Joanne Brothwell - Thoughts Interred in Phrase

Live Interview on Global Television Morning News!

2012-02-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

Successful Live Reading!

2012-02-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

Joanne Brothwell at McNally Robinson event

Yep, that's me, preparing to MC the McNally Robinson event to promote Love, Loss and Other Oddities: Tales from Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers.

This is prior to the event beginning, when I was starting to feel faint (see my Gatorade to my right) after having spent the previous weekend ill and in bed.

The turnout for the event was great, with roughly thirty people in attendance. While I messed up just slightly with forgetting the pseudonyms of some of the writers, overall, I think it went smoothly.

My reading was just around the two minute mark; my story ending on a cliffhanger, after the heroine bites herself to entice her vampire lover to turn her. The audience waited in a hush for me to read the last words:

"Josie, you shouldn't have done that."

Cover Reveal!

2012-02-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

The wait is over! After three years of imagining what the cover of my novel, Stealing Breath, would look like, it's finally done!

Thanks to the fantastic artwork by Liliana Sanches, this cover is absolutely, unequivocably, undeniably GORGEOUS!

I ADORE it!

The trees and fog are just the right amount of creepy to reflect the setting, and the fair girl with the indigo glow... it's so absolutely PERFECT!

I've loved covers similar to this, like the Fallen books by Lauren Kate, so when I saw my cover for the first time, I was THRILLED, ECSTATIC, OVERJOYED!

So fellow bloggers, what do you think?

Self-Publishing Experiment

2012-02-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

Amanda Hocking, Trylle Series, St. Martin's Press

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about self-publishing after reading Amanda Hocking's book, Switched, and then looking up her amazing success story. Above is the current look to her bestselling Trylle series, now being sold through St. Martin's Press. Below is the look of Amanda's books that she self-pubbed through Amazon, that made her a millionaire.

Amanda Hocking, the self-published Trylle Series

Why would I do that, you might ask? After going through the traditional route of getting a publisher, a process that has proven very enlightening, I still have to wonder, is the grass greener? Arthur Slade, the bestselling author of the Hunchback Assignments, wondered the same thing, which led to his ebook experiment. I expect my novel, Stealing Breath will be released soon through Crescent Moon Press, which excites me to no end. Yet, I can't help but ask myself, could I have made it by self-publishing?

I'm about 25,000 words into my current manuscript, with a goal of completing it in three months. After it has been thoroughly revised and critiqued, I think I might just give it a whirl. I still have plenty of ideas for future novels, so if self-pubbing flops, that's okay. I'll simply get back up, dust myself off and return to the traditional route.

So blog buddies, what do you think? Is there a hidden danger in self-publishing my next book? If there is, please, let me know!

Live Author Reading, Part Two

2012-02-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Today, I dropped off fifteen more copies of the Love, Loss and Other Oddities anthology at McNally Robinson booksellers, and while I was there, I saw the official store poster promoting our event. Check it out!

It was somewhat surreal, seeing that poster, knowing that I will be speaking at that very event in just a few short days. It's a dream come true!

Now, I have begun wondering what in the world to read? I want to choose something that is both compelling to listen to, but is also PG, just in case. Plus, I want to read something from Stealing Breath, my own novel. All in under five minutes, I might add!

Any advice to me about what to choose to read? Should I pick a scene from the beginning of the story, so I don't give too much away? Should I choose something hot and sexy? What would you do?

Live Author Reading

2012-01-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

As my first live reading looms closer, I have to stop hiding in my self-made cave of denial and face the fact that in a few short weeks I will be reading my work in front of a real, live audience. Out Loud.

To assuage my fears, I’ve started to plan. I’ve began thinking about what would make my reading less humiliating, less mortifying, perhaps a reading that I can say was even… successful.

To begin with, I have to examine my goal. My overarching goal is to wow them with my performance so that they remember me long after the reading is over. To do that requires preparation on several levels.

The first level is choosing a passage for maximum impact. I plan to choose a section that will stand out more in the memory, a section to become the “opening notes” that most succinctly represent the “symphony” of the overall book. It should set the mood, and be an enticing hint at the story to come.

I also plan to use the dramatic pause. As the one speaking it feels terribly awkward. Dreadful, even. But the dramatic pause is a great way to draw attention to something you’ve said that you want your audience to linger on, because it gives them time to hear your voice and words resonate through their heads.

Something I plan to keep in mind is how the first and last words is the most important. Most people remember the first and final words of a lecture, particularly if it is describing a new concept. These are elevated awareness moments to hone in on. Grab them by the throat at the beginning, and then make sure your fingerprints are left indented on their necks at the end!

So, fellow bloggers, any further tips for me as I prepare for my live reading? Any words of advice?

You Know You’re Obsessed With Vampire Diaries When:

2012-01-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

You go into a dark, unshakable mood when the show takes a two month hiatus.

You Twitterstalk Nina, Ian, Paul and Joseph every day, sending them tweets in the hopes that they will retweet.

You ignore your children when they need help with homework if it is a VD night.

You buy yourself a blue “Katherine” cameo necklace.

You buy season one and two and watch them, and when finished, start watching season one all over again.

You enter a contest to win a Damon Barbie doll.

You fly to Chicago by yourself to go to a VD convention.

You pay $167.00 for a photo-op with Paul and Ian.

Any obsessions, friends? Tell me about it - I'd love to know I'm not the only one!

Final Line Edit

2012-01-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

The end is so near, I can almost taste it!

Two days ago, I received the final line edit. Right now, I'm doing my last read-through before it goes in for formatting and is out of my hands (and away from my critical eyes) forever.

Yayy! But... wait!

Then it will be in the hands of readers and in front of their critical eyes. Oh, crap.

This is my last chance. I have just three wishes as I face this daunting task: for mental clarity, vision and insight.

Any words of wisdom for me? Perhaps an uplifting quote or two? What is happening in your lives, fellow bloggers?

The Joys of Marketing and Promotion

2012-01-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest head shot after photomanipulation by Glass Slipper Designs. Isn't the background fabulous?I just love how it matches the rest of my blog and website!

Anyhoo, on to more important things....

As one of the seventeen authors in the Love, Loss and Other Oddities: Tales from Saskatchewan anthology by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers, I volunteered to do marketing and promotions in order to get our book "out there". This has been far more work than I expected, but I'm hoping that the effort will also have personal payoff as it also gets me, as an individual, "out there".

This is a quick overview of my marketing/promotions efforts:

We will be in the Star Phoenix, in the Bridges section, thanks to a great write up by another SRW member for the sister newspaper in Regina.

I’m scheduled to be on Shaw TV’s, LitHappens, next Wednesday. It is pre-taped, and I’m not sure when the air date is, but I will let you know.

We have a McNally Robinson reading! Scheduled for February 13^th at 7:30 in the Travel Alcove, with multiple readers. Check it out:

http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-11077/Saskatchewan-Romance-Writers----Reading

I am scheduled to do a live interview with Jeff Rogstadt on February 10^th at noon for the CTV News at Noon. Do pray for me – one of his questions is “has the line been between romance and erotica been blurred?”

The Cliff Wright Branch of the SaskatoonPublic Library is having us do a reading at their Sex in the Stacks series on February 11^th at 2pm. Come on down!

As you may already know, I was interviewed by the Country Press, the Clark’s Crossing Gazette and the Saskatoon Express.Check out the article in the Saskatoon Express: http://issuu.com/saskatoon_express/docs/december_12_2011?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222

I have emailed the reporter at the Globe and Mail who said Saskatoon was the Paris of the Prairies after Amazon.caclaimed Saskatoon as the most romantic city in Canada last February (based on sales of romantic items). No response yet, but I’ve got my fingers crossed!

Phew! That's it, for now. What have you been up to?

Critique Partner

2012-01-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

I need a critique partner. Badly. Do you?

If you do, drop me a line and we can chat! You can reach me by clicking here.

Thanks!

New Year!

2012-01-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

Now that it is officially 2012, I've begun wondering what awaits me in the upcoming year. As a writer, I'm certain I will see many firsts, including my first book being published, my first public reading, and my first book signing.

There are other things I look forward to that are peripherally related to my writing: playing with my new iphone, reading my first e-book on my new Kobo e-reader and spending my McNally Robinson Christmas gift card on some new paper books.

One of the most highly anticipated firsts for me is my book cover. I am both excited and nervous about what it will look like, because it is the one thing about my book that I have absolutely no control over.

Do you have any firsts you are looking forward to this year? If you do, please share!

Resolutions

2011-12-27T06:11:00.000-08:00

Joanne's 2012 Resolutions:

1. Make StealingBreath a bestseller

2. Get interviewed on television

3. Meet Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder

4. Do a live reading

5. Do a book signing

6. Write two more novels

7. Get on the national media

8. Get a second publishing deal

9. Get a film rights contract

10 Go to a convention

What are your resolutions, fellow bloggers? Do share!

The Dreaded Head Shot

2011-12-21T17:07:00.000-08:00

It's getting closer to that day where I will need to make a decision about what headshot to use on my book cover. While publication has obviously been the goal all along, I am finding that with the actual day drawing nearer, I'm becoming increasingly nervous and worrying about frivolous things: What is the image I want to project? Smart and intellectual author, dark and sexy author? Or happy, fun-loving author?

While I think this is really just about getting cold feet in general (as evidenced by the absolute dread I feel about facing this last set of edits), I do want to make sure I don't put an image out there that doesn't reflect who I really am.

Well, who is Joanne, you might ask? My brand says I love dark, paranormal tales where heroines are tortured to the bitter end.

While that is true, it doesn't reflect the part of me that is a total goof-off, a girl who laughs way too much and and continually tells inappropriate jokes.

Or, what about that other strange part of me that secretly wishes she could wear her vintage 1920's flapper dress to work along with the gorgeous antique engagement ring she just got rebuilt?

I guess it comes down to just making a decision and sticking with it. But I was hoping that maybe I could get some advice from you, my fellow bloggers, before I make that decision.

So, here are the three options I'm grappling with. Above, is a photo from three years ago when I was a bridesmaid. I'm hoping to photoshop a dark, vintage background in to make it look a little more antique. And below are the two options from a photoshoot I did specifically for the book (unfortunately, at the time I was in a hurry because of a snowstorm at the time they were taken):

Well, fellow bloggers, what do you think?

