Tag Archive | paranormal fiction

New Cover art

Jan26

I’ve got two stories coming out this spring and recently got the cover art for both. I am so excited.

The first story, a short contemporary paranormal with shapeshifters – not werewolves. 🙂  WHO’S YOUR ALPHA is a reprint – but completely re-edited and with new work. I think you’ll like the new version better. It will be out from Liquid Silver Books on March 31st, 2014. It’s a sweet romance that will leave you panting for more.

Who's Your Alpha-600x800

Sunny always thought she was the only shifter in her hometown. What a surprise when she discovers not only is the majority of the town like her, but so is her childhood crush. Can they overcome the remnants of the past to make a new future?

There’s a new alpha in town and the claws are out to see who will be top dog.

turnofacard_msrThe second story – THE TURN OF A CARD – is a short futuristic romance coming from Ellora’s Cave Blush (the non-erotic side of the house).

When the turn of a card seals your fate, you need to stack the deck.

Jessica Windemere loses her freedom when her father bets her in a poker game. But she isn’t willing to accept her fate without a fight. To have her revenge, she first  must survive an unknown world while contracted as some stranger’s wife. She wants nothing more to do with men until a huge, dark god rides into her camp. Can she risk losing her new love on the turn of a card?

 Kiernan Randall is on his way home from a trading mission. The group of abandoned women he finds were definitely not expected, especially their feisty, red-haired leader. She is contracted to his enemy, but gives herself to him and firmly entwines his heart. Can he trust her enough to let her wager their future together on her skill with cards?

Today’s Notes: March 5

Mar5

dangeronxyone_msrIn addition to the birthdays, quote and tips, I’m happy to announce the print version of my futuristic romance, Danger on Xy-One, is available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. It’s been available as an ebook, but now will be in print format as well. The publisher is Ellora’s Cave found in their “Blush” line (the non-erotic portion of the site). It is a futuristic romance full of danger, mystery, and, of course, romance. A story in the Hunters for Hire series.

Aleksia Matthews is an asteroid assayer who would like nothing better than to be left alone. Her life is soon turned upside down when a band of ruthless pirates attack her ship. Shemanages to escape, but fears the worst for her brother. Ali swears revenge. Although well-trained by Fleet Security, she knows she can’t do the job alone. When she literally runs into a stranger, Jason Cole she knows she has met the perfect partner — in more ways than one.

Special agent and Bounty Hunter, Jason has spent the past year tracking the pirates who killed his brother Zack and Zack’s family. He’s always one step behind, too late to help the victims. There are never any survivors — until now. It is up to him to keep Ali alive and out of trouble until the gang can be captured, and maybe longer. Buy here: http://www.ellorascave.com/danger-on-xy-one-1.html#

Birthdays: Mark Handley, Michael Resnick, Howard Pyle

Tips and Teasers: Go to your nearest public library and browse the stacks. Check out areas you don’t normally go. What can you find that’s new and different for you?

Thought for the day: “When I sit down at my writing desk, time seems to vanish. I think it’s a wonderful way to spend one’s life.” – Erica Jong.

February 27th

Feb27

Birthdays: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Steinbeck, Irwin Shaw

Longfellow was a popular poet and writer whose work has stood the test of time. From “The Song of Hiawatha” to “Evangeline”, his lyrical verse sings as well today as it did in his era. Like Longfellow, Steinbeck’s prose has stayed in the forefront for decades. There are too many to list here, but some of the more well known ones include “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Of Mice and Men”, “East of Eden” and “Travels With Charley”. There are many more and I highly recommend any writer read at least one of them. Irwin Shaw was a prolific dramatist, screenwriter, novelist, and more. Read any of these three to expand your writing and reading horizons.

 

Thought for the day: “The creative writer is usually captive to his next book.” Fannie Hurst

Tips and Teasers: Choose an inanimate subject (object, place, idea, emotion) and describe it using action verbs. It’s not as easy as you might think.

