabs you right away, try one of my books!  All contain a mix of romance, mystery, suspense, and supernatural secrets to keep the pages turning well into the night!

DIVINE FALL Release Day! #YA #Angels #Romance

It's here!  There's nothing like a release day.  I began DIVINE FALL in February 2013, when I came up with the idea for my first Young Adult book.  Writing YA is a very different endeavor, but I love a new challenge, and I'm thrilled with how this book turned out.  In particular, the first person POV presents a number of obstacles, which I discuss here.

The cover of this book was another new challenge for me, as I was able to take control of the entire process.  With a combination of research and luck, however, I found the right people to bring my vision to life with art and font even more beautiful than I imagined.  More about designing the gorgeous cover here.

Of course, what's inside needs to be compelling, too--and I'm hoping my readers enjoy this story, which is a bit different than my two previous ghost story/reunion romance novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR.  But I needed a change, and this story demanded to be told once the initial idea grew in my mind.

So, without further ado, please enjoy the blurb and the cover of DIVINE FALL below.  My character and setting inspiration board on Pinterest is linked below as well, along with Buy links for all formats.  Thanks for stopping by to celebrate with me!

After tragedy tears Jamie Brandt’s life apart, her only goal is to finish high school so she can leave her small hometown behind.  In the meantime, riding her horse is her main source of solace, until a mysterious stable hand shows up at the barn.  There’s something not quite right about the handsome new employee, and the more Jamie sees of him, the more determined she becomes to figure out what he’s hiding.

Dothan Reed came to historic Huntsville, Maryland, for one reason—revenge.  But his plan can’t move forward until he finds the missing piece he needs to enhance his powers.  As the only surviving Nephilim, Dothan is not only weaker than full-blooded angels; his forbidden lineage makes him an outcast in both worlds.  When he discovers Jamie is the key to locating an ancient weapon, he’s forced to interact with a vulnerable human girl—a task that becomes more appealing with each encounter.

Jamie soon learns Dothan isn’t the only one with a dark secret.  Each new revelation further threatens her safety, and Dothan’s betrayal shatters her heart.  Forgiving him seems impossible, but the thought of turning her back on him is equally painful.

As their connection deepens, Dothan will have to make his own difficult choice: continue on his path of vengeance, or protect the girl he loves.  And when Dothan’s actions thrust Jamie into an unforeseen danger, he must seek the help of his enemy…or risk losing her forever.   

BUY from Amazon - Kindle or Print

BUY from Barnes & Noble

BUY from iTunes

DIVINE FALL Pinterest Board

POV Challenges - #amwriting - Writing Tips

In romance writing, the general practice is to utilize two POVs: the point of view of the female main character (the heroine) and the point of view of the male main character (the hero).  These two separate viewpoints allow the reader to experience the emotions of each character and truly understand the internal conflicts driving actions and decisions.  The reader doesn’t need to be “told” how the character feels, because they are connected to the character, living the story through his or her eyes.  A change in viewpoint is usually signaled by a scene or chapter break.  When segueing from one viewpoint to another within the same scene, a flawless transition must be achieved to avoid the sensation of “headhopping” – the reader should not be bouncing between character viewpoints.  Even when the story is written from a third person point of view, the author needs to ensure that whatever is happening to a certain character is being filtered through that character – the sights, sounds, smells, emotions, revelations, etc.  Nothing pulls me out of a story faster than a sudden omnipotent narration—i.e., “As Beth turned to leave, she missed the evil smile lifting the corners of Jon’s lips.”  If Beth didn’t see it, how do we, the readers who are living through Beth at the moment, know about it?

Often in romantic suspense, one more viewpoint is required: that of the “bad guy”.  This helps the author reveal the antagonist’s motivations and plans without having to use the clichéd conversation between the captor and the hostage…you know, the one where the bad guy suddenly decides to give his victim a detailed explanation of his motives and actions before actually killing his captive.

I interviewed mediums when
writing GULL HARBOR

There happens to be a bad guy in GULL HARBOR, and so I dedicated some chapters to his point of view.  It’s actually somewhat unpleasant as an author to get inside the head of a depraved and desperate lowlife, even if the character is only a product of the author’s imagination.  And in GULL HARBOR, I had another issue: the ghost.  Too many viewpoints can clutter a story, so I solved this problem through the heroine’s skills as a medium.  Claire occasionally slips into dreamlike visions, during which she experiences the traumatic events which ultimately led to the ghost’s tragic death.  In that way, the reader gets a taste of what the ghost went through, and the suspense is heightened as Claire attempts to interpret these visions and unravel the mystery.

I’m always looking for new challenges, so after writing SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, I decided to explore an idea for a young adult (YA) novel my muse was pushing.  I had a complicated paranormal plotline involving the last living Nephilim building in my imagination.  But most YA novels are written in a first person POV, which I’d never tried.  Basically, every single scene, feeling, and revelation was going to have to be relayed from the experiences of my main character, Jamie.  If she doesn’t experience it, the reader can’t either.  If I was looking for a challenge, I got it…but I enjoyed my research, which basically consisted of reading YA book after YA book, noting methods other authors used effectively to relay the story without straying from the all-encompassing POV.  I discovered a number of really great books along the way.  My finished product, DIVINE FALL, is available now, and this title recently won the Reader's Choice Award over at The Romance Reviews!

I love when readers and reviewers say “I felt like I was right there” after reading one of my books.  That means I’ve done each character’s POV well.  Romance is the most popular genre for a reason – people love happy endings.  But a happy ending is boring without plenty of tension and conflict.  The characters go through a lot as they fight to overcome both internal and external obstacles.  When POV is done well, the reader gets to feel each and every emotion along the way.  And while some of those emotions may not be pleasant, romance readers know they will be rewarded, in the end, with a happily-ever-after that makes all the trials and tribulations worth it!