New Characters

2011-12-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

model AJ Abualrub in Calvin Klein

This week, I started a brand new novel. New story, new character, and a new challenge.

I just couldn't go back to a half-written novel that I haven't looked at since last January. The concept just didn't inspire me anymore.

And I couldn't write book 3 in the Stealing Breath series either. Sorry, Sarah and Evan. I need a little break from you guys. Don't worry, I won't forget about you, I promise.

So I started fresh. To the left is the hero and the M.C.'s love interest, Kalan (model AJ Abualrub). He was the main character in the half-written novel that wasn't working, and I couldn't let him go. So I resurrected him for this new novel. Welcome back, Kalan!

Enter the antagonist, Kalan's twin brother, Hayden (Also model AJ Abualrub) below:

AJ Abualrub

Handsome, aren't they?

Next I had to find the person who most looked like my female lead, Katie. So far, the only person I've found who looks like the raven-haired beauty with dazzling aqua eyes is Victoria's Secret model, Adriana Lima. Check her out below:

Model Adriana Lima


Victoria's Secret model, Adriana Lima

I know, it's tough, working with such beautiful people. Thinking up hot, steamy sex scenes and ways to torture the pretty people; it's a hard job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Newspaper Interviews

2011-12-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Saskatchewan Express

I've just finished two newspaper inteviews for Love, Loss and Other Oddities: Tales of Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers! One interview was with the Saskatoon Express, a local newspaper that reaches over 65,000 households in Saskatoon; and the other with

Country Press

Country Press, a rural newspaper with a distribution of approximately 15,000. After these interviews, I can officially say that I am not longer afraid of the media.

What I did find with both interviews was how genuinely friendly and interested both interviewers were. They asked questions about the anthology, but were also equally curious about my own book, Stealing Breath, and more specifically, about my writing journey.

So not only did I plug our fabulous new anthology, Love, Loss and Other Oddities, I also got to plug my own book, too!

Check out Love, Loss and Other Oddities: Tales from Saskatchewan - McNally Robinson and Indigo bookstores in Saskatoon, Chapters in Regina, and online through Amazon.ca.

The Joys of Marketing and Promotion

2011-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

Book Promotion: Yes you want it!

As one of the authors in Love, Loss and Other Oddities, the anthology written and published by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers, I have taken on the undesirable but necessary job of marketing and promotion. I have to admit, I volunteered for this committee for self-serving reasons. With my own book coming out in a few months, I thought it would be to my advantage to have gone through the process, and possibly to have made a few contacts along the way. So in I jumped, with both feet.

So far, I've had a few successes. I've managed to get our book into the two major chain bookstores in my city (Saskatoon), McNally Robinson and Indigo. I have also had some interest in the book by Coles in the Midtown Plaza, but not until the new year. Ditto for a few more boutique stores.

I've also begun peppering all major local newspapers and magazines with press releases. So far, this has proven to be a useless strategy. Now, I'll be phoning them. Gack. I hate that.

Why do I hate it, you might ask? Well, for one, I despise talking on the telephone. Just ask my friends. And for another, cold call pitching on the phone is beyond embarassing. Just last week, I phoned a major television station and gave them my pitch, asking if they thought this story would be of value to their station. The man on the phone said "Just a second." and then proceeded to describe the situation to his producer, all of which I overheard: "Some lady is phoning, saying she wrote a book and wants to know if we'll have her on a show." To which the producer replied, "Tell her I'll call her back." Guess what? Yep, no call back yet.

So, I decided to turn to a media-savvy friend for help. This person knows how to navigate the media with finess, to the point where he phones the reporters directly and they know him by first name. Luckilky, he has given me pointers on what to say, and how to say it, in order to pique their interest.

He also gave me a breakdown on stats, such as how many readers see what paper, and how many viewers see what news show. Plus, a breakdown on who is doing the reading and viewing, which is pretty important, since targeting your niche demographic is huge.

So, if you, like me, thought the query process was over after that book deal, you are wrong. Being a writer is a business, one that requires business savvy, taking risks, and putting yourself out there, like it or not.

So tell me, fellow bloggers, have you had to market and promote something? Were you horrified and humiliated to the core, like me? Tell me about it, I'd love to know!

Who's the best Supes?

2011-11-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

Who is the best Supes?

Okay, now that I've shamelessly promoted Love, Loss and Other Oddities, the anthology I'm featured in by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers, I can now get back to blogging about frivolities I love. Like how the red Superman gotchies have gotten considerably smaller over the years, to the point where they have officially disappeared altogether. Curious, isn't it?

Frivolities such as, who is the best Superman? Through the years, I've had a bit of a thing for Supes, for psychological reasons unknown to me (other than the obvious bulging biceps and heroic boy scout stuff). I still get goosebumps when I watch Christopher Reeve as Superman, and probably always will.

Superman One

But I also quite like Brandon Routh, especially his fantastic attempt at channeling the late Chris Reeve. He had the whole thing down, the expressions, the glasses falling down his nose, even the voice. It was almost eerie.

I eagerly awaited the sequel to Superman Returns, which I believe was slated for a 2009 opening. Unfortunately, it never happened.

Promotional Image for Man of Steel

Enter Henry Cavill. Perfect superhero-worthy good looks, body to-die-for and a good actor to boot.

Henry is rapidly shooting toward superstardom and is currently on the big screen as Theseus in The Immortals and has also starred as Charles Brandon in the TV series, The Tudors.

Henry looks to me like he hit the gym with some serious zeal, as evidenced by these latest photos of him shot in Vancouver this fall. Check them out:

Henry Cavill looking super buff

Henry Cavill's muscular form

Henry Cavill: hit the gym, much?

Wow, right?

So, I've come to the conclusion that Henry has officially won my heart as the new Superman. I have every intention of following the progress of this movie until the day it hits theatres, when I expect to see it more than once, probably dragging any other human being who breathes along with me.

Will Henry live up to the sentimental factor of Christopher Reeve? Will he surpass Brandon Routh's hero-worthy version only six short years ago? These are big (red) boots to fill, that's for sure. What do you think?

My First Live Reading!

2011-11-25T15:07:00.000-08:00

Love, Loss and Other Oddities: Tales from Saskatchewan

I have officially booked my first live reading! Love, Loss and Other Oddities, the anthology written by members of the Saskatchewan Romance Writers, is being featured as part of a February library event hosted by Saskatoon Public Library. Check out the details:

The Books of Love (and the authors who write them)
Saturday / February 11 / 2 p.m. / Cliff Wright Branch Auditorium

Do you love to read a good romantic novel? Or do you dream of writing one yourself?

Join local authors from the Saskatchewan Romance Writers group for an afternoon of writing hints, publishing tips, and readings from writers who have published in this alluring genre.

***This is an adult program and is part of the Sex in the Stacks series. ***

Available Now!

2011-11-20T17:57:00.000-08:00

Love, Loss and Other Oddities

Join me in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Saskatchewan Romance Writers with an anthology of twenty all-new stories of love, loss, and strange happenings on the prairie from seventeen Saskatchewan authors, including two stories of mine!

Love, Loss and Other Oddities
Tales From SaskatchewanForeword by New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh

LOVE
Back for a weekend in the city where it all went wrong, Emma has reservations about everything, especially him.
LOSS
A trip to her childhood home offers a Cree woman a chance to settle more than her late father’s estate.
AND OTHER ODDITIES
When Sam appears in human form, Litha must decide between dying to be with him and living without him.

Love and loss aren’t the only things happening every day on the prairie: Saskatchewan is full of the unexpected. Seventeen regional authors explore just how strange and wonderful this province can be in these twenty stories. From historical fiction to paranormal romance, with stops along the way for contemporary adventures, suspense, and urban fantasy, this anthology is the one Saskatchewan road that won’t take you on a straightforward journey.

Nurturing local writers of popular fiction for twenty-five years, Saskatchewan Romance Writers is proud to present this collection of outstanding short stories. Come take a trip through the extraordinary prairie!

“The title is a perfectly accurate one… there is something here to suit all tastes. I have read all the stories and have been well entertained.” – Mary Balogh, New York Times bestselling author

ISBN: 978-0-9878337-0-9

Paperback Price: $14.95 at lulu.com

Cover photo by Karly Woolsey

Love, Loss and Other Oddities - Book Release!

2011-11-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Hunger Games Official Trailer

2011-11-17T16:58:00.001-08:00

<a href="http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/intl/ca-en/">http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/intl/ca-en/</a>
Enjoy!

Crazytown Conventions 2012

2011-11-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

Writer's Conventions

As I move from editing (hopefully soon) into promoting my book, Stealing Breath, I've begun thinking seriously about attending a convention or two.

Conventions seem like a great way to have fun, network with other authors, and connect with potential readers. However, with so many options out there, it's been difficult to decide which one would be worth the cost. I have a few criteria I'm evaluating each convention with, such as: location (is it hot or a good vacay destination?), fun stuff (is there a dance or ball or party?), will I learn something (writing workshops), promotion opportunities (is there a book signing or a promotion ally?), and whether there will be potential readers.

So here are a few of the Cons I'm seriously considering and how they weigh out in my mind:

Romantic Times Booklovers Readers Convention in Chicago.
This convention has everything a writer could possibly want: booklovers, writers to network with, workshops for writing, parties (Vampire Ball and Faery Ball, Oh My!) and a great destination. It looks like the cost of the five day convention is under $500, not including the many promo opportunities they offer (including a book signing). With 1,200 people in attendance, there are bound to be a few connections made!

Undead Con
For the Vampire and Halloween lover, this convention is primarily for fans of Anne Rice's vampire Lestat. But besides the vampire ball, cool location (New Orleans, squeal!) and fun stuff, the side benefit is that some pretty big writers will be there, including one of my personal faves, Kelley Armstrong.

Creation Entertainment: Vampire Diaries Convention
Also in Chicago (the week of the RT Booklovers Con, BTW), this convention has zero learning, but all kinds of hotness, including Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalter. Attending this would just be a nice little cherry on top of the Booklovers Convention treat.