Write the Novel #6 : World Creating

Feb5

This is a class I teach in a variety of workshops. I was going to place the tons of information I’ve gathered for my classes here, but the outline I have is twenty pages long – and that’s just the outline. It’s much too involved to include here, so I’m going to give you the absolute best place I’ve ever seen for world building. Science Fiction Writer’s of America is one of the best sites to visit for information. Not only is the world-building information great, but so is their Writer Beware blog and more. No matter what you write, this is one of the best places possible to visit.

http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions/

When you are world building for your story, whether it’s fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, or even a historical, gather the information, but don’t dump it all into your story. Like characterization, all that background is for you. You’ll use some of it, but you won’t use it all. But it will show in your writing because you’ll write like you actually know the place. It will come across naturally instead of forced.

When creating your worlds, don’t forget the physical as well as the note taking.

Huh?

When I was creating my world for “Akashan’te”, I happened to be on vacation with my family at the shore. All that sand. So I started building my lands. The kids got in the game and we grew the world, and several more. Since I couldn’t very well bring the beach home, I took lots of pictures and, when I got home, sketched it out. You don’t have to have the ocean and beach nearby in order to create your worlds. Clay works well. Or papier’ mache. Or blocks. Or anything that gives you perspective. Think about the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and how the main character sculpted his mashed potatoes. I don’t recommend the later scene where he built the mountain in his living room, but a smaller version will work. Have fun with it.

So this week, take a look at the site for SFWA and grab some sculpting tools and have fun!

Guest Interview: Jeff Burkholder and Gloaming Gap

Jul4

Today, I’m interviewing Jeff Burkholder (yes, we’re related – he’s my son. J). He has a site called Gloaming Gap. It’s about a town where anything can – and does – happen and the things that go bump in the night are very real. It can be found at: http://www.gloaminggap.com

Vicky:  Where did you get the ideas for Gloaming Gap?

Jeff:  Well, Gloaming Gap really started out with the first story, “A Bloomin’ Mummy”. I just got an image in my head of a guy eating in a restaurant, when a mummy comes in and curses him for not sharing his appetizer. From there, it kinda branched out! I also wanted to experiment with different kinds of storytelling and publishing

Vicky:  I know you have other writers who do stories for Gloaming Gap – can anyone write for you, or do you invite them?

Jeff:  Well, up until this year, they had all been by invitation. This year, though, we’ve opened up the doors a bit, and we’ve had some really great contributions.  We’ve got some really fantastic writers lined up for August.

Vicky:  Is Gloaming Gap based on a real town? If so, where?

Jeff:  Heh, no. As you are well aware, I grew up in small towns, and have a particular fondness for them. Although there is an…insular quality about a lot of them, which certainly lends itself well to the denizens of the ‘Gap.

Vicky:  All of the stories are paranormal. Is this a pre-requisite for writing a Gloaming Gap story?

Jeff:  The prerequisite for a Gloaming Gap story is that it should be a good story about people with real life issues. The paranormal part of it is just part of the setting.

In some ways, it’s similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense”. It wasn’t a ghost story. It was a story about people trying to connect to others that involved ghosts.

Vicky:  Ah – interesting premise.

Jeff:  Thanks 🙂

Vicky:  If someone wanted to write a Gloaming Gap story, is there a word limit and can they contact you through Gloaming Gap?

Jeff:  Yeah, since Gloaming Gap is strictly online, the stories are intended to be really quick reads. We’ve found that 1,500 words (give-or-take about 300) gives enough space for a good yarn, without bogging down readers on their lunch break. For more info, people can either check out the site (GloamingGap.com) or contact me at GloamingGap@gmail.com

Vicky:  Is there any money involved – either to the writer or from the reader?

Jeff:  Heh, nope. Gloaming Gap – as well as pretty much all my other projects – currently exists in a free-as-in-beer model. I’m not saying that will never change, but that’s my preference. These are stories for the sake of creativity; not cash.

Vicky:  Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about Gloaming Gap?

Jeff:  The stories are largely meant to be stand-alones. You don’t need to read them in any real order. Characters from one story do pop up in others, though, so it’s a fun, kind of rewarding experience to recognize them when they appear elsewhere. Plenty of different genres in the stories, too. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like. 🙂