When Words Collide
Okay, this one has no exotic location, being that it is in my former place of residence, Calgary, Alberta. But it is a nice opportunity to meet potential readers and other writers. Advantage: it's only $50 and within driving distance. Disadvantage: Only about 300 people attend.

KillerCon
I can't find out much about this convention, but I suppose the name says a lot. I do know it's in Vegas (I love Vegas!) it has some fabulous guests, including Kelley Armstrong, and there appears to be several workshops for writers.

So, fellow bloggers, are there any conventions you're considering? If yes, tell me about it! Maybe I'll meet you there!

Announcement Coming Soon!

2011-11-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

A big announcement is on the way, people! Check back soon to hear the big news! I promise not to disappoint!

Stealing Skin Book Trailer

2011-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

Since I have recently submitted my second manuscript, Stealing Skin, to Crescent Moon Press (no offer yet, unfortunately), I was inspired to try yet another book trailer. Keep in mind; these trailers are not the final product, but works in progress (because honestly, I’m really a luddite). That being said, tell me what your reaction is to this latest video for Stealing Skin!

Hunger Games Promotional Images

2011-10-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Katniss Everdeen

Update! I recently received the first half of my manuscript, Stealing Breath, with the second set of edits from my editor. I can't wait to sink my teeth into them, because I so badly want my book done!

While I was waiting for these edits, I've been busy thinking about my cover art (again), and all of the promotional items I might put it on. For example: bookmarks, stickers, magnets, mousepads, coffee cups, etc. With all of the choices available, I haven't quite decided what I'll get.

While I was searching the options, my awesome writer friend, Hayley E. Lavik, sent me the promotional images for the Hunger Games, which made me so super excited, I had to go google an update, thus proving the power of promotional images!

So, fellow bloggers, what promotional items would you invest in? Are you excited about the Hunger Games movie? Is anything new?

Peeta Mellark

Gale Hawthorne

Haymitch

Cinna

New Trailer

2011-10-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

This is the new trailer I've made using some higher quality images. Which is better, the one I made earlier? Or this one?

Promotional Images

2011-10-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Edward Cullen

I know it's fluff, but I love Promotional Images from movies and television.

Why? Maybe because I'm fickle. Maybe because I like to study what it is about those images that affect me emotionally, perhaps motivating me to watch those shows or buy the books. Or maybe I just like to gaze at pretty people.

Regardless, here are a few promotional images I want to share with you.

Enjoy (Cuz I know I will)!

Rosalie Hale

Vampire Diaries Season 3

True Blood Season 4

Vampire Diaries Season 2

True Blood Season 1

Vampire Diaries Season 3

Vampire Diaries Season 2

Breaking Dawn Part I

Edward fighting off the bloodlust

Twilight

True Blood Season 3

Book Trailer How-To

2011-10-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were wondering how I made my Stealing Breath book trailer a few weeks ago, here is a step-by-step process:

1. Choose images for the project. I used my own, but there are plenty of royalty-free sites out there:

http://www.publicdo%20mainpictures.%20net/

http://www.freefoto%20.com/index.%20jsp

http://www.morguefi%20le.com/

http://www.freedigi%20talphotos.%20net/

http://www.sxc.%20hu/

2. Choose your royalty-free music. This is the site I used for mine:

http://incompetech.com/

3. Find a movie maker that works. This is the one I preferred:

http://web.photodex.com/

Done! Now upload your photos, music and write in your captions and then enjoy your creation!

Wasn't that easy?

Pay It Forward Blogfest!

2011-10-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in a the Pay it Forward Blogfest hosted by Alex Cavanaugh and Matthew McNish. Check it out!

I won a Blog Award!

2011-10-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

Yay! I won an award from Sneha Sunny's blog: http://sunnysneha93.blogspot.com/p/awards.html!

This is an award with only two requirements:
1. Tell seven things about yourself
2. Pass it on to 15 bloggers

7 Random Facts About Joanne:

I’m a coffee fiend

I’m obsessed with vintage jewellery

I have to go to the bookstore at least once a week.

I love Vampires Diaries

I always belt out Lady GaGa while driving

I can’t cook

My characters are like real people to me

Now for 15 of my favorite blogs:

http://karyngood.blogspot.com/ Karyn Good
http://janarichards.blogspot.com/ Jana Richards
http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/ Matthew McNish
http://blog.hayleyelavik.com/ Hayley E Lavik
http://writersally.blogspot.com Sheri Larson
http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/ Sherry Soule
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ Alex Cavanaugh
http://marierosedufour.blogspot.com/ Marie Rose Dufourhttp://anallegedauthor.blogspot.com/ An Alleged Author
http://carnivalerian.blogspot.com/ Carnivalerian
http://lesleyannemcleod.blogspot.com/ Lesley-Anne Mcleod
http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/ Stina Lindenblatt
www.karstenknight.com Karsten Knight
http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com/ Cassandra Clare
http://crescentmoonpress.com/blog/ Crescent Moon Press

Book Trailer

2011-10-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

What do you think?

Update

2011-09-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the progress of Stealing Breath and it's (somewhat) imminent publication with Crescent Moon Press. After extensive edits and revisions, the manuscript has finally gone back to my editor. The whole process took me two weeks longer than I'd expected, but I didn't want to rush. I took my time, carefully considered the changes, and then sent it back. Now, I wait her second review, and after that, a final line edit. Then... (drum roll) publication!

Unfortunately,k I'm getting super twitchy about my cover art. So far, I've heard nothing. Actually, not true, two months ago I heard that I wasn't even on the cover art schedule! Now that my fantastic writer friend Karyn Good has revealing the cover for her book, Backlash, I'm getting even more twitchy! I'm dying for Phatpuppyart to be my cover artist, and I've even asked for her, but I have no idea whether I will get my wish. So I sit. And wait. And try really hard to not chew my nails down to the knuckle.

Now I've begun revisions of Stealing Skin, the sequel to Stealing Breath. I'm one-third of the way through the manuscript, and things are humming along nicely. It's amazing how much easier it is to revise now that I've had my previous novel edited!

As I move into the marketing and promotion phase of my writing career, I've begun to think of blurbs, taglines and pitches. Using the rule of three, I've developed a quick, three-sentence blurb I'm hoping to use for promotional materials. Perhaps on a bookmark, a brochure, or maybe it will even hit the back cover.

I'm debating changing it from this:

An ancient magic has resurfaced,

the soul of the Indigo Child is at stake.

Beware those with the Stealing Breath...

To dropping the magic and replacing it with this:

An ancient evil has resurfaced,

the soul of the Indigo Child is at stake.

Beware those with the Stealing Breath...

The reason I've decided to change this is that I think the word magic brings up a certain kind of image, a sort of Wiccan connotation. My novel is not at all about magic of that sort, so I decided to change magic to evil.

What do you think of my three-line blurb? Do you have any cover art issues you are struggling with? How are things going with your manuscript?

Perfecting The Pitch Synopsis, Part II

2011-09-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Part II of my workshop presentation, Perfecting The Pitch Synopsis, for The Muse Online Writers Conference, on October 6th, 2011. For Part I, check here. Let's take a look at Part II:

Show them How Your Story is Unique, Fresh and Authentic

What is it about your writing that is different from every other writer in the slush pile? Figure out what it is about your work that’s more quirky, mesmerizing, charming, edgy or provocative than everyone else, and then make sure you highlight those qualities in your pitch.

The book publishing industry is all about the cold hard cash. Publishers do not go into this to break even, they are there to make money. Period. Unfortunately, us creative writer types may feel like this is an affront to our creative spirit, but unfortunately, we must all come to the realization that there is no alternative. We just have to suck it up, don’t we?

What is it about your book that will convince them it will be profitable? Distil those commercial elements and make sure your pitch starts with that. Katherine Sands, literary agent with the Sarah Freyman Literary Agency, says:

“…you can hire a hit man, but you can't hire a literary agent. An agent must be seduced, struck, charmed, entertained, enriched, enlightened, enlivened and again, seduced, to take you on as client.”

http://absolutewrite.com/novels/katharine_sands.htm

The Hook

Agents and publishers want to be impressed. They’re looking for something that will stand out, something distinctive, fresh – something that piques their interest – the hook.

A pitch synopsis should read like the back “blurb” of a novel. It should set the mood, and be an enticing hint at the story to come, a hint that highlights an exciting incident or crisis that causes a series of obstacles for the character to overcome.

So, what Makes an Effective Hook?

Let’s break it down:

Character.

Right off the bat, agents/editors wants to know who the main protagonist is. Most pitches start with answering that very question, often in the very first sentence.

Setting.

Where does your story take place? This is vitally important to agents, as they need to know if it is small town USA, an alien planet or Victorian England. Sometimes the setting alone will create obstacles for the character to overcome, and that information should be available immediately.

The Goal

What does the character want? What do they want to accomplish? Is it to find ever-lasting love, to achieve independence, or to kick an addiction? Decide what your character wants and make sure it is clear in your pitch.

-Hayley E. Lavik, http://hayleyelavik.com/index.html

The Motivation

For what purpose does the character want to achieve their goal? What is the driving force, pushing them forward, against the odds? Why does Harry fight Voldemort? To win the girl? To fight for freedom from oppression?

The Obstacle

What is stopping them from achieving their goal? Is there a monster trying to kill them? An ex-boyfriend who won’t let them go? Is the protagonist in the middle of a harsh desert, with no water supply and no way out? Show the barriers the character faces.

-Kat Aubrey, http://carnivalerian.blogspot.com/

The Conflict.

What is the problem the main character faces, both internal and external? As people, we love to hear about the problems other people face. Just look at the sheer volume of reality shows there are, and it’s obvious we love conflict!

I don’t need to tell you your story needs conflict, because you already know that. But just make sure you include a summary of the conflict in your pitch synopsis.

Literary agent Dan Lazar talks about how writers need to summarize the conflict in order to successfully pitch their story.

"...It's also important here to nail down some kind of central conflict. Again, try to avoid generic descriptions. A main character 'finding himself' is too generic. Generic = boring. Every character goes through internal changes in a novel; that goes without saying. Saying 'my novel is exciting' or 'is full of passion and suspense' is also too generic. You're telling me, not showing.

The central conflict is usually some kind of external conflict, goal or mission that your main character(s) have to work through. There's usually an interpersonal relationship at stake as well (that you should mention), which in itself will imply a character changes. In short, show why your future reader will care about your character."

-Dan Lazar, http://www.chucksambuchino.com/

The Stakes.

Make sure you clearly show what is at risk should the character fail. Is there a possibility of danger, loss, failure? The loss of a lover? Loss of self-sufficiency? Death? World domination?

Make sure you ratchet up the tension. At the beginning, the blurb should hint at the conflict. But by the end, the tension should have mounted to the point where the threat is imminent.

Let’s take a look at the pitch synopsis for my current novel, Stealing Breath, soon to be published by Crescent Moon Press:

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent... creature.

Did I touch on each of the points? Let’s take a look:

Character: Twenty-one year old Sarah Ross; Setting: the backwoods of North Dakota; Goal: Find a Missing Child; Motivation: Oops, nope; Obstacle: Forest; Conflict: Attacked by a creature while searching for a missing child; The Stakes: Life and death.

http://www.joannebrothwell.com/

A Ghost in My Photo?

2011-09-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post featured some photos of Ancient Spirals Retreat Centre, where I attended the Saskatchewan Romance Writers annual writing retreat. What I didn't notice at the time when I wrote the post, was this vague dark image in the last photo. Check out this picture and tell me, what do you see?

Author Bio

2011-09-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I enjoyed a Saturday with the Saskatchewan Romance Writers at their annual fall retreat located at Ancient Spirals Retreat Centre.

Check out the fabulous scenery from the day!

One of the goals I met was writing a new author biography for both my own book and the SRW's Romance Anthology due to be released in December.

Here's the latest, updated version:

Author Bio

Joanne Brothwell is the author of Stealing Breath, a paranormal romance from Crescent Moon Press. Joanne lives in the country with her family where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis. You can find her online at www.joannebrothwell.com

What do you think? Interesting? Too weird? Too creepy? C'mon, tell me what you think!

Man of Steel, Henry Cavill

2011-09-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

Man of Steel, Henry Cavill in THE SUPERSUIT.

The Superman franchise is resurrected in Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures “Man of Steel” from director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight). The film stars Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman, Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Laurence Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Julia Ormond, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Russell Crowe. Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy. “Man of Steel” is being produced by Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder. http://www.movienewz.com/superman-man-of-steel/

Oh my! Russel Crowe as Jor-El, Julia Ormond as supermommy and Laurence Fishburn as Perry White! This movie is power-packed to the nuts with this all-star cast.

Let's take a look at a few more pics of Henry, taking note of the obvious lack of red gotchies (for more on my rant about red gotch, click here). Check Henry out:

Bulging. Muscles. Very, very nice.

Don't mess with the Man of Steel.

Ah, yes. The fist shot.

Whew. Tough-guy photo shoots are rough!

I want that job. Please. How do I get an interview for a face-wiping job? Seriously.

Clark Kent!

Clark, taking a stroll alongside the paparazzi.

Clark, biking around, looking nonchalent.

Is that General Zod? Or Ursa? Oooh, so exciting!

Go Henry! Is he going to kick some ass with those bulging biceps and deadly coiffed hair, or what?

Bring it on!

Pitch Synopsis, Part 1

2011-09-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

For the next few weeks, I will be posting portions of the workshop presentation I'm preparing for The Muse Online Writers Conference. Keep in mind, I haven't been through the material for spelling, grammar and punctuation!

The Pitch Synopsis

You may be wondering why I’m using the words Pitch and Synopsis together, as if they’re concepts that must go together, much like peanut butter and jelly. They can be apart, but they’re so much better combined, don’t you think? Truly, the purpose of the pitch synopsis is to succinctly tell someone else what your book is about.

-Andrew McAleer; The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists).

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, a pitch is: A line of talk for persuasion; and synopsis: a brief, general review or condensation; summary.

Being able to effectively summarize your book is one of the hats we authors unfortunately have to wear. We might not like it, in fact we may truly DESPISE it, but it is what it is. Sometimes pitching our product is actually more effort than writing the darn thing in the first place!

The pitch synopsis doesn’t give lay out every little nitty gritty detail, nor does it give away the end of the book. Simply said, the pitch (sometimes referred to as the elevator pitch) is a quick, highly-distilled synopsis of the unique and profitable elements of your book.

Why is a pitch synopsis so important?

“Tell me about your book,” is the question you are expected to answer, during the in-person pitch, in your query letter, or even for your next-door neighbour. But it goes beyond that, doesn’t it? If the Acquisitions Editor finds your pitch interesting, they may take it on to the Acquisitions Editorial Committee, where your pitch synopsis is then reviewed by a panel of marketing and publicity people. Now your pitch has to impress all of them, requiring it to really be something outstanding.

That’s still not all, is it? Now, we have to actually appeal to readers. If you are like most writers, you likely spend a number of hours a week looking at books, buying books and reading books. What makes the books you purchase stand out above the hundreds or thousands that you rejected? Something impressed you. Something made those particular books stick out in your mind, didn’t they?

So it’s not just the importance point in your career where your perfect pitch makes the difference between acceptance of your manuscript, or rejection; it goes far beyond that. Your pitch synopsis will also eventually have to seduce your intended audience, and every agent, editor and bookseller knows this.

As the author of a book that I’m assuming you want to sell, we have to be our own salesperson. When we look at the industry, the elevator pitch is absolutely essential:

Being able to sum up unique aspects of your service or product in a way that excites others should be a fundamental skill. Yet many executives pay little attention to the continuing development of "the elevator pitch"—the quick, succinct summation of what your company does.

-Aileen Pincus

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/jun2007/ca20070618_134959.htm

Are you sweating yet? Yes, there’s a lot at stake. From the agents, acquisitions editorial committee, to booksellers or your next door neighbour who may be a potential reader, let’s figure out how to get your pitch synopsis to shine!

Well, here is the content of Part One. What do you think? Anything you would add to the workshop content at this point?

Preparing a Conference Workshop

2011-09-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

After stressing, fretting, researching and reading, my presentation for The Muse Online Writers Conference has finally been written. At this point, the presentation is sitting at roughly thirteen pages (a very rough thirteen), and will likely be condensed down to eleven or twelve.

I feel confident that this is a useful presentation, and am hoping people will benefit from it.

Here is the tidied-up version of the workshop description:

Perfecting the Pitch Synopsis

Presented by Joanne Brothwell

author of Stealing Breath,

coming soon from Crescent Moon Press.

ONE DAY WORKSHOP: October 6, 2011

a pitch synopsis is like an audition or a job interview; it gives your audience a taste of what they will get from your novel. Whether it’s a query letter, an in-person pitch, or an informal chat with your next-door neighbour, pitching has the potential to sell your story.

The pitch synopsis is your opportunity to show why your novel is fresh and unique, and give a hint of the perfectly distilled, profitable elements from your story.

Give your audience a reason to want more!

What I'm not sure about is handouts. So far, I have created a checklist, but I would also like to develop a toolkit. This is going to take a little bit more time to develop, as it will basically be a condensed version of the full presentation.

Fellow bloggers, when you attend workshops or online seminars, what do you find most useful? What type of handouts do you find most helpful, and why?

Fan Art (Spoiler Alert!)

2011-09-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well, not quite fan art, but, yesterday, while working on revisions of Stealing Breath, I hit a wall. My brain froze up, creativity tanked and productivity plummeted. I knew I needed a break, but I was afraid if I turned on Oprah, I might never go back.

So I decided to draw a picture of my characters, Sarah and Evan.

This drawing is of my characters from Chapter 13. I won't bother going into a description of that chapter, because I think you can see what happens!

Credit for the original photo goes to a very hot Armani jeans advertisement with models Evandro Soldati and Julia Stegner.

What do you do to stoke your creative fires? How do you cope with brain drain?

Front Cover Blurb

2011-09-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

An ancient magic has resurfaced,

the soul of the Indigo Child is at stake.

Beware those with the Stealing Breath...

Inspiration

2011-08-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

On my way home last night I was so inspired by the scenery around me, I just had to take a few pictures with my phone. The first one was of a group of crows sitting atop leafless, dying trees. Unfortunately, I was only able to capture a mere fraction of the birds that had been there when I rolled up. Of course, when I slowed down alongside them, they began to fly away. There must have been over a hundred crows sitting on these trees!

When I look at that first picture, I get a huge chill. The dark sky, the trees drowning in a massive slough with scavenger birds perched atop the tangled mass of branches. So very Vampire Diaries, don't you think?

The second is a lonely prairie landscape with a beautiful, yet foreboding sky. When I look at this picture I get a strange sense of longing, because I know fall is just around the corner.

Both pictures have been picnik'd, just for clarity (and for creepy factor, of course!)

Does scenery inspire you? In what way?

The Muse Online Writers Conference

2011-08-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

On October 6th, I'll be presenting on "Writing the Perfect Pitch Synopsis" at The Muse Online Writers Conference. The conference runs from October 3 - 9, 2011 and is a FREE conference, open to writers at any stage in their writing career. In the following weeks leading up to the conference, I'll be posting bits and pieces of my workshop online (a little sneak peek for my Followers!).

I've begun fleshing out the meat of the presentation, but before I did that, it all started with creating the website blurb:

A query letter is like an audition or a job interview; it gives a potential agent/editor a taste of what they will get from your novel. Of that query letter, the “pitch synopsis” is the most important part. It’s your opportunity to show why your novel is special, unique and to give them a taste of the perfectly distilled, profitable elements from your story. Give an agent/editor a reason to want read more!

Well, what do you think? Tell me, I gotta know!

(Almost) 100 Followers Giveaway!

2011-08-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

So close! I'm at 94 Followers now and I'm a happy blogger! Close enough to 100, and besides, I love giving stuff away!

For those who entered the contest, a prize will be awarded!
Drum roll, please!

Alleged Author, with 8 points, won Beautiful Creatures
Nicole Zoltack, with 4 points, won Bad Moon Rising
Rachel Searles, with 2 points, won The Burning Place
Lindy, with 2 points, won Queen of Shadows
Elle, with 2 points, won The Exile

Honorable mentions go to those who didn't enter the contest, but did tweet or comment:
Sneha Sunny
Karyn Good
Stina Lindenblatt
Sean Cummings

For those of you who signed up to Follow, but didn't enter the contest by Commenting, feel free to contact me and I'll make sure you get a prize!

Thanks for being such great blog friends!

Joanne's Epic Summer Contest!

2011-08-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've been hovering at 80-some Followers for what feels like a million years, and I'm ready to move on to a nice, round number. I want 100 Followers.

What better way to get followers than to give away something all of us love? Books!

Here are the books I'll be giving away once I've hit that magic number of Followers: 100

A signed copy of the graphic novel, The Exile by Diana Gabaldon!

A signed copy of Funeral Pallor by Sean Cummings!

Here are the contest rules.
1. Become a new Follower - 2 points
2. Get me a new Follower - 2 points
3. Facebook the contest - 2 points
4. Tweet the contest - 2 points
5. Mention the contest on your blog - 2 points

Remember to mention your efforts in the comments section of this post! I'll be checking this post once that lovely 100 Followers is met, and I don't want to miss anyone!

Randomizer will provide the winners with their prizes. So come on - help me hit 100 Followers and compete for a free book!

My First Media Interview!

2011-08-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I've finally crossed a hurdle that I've been terrified of crossing for months - the dreaded media interview! I have done interviews before, both television and magazine, but those were for my job. That was different. I had to do it.

But this time, it was just me, not hiding behind a company name or professional credentials. Joanne Brothwell, home town girl, shamelessly promoting her upcoming book in the local newspaper.

I contacted them on a whim, thinking the probably wouldn't reply. But when they called me back the same day, I realized I was actually going to DO THIS!

The interview time was set, and then I agonized over what to say, how much information to give about the novel, and what headshot was best for a town paper.

When the telephone rang, I was ready (sort of), and answered the questions with as few um's and ah's as possible. I gave a synopsis of my back cover blurb, the genre, and the publisher. Then I added a little tidbit about how the setting is loosely based on the town of Melfort, with many of the local landmarks showing up in some of the scenes.

I don't expect to acquire readers from this interview, but I am hoping there will be some word-of-mouth happening after the article comes out.

So fellow bloggers, have you had a similar experience with shameless self-promotion? Tell me about it, I'd love to hear!

Inspired to Plot

2011-08-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I spent some time out at the lake, a setting where the majority of my novel, Stealing Breath, took place.

I was inspired by the beautiful and creepy surroundings - check out this photo I took on my way home this morning - looks like my blog banner, doesn't it? The inspiration resulted in plotting out the third novel in the Stealing Breath series (yet to be titled).

Writing a series is definitely tough. But I wanted to get started on the process of plotting the third, since I just finished number two, and the storyline is still fresh in my mind.

I grappled with introducing new and unique settings, new characters, each character's unique story arc, and how the conflict can be different from the other two, while still following a similar vein.

Another thing I had to keep in mind was the symbols and minor details I threw into the previous novels, and how to ensure that those things are re-introduced and resolved by this third (maybe final, maybe not) novel.

So fellow bloggers, have you ever written a series? If you have how did you handle it? Or have you ever been inspired by your surroundings so much you were compelled to write?

I'm Done!

2011-07-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. Saving Skin, book two in the Stealing Breath series, is finally finished!

I started the manuscript on May 12th, wrote like a complete mad woman, and today, July 22nd, I completed the last chapter.

I know I face hours and months of revisions and re-writes. But the most important part - the initial creation - is done.

Stealing Skin is complete at 77,000 words (just enough to add about five more during revisions).

So, blog buds, update me on the status of your WIP's. Is summer a time to relax, kick back, and take a break from writing? Or is it an opportunity to gear up and write your petutie off?

Breaking Dawn

2011-07-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

No post this week, I'm on holidays! But because I'm a Twilight twi-hard, here's the teaser to Breaking Dawn, Part I. Enjoy!

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Holidays

2011-07-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I head out on a road trip to beautiful Victoria, BC for a much-needed vacation from my paid work.

While in BC, I intend to relax and rejuvenate while taking in the sights, but it will also be a working holiday. Because writing is my passion, I'm thrilled to spend the next two weeks finishing up the sequel to my first novel, currently titled Stealing Skin.

But the other part of my working holiday is research. Over fifteen years ago, on a trip to BC, I took in the Sooke Potholes, a Regional Park on the banks of the lovely Sooke River.

The last time I was there, we found an the remains of an abandoned stone building, apparently a structure that was intended to be a luxury resort, that never was completed, due to the developer's funds running dry.

At the time, the building sparked my imagination, but it wasn't until now that I was able to do anything with it. These remains are part of the location of my third (also abandoned) novel. I'm hoping that by returning to this secluded, gorgeous building, my energy for that project will be revived.

Here are a couple more photos of the remains of the abandoned building. So cool!

So fellow bloggers, do you have any holidays coming up? If you do, will you be taking a vacay from writing, or are you like me and diving right in?

Cover Art

2011-06-25T06:28:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was asked by my publisher, Crescent Moon Press, to submit a form for my cover art. There were several questions about the story, the characters, symbols, etc. Some questions had to do with what I had in mind for a cover. They made no promises, but I was just grateful they asked for input.

I have to admit, I'm feeling a little skittish about the whole thing, as book covers are hugely important to me. I'm the first to admit that if a book cover turns me off, I probably won't buy the book. In fact, I refused to buy one of my favorite books, The Hunger Games, for months, just because I didn't like the cover. I eventually got over it, but this is the only example of a time I bought a book despite the cover.

I still haven't heard whether the title Stealing Breath will remain, but these are the links I gave them as examples of what I had in mind for my cover:

Gorgeous, aren't they?

I have to admit, it's difficult for me to accept that my input in this is limited. I consider myself something of an artist, and to just let go is a big challenge for me.

Have you ever faced a situation where you've had no control over something that represents you? How did you deal with it?

Presenting for The Muse Online Writers Conference

2011-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

On October 6th, I'll be presenting a workshop on "Perfecting Your Pitch Synopsis" at The Muse Online Writers Conference, a FREE online conference open to writers at any stage in their writing career.

A number of the writers with Crescent Moon Press will be involved in the conference, which runs from October 3-9, 2011.

As I put together my material for my workshop, I realized I hadn't yet written a pitch synopsis for my latest WIP, currently sitting at 40,000 words, Stealing Skin, the sequel to Stealing Breath. So rather than finish getting my material finished for the workshop, I of course got sidetracked by writing my new pitch synopsis (way more fun than writing a how-to workshop presentation). Check it out:

Just as Sarah is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child, and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters apart when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s attempts to uncover clues to his whereabouts end up leading her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true—Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his brutal, abusive family of Necromancers.

Sarah’s search leads her not only to the evil people of Evan’s past he tried so desperately to protect her from—but also to an ancient text on Nigromancy—on how to summon the dead.

Knowing her powers are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face death to save her beloved. But once he is rescued, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?

It's a first draft, but what do you think? Do you have any good advice on writing the perfect pitch synopsis you'd like to share?

Taglines, Part Two

2011-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

A tagline is a seductive, one-sentence pitch to immediately hook the reader.

Here I am, back on the topic of taglines. Why? You might ask? Well, I'm currently contemplating using a tagline for my website. About a month ago I decided to go ahead and get a professional, custom website made by Glass Slipper Designs. I just found out last Friday my web design it is nearly complete! Yay! I can't wait to see it!

But Jo at Glass Slipper asked a final question before she sent me the mock-up: did I want a tagline in the banner? Hmmm. I told her I had to chew on the idea, because quite honestly, I hadn't even considered it.

To make my decision, I've been checking out a number of author websites. Of course, all of my favorite authors have taglines that read "So-and-so, New York Times Bestselling Author." Well, those weren't too terribly helpful. So I checked out a few others, and one I quite like is Sherry Soule's blog, as well as the tagline for the P.C. Cast website.

So here are a few taglines I'm kicking around in my head:

Atmospheric Tales of Dark Love

Enter the Dark World of Joanne Brothwell

Haunting Tales, Edged With Lightning

I dunno. I'm not really feelin' it with these three. Please feel free to comment, or give me a tagline suggestion, I'd love to hear your opinion!

Jace Wayland has been cast!

2011-06-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

The casting decision of who will play Jace Wayland in the film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s book, City of Bones, has finally been made!

"Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?'

Jace said, "Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself. "

..."At least," she said, "you don't have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland."

"Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting." - Jace Wayland, City of Bones

Since Jace is my hands-down, favourite character of all time, I have been watching for an announcement on this casting decision like a meth junkie checks over his shoulder after twenty-four hours of insomnia.

The decision came after months of speculation and discussion among rabid fans (Alex Pettyfer, anyone?) with many of us waiting with fingers and toes crossed. And now, finally, the wait is over.

Drumroll, please…. Jace Wayland will be played by Jamie Campbell Bower! Shrieks! Shouts! Hits the floor...Wait. What?

I have to admit, at first glance, I thought, what the…? This dude kinda looks like he hasn’t bathed in like, three weeks. But then I took a look at some of his work. Jamie is known for his role as King Arthur in the TV series Camelot (below) and as the Volturi vampire Caius in the Twilight movies. Okay, I've begun to warm up to the idea of him playing my beloved Jace.

But... but... he's not angelically beautiful!

No he isn't (actually, he's pretty hot in that top photoshopped pic, isn't he?), but he has been given the stamp of approval by Cassandra Clare, who was quoted as saying his audition was “un-effing-believable”. She actually even admitted to crying during the romance scene between him and Lily Collins! So maybe this dude can seriously act. Plus, look at what some great makeup and costuming can do to make a pretty average-looking guy look pretty cool:

The other thing I have to remind myself of is the fan reaction when Robert Pattinson was initially cast as Edward Cullen in Twilight. It was an overwhelmingly negative response to him as well. Obviously something about Pattinson that got him the job, and that same something also has helped propell the Twilight franchise right out of the Stratosphere. So maybe these movie execs actually know what they’re doing?

As I researched this blog post I scoured the web for great photos for this guy, but it wasn't easy. The top one is a really great one, but he's not a natural poser for photo-op's. However, I did watch serveral YouTube videos of him, and found him very lovely to look at as well as listen to. He has a kind of natural charisma that sometimes a camera just doesn't pick up.

So Jamie, this is your chance to shine. This is your once-in-a lifetime opportunity to blast yourself right into that super-stardom world of crazy-teens, freaky moms and stalker paps. You are no longer Jamie. Now you are the stele-wielding, rune-inked, angelically beautiful Shadowhunter, Jace Wayland.

Don’t Screw It Up, Okay?

There's A New Bad Boy In Town

2011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Right now, as I wait for my editor from Crescent Moon Press to begin the first edit of my manuscript, Stealing Breath, I'm madly trying to use this opportunity while I have no set deadlines to get the sequel underway. I've tentatively titled the work Stealing Skin, and right now it's sitting at a mere 22,000 words. But at least it's a start.

I totally forgot how fun it is to sink my teeth into a new project! I've been so disciplined over the past few years to not get into anything new and not veer too far away from edits and revisions, that I forgot how fun it is to start a fresh new story - new plot, new characters, new ideas.

Check out what my uber-villain in Stealing Skin looks like.I know, I know. All of my characters are hot, even the bad guys. But what the hell! That's what escapism is for, right? He he.

Here's a little glimpse at some of the lovely little torture devices I've been researching. These weapons are called the Guisarme, a pole weapon used in Europe between 1000 - 1400 AD. They're described as being a unique combination of pruning hook and spear shaft. Just imagine one of those piercing your flesh!

Sweating? My characters definitely are!

What have you been working on, fellow bloggers? Catch me up on your projects!

I'm Getting Published!

2011-05-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's official! My debut novel, Stealing Breath is getting published by Crescent Moon Press!

As many of you know, I've been slogging away, working on this manuscript for nearly three years now. It hasn't been easy. Three years of blood, sweat and tears went into this novel, and to have it finally move into the next stage - PUBLICATION - well, words can't describe how thrilled I am!

Well, here are a few possibilities: Ecstatic. Overjoyed. Positively GIDDY.

From the Acquisitions Editor, then the CEO, to now working with my assigned Editor, CMP has been friendly, helpful and professional throughout this entire process.

Crescent Moon Press was founded in 2007 by seasoned industry professionals who have a never ending love for the fantasy, paranormal, and sci fi genre. Formed as a boutique publisher, CMP prides itself on quality writing, out of the box story lines, and professionalism.

Come back soon for a release date!

The Secret

2011-05-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

This week I’m resurrecting an old post I did in over a year ago over at the Prairie Chicks blog on The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

The reason why I’m doing that is because:

1. I have no idea what to blog about.

2. I am feeling lazy.

3. I'm a believer now. The Secret works.

So here it is:

Has anyone else noticed the cult-like phenomenon of “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne? It seems not a day goes by that I don’t hear someone who wants a new car say: “I’m putting it out to the universe!”, or when a strange coincidence happens: “That’s the Secret!” The concept of our thoughts being so powerful they actually create our reality is fascinating, not far from the paranormal aspects of my writing. According to the Secret, we are masters of our universe, creating our own reality; be it successful or not.

But how true is “The Secret”? When I try to actually conceptualize how the secret works – sending our wishes out to the universe, the universe responds – it seems like such a complex matrix of actions and behaviors, I just can’t quite wrap my head around it. Does the Secret mean that every person is part of this giant latticework of reality, and that me, one little person, can influence them all with the power of my thoughts? Sounds like a great paranormal romance idea, doesn’t it? My internal skeptic screams, “Nonsense!” What do you believe?

I do know there is power in the subconscious mind, working away like the shoemaker’s little elves in the background, beyond our awareness. When we go to bed at night and tell ourselves “I’m going to have a good day tomorrow”; usually it happens. Hypnosis is a perfect example of the power of the subconscious mind, how a suggestion is offered when we are in a relaxed state of being, resulting in changes we make in our conscious state.

So now you are wondering what this has to do with writing romance, aren’t you? Can we use the concepts from the “The Secret” in our writing? To become a writer there has to be some intrinsic belief that we can do it. Belief alone is powerful. It could be the difference between those who talk about writing a novel and those who go on to actually finish it. We also have to believe we will get published. My guess is that those who don’t ever go on to get published probably had some doubt that festered away like an insipid little virus in the back of their mind.

What about our muse? Our muse is kind of like our divine inspiration; but I do think it has to do with our belief that the ideas will come. If we allow writer’s block to exist, it will. If we expect our muse to step in at those difficult moments, it will. I have had way too many weird coincidences when it comes to my muse than I thought possible. Problems get solved in the strangest ways – something somebody says, a movie that gives me just the right idea, a flash of inspiration on a nature walk, and always the timing is eerily perfect. Is this “The Secret” at work?

I really do believe in the power of positive thinking; whether it is “The Secret”, I’m not sure. I believe that I will get published; it may be in two years or ten, but it will happen eventually. Luckily, I also have the perseverance of a camel; the persistence of a bull-dog and the patience of a monk, but most importantly, I have the belief that it will actually happen. I see it in my mind’s eye –the meeting where I sign a contract, the handshake (maybe these things don’t actually happen – I don’t know!), but most importantly, I can actually see my glossy hardcover book sitting on the shelf of a bookstore. It will happen, I don’t know when, but it will. I just know it.

Do you believe in “The Secret” when it comes to your writing? Do you truly believe you are a writer? Do you “just know” the ideas will come to you? Can you “see” that book in print? Maybe “The Secret” is just a placebo effect, and it’s really just our subconscious at work behind the scenes. But just like a placebo, if it works, that’s good enough for me.

Man of Steel

2011-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, self-disclosure time! The nine year old, pre-pubescent girl inside of me is soo excited about Man of Steel, the new Superman movie, coming to theatres in 2012!

Christopher Reeve was my first official “crush” on a celebrity, and I’ll never forget this poster that hung directly over my pink satin-and-lace covered bed:

Gosh, I still get goose bumps just looking at it.

Deep down, I believe Christopher Reeve is the one and only true Superman, and no-one will ever live up to his version of Supes.

Moment of silence for Christopher Reeve.

Check out the alleged plot synopsis of Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder:

"A young reporter named Clark Kent roams the world covering various news stories. When he is compelled to use his secret powers to intervene in a crisis in West Africa, he returns to Smallville to learn more about his origins and the hero he was born to be."

In 2006, when Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh was released, I was convinced this was the jumping off point for the franchise. I was blown away by how Brandon seemed to channel Reeve’s version of Superman, and expected at least two more movies with Brandon as the hero in blue tights. But that never happened, and I have to admit, I was super disappointed.

So when I heard they were going ahead with a reboot, I was thrilled yet wary. Excited that Supes was once again returning to the big screen, but wary over who would be cast. Superman is not a snarky, over-confident Tony Sparks. And he's definitely not a tortured soul with a dark side like Batman. He is good. Pure. Honest.

Who could possibly pull that off without being fall-asleep, hit your head on the coffee table, boring?

Well, apparently Henry Cavill can. I’m loving the casting of Henry Cavill as the next Superman. Chiselled-jaw, steely blue eyes, and a pearly-white smile all make Henry a perfect new Superman.

Beautiful. Just a sec - I need to take another look.

Okay. I'm okay, thanks.

Now he just needs the muscles. Go, Henry! Go! Pump that iron! You can do it!

So far, Man of Steel stars Henry Cavill (Superman/Clark Kent), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Michael Shannon (General Zod), Antje Traue (Faora), Diane Lane (Martha) and Kevin Coster (Jonathan). Here's a little peek at the cast:

And here's another set of pics with General Zod and the Kryptonian villainess, Faora:

Very pretty people. At least we can count on the movie having pretty, pretty people!

But what about the Super-suit? Eeek! Let's see what we've got to work with: a garish chest-plate with a letter that basically screams “I’m Super-awesome!”, blue spandex tights and bright red gonchies with a yellow belt attached? Nope. Nuh-uh. Sorry, people! That is just not going to fly!

Check out a few versions I found online that just might pass for acceptable:

Did you notice the one similarity between these four? That's right, no red gonch. Because really, what is the point of gonch being on the outside of tights?

Okay. They can do it, right? They can make Supersuit cool, right? Please, please! Make the Supersuit cool!

Well, at least they’ve got Henry. That dude would look good in a burlap sack. Seriously. Hot.

Writing Retreat

2011-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

This Friday morning I head out to a writer’s retreat with the Romance Writers of Saskatchewan. Our retreat location is St Peter’s Abbey, a lovely monastery in the heart of the Canadian prairie.

Originally my plan was to hunker down and try to finish my partially completed ms, currently titled Stealing Skin. However, now that I have my first book offer, I’m seriously contemplating starting a brand new sequel to Stealing Breath, with all of the same characters, plus a few new ones.

Here’s a pitch synopsis of Stealing Skin:

When Hayden Kane is confined against his will and tortured for his healing blood, he hardly expects to be rescued by Liv Sinclair, a beautiful woman who brandishes weapons that seem like something out of a science fiction film.

Hayden learns Liv is part of a special operations team known as the Night Stalker Unit, responsible for protecting all Immaculate humans like Hayden. But Haden’s presence seems to bring about changes in Liv, dark, supernatural changes that instantly have the NSU questioning both her loyalty to the cause as well as the purity of her blood. Is Liv really who she says she is? Or perhaps there is more to Liv than even she knows?

Aren’t they cute?

But then there’s Sarah and Evan from Stealing Breath, two characters I’m still totally in love with. So far, I only have a very rough outline of the plot, so I can't give you a pitch synopsis yet. But here are some picture of their cuteness:

So cute, too! Tough decision, huh?

What would you do if you knew you had three days of uninterrupted writing? Finish your half-written manuscript? Or start a sequel to the book you just got an offer for?

My First Book Contract!

2011-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

It finally happened! My first official contract!

Last Wednesday, I opened my email, and immediately saw the name of the acquisitions editor I had queried. I was afraid to open it, afraid of the possibility of rejection, but when I read the word CONTRACT in the subject line, my fear immediately morphed into knee-wobbling, throat-slamming shock!

Once I remembered to breathe, I began to exhale once again, this time using my voice box to expel the loudest, shrillest, most ear-splitting shriek of my entire life!

The only thing I can compare this experience to was finding out I’d been accepted into Grad Studies. But then again, not really. It was much, much, more exciting.

Now, come the decisions. Do I sign? If I do sign, do I sign the contract “as-is” or do I negotiate? It appears the royalties are fairly standard for the industry, so I have no concerns there. But what about the "Right of First Refusal" on any series that follows?

So far, to aid in my decision, I’ve consulted some well-seasoned authors who’ve had experience with writing contracts. Their reactions varied widely, but all had feedback that I've taken under consideration.

Then I sent it to my lawyer to check out the fine print. He'd only seen a contract like this once before in his twenty-five year legal career. He had no concerns, other than finding the word "Blurb" rather amusing in a legal document.

Any suggestions? Have you ever recieved a writing contract? If yes, how did you make your decision? If not, what would you do if you received an offer? Would you jump in with both feet and sign on the dotted line? Would you negotiate? I'm curious to know!

The Hunger Games Movie

2011-04-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger Games!

As Lionsgate continues to cast actors in the film adaptation of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (one of my most beloved books), I'm finding myself getting twitchy. Irritable. Abnormally pre-occupied.

I love these characters and really, really want them to be well-cast. I realize every reader has an image in their head of what the characters look like, and are usually disappointed to see the real-life version on the big screen (did you hear about the Edward Cullen fiasco?).

I, too, am finding myself to be one of those truly annoying fans who are outraged by the casting of my beloved characters—Katniss, Peeta and Gale.

For those of you who haven’t read The Hunger Games, here is a tagline and blurb from IMDb:

A young girl joins a survival contest in order to save her community in a dystopian future.

In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

Now that you have the gist of this storyline, I will tell you a little about how the characters were described. Katniss, the MC, is referred to as having dark eyes, her dark brown hair pulled back into a long braid. Peeta, her opponent and love interest, is blond, blue-eyed, and attractive. And Gale, her childhood friend and potential love interest, is tall, dark and ruggedly handsome.

I have to admit, watching this fan-made video of The Hunger Games has made me incredibly biased, because the actors cast in the video are how I actually see the characters now.

Here’s a look at who has been cast so far. Below, on the left is Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), in the middle, Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), and on the right is Liam Hemsworth (Gale). But isn't Peeta supposed to be blond and blue-eyed? And Katniss, dark-eyed with long brown hair? Even Gale is supposed to be ruggedly handsome, not pretty-boy cute. To me, these actors just don’t fit the bill (sorry, guys!)

However, I realize movie people know what they’re doing, so I trust they’ll be able to pull it off. Here are a couple fan-made images that have helped me to imagine what these actors will look like in character.

Okay, a little better. I guess I'm warming up. A teensy, weensy bit.

What do you think? Are you excited about The Hunger Games movie? Is a book being made into a movie, one that has you waiting on pins and needles?

Taglines

2011-04-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Currently, I have two short stories submitted for a romance anthology to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Romance Writers. While the editor is busy sifting through our stories, she has asked us to submit our taglines for peer critique.

So, what's a tagline? Well, obviously, I didn't quite understand what it was because what I submitted was about six sentences too long!

A tagline is a seductive, one-sentence pitch to immediately hook the reader.

What the...? A ONE SENTENCE pitch? How is it possible to condence the essence of a story down to one measly sentence?

I don't know. But here it goes anyway:

1. Litha
Litha must make the ultimate decision - a life without Sam, her lifelong love - or face death for her one chance to be with him forever.

2. Edge of Nightfall
Will newborn vampire, Aaron, accept the unfathomable request of his girlfriend, Josie - to turn her into a vampire - before his sire, Isaac, does it first and claims her as his own?

What do you think? Did they hook you? Suggestions?

Author Branding

2011-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Branding helps consumers find a product in the marketplace. Think Dove soap or DC shoes. These brands use a consistent logo or trademark so that their customers can easily identify their particular niche item amongst the vast array of options.

For authors, our brand is our image or identity. This encompasses a built-in emotional reaction between the name of the author and their books. Think Stephen King or Nora Roberts. There's no need to even mention the genre these two write in, is there?

But I’m no Nora or Stephen. I'm little, unknown. I’m nobody. What can I possibly do to build a brand? Can it even be done?

Yes it CAN be done - in time. Let's look at the necessary steps:

1. Write a FANTASTIC book.

Okay, so now we’ve written a great book, with characters our readers will love as much as their own family, and a story that moves them enough to keep them up into the wee hours. Now the reader feels as though they have a direct connection with us, with the author. Step one-done.

2. Have a GREAT voice.

Ask yourself this: do I have a unique author voice, so unique that it simply cannot be replicated? A voice so awesome the reader will skip their much-needed beauty sleep in order to finish that last chapter? You do? Great! Because that is the promise the author makes to their reader - that they will be able to deliver the product the reader wants.

3. BUILD your brand.

Focus on building your brand by showing your uniqueness to the marketplace repeatedly in your writing, your color scheme, your taglines and your blurbs:

Visuals—consider what your blog, website, business cards, and professional photos portray about you. Is it pink and fluffy, like the middle-grade novels you write? If your image and your writing is mis-matched in any way, watch out. Readers want a clear message about what you offer.

This is why I decided to get a professional photo taken with a darker, more serious look to fit my brand (However, you may have noticed my indecision about the appearance of my blog and website!)

Messages—think about your verbal and written communication. For example, on my blog I won’t be writing about my day job, my children, or what I ate for lunch. I’m trying to stay focused on topics related to writing in my genre.

Behaviour—how do you present yourself physically around readers, industry professionals and at opportunities to network, such as at conferences? You may recall the comment my red hair got from industry guru, Chuck Sambuchino, at the Surrey International Writers' Conference. Yes, my hair is part of my brand. And yes, I did read The Witching Hour when I was eighteen. Why do you ask?

4. Be CONSISTENT!

Make sure your core message is communicated and delivered consistently. Consumers are fickle, so don’t annoy them off by failing to deliver your brand (Another reason why pink and fluffy don't mix with horror).

Consistency is where I’m focusing my efforts these days. Enough changing my blog, changing my photo, changing my website. It’s time to settle down, choose the visuals, and be CONSISTENT!

But before I do that, I have to settle on a "look".

Help! I can't decide! Tell me, of these two, which image do you prefer, and why? Before I get consistent, I have to make a final (informed) decision! What do these images say to you? What do you think of when you look at them?

So fellow bloggers, have you successfully developed your brand, or is it a work-in-progress, like mine?

Zero to Hero

2011-04-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

On earlier versions of my ms, Stealing Breath, one of the most common critiques I received from my writer friends Hayley and Kat (both great critiquers, btw) was that my protagonist was too wimpy. Just too much damsel in distress.

The first two times I read that feedback I overlooked it, chalking it up to one or two problematic situations, but when the same theme kept coming up over and over, I realized it wasn’t just one problematic scene, it was a pattern of character traits that both of my readers could see, plain as day. So why was I so blind?

Because, during the writing of my ms, I always thought to myself – keep it real, Joanne, keep it real. So I relied on my own instincts when it came to scary scenes and situations. What would I do if I was faced with a demonic monster with glowing eyes and the ability to suck up my soul as if it was silly putty inside a little shell? I would freak out. I would cry, beg, and wail. I would hide. So if that’s what I’d do, then it must be realistic, right?

Well, maybe, but who the hell wants to read about someone like me, an average wimp who never has to face any real danger on a regular basis? No-one, that’s who. People want to read about someone strong, daring and brave so that we can imagine ourselves in their shoes for those ten-or-so hours of reading time.

So how did I fix it? I imagined myself doing the opposite of what I’d really do. If I thought I would hide and cover my head, I did the opposite and made the protagonist confront the monster face to face. If I thought I’d scream and wail, I forced my character to go dead silent and start throwing wicked punches.

The outcome? One kick-ass heroine, willing to confront her inner demons in order to take down monsters and face evil without the blink of an eye. No more damsel in distress, let me tell you.

So fellow bloggers, have you ever had a wimpy character you’ve had to beef up? If you did, how did you do it?

City of Bones Movie

2011-03-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've returned from my blog holiday refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to blog like mad woman! Oh, what wonders a week will do!

What I've been struggling with over the last while is the recurring issue I know many of you also wrestle with on a daily basis. The evasive, annoying, pesky little question we ask ourselves: what in the heck should I blog about?

I've decided to just be myself. I'm not going to pretend to give any great lessons on writing. I'm not going to present myself as an expert on any topic. But there are things I'm passionate about, and the thought of blogging about those topics gets me all fired up!

So to start, I'm going to blog about my favorite series of all time - The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - and the fact that the first book, City of Bones, is being made into a movie!

Who will be cast as the sexy and tortured Shadowhunter, Jace Wayland?

"I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead."

The casting of Jace is a hot topic among Cassandra Clare fans right now, and a few people are supposedly serious contenders. Let's take a look at two of the rumored possibilities for the highly anticipated role of Jace.

Check out Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four and Beastly):

Whoa. Alex Pettyfer looks like he was the original model for the book cover! Disheveled blonde hair, chiselled jaw-line, six-pack abs and all. Perfect. Here's another look:

I love this fan art of Alex Pettyfer as Jace, runes and all. He does make a perfect Jace, no?

"And I'm suppose to sit by while you date boys and fall in love with someone else, get married...?" His voice tightened. "And meanwhile, I'll die a little bit more every day, watching."

Let's take a look at Alex Pettyfer and Lily Collins (already cast) together as Jace and Clary, thanks to some very talented fan artists:

I love it! Love it! But... wait! Surely there are others who would be suitable for this fabulous character, right? What about Douglas Booth:

He is so very, very pretty - important, since Jace is "beautiful" because of his angelic heritage. I'd like to see the same fan art done for Douglas, maybe that would sway my opinion in his favor.

"Not everything is about you," Clary said furiously.

"Possibly," Jace said, "but you do have to admit that the majority of things are."

Here's one more, this one with Alex Pettyfer and Emma Roberts (who ultimately, did not get the role). The fan art is stunningly gorgeous:

So fellow bloggers, have you ever found out one of your favorite books was being made into a movie? If so, were you obsessed with the casting? Tell me about it, I'd love to hear!

Blog Holiday

2011-03-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello blog friends, I have recently come to a difficult decision. I’ve decided to take an extended blog vacation, one that will give me some time to re-evaluate the purpose of my blog, to restore some creative juices, and most importantly, to FINISH MY NOVEL!

I’ll still be lingering around the blogosphere, stalking my favourite blogs, commenting on great posts, but just not posting myself. I’ll come back eventually, but right now, I can’t saddle myself with a definitive date.

While I’m gone, I’ll be spending some quality time with Sarah and Evan—don’t worry, I won’t be lonely! (So cute, huh?)

Take care everyone, see you later!

Dynamic Openings

2011-03-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've been referring to Jessica Morrell's book Thanks, But This Isn't For Us, in my latest round of re-writes. Her advice has forced me (for the zillionth time) to once again evaluate the potency of my opening pages.

Her first chapter on First Impressions begins with a fantastic quote by Jerome Stern:

Remember, begin with tension and immediacy. Make readers feel the story has started. They want to be in your world, not be told about it. Don’t preface—plunge in.

Jessica's ingredients for a great first impression:
Pose questions that beg for answers

Set the tone for the tale

Make a promise about what lies ahead

Irrevocably hook the reader

Make the reader care about the character(s)

Start with an inciting incident that is going to change the character’s life

Provide insight into the personality of the protagonist

Immerse the reader into the setting by using evocative sensory words

What do you think, fellow bloggers? Anything to add to this list?

Fatally Flawed

2011-02-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you learn that your hero, your gorgeous alpha male who was born of your heart and mind, is flawed, so flawed, in fact that the character is completely beyond repair?

That’s what I learned from the fantastic critique I recieved from Hayley. My Mark character (in earlier incarnations he was known as Mahlon) is Fatally Flawed. I don’t think there is any other way to see the situation, based on some of the following comments by Hayley:

He really is a hypocritical, control-obsessed, self-absorbed guy.

Now plant your foot in his balls and get OUT of his CAR!

I just cannot comprehend why Emma would be picked up, carried around, wouldn’t ram a finger into his eye socket or just tell him to back off or something.

F*#!er needs one right in the balls. Right. In. The. Balls.

Okay. Obviously Hayley despised this character. So I wondered, what about my other readers? If my other readers also wanted the guy to be injured and maimed, then it was truly time to re-write this character. So I polled them:

Loved Mark
14 year-old niece
Co-worker 1

Hated Mark
Mom
BFF1
BFF2
Co-worker 2
Husband
Hayley

Six of my eight readers hated Mark. Hated him! My baby! My attempts at creating a beautifully flawed, tortured but lovable character, failed!

Goodbye, Mark. I loved you. And don’t you forget it!

Hello, Evan!

I’m falling in love with you too. I’m just a little love-shy right now. Don’t worry, you won’t be the re-bound hero.

Mysterious. Handsome. Smart. Witty. Polite. Respectful.

Loveable?

Of course I had to have an image in my head of this wonderful new character, and I thought I’d share a few of those images I referred to while writing this new character. Images I referred to... frequently. Enjoy!

Reading Week

2011-02-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I'll be doing for reading week:

I didn't see any books in there, did you?

Filter Words

2011-02-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Filter Words
Lately I’ve been hearing a ton about “filter” words, words that filter, or distance your character from your reader. Check out the original post on writitsideways.com.

Before Christmas, I'd never heard of filter words. Now, I’m finding them peppered throughout my manuscript. Check them out:

to see
to hear
to think
to touch
to wonder
to realize
to watch
to look
to seem
to feel (or feel like)
can
to decide
to sound (or sound like)

Let’s compare. The first paragraph is littered with filter words, in bold. The second paragraph has had the filter words removed.

I felt a sick when I realized I’d left my ring at Evan’s hotel room. I saw people entering and leaving the building, a revolving door of people. I heard the whining of young children and saw the scowls of their parents. I questioned how I would possibly return to his room after what I’d said. The idea seemed impossible, and I decided to email him about it later.

Let’s remove the filter words.

My stomach fell into my shoes. I’d left my ring in Evan’s hotel room! People entered and left the hotel, a revolving door of people, in and out. Children whined, parents scowled. How could I go back after what I’d said to him? Damn. I’ll email him later.

What do you think? Better? Have you checked your manuscript for filter words and found it riddled with these nasty little beasties?

Chapter Checklist

2011-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

As I dig into this latest round of re-writes, I've decided to develop a checklist for each and every scene of my manuscript. This way, I will have ensured I don't get sidetracked, miss a major plot point, or fall into a mountain of backstory.

For the original checklist I referred to when creating my own, check out this ezine article written by Lisa Dale.

But for my own version, keep reading.

Joanne’s Chapter Checklist:

Does the scene begin by grabbing the reader by the throat?

Does the setting support the action? How do the characters interact with the setting? How does the setting affect the character in their quest to achieve their goal?

Did I include the five senses ensure the physical details of the scene come alive?

Mood. How does the description or dialogue reflect the mood or tone of the novel? Does the action reflect the mood?

Is strong characterization shown through present action rather than summary? Is backstory woven in only as necessary?

Does the dialogue read as believable? Do my characters have a consistent, unique voice?

Is there a balance of dialogue, internal monologue, description, and summary? Does it shows character development?

Does the scene advance the plot successfully?

How does the scene provide insight into the character’s growing powers while successfully suspending doubt?

Does the end of the scene reinforce the overall mood/tone of the novel? Does it leave my readers salivating, raising questions, deepening the conflict by leading into another scene? Does it end with a cliff-hanger?

So, blog buds, do you have a scene checklist you refer to when you are writing or revising? If yes, where did you find it?

Critique and Feedback

2011-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I received a critique and feedback on my manuscript, Stealing Breath. My writer friend, Hayley, generously agreed to give it a read-through and give me some suggestions. Truly, this was more than just general suggestions. This was very nearly a full round of free edits, both line edits and substantive edits. And now, my head is spinning.

Aside from the general grammar changes and suggestions about sentence structure, Hayley posed some very specific questions that I am mulling over. Over the next few weeks I will post a few of those questions and how I plan to address them.

The first is the promise of my query and where the manuscript missed the target. Hayley reminded me that my query leads the reader to expect the following in the first fifty pages:

1. Prospects of attacks
2. A tempting but dangerous love interest
3. The gradual discovery of his real, sinister intentions

However, this didn’t happen. In fact, some of these issues stretch out over the whole book. This is the first problem I plan to tackle. The pacing of the first three issues.

As I attempt to address them, I’m going to turn back to older drafts. In the process of revision, much of the gradual discovery of sinister intentions happened during the backstory which was cut out, but wasn’t properly woven back into later versions. This sadly undermined the suspense in the first fifty pages and doesn’t fulfill the promise of my query.

I can’t simply cut and paste old scenes from earlier drafts into this version, but I can take those scenes and review them to generate ideas. The earlier version of this character was darker, more questionable.

So, blog buddies, have you had a similar experience, where the revision process has watered down (or eliminated) some of the good points in the manuscript without you noticing? Have you had struggles with pacing in those first fifty pages? Please share your experiences - I’d love to hear about them!

Book-in-a-Week Results

2011-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

I met my goal of 16,000 words on Wednesday, and then decided to challenge myself to more. I wanted to reach 19,000 words by Satuday morning, and I almost made it, but not quite. At the end of the day I hit 17,800 words.

I know, right?

Yes, this does seem rather high, and I do wonder about the quality of the writing, but what it taught me is that putting my nose to the grindstone works. It may not work well, but it works.

Imagine if I did this for four weeks straight? I could possibly have a novel written in a month!
In theory this is correct, but we all know that isn't possible, because the brain time often takes up a lot more time than the actual writing.

I read a little blurb of this WIP at the Saskatchewan Romance Writers meeting this past Saturday, and judging by the feedback, I think the writing is okay. Still in need of revision, of course, but hopefully no major issues.

Now I plan to return to my usual pace of writing: mostly on weekends, a few thousand words a week. But what I might start to do is set aside certain weeks to do this again, perhaps once a month. That way, I should (theoretically) be able to write a full-length novel every four or five months.

So, fellow bloggers, tell me about your goals, writing or otherwise.

Book-in-a-Week

2011-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 15th was the kick-off day of the yearly Book in a week (BIAW) event held by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers (SRW). This is an opportunity for us to deliberately set aside time to write and to challenge ourselves to meet a personal goal, whether it is word count per day, time designated to writing per day, or, whatever floats our boat.

This year I’m challenging myself to move my new WIP forward. Currently, it is sitting at 21,000 words, but I really want it to be closer to 50,000.

There’s only one way to make that happen. Write. My. Butt. Off.

This year, my BIAW goal is 16,000 words written by January 22nd, at which time our monthly SRW meeting will be held and we will be required to report back on our progress. I fully intend to attend the meeting with a grin and a sense of accomplishment.

Any goals for this month? Do you participate in a similar writing challenge, perhaps NaNoWriMo? Tell me about your experience.

Book Trailer

2011-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been obsessed with the idea of creating a book trailer. After seeing numerous book trailers, some fabulous, some not so much, I started thinking - great idea! There's no rule that requires book trailers to be only for published books, right?

So I've begun planning.

I started with purchasing PhotoShop for photos and videos. I have yet to install it because I'm still waiting for my new laptop, but as soon as it's here, I intend to get working. I already have my actors, my cutie-pie niece and her not-too-shabby boyfriend. Not that this will require any talking. Mostly, they just have to look hot, run around, appear startled and scared, and look hot. Oops, did I already mention that? Anyhoo, next I'll have to develop a storyboard, and then figure out how to edit in the sound and splice it all together. Then - Bam! Done!

Simple, right?

We'll see. Just like when I decided, on a whim, to write a book (It'll be easy, if Stephanie Meyer can do it, I can too, right?) One thing is for sure, I have no interest in becoming the next Steven Spielberg, so if my little attempt at a book trailer is a complete flop, I won't start investing three years' worth of time and money into making it work. Seriously, I won't!

Here are a few of the book trailers that have inspired me lately:

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain, and The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) fan-made trailer.

What do you think, guys? Should I go for